CHAPTER #14

Natasha was bored. "I hate doing surveillance work," she complained. When her ear piece didn't respond she added, "I know you love this."

"Just be happy that you're not trapped on that metal air bucket," Clint finally replied.

"True, so instead I'm trapped on a little island and a speed boat. That's not much better."

"Go for a swim, I'll pick you up if we need to leave. You know I'll keep an eye on you."

She sighed, "all right. Maybe I can catch something fresh for diner. Those meal replacement bars are like chalk."

Clint chuckled, "you've been spoiled with all the fancy food we had in Ho Chi Minh city." He heard her sigh and smiled. "Enjoy the swim."

Ten minutes later he saw her swim out, she was wearing snorkelling gear. He saw her dive down close to the island, then surface and blow out the salt water. She was restless, because when she had nothing to focus on, there was too much time to think and self reflect. Her past weighed heavily on her mind and he wanted to help Natasha, but if she wouldn't talk to him, there was little he could do. The sound of rotor blades in the air, directed his attention towards the island. As the speck in the sky drew, he could see that a helicopter was flying straight for the island. An idea grew in his mind. If they disabled the helicopter from being able to fly, a boat would have to be used to leave. Or even a boat would come to try and fix it. He needed to get to that island without being seen. A well placed arrow splashed into the water in front of agent Romanoff and she looked up and toward him. A hand signal and she began to swim quickly back. By the time she returned, he was already down the rope and on the boat, pulling up the anchor. He helped her on board.

"What's up?"

"Helicopter approaching the island. If you provide interference by boating near the island, get their attention. I can swim in and disable it. Then either a boat ride out or a boat in for repair will have to be used. Judging from the time of day and how long that bird usually stays, the boat should come at night."

"Nice. Go down and get your gear on. Then tell me where to drop you," Natasha said eagerly. Finally some action. She stripped off her wet suite. She'd wear just her bikini, which was a blue colour. Her tan made the blue stand out against her skin. No man had ever been immune to her toned body. Men stuck on an island, would be no exception. She'd pretend to sleep in the sun on top of the boat and accidentally drift close to the island. When agent Barton came topside, she advised of her plan.

"That's perfect. Just don't let them board the boat, we don't need you to become a hostage."

She raised her eyebrow at him and didn't' have to say a word. He retracted the warning and apologized for doubting her abilities. "I know you can handle yourself even if you are caught. But Fury would be all over my ass if that happens."

"I'll keep myself and you out of trouble. Ready to go?" Natasha smirked.

He nodded and told her where to drop him off. He had the underwater self propulsion unit with him for extra speed. Once overboard and she saw him heading towards the island where the helicopter had landed, she set the go-fast boat on a heading near the tip of the island. Then the waves would drift her close. She took off her top and lay down on the deck of the boat. Sunglasses in place, she waited for someone to notice her. It wasn't long before she could hear a shout in the vietnamese. The man was shouting to his comrades to check out the topless woman on a boat. She could hear him and his friends saying obscene things. When she heard at least five different voices, she sat up and then looked around, as if confused. Then she leaned over the edge of the boat, to check the anchor, which produced the reaction she expected. While she did so, the sun glasses allowed her to glance un-noticed toward the other shore. She could see agent Barton running for cover of the trees. Agent Romanoff pretended to suddenly notice the men on shore. Standing up, she waived at them and they enthusiastically waived back. One man whistled and she pretended to do a strip tease with her bikini bottoms. They were almost totally down her bottom, when she saw Barton slip into the water and disappear. She blew her admirers a kiss, pulled up her bottoms, put on a t-shirt and waived. Then starting the engine she drove the boat quickly away. Incase someone was watching with binoculars, she made sure to go around a far island. Before circling wide and coming back to the observation island. She dropped anchor behind the island, as it was still too light out to manoeuvre it into it's cave. The men on shore would surely see the boat.

She saw agent Barton surface and went to help him get his gear on board. "Did you disable their bird?"

"I made it look like the rotors had a little electric fire. If they're quick, they can put it out before the whole bird goes…." Clint explained, but a loud boom interrupted him.

Natasha laughed, "I guess they didn't put it out in time and the bird blew up."

He shrugged and shot her a grin. "Guess they aren't flying anywhere anytime soon."

She noticed that he didn't initially say anything about her being topless under her t-shirt, but he was Hawkeye and he never missed a thing. When he had stripped off his gear and was just in his swim trunks, that's went he made a comment.

"Do a strip tease for the men did you?" Clint smirked.

"Nothing like going topless to keep a man's eyes on a woman." Then she added, "to them I was a dumb topless tourist who forgot to set her anchor."

