Whumptober Day 26

You Will Go Down with This Ship

Prompts: fallen/waterfall/trap door

OK, another one that went in a totally different direction than what I'd initially pictured. I apologize in advance.

"So?" Mikayla asked Clint as he drove up I-5 from Malibu to Portland, Oregon. "Are we ever going to have a true honeymoon? I'm not counting this as one, by the way."

Clint sighed and rolled his eyes. "I know, babe. I promise I'll make it up to you. We'll take over one of Tony's private villas, somewhere it'll just be the two of us. No phones or tablets will be allowed, and Friday will only disturb us if the world is about to end."

Mikayla sunk back in her seat. "Fine, but I'm holding you to that, but instead, we make it a winter chalet, and we hibernate until spring."

"I like that plan even better. I'll get on it when we get back." Clint looked over at her and saw the corner of her mouth turning up just enough to give the impression of a smile.

"Remind me again why we're driving to Portland?" Mikayla asked, working on her third cup of coffee.

"A human trafficking ring has set up shop there since it's a gateway to seemingly everywhere."

"So are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and about a hundred other places. What makes Portland so special?"

"Allegedly, back in the 1800s, ships would dock and look for new blood for reasons you can only imagine." Clint looked over at Mikayla, who shivered thinking about those reasons, knowing she'd been a victim of some of those types of attempts. "Rumor has it there are sets of underground tunnels leading from the bars to the port. After finding, or not finding, gold in California, miners would migrate up to Washington and Oregon. When they got to Portland, the miners would head to the bars for cheap food and drink. The owners of the ships would have crews stationed in the bars, who would spike the drinks. The crew or prostitutes hired by the ships would lead the unsuspecting miner to a trap door, which would suddenly open, then the miner would never be seen again. Most of them were single, so their disappearances would go unnoticed. Finally, the number of missing people became too large to ignore, so the authorities investigated and figured out what was happening. They were also kidnapping women and young girls, forcing them into prostitution, keeping them caged up in the tunnels."

"Bastards," Mikayla muttered under her breath.

"It was brought to SHIELD's attention that a group has started using the underground tunnels again to smuggle victims away to ships and transporting them over to Asia."

"So, we're doing the government's dirty work again?"

Clint sighed, taking a sip of his own coffee. "Pretty much. Let's face it, that's what SHIELD's been known for, doing the work the government can't or won't, which explains why it's more secretive than the CIA or NSA."

"Don't forget better trained and much more successful," Mikayla said. "Oh, their agents are hotter, too." She smirked.

"There's that, too." Clint leaned over and clasped Mikayla's hand. "Thinking of you, Mrs. Barton."

Mikayla sighed a happy sigh. "I'll never get used to that, so please don't ever stop saying it."

He lifted her hand and kissed it. "Let's just agree that we are the two luckiest people to have found each other."

"Sure thing, Mr. Practical," Mikayla chuckled. "So, staying in one of your safehouses that didn't get outed in the data dump?"

"Nope, not one of Tony's, either." Clint pulled to the curb, stopping in front of an unassuming red brick building with a black front door. "Airbnb."

"Please tell me you checked it out first."

"A spy never reveals his secrets, but don't worry, I did." "Go ahead, take a look around." after parking the car at the curb, he got out, walked around, and opened Mikayla's door, and then the couple walked up the sidewalk. Clint punched in the unlock code on the keypad, the door unlocked, and the couple walked inside.

Mikayla did. The foyer opened into a large living room, a large white sectional facing a big-screen TV with a fully stocked movie shelf underneath. That room led into a spacious galley kitchen with updated stainless-steel appliances. Mikayla turned down the hallway, noticing a bathroom on the left and a small bedroom across the hall. At the end of the hallway was a linen closet. To the right of that was a bedroom slightly larger than the first one she saw. Across from the bedroom on the other side of the linen closet was the master bedroom. The décor was a soft blue and grey. Mikayla walked in, noticing the large master bathroom. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned around and saw Clint carrying in their luggage. "I would've helped, you know."

"I know," Clint set down the bags. "I thought you'd want to take a look around."

Mikayla nodded. "Good views, good sightlines. You can see the harbor from here." She walked to the windows, crossed her arms across her chest, and looked out. "I still don't understand how something so peaceful can turn so horrible."

Clint walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her, propping his head on her shoulder. "What is it you're always telling me, focus on the positive? Focus on why we do what we do?"

"I know," Mikayla sighed. "You're right. It's not always easy, though."

Clint kissed her cheek. "Come on." He released her but took her hand. "Let's go do a touristy thing. I think it'll help you refocus."

"Oh?"

"Yep, they have a Portland Japanese Garden. It'll allow us to slow down, take things easy before we start on our mission tomorrow." The couple went to the car, and Clint drove them to the attraction. After showing the tickets and being granted entry, the couple strolled through the different areas, holding hands and enjoying nature. "See? There's the waterfall." Clint pointed it out to Mikayla.

"It's beautiful and so peaceful." Mikayla looked over at him. "You always know how to keep me grounded. Thanks." She leaned over and kissed him.

