The Other Tiny Hawkeye

Chapter 8: Unexpected News

For the most part, the last month of Barney's stay in Westchester was filled up with his new big-brotherly duties.

Not that he was complaining. He was pretty much used to that by now, since he'd been looking after Clint for most of his life. But he was almost a teenager now, and he didn't want to spend all his time dealing with Clint and the toddler brigade.

He had tried to get into the dating scene, since he was old enough to at least put his toes in the water now, but he hadn't really had any luck with Kitty, though it wasn't for lack of trying. It was just blatantly clear that she thought he was too young for her — though considering she was crushing on a guy several years older....

Well, if he was honest, he was excited to get back to the circus. At least there he was sort of an only child. And there was someone interested.

But he would miss the big family here, especially since he really felt like Logan was starting to get used to having him around — and get used to the fact that he was crushing on Kitty.

Still, when the weekend came and it was time for him to pack his things and wait for Paul and Miranda to come get him, he knew he was going to be counting down until the next Westchester visit or the next time his family came to the circus. He'd like to see the girls' reaction to a good circus show.

He was almost set to go, so he figured he'd stop by the barn and say goodbye to K without the entourage if he could, but he was surprised to find she wasn't there.

"Huh." Barney frowned to himself — but he didn't think too much of it, instead spending a little time with the horses and spoiling them for attention behind K's back until he headed back up to the house, figuring K had just gone to be with Logan...

Until he spotted her.

K was curled up in a little ball on the couch in their suite, looking a little green and hugging a pillow as a movie played quietly in the background. The lights were down, and the curtains were drawn — and troublingly enough, she didn't immediately bust him out when he walked into the room.

Barney frowned, approaching K slowly. "K?" When she still looked miserable, he tried again. "Mom?"

When K gave him a tired and tight smile, that decided it for Barney, and he came to sit down next to her. He wasn't sure what he could do to help, but he'd seen Clint through, like, every flu season of the kid's life, so he could handle it, he was sure. "You want me to get Dr. Blue?" he asked.

K shook her head at that. "It'll pass."

Barney scrunched up his nose. "Seriously? You heal. What the heck?"

"Really, don't worry about it, sweetheart. I promise it's not contagious," K said, doing her best to make sure her smile was warm as she pushed herself to sit up straight. "You aren't doing your victory lap already, are you?" She lifted one arm and tried to wave him over. "I rate at least a hug before you go, don't I?"

"Yeah, obviously," Barney said, leaning over to wrap her in a hug, though he was still frowning. "I can stay if ... if there's something wrong..."

K let out a sigh as she gave him the warmest hug she could manage. "Nothing's wrong." When the hug was over, she let her shoulders drop. "It's just the natural order of things, so to speak."

Barney frowned as he thought it over. "So... are you...." He paused as a thought occurred to him, and his eyes widened. "Mom," he said, softer still, "are you getting too... I mean, I don't mean this in a mean way, but Clint says you're older than you look, and are you — if you're getting sick and not healing from it ... are you..." He looked around the room. "We need to do something, because I can't lose you — Clint can't lose you. Even if you are ancient..."