Author's Note: Once again a seriously big thanks to ozhawk for being an awesome beta and kicking my ass when I need it, she is a seriously awesome writer and her works inspire me to keep going. Also a big thanks to those favouriting, following and commenting it's a huge comfort to know that this is coming along well.

Chapter Four: Evade and Escape

He'd still been trying to tamp down the flare of jealousy that had emerged from his contemplation over what relationship his soulmate had with the older man when he heard the door quietly shut. Jerking out of his thoughts he glanced back over his shoulder to see the older man gone and quickly looked back to Shaylyn, asking "Where the hell did he go?"

"To get supplies." The matter of fact tone of her voice combined with her expression and the slight shrug of her shoulders made him groan. Bringing his right hand from her shoulder to pinch the bridge of his nose he forced his eyes closed momentarily to silently count.

"So he said, but what supplies exactly?" he asked cautiously as his eyes drifted open slowly to meet her gaze while letting his hand fall from the bridge of his nose.

Easing his left hand gingerly from her shoulder to settle at her lower back he started towards the door, guiding her with a gentle nudge. He watched silently while she inclined her head slightly before the soft lilt of her voice filled the room, "Bandages, antibiotics and painkillers, you know, the usual."

As her hand reached out to open the door he blinked at the rather casual statement, such supplies were apparently perfectly commonplace for her, whatever it was that she did. When the door cracked open he subtly shifted to place himself between her and the opening as his gaze assessed the hallway leading from the recovery room to the elevator.

"Where will he be going?" He asked, while stepping into the hallway, his hand at her back, urging her to follow him out and fall into step beside him. The corridor felt far too quiet for his liking as they made their way along it. His eyes continually scanned their surroundings for threats.

Stopping by the doors to the elevator he turned slightly to study the door to the stairs, in his peripheral vision he saw her hand come up to hit the call button. The hand that had been resting on his injured shoulder shot out and curled gently around her wrist, stalling her progress. With a shake of his head his gaze moved back to her while murmuring, "No, we're taking the stairs."

"Why?" Shay looked back at him, bemused.

"Too much potential for getting trapped in elevators. Doors always open to reveal the bad guys, don't you ever watch the movies? And you didn't answer my question. Where's your boyfriend going?"

"He's not my boyfriend, he's my partner," she frowned as he pulled her towards the fire stairs. "Jason, it's nine flights down…"

He hesitated a moment, then shook his head. "Not now," he said, almost to himself. "Nine flights, shouldn't take long, then. And you still didn't answer my question. Where's your partner going?"

Shay had to hurry to keep up with him as he darted down the stairs, somehow almost soundless even in heavy combat boots, leading around corners with the gun, his grey eyes everywhere. He was lethally graceful in a way that seemed almost familiar, tickling oddly at the back of her brain, because it really wasn't the way she saw NYPD officers move.

"Ambulance resupply office," she said, finally answering his question. "It's right by the ER exit."

Pausing suddenly by the door that led out to the ER his head tilted as he strained to listen to the sounds on the other side of the door. As she collided into his back he curled his free arm back around her lower back, pinning her against him to prevent her from stumbling or falling and giving away their position.

From the way she'd kept up with him on the hasty descent down the stairs, he'd suspected she was athletic, but the sensation of her lithe body pressed up against his muscular back was compromising his ability to think clearly and keep a level head.

"Really, you all but run down those stairs like the hounds of hell are on our ass only to stop without warning?" Her breathy voice by his ear sent the slightest of shivers along his spine, which didn't at all help with the current problem he had with maintaining his focus.

Turning his head to rest his forehead against her temple he murmured quietly "Shhh." Letting his eyes drift closed he took a moment just to relish her closeness before turning his attention back to the sounds he could hear from the other side of the door.

When he was certain he couldn't hear anything more than the normal hustle and bustle associated with the daily routine of the ER he forced his eyes open and reluctantly moved his arm from around her. Meeting her gaze his hand tightened on the pistol's grip as his free hand moved to the door handle. "Stay close to me." He said it low but firm, holding her eyes and hoping that she obeyed. He could already tell that his soulmate was strong-willed.

Stepping out of the stairwell he kept the gun down by his thigh out of sight and was slightly surprised when she casually stepped in front of him to conceal his gun from view. Scanning the ER he caught sight of her partner emerging from a doorway across the way, settling his free hand to her hip he gently ushered her in that direction.

His gaze was focused on her partner and the bag he had slung over his shoulder so the first sign he had that something was wrong was her sudden sharp intake of breath from in front of him. Before he could even make a move to see what had caused her reaction he found himself lying flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him and her sprawled on top of him.

He was vaguely aware of the sound of gunfire and screams erupting in the ER as he attempted and failed to draw air back into his lungs as pain flared and spread from his shoulder and stomach. When the extra weight on his chest moved he found it easier to breath, he forced his eyes to open as he felt warm lips brush his ear and heard an urgently whispered, "Jason, please, you need to still be with me right now."