"Always, babe. Let's head to the tearoom." Mikayla nodded, and the couple enjoyed the sights as they walked back to the tearoom. They were seated, and as they were waiting for their tea, the couple talked about nothing specific and reviewed the photos on their phones. Clint sensed something going on in the lobby, so he reached for the gun he kept in his ankle holster. "Here, take this," he removed it and handed it to Mikayla. "I know you left yours in your purse." Mikayla heard a commotion and, taking the gun, racked it, and made sure she was ready to fire. Suddenly, the door burst open, and several men dressed in black came through carrying automatic machine guns and started shooting. "Get down!" Clint yelled, shoving Mikayla under the table. Clint pulled out his gun, and the two of them started shooting back. Unfortunately, they ran out of ammo before the bad guys. Clint whispered, "I love you, don't ever forget that." The last thing Mikayla heard before the world went black was her screams.

"Damage to the L-3 and L-4." Mikayla heard faint voices coming from her left side, but everything seemed fuzzy. Either she had swallowed a blanket, or she was on the strong painkillers.

"Strong painkillers," Mikayla heard another voice, closer this time.

Turning her head (which hurt like a mother), she could make out the shape of Nat standing next to her. 'Crap,' she thought to herself, 'she's standing, not sitting. This has to be serious.' "Nat?"

"Yep." Natasha knelt next to the bed.

"What happened?" Mikayla struggled to get the words out.

"What do you remember?"

"Hurts to think."

Natasha nodded. "I'll tell you what I know. You and Clint were on a mission in Portland, Oregon. The two of you were at a tearoom when a group of men burst in and started shooting, at least that's what the locals have told us. You were hit in both shoulders, a bullet grazed your head, and you have a concussion." Mikayla looked at Nat and knew there was something the other woman wasn't telling her, but in her confused state, she couldn't figure out what it was, so she nodded, closed her eyes, and drifted off again.

The next time she woke up, Mikayla was a little less fuzzy and more aware of her surroundings. Opening her eyes, this time Steve was at her bedside. "Where's Clint?"

"Mikayla, you're awake."

"You're too calm. Where's my husband?" She looked at Steve, who she realized for the first time had dark circles under his eyes and, were those bags? "Steve? Answer me, please."

"He's alive."

"I want to see him." Mikayla tried to sit up, but there was pressure holding her down. Looking down, she saw a metal arm across her chest. "Bucky, let me up."

"Nope."

Mikayla took a deep breath, which she realized hurt like hell, mainly because there was a damn metal arm holding her down. "Where's Clint?"

The two men exchanged glances. "Columbia," Steve finally answered. "We've been rotating between the two of you."

"Why?"

"According to witnesses, he draped himself over you, got shot in the back," Bucky replied. "Mikayla, he's paralyzed."

"No, no, we're supposed to be on our honeymoon. We just got married! Can they fix him? Please, tell me it's not permanent." Buzzers and alarms started going off as Mikayla's heart rate increased, and she began hyperventilating.

Dr. Cho rushed into the room, quickly assessing the situation, and plunged a needle into Mikayla's IV. The doctor also increased the oxygen level coming through the nasal cannula. The trio kept an eye on Mikayla as her vitals returned to normal. "I gave her some anti-anxiety medication, which should keep her calm. I also put a pulse oximeter on her finger to measure her oxygen since I increased her levels. I'll be back soon to check on her." Dr. Cho patted Mikayla's arm. "I know the doctors at Columbia. They're the best in the business. Mr. Stark wouldn't have it any other way."

"Thank you, Dr. Cho," Steve said. The doctor smiled and nodded as she left the room. "Dr. Cho's right, Mikayla. Tony and Fury called in the best doctors."

"Was it a personal attack? On us?"

Steve shook his head. "A former employee who had a grudge after being fired. Wrong place, wrong time."

"I'd say I'm never leaving the tower again, but we all know it's not always a safe place, either." Mikayla's emotions got the best of her. Tears began rolling down her cheeks.

Steve and Bucky each took one of her hands, doing their best to comfort her. Steve's phone rang. "Rogers." He released a sigh. "Thanks." The call ended. "That was Sam. Clint's awake." Mikayla looked puzzled. "Sorry, I didn't get a chance to finish telling you about Clint. The surgeons were working on removing the bullets, and fitting Clint for new legs is the only way I can explain it. It's something Tony's been developing. You know him, always trying to use his knowledge for the greater good." Mikayla nodded. "I can't explain the particulars, just that Clint is getting new legs, and the doctors are working on the legs talking to his back and his brain. We've got a direct line to his room."

"Please, I need to see him."

Steve turned on the television and linked it to the one in Clint's room at the other hospital. "Hey, babe," Clint said weakly.

"Hey, Clint." Mikayla smiled. She was worried about how pale he looked, though she was happy to see his bright blue eyes.

"How's my kick-ass wife?"

"Not feeling very kick-assy at the moment."

"Guys, can you give us a bit? Yes, you, too, Sam." Steve and Bucky nodded, squeezed Mikayla's hands, then left. Clint chuckled as Sam rolled his eyes and went into the hallway to give Clint and Mikayla some privacy. "I hear you've been out for a while."

Mikayla shrugged. "I guess no one's said anything. Steve was telling me about, about you. Clint?"

"Hey, hey. It's going to work out, I promise. I feel like Forrest Gump, telling everyone I've got new legs." That got a chuckle out of Mikayla. "There's that smile I love. We'll get through this. OK?"

"You've never lied to me before, so even though I don't know how this will work out, I trust you."

"If you fall, I will catch you."

"I will be waiting."

"Get some rest for me, OK? We'll be back together before you know it."

"I will, for you. I love you."

"Love you, too." The transmission ended. Mikayla felt better after seeing Clint, even if it was only through a television screen. She closed her eyes again, safe in the knowledge that they'd be together very soon.