A/N – Hey party people, Unfortinuitly for all you readers I kind of lied. Sorry, this chapter ended up a lot longer than I expected, it's actually the longest yet at 3,911 words in the chapter itself. So I have one more before we get to movie time. Sorry, Erin comes home though so YEY, Also there are hints of Clint/Natasha, and Coulson/Hill because I adore both couples. I hope you all enjoy it.
Happy Reading,
Disclaimer – I do not own anything recognizable in this chapter.
Please Read, Review, and Remember to look for the next chapter, after all those are the 3 R's
Lots O' Love
All4TheBest
With Agent's Hill and Coulson
Destruction…
Desolate…
Devastation…..
Destroyed….
Debris…
Death…
Dawn of Hope….
It did not take a genius to figure out what word in that sequence did not fit. And Agents Hill and Coulson where far from genius', The first five where feelings that came to mind as the two seasoned agents looked out on the now collapsed building hiding itself in the mist of Russia Siberia. Yet the last was something they stepped off the quin jet with. Hope, hope that in less than a few hours they would have their answer to the small Red headed bundle of smiles that had been missing for the greater part of six weeks.
But there was another hope, hope that maybe they saved more children from the brutality that was the Red Room. Both considering themself a friend of Natasha they had a basic overview of what the red room was known for and knew at the very least they just saved a hand full of little girls.
"Agent Carter, where are we in extraction?" Coulson spoke first Hill slightly scared her voice would betray her.
"We are working as fast as we can, but so far it has not been enough. We think we have uncovered what would be there bunks. We have extracted three girls from there along with what we believe to be a guard." Agent George Carter explained as he walked the two agents through the rubble. They began to help dig out another section when Maria heard something. With a jerk she grabbed tightly to Phil's arm who spun around.
"Agent Hill," He whispered but she placed a finger on his lips and signed the word listen. Over time Maria learned of the fact Phil knew quite a lot of sign language. The male agent then raised his hands to the other agents and waited to hear what Maria was attempting to call his attention to.
"Help please, someone." He heard a small voice before a cough it was coming from next to them. Motioning other agents over they began to lift the rubble.
"Pomogite pozhaluĭsta , kto pomozhet mne . pozhaluĭsta," 'Help me please, someone help me. Please' they heard the same voice beg in Russian threw soft tears. Now the seven agents close enough for ear shot where helping dig the small voice out of the rubble as they called for the attention of the remaining twelve agents scattered around the rest of the collapsed building.
Then two larger agents pulled away a 40 by 59 piece of drywall off the rubble and the third who was being used just as leverage gasped.
"There's a girl down here, she's alive. She's alive, get the medic," He called as he tried to get closer to the girl before a crash than a scream was heard. The man then clambered back out.
"I can't get down the ground in unstable," Maria who was now hovering over the rubble glaring down trying to make out the body the agent before her did. Coulson was hovering next to her his head also inclined as he bent on his knees.
He caught glyimce of the girl first, her striking red hair laden with soot and her skin red with burn marks. Bruised, battered, and burned, but breathing. His heart jumped into his throat as he choked back tears. Pointing the girls form out to Agent Hill.
"I see her." Agent Hill called before turning to Coulson.
"Is it Erin," Agent Coulson asked.
"Yeah I think, I have to get down there. You guys you're all too big. I have the best chance of getting her out." She explained frantically. The stretcher that held Erin was a good seven and a half feet under where they stood having fallen a floor after the machine exploded. Coulson just nodded.
"If something goes wrong I am pulling you out of there. I don't need either of you dying tonight." Coulson said gripping the woman's wrist. A seaming plutonic gesture that meant so much more to each agent, Agent Hill nodded before she moved to step off the end of a piece of roofing her hands still laced over Coulson's wrist.
She then was dangling her grip tightening on Coulson's wrist. If Maria Hill had a fear, a kryptonite, it was small dark spaces. And small and dark where exactly what the rubble had created, it was also fairly cramped. Agent Hill unable to spread her 5' 8" arm span out worrying that if she where even to streach out her elbows she would reach the wall.
She gripped tighter to Coulson's hand as she was low enough to place some of her weight on the balls of her feet either on the outlaying sides of Erin's stretcher. She released the other agents hand slowly as she made sure she was on balance. She then made quick work of getting the surprisingly small amount of rubble that did land on top of the girl off.
"Aunt Ria, it you" Erin said softly as her blue eyes landed on that of her savior.
