The back doors of the black transit van stood open as Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton checked their weapons. Phil Coulson had driven to meet his agents, brief them, and supply everything they might need to eliminate the threat posed by Red pole.

'I suppose someone has checked that he actually has planted bombs?' Clint asked the handler.

'We can't afford to take the risk.' Coulson looked at his watch. 'And we have approximately fifteen minutes until we find out for certain.'

'So we have no idea where they are, which buildings or how many people could be in danger?' Natasha asked wincing slightly as she reached for her garrotte.

'Is Natasha injured?' Coulson asked Clint in a hushed whisper.

Clint responded with a barely perceivable nod.

'Should she be going?'

'Do you want to tell her she can't?' Clint hissed back. Out loud he asked 'How's the ribs Tash?'

His partner clicked the magazine firmly into her second pistol. 'I'll live, which is more than I can say for our Oriental friend.' She said grimly. 'I owe him.'

Clint threw an 'I told you so' shrug in Coulson's direction.

The handler opened up a map and spread it across the weapons hamper in front of the two agents. 'Red pole instructed that Barton go to this location.' He pointed to an intersection with a collection of buildings.

'That tally's with where the chopper landed.' Clint confirmed.

'He demanded you are to go unarmed and alone.' Coulson continued.

Clint clicked out his bow. 'Yeah like that's gonna happen.'

The passenger door of the van clicked as someone got out. The two agents tensed until Hannah's worried face appeared around the side of the door.

'I told you to stay in the vehicle.' Coulson said pointedly aware that both Barton and the Black Widow were looking his way questioningly.

'You needed equipment and there was no-one else available to escort her back.' He explained before adding in exasperation, 'All our local agents are out looking for bombs. I can't do everything!'

The girl wrapped her arms around herself awkwardly. 'I thought I should apologise to Agent Romanoff...' She began.

The Widow fixed the girl with a cold stare before returning her steely questioning gaze to Coulson.

'Agent Foster believed that you might have changed allegiances.' The handler explained quickly. 'But we've straightened out the confusion.

'I was not confused.' Natasha said icily.

'Play nice...' Barton muttered tight lipped at his partner.

'So...' Natasha said, choosing to ignore the girl. 'We go in, hit him fast and hard?'

'The danger is the bombs will be detonated remotely if you just kill him.' Coulson advised. 'You're going to have to keep him alive.'

'They never let us have any fun.' Barton said, his double edged remark was not lost on Natasha.

Coulson didn't miss the slight indulgent smile she offered back.

'You two seem remarkably cheerful under the circumstances.' The handler said suspiciously.

'We've had worse days.' It was said almost simultaneously followed by a pair of almost sheepish smirks.

'I just... I just don't want to know.' Coulson said wearily shaking his head as he turned away.

Hannah Foster couldn't help observing the two agents together as they prepared to go into action and she didn't like what she was seeing. It was painfully obvious that Agent Barton really didn't notice any other woman when Natasha Romanoff was present. When he rescued Hannah from the warehouse she had begun to believe she really had caught his attention. Hadn't he put himself a risk to save her? He had been so patient, virtually carrying her down the side of the building on his achingly broad shoulders and when they finally reached the bottom he had been kind, making sure she was unhurt and speaking up for her when they returned to Agent Coulson. She had thanked him of course and in the process lost herself in those storm gray eyes that seemed to hypnotise. Had Agent Coulson not been present she was certain he would have taken her in his arms and kissed her. She could almost taste it. Her heart had been pounding with adrenalin and excitement... How could he not feel it too? But then, just as suddenly, he was talking to Coulson about returning to the warehouse for the Black Widow.

Hannah had been horrified. Much use the female agent had been to help her. 'Agent Romanoff is now working for Red Pole.' She'd blurted out.

A cloud had crossed Barton's features and for the first time Hannah saw a glimpse of the darkness beneath. Foster told herself it was anger towards Agent Romanoff for defecting so easily.

Hawkeye hadn't said any more on the subject. Instead he swung the quiver over his shoulder and began the climb back up the building. Her beautiful Hawkeye was having to put himself in danger again for the Russian agent. Hannah had hoped it was purely for duty to bring back the traitor until Coulson explained that the Widow had merely been humouring Red pole to make him release his hostage. It had been a disappointment because if Agent Romanoff had actually abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D perhaps she would no longer have her spell over Agent Barton.

What she was seeing now proved that the archer was still very much bewitched.

It had helped a little when Hannah believed the admiration was not reciprocated. She had only ever seen the Black Widow as cold and calculating. But for the Russian's part, Foster could now see there was something about Barton that made her relax and drop her guard. She indulged him and even seemed to flirt, albeit not as obviously as Barton, but it was still flirting which to Foster was just maddening. He could make the ice queen smile and he went out of his way to do it too. It was more than just a working partnership they moved in synchronisation. He passed her a throwing knife and she absent minded untwisted the strap on his quiver, all without a word. No other communication seemed necessary except the heated glances thrown back and forth.

Hannah felt her stomach knot as she watched the two agents interact.

'Are you ready?' Clint asked his partner.

Natasha nodded.

'Remember, if he realises you aren't just going to surrender he is likely to set those bombs off.' Coulson said unnecessarily.

'Then we will ensure he doesn't get the opportunity.' Natasha said.

Coulson put a finger to his headpiece; a grave look crossed his face.

'I understand.' He said.

Clicking off the coms Coulson turned to the two assassins. 'Apparently a bomb has just been detonated in small garage in the suburbs...'

Clint looked at his watch. 'Five minutes early.' He snapped. 'Anyone hurt?'

'Apparently not, although there is a report of a slightly traumatized cat.' Coulson continued.

Before Clint could say anything Natasha placed a hand over his mouth. 'We don't need to hear it.' She said primly feeling his mouth turn into an evil grin under her palm.

Hannah bristled at the intimacy while Coulson shook his head wearily but continued regardless. 'We then received a message from Red pole that he was bored with waiting. He said this was a warning. The next bomb will be considerably more public.

Natasha removed her hand as she and Clint exchanged a look.

'Then it's time we put an end to this once and for all.' Barton said resolutely.