A/N: Thanks for all the great feedback, guys. I'm glad you're still all with me on this one, albeit a little nervously for some of you. LOL For those of you who are worried, let me just say this – I'm an Avenger's fan. So, I'm looking to entertain other Avenger's fans. Take that as you will when it comes to Natasha's ultimate fate. ;)

Again, not much humour in this one, but that's not necessarily a bad thing I guess.

Hope you enjoy...

Chapter Eighteen

A few minutes later Clint and Natasha had made their way up to the penthouse and were knocking on the door. Clint appreciated the time to collect his thoughts. He hadn't been expecting something like this, but then, no one ever really did. He knew Natasha wouldn't thank him for cutting her any slack, so he tried to keep things as normal as he could between them. Clint looked around the deserted hallway as they waited for the door to be opened. It kind of surprised him to see there was no security attached to the penthouse. Justin Hammer seemed like the kind of guy who'd want as much showy protection as he could get.

The door was opened to reveal Justin in a fluffy white robe, hair damp from where he'd obviously just taken a shower. He arched a surprised eyebrow at them. "Well, this is unexpected, a visit from the second string of the Avengers. I'm almost honoured."

The little dig annoyed Clint but he kept his expression unreadable.

"Can we come in?" Natasha asked calmly.

Justin gave her a considered look. "That depends. Last time we met you were grinding my face into the desk, Ms Romanoff. Can I expect the same treatment this time round?"

Natasha confidently walked through the door, not waiting for an invitation any longer. "It's too early to tell."

Justin chuckled. "She's a feisty one, isn't she?" he noted to Clint as Clint followed Natasha's lead and walked into the penthouse uninvited. Justin didn't complain, simply closing the door behind them. He turned around and stuck his hands in the oversized pockets of his robe and looked back and forth between them, smiling. "Drink anyone?"

"We're not here to drink," said Clint shortly.

"Well, colour me intrigued as to why you are here then," said Justin. He started towards the bar. "You don't mind if I indulge, do you?"

Clint glanced across the room to see the large flat screen TV was on, sound muted and with graphic images of giant bees and flies ravaging the Havana landscape with the rest of the Avengers battling them valiantly.

Justin walked up to the screen with a glass of scotch in his hand. He took in the carnage going on and shook his head. "Hell of a thing, huh? I don't know what the world is coming to, I really don't." He looked back at them and pulled a sympathetic space. "Did you two not get an invitation to that little shindig?"

Natasha gave him a pointed look. "We're already on a mission."

Justin's face actually lit up. "Are you telling me I rank up there with killer metal bugs?" he asked in delight. "Well, now I really am honoured." Justin gave them a curious look. "You know, I volunteered to join the Avengers recently."

"We know," said Clint flatly.

Justin pulled a mournful face. "I was turned down unfortunately." He eyed them speculatively. "Although, I couldn't help but noticed they didn't seem to think to give you two a vote on the subject. I guess there is a class system within the Avenger's, huh? Some are more equal than others?"

Clint knew what the other man was trying to do. "Some things are just a no brainer," he said indifferently.

Justin lifted one shoulder. "Maybe, but it still would have been nice for them to even consider consulting you." He scratched his cheek. "I was there, and they didn't." Justin wrinkled his nose. "That mustn't be a good feeling to know you don't get a say in Avenger's affairs and yet they still expect you to risk your life for them."

Clint's eyes narrowed, feeling the need to defend their roles in the Avengers but he knew that would mean Justin would know he'd hit a nerve. His jaw hardened as he kept resolutely silent.

Clint could see Natasha wasn't about to be put off by Hammer's inane chatter however. "Noble Maniatis – do you remember him?"

Justin sighed heavily and took a sip of his drink, shaking his head sadly. "Poor Noble, so brilliant, yet so troubled."

"He worked for you," prompted Natasha.

"He did," Justin agreed readily. "I had to let him go just over a year ago."

"Why?"

Justin pulled a face. "Like I said, Noble was brilliant, but like a lot of brilliant people he had his eccentricities. As time went on and his obsession with his work grew, those eccentricities went from adorable to well, quite frankly, frightening." He looked regretful. "I just had to pull the plug."

"Frightening in what way?" asked Natasha.

Clint let his eyes glide around the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary and content to let Natasha do what she did best. He always found talking to people vaguely annoying anyway, best to leave it to the experts.

Justin grimace. "I employed Noble because of his unprecedented work with nanotechnology. He was working on a project for me whereby he could install a memory of sort into certain metals. It was intriguing work and had huge potential to benefit mankind. Unfortunately, Noble took his work off on a tangent I just wasn't comfortable with. He claimed the technology could be applied to humans."

Natasha frowned. "In what way?"

"He claimed he could create an implant, one that would move through your bloodstream and lodge in your brain, allowing that person to be controlled remotely." Justin pulled a face. "I know, crazy, right?"

