Hi guys…so sorry for not updating. Had a little accident right after I posted my last chapter. Took a tumble down the stairs and won 4 days 3 nights in one of the big white sterile building's single room. Feeling so much better now and I realized that I actually have few chapters ready for posting. Don't wanna waste any more time, so took a glance at it and decided to post it today. Enjoy it, guys. Mistakes all mine… so, so sorry..
Chapter 12 – Chance
.
.
.
The door suddenly banged opened and startled Natasha from her wayward thoughts. She was thinking about Clint and their Monaco's mission. She lifted her head up and peered with narrowed eyes at the door. Alexei was standing with a smug look on his face and had his hands across his chest. Natasha really had enough of this cat and mouse game and fervently hoped that this time would be the last time she would see him.
So, she sighed and asked, 'What now, Alexei? Did someone steal your favorite toy or maybe you had your -.' Natasha stopped her taunting when Alexei started to laugh hysterically. Great, someone took his tiny brain and stuffed with a maniac shitty brain. She chuckled silently and stared at him. Alexei took a deep breath and started to move closer.
'Well, Talia,' Natasha rolled her eyes and snorted loudly, ' I just come to see how you are and if you have any special request, you know, do you need anything extra, Chinese food or change of clothe etc etc… You can always ask me, Talia. I'm not that barbaric.' Alexei fingered her tattered cloth and brushed her skin underneath. 'Perhaps a change of cloth so that you would be all made up and pretty.' Alexei smiled conspiringly and lightly touched her earrings. 'Pretty. They suited you. A gift, is it?' He clucked his tongue and ran his finger on her ear lobes.
'Move your finger if you treasured them.' She threatened him fiercely that caused Alexei's finger to pause. He glanced down to Natasha who remained stoic and eyes staring at the opened door. He dropped his hand and strode out the door but stopped at the threshold. 'This could be avoided Talia, if you would just proceed as instructed in your last assignment. It is a shame to waste talents and skills like yours.' With that the cell door closed with a clicked and it left Natasha wondering what the hell did Alexei meant by that.
Her last assignment given by Red Room was a success. She had terminated the target and had returned to Red Room with Alexei and Ivan clasping their hands at their prized girl. She was certain that she was given a very rare day off which she spent quietly in her room. Later, Ivan himself delivered an assignment for her to terminate a target who worked in the hospital. She managed to complete the assignment but the consequences had horrifically scarred her. Clint had saved her soul that day and she had learned the atrocity of the Red Room soon after. She tried to go back and saved the other girls but they had destroyed everything and no one had survived the destruction. Natasha closed her eyes at the memory. A sudden wave of guilt and anger washed over her and she renewed her struggle to break free.
.
.
.
.
.
Clint and Cross slowly made their way to the hangar bay. Cross was quiet but he knew even in this condition, Hawkeye was still lethal and that he would rather be alive than dead. As they made their way to the one of the jets, Clint poked him and instructed him to lead to their designated jet both James and himself had prepped. Cross smiled at some of the mechanics that were seen working on other jets. They saw who was with him and quickly returned to their task averting their eyes from Hawkeye. They walked up the ramp and Clint pushed Cross at the co-pilot seat while he plopped himself down to the pilot seat.
'Err…Agent Barton.' Cross tempted fate and turned in his seat and faced Clint who was preparing the flight sequence. Clint looked at him and blinked as if he only realized that Cross was with him. 'Mind telling me what happened.'
Clint blinked few times and really looked at Cross who squirmed under the scrutinized stare.
'I'm sorry to get you involved in this, Cross, but I need to be somewhere fast. Agent Romanoff's life depends on it.'
'Why didn't you say in the first place? How come you didn't go to Director or Agent Coulson? I'm sure they can help you. Why the secrecy? And -' Cross suddenly stopped and his brow furrowed.
'Agent Barton, does anyone know what you're doing, like, now?' Cross had a feeling that he wouldn't like the answer, so he waited a breath and stared at Hawkeye. Clint busied himself with preflight check but he could tell that Cross was putting two and two together and the outcome was not what he had expected.
A deep sighed came from the co-pilot chair and Clint, having finished with the preflight check, sat back in his chair and stared ahead.
