Consider this my reward for waiting so long for this chapter - a cliffhanger! I know, I'm mean, that's what authors do!
Thankfully, Mikayla slept through the night so that Clint could grab some shuteye. He was awake when she began stirring. Slowly, she opened her eyes and peered over at him. "Morning, sunshine." Clint leaned in, brushed a lock of hair out of her face, and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well?"
Mikayla nodded. "It's getting easier. The nightmares seem to be fading into the background."
"You doing okay after the outing?" Clint picked up one of her hands and caressed it.
"A few aches and pains," Mikayla replied, flexing her fingers on both hands, "these are still working. I hope that means I get discharged soon. I can't wait to sleep in our bed."
A door opened from the lab, and Doctor Cho walked in, carrying a breakfast tray. "As you know, we're all about hope here, so if all goes well, you should be discharged tomorrow. Your vitals are stable, and your injuries are healing, so your diet will be the only restrictions other than the physical ones." The doctor set the tray on the table and rolled it over to Mikayla. "We'll keep you on a soft diet for a few days, then gradually introduce regular foods into your system. You'll also have a strict physical therapy regimen." As Doctor Cho talked, she took vitals and handed Mikayla her morning meds. "We've also noticed your absence seizures have greatly diminished, so we'll take you off those meds. You'll be able to take non-prescription medicine for the aches and pains in your hands, so there's another regularly scheduled medicine we can remove from the repertoire." Mikayla gave her a thumbs up as she started eating her oatmeal. Clint, who'd apparently been spending time with Katie and Philip, gave finger gun motions toward the doctor, who shook her head in exasperation. "You have to love adult children, and this tower is full of them," she chuckled, then turned and left the couple alone.
"Guess this means I need to clean up the suite," Clint joked.
Mikayla took a sip of coffee. "Have you been up there that much to make a mess?"
"Mess is a relative term," Clint smiled. "it's more like needing to be tidied up."
"Tony lock you out of his workshop again, so you're working on arrows?" Clint raised his eyebrows. "Don't look so surprised. It keeps your hands busy and mind off other things, namely me. We've not been married very long, but I know that about you, Clinton Hawkeye Barton. You're not happy unless your hands are occupied. If I didn't know better, I'd say you have ADHD."
"Nah, just handsy with you, babe." Clint wiggled his eyebrows, causing Mikayla to almost spit out the spoonful of oatmeal she'd just put in her mouth. "What?"
"How long have you been saving that comment for?"
"I'll never tell, but it made you laugh, so I'm counting it as a success. Also, didn't the doctor say something about physical therapy?" Mikayla nodded. "I've got the perfect therapy." Clint suggestively wiggled his eyebrows again, then whispered, "Hand job therapy." His wife groaned and threw a pillow at him.
The couple sat and talked while Mikayla finished her breakfast. Clint wanted to spend as much time with his wife today as possible, even though in the back of his mind, he was thinking about the upcoming mission, wondering how long it would take before the world would be rid of the cockroaches known as Rumlow and Rollins. "I hope my clothes still fit."
Clint turned his attention back to Mikayla. "Sweetheart, I'll get you an entirely new wardrobe if I need to."
"I know. I'll just be happy once I get to wear something besides a hospital gown, not that it's not comfortable. I also can't wait to soak in a tub." Clint wondered if she still had her phobia about showers; her response gave him the answer.
As they were talking, a nurse came in, removed Mikayla's breakfast tray (leaving the coffee mug), then left. Clint reached over and took the mug from Mikayla's hand. "Doctor Barton says you've had too much coffee," slurped down the remaining liquid. Mikayla shook her head, knowing better than to come between Clint and his coffee. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
"Every day, Clint."
"Good. I love you more than coffee, but not always before coffee."
Mikayla groaned. "That may be about the corniest thing you've ever said, and that's in a long line of corny statements you've made." She leaned over and kissed him. "And I love every one of them."
"I hate to break up this touching moment, but I need to borrow your husband."
"Aw, Nat, no," Clint whined.
"Aw, Clint, yes," Natasha mocked him. "Time to spar."
"Go, dear heart. I'll be here when you get back, and I'll see if they'll get me a pot of coffee." Clint stuck out his lower lip and pouted. "You're adorable."
"It's part of my charm." Clint kissed his wife again before Nat grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room.
After Clint left, Mikayla leaned back into the pillow. "I don't think I'll truly feel like I'm home until I'm out of here." She sighed, picked up the remote, and turned the TV to a classic movie channel.
Around noon, her lunch tray was delivered, and she practically inhaled the soup, jello, and protein shake. Clint returned just after lunch, and they spent time together until he was called away. "Should be a short mission. I'll be back up here when we're done. Love you, babe."
"Love you, too. I'll be waiting."
The couple kissed, and Clint left to meet the team in the conference room. He slid into the chair next to Natasha as she slid a cup of coffee over to him. Clint nodded and immediately downed the coffee. "Waiting on Steve and Tony."
