Hi there….thousand apologies for the delay. Hope you guys are still with me. Kinda bit quiet out there so don't be shy to drop a line or two.
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Chapter 5 – Rescue
The sound of a helicopter broke the serenity of the forest reserve below. It hovered near the tree tops. The copter pilot, Agent James signaled to his co pilot, Agent Cross that they have arrived at the scene and pointed to the area where they could see smoke rose between the trees.
Cross tapped his helmet. 'Hey James, you know that we are supposed to go on leave shore tomorrow, right?' Cross glanced at James while scanning the area for an area to land. The forest canopy was not that dense but they still need an open area to land safely. They have been called that evening for an emergency extraction of Hawkeye and Black Widow. Upon hearing the two names, James and Cross looked at each other and an understanding crossed their face. Cross immediately added additional medical supplies and ammo to their already prepared gear.
'Yeah. Why?' James fiddled with few buttons and light flooded the area below. They could see the cliff and the broken railings. Amidst the trees branches they could also see the wreckage but they couldn't see anybody moving down there.
'Oh.. nothing. Just stating the fact.' Cross replied with a smirk on his face.
James gave his friend a side long glance. 'What are you up to now, Cross? We are not going to the same bar, okay. I think they have crossed your name from their guest list,' James chuckled remembering the haste retreat they had to make when Cross accidently spilled his drink on the club's burly muscled man. Then while trying to snatch a napkin to wipe it, he inadvertently, smashed his glass on another patron's head. That started the bar brawl which they were lucky to quickly find the exit during the whole commotion and escaped.
'That was so not my fault, man,' Cross gave James a hurt look.
An owl flew from one of the branches and Cross chuckled nervously.
'That bird was lucky or it might hit the blades, man.' Cross smacked James on the shoulder. James just glared at him. Cross could be a kid sometime. He remembered the time when they were on a supply run to the mainland when James showed him the meteor shower across the sea. He was so engrossed that he asked James to fly nearer. He got a smack on the head for stupidly suggest that without realizing that one of the meteor could have caused them to crash the jet. Cross was wide eyed when he realized that he had said it out loud and James had to chuckle at the absurdity of his expression on his youth face.
'Yeah…or it might hit the blades and then we go down and be the one that needed to be rescued by the rescue team that's on their way here to rescue Hawkeye…..moroon.' James voice had risen by the end of it. He poked Cross's chest and shook his head. Cross stared at James realizing that that could be just the scenario if the owl hit them. James chuckled lightly at Cross's expression and continued scanning the area. Cross gulped and returned his glance towards the ground.
'Hey hey…down there. 8 o'clock. Did you see it. That's him. Hawkeye.' Cross signaled James to the area and the copter hovered at the area.
'Radio the info in, Cross. I'll try to land this bird down….', he added, 'safely.' Cross glared at him. 'Funny…ha ha ha..'.
'Sigma team, come in. This is Team 3. We have found the package.' Cross waited for a response while watching Hawkeye for any movements.
'Team 3, this is Sigma 1. Received. ETA 6 mins.' James looked at Cross questioningly.
'Was that Coulson?' James asked Cross.
'Yes, Team 3. Identify.' Coulson's voice was clear and Cross smirked at James.
'This is Agent James, Sir. We have Hawkeye on sight but we are not detecting any movement. We need to find a place to land, Sir.' Cross excitedly showed James to a clearing downhill from the cliff and immediately maneuvered the copter to land.
'Roger that Agent. Scan the area for hostiles and report.' Coulson tapped the driver to step on it. He was glad that they've found Hawkeye but he was concerned when they reported no movement.
That kid can really attract trouble wherever he goes…
Few minutes later he heard James reporting that no hostiles detected except for a few birds – he thought he heard a groan from Agent Cross - and that they have set down and preparing to check on Hawkeye.
'Hope you guys brought enough ropes. The cliff is about 50 meters steep and he was lying at about 20 – 30 meters down from the road. Cross is making his way up there, Sir.' James report cackled in the radio.
'Roger that. We are approaching the curve now. Maintain security.' Coulson signaled for the team to be ready.
Once the vehicle had stopped at the top of the cliff, they quickly took position and signaled that the area was clear. The rescue team immediately prepared with the rope and grapple hook on the railing and repelled down to the area. Coulson grabbed one of the ropes and climbed down to the area. The wreckage was still smoking and the rescue team had sprayed fire repellant as a precaution and inspect for foul play. When he reached down, he quickly made his way to Clint who was lying still. It reminded Coulson of the day Clint got shot.
This is too soon. He told himself worriedly.
'How is he?' Coulson stood at a side trying not to disturb the medics who were working on Clint. He could see the gash at his head and the small cuts on his hands. The phone was still lying next to him. He picked up the phone and placed it in his pocket. He scanned the area looking for Natasha, even though he knew he wouldn't see her.
'The gash was not that bad but it still bleeds. Bruised ribs and concussed. He's gonna have a major headache when he wakes. No broken bones but there's a puncture mark on his elbow. He may be drugged, Sir.' The medic showed Coulson the crook of the elbow where the punctured mark could be clearly seen. He signaled for the stretcher to be brought nearer. They lifted Clint on the stretcher and attached the ropes to secure it for the team to lower it down to copter.
'Sir, do you want to follow us?' Coulson looked up and realized that the agent in front of him was waiting for his answer.
'Cross, right?' When the agent nodded and smiled, Coulson acknowledged him to be the same agent that had helped in Hawkeye extraction from the last mission. He smiled and nodded. The stretcher had already being lowered down and Cross gave him one of the rope.
'Not going to carry you down, Sir.' Cross smiled mischievously and Coulson blinked at him.
His smile faltered and quickly repelled down to join the medic team in loading Hawkeye into the copter. Coulson just shook his head wondering how in the world Hawkeye managed to surround himself with misfits and smart mouth people. He quickly tied the rope and climbed down the cliff after instructing the cleaning crew to make sure that the wreckage to be brought back to their base.
When he climbed in the copter and sat beside Clint's stretcher, the pilot who he assumed to be Agent James saluted him and told him to put the head gear on. Cross had already secured Clint and was about to close the door. He paused and looked at Clint. He caught Coulson's stare and tapped his headgear. Coulson placed the gear on and Cross smile.
'He'll be okay, sir. Don't you worry. We'll take care of our precious cargo, sir.'
He closed the door halfway but stopped and smirked to Coulson before added, 'That include you too, sir'. And before Coulson could voice his response, he quickly closed the door and jumped to his seat beside James. James just stared at him and then looked over his shoulder at Coulson and shook his head. Coulson snickered at the exchange and placed his hand on Hawkeye.
'Let's go home, Agents.'
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..Sorry for the short chapter.
Agent James and Agent Cross were back. Actually I'm looking forward to write about them a bit more. Maybe I'll include them in a later chapter.
Stay safe uols..
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Shila1378