Just a small tid bit to hold you guys over while I work on a very intense next chapter. Let me know what you think. I have created a yahoo email address (ecorleyfanfic ) for those who have questions about the story or want to give me private feedback.

Eden POV

After Clint and I had broken apart from our hug this morning, I saw the red flooding his cheeks. The great Hawkeye wasn't use to displaying such emotions. He was supposed to be cold and calculated, a perfectly trained spy (and assassin when needed). It was almost inconceivable that "tough as nails" Clint Barton would ever need the comfort of a hug. Instead of prolonging his embarrassment and making him feel even more uncomfortable than he already was, I told him I was ready to get started with my training. I couldn't help but return the relieved smile he had given me. As I had gotten dressed this morning, Bucky watching me all the while, I had thought about my training. I was ready to kick it up a notch and learn everything possible, even the things Bucky deemed unnecessary...I wanted to be prepared for anything. I would never let the events of last night happen again.

Clint wanted me to warm up before we began, so after I had changed into my work out clothes, he led me to the punching bag and stood behind it, prepared to hold it in place as I landed my hits. It wasn't until my fist made contact with the bag, that I realized my hands hurt. I took a sharp intake of breath and uncurled my fist. Looking down, I noticed the swelling and the light bruising covering the underside of them.

Nice Eden! Real nice! Give them even more reason to worry about you!

I looked up to see Clint had already released the bag and was stomping over to examine my hands. He looked up at me and frowned when he saw the bruises that had formed. I shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze and threw him a pleading look...silently begging him not to ask questions. I was in no mood to talk about what had transpired this morning. The break down had happened and there was no taking it back now. The whole ordeal had only worried Bucky more and I had quickly decided It would never happen again. I was much stronger than that...much stronger than that pathetic woman who had been crying those tears this morning and slamming her fist on that window sill because the physical pain was easier to deal with than the emotional pain. Bucky was still trying to deal with his own demons and I didn't want him worrying about mine.

Clint didn't ask me what happened. He either already knew or was too good of a friend to ask me about it...either way, I appreciated it. Without a word, he stepped out of the room and returned moments later with a black duffel bag. I watched as he unzipped it and dug around inside until he pulled out two rolls of ace bandages. I took a few steps forward and looked around his hunched over form to get a peek at what else was in the bag.

A first aid kit?

It wasn't just your average, run of the mill first aid kit though. I knew this one had to be meant for SHIELD agents out in the field. It didn't hold just the basics like bandages and gauze, although it was plentifully stocked with both. Inside the very well organized case, I saw there were also gloves, suture kits, a stethoscope, and a variety of empty and filled syringes.

Clint saw me eyeing the bag with interest and gave a small smile, "You never know what you're going to need in the field...better safe than sorry" he said with a shrug.

I pointed to the filled syringes, "What are all those?" I asked curiously.

He looked down at the bag and began pointing each of them out to me, "Morphine, Lidocaine, Epinephrine, Coritisol..."

I listened to him as he went through the entire kit, explaining to me what each thing did and in what situation they would be used.

"You know, it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to learn some basic first aid and CPR" he said as he zipped the bag back up and put it off to the side. He gave me a sideways glance as he pulled the plastic covering off the first ace bandage. I knew right then he had spoken to Bucky or Steve about what had happened last night. I looked down at my bruised hands and all I could imagine was the red blood that had been coating them last night...the blood caked under my nails.

Sam's blood.

I had been relieved when Bucky told me during the ride to SHIELD this morning that Sam was expected to make a full recovery. The guilt was lessened dramatically but I still felt a tinge of it. It was a small part that I planned to keep stowed away, a constant reminder to myself that I needed to always be ready, always be prepared to fight for my life. I imagined Bucky would do whatever it took to never allow me to get into any situation where I would ever need to fight. I had seen it in his eyes this morning in the car, Bucky might be okay with me continuing my training with Clint but that is where it ended. Overprotective Bucky was back and it didn't look I would be getting rid of him anytime soon.

The only thing on my mind was the threat that had yet to reveal itself, still hiding in the shadows.

Milton Kaine

He was out there searching for Bucky, dead set on turning him back into the Winter Soldier so he could do his bidding. I had already been warned by Fury...by Clint...even by Bucky himself that Kaine would do whatever was needed to acquire what he desired. Right now, he wanted his weapon back...Bucky, my soldier. I knew I was a target and while that knowledge should terrify me, it didn't...or at least not as much as it should. I wanted to be with Bucky and if I had to fight for him than that's exactly what I would do...it was all be worth it in the end. I would bravely stand in the line of fire for Bucky...I would sacrifice everything for him. I knew the moment we met on the bench that from then on, it would always be him...our lives had become intertwined that night. It was just fate...which was something I never believed in until I met Bucky Barnes.

Bucky and I were each other's biggest weakness and I knew Kaine would try and use that against us. If I had to go to war to keep him with me, that's exactly what I would prepare for.

War? Eden are you ready for that?