"Yeah Erin, It's me I am gonna get you home alright baby girl. I just need you to stay awake okay hun. Just stay awake." Maria said she could feel the bile rising to her throat as she saw the extent of the girls injuries. She then took to removing the wires and restraints from the girls' small person.
"I no baby Aunt Ria, I five years old." The girl said as defiant as she could manage. Maria couldn't help but smile as she wrapped the girl in the sheet that was holding her and lifting her into her arms. Smiling at the fact that even though the child sustained more injuries than some ever did she was still trying to convince the adults around her she was not a baby. Like every other five year old in the world.
"I know, sorry I missed your birthday hun," Maria said running a soft hand threw the girls curls, Trying her hardest not to openly sob.
"Status Agent Hill," Coulson yelled down panic in his voice, most other agents did not pick up on it but it was unhidden to the likes of Maria.
"Alive," Was Maria's short answer.
"That all," Coulson ask and though Agent Hill couldn't see his face she knew he was smirking. To long being in cohorts with Barton in her opinion,
"All that matters," Hill answered as she moved to pass Erin up. Erin's was pulled half way up by Coulson when the floor gave and Maria gripped tighter to Erin and the small girls hand slipped from Coulson's grasp and crashed back against Maria's chest.
"Shit, I need Medical RIGHT NOW!" Coulson yelled to surrounding agents.
"Agent Hill, Agent Hill," He called down into the rubble where he could see neither the child's head or the elder woman's He gripped the outside and lowered down slightly and balanced his weight against the two strongest ones he could fine.
"Agent Hill do you copy," He yelled once again, the other Agents where stepping back wondering about the relationship between the two agents. Some bowed their heads.
"AGENT HILL DO YOU COPY," He yelled once again.
"MARIA!" He screamed.
With Peter
Peter Parker was far from dumb, he was at the top of his class, and though not as good at reading people as the small red head he was usually seen with he did fairly well. That's why he knew as time passed and the Barton 'family', or Ohana as Erin called it since it was far from traditional, had not returned from there 'vacation' told him something was wrong. The fact Aunt May and Uncle Ben seamed more tense every day just proved his theory.
Something was wrong with Erin,
He felt it that first day she didn't make it to the bus, Erin would have mentioned if Natasha was picking her up early as his aunt and uncle said. Erin would have said goodbye, Erin always said goodbye.
He felt it about a week ago when he woke from a fairly vivid nightmare that he couldn't remember, other than Erin was crying and Peter couldn't get to her. Peter hated it when Erin cried, she didn't do it very often so when she did it was heart wrenching to the small five, almost six, year old.
He sat on his bed staring at the wall of small pictures he had taken with Erin via his 'unbreakable' camera. The thing was pretty tough, lord knows the two kids put it through a lot.
He couldn't help but feel as if Erin needed him in some way. He remembered Sunday school telling him that God wrote the bible, which where basic instructions before leaving earth. So that book must know what to do wright. It was instructions for earth after all.
He took the small pair of new glasses he just got off his face and placed them next to him as he hopped off the bed and wobbled over to his book case grabbing the small child's bible to the fifth chapter of Mark. He looked down at the page and realized that though he could read better than most kids his age he was hopeless when it came to the small text the book held.
"Hey Pete its bed… What you got there buddy?" Uncle Ben asked entering the room and taking the book from Peter's hand collecting the boy in his other arm.
"The bible, hum, Mark 5, I heard this story when I was just about your age. Do you wanna hear it instead of your usual bed time story?" Uncle Ben asked.
"Please," Peter asked as he was settled into his small twin bed.
"Alright then, let's see, I will start with verse 35…. Alright here we are," the man said before clearing his throat.
"While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James." Uncle Ben read.
"But why did Jesus say the girl was alive when the other man said she was dead, was the other man lying? Or was Jesus confused," Peter asked.
"Well neither really, um…. it's easier to explain at the end of the story so why don't I just continue alright Pete?" He asked and the small boy nodded. Uncle Ben adjusted his glassed on his nose before searching the page for where he left off murmuring all the while.
"Got it, They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement." Uncle Ben continued,
"So was she dead or was she alive," Peter asked always full of questions.
"Both, she died but Jesus brought her back to life." Ben explained.
"Can Jesus bring Mommy and Daddy back to life?" Peter asked, Ben gulped but shook his head answering his nephews question all the same.
"No, you see Pete, Jesus had to go to heaven a long time ago so he can't bring them back. I am sorry, but you see God really really needed them up there. I know it's hard for us here because there gone, but they were needed somewhere else. " Ben said Peter just nodded. The boy never really knew his parents but the questioned seamed worth it.