"I'm here," he muttered just before he felt soft careful hands slide beneath his stolen vest at his shoulders to help him into a seated position with his back against the nurses' station. From the corner of his eye he could see her partner had taken cover in the doorway and was firing back at the shooters who he assumed were in the back of the ER.

Using the nurses' station as cover he peered around the corner, locating four shooters still upright and firing and another two who appeared immobile on the floor. From what he could see it would appear that her partner had some kind of military training. He could certainly shoot straight and wasn't wasting his limited ammunition.

Raising the pistol he took aim and joined in the fire fight currently occurring in the middle of the emergency room, granted he loathed hospitals but that didn't mean that he wanted a war to occur in the middle of one.

Easily falling into the familiar routine of battle he pulled back in behind his cover to replace the magazine. Just as he was taking aim at the final shooter there was a strangled cry of "No!" to his right and he ducked back into cover just in time to see his soulmate launch her body across his legs and out into the open.

"Don't!" He shouted while reaching out to try and drag her back into cover, only to miss grabbing hold of her ankle by a mere inch. Cursing inwardly as a shot ricocheted off the floor just behind her he leant out, took aim and dropped the final shooter with a single shot right between his eyes.

Forcing himself off the floor, gun still in hand, he scanned the back of the ER as he crossed to the doorway where there was a pair of booted feet slowly disappearing into the room. Still covering the back of the ER with the weapon, he peered quickly over his shoulder and caught sight of her pressing a wad of gauze down against a wound to her partner's chest that was barely an inch above his heart.

"Shit."

Flicking the safety onto his gun he shoved it roughly into the waistband of his pants as he moved into the room. Before he even got to where the pair were in the middle of the resupply room he could see her movements were frantic, one hand trying to keep pressure on the wound as the other tried to gather what she needed.

Dropping to his knees beside her he placed his hand on top of hers and the gauze, causing her to jump slightly. When she lifted one arm to wipe the tears from her eyes on her sleeve he caught sight of the dark blood marring her hand before she scrambled on her knees over to the shelves.

He wasn't sure what it was she was searching for as his gaze was drawn from her to her partner as a hand weakly grasped at his wrist, he could tell the other man was trying to tell him something but his voice was slightly strangled.

He leant down to better hear as her partner weakly uttered "Get her out of here."

A metallic clatter drew his gaze momentarily to the floor where keys now rested by his knee. Gathering them with his free hand and stuffing them into a pocket of the vest his gaze returned in time to see a needle slide expertly into place in the wounded man's arm. Reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder he spoke calmly, trying to be reassuring at the same time as he said "Sweetheart, we have to go."

The icy glare he got in answer was enough to make him flinch and make a mental note not to call her that in future, her look was followed by an angrily snapped "I need to stabilize him." Her gaze then returned to the injured man and what she was in the middle of doing.

"He's in a hospital, they'll look after him. Right now the best thing we can do for him is to leave. The people looking for me will consider him an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire if we're not here. As long as I get rid of this." He tucked the gun her partner had been using inside his purloined combat vest, trying to sound as reasonable as he could. Shuffling footsteps drew his gaze to the doorway as a young nurse and doctor hurried into the supply room, dropping onto the opposite side of the wounded man.

Rising from the floor he collected the small duffle bag from the floor and slung it across his shoulder before bending down to curl his arm around his soulmate's waist to drag her to her feet. Tugging her from the room it took a few steps before she pulled herself together enough to actually move on her own.

Once outside he retrieved the keys and pressed the central locking button to locate the vehicle. Guiding her to the truck he tugged the passenger door open and dropped the duffle bag onto the bench seat before ushering her into the vehicle and moving to the driver's side to climb in.

Starting the truck he eased it out of the parking lot and onto the street; once they were a safe distance from the hospital he spared a glance to where she was sitting. Her forehead rested against the window while her knees where pulled to her chest and her hands had disappeared into the sleeves of the hoodie. She looked small and fragile like that, and he had to fight down the instinct to just tell her to trust him and he'd make everything okay. Clearing his throat he said softly "I think it's time for a proper introduction. I know your partner said your name but I'd prefer it if you told me yourself?"

Pulling the truck into a side street he put it in park to turn in his seat and meet her slightly exhausted eyes. There was a slight sniff as she chewed lightly at her lower lip as though debating her next step. When she finally spoke her voice cracked slightly. "I'm Shaylyn, Shaylyn Harrison."

One hand extended in his direction, as it emerged from beneath the sleeve of the hoodie it didn't escape his notice that it was quivering slightly. Reaching out to gently close his hand around hers he gave a slight squeeze before speaking "Nice to meet you properly Shaylyn. Now is probably a good time to tell you that my name isn't Jason."

As her brow furrowed and she tried to slide her hand from his he gently brushed his thumb soothingly along the back of her hand before he continued "Jason Walsh is a cover. My name is Clint, Clint Barton."