'Take us to the coordinate that I've logged in, Cross and do it fast.'
'As you wish, Agent.' Clint closed his eyes at Cross's resigned voice.
Since the jet had been prepped for flight previously and all info were logged in, Cross only needed to call in the flight control centre. They were off without a problem and Clint immediately disabled the tracker system. Cross was silenced throughout the journey and hadn't tried to warn the helicarrier about their detoured destination. Clint tried to ease his pounding headache by massaging his forehead. His hands were shaking and sweat beaded his forehead and down to his neck. Cross glanced at him and dug around his pocket for the aspirin he took from infirmary.
'Here. I have some aspirin for you, for the headache.' Cross offered to Clint, extending his hand to him. Clint gave a small smile and said, 'Thanks, but I don't think they'll help.'
'Sure? Okay.'
A beep from the flight dashboard signaling that they have arrived at the coordinate.
The area infront them were flat and desolate. It was in the middle of nowhere and the sky is getting darker. Cross flew the jet lower and hovered at a safe distance. He leaned forward and pointed to Clint.
'There are some structure up ahead, Agent Barton, about 3 kliks. Do you want me to set it there?' Cross asked with some trepidation. He looked at Hawkeye whose eyes had started to glaze.
'Agent Barton?' Cross asked again when there were no responses from the agent.
'Set the jet about a klik from it, I'll walk the rest.' Cross just gaped at him while Hawkeye started to unbuckle himself and went to the back of the jet to gather his quiver and bow. His movements were well coordinated considering that he was a shuddering mess back in the carrier. Cross shook his head and proceed as instructed. When he set it down and opened the ramp, Clint took a deep breath and looked at him.
'I want you to go back to the carrier and informed the Director and Agent Coulson. Tell them I'm sorry but this need to be done.' Cross just blinked at him.
'Do you understand me, Agent Cross!' Clint barked at him to get his attention.
'Err..Yes…Yes, sir.' Cross stammered his response. Clint glare soften and he clasped Cross's shoulder elicited yet another surprised response from the agent.
'I'm sorry to involve you, Cross. Now, get out of here and don't try to fly over the area. Do you understand me?'
Cross nodded enthusiastically and started the take off check. Clint ran down the ramp as it starting to close and crouched low on the ground. He looked as the jet flew back and sighed a breath of relief at its retreating after burner. He looked at his watch and noticed that he has another 10 minutes to get to the warehouse. He stood up, swayed a bit and started walking. The surrounding area was barren except for few bushes and small trees. The warehouse could be seen from here and he knew that Barney had seen the jet landing and took off. He hoped Cross managed to put a safe distance from this area and got back to the carrier soon.
Clint started to walk down the small rise towards the warehouse when he saw few vehicles drove out from it and dived for cover. They were driving really fast and he saw that one of it had a launcher on it. Clint quickly looked at the sky and estimated the jet had passed its distance to be in any danger of the launcher but his stomach dropped when he saw that the jet was circling overhead.
'Goddamnit, Cross! Idiot.' Clint jumped up from his hiding spot and started running towards the vehicle. He had already knocked an arrow and released it when the missile simultaneously was launched from the vehicle and targeting the jet. A loud explosion was heard when Clint's arrowed hit the vehicle but another bigger explosion lighted the sky and Clint dropped to his knees, a horrified expression on his face and an emptiness filled his soul.
Another red in my ledger…
He was so engrossed in his regret that he didn't realize that the other vehicle had stopped behind him. Few armed men jumped down and aimed their weapons at him. They quickly disarmed him and tied his hands with plastic zip ties behind his back and dumped him to the vehicle and drove towards the building. When they reached inside, they dragged him out and threw him on the ground. The air was knocked out of him and Clint struggled to stand up but was kicked behind his knee. He dropped back to the ground on his knee and gritted his teeth.
'Well, well, well…. You've made it – and just in time.' Barney's cold voice echoed behind him. Clint turned his head over his shoulder and saw his brother smirking at him. Between his fingers, smoke from his cigarette reminded Clint of the jet's explosion outside and his eyes were shrouded with anger and regret.
