Natasha pulled the clip out of her gun and checked it, making sure it was full, not wanting a thing to go wrong on this mission. There were three women in that barn and she'd be damned if she let them get hurt after everything that's happened. A hand on her shoulder made her jump and she turned to the person connected to the hand. Clint smiled reassuringly at her. "Everything will go great, Tasha. Don't worry. With you heading this team, nothing could go wrong. You are the smartest and most capable person I know. I don't see how something could happen."

Natasha gave a small smile in return. "I just want them to make it out safely."

"I know you, love, and it will."

The Sheriff calling everyone to attention drew the couple back to the group and they listened as the woman gave an overview on the situation before turning to floor over to Natasha. Natasha went to the front of the crowd and began. "Alright, there are three women in there that have been held hostage for an extended period of time, the longest being three and a half years. They are to be treated carefully and respectfully because there's no telling what's been done to them in the time they've been there. I don't want any shots fired unless absolutely necessary and I don't see why there should be any. I've been watching this place for three weeks now and I've never seen any signs of any security guards or anyone of the sort.

"There may be a couple of animals in the barn, but I don't suspect anything that would harm anyone, maybe a cow or a horse. An ambulance is on its way to collect the women and take them to the nearest hospital to look them over and made sure they're okay. I'll going in with Agent Barton and a few others and the rest of you will guard the perimeter. I don't want anyone other than us going in or out of the place. Is that clear?"

There were nods and Natasha nodded. "Good, let's get into our positions."

Most of the team went to their various places around the perimeter and Natasha and Clint stood at the front of the group of the most experienced and able officers. Natasha motioned everyone forward and they crept up to the barn, the team lining up against the wood while Natasha crept forward and disabled the electronic security system that locked the barn. When the door was unlocked, Natasha pulled it open and peeked inside for a few moments before she and Clint entered gun-first and secured the area before Clint motioned for the rest of the team to fall-in. The officers secured the barn while Natasha led Clint and one other officer to the secret door she'd seen opened on one of her stakeouts.

Kneeling on the floor, Natasha entered the code she had "convinced" (read: threatened) Kyle to give her and stood quickly, aiming her gun at the door that rose. Clint shone a light into the darkness and Natasha descended, tucking her gun into its holster as she went halfway down the ladder before jumping the rest of the way and landing gracefully at the bottom. Spotting a light switch in the dark, Natasha flipped it, illuminating the room and unveiling four people.

Three were the women Natasha had been trying to find for the past year, but the last person- a man- ran at her, aiming a fist at her face and pulling a knife from his belt. The fight was not lengthy, Natasha's skills in hand-to-hand combat far superior to the mystery man's and he was on the floor with Natasha's boot on his back only a couple of seconds after he initiated the attack. Grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm, Natasha smiled at the groan she heard. "Who are you?"

The man glared at her from his position. "Who am I? Who the hell are you and what are you doing on my brother's property?"

Natasha grabbed her fake FBI badge. "Natasha Romanoff, FBI. We're here for the women you have chained up over there."

"I didn't do nothin'."

Natasha rolled her eyes, cuffing the man and pulling him up, shoving him to the officer after grabbing a set of keys from his pocket. "Read him his rights and get him out of here."

The officer nodded and started reciting the Miranda Rights. Natasha turned back to the women, approaching slowly, with her guns in their holsters and her hands raised slightly. One woman, the one that had been there the shortest, only four months, was unconscious, dried blood coating the left side of her face. The other two were wide awake and watching Natasha warily as she approached. The woman who had been there the longest- Katherine, Natasha recalled her name was- tugged slightly against her chains. "Are you really FBI?"

"Yes."

"Show me the badge."

Natasha slowly snagged the badge from her belt and unlocked Katherine's shackles first, handing her the badge to examine. Moving to the injured woman, Natasha freed her, motioning Clint forward to take the unconscious woman before Natasha unlocked the last woman- teenager, really- eighteen year old Monica, who had been taken almost two years prior. The second Monica was free, she vaulted forward, throwing herself at Natasha and sobbing into her shoulder, thanking her for saving them. Natasha waited until Monica had calmed some before pulling the girl to her feet and leading her and Katherine to the ladder.

Katherine passed Natasha her badge back and went up the steps first, Monica following, and Natasha bringing up the rear. Monica glued herself to Natasha's hip, chatting as they walked to the ambulance. "I was so scared when he took me, Agent Romanoff. I mean, I'd only seen him once before when I was walking home from the bus stop and he stopped and asked me for directions to the nearest Wal-Mart. I didn't think there was anything wrong with him, but the next day, I was walking to the bus stop and he pulled up and the other guy just grabbed me. There was nothing I could do!"

Monica was borderline hysterical at the point and Natasha put an arm around her shoulders. "You're exactly right. There wasn't a single thing you could have done to prevent this. It wasn't your fault, it was theirs, and they're both in jail now."

Monica grinned, crying with relief. "I'm so glad. They were so terrible."

Katherine seemed to listen in with half an ear, not having spoken a word since she demanded Natasha's badge, but her gaze zeroed in on the sheriff. "Nicole?"

The blonde in question turned faster than Natasha thought possible, bounding forward and throwing her arms around Katherine. "Oh, Kathy, you're alive! We didn't think you were, but now you're here! I've never been so happy to see my baby sister."

Katherine grinned and held the sheriff tightly. "I missed you."

"And I you."

Natasha watched the pair with a smile and helped Monica into the ambulance, letting the paramedics examine her. Clint sidled up behind Natasha, wrapping her arms around her and pressing a kiss to her temple. "You did great, Tash. That girl really took to you."

"I'm the one who unlocked her, it only makes sense."

"No, you're kind and compassionate and you were gentle, making sure you didn't terrify them."

"Sure. Is there any word on the third woman?" Natasha tried to remember her name. "Dakota, was it?"

Clint nodded. "She on her way to the hospital now. She's got a slight concussion from the head wound, but other than the cut, that's about it. We called her family and they're going to meet her at the hospital."

Natasha smiled. "I'm glad."

"Me too."

They stood there for a moment, Clint's arms around Natasha and her leaning up against his chest before she broke the silence. "I'm pregnant."

Clint froze and Natasha turned in his arms, staring up at him. It took a moment for the news to absorb, but then Clint's face lit up in a brilliant smile. "You mean there's going to be a little person running around with us sometime soon?"

"Well, I don't know how soon the kid's going to be running around, but the idea's right."

Clint pulled Natasha to him before pulling back to press a kiss to her lips. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a paramedic. "Agent Romanoff, Monica wants to know if you'll accompany her to the hospital."

Natasha smiled. "I'll be there in a second." Natasha turned back to Clint, giving him one more quick kiss. "We'll continue this later." With that, she pulled herself into the ambulance and sat down next to Monica's stretcher.

A/N: I am so, so sorry it took me so long to update. I've just been slammed with everything. Schoolwork, homework; all that good (not) stuff. I'm thinking that I'll write an epilogue, but you guys decide. Let me know in the reviews. Again, so sorry!