As they arrived at SHIELD, Natasha went to get Fury while the rest of the team accompanied Clint, who was clinging to Steve's arm and frantically looking around, trying to get his bearings straight, to medical.
Once they got there, the medical staff directed Clint to a room and instructed the team to stay in the waiting room, however Clint wouldn't let go of Steve's arm. Steve, not being able to tell his distraught boyfriend no, asked the doctor if he could go with them. Of course, the doctor said yes, not wanting to get on the bad side of not one, but two of SHIELD's most deadly assassins, as well as its most valuable assets.
Once Natasha returned with Director Fury in tow, the medical staff began to prep Clint for surgery. Everything went much smoother with Nat and Fury there to interpret for Clint.
"Have you had any past problems with your hearing aids, Mr. Barton?" the doctor asked.
"No," Clint slurred, due to his lack of hearing.
"Okay," the doctor said. "I would like to make you aware that you are the perfect candidate for cochlear implants, is that something you would like to consider?"
"No, they told me that last time my batteries died and the answer is still the same," Clint responded, rather forcefully.
"Wait a minute," Steve interjected. "What are cochlear implants and why are they such a big deal?"
"Well," the doctor began. "A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. It would be extremely beneficial for Agent Barton, but he is adamant about not getting one."
"Why?" asked Steve.
"Because it means a longer recover which means more time out of the field," Clint answered quickly. "And before you say anything Steve, I still don't want them even though I am no longer a field agent."
"Okay. I won't argue with you. I am going out to wait with the others while you get ready for surgery. I will see you when you wake up," Steve said curtly, then he got out of his seat and stormed out of the room.
"Steve, wait!" Clint called. "Please don't leave me!" But Steve was already too far away to hear.
"Okay, Agent Barton. We are going to administer the sedative and take you back to surgery now," said the doctor. This was the last thing that Clint heard, well saw, before falling asleep.
/
As he woke up, Clint saw the smiling faces of his teammates. Even Thor had made it back from Asgard when he heard about his friend's predicament. But the one person that he wanted to see most, wasn't there.
"Where's Steve?" Clint asked and watched the faces of his teammates fall.
"He stormed through the waiting room and no one has seen or heard from him since," Natasha said, obviously having been the one chosen to break the news to him. "We checked security tapes from around base and one caught him driving away on his bike but no one knows where he was going."
"I've got to go find him. I've got to explain some things to him."
"You're not going anywhere, Clint. The doctor said that you reacted badly to the anesthesia and he wants to keep you for observation." This time it was Banner who responded.
"But I have to find Steve. I need him here. He needs to be here."
"I'll go find him," said Tony. "You stay put. Do you have any idea where he would go?"
"There is an old boxing gym in Brooklyn, not far from where his apartment was. That's usually where he goes to blow off some steam or when this day and age gets to be too much for him. I would start there," Clint said before his eyes start fluttering.
"I will find him and bring him here. You just get some rest." And with that, Tony grabbed his coat and started toward the door.
"And Tony," Clint began, and Tony turned around. "Please hurry." Tony nodded, then turned on his heels and left to find Steve. That was the last thing Clint remembers before alarms started going off and he blacked out.