A/N: Thanks for all those awesome reviews! This is where the 'long version' begins. In the short version, it was going to be Tony walking in on them. So good guesses, but sadly not it's not him.

Clint and Natasha jumped apart, immediately prepared for trouble. But there was no one to be seen. With his bow just a few feet away, Clint weighed his chances of reaching it before their mysterious third wheel made a move. The voice was male, distinctly Russian, and had a tone of superior coolness that could only mean one thing; he had them cornered.

"Natalia, Natalia, Natalia. You have grown soft on American soil. Have you forgotten all that we taught you?"

He didn't recognize the voice, but it was clear that Natasha did. Her entire body looked spring loaded, though he couldn't tell if she was planning to fight or flee. Running wasn't a strategy the Black Widow ever considered, so to see her looking like a deer in the headlights made Clint beyond nervous. He wanted his bow, needed the feeling of power that it brought him.

"Agent Barton, how rude of my protege to ignore introductions. I am... well, let us say that I am Dr. Z." As the man stepped into the light, Clint knew who he was facing. The creator and evil mastermind behind the Red Room. He was the man that hand selected Natasha as a child for his program, psychologically tortured her for years, trained her to be a Russian spy and assassin. The man Natasha never spoke of, but who frequently made appearances in her nightmares. Clint swore he'd send an arrow through his eye before their conversation was over.

"Ah, your face betrays you Agent. Perhaps I was too limited in my introductions. I have brought a few of my closest friends to greet Natalia as well." With a snap of his fingers, Clint was lit up by at least a dozen red dots. Snipers. Probably hidden behind or in the crates. In his haste to find Natasha, he was careless. Now he had no chance of getting his bow and make this a fair fight.

"But do not worry, Agent Barton. I am not here to hurt anyone. This was a test, you see. Natalia knows how I enjoy a good test. I have known for some time that my property was working with SHIELD. It was not easy to track her down, but we have people everywhere. One of them, may he rest in peace, spotted her with the Avengers saving the city. Doing good for the multitudes of American swine. He was able to communicate your location before being killed. But how to meet with you? Your directer would be unlikely to set up a meeting, no?"

With each word, Clint could feel Natasha inching closer to him, closing the gap between their bodies. At first he thought she may have a plan, known a weakness in their enemy that he didn't. But then he saw that she was shaking. And not with rage, as he had seen on a few occasions, but with fear. She pressed into his side, her hands grasping his forearm like a child in the dark, seeking comfort. In the presence of this man, Natasha was a child. All the horrors that she had meticulously covered up and pushed away were exposed, raw, and bleeding with Dr. Z standing in front of her. That only made Clint more enraged; no one should have that much power over another person, much less over Natasha.

"Listen, Z, it's not that your story doesn't sound interesting, but I've learned the hard way how long winded you Russian sociopaths can be. How about you skip the part where you're so clever and tricked the spies and just tell me what you want? That way I can tell you to go screw yourself and we can all go back to our lives. Except yours will be in a maximum security facility. Underground. Where there's a good chance we won't even realize you've died until the smell gets bad enough."

Dr. Z laughed, looking absolutely delighted that Clint was playing hard to get. The sound made Natasha wince as if she'd been slapped and her breathing became more erratic. This wasn't good, not at all. He needed to get her out as soon as possible, and they weren't even close to their hour mark when he could expect Tony to be hovering nearby.

"Ah, Agent Barton, you make me chuckle. Skip the best part? Your culture has no appreciation for good stories. This little device, it is making its debut today! It's quite a beauty, sending out a signal that will block all communications, shut down all technology within it's radius. I have spent years creating it. My men use weaponry that work at a different frequency, unobstructed by the electromagnetic wave. All I needed was a little piece of the alien invader's machinery, easy enough to steal, and I knew someone would come. I had hoped it would be my Natalia, always one to investigate alone, always curious. If not, I would lure her in eventually. Like a spider in a web, right Natalia?

