CHAPTER #22

Once agent Barton returned to the Hellicarrier, the medics gave him pain medication. They also injected a serum that helped with muscle repair. He was ordered by Dr. Henry Pym not to use his arm for four days, but then he would be able to return to active duty. Sometimes it amazed him the advances in science and medicine that Dr. Pym came up with. He was the one who created the healing agent for muscle repair. Dr. Pym also had played an important role in reviving the Captain from the ice. So if Dr. Pym, 'Hank' to his friends, said to not use his arm, then he wouldn't. But he was bored. So agent Barton looked at the assignment that agent Romanoff was on. She'd already been reassigned to another operation being conducted with another team. Her interrogation skills were in need once again. She'd be part of that operation for a few weeks. From the information on the assignment, it should be a breeze for her. She'd be happy that this time there was no trekking through the bush or mountain climbing to be done.

Directory Fury was looking over some video, when he called agent Barton to the observation deck. "I need you to review the security coverage here. Find any anomalies, patterns, the usual and have a report for me tomorrow."

It was something to do, so agent Barton went to work, asking no questions. As he watched the footage, he knew what his new operation would be, once his shoulder was healed. It didn't take long for him to have the report ready for Director Fury.

"While your arm heals I just want you to observe and track. We're not sure what is going on, could be that I'm being over cautious. If a situation develops, report in before taking action. Is that understood agent Barton?" Director Fury asked.

Clint said, "yes sir."

"You'll be dropped on location in two hours," Director Fury said.

Agent Barton nodded and left to pack his gear. He didn't like that he was assigned to watch a colleague and friend. But after the video he'd reviewed, the actions of the subject, did cause concern. He believed that Fury was just being overly cautious. This was one time, he'd just do as he's told and not ask questions. He hoped it would remain purely an observational assignment.

He was air dropped onto a building that was a block away from his target. Then as he moved into position across from where he needed to be, agent Barton scanned the area to familiarize himself.

He checked in with agent Hill.

"I'm in position and observing the target. Do we have any way of tracking him if he uses the device?" Clint asked.

"You'll figure something out," agent Hill replied.

"Great, thanks." Clint disconnected and set up a small pop tent further back from his observation point. He had a feeling he'd be watching his man for a while.

Agent Reeser was working on a device for universal transport, but he'd taken it out of the S.H.E.I.L.D. laboratory. That, compounded with him not telling Directory Fury what exactly he was working on, cast enough suspicion for an agent to observe him from a distance. They didn't know what the device could do or if he planned on using it in a negative way.

It didn't take long for agent Barton to see that the device was operational. He witnessed it open a small portal and then close. This he reported immediately to agent Hill, but was still told to stand down and just observe. Nothing else happened that day. It wasn't for another four days, before agent Reeser had company. The person visiting him, was not anyone associated with S.H.E.I.L.D. There was an exchange of a suitcase and then the person left. As agent Barton quickly learned, the suitcase contained a large amount of money. Over the next week that money was used to have various electronics delivered to Reeser's location and pay for fast food. The electronics he then took apart and certain components were added to his device. This time when the device was tested, the portal opened and remained open until Reeser turned it off. He proceeded to remove a gem stone of some sort. The gem looked like a diamond, but it was either a dark purple or black. It was the first time in weeks that Reeser actually left the building. Agent Barton tailed him on his outing, but Reeser didn't go anywhere interesting. He went to a laundry mat and did two large loads. Next he went and ate at a classy, expensive restaurant. Reeser even ordered the most expensive bottle of champaign the restaurant had. Eventually he returned to his building. Late that evening a familiar face did visit.

Once again Clint reported to agent Hill. "A HYDRA agent just entered the building where Reeser is."

"Even if Reeser is dispatched, you are not to approach the HYDRA agent." When she got no reply from agent Barton, Agent Hill said, "I repeat do not engage the HYDRA agent. Just observe."

"I heard you the first time Agent Hill. I'm not deaf," Clint said sarcastically. Sometimes how S.H.E.I.L.D. handled things seemed very wrong to him. But he obeyed her order.

Agent Hill asked, "agent Barton are you giving me attitude?"