'When did you start smoking, Barney? You know it's not good for your health.' Clint spat and eyed the armed men surrounding him. His eyes studied the high ceiling area and realized that they were no windows and the only entrance was the one they drove thru. They were no rafters or walkways or in fact, a room inside this huge area. Clint tried to look over his shoulder again making it looked like he was looking at Barney but actually studying the area behind him. It was the same and Clint wondered what does a building like this do in the middle of nowhere. He shifted so he was facing Barney. His movement caused one of the armed man to come forward and kicked him on his side. He fell to his side and glared at the guy.
'Don't worry about anything, lil' brother. We are not staying here. I've provided a nice comfortable – room – for you elsewhere. Beside -,' Barney smile suddenly faltered when he looked up and over Clint's head.
'I thought you've taken care of it. Doesn't matter, just finished him off.' Barney looked down at Clint and suddenly his smile was back on place. 'Wait! Bring him here. Make sure he was restrained.' Barney circled Clint who was still trying to figure out what was the conversation all about when he heard another vehicle pulled in. It stopped beside the first one and a figure was unceremoniously dumped at Clint's knee.
'Ooww.' It was Cross and Clint couldn't believe it. He was trying to stand up but with his hands tied like Clint, he only managed to sit on the ground.
'Oh, Hi.' Cross gulped down anxiously. By the look at the Hawk was given to him, he preferred the company of the armed men over it.
Oh Oh….
'You…directly disobeyed the order I gave you.' Hawkeye's low voice was quite intimidating and Cross couldn't help but to cower slightly.
'And now you have sealed our fate to oblivion, Agent Cross.' Clint tried to contain his rage at Cross's stupidity and if he could he would strangled the man himself. Cross tried to raise himself up by anchoring his shoulder on Hawkeye's side but failed miserably. So he tried to hook his chin on Hawkeye's arm and pulled himself up. The men surrounding them gave a hearty laugh at the comedic display of a SHIELD's agent and even Barney had to shake his head. Clint was shaking with anger and so still that Cross managed to rise up to his head and whispered something to his ears. Clint's head snapped to look at him and his eyes widen but quickly recover from the shock revelation Cross had managed to convey.
Cross gave a small quirk on his lips but yelped in surprise when one of the men grabbed his tied arms and yanked him to stand. He was taken aside and two men flanked him. Clint was brought up to his feet and pushed to stand in front of Barney. His eyes were hard and he stared at his brother.
'What happened to you, Barney? Where have you been all this while?'
'Well..lil brother, let's just say I've been around. Surviving. While you were playing 'good little assassin' under the government's payroll. Ain't that just convenient.' His words were dripping with malice and his steel blue eyes were narrowed and full of hatred.
He walked to Cross who had a surprised look on his face. The man's eyes were similar to Hawkeye but unlike Hawkeye's, it was as if looking into despair and darkness. It's the eyes of pure evil. Cross gulped shakily.
'Your brother? The guy on…He's your brother?' Cross couldn't help but to voice his surprise revelation. He glanced at Barney and then to Clint few times, perhaps looking for resemblance. Clint scowled and nodded once.
'Wow! Looking at both of you, yeah…yeah…I can see some resemblance. But…I think…yeah definitely, you're more good looking, Agent Barton.' His quirky smile was quickly replaced by a groan when one of the guards flanking him, hit him hard on the stomach with his rifle. He gasped and doubled over but was pulled up by his hair by Barney. Cross breathed hard and stared at him.
'You think so. We can correct that.' With a nod, two men held Clint's arms when one of them started to hit his face repeatedly. Cross could only shout for them to stop.
'Ok..ok..sorry! I didn't mean it. You can stop it, please.' Cross was struggling at Barney's hold. Barney just cackled happily while still grabbing Cross by his hair.
'Enough!' Barney suddenly barked and released Cross's hair. The guard gave one sickening punch to Clint's ribs that dropped him to the ground gasping for breath. All the while, Clint didn't make any noise only breathing hard. His hands twisted behind him and the wrists had started to bleed.
'I'm sorry. I'm sorry.' Cross was babbling and Clint just raised his face to shut him off. Cross immediately stopped and stared at the bruised face and the split lips of Hawkeye and his repeating apologies came back bubbling to his lips.
