Drum roll please… Clint's chapter is finally here! I tried to put a lot of work into this particular chapter since it's sort of a major plot milestone. Writing this was soooo hard! I wanted to get it right, and I probably started over at least three times before finally settling with this and rolling with it. Let me know if you like it, or if it didn't live up to your expectations. So, without further ado, I give you Recruits: Part 2. Things are about to get real…

WARNING: There will be a few occasions in this chapter where strong language is used. Sorry if anyone gets offended. (told you it'd be intense!)

Chapter 5: Recruits: Part 2

**Natasha**

Natasha pulled the overpriced sports car Tony had insisted she use to a stop. On the opposite side of the road was a police station. Clint's police station. Her hands began to shake. She didn't want to be here. In fact, this was the last place on Earth she wanted to be. Natasha mentally shook herself.

"Stop being a coward." She mumbled. "You need him. Do it for Mara." A wave of determination overcame her. She needed to put her personal feelings aside and help her daughter. Natasha put the car in park and climbed out onto the sidewalk. She crossed the street, avoiding speeding taxis and expensive cars, and walked right up to the doors of the station. Natasha placed her hand on the door handle and paused, fully realizing what she was about to do. Her heart thudded and adrenaline shot through her veins.

"You have to do this." She whispered. Before she had a chance to second guess herself anymore, Natasha opened the door and shoved herself inside. A young blonde receptionist looked up from her desk when she heard her enter. Natasha saw her and hesitantly walked up to the desk.

"Is there something I can help you with, m'am?" the receptionist asked sweetly.

"Yes." Natasha said carefully. "I need to speak with Officer Clint Barton. Is he here?"

**Clint**

Clint took a sip of the bitter coffee he got from the break room and immediately spit it back out. "Every time." He thought. He set the coffee down on his desk and picked up the file on one of the latest bank robberies. There had been quite a few lately. Clint flipped through the pages trying to find a pattern; something that could possibly link all the recent crimes together. As he skimmed through all the information, Sam walked up to his desk with a huge smirk on his face.

"What's with you?" Clint asked, wondering what was making his good friend so chipper. Sam grinned.

"Man, you have GOT to see the girl sitting in the waiting area." He said, pointing his thumb down the hall. "She has to be the hottest chick I have ever seen." Clint rolled his eyes.

"Well, why don't you go out there and talk to her?" He turned his attention back to the robbery files. Sam continued talking.

"Oh please. I wouldn't stand a chance with her! You on the other hand…" He trailed off. Clint looked up.

"Dude, I have a girlfriend, who happens to be working right down the hall." Sam nodded.

"Right. You and Clara are going pretty strong. What's it been, almost four months now?" Clint smiled.

"Yea, something like that." He and the little blonde receptionist had met almost two years ago when Clint had first started working for the NYPD. They had hit it off immediately, but it had taken a while for them to actually start dating.

"Well, speaking of Clara, she wants to see you up at the front." Sam said before turning to walk away. "Something about a visitor?" Clint paused before getting up, slightly confused. No one ever visited him at work. He didn't have any family and all his closest friends worked with him, so who could possibly want to see him? Clint walked down the hall towards the waiting area. Before he reached the door, a hand shot out from one of the holding rooms that was and pulled him inside. The door shut and Clara shoved him against the nearest wall, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him.

"Hi." Clint said breathlessly once she pulled away. Clara grinned.

"Hi." She leaned in to kiss him again, but Clint angled his head away from her.

"Sam said you had someone here to see me." He said. She rolled her eyes and pushed away from him.

"Way to ruin the mood." Clara said sarcastically.

"Hey, we work before we play." Clint walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Who's here?" Clara was suddenly serious.

"Some woman. She says she knows you, which is weird because I'm pretty sure she's a stripper." Clint raised his eyebrows at her sudden dark tone. "Have you been going to strip clubs?"

"What? Why the hell would I go to a strip club?" He said defensively. Clara narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know, you tell me."