"Okay, I understand," he said with a yawn. "What happened next," Peter asked closing his eyes.
"And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Well that's the end of the story, Why don't you close your eyes you must be exhausted. Sweet dreams bud." Ben said turning off the lights.
"Uncle Ben,"
"Yeah Pete,"
"God doesn't need Erin dose he, cause I want her to come home." He said softly half asleep.
"I don't think he does, is that why you had this old book out," he asked as he placed the bible back on the book shelf. Peter just nodded.
"I just gotta feeling' something really bad is gonna happen," Was Peter's short answer.
With Agent's Hill and Coulson
Maria groaned having fallen about a foot and a half farther down. Her leg catching on a nail and scrapping the outside of her right thigh Erin hit her head on another piece of debris and now had her eyes closed. Maria moved to wake the girl hitting the girl's cheek and wiping some of the blood off. She heard the call for her name but she didn't answer, she needed Erin's eyes to open. They had her, she was save, being saved, and she couldn't give up now.
"I'm good, I am loosing Erin though, and she needs medevac now!" Maria yelled back as she cradled Erin against her chest.
"Is she breathing," Coulson called.
"Barely," Maria called back.
"What about you," Was the next question?
"I scraped my leg pretty well but other than that I am good." Maria called back, "Phil, we can't lose her." She called in a broken voice.
"We won't," Coulson called with a softer voice.
"How do you know?" Maria asked.
"Because our mission advised against any deaths," He called down trying to lower himself knowing it was dangerous but no longer thinking rationally. Maria and Erin where down, he didn't know how far, end by the tone of her voice. Phil didn't guess Maria thought Erin had much time left.
The next few minutes passed in a blur being pulled from the rubble from the med team he sat down and waited. A robe was lowered down and when it came back up soot covered Maria clung tight to Erin who Phil had to remind herself is alive. Because she sure as hell didn't look it, her skin slightly blue in the cool Northern Russian air and clothing not much more than a tank and shorts as she was wrapped in a small bed sheet to protect her from the brutal weather.
Medical attempted to tare Erin from Maria's arms to no avail. The S.H.E.I.L.D Agent was not releasing the girl. Phil pushed through the medical team and placed a hand on Maria's shoulder as she handed the small girl over and turned into the other Agent's embrace.
"It's okay, It's okay, your safe, Erin is gonna be safe," He whispered as he felt the woman in his arms relax slightly. He was handed a blanket for Agent Hill and draped it over her shoulders pulling her head to rest on his shoulder until. They did not continue to help with the rescue events like they wished to, because seconds after medical got Erin they heard the sickening sound of a medic's rushing around the small girl.
"Her heart has stopped" A faceless medic, because of the large fluff coat, yelled as Erin was injected with atropine and adrenaline, and manual compressions are applied. Phil swears his own heart stops beating as dose Maria's when that call is sounded, the same things running through their heads.
She can't be dead…
She just can't be dead….
She was safe now...
Well from the 'bad guys' at least…
Minutes later reloaded in the quin jet Coulson made the call to Fury. Erin by this time had stabilized, but was far from out of the woods. And despite the fact Director religious or knew much about religion in general. He instructed his two agents to 'pray' because if there where people in this world who deserved a miracle, Erin was one of them.
S.H.E.I.L.D had medics who could save her once she got here. But the small girl who had machines breathing for her and slightly resembled Pinocchio with how many wires where sticking from her person. Maria soon took over flying no believing solely that the other pilot was going slow on purpose, Coulson moved to where Erin lay the medical team at a lost on what to do next until they had all of their equipment.
With a soft brush of the girls forehead Phil took the small girls hand in his own running his thumb over her delicate fingers.
"Hey Erin, I heard once that hearing is the last sense a person has, so I hope you can hear me. You are so brave and so strong, I know that you have fought for a long time but I need you to keep fighting for a little while longer. We're almost home and your parents are waiting for you. I know it's hard but you gotta keep fighting for me. I promise we will keep fighting for you. You just need to meet us somewhere hun. Please, we are close you just need to keep fighting for Natasha; he has been so lost since you've been gone. Keep fighting for your dad; she needs you more than you know. Hell keep fighting for everyone, you have already been gone for so long." He said and Erin's hand tightened lightly over his own. Through tears Coulson nodded.
"There you go Erin, just keep fighting hun. Just keep fighting." He said gripping her hand tight in his own until they landed. They were going to be okay, he told himself, and Erin still had some fight left in her. And he knew that everyone else wouldn't stop fighting till she did.
