Author's Note: So just a random note but my pain in the backside, crack headed muses up and decided to change their minds on what Shay looks like. Her Image is now based on Eliza Dushku though her height remains at five foot four, no ones going to miss an inch given that Eliza herself passed herself off as five foot four in her short lived tv show Tru Calling.
But I digress a little there aside from the change in looks, I want to thank people for all their support, and I will warn in advance now that chapter's ten, eleven and twelve went smutty, like seriously smutty Clint went totally overboard in my head and it carried across.
Chapter Seven: Trouble
"Darlin' do me a favour and open the window over there at the fire escape," Clint drawled as he tugged his combat boots on before crossing the length of the bedroom silently to close and lock the door, detouring on his way back to where Shay waited by the window, he stopped by the bag containing the medical supplies. Dropping Shay's turned off phone into the bag he zipped it shut and slung it over his good shoulder as he made his way back to her, but when she went to climb out the window he caught her wrist in his free hand, shaking his head when she glanced back at him.
"We're not going out that way. We're going through the bathroom hatch into the loft." Releasing her wrist Clint then placed his hand upon the small of her back guiding her into the bathroom, once inside he silently shut the door and moved through the darkness with practiced ease to the cupboard beneath the sink, where he crouched down to open the door and blindly felt around inside for the two flashlights he kept there.
Turning one on Clint handed it back to her before grabbing the other. Sliding the bag from his shoulder he passed it to Shay, stepping up onto the lid of the toilet he then stepped across onto the counter, reaching up with the torch he pushed up to trigger the hidden trap door's catch.
Silently holding his torch back towards Shay he breathed a silent sigh of relief when she took it without being asked. Flicking the safety back on his gun he tucked it into the waistband of his sweat pants before kicking off the counter to catch the edge of the loft's entry.
As he was hauling himself into the loft he heard the muffled sound of the apartment's main door finally giving way, turning around he leant half way back through the hole, extending his good arm and head back through the hole for the bag and flashlight.
Pulling the bag up he turned to set it to one side, turning back to the entryway Clint saw that Shay was already halfway in. Reaching down he hooked his hand into the back waistband of her jeans to help haul her the rest of the way in, closing the hatch behind her.
Crawling across the space to a large skylight Clint pushed it open and hoisted two pre-packed bags out onto the roof before climbing out and reaching back to take the medical bag from Shay so she could climb out too.
Crouching by one of the bags Clint pulled the zip open enough that he could rifle around the bag, eventually pulling out a grey t-shirt. Donning it with a wince as his stitches pulled, he zipped the bag back up and was about to stand when Shay's lips brushed his ear as she whispered "Now what?"
As he stood Clint lifted the backpack and handed it to Shay before crouching down to pick up the medical bag in one hand and his small duffel bag in the other, inclining his head towards the stairwell entry as he started walking in that direction he responded in the same hushed tone "Now we get to the building across the road, down onto the street and back to the truck."
"Not to burst your bubble or anything here, but how do you expect us to get over there? It's not like I've ever been a tightrope walker." Clint could hear the slight waver of fear in Shay's voice despite her smart-assed remark. Turning his head he watched as she examined the zip line.
"I have, it's not as hard as it looks once you know how. But you don't have to worry, we'll be zip lining across." Reaching into a small alcove just above where the zip line attached to the bricks Clint pulled out a small kit, flipping it open he hooked a carabiner through the handle of each of the bags.
Attaching the carabiners to the bottom of a pulley he rose to attach the pulley to the cable and set the bags on the trip across to the other building, before returning to pull two harnesses out. He tossed one in Shay's direction, murmuring "Put that on."
Straightening, Clint pulled his own harness on, tightening the straps before he attached the carabiner. Moving across to where Shay was dragging her harness into place he reached out, tugging the straps to tighten the harness.
Crossing back to the zip line he stepped up onto the edge of the building. Extending a hand out to Shay he quirked one brow as her gaze drifted between him, the building at the other end of the zip line and then the street below. "We need to go. They'll check the roof eventually and we really don't want to be here when they do."
He breathed a silent sigh of relief when Shay stepped up onto the ledge to join him. Clint reached down to connect them together and clip onto the pulley. Wrapping his good arm around her waist, he rested his forehead against hers before stepping back off the ledge to send them swooshing across the line.
Once on the other side he hit the quick release catch before unhooking their harnesses, reluctantly pulling away from her and going to recover the bags from where they currently hung.
