2004
Barton had just collapsed on his pillow when the alarms went off. Not another drill? Please no. Was all he could think. He popped up and grabbed his clothes, boots, and gun anyway. The next alarm was different. Shit. A hostage drill at 2 in the morning? Really?
Barton headed for his assigned duty station, which was stupid, because he didn't have any official duties at this base. His duties always happened in other places like roof tops and alleys. Teams hustled past him, Barton unimpressed by their performance. Just then his walkie talkie buzzed...
"Barton, this is Coulson, get your ass down to the armory now."
"Understood." What's going on?"
"She broke out of her room and has a guard by a knife inside the armory."
OH Shit. "On my way Coulson." Yelled back Barton.
He took off for the stairs, rushing past another set of guards "Make a hole! Make a hole!" He yelled. The idiots didn't move out of the way fast enough, so he hoped over the rail and down onto the next flight of stairs. He hit the door to the next floor hard, drew his gun, and made his way over to the huddle of guards in front of the armory. These guys knew him enough to get out of the way. They parted to reveal Coulson standing in front of the door, gun raised, peering through the glass.
"She's still slow from the drugs, and she's disoriented, which is probably the only reason the guy is still alive." Whispered Coulson.
Barton nodded. "I'm going in." he said and handed Coulson his gun.
"What? Are you out of your mind Barton, take the gun."
"No. if she sees me as a threat, that guy is toast. Trust me Coulson."
Phil shot him a dirty look, but backed away from the door, motioning the guards to do the same.
Barton stopped, having thought of something, "Coulson, give me your jacket!"
"What?"
"Give me your jacket now," he motioned up and down, "Trust me."
Coulson looked at him like he was insane but complied, striping off his blue suit coat thinking that this was the last time he was going to see it.
Barton folded it over his arm, took a deep breath, and opened the door. Natalia was in one corner of the room, up against a wall, her arm wrapped around the rookie guard, a knife to his throat. The man had obviously given up trying to fight her. He had slashes on his arms and was bleeding from a gash on the forehead. He was just breathing hard, wondering when in the hell someone was going shoot this insane girl.
She flinched when she saw Barton enter the room, but didn't make a move. She could tell he was different. Her eyes widened when she saw he wasn't armed.
"Наталья отпустить его." Natalia let him go He took a step towards her.
"нет" no
"Let him go, and no one will hurt you." Another step forward. Barton could see her bleeding through her bandages. She was breathing hard and trying to focus through the haze. He wondered how much longer she was going to be able to keep this up.
"нет" she hissed.
"Он ничего, он того не стоит." He's nothing, he's not worth it Another step forward. The guard shot Barton a what the hell look but realized the agent was distracting his captor so he could slip free when the time was right.
"Отойди" Stay back she pressed the knife into the guards' neck. Barton didn't flinch, didn't stop moving forward.
"У тебя кровь, позвольте мне вам помочь." You're bleeding, let me help you he raised a hand to her. She started shaking from the blood loss, but the knife stayed dangerously close to the man's artery. Barton was close enough now. He just had to get the guard to respond to his cue. Barton's eyes met the hostage's and the guard understood his orders.
In one quick movement Barton lunged forward to grab her arm while the guard slipped down, somehow managing to get his neck out of the way just in time. He scampered away as Barton held Natalia's arm with the knife tight. She kicked at him, but he was too strong her in her injured state. Or so he thought. Without warning, she whipped free of his grip and landed a good punch directly to his left eye. He flinched, but lunged forward and grabbed her by the waist, careful of her bleeding wound. She struggled, but the blood loss was winning. Barton took the jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, using is to both secure and comfort her. She cried out as she collapsed in his arms.
"Это нормально, это нормально, у меня есть ты. Я не собираюсь делать тебе больно." It's ok, it's ok, I've got you. I'm not going to hurt you Still holding her from behind, he sat down on the floor, holding her tight in his lap, rocking her softly to try to sooth her.
Coulson and the response team took that window to rush in. Clint raised his hand to hold them back for minute longer. "Get the medics," she's bleeding he called from across the room. The team leader got on the walkie talkie while Coulson moved forward to get a better look at Natalia. She was mumbling in Russian, with a few English words maybe.
"Who are you?" she mumbled out in English just as she stared to pass out.
"I'm Clint Barton." He said quietly.