A/N: Thanks to those who have added my story to your alerts. I'm not sure why but it seems to be falling flat in the review department. So if you're reading take a moment to drop me line, good bad, or otherwise. That way I'll know what I need to do to improve.
Chapter 4
Dream World
Clint began to think he was caught in a tilt-a-whirl. The ground was rumbling and his body was being thrown back and forth like a rag doll. All he could do was to keep moving in an effort to dodge the firestorm that was raining down upon them. He hated running. It was one thing to stand up and fight against the enemy but this time the enemy appeared to be Mother Nature. He didn't know who to fight. If they were fighting Mother Nature where the hell was Thor? It was almost laughable. No quiver, no team, just duck and cover. . In fact, Clint couldn't remember the last time he actually had to run from something. There was one thing certain he was definitely going to have a word with Fury about this when they got back.
He looked back just in time to see Natasha take a fiery pellet in the back of her left shoulder.
"Tasha!" It was if he were watching everything in slow motion as a second stone hit her in the back prompting her slender form to collapse to the Earth. Not caring about his own safety, Clint slid to her side. Instantly, he started to inspect the wound. It was bad, nothing but a big gaping hole surrounded by singed skin.
"Get…out…of here…" she managed with a quivering jaw.
"Not on your life," he whispered before hefting her into his arms. Carrying her was almost impossible. Not that Natasha was heavy by any means. It was the ground. It wouldn't stop moving. Clint flautered a couple of times before he spotted a nearby bunkhouse. It was empty. Once inside he laid her down on a thin mattress that by the looks of it belonged to a roustabout. He recognized the territory. At least the bunkhouse would provide them with temporary cover while he wrapped his head about the situation.
Stark Tower
Pepper Potts clenched her jaw as she, Bruce, Tony, and Natasha descended into the basement of Stark Tower. She wasn't exactly thrilled over the fact that Tony had offered the tower as the place to summon the Jinn.
"Why didn't you choose a cave or shut in?" she piped as the elevator came to a halt.
"We need a controlled environment," Tony took her hand in a gentlemen's fashion as they stepped off the car.
"What if it decides to stick around?"
"It won't," Bruce chimed in, "unless of course you withhold the sweets."
"Somehow I don't think that will be problem," Pepper returned revealing a huge silver platter that JARVIS had prepared filled with donuts, cookies, chocolates and assorted gourmet candies.
They then proceeded to prepare the ritualistic safety fence which would protect them from the Jinn should it decide to attack. With a few simple ingredients and the right words Bruce was able to form a protective blue barrier that would sheild them from any harm an angry spirit might want to cause. When summoning Jinns you never knew what you were going to get.
Lights off and incense lit, Bruce began the ritual he had performed in Calcutta, reciting an ancient incantation. For several minutes Natasha and the others waited in complete silence until they saw a flameless puff of smoke appear and materialize into the shape of a woman.
Pepper looked at Tony. From what she knew of them, Jinns were ugly creatures. The woman standing before them could hardly be called ugly; she was quite beautiful in fact. "I thought Jinn's were supposed to be rather hideous."
"Beats me," Tony replied reaching for a donut.
As the figure became corporeal, Natasha felt the hair on the back of her neck begin to rise. It was Ava, the woman, from the park. "You!" she hissed drawing her weapon.
"Put that away!" Bruce ordered. "Jinn's scare easily!"
"She knows what happened to Clint!" Natasha kept her weapon trained on the spirit. "Who are you?" she demanded as the spirit shed its human vessel and morphed into its true form; a tall, slender, bald creature with feminine features.
"Is that hideous enough for you?" Tony commented taking another bite of his donut.
"I am Ava. I have answered your call. If you so desire, I will tell you what I know of your friend."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Natasha growled.
"I am bound to grant you whatever you should desire. Unless, you try to cause harm to me or anger me I must perform your bidding."
Bruce leaned into Natasha, "you might want to put the gun down."
Skeptical, Natasha lowered her weapon and stated her wish. "I wish to see Agent Barton."
"Very well." Ava pushed her hands together and then slowly drew them a part, forming an oracle's sphere. The sphere served as a looking glass and right in the center of it was an image of Clint lying on the concrete slab, wrists bound and blood being drained from his system.
"Is he alive?" Tasha asked, not certain that she wanted to know the answer.
"He is still breathing, but the Jinn is draining the life from body."
"How do we get to him?" Bruce demanded, his own stomach turning at the thought of blood being drained from a healthy human being.
"You must wish for it."
Tasha opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Pepper.
"Wait, is it possible you could bring Agent Barton to us?"
"I am afraid not, "Ava replied. "I am forbidden to interfere with another Jinn's subject."
Natasha spoke calmly, "All right then, I wish for you to take me...us to Agent Barton."