"Okay, hold up. First of all, I haven't been going to strip clubs, and second of all, how do you even know she's a stripper?" Clara's face softened at Clint's reassuring tone.

"I don't know, I guess it's the way she looks. Really pretty and thin, but too muscular to be a model. Oh, and her name." She rolled her eyes. "If you're going to be a stripper, don't go by your show name." Clint laughed.

"That bad, huh?" Clara nodded, a small smirk on her face. "Alright, let's hear it." He smiled. This had to be good.

"Natasha Romanoff." She laughed. Clint froze, all humor draining from his face. Clara didn't notice. "Seriously, how obvious can you be? I mean, what is that, French?"

"It's Russian." Clint broke in. She looked at him still smiling.

"How would you know?" He just stared at her until she finally caught on. "Oh my God, you know her?" Clara said surprised. Clint nodded. "How?"

"I used to work with her." He rubbed his hands over his face. No wonder Sam was practically drooling when he told Clint about the 'hot chick' in the waiting area. Natasha had always had that effect on men.

"How come you never told me about her?" She pressed on.

"Because she isn't important." He answered quickly. Clara went silent. "Did she say what she wanted?"

"Not really, just that she needed to talk to you and that it was important." She replied quietly. Clara could always tell when something was upsetting him. "Do you want me to send her away?"

"No," Clint said with an irritated sigh, "she won't leave. Just bring her in here." Clara nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Once she was gone, Clint pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fuck!" He said angrily. Natasha was the last person he wanted to see today. She was the last person he wanted to see ever! And after everything that had gone down three years ago? He was surprised she even wanted to see him. It was her fault, after all…

Just then, the door opened and Clara stepped aside to allow Natasha to enter the room. She shot Clint a worrisome glance before quickly exiting and closing the door behind her. After that, there was silence. The former partners stood there staring at each other, taking everything in. Natasha hadn't changed much, except for her hair which she had let grow out. She was still stiff and intimidating, as well as beautiful, just like she had always been. They continued to stare, both of their faces remained emotionless. After a few minutes like this, Natasha finally spoke.

"Hello, Clint."

**Natasha**

"What the hell do you want?" Clint said, glaring at her. Natasha glared right back.

"Nice to see you too." She said sarcastically.

"Is this a social visit, Natasha, because I've got work to do." Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Always quick to cut to the chase." She mumbled.

"What do you want?" Clint asked her a second time.

"I want to talk to you." She said simply. He scoffed.

"Oh, so now you want to talk? Sorry, but you're about three years late."

"Will you stop being an asshole and listen to me?" Natasha yelled angrily. Clint walked closer to her.

"Why should I? What do you want from me?" He continued to glare at her, hatred pouring from his eyes. Natasha had only ever seen him like this twice before, and she had always been the cause. Things hadn't changed much.

"I need your help." She finally said. He gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Don't you always?" Natasha closed the distance between them and got up in his face.

"This isn't a joke, Clint. It's a matter of life or death, so I suggest you stop with the smartass comments. I didn't come here because I wanted to talk things out. Hell, I didn't even want to bring you in on this, but, as it turns out, I need you. So, are you going to hear me out, or should I just leave?" Clint's glare faltered. He was obviously taken aback by the intensity of her tone. He took a few steps back so she wasn't so close then crossed his arms and nodded.

"I'm listening." Natasha walked over to one of the chairs that was against the adjacent wall and sat down. "Here goes nothing." She thought to herself before clearing her throat to begin.

"I was confronted yesterday morning by one of my old employers, back from when I worked for the Room." She began. "He's asked me to kill twenty men in the next six days in exchange for 500 grand. You know how hard it is to track down and kill that many people even with the proper resources, so there's obviously no way I could do it, even with help." Clint interrupted her.