His large duffle he slung over his good shoulder, keeping the medical bag in his hand while heading for the stairwell, he heard more than saw Shay following him as her boots crunched softly on the rooftop.
Clint hurried down the stairs, forcing himself to move as fast as was possible in his current condition, he'd found since the Loki incident two years ago that pain killers didn't seem to affect him for as long as they should anymore, not that he minded. Generally he loathed the way his thoughts and actions were dulled by the pain killers so for his head to be clear right now was a bonus, the downside however was the dull throbbing ache lingering in his shoulder and side.
The sensation of a soft, warm yet firm hand grasping his drew Clint back to the dire reality of their situation. Giving Shay's hand a firm squeeze he ushered them in an even quicker pace back in the direction of their borrowed truck.
As they arrived back at the truck Clint slipped his hand from Shay's to yank the driver's side door open, letting her in first as he opened the back door to dump his two bags in the back seat.
Climbing in behind Shay it occurred to Clint that he'd left the truck's keys in the pocket of the tactical vest which currently resided on the floor of the apartment's bedroom. "Fuck, I forgot the keys," he cursed quietly as his head dropped to rest on the steering wheel, this little slip up he could blame on one of two things, the pain medication or the distraction that Shay posed to his senses.
"Well that wasn't exactly the brightest move." Shay's voice was quietly teasing and followed by a soft breathy laugh. Squeezing his eyes shut he banged his head on the steering wheel while contemplating what their next move was going to be.
He was busy trying to recall his lessons from Natasha in how to hot wire a vehicle when he felt a firm shove to his right knee he shifted his leg and opened his eyes to glance through the gap of the steering wheel, briefly catching chocolate eyes peering up at him as Shay muttered "Tyler's going to kill me for this."
Clint couldn't help but watch curiously as Shay stuck the torch in her mouth and began to pluck out the wiring from beneath the steering wheel and within a matter of minutes had the truck's engine rumbling to life. Watching as she slid out from beneath the steering wheel to sit beside him he queried "So do all paramedics learn how to hot wire a vehicle?"
Throwing the truck into gear and pulling back out onto the street a strangled bitter laugh sounded from beside him mere moments before he felt Shay settle against him. He wasn't sure whether or not an answer would be forthcoming so for the time being focused his attention on the road as he expertly manoeuvred the truck back into the city.
"No they don't, which is why I said Tyler is going to kill me. Let's just say that I wasn't always a model citizen." Shay whispered it so quietly that he'd almost missed it and he got the distinct impression that there was a story waiting to be told there, but he wasn't going to push for it just yet.
The silence that lingered in the truck's cab was disconcerting and was only broken by Shay's low whistle as she leant forward to look out at the Avengers Tower as he turned in off the street.
Turning the truck down towards the underground parking he wound the window down as he pulled to a stop at the speaker box "JARVIS, its Barton, I need you to open up."
"Apologies Mr Barton, I am unable to accommodate your request at this time." That response from JARVIS had Clint blinking in mild confusion as his gaze turned to Shay as she shrugged before leaning across him and out the window.
"Is there a reason why you can't accommodate his request, Mr Jarvis?" Clint sucked in a breath and held it as he tried not to focus on the way Shay's breasts were pressed firmly against his forearm. He was after all only human and had been without female companionship for a long time, and now suddenly he had a beautiful conundrum of a soulmate almost intimately draped across him as she tried to charm Stark's AI.
"Under current circumstances Miss, with Sir's incapacitation and the events that have transpired at the Triskelion I am under strict orders not to admit any personnel associated with SHIELD into the Tower at this time."
Clint's first thought was to wonder what the hell had Tony incapacitated and entrusting his and Pepper's safety solely to JARVIS, the AI could only do so much and was possibly at risk of being corrupted through hacking or a well placed virus. His second thought he voiced aloud, though whether he was aiming the question towards Stark's AI or Shay he wasn't certain. "What the hell happened at the Triskelion?"
"It would appear, Mr Barton, that over the years HYDRA has infiltrated SHIELD's ranks. As previously stated, Miss Potts has requested I prevent access to the tower to any personnel associated with SHIELD until we can ascertain who may be HYDRA." If Clint didn't know better he'd swear JARVIS's tone was haughty. As Shay pulled herself back from the window he met her questioning gaze as he reversed back out from the underground entry.
"Holy shit," was the only remark he made aloud. His mind, though, was churning with possibilities and questions. Not least of which was 'Where the hell is Tasha?'