He chuckled, "whatever gave you that impression? Good-bye Agent Hill." He'd observe alright, but he would also put a tracker on the HYDRA agent's vehicle. It was one of his, that he alone could trace as long as it remain on planet Earth.

He quickly descended to street level and took the tracker off an arrow and attached it under the bumper of the HYDRA agent's SUV. Then he hid in the shadows of the alley. He didn't hear a gun shot, but that didn't mean that Reeser was alive, when the HYDRA agent left. Cautiously agent Barton went inside the building. The lights had been shot out. The device was gone and soon so would Reeser's life.

"Hawkeye is that you?" Reeser asked, gurgling on some blood.

Agent Barton bent down, his face close to the ex- S.H.E.I.L.D. agent, "awe Reeser, why'd you go and defect to HYDRA?"

"Needed the money." Reeser gasped and spit out more blood, "listen. I went to the laundry down the street. Hid diamond. Can't work…" he coughed, spasmed and lay still.

Clint got up and left, returning to the alley. He reported, "Reeser is dead. HYDRA took the device he was working on."

"Good work, we'll pick you up in twenty minutes at the drop point." Agent Hill directed and then nodded at Director Fury.

It didn't give agent Barton much time to get the diamond, but he liked the challenge. He knew the laundry mat Reeser had gone to. Once inside he cocked his head to one side as he thought like Reeser, trying to decide where the diamond was hidden. First place he looked, he came up empty. The second location, gave him a smile, as he found the gem. The little voice in his mind, told him that he should give the diamond to Tony Stark, not Director Fury. He went to a pay phone, punched in the private sequence, it tricked the system and connected him to Jarvis.

"I need Tony to come here now, five minutes max," Clint said, then hung up.

In seconds the phone rang back. As he'd been instructed once before, he picked it up, punched in two numbers and hung up. He waited by the phone, watching the digital display's time. In exactly four minutes, Ironman arrived.

"What's up Hawkeye?" Tony asked.

"HYDRA just killed ex- S.H.E.I.L.D. agent Reeser for a device that opens universal portals. This diamond makes it work, but they don't know it's missing. Fury let them kill Reeser. I had to stand down. Doesn't seem right. You decide if this should be in the hands of S.H.E.I.L.D." Clint put the black diamond in Ironman's hand.

"I'll look into it. Can I give you a lift anywhere?"

Clint grinned and gave him the pick up ordinates. "Thanks."

Ironman took hold of him and flew him to the given location. Then Ironman gave him a nod and left. Agent Barton waited for the quinjet to arrive. They were later than expected, but he didn't really care. He got in and they returned to the hellicarrier. He then gave his report to agent Hill. He was dismissed.

"Agent Hill, my arm gave me some trouble today. Requesting two days off," Clint lied. He had seen what was on her screen, before she'd closed the window.

She checked another screen and then said, "request approved. Make sure when you return that you see Dr. Pym. He must clear you for active duty."

He nodded and left. He didn't change or hand in his quiver and arrows. Instead he picked up a wrist tracker and put a cloak on over his gear. He caught a ride with a quinjet that was going for supplies. Then from their landing site, he took a few cabs, eventually arriving at Tony Stark's house. He needed some answers, ones only Stark could give him.

CHAPTER #23

"Barton, good of you to come for a visit," Tony said.

Clint replied, "you know I'm not here to socialize. What did you find out about that black diamond?"

"Jarvis, give him the run down."

"The black diamond is an alien gem, that has it's own power. It can act as an energy conduit, but is also a live organism."

"What the hell? It's alive? And it has it's own power, like that cosmic cube of Thor's planet?"

Jarvis continued, "it is alive, but not like the Tesseract. That cube has unlimited potential. The black diamond has limitations, we just haven't had time to determine what they are."

Clint looked at Stark, "so can it be used to make weapons or was the portal device all it can be used for?"

"That is a question my friend, that I haven't solved yet. But to answer your next question, no I am not giving it to Fury. At least not for the time being."

Barton walked over to the bar and helped himself to a glass of scotch. Then he downed another. Stark narrowed his eyes. Jarvis who automatically observed everything and everyone, alerted Stark to Barton's high heart rate, via a wristband screen.