He mumbled, "dumb, you definitely are not."

She smiled and then went below to put on her agent uniform. Once she was back up top, agent Barton did the same. He shot an arrow onto the island and then climbed his rope. He disappeared once he was on the island. After he returned to his roost, he spoke into his communicator.

"Everyone from shore have gone to put out the helicopter fire, you can pull back into the cave," Clint advised.

"Should I put it in backwards like before?" Natasha asked.

"If you want."

She hated backing boats up, but got it in the cave and anchored out of sight, before Hawkeye reported seeing the men back at their posts. The old line they'd used to climb up from the cave, was still there, so she tied it to the railing. Then climbed up to join her partner. Using the binoculars she could see the damage caused by the explosion. Smoke still billowed upward and into the the sky.

"Good work. Do you think someone will come tonight?" She asked him.

"Most likely. I already reported to Fury that it was a HYDRA helicopter."

"I'd love to get my hands on a HYDRA agent before they eat their cyanide capsules. The dirty little secrets they would tell me…." Natasha smiled.

"They eat those pills because they know the Black Widow and your talents. It's the doctor Fury wants, not the agents."

"HYRDA knows about Hawkeye too, yet they still leave their helicopter unguarded." Natasha replied saucily.

Clint raised an eyebrow. "I never said there were no guards."

She looked him in the eyes, "kill anyone?"

"If they were still unconscious when the bird blew up, there may be a few casualties."

"Fury can't blame you for that…. you're so sneaky!" She complimented him.

"Since I interrupted you're hunt for diner, I guess we're stuck with meal bars again." Clint groaned.

"I thought you didn't mind eating them. Hawkeye, why not just shoot down a bird. They all taste like chicken anyway," Natasha suggested unconsciously licking her lips.

"Some are gamier, but I could do that. Wait here and I'll see what I can bring back for diner."

She watched him leave to go hunting. He walked quietly through the brush, every instinct focused on his prey. She didn't see or hear the arrow, but she saw a bird's flight cut short and it fall from the sky. He'd brought down a decent sized bird and plucked the feathers from it. Then returned with the cleaned bird.

"Do you want me to cook it?" Clint asked.

"Not necessary. You were the hunter and brought us diner, I'll cook it."

"Being domestic again are we?" Clint teased.

She snorted, "don't let it go to your head. Your sight will find an incoming boat right now better than I could. The setting sun gives too much light for the night vision and glare for the normal setting."

He brought her a pile of sticks for kindling, "relax I meant no offence."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "None taken." She returned to the boat and got some things for cooking the bird. Backpack secure, she climbed up the rope and began diner. Once the fire pit was hot like an oven, she opened the skinny can of energy drink and shoved the bird over top of it. So as the can got hot it's contents would baste the inside of the bird. Over the bird she put some tin foil, that she had wrapped some pieces of apple in from this morning. The apple pieces she shared with Barton.

"Desert first, just the way I like it."

It seemed like it took forever for the bird to cook, but finally Natasha declared it was ready. "Come down from there Hawkeye and eat this fine bird."

He jumped down and squatted beside her. "Black Widow, thank you for sharing this feast," he teased right back at her.

She kicked his foot out from under him and he fell back on to his ass. Natasha laughed and handed him a piece of hot roasted bird. "The energy drink gives the meat a little citrus flavour."

Clint sat cross-legged and bit into her offering. "Mmm, not bad. Thanks Nat."

"Hopefully a boat will come tonight and we can leave this damn island….And you're welcome," she added.

CHAPTER #15

It wasn't until the following night, that the boat finally came. Natasha was asleep on the boat only 15 minutes, when agent Barton's voice came into her ear.

She awoke instantly. "What did you say?"

"Two boats just arrived at the island. I'm coming down. We'll put trackers on the boats and follow one of them," Clint said.

Agent Romanoff had the engines on, when agent Barton slid down the rope, untied it and pulled up the anchor. He got into the scuba gear as she brought the boat out of the cave. She flipped a switch, that helped muffle the noise of the engines. "I love S.H.E.I.L.D. geeks, they think of everything."

"But they haven't invented a completely silent boat yet. Or one that can fly too!" Clint joked as he got ready to drop into the water to attach the tracking units.

Thankfully the moon was not out and the black water helped hide agent Barton as he stealthily came up to the boats and attached the tracking devices. On his way back to the S.H.E.I.L.D. boat he got a feeling something was behind him or watching him. He of course couldn't see behind him, so he just hoped it wasn't someone on shore.

After he got on board and took off his gear, he asked "did anyone see me on shore?"