An image of Bucky looking into my eyes as he made love to me this morning made its way into my head. The love and devotion I had seen in his blue eyes was far more than I could ever deserve from another human being. That happy image faded suddenly into something much darker..Bucky dressed as the Winter Soldier, his eyes now cold and unfeeling. I refused to let Kaine take everything away and twist Bucky back into that man he had been. 70 years of hell was more than enough for one man...he deserved some peace.

Yes, I'm ready to go to war for him. How are you going to keep Bucky safe when Kaine comes for him? How far are you willing to go Eden?

"Eden" Clint said loudly, startling me and causing me to jump back.

I realized I had been standing there frozen in place, eyes tightly shut and fists clenched at my side. I let my hands relax and looked down to see my nails had left crescent shaped marks on my palms.

I blinked a few times, surprised when I felt the wetness on my cheeks. I lowered my face and swiped my hand quickly across my cheek to wipe the tear away. I took a deep breath and forced myself to show a completely blank face. When I looked up, Clint was staring back at me, a look of concern evident in his eyes.

I forced out a laugh, which only came out sounding exactly like that, "Sorry, I must have zoned out for a second" I said, hearing just how dead panned my voice was, "Let's get this over with so we can get started"

He nodded his head at me and reached for my wrist, examining it once again before he started wrapping it. He ended up unwrapping it and starting over several times...Clint Barton, the perfectionist. I felt myself growing more and more annoyed as the time passed. Thinking about Kaine had gotten me worked up and I was ready to get to sparring and release some of my frustration.

"Clint is this really necessary?" I grumbled, frowning as I watched him wrap the ace bandage even tighter around my left wrist.

Clint looked up from his work and scowled, his narrowed eyes daring me to continue complaining. I rolled my own eyes but shut my mouth anyway, choosing instead to flex the fingers of my right hand, gritting my teeth when I felt the slight tinge of pain. I couldn't deny that it didn't hurt so there was no point arguing with him.

"Would you rather hurt yourself further and not be able to spar at all?" he challenged, glancing up at me before looking back down and focusing on the task at hand. I closed my mouth quickly and bit my tongue to keep myself from giving him a snotty retort. My frustration wasn't with Clint and I knew I shouldn't take it out on him.

I was just about to apologize when he spoke up again, "...because I'm perfectly fine with taking a week off while you recover from a sprained wrist, or worse yet, a broken one"

The apology died on my lips and was replaced with hot anger. I stood there, silently fuming, still determined not to argue with him and just let it go. I was floored by the next words out of his mouth.

"I'm surprised Bucky even let you come today. He should have made you stay at home" he muttered under his breath but unfortunately for him still loud enough for me to hear.

"Bucky doesn't LET me do anything" I said loudly, jerking my wrist out of his hand, "I'm a grown woman Agent Barton, I'll do whatever I damn well please!"

Clint flinched upon hearing me speak his name so formally but it didn't keep him from glaring back at me. The ace bandage, which had unraveled and had fallen to the floor, was quickly snatched up by him.

I heard him give an angry huff, "That's not what I meant and you know it Ms. Page" he said, his words filled with sarcasm. He reached for my wrist again but I pulled away again, crossing my arms over my chest and staring at him angrily.

I stood there glaring at him, furious beyond belief at his notion that Bucky could exercise that much control over me. If I wanted to do something, I would do it. Unless Bucky could make a valid argument, he didn't get to decide my life choices. He couldn't make me do anything! Clint's comment had me fuming but there was something else in my head that was bothering me more than his words.

But it's okay for you to decide you're willing to risk your life for him? Is that what Bucky would choose?

I brushed those thoughts away and instead focused all my anger on the man in front of me. Clint and I stared each other down for a full minute before I finally saw him start to cave in. It started with him shifting his feet uneasily and then I noticed his jaw muscle twitch just slightly. I kept staring him down until finally he let out a loud, exaggerated sigh and began to apologize.

"I'm sorry Eden. I really didn't mean it that way. It's just...I'm sure Bucky is worried about you..." he cleared his throat, "...and he's not the only one"

He had rushed through those last words, ignoring the grin that suddenly appeared on my face as I won the battle, "Will you please just let me wrap your wrists now? The longer you argue and fight me on this, the longer it will take for us to begin. I know you're restless and ready to jump back into training. Just do things my way, for once! Please!"

I let out a deep sigh and thrust my wrist forward, closing my eyes so I wouldn't have to see that arrogant smirk appear on his face. I felt his hands begin wrapping the ace bandage around my wrist and hand once again. I opened my eyes and saw that he was watching me...that damn smirk right where I expected it to be.

"Apology accepted" I said, raising my eyebrows as I reminded him that it was he who had apologized to me.

The smirk faded and I stood there, gloating silently as he wrapped one wrist and then the other.

Once he was finished, he had me take a few swings at the punching bag, testing his work and making sure the bandages were wrapped tightly enough to keep me from causing any further damage. He deemed me ready and I followed him over the sparring mat, my heart suddenly racing as we stood in front of each other and prepared to start. I didn't know it then, but that moment was the beginning...It's where everything would begin to change for me.