Struggling against Red pole, Clint Barton was unable to gain purchase to release the Triad's grip. Overcome with hatred, the enforcer seemed determined to cause some damage to the archer.

Natasha hesitated.

'Take the shot!' Hawkeye said as the pain began to grow.

He could sense her reluctance. 'Take it!' He demanded as the pressure on his eye socket became unbearable.

'Take the damned shot!'

He heard the unmistakeable ting of the bow's string and the normally comforting whoosh of the arrow. It was less so when the sharp end was coming your way. There was a thud and Barton waited for pain. Instead the grip around his head suddenly decreased to be replaced with a high pitched screaming directly in his ear.

Panting slightly and wiping the watering from his damaged eye, Clint stepped quickly away from Red pole. The Triad was pinned to the wall by an arrow directly through his hand.

'Difficult... I'm impressed.' He said to a slightly pale Natasha. She soon recovered herself.

'I was aiming for your head.' She said seriously.

A new wave of soldiers charged into the hallway.

Natasha threw the bow to her partner, sending it flying across the room. Using a soldiers chest as a springboard, Barton jumped to catch the weapon, spinning as he landed and flattening three converging attackers with the bow. In the meantime Natasha flipped over the head of the first attacker catching him around the throat with her garrotte. Momentum pulled him over as she took a second to disarm the two behind.

The ground was littered with bodies and Red pole still stood screaming and clutching the wrist of his speared hand.

'Well, well, well...' Clint said as the two agents slowly approached the Triad. 'Do you think we should release him?' He asked the Widow.

'It's really going to hurt taking that arrow out.' Natasha said.

Red pole struggled against the restraint but the arrow had been fired from close range and embedded itself in the wall.

'Agonising I would have thought...' Clint agreed as he wiped his eye again. 'Can't say I'm feeling too sympathetic.'

'I'll never tell you where the bombs are hidden and you'll never find them.' Red pole taunted.

'What are a couple more explosions today?' Natasha said allowing her tone to sound a little bored. 'What is it Barton, four or five buildings?'

Clint pretended to think. 'Five.' He agreed.

'You're prepared to sacrifice all those children? And you call me a monster...' Red spat.

Clint stepped to one side and clicked his communicator. 'School.' He muttered discreetly.

Natasha shrugged as she strolled back and forth in front of her captive. 'Of course you wouldn't take a difficult target. Government buildings are too well guarded.' When there was no reaction she continued. 'You would choose somewhere vulnerable; easy... any coward can plant a weapon in a shopping mall.' She scoffed.

There was the barest flicker of the eyeball. Natasha glanced at Barton to see if he had caught the tell. Her partner was already whispering into his communicator.

'All this to take revenge on one man...' She said, making sure Red's attention was on her not Barton.

'Of course you are arrogant enough to believe the children would do the trick, if it came to it.' Natasha could see by the enforcer's expression she was right. 'You thought that would make Barton come... if only to kill you. That's what you really want isn't it?'

'I want to kill him.' Red growled through the pain.

'No...' Natasha waved a finger at him. 'You want Barton to kill you. That is what this has all been about. You are too afraid to end your own suffering... so you want Barton to do it for you.'

'What?' Clint asked.

'He's in pain. Every day must be a constant struggle. His mind is warped, twisted. He has chosen you as his method of suicide.' She explained. 'His executioner.'

Barton snorted in disbelief. 'All of this because he wants to off himself?'

Natasha shrugged.

'No... No... No...' Pole yelled. 'If you let me live I am going to kill you, I am going to kill you both slowly, you and the Russian slut.'

Barton snatched an arrow and raised the bow pointing directly at the Triad. Reaching across Natasha gently pressed a finger on the tip of the arrow making Hawkeye lower the weapon.

'I don't think so.' Natasha said calmly facing the Triad. 'All you really want is for the pain and madness to end. Which is why we are going to keep you very much alive.'

'So what do we do now?' Clint asked Natasha as they waited for S.H.I.E.L.D's team of cleaners to arrive and secure the scene. They sat on the stairs side by side.

'I expect Fury will find a nice dark secure cell with just enough medical help to keep our friend alive until he is no longer useful.' She said in a business like manner.

Clint smirked. 'You know exactly what I'm talking about.'

She turned her head, an eyebrow raised in question.

They locked gazes until Natasha could no longer contain her amusement. 'The first thing I am going to do is take a long hot bath to ease these ribs.' She said.

Barton looked down at his hands trying to hide his disappointment and failing.

Resting her chin on his shoulder, Natasha breathed in his ear. 'Of course I will need someone to help me wash my back...'

'Did you get them all?' Barton asked Coulson as the handler.

'You sure he gave them all up?' Clint shrugged. 'Natasha thinks he did and that's good enough for me... We all done here?'

Coulson didn't miss the glance Barton threw in the Black Widow's direction. She was assisting the recovery team to load Red pole into the armoured truck. The Triad had eventually been released from his restraint and, still with the arrow shaft through his hand to prevent blood loss; he would soon be on his way to States under strict guard.

'You have somewhere you need to be?' Coulson asked.

'Actually I do.' Barton replied.

'Would that have anything to do with Natasha?' The handler asked.

Barton blinked, unsure what to say. Phil Coulson rarely asked a question that he didn't already know the answer to.

'Whatever it is, it will have to wait. I need you to escort Foster back to S.H.I.E.L.D.'

'You have got to be kidding me!' Barton exclaimed.

'Look. I need to stay here to co-ordinate the clean up. Have you seen the mess you made?' Coulson asked, gesticulating wildly with his hand. 'The Hungarian authorities are demanding explanations, not to mention the President and the U.N. As senior agent at the scene it falls to me to smooth things over and that is going to take some time. You can take Foster back with you on the military transport and deliver her for debrief, after that I don't want to know.'

Barton stole another long glance at Natasha. Feeling eyes on her the Black Widow looked up, a wicked glint in her eye.

'Are you absolutely sure no-one else can do it?' He cajoled. Leaning forward conspiratorially he added. 'You know Foster has a bit of a crush, it's silly really, but me and her together might not be a good idea...'

'Not a problem.' Coulson said briskly. 'Agent Romanoff will be there to chaperone.'

A small knot of dread formed in Clint's stomach as he imagined Natasha's reaction when she found out the plan had changed and how many ways she might make Foster and possibly him suffer. 'It's a nine hour flight' He groaned.

Coulson couldn't help the smirk. Slapping Clint on the shoulder he added. 'I suspect it will seem longer.'