"No, no one was on the shore or even near the boats. Why?" Natasha inquired.

"I got a feeling when I was in the water on the way back, that something was following me or watching me," Clint explained.

She frowned, "maybe it was a reef shark or something bigger checking you out. But it wasn't anything human."

"Maybe. Anyway let's see if those trackers are working." He took over steering the boat, while agent Romanoff got out the computer.

"Both are working. Which ever boat we don't follow, the gps will track and I'll report it to Fury. Nice work Barton."

Clint used a towel on his face, then added, "next time you can go swim over to our targets." He looked across the water towards the marked boats. Hearing the engines start up he said, "they're leaving. Pick one."

Natasha picked up the night vision goggles and looked at the two boats. "The boat furthest from us. Not the one pulling away now, the other one."

"Why that one?"

"Just a hunch. One of the people in the boat looks familiar, but I can't pin point where or how," Natasha explained.

"Ok. That one it is." He trusted her instincts and so they followed at a safe distance, the boat agent Romanoff had chosen.

"Our guys look like they're heading towards the Philippines and the other boat's trajectory would take it to Hong Kong."

"Both locations are already known areas of HYDRA activity. I've been to Manilla a few times on operations already. The problem with the Philippines is all the islands. If we loose our mark, it will be hard to find it again."

"We won't loose them. I just sent a message to Fury and he agrees with the boat we chose to follow," Natasha reported. "Our guys are picking up speed."

"I can see and hear that, thanks. Are we heading towards Manilla?" Clint asked.

"No it seems to be going toward New Banicain. Do you think they may go to Olongapo City?"

Clint thought about it for a while, then answered. "Perhaps, but my bet is that they are really travelling to Angeles City. It's known for human trafficking."

Natasha accessed their data bank on Angeles City and sucked in her breath harshly. "Child prostitution, how repulsive. You don't think they are testing on children, do you?"

His voice held sadness. "Male children are cheaper to obtain, than adults. Teenage boys are a dime a dozen in Angeles City."

"If Dr. Hansen or that male scientist we've been watching, has anything to do with testing on teenage boys, I'll kill them," Natasha said with venom.

"The Black Widow will have to wait until S.H.E.I.L.D. is done with them first. We don't know if our speculation is correct." Then Clint said much more gently, "Nat, we'll help any children we can along the way. You know that."

She cracked her knuckles, "I know. Hawkeye and Black Widow, the avengers of children…. If they are doing anything to those kids, like they did to me….." Her voice cracked and she stopped talking.

He looked over at her. "I've got your back, even if we have to disobey orders."

Natasha couldn't look at him. But she put her hand on his wrist and squeezed before letting go. "Thanks Clint."

The rest of the night they just followed the boat and eventually docked in Olongapo City. Agent Barton left agent Romanoff with the boat and their gear. He followed the men on the boat, waiting for an opportunity to put another tracker on them or their next mode of transportation. The men went to a scummy looking building and didn't come out. Via his communication device, agent Barton contacted agent Romanoff and advised of his location. When agent Romanoff arrived, she looked like a girl from the streets. It was time to use her skills on those men.

"See what you can find out, if nothing else tag them with these two units," Clint said handing her two tiny tracking devices.

"Clint, I have it covered. Before I left, the geeks gave me this spray. It has some kind of nano-bots that can attach to hair, skin, or cloths. Fury can track these men and update us that way. But I'll take your units, for any vehicle we get into."

"Does Fury know where we docked the boat?" Clint asked, impressed with what she'd told him already.

"Yes. He'll contact you shortly. You have your bow and quiver I see. Here, put this poncho on over your gear or in the morning everyone will know who you are," she said handing him the cloth.

"Thanks. No one has left this building. Go and do your thing," he smiled.

She disappeared into the building, but he could still hear her via their communication device. Agent Romanoff replied to someone in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines. Then some english and back to Tagalog. He understood both, having worked in Manilla often. When speaking Tagalog, he wasn't as fluent as she was. Agent Romanoff made contact with her two targets and went to work. First she played the street urchin they believed she was. Then she used psychological manipulation, masking her real emotions perfectly. Agent Barton knew she wanted to kill these two men, but they needed them alive to get more information. She was an excellent tactician and easily changed her strategy to fit the occasion. This time was no exception. The agents from HYRDA she was working on, told her that they were going to Angeles City. But they didn't release anything further. She ditched them and returned to agent Barton.

"I sprayed them with the nano-bots. You were right about Angeles City," she relayed.

"Let's find a secure location and report to Directory Fury," Clint said.