With Clint and Natasha
Alive,
Alive,
Alive,
That was all that ran through the Archer and the Russian's head. Erin was alive and on her way home. From the moment they were told the girl was coming home not much else mattered. They were told of her condition but the extent of the small girls' injuries did not faze them when just being told. They were blinded to the danger that Erin faced. The joy of finding equipping them with rose colored glasses, the real danger the child was in did not resonate with the two adults until they saw the girl, placed on the stretcher being wheeled off of the quin jet.
Head already wrapped in gauze machines and medicine dripping from I.V's her skin was covered in a soft layer of soot making her look extremely pale and highlighting the angry red Bloch on her right shoulder, as well as the bruised and cut face she now had. A face mask covered her nose and mouth pumping air into her lungs though her chest did not raise and fall properly. Her soft usually porcelain looking skin was slightly blue. Clint took a cautionary step toward the medical staff wanting nothing more than to be at Erin's side. He took a few steps forward before he felt a hand fall on his arm.
"She'll make it, but right now we have to wait," Coulson said softly though his grip was firm. He could feel the younger man wanting to oppose. Wanting to go on a rampage hurting anyone who got in between him and his daughter, "Besides if Medical is gonna help, they need to be able to walk." He said Clint relaxed and turned to face the man.
"She'll live," Clint said almost as a question.
"I am sure of it," Was Coulson's answer.
"How?" Clint asked his voice betraying him.
"My orders strongly advise against letting anyone die." Coulson said his lips twitching to a small smile.
"Do you always follow orders," Clint asked recalling the first time of many he asked Coulson this question, standing in that jail cell almost four years ago.
"I try," was the no longer clipped response from Coulson. However it was caring and heavy with worry.
"She'll live," Clint said again with more conviction.
"She'll live."
All four agents sat waiting with bated breath for news on the child. Coulson even announcing that paperwork could and would wait. Natasha saw the doctor that was overseeing Erin walk into the room before the other three and jumped to her feet.
"Doctor," She said Barton was on his feet moments later followed by the two senior agents'.
"Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton," he said nodding to each of the younger adult and turning to Coulson and Hill acknowledged them with no more than a nod of his head.
"Erin is stable now, she has a concussion and some breathing issues, two of the ribs on her right side are cracked and her left arm was pulled out of socket and the right suffered electrical burns and will take a while to heal. There is some scarring in her lungs that may prove in time to be troublesome, but I believe she will make a full recovery in no time." The doctor explained.
"Can we go back," Clint asked no longer wanting to be separated from his baby girl.
"Yes Agent Barton, however at the moment Erin is still unconscious, she is a fighter though that one. I have seen seasoned Agents with better odds not make it through," He said patting Clint on the shoulder.
"Thank you Doctor," Clint said.
"No problem, I will be in later to make sure that everything is running smooth." He said Coulson watched as Clint pulled Natasha into a hug by wrapping his arm around her waist. A jester those 24 hours ago would have been taken in vain. Natasha leaned against Clint's chest and the muscles in her back relaxed as she gripped to Clint's black S.H.E.I.L.D issue shirt. Clint whispered something into her hair before kissing her temple, he then looked up eyes locking with Coulson's.
'Told ya' so,' Coulson said with a raise of his eyebrows. Clint let go of Natasha though kept a tight grip to her hand as she began to walk down the hall.
'I should 'a listened before, thank you,' Clint said silently with a shrug of his shoulders and a bow of his head. He then turned to follow Natasha wrapping his arm once more around the small of her back.
Maria leaned against Phil's shoulder before he pulled her into a hug.
"How's your leg doing," He asked into her brown hair that at the moment was down.
"Good as new, it's over now isn't it." She asked softly Phil kissed her forehead.
"A part of it, things are different now but they'll find a way through." He said as Agent Hill's forehead came to rest on his own.
"How do you know," With a tilt of his head their lips came together softly in a quick kiss before their foreheads rested together once again.
"We made it work right," he whispered.
"We didn't have their legers."
"We didn't have their Angel."
A/N – SHE'S HOME! I had such a good time writing this chapter I loved it. I thank you all for reading, please review and remember to look for next chapter, after all those are the three R's
Old Sothern Saying – 'That's prettier than a Speckled Pup under a red wagon'
P.s.s- Did anyone know there is an answer to the song bicycle built for two. Because there is and it's hilarious.
Lot's O Love
All4TheBest