Bruce, Steve and Tony looked on from a distance. Clint's head rested on the edge of Natasha's hospital bed while he slept, both hands still clutching hers.
"Any news on the blood works yet?" Steve asked, trying to break the silence which had fallen over everyone when the archer had entered the ward.
"Nothing useful yet"
"What the hell is taking so long?!" Tony asked furiously.
"They've ruled out most of the usual poisons and toxins, its taking longer to run more in depth tests"
"I can't be here... I need to do something,I need to be useful" and with that the billionaire turned and left. Bruce followed, leaving Steve stood alone.
Steve went over to the hospital bed, not wanting to intrude, but wanting to make sure Clint had eaten and had something to drink, and to offer him his support if he wanted it.
"Clint, Clint?.." He shook his shoulder gently to wake him, but Clint fell limply to the floor, hitting his head on the side of a table on the way.
"I need some help in here!"
At Steve's shout the room was filled instantly with doctors and nurses, hauling Clint onto the spare bed and attaching various monitors.
"He has similar symptoms to Miss. Romanoff, although his symptoms appear to be less severe; Romanoff was exhibiting seizures by this point, and Barton is still able to breath unassisted" The doctor announced a short while later with confidence.
"Do you know what's causing it?" Steve asked hopefully. The doctor shook his head; "We're still running tests" was all the information Steve got before Fury stormed in; Steve had never seen him so riled.
"Captain Rogers, I need you in Chicago; Banner and Stark have gone back to New York and I need eyes on Nazari"
"But sir I'd really prefer to be here, with my team"
"I know Rogers, but Romanoff and Barton would understand. The mission is important; they'd want it seen through. And I can only hope that you'll be immune to whatever has affected them"
"Yes sir" As much as it pained Steve to admit it; Fury was right, and there was little he could do for Clint and Natasha at the moment, but he could make sure their mission was completed.
Once Steve reached the city center the whole block had been cornered off. People in hazmat suits pushed their way past and there were news vans and police cars everywhere. Steve watched as one of the reporters recorded her piece:
"And here, in the busiest area of downtown Chicago, there have been two reported cases of people affected by an unknown toxin. The police have apparently called in the CDC and are taking every precaution to ensure this is an isolated incident... The affected people; Rosie and Aaron Watson are being treated at a private hospital. I've been informed by a source that the husband is hoped to make a full recovery, however medics are doubtful his wife will survive the night unless lab technicians can identify the cause... They both had jobs here in the city center, which is why CDC officials are hoping to locate the source here and prevent any further cases..."
Suddenly Steve noticed Nazari watching him from the other side of the news reporter. He looked Steve in the eye, smiling a malicious grin at him before he turned and disappeared into the crowd. Steve ran after him, knocking several people out the way in his rush to get to him, all his thoughts on Natasha and Clint lay in their hospital beds. But he was too late; Nazari had vanished.