"So, you're pretty much saying it's impossible?" She nodded. "Then why even try? What's going to happen if you don't go through with it?" Natasha paused. She wasn't sure what to say. "Oh, and one more thing. Which of your old 'employers' is trying to make you do a job of this magnitude for only 500 grand? He's got to be insane." She remained silent, not making eye contact. "Natasha, who is it?"

"Sergei Varkov." Clint froze. She could tell he remembered the Russian all too well.

"Oh God." He whispered. There was a long moment of silence before either of them spoke again. "He has leverage, I'm guessing." Clint said. She nodded. "What is it?" Natasha still said nothing. He sighed angrily. "Look, if you want me to try and help, you're going to have to talk to me. A minute ago you wouldn't shut up, so tell me what he has that's got you so upset!" This was it.

"He has my daughter." She said shakily. Tears began to form in her eyes but she held them in. There was no way she was going to start crying. Not in front of Clint. Natasha looked up when he didn't reply. She looked at his face to find an array of emotions. Confusion, curiosity, pity, irritation, slight anger.

"You have a daughter." He said, ending the long silence. All she could do was nod. "I never pictured you as the motherly type."

"Neither did I."

"So it wasn't planned?" Natasha shook her head. She was starting to get annoyed with all the personal questions. "Who's the father?" That did it.

"A, that's none of your business, and B, even if it was, it's not the point." She snapped.

"Then what is?" Clint's glare returned and so did Natasha's.

"The point is that my daughter has been kidnapped by a bloodthirsty sociopath who would be more than willing to kill her without a second thought! The point is that in order to save her life, I need you to help me! I remember what happened three years ago, and I'm sorry, but right now I'm willing to put all of that aside so I can save the only thing in this world I still care about. So are you in, or are you out?" He didn't say anything. He just stood there, avoiding her gaze. "Well?"

"Have you asked everyone else?" Clint finally said. "The Avengers?" She nodded. "And?"

"They're all helping." Natasha told him. He began walking towards the door.

"Then you don't need me." This caught her by surprise.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I can't help you." He turned back around to face her, irritation all over his face. Natasha glared at him.

"You can't or you won't?" Clint sighed heavily. He was starting to get angry.

"I have a life now, Natasha!" He yelled.

"You think I didn't?" She shot back.

"I never said that. Listen, I'm sorry this happened to you, but I don't want to get dragged into this, okay? It took me a while to move past everything that happened all those years ago, but I did, and I'm happy now." Natasha narrowed her eyes.

"I was happy too. I had a baby, Clint. I had a life! And now it's all gone. It's all been taken from me." Her voice was shaky. "I need you to help me. Please." Clint shook his head.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"Please Clint, I'm begging you." She pleaded as tears began to pour from her eyes.

"You should go." He opened the door. Natasha stared at him, completely shocked at what he was saying. He was actually telling her to leave after everything she had just told him. What had happened to him? "Leave." Clint gestured to the opened door.

"Fuck you." Natasha said through clenched teeth. She stormed out the door, running right in to the little blonde receptionist.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just need to speak with Officer Barton. Am I interrupting?" She asked innocently.

"No, we're done." Natasha replied kindly. She turned back to face Clint. "If she dies, it's on you." And with that, she stormed off, leaving an angry Clint Barton and a confused receptionist in her wake. Natasha practically ran back to her car and waited until she was safely inside to allow herself to be overcome by her angry tears.

**Clint**

"What the hell just happened?" Clara asked confused. Clint didn't respond. He rubbed his hands over his face, completely stressed by his confrontation with Natasha. "Clint?" Clara touched his shoulder but he shook her off.

"Could you just leave me alone for a few minutes." He said angrily. She nodded and he closed the door to the holding room. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Clint yelled in irritation. How could she just show up out of the blue like that and drop all this information on him? What, did she think he would just forget everything that happened and run off to play super spies? It wasn't like he didn't want to help her, but he just couldn't. He couldn't put his life on hold for an entire week so he could risk his life for her. Clint sighed heavily and deflated in to one of the wooden chairs, trying not to think about what Natasha had told him. However, the more he tried not to think about it the more he did think about it, and the more he realized how big of an asshole he had been to her.