"As usual."
"Heard that, Legolas." Tony burst into the room, Steve not far behind. "I'd like to draw your attention to the front. Friday, if you please." The A.I. displayed a series of photos on the front wall. "Cap?"
Tony stepped aside as Steve moved to the front. "Here are the two buildings. We're changing things up a bit. Thor, you're swapping with Wilson. We're going to use our stealth group to go to Sandy Hook and infiltrate that complex, while the second group," Steve motioned to Tony, Thor, and himself, "will cover the road between the two buildings. When the first group begins their attack, we'll fan out along the road as we expect the group in the other building to travel that road to help with the attack. Bruce, this is where you'll probably come in." Bruce nodded. "We'll take the Quinjet, use its cloaking device, and land between the two buildings. Keep the channels clear so we can hear what's happening in each building. Barton, Bucky, we'll drop you off. Find the highest spot to help direct traffic until you're needed for the fight. Wilson will send up Redwing to help with the view. Romanoff? You and Wilson will head into the building and report what you find." Steve looked around the table. "Remember, it's a two-fold mission. We need to stop the transfer of arms and take care of Rumlow and Rollins." Clint started to raise his hand to say something, but Steve stopped him. "Take that however you want, Barton." Clint nodded his head and wrapped his hand around the coffee mug. It wasn't like he needed Steve's approval 'cause he was gonna do what he was gonna do, but it was good to know he wouldn't get the Captain America Look of Disapproval and feel like he was sinning against the US of A. Nat elbowed him. She knew exactly what Clint was thinking and smirked. Sometimes it was eerie how well she knew him, though that's what made them such a successful duo.
Tony noticed the clock on the wall. "I've got food being delivered any time, Cap. I suggest we move to the common area."
Steve sighed. "Suck it up, buttercup," Bucky chimed in. "Some of us are hungry and need to eat before we become hangry."
Sam's eyes lit up. "Did the old man just say hangry? Way to be up on your modern lingo." Bucky threw a pencil at him, hitting Sam in the middle of his forehead.
"I think you've lost control of the room, Steve," Nat not so helpfully pointed out, standing up and pushing her chair back under the table.
Thor grinned and jumped up from his chair. "A feast awaits, Captain. Warriors will fight more focused if they do not have to think about their hunger. Plus, I must meet my friends. They'll be arriving soon." A loud thunderclap sounded. "Ah, they are here." Thor looked over at Clint. "I asked them here to be as another level of security for Lady Mikayla. They also had an ulterior motive. Fandral is smitten with Miss Darcy and wishes to court her."
"I'm gonna have to stock up on popcorn," Clint muttered, then raised his voice. "Thanks for having them here, Thor. I don't trust Rumlow or Rollins. They may use their attack as a ruse to take us away from here."
The door opened, and the Wakandans appeared. "We shall make sure the tower is well-guarded," T'Challa announced as he entered the room, flanked as usual by Shuri and Ayo. "The rest of the Dora Milage are already stationed around the tower."
"Boss, the food is here. I'm thankful for the assistance in guarding the tower, King T'Challa."
T'Challa smiled. "It is always our pleasure to help our friends. Shuri also wanted to check on Mikayla, and we came bearing gifts from Chewie and Talitha. But, please, do not let me stop you from your meal." He stepped out of the way to allow the team to leave and go to the common room.
Shuri took the opportunity to slip out and go to the medical wing to visit Mikayla, hoping to keep her occupied while the team was on the mission. She opened the door to Mikayla's room and discovered her yelling at something on the TV. "I'll take this to mean your recovery's going well, Mikayla."
"Shuri!" Mikayla exclaimed. "How are you?"
The Wakandan princess came over and hugged Mikayla. "I am well, thank you. How are your hands?"
Mikayla held them up, showing Shuri the compression gloves Tony had given to her. "I'm getting discharged tomorrow, so everything's going well."
"Any particular reason you're screaming at the television?" Shuri sat down in a chair next to Mikayla's bed.
"Watching Australian Rules Football. I had Friday cue up some of the games I missed. I don't know all the rules, but it looks fun. I tend to get a bit involved in the game."
"My brother is the same way watching futbol. Who are we watching?"
"Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs." Mikayla grinned. "I know, cats versus dogs. It's cheesy, but I'm a Cats fan, but don't ask me why." Shuri and Mikayla continued the conversation, talking about the game, Mikayla's hands, and Wakanda.
As Mikayla and Shuri talked, the rest of the group ate and went over last-minute plans in the common roos. They greeted the Asgardians and snickered as Fandral made himself scarce to meet Darcy, who was staying on Thor's floor. Sif, Hogun, and Volstagg stationed themselves around the tower, ensuring it was even more protected than usual. "Okay, everyone," Steve said. "Grab anything you need and be on the Quinjet in 15 minutes."
