I've Got Ya

Disclaimer: Don't own Marvel

CHAPTER ONE

In hindsight, it probably wasn't his smartest idea to volunteer to go to the Arctic on a mission with Clint. But everyone else had been busy on various other missions and he didn't anticipate this one being very long; nab Whirlwind and get back to the mansion before breakfast the next day. Not that different from any other day. Except there was something else the good Captain hadn't anticipated; the memories.

It all started when they were about twenty minutes from drop off and they had dropped enough for him to see the ice covered mountains, the chunks of ice floating in the water, and the sheer barrenness of it all. He began to sweat and his heart started beating faster and harder. He could almost feel the color draining from his face as they continued to drop. He gripped his seat so tightly he was certain his knuckles were white under his gloves. He heard a pop and loosened his grip a little. He'd have a hard time explaining this one; "Hey Cap, why did you break my plane?"

I can't do this, the super-soldier thought to himself. Memories of a snow covered mountain, a train, and a best friend plunging to his untimely death flooded his mind. He blinked hard and tried to draw in a deep breath. Pull yourself together soldier.

"Cap?" the light touch on his shoulder made him jump, balling his hands into fists, breathing ragged. "Whoa, easy does it Cap. You ok?"

Steve blinked hard again. He was on a plane, not a train; the Red Skull wasn't around. He was on a mission with Clint. "Fine."

"Yeah, sure," Clint didn't roll his eyes, he would never be so disrespectful to his leader and friend, but he did give him a I know you're not fine at all but we'll let it go for now look. "Drop-off in five; Whirlwind shouldn't be more than two miles away."

"Good. This is a get in and get out mission." Steve slid his hand through his shield and walked to the back of the jet, Clint close on his heels.

"Should be pretty straightforward, but then again you never know with these guys."

Five minutes later they had landed and the two super heroes took off running to where they knew Whirlwind's hideout was. The frigid air burned his lungs and chest and Steve tried to ignore the feelings of déjà vu. Of plunging too fast and too hard into frigid waters with no hope of ever getting out again…there would be no date, no first kiss, just death; a slow and painful death given his new abilities. But then he hadn't died, and that was almost just as bad.

"Slow down Cap," he heard Clint gasp out but he couldn't stop or slow down. He could see their destination just ahead, and he knew he could take out Whirlwind easily enough; probably before Clint could catch up to him. So he sped up. And didn't anticipate the trap. As soon as he set foot on the ice surrounding the hideout the ice gave way and he plunged down into the icy waters, which quickly covered over again with ice.

He tried to punch his way out but the ice was too thick. This couldn't be happening; not again. He couldn't wake up again in another century, he couldn't lose all those he held dear all over again, he couldn't-

Suddenly a gloved hand shot down and he reached for it. The hand pulled hard and suddenly he found himself being tugged to the surface. He came out of the water coughing and choking, his body shivering uncontrollably. And it wasn't just from the cold.

Clint was already taking his own jacket off and wrapping it around Steve, barking the whole time.

"Of all the pigheaded, arrogant, stupid things to do! I mean seriously Cap, I'd expect that from Iron Man or me, but not from you! Not Captain Boyscout! Why would you take off like that? We're supposed to be partners on this mission. Why-" but Clint stopped his tirade when he got a good look at Steve's face. There was such pain in the blue eyes that realization suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks and he felt breathless.

"Oh man…Cap, I'm sorry. I'm-I'm just so sorry."

Steve just shook his head, teeth chattering. "I, I shouldn't have come. I'm sorry Clint. I just can't…"

"It's not your fault; we should have known better. I should have known better. I'm gonna get us out of here, ok? I'll radio the plane, we'll get Whirlwind some other time."

"N-no, gotta finish the mission."

"You're freezing pal, I've got to get you someplace warm and safe."

"Whirlwind first." There was a pleading in his eye and Hawkeye hesitated. Because as usual, Steve was right. The mission did have to come first, it was there job.

"Fine, but leave the heavy hitting to me old man. Can you stand?"

"Yeah," with Clint's help he was able to make it to his feet but he was shaking so bad it was hard to get his body to listen to his commands to move. The air had turned even colder since they had been there and Clint remembered they had a window and it was quickly closing. If they didn't hurry they would have to spend the night on this rock.