"There's something else you're not telling me. Come on man, spit it out." Tony said, joining him for a drink.

"On agent Hill's screen I saw a report that said that the Black Widow had been missing from her operation for two weeks."

"And?"

"And that she was seen working with HYDRA agents. Tony what the hell is she doing with them? They had her flagged." Clint rubbed his hands over his face, before finishing the glass.

"Interesting. I wasn't contacted. Did you talk to Cap about it?"

"Rogers has been on an operation for a month, I don't know where he is. Does Jarvis still have access to the S.H.E.I.L.D. computers or did they block him out when they did those ship repairs and enhancements?"

Tony looked at him with disbelief, "seriously? You have so little faith. Of course we do." Then he pulled up a screen in mid air. "Jarvis show him the file on Natasha Romanoff that has been flagged."

They looked over the data before them. The file said she had left her team suddenly, right in the middle of interrogating a russian HYDRA agent. The next time they found her on the grid, was protecting a HYDRA man, who was being brought in by S.H.E.I.L.D. She even paralyzed one of her former fellow agents, so the HYDRA agent could get away.

Clint wanted to hit something and kept clenching his fists. "You got a gym or a punching bag here?"

"Jarvis direct him to the gym. You'll find a speed bag and a heavy bag. When you calm down, we'll discuss this further," Tony said and watched his friend and fellow Avenger go.

While Barton worked the heavy bag, Stark had Jarvis dig deeper into the files. He wanted to know if there was any secondary reason of why agent Romanoff suddenly betrayed S.H.E.I.L.D. Did she find something on the agency that made her change sides? But he could find nothing. When Barton finally returned, he was wearing a change of clothing from his pack.

"The shower in your gym is amazing."

"Only the best in this place. I dug deeper and nothing explains why she left. Could be she's brainwashed or being manipulated by HYDRA," Tony suggested.

"I could accept that, but then why haven't I been sent after her. Or any other team sent to retrieve her?" Clint asked.

Stark shook his head. He had Jarvis give them the probability statistics of all the possible reasons why agent Romanoff was with their enemy. Still nothing made sense. "Staying for diner?" Tony asked

"Do you mind?" Clint asked.

"Not at all. You should stick around and check out some of my new toys. Oh and that modified motorcycle you requested is in my garage, if you want to take it for a spin."

"Now that sounds relaxing."

"Jarvis make sure the guest room is ready for Barton to stay the night."

"Yes sir. I can direct you to the garage, if you would like to take that ride now."

Clint smiled for the first time since he'd arrived. "Jarvis you read my mind."

After Barton left, Stark returned to investigating the alien gem. It disturbed him and intrigued him at the same time. What he couldn't determine yet, was what alien planet it had come from. Was this something that could potentially affect world security? He wouldn't call in the other Avengers unless absolutely necessary. And they had to determine if Natasha Romanoff was a confused friend or a foe. He was pretty sure that Barton was going back to S.H.E.I.L.D. to confront Fury and then go after Romanoff by himself.

When Barton returned from his exhilarating motorcycle ride, he joined Stark for diner. They were not joined by Pepper Potts, who was away on business for Stark Industries. For desert they sipped on cognac as Stark showed off his new toys and gadgets. Then they wound down the night, playing an old fashioned game of pool.

The next day Barton said good-bye and returned to where the quinjet was picking up it's final load of supplies. Once back on board the hellicarrier, he went straight to Fury.

"What's happened to agent Romanoff? Why is she with HYRDA and why haven't we gone after her?" Clint demanded of his Director.

"I'm handling it. Stay out of it Barton. That's an order," Fury replied, answering nothing.

"What? You can't just let her go!" Clint stated, his anger growing.

"Agent Barton, I know I'm speaking english. I said leave it alone. I'm aware of the situation." Director Fury was loosing his patience and was done with his agent.

"You know what Fury, you can shove your order up your ass," Clint said. Then he left and took a quinjet without authorization. He knew he'd be tracked, so he left it at the airport, where he knew Romanoff kept her modified plane. He'd go to her compound first, see if she was there or find some answers. Then if Barton had to, he'd use the tracker he attached to the HYDRA vehicle and go find her. He'd get some answers, one way or another.