Nick Fury

Leading Barton away from the lower levels of the base the two men headed in the direction of Fury's office. Which meant more long corridors lined with agents whose whispers floated around. No doubt they had to do with him bringing in the Black Widow and then being lead off to Fury's office by the man himself, probably think he's going to be fired or even worse; which was basically the same things he'd been thinking himself ever since he got off the Quinjet. They stepped onto the elevator and Clint glanced at Fury out of the corner of his eye, he didn't seem pissed off like he has expected, no glaring, no veins sticking out of his neck or forehead, just a clam look staring straight ahead. As the door slide open the two stepped out and continued down the hall. You could always tell when you were above ground level when the décor went from metal and clinical to carpeted floors and less of a "you're being watched" feeling. As they crossed the main lobby that was filled with men and woman alike in nice crisp suits either heading out for lunch or back to their offices. This was what Clint liked to called the 'normal' side of SHIELD. It's where all the lawyers, accountants (yes accountants, who else did you think helped pay for all the gear and cool gadgets down below) and the rest of the office workers (normally level 1 & 2 agents just out of the academy tend to start off).

The two agents nodded at the lady sitting behind the desk, to anyone coming in who didn't know this was the SHIELD headquarters would just assume it was another office building in New York would think she was just some sweet old lady nearing retirement. When in fact she was one of the oldest agents they had, she had been there at the start when Peggy Carter had first founded SHIELD. But since this was all she knew it let her be part of the action but still have a somewhat normal life.

They climbed into another set of elevators and rode it to the top of the skyscraper. When they arrived at the double doors that housed the top agents and further behind them held the directors own office, Fury pushed them open and headed straight to the back. The people at the desks looked up from their computers and files all labels CLASSIFIED to see who had come in. One of the agents an older Asian woman looked up and smirked at Clint and turned back to her file. Melinda May a.k.a The Cavalry was one of the best field agents out there. Even though she was a field agent she still got a office close to Fury's, she was also one of the few people he could actually call friend here. Besides Coulson, Maria and when he wasn't in a bad mood Fury, May was one of the few who actually understand him.

As they entered the corner office Fury shut the door behind them and went to sit behind the desk. Locking his fingers together he surveyed Barton over them.

"So, this has been one interesting day hasn't it Barton?" he asked simply. No yelling, no threats of demotion or firing, just the simple question.

"Second Chances. That was the first thing I was taught when I was brought in. I didn't deserve on any more than you think she does but Coulson believed in me then and I believe in her now. Just think if I can change as quickly as I did, she'll be able to probably just as quick because she actually seems to want this. I don't know for sure but I could tell that she has never gotten a say in her life about what she can and cannot do. I saw her give money to 2 little girls who were homeless. Everyone knows that if you're really a cold blooded assassin you don't give money up for anything. And I know the argument could be made that she probably has enough money out there to retire 5 times over but even if that's true why take it in the first place, there was probably only a few thousand dollars stuffed in the wallet if she didn't need it she wouldn't have taken it. But she did and she gave it to a couple of kids who had nothing. That doesn't sound like a cold hearted killer to me, sure she has a list the length of the Gettysburg address but mine isn't much shorter and you still took me in. Plus half of the people we know she took out we were after them too, and if she's on our side look at the asset SHIELD just gained against our enemies. She hasn't intimate knowledge about the KGB and Red Room, she can fill in a lot of blanks, you can even make it part of her deal." Clint finished his speech and looked back up at his boss who was now looking out of the window over the skyline.

"You've got some good points there Barton I must say, but even if this could work who knows how long until she finds another, better offer to turn on us?" Fury asked turning back to face the room. He understood why Barton was so keen on bringing the Widow in and he could see that what he was saying was true, she would be an asset to SHIELD and her in-depth knowledge would be most useful and she probably had even more knowledge on other organizations out there that they didn't know about, yet.

"if that happens and it won't I'll take responsibility for her. I'll train her, I'll watch her every move to make sure she doesn't do anything to put SHIELD in jeopardy."

"Oh I know you will. Think of it as you punishment, you and Coulson will work with her until I see that she is fit for anything. We'll have medical look her over first and then starting Monday Coulson will be set as her handler and if she ends up passing everything and I mean everything Barton, you will be her partner because I doubt anyone else is stupid enough to actually want to work with her." Fury finished and picked up his phone. "Get me Coulson." There was a pause and the director laughed "why am I not surprised, send him in" he put the phone back on the receiver "I swear that man is psychic" he muttered. The door opened with Coulson standing in the door frame.

"You wanted to see me sir?" he asked looking professional as always in his sleek black suit.

"Sit down Coulson." Fury relayed the same orders to him that he had given to Clint. After he was done he sent them on their way.

"I sure hope you know what you've gotten us into Clint," he said pushing the button to take them back to the cells.

"Trust me Coulson. I bet she'll be the best agent this place has seen since May & Carter and that's a promise." Smiling he got onto the elevator after Coulson.

"After the last bet we made when you didn't pay me?"

"Fine in two years' time I bet we'll be the best partnership in SHIELD history."

The two men shook hands as the doors closed and the compartment began its decent.

"You're on."