Ten minutes later, everyone was on the jet and getting strapped in. Tony was piloting the plane as Clint was being dropped off with Nat, Sam, and Bucky, so Tony was the remaining pilot. Bucky theorized all Steve knew about planes was how to jump out of them without a parachute and never let him forget it. He'd tell him that was a perfect example of taking the stupid with him, which Steve was specifically ordered not to do. Bruce could fly it in a pinch, and Thor was out of the question. Of course, had anyone thought to ask him, they'd learn he would've been able to fly it, but he much preferred to steer Mjolnir than a plane. As Tony got near a clearing in the woods close to the building at Sandy Hook, he made sure the cloaking device was still operating, then lowered the plane and the ramp. The quartet hurried out of the plan, and Tony flew away to the planned landing spot between the two buildings of the armory. The group had worked together enough that no words needed to be spoken; communication was done through hand gestures and eye movement. Clint and Nat were dressed in their typical black SHIELD stealth uniforms. Clint had his bow slung across his shoulders with his quiver on his back. Nat's widow bites were around her wrists. Bucky's outfit resembled the Winter Soldier's outfit, but without the mask since he no longer needed to hide who he was. Sam was wearing his red and silver Falcon outfit with the wing pack on his back.
Each of them, of course, was carrying hidden weapons. The group approached the building, and once the snipers found a couple of sturdy trees to use, they split off from the others and climbed up. Sam put Redwing in the air and followed Natasha into the building. Natasha used a device to bypass the keycode, and the duo entered. They found exactly what they expected, darkened hallways and eerie silence. Sam looked to the right and noticed a stairwell, so he tapped Natasha on the shoulder and pointed. She nodded, took a canister from a pocket, and sprayed around the door to cover up any noise the door might make. When she finished, Natasha opened the door, and the two entered more darkness. Sam looked down at his wrist and got Natasha's attention, showing her heat signatures Redwing had discovered, then their earpieces crackled. "Guys," Clint said, "company headed your way from the water."
"Got it," Nat replied. "We're in the basement now."
"We're on it," Bucky said. "They'll send the newer ones in first. They're more expendable." Clint nodded and nocked a couple of arrows. As soon as he spotted the first wave, he drew back and released the projectiles, striking the first two in their throats. From the other tree, Bucky took out several more. An eerie silence followed the quick activity. "Widow?"
"Found the packages." Several thumps were heard over the comms. "And the guards. Could probably use some help. Sounds like there's more coming."
"On our way." Cap's strong voice replied. "We picked up some help along the way."
"Can't believe you all were raiding a military base and didn't include the military liaison."
"Rhodey, baby, it wasn't intentional."
"I'll add it to your tab, Tony."
"All for you, Rhodester."
"I brought along a friend who's also upset about not being invited. We're almost at the building, Natasha. Be meeting up with you shortly."
Clint and Bucky looked at each and shrugged. "So help me," Clint muttered, "if my wife busted out of medical…."
"Wouldn't be the first time a Barton did that, you know." Tony reminded him.
"Plus," Natasha said in between grunts, "you'd be proud of her."
"True, but then I'd kick her ass."
"Which is why I didn't bring her," Rhodey said as he landed in front of the first building.
"Clint, I can't believe you're going after the people that harmed my friend, and you didn't invite me."
"Wanda, I'll make it up to you, but I'm glad you're here now."
"Captain? What would you have me do?"
Steve, who had caught up to Wanda and Rhodey, answered, "Stay out here and monitor the surroundings." Wanda nodded and held out her hands, her fingertips beginning to turn red.
"Round 2, guys," Clint said into the comms. "More guys, more firepower this time." As proof, someone shot a rocket launcher toward the trees, causing Clint and Bucky to jump down, only to be surrounded by several men. Clint looked around. "Twenty of them, two of us," Clint said. "Someone's at a disadvantage."
"Sure as hell ain't us," Bucky growled, swinging his metal arm and knocking out several people. Clint was having a little more trouble (seeing as he didn't have a metal arm) but was still taking the enemy out at an alarming rate. Some laser was shot by the group attacking the base. It knocked down Clint and struck Bucky's arm, immobilizing it. "Shit!" Bucky began taking down the attackers by hitting them with knives thrown at them. He glanced over and saw four men holding Clint down and guns pointed at his head. "Hawkeye's down!" No sooner had he said that than someone came behind him, jabbing a needle into his neck. "Bucky!" Clint exclaimed before he was given the same treatment.
The rest of the attack was anti-climactic. With the added help of Rhodey and Wanda, the group quickly took care of the rest of the attackers. "Someone get to Barton and Barnes," Cap ordered as they obviously hadn't been heard from for some time.
"On it, Capsicle." Steve rolled his eyes, his usual response to Tony's nicknames.
"Redwing's already there," Sam said, exiting the building, bleeding from a cut above his eye, and we've got a problem. They're not there."