Her eyes narrowed. "He never succeeded?"

Justin gave a little laugh. "Of course not, all that is total science fiction but that didn't mean Noble wasn't above giving it a red hot go. Unfortunately, he kidnapped one of our cleaning staff and was all set to inject him with a metal liquid when my security found him. The cleaner was unhurt, but you could see that I had to let Noble go after that. I can't have that kind of loose cannon working for me, no matter how much of a genius he is."

"And you reported all this to the police?"

Justin gave a little shrug of his shoulders. "Not exactly. Look, Noble was a troubled young man who I tried to take under my wing. It didn't work out but that doesn't mean I wished him any ill will."

Clint arched an eyebrow. "I'm wondering if your cleaner felt the same way?"

"He was amply compensated for the mental anguish," said Justin blithely, "and I just had Noble fired. There didn't seem any point in making an unhappy situation any more complicated." He cocked his head and regarded them with interest. "Why all the questions about Noble all of a sudden, guys?" Justin blinked and then looked over at the TV screen where the fight of man against bug seemed to be over, with man winning. He looked back at them with a dawning comprehension. "You don't think, I mean, are you telling me you think Noble Maniatis is behind all these metal bugs destroying cities all over the world?"

Natasha was watching him closely. "You don't think that's a possibility?"

Justin made a great show of opening his mouth, then closing it again, appearing to be grappling with the concept. "Well," he said at last, "Noble did always love insects." Justin wrinkled his nose. "He had a whole aquarium full of them in his lab when he was with us. It kind of grossed me out. I'm more of a kitten man myself. Give me something covered in fur and a little rough tongue and I'm a goner." Justin sighed heavily. "I guess it's possible that Noble is doing this, but I just have to wonder why? He was never one for violence and this person, the one using all these metal creatures to destroy cities, well, you have to wonder what the point is? It's not like he's making any demands or anything. It just seems like a really random thing for Noble to be behind. Still, if you need any help tracking Noble down to sort this out, I'm more than willing to help."

"Do you know where Dr Maniatis is?" Natasha quizzed him.

"No."

Clint rolled his eyes. "You've been a big help."

"I can give you the address we have for him on our files," offered Justin. "That's a starting point, right? I want this cleared up just as much you do. I'll have my people email the information to your people," he said eagerly.

"That won't be necessary," said Natasha coolly.

"But I want to do my civic duty," protested Justin. "I'm looking to give back to the world, in any way I can."

Clint resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. This guy was such a blowhard.

Justin went back to watching the screen. He shook his head and tutted. "Is it just me or does it look like the Avengers are struggling a bit."

"We've defeated those things before, we'll do it again," said Natasha simply.

Justin's head bobbed up and down as he nodded. "Of course, of course, but it does seem to be taking a lot of time while Havana is basically being levelled to the ground." He rubbed his chin. "But then, these kinds of things aren't going to be a problem soon," Justin continued on blithely.

Clint's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Justin waved a hand at him, a pleased smile on his face. "All in good time, my dear Hawkeye. Good things come to those who wait, I've learnt that the hard way." He looked between them. "Now, if there is nothing else I can help you with, I've got things to do this afternoon. So, if you don't mind." Justin gestured towards the door.

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Hammer," said Natasha coolly.

"Anytime, my dear," said Justin cheerfully. "My door is always open to the Avengers. After all, we all just want the same thing, a peaceful and safe world for everyone, right?"

Clint and Natasha didn't answer him, they simply walked out of the door and down the corridor to the elevator. As soon as the doors shut Clint looked at her sideways. "Is it working?"

Natasha pulled out a small receiver and pressed a button. The sound of 'I'm Bringing Sexy Back' being played on the stereo with Justin Hammer providing backup vocals could immediately be heard. "Perfectly."

Clint couldn't help the admiring smile he gave her. "I was watching you and even I didn't see you plant that bug. You've got some moves, Romanoff."

She gave a little smile. "That's why they pay me the big bucks."

"Wait," said Clint in feigned amazement, "they pay you to do this job?"

Natasha laughed but then was back to business. "What did you make of the little show we were just treated to?"

"Hammer obviously knows more than he's letting on. The question is how much more?"

She nodded slowly. "That is the question." Natasha pocketed the device. "Hopefully this will give us some more information on that front."

Clint's communicator went off and he answered it immediately, Nick Fury's voice on the other end. "Sir?" He grimaced as he heard the news. "We're on our way, sir."

He hung up as Natasha gave him a questioning look. "What is it?"

"Steve and Tony have gone missing," said Clint grimly. "They were last seen going after the signalling device which was controlling the bugs. The bugs have all disintegrated, but no Iron Man or Captain America. No one can get them on their communicators either. Fury wants all hands on deck to find them."

Natasha gave a short nod as the elevator arrived at the bottom floor. "Let's do this."

The two of them ran out of the elevator, intent on getting to Cuba and looking for their fallen teammates...