With Steve leaning heavily on him, they set out. Suddenly a snowy tornado appeared before them with such force it blew them both in different directions. Clint landed hard on a rock and groaned. He glanced around frantically for Cap but couldn't see him. Reaching into his quiver he pulled out a shock arrow but it was too hard to see with all the snow blowing around. A shiny, familiar red, white, and blue disk came sailing through the air and struck its target. Stunned, Whirlwind stopped his tornado and Hawkeye was able to hit him with the shock arrow. Whirlwind fell unconscious to the ground.

Clint quickly ran over to him and tied the villain up. "Cap?"

There was no response so he looked around frantically. He found Steve lying face down in the snow and he ran over to him. Turning him gently onto his back he took in the blue tinged lips and white face. With a sinking heart he realized they were out of time. He needed to get Cap inside now. He glanced over to Whirlwind's hideout. It would have to do for now.

He picked Cap up in a fireman's carry and sprinted towards the shack, hoping it was at least warm and big enough for the three of them. It was. He laid Steve on the bed and quickly went to retrieve Whirlwind. Then he radioed the jet and told them to come back for them first thing in the morning with medical assistance. Then he turned to his comrade.

Steve had gone back to shivering uncontrollably only now his face had become red and flushed and Clint realized he must have a pretty high fever by this point. "Oh come on."

"Bucky?" the voice was hoarse and weak, definitely not the Captain America voice that resonated authority and confidence.

"No pal it's Clint. I'm afraid we're stuck here overnight, but I promise first thing in the morning they're gonna come get us with a doctor for you."

"Doctor?" blue eyes opened then quickly closed. "M' sick?"

"You took a dip in some ice water."

"What?! No! Bucky!" Steve sat bolt upright, his eyes not taking in his surroundings at all. "Hang on!"

Clint firmly but gently pushed Steve back down against the pillows. "Bucky isn't here Steve, it's just you, me, and Whirlwind. I've got ya pal, everything's going to be alright."

Clint spent most of the night mopping Steve's sweaty forehead while the super-soldier faded in and out of delirious dreams. And he learned a lot about his Captain that night. He learned that just because he was brave didn't mean he wasn't scared; that just because he had super-abilities didn't mean he wasn't vulnerable. And that just because he seemed to be all put together and confident, didn't mean he wasn't full of self-doubt and questions.

"Clint?" the voice from the bed was a little stronger and upon looking down, Clint saw that the blue eyes had mostly cleared. Touching the Captain's forehead he was relieved to find it much cooler to his touch.

"Hey Cap," he spoke softly. "How ya feeling?"

Steve closed his eyes and then opened them again. "I-I'm not sure? What happened?"

"You fell into Whirlwind's trap. Took a nice plunge into some icy water. We're in his hideout now; plane should be here anytime to pick us up."

"Oh," Steve took a deep breath and coughed. "Long night?"

"The longest I've had in awhile."

"Sorry," Steve mumbled, looking ashamed. "I'm alright now, let's get Whirlwind and-"

"You are not fine and you are not going anywhere until that plane gets here. And even then, you are not going anywhere until a stretcher gets in here and loads you onto said plane." Clint pushed the Captain back against the pillows, his eyes flashing. "Stop doing this to yourself Steve."

"Doing what?" Steve was thoroughly confused. Had Clint just back-talked him?

"Always trying to be so strong. You don't have to be, you know. Once in a while you could let us be strong for you."

"What are you talking about Clint?" Steve asked wearily.

"Why did you volunteer for this mission?"

"Because everyone else was busy and you needed a partner."

"You should have said no, I can't do this mission it's going to dredge up some pretty bad memories."

Steve looked away from the piercing gaze. "I didn't think about it."

"Of course you didn't! You never think about yourself, and we never think about you not being able to handle it because you always always handle it."

"It's my job as leader, Hawkeye."

"I know that, and I respect you, really I do. But once in a while Steve, it's ok not to be strong. Because when you aren't, we will be. That's why we're a team. Even leaders, even Captain America has his off days. And it's ok, 'cause when he does, his team will have his back. We're Avengers after all."

"That was pretty deep for you, Barton," Clint looked down to see Captain America smirking up at him. And he couldn't help grinning himself as he heard the plane land outside. He scooped Captain America up and said, "You just take it easy old man; I've got ya."

There, hope you all enjoyed it. Little rough because I'm out of practice. Please review, hopefully next chapters will be up soon. No flames please!