But you are quite right, Agent Barton. We are on a tight schedule today; I would rather not linger until your Avengers discover that something is amiss. I have enjoyed our conversation, you are quite an intriguing man. Perhaps that is what Natalia is attracted to. I will have to find out later. Natalia, come along. You have quite a bit of, what should we call it? Reprogramming to be done? We must get you back to your old self."

Clint tensed, he still didn't have a plan of attack. He couldn't let them take her, but it was suicide to make a move. At least if he was killed he finally kissed her. It's the little things.

"Sorry, Doc, but she isn't going anywhere. Thanks for asking, though."

"If I were asking, Agent, I would not have brought snipers. Natalia will come with me, whether she does it willingly or over your dead body is no matter to me. In fact, I quite like the idea of killing you, as that will give her less to miss from this little rebellion of hers."

"Enough."

Clint turned to look at Natasha. She spoke in a clear, strong voice and looked more like his Nat; not cowering or afraid, simply cool and calculated.

"I will go with you, Doctor. However, Agent Barton is not to be harmed. Do you agree?"

A smile spread across Dr. Z's face, "I do."

"Good," Natasha replied. "I would like a moment to say goodbye."

Dr. Z nodded and stepped back a few paces, waving over 3 men and whispering to them in Russian. Clint was dazed; he was hoping she had a plan. Instead, she was giving up, something he never thought he'd hear her do. She turned him around so that his body was between her and the group of men. Reaching up, she caressed his face and pulled him down for a soft kiss. Try as he might, Clint couldn't keep tears from coming to his eyes.

"Nat, there has to be a way. We've made it out of situations like this before- I have to try. Please, Nat, we have to try..."

"No. Clint, I know him. We can't fight our way out of this one, and I can't risk losing you. No one else will work as hard to get me back as you." He could see the fear back in her eyes, that desperation to hear that everything was going to be okay. She was right, of course. He would get her back, no matter what the cost.

"Listen to me, Nat. You're everything. There is nothing for me in this world without you, do you understand? You're the Gretel to my Hansel. Remember that if things get bad. I will find you."

She was momentarily confused. Hansel and Gretel? If there was one thing they weren't, it was brother and sister. Then she understood; he was telling her to leave him a trail of breadcrumbs to follow. The possibility of a plan gave her the slightest bit of hope, so that when she pulled him to her for another kiss, some of her fire was back. This wasn't a goodbye kiss, it was a promise. Just wait until the next one. Based on the groan of pleasure he couldn't contain, Clint seemed to get her message load and clear. They pulled apart reluctantly, their eyes locked in silent communication.

I want you.

I need you.

Don't give up.

Stay strong.

Natasha turned and walked to her escort of Russian thugs, head held high and the telltale swagger in her hips. Just before walking out of sight, she turned to look at Clint one more time, a completely new message in her eyes.

I love you.

It took everything Clint had not to run after her. For once in his life he had a fairytale moment, an experience that made everything else worthwhile. And it was walking away in the hands of his enemies. It was a minute before he realized that the red dots were no longer trained on him. Only Dr. Z remained, the last of his minions carrying out the mysterious machine he so adored. This was Clint's chance.

"Again, Agent Barton, your face gives you away. Of course you would like to kill me. This is the time to try, I suppose. I'm taking away a woman you've fallen in love with. Such a silly emotion. I suppose you plan to hunt me down and kill me for this?"

Clint nodded his head, trying to communicate the utter hatred he felt for this man through his piercing gaze.

"Yes, that is only natural," Dr. Z said as he pulled out a pistol and fired. As Clint dropped to the ground in front of him, the doctor let out another laugh. Walking over, he stood above the spy, looking down with curiosity.

"This should make it a bit more challenging. Oh, and Agent Burton? She is mine. Tonight, when she shares my bed, I will remind her of that."

As the door to the cargo bay creaked shut, the only sound that remained was Clint's ragged breathing as he tried desperately to slow the flow of blood from his abdomen.

Woah. Did I just shoot Clint? My bad. I'll work on that for next time...