So so sorry! I really suck, i know. I'll try to update more often, so don't be angry with me kay? *Peace*Well, i didn't manage to touch the computer at all last week as i was just so busy with school and my parents were kind of reluctant to let me use the computer as i scored a C for english. *Cringe* And now... since they aren't at home so.. yeap.

Hope that you will like this chapter and please review!

Struggle

A feeble twitch in his fingers.

A slight jump under his eyelids.

A hitch in his breath.

Hopeful eyes swiveled their gazes on the body in the bed. "Clint?"

There were no groans, no cries from the said person. Just… silence.

"Agent Barton. Clint, can you hear me?" Bruce asked his voice soft but firm. An increase in the beeping of machines was his only response. Everyone tensed, waiting for…. Something.

The mask over his face got misted up much more easily as his breath came out in rushed gasps. His eyes squeezed forcefully shut, his hands clenched into fists until his knuckles went white.

"Clint?" Natasha questioned, stepping forward lightly to get closer look at her partner, but Bruce knew better. She was letting her presence known to him, to let him know that he was having support. That he wasn't alone.

But something was wrong. Both Bruce and Natasha knew it. The way Clint was responding didn't seem right. It was like he wanted to hide away; his head was turned to one side, away from them. From Bruce's experience, people who normally regained conscious from a large amount of anesthetic should react towards the noise, rather than away from it.

"Oi, Hawk-" Tony started.

Then it happened.

With a strangled cry, his eyes flew open as his hands shot up, his body bucked against the bed.

"Clint!" Natasha grabbed both of his hands and slammed them by his sides. She winced as Clint gave another cry and tried to push her off balance. She wasn't kidding, but it took all her strength to restrain his arms.

She saw a blur of moment as Steve sprinted forward and helped Natasha by pushing his shoulders down. His eyes were open, darting frantically around the room, but they were blank, seeing but not seeing.

"Agent Hawk!" Thor roared, using his godly lung power to jerk Clint back into awareness.

"It's Agent Barton, and next time, please please pleeaaseee, don't scream unless you are kilometers away from me." Tony remarked, which was ignored by everyone.

But it seemed to have an effect on Clint as his body fell limp as his breath came in pained gasps instead.

Bruce stood by Clint again; ready to insert another injection filled with sedatives, but Natasha stopped him, shaking her head.

After what seemed like hours, the beeping of the machines steadied and the Avengers exhaled a breath of relief before disappointment washed over them.

It seemed like Clint won't be waking anytime soon.

Natasha didn't know what to do. This was ridiculous actually. She knows almost everything and she carries them out accordingly to the situation. In her mind, she will go through the steps and predict what would happen so as to be better prepared. There were no "What if", no "How.

But now, as she looked at the almost too pale body lying on the bed, her mind just went… blank.

She felt something soft placed itself on her shoulders and glanced up. Steve's hand.

"He's strong, you said that yourself. When he wakes up and is aware of… his situation, he maybe a mess and even feel lost, so you need to be there… for him. He will need time, but he'll mange it. You know it. Why don't you go back to your room to clean up? Maybe to take a quick nap or something? Don't worry, I'll watch over him. Bruce also said that it will take a while before his body recovers from the previous attack."

Natasha hesitated a second before gracefully giving up her seat by the bed. "Not me."

"Huh?"

"Us. He needs us. Not only me." She said softly before closing the door with a quick 'click.'

Steve tried to make himself as comfortable as possible on the plastic squeaky chair. He stared at the motionless form on the bed. "You know," he started softly; "You can fight it. Everyone has trust in you. Everyone is waiting for you. So don't let us down. Fight it, fight it with all your might. You can do it."

Fight it…

I can do it.

So? Did i meet your expectations?