Clint slowly made his way down the trail. Pepper had told him that Natasha was out doing a perimeter check and figuring it was as alone as the two were going to get, had set out to find her. He knew she was upset with him, but couldn't for the life of him figure out what he had managed to do; if anyone had a right to be angry it was him. She had never handled him with kid gloves before, and the constant protest to Clint being a participating member of the team was really infuriating. Then there was the fact that she was even with them in the first place. He had expected the misguided notion to rescue him coming from the others, but Romanoff should have known better; she should have put her duty before him.

Pausing in his step he saw the redhead sitting on a bench overlooking the meandering river just down the steep bank, Clint had always liked the view up there. Natasha didn't look up as he walked over and sat down next to her. Taking a deep breath he decided the direct approach was the best. Their plan was taking place tomorrow and there was no need to put off anything that needed to be said; he might not be able to say it later. "The councilman's going to go ahead for the meet."

"Looks like you get what you want Clint."

There was silence for a few moments before Barton spoke. "You just threw it away Nat."

He didn't have to spell it out; that's what was great about their relationship, they both knew what the other one was talking about. "I didn't throw anything away Clint. That is unless you continue to lay down and die for these people."

"Nat, don't."

"Don't Nat me." Her voice began to rise "I'm not going to watch you slowly kill yourself and I'm sure as hell not going to stay loyal to SHIELD when you need me. Loki happened, now get over it. It's done and we can't change it, but you're better than this Clint. Don't let it be the end of you." She wasn't completely sure if she was talking to Clint or herself.

There was the burn. Despite what he was going to do to her onboard the helicarrier when he attacked, she still had faith in him. She still believed that he was worth something when he had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he wasn't. Devoid of the initial frustration he had started the conversation he whispered, "just - stop it."

Her rage crept up as she heard the broken quality in his voice. She clenched her fist and let it fly connecting with the side of Barton's head.

"What the hell Natasha?" His hand gingerly probed the now aching spot next to his ear.

"If anyone gets to kick your ass it's going to be me. You owe me that much," she hissed.

Clint glared at her as she landed another hit to his shoulder. He bit the inside of his check to stop himself from hitting her back. Fighting her would be too reminiscent of something he desperately wanted to forget, but he wasn't sure he was strong enough to take her frustration and not hit back. He growled, "walk away."

Natasha threw a punch to his left which he raised his arm to block. She quickly delivered a blow to his right side.

"I mean it Natasha," he warned.

"Maybe you should get mad, it's a lot better than being weak!"

A vicious back hand caused his head to snap to the side. It stung almost as much as the words that preceded it. Before he knew what he was doing he was lunging towards Romanoff. She hit the ground with a grunt and Clint on top. He began hitting her raised arms; every blow a symbol of his hatred and if she couldn't see how worthless he was then he was damn well going to show her. He hated her for believing in him when she shouldn't. He hated her for becoming so important to him and he hated her for letting him care enough about her that she could be used against him; but most importantly he hated her for being the object of such hatred that he knew was solely directed at himself.

It didn't last for long as she brought her leg up over his shoulder and flipped him off. Landing on his back he brought his elbow down on where her chest should have been but Natasha had already twisted and flipped to her feet. She kicked out Barton's leg as he tried to get up but fell as he pulled her down with him. They struggled for a few moments unaware how precariously close to the edge they were.

Gaining the top position Black Widow grabbed Barton by the shoulder and slammed him against the ground. If he needed someone to punish him then it was going to be her; at least she knew when it was enough. She hoped she would remember when it was enough. The ground underneath them gave way and they went tumbling down the bank. They rolled faster and faster undeterred by the various bushes and branches trying to slow their descent into the frigid water below.

Crashing in to the cold water, Natasha's first instinct was to take a deep breath as the cold smothered her. Resisting the urge to take a gulp of air, she kicked towards the surface and frantically started looking for her partner who had yet to breach the surface.

"Clint!"

It was cold and dark as the water enveloped him. It would be so easy to take the large breath his lungs were desperately demanding and let the icy waters do the job that everyone else seemed to be incapable of. It was peaceful under the water; the world melted away leaving Barton with one decision. He caught the steady kicks of Romanoff's feet as she treaded water above him and suddenly the one thought that had plagued him all year receded to the notion that Natasha might need his help. They both had gotten banged up rolling down the steep bank; what if she needed help to make it back to the cabin. He was the only one that could save her right now; maybe he was the only one that could ever really save her. That was something that might be worth sticking around for.

Whether he liked it or not the team needed him to get them out of their current situation. A situation they wouldn't be in if it wasn't for him to start with, but what was done was done and they needed him. In the few moments he was submerged in the frigid waters Clint Barton came to the conclusion that his punishment for his actions would be to live if only to save his teammates, his friends from themselves. They clearly needed someone to watch their backs.

He broke the surface coughing and sputtering. "Nat?"

She closed her eyes in relief and proceeded to swim over to the flailing man, wrapping her arm around his neck to keep him above the water. It took a few seconds for him to take in their situation and start treading water on his own. They swam to shore with Natasha just in arms reach in case Clint need help.

Still coughing he crawled onto the narrow shore line at the bottom of the slope and lay down exhausted.

She plopped down beside him. "Feel better?"

"Hardly."

Laying there on the rocky shore soaking wet and cold felt like old times, before all the craziness and horrors of the last year. For a split second there was no guilt and no fear just the instinct for survival. Clint didn't think he was ever going to have a moment where he wasn't drowning in pain and guilt, but as he fought to get to the surface of the river it had all melted away. His main concern was seeing if Natasha was ok because he was the only one in a position to help her; nothing else had mattered. Now as they laid there catching their breath he realized she was right - he needed to try harder.

"Get mad, get angry but don't roll over and die Clint. This team needs you."

"Thanks. You always seem to know when to knock me upside the head."

"That's what partners are for."

"For the record I wasn't going to lay down and die."

"No. But you weren't going to fight either. I can't do this without you Clint."

Clint nodded his acceptance of their unspoken deal.

"Come on, let's get you out of these wet clothes," said Natasha as she offered him a hand up.

"You get to explain this to Bruce though." The doctor was not going to be happy about his patient coming back bruised and hypothermic.