Leaves her alone in this particular fic or in the series as a whole? Here, after doing a bit of research and talking with some folks who know far better than I, it seemed that, especially with this kind of trauma, you can't really force that kind of connection until the other person is ready for it. Tbh, here I had him intervene simply because she had shut down for so long to the point where it becomes a separate health concern (ie, fatigue, exhaustion, etc.) But I think it's also a very valid reading to say that he deals with her primarily from a distance (because hey, he's Hawkeye (ha!) but also b/c he's got pedestal issues where she's concerned. bb's gotta work on that. ;)

Possibly throughout, but primarily here... the six hour stretch. And again, I think a fair amount of my reaction is knowing that for me it would be the worst approach, but most likely isn't for Natasha.

Oh, yes, definitely pedestal issues, LIKE WHOA. ;) And I think they're kind of awesome to watch. :D

Yeah, I think with Nat, she's an approach with caution kind of girl-- and that's probably definitely in the minority.

And OMG thank you!!! I'm so glad I'm the only one fascinated with Clint's pedestal issues. Just... yeah. Utterly utterly fascinated.

I'm so glad I'm the only one fascinated with Clint's pedestal issues. Just... yeah. Utterly utterly fascinated.

Oh, you're very definitely, definitely NOT. That level of worshipful obsession that's he's often depicted with - when it's played so that it doesn't dis-empower the obsessed character (but might, in actuality, make them stronger) is just so, SO hot. And utterly fascinating. And it's just exactly what the myth of the Beloved is all about (this whole discussion has me on the verge of pulling out all my Joseph Campbell materials, let me tell you) - speaking of which, I found a quote from him that said "show me to Bee":

The Persian poets asked, “What is it that sustains Satan in his eternal, infinitely painful exile?” Because the deepest pain of Hell is not the fire or the stench but the depravation of the true love of the soul—namely God. And the answer with respect to this Satan is that he is sustained by his recollection of the sound of the voice of God when God said, “Be gone.” —Joseph Campbell

It think because it hits on the idea that any small piece of the Beloved can be something to cling to and give one strength no matter the circumstances - even if that scrap is something inherently hurtful or damning.

Oh, that's a gorgeous quote. And very Miltonsque as well, and in keeping with the line of thought that hell is not pain, but rather, hell is deprivation, isolation, loss.