As she expected, agent Barton took them to the roof top. Then they made contact with the airship. Agent Hill took agent Romanoff's report and told them to stay where they were until she relayed further instruction. Ten minutes later, they were told to continue to follow the men and that agent Romanoff's computer would be able to track the nano-bots, incase eye contact was lost. Agent Hill also relayed, that Direct Fury was impressed with their quick work.

"Does that mean we get a decent budget for this operation?" Clint asked.

Agent Hill chuckled, "you get what you get."

Agent Barton flirted with her a little longer, making agent Romanoff roll her eyes. When they disconnected from agent Hill, she said "I don't know why you bother trying to get a bigger budget every time we talk to her."

"It's fun and you just wait, one day she'll give me a little more."

"In your dreams," Natasha snorted.

A movement in the alley way drew Clint's attention, "the HYDRA agents are getting in a car. Pull up the gps tracking on them, while I get us a taxi."

They followed the HYDRA men all the way to Angeles City. When the men stopped for food, that's when agent Barton lost visual contact, but agent Romanoff still was able to track them via the computer. They ate what Barton picked up and then he had the taxi take them to a place he'd used before for to stay over night. Like most of the places in the slums, it had no running water, but four walls and a door. Agent Romanoff yawned and set the laptop on the floor. She did some stretches and waited for Hawkeye to return. As was his nature, he had disappeared to check out who was in their building and the surrounding area. He always pre-planned escape strategies. It was a habit with him and one that she found annoying. The tracking beacon was remaining in one location and not moving. When she searched the area, it was a hotel.

"All's clear around us," Clint reported, dropping in from the window.

"The men we were tracking are staying at a building and haven't moved. Do you want to go check it out?" She asked him.

"Like you have to ask. Let's go," Clint said.

Both agents moved quickly through the alley ways and arrived at the hotel. Agent Romanoff checked her wrist for the gps trackers and led them up the stairs of the hotel, until they pinpointed the room the HYDRA men were in. Agent Barton disappeared and returned 5 minutes later.

"One guy is in the shower, the other is watching TV. These agents are really careless. If I hadn't seen the HYDRA tattoo on the guy's wrist, I'd say they weren't the guys we are tracking."

"Maybe HYDRA is just taking on anyone they can get. Do we want to get a room beside them?"

"Sure, you stay and book it. I'll go get our gear."

By the time he returned, she had them booked in the room right beside their targets, at the end of the hall. Via the headset communication she told agent Barton the room number. Agent Romanoff wasn't in the room when he initially arrived with the gear. She'd gone to the reception desk and was getting information out of the clerk. He told her that the men in room 103 had parked their car in the rear lot. She relayed this to Barton, who immediately found the car, as it was the only one in the lot, and put a tracking device on it. He returned and heard the shower going.

"Natasha?"

"Be out in a minute," she called.

He checked the nano-bot trackers and as expected, they were no longer active. Which meant the men had both showered and changed clothing. He went to the window and perched on the ledge. His ears picked up their voices in the next room. The men were staying the night and leaving the next afternoon.

"What are you doing?" Natasha asked when she saw him.

Clint jumped off the ledge and back into the room. "I was just listening to our neighbours, as the bots are no longer active. They're staying the night and leaving tomorrow afternoon."

"It looked like you were about to jump out the window," she said towelling her hair dry. "I'm glad they chose a decent hotel. I guess earlier was just them having fun… pigs."

"I'm going out to get us a vehicle or something for tomorrow," he said. "I've got a device on their car, so if you want to get some rest, you can."

She nodded, "bring back some bottled water okay?"

He agreed and left. While he was gone, she changed into her uniform and check her gear. Then she paced, not ready to sleep. Using a cup she put it to the wall and listened to their neighbours. All she heard was snoring and the TV. Disappointed, she lay down on the bed and tried to relax. Barton arrived a few minutes after she finally closed her eyes.

"Sorry didn't mean to wake you," Clint apologized. " I got us one sports touring motorcycle, they're delivering it early am."

"I wasn't sleeping yet. Good thing we packed light," she joked. "I'll be the passenger I guess."

He grinned, then went into the bathroom for a quick shower himself. When he came out in his new change of cloths, she was on the bed lying on her side watching him. "Want to share that bed?"

"That's fine. Back to back?"

"Sure." The bed was maybe the size of a double, but barely. He lay down with his back to hers. She leaned against him. "Good night Nat," he mumbled.

"Good night Clint," she sighed.

This night, was like every other recently. Natasha started off sleeping without dreaming, then she'd be back in the facility, tied down to a cold metal table. Unable to move or speak, due to the drugs in her system.

