Clint finally had his bow trained on the Baron. The other Avengers had been running interference since they had released their trap on the bridge so that Clint could get into a position to stun Baron von Strucker to bring him in to Shield HQ. There were more of the Baron's goons than they had anticipated so it had taken longer for Clint to get into position than what was planned for.
But he had finally gotten himself settled. Tony and Thor were clearing the bridge from above while Cap, Hulk, and Widow were working on the ground. Clint let out a breath as he took his aim, "Gotcha'" he said quietly just before he released his arrow. He felt the bow string brush his face, but before the arrow left his bow his arm was kicked from the side. The force of the blow knocked Clint to the ground. He looked up expecting to see one of the Baron von Strucker's goons, but instead saw his best friend.
"What the hell Nat?" Clint said, slowly getting to his feet. The redhead didn't answer. Instead, a cold look washed over her face and Clint felt his stomach turn into a knot. "No." He said in disbelief.
Natasha was the first to throw a punch. Clint quickly dodged and the fight began. They both moved quickly and smoothly, recognizing each other's moves and countering accordingly. They had sparred countless times before, and even fought for real once or twice, but it was different this time. Clint knew that Natasha was actually trying to kill him. The fight went on for only minutes before Natasha finally pulled her gun on her former partner.
This was when the rest of the team finally noticed what was really happening. Iron man was the first to react. He put on full thrusters and made for Clint's location. "Wait!" Clint yelled over the comms, "She's not going to shoot me. Are you, Nat?"
Widow's cold stare giving nothing away. By this time Baron von Strucker had gotten into his get-away car and was getting ready to drive off. Cap started to make for the car, but Natasha interrupted, "Don't even think about it Steve" she said. Everyone stood still, even the Hulk.
"Why?" Clint asked, putting his arms down.
"Because I could." With that, Natasha pulled the trigger and her bullet hit Clint square in the chest. The force thrust the archer backwards through the broken railings of the bridge and he tumbled towards the icy lake below.
Natasha took the distraction and ran for the Baron's car. The rest of the Avenger's were too shocked at what happened to realize that the Baron's car had taken to the air and was getting away. Thor started after it but it went into stealth mode and disappeared into the vast, blue sky.
Tony, being in the best position, took off after a falling Clint. The archer was barely conscious as he torpedoed towards the frozen water. Tony used all of his power to speed towards his teammate. Just as Clint was about to make contact with the solid surface of the lake, Tony grabbed his collar and only the archers boots scrapped against the ice.
Tony flew them over to the shore and gently set Clint down on the coarse sand. Cap, Thor and the Hulk met them over there to see if Clint was okay. The archer was trying hard to get in a full breath. The bullet was caught in his vest but had knocked all of the air from his lungs.
"Take it easy Hawk" Tony said, taking off his face mask and kneeling next to Clint, "Jarvis says your vitals are good, all things considered. Just try to breathe."
The rest of the Avengers waited patiently as Clint recovered enough to talk. When he was ready, Tony and Cap helped him sit up. Steve allowed him to lean on his shoulder when they found he was in too much pain to sit on his own.
"Alright," Tony began, "what the hell just happened?"
"I'm not sure," Hawkeye replied weakly as he shook his head. "I was about to take- take the shot and she knocked my bow out- out of my hands." Clint found taking breaths to be extremely painful. He figured he must have a cracked rib or two...or four.
"So, she's betrayed us." Thor said, unmistakably angered.
"It can't be that simple," Steve said, "there has to be something else going on."
"I think it is that simple." Tony piped up, "she found an opportunity to work with a higher bidder and she took it."
"Then why-didn't she kill me?" Clint said the word he had been thinking since his best friend pulled the trigger.
"I don't know," Tony said, "but what I do know is that you don't look too good. C'mon, let's get you back to the tower."
The conversation was over, for now. They stayed quiet as they made their way to the quin-jet, as they called in Shield for a report and clean-up, and as Tony flew them all home. Clint kept his eyes out of the window, not wanting to watch his teammates sneak glances his way to gauge his emotional state.
Clint knew that this story was just beginning. That there was no way Natasha would turn against the team, against him, at least not just because "she could". As Clint thought, and as the pain increased, his breaths got more shallow, until everything around him turned into a dark tunnel, growing smaller and smaller, until his world was black.