Natasha had taken a big step confronting him and begging for his help after what had happened between them, and he had just brushed her off. Fuck, she'd even started crying, which was something she never did when people were watching. She was always so strong, but today she had been so vulnerable. What the hell was wrong with him? He should be helping her. It was her goddamn daughter for Christ's sake!

Clint sighed. He knew what he had to do. He left the holding room and walked down the hall to the back of the station where the lockers were. There was no one there, so he went to his locker and opened it, retrieving a black case. He closed his locker and opened the case, running his hand over the black collapsible recurve bow inside. Just then, the door to the locker room opened and Clint quickly shut the case. Clara came in to view. She looked concerned.

"Hey." Clint smiled at her. She smiled in return, curiously eyeing his case.

"I just came to make sure you were okay. What's that?" Clara nodded to the case.

"It's nothing. Listen, I need you to tell the boss that I'm taking a week off." She shot him a confused look.

"What? Why?"

"Uh, my friend needs my help with something. It's a family thing." Clint kissed her on the cheek and began walking towards the door.

"Clint, wait. What's going on, is everything okay?" Clara chased after him.

"I hope so." He continued walking until he reached the front doors. Clint looked over his shoulder to see his girlfriend still following him. "I'll call you tonight, okay. I really need to go now." Without waiting for Clara's response, he walked out the door and flagged down a taxi.

"Where to?" The driver asked once he was inside.

"Stark Tower." Clint told him. The driver nodded and sped off towards the home of the billionaire.

**Natasha**

Natasha stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor of Stark Tower. In the living area she could see four of her fellow Avengers sitting around and talking, as well as Pepper. They all fell silent when they heard the ding of the elevator and saw Natasha get out.

"Hey, where's Robin Hood?" Tony asked when she came over to join them.

"Not coming." She said simply.

"What do you mean he's not coming?" Bruce asked surprised.

"I mean I asked him to help and he said no." Natasha didn't want to talk about Clint anymore. She looked up at Thor and Steve and smiled at them.

"Thor, Cap. Thanks for helping." They both smiled at her sympathetically.

"Any time, Natasha." Steve said kindly.

"I'm terribly sorry to hear of your unfortunate predicament." Thor boomed. "I shall do all I can to help rescue your child."

"Thank you." Natasha said, grateful she didn't have to do this alone. A sudden beeping caused everyone to turn to Tony, who was fishing his phone from his pocket. He put it on speaker.

"What is it, Kelly." He asked.

"Mr. Stark, there's an NYPD officer down here that wants to speak with you." Tony glanced at Natasha. She mouthed the word 'name' to him. "Officer who?" He asked. There was a pause.

"Officer Barton, sir." Kelly said from the other end of the line.

"Okay, thanks. I'll send someone down to get him." He hung up his phone and turned to Natasha, but she was already in the elevator. She clicked the button for the lobby. When the doors opened again, she walked into the waiting area to find Clint standing at the front desk, his bow case in hand. She stopped a few feet away from him and crossed her arms.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. He held up the case.

"I'm here to help." Natasha stared at him and he stared back. They stayed like that for a few moments until she finally spoke.

"Okay." She said with a nod before turning on her heel and leading Clint to the elevators. "Avengers assemble." She silently thought to herself as the elevator doors opened and the both stepped inside.

Whoooooa! Long chapter! My fingers hurt. Was it intense? How many of you totally hated Clint at first? Well, their reunion obviously didn't go very smoothly, but at least he's on board now, right? Next chapter will pick up right where we left off. Clint and Natasha will have a more civilized conversation in the elevator regarding some details about Mara and her mystery father! But, before anyone gets too excited, I should tell you that I will NOT be revealing the father's identity quite yet. After a dramatic chapter like this, we could stand to have a little less excitement. Reviews, comments, favorites, and follows are all greatly appreciated! You guys are the best! Thanks for reading!