What did they drug me with? Why can't I even scream? What kind of sick game is this?… Get away from me! Stop! Don't touch me…. I'm going to kill you. I will kill you.

Barton sat up and watched his partner, knowing she was dreaming. Her body was tense and her fists were clenched. But it was her chanting, "I'm going to kill you," over and over, that had woke him.

The man got on top of her naked body, sitting on her chest. It was so hard to breath. What did he want? She could feel his clammy hands around her neck and how their grip tightened.

"Open your mouth or die," the man said.

If she had been able to move she would have shook her head and tossed him over it. But still she could do nothing, he knew that, so why ask her to open her mouth?

He laughed, "oh that's right, you can't. I can do whatever I want to you… and I promise I will." He got two plastic mouth pieces and inserted them in her mouth. It kept her mouth open. She wanted to kill him so badly, if only she could move. If only she had a knife….

Clint shook her, "Natasha wake up, you're okay."

She woke suddenly, finding herself holding a knife against his neck. She dropped it instantly, "sorry… I… he…shit."

He took her into his arms and just held her. She was shaking. When she stopped shaking he let her go. Then sat down beside her on the bed. "Tell me what happened Nat."

She told him. "Why was I holding a knife to your neck? I couldn't move in my dream, so why was that even possible?"

"Maybe it's like auto pilot, you may have had part of your brain in the dream, but the other part was working to defend you," Clint reasoned.

"What if I shoot you or really hurt you, when I'm like that?" Natasha whispered.

"You're movements are slower than when you're awake. I can defend myself you know," he teased gently. Then more seriously asked, "do you only remember what happened to you through your dreams?"

"No. But it's more vivid when I dream. I can remember parts, just not everything when I'm awake."

He asked, "what do you see, hear or smell in the room, other than the man and yourself?"

She closed her eyes, "there is only one bright light on. It covers his tools beside the table, me and him. It's so bright I can't see beyond the light, the rest is darkness…. It smells like a hospital. I can hear an industrial fan."

"What's he wearing?" Clint asked cautiously.

"Nothing. He's naked." Natasha got up and walked to the window, turning her back on him. "Stop. I can't Clint. I can't tell you what happened next."

"Why can't you? You're doing great. You know it helps to talk about it." Clint knew he was pushing her, almost to her breaking point.

"Because… Because I'm scared of remembering. It's my most weakest point of my life. I'm scared if I remember, I'll loose my mind for good. I'll become a robotic killing machine." She hissed at him. "Do you like to remember what Loki did to you? Do you want to relive what you told him and what he had you do?"

She was verbally lashing out at him, even though she never raised her voice. She wanted to hurt him, if it wasn't by words, she would attack him. She wanted him to hurt as badly as remembering hurt her. It wasn't his fault, none of it was, but right now that didn't matter. The calmer he was, the nicer he was, the more she wanted to make him bleed.

Clint understood this, but wouldn't let her control what was happening. Not this time. "I remember, bits and pieces. The worst is remembering what I told him I'd do to you, when I was that evil self. That's why I'm trying to help you, because I feel guilty for even being able to think of something so terrible."

She looked at him, breathing heavily. Her eyes cleared, she saw that he was hurting too. He was opening up his soul to her in that moment. "But you didn't do anything to me, you wouldn't do it. Loki controlled you, it wasn't you're free will."

"I attacked you, I tried to kill you. That means I would have done every horrifying thing. I couldn't control it, just like you couldn't control what happened to you. If you want me to tell you what would have happened if you hadn't knocked me out, I can."

Natasha shook her head and took his face into her hands. "Don't do that to yourself. I'm sorry Clint."

"No Nat, I'm the one who is sorry. I shouldn't push you to remember if you don't want to. I want to help you conquer your demons, so you can sleep again, but not if it'll make you hate me." He confessed softly, searching her eyes.

"You are helping me and thanks. I don't hate you, I…." she almost said what she really felt, but changed her mind, "I could never hate you." It was almost like deja-vu, this conversation they were having, this feeling she had being so close to him.

He took her into his arms and hugged her hard. Then when he stepped away, his eyes no longer held past guilt. "Come on, lie down again. Rest your head on my chest, and we'll get some shut eye."

She did as he asked and put her arm over his waist. Listening to his heart beat under her ear, is what finally made her relax and sleep. No more drama or reliving the past for the rest of that night, for either of them. In the morning they had work to do, since their current operation was far from over. Clint stroked her hair and then whispered to the woman in his arms, "if you only knew how much I need you Nat." She didn't hear it, as she was fast asleep.