'Shut up, Cross!' Clint growled at him and gave him a pointed stare. That shut him up but his eyes continue to apologize. Clint just shook his head and tried to get up. He pulled one of his knees up and stood shakily and faced Barney.
Barney smirked at him and took a long drag of his cigarette and blow the smoke to Cross's face. Cross started coughing and shaking his head. The next thing happened so fast that even Hawkeye did not anticipate the move. Later, the vehicles started to move out leaving behind them a cloud of dust and a lone figure on the ground bleeding.
.
.
.
.
.
Director Fury was furious. Well maybe that was not the right word, extremely enraged to the point that even Coulson decided to let him be for awhile. He was sitting at the briefing room with Agent Maria by his right side and Agent Sitwell on his left. Both of them were also quiet and watching the Director pacing the room from underneath their lashes. The report had came in from Sitwell that Agent Barton had 'procured' – maybe not the right word too - a jet with a co-pilot 'assisting him under duress' not 20 minutes ago with a coded destination that they were still 'in the process' of decrypting and the command centre were in the midst of tracking the procured jet.
On his table, the box containing the missing ring sat ideally as if mocking everyone in the room with its opened lid. Sitwell was curious by looking at the box but he couldn't see the content of it. He sighed and shifted on his chair to be as comfortable as he can. Coulson gave him a glance and raising his eyebrow telling him to be still. Sitwell gave a nervous smile and leaned forward to look at Agent Hill. He was startled and almost fell off his chair when the director's phone rang.
'Better give me good news!' Coulson pitied whoever that was at the receiving end when confronted the Director at situation like this. They were waiting for the result of the encrypted code to deploy a strike team that has been on standby waiting for Fury's command.
'What!' Fury's hand slammed the table hard and the box toppled backward spilling the content. A piece of paper fell off and almost flew away when Fury turned away from the table with his long coat. Sitwell grabbed at it and hold on to it. Not wanting his hand to be chop off, he decided to not reach for the box on the table to return the paper. Coulson stood up anxious to know the gist of the conversation.
'Deploy the team and report to me directly.' He turned and placed the phone back to its place and eyed the people in front of him. His stare landed on Coulson and he felt his stomach dropped at the meaning of the stare.
'Barton?' Coulson voiced his concern.
'They managed to track the jet -' Director Fury paused and return to his seat sighing heavily, 'before it disappeared from the radar.' Coulson blinked at the finality of the statement.
'But -', Coulson looked back up at the director with rekindled hope, 'we received a message from the co-pilot.'
Coulson waited for the Director to continue.
'Cut the chase, sir. What was the message?' Coulson hands fisted at his side.
'The co-pilot gave us a coordinate and said Hawkeye was coerced.'
'I need to be with the extraction team, sir.' Coulson stood straighter and Fury knew not to decline the request.
'Go. One of the jets is waiting for you.' Coulson quickly turned around heading to the door.
'And Coulson -' he paused at the threshold, 'Please inform the pilot about the downed jet.' Coulson eyed him suspiciously, but decided to find out himself. He stopped by his office for his vest and weapon and quickly made his way to the hangar. He jogged up the ramp and put his comm on.
'Ready for take-off, gentlemen and make it soon.' Coulson strapped himself on and waited for a response from the pilot to prove his suspicion.
'Transport 665 Bravo ready for take-off. Request authorization.' James voice filtered thru the comm link and Coulson sighed dejectedly.
Once the jet was on the air, Coulson tapped James's shoulder. He looked up and tilted his head questioningly.
'Why are you piloting this jet, James? Aren't you supposed to be on standby for Director's order?' Coulson asked him softly.
'I know what happened to the jet and who piloted it, sir. I need to do this.' James gave him a downcast glance and his grip on the throttle was sturdy. He raised his eyes up and cast a hopeful look to Coulson's.
'Understood, Agent. Get us there, then.' Coulson gripped his shoulder and turned around back to his seat.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Anyone watched Iron Man 3 already? Started on April 26 here but due to the condition I'm in now, had to postpone until…probably after my next followup which is another 10 days. So, apart from all my friends said that it was crazily a must see, I tried to avoid any spoilers.
Till then…stay safe uols.
Shila1378