Natasha leant over the edge of the precipice. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips as Hannah Foster disappeared beneath the canopy of trees.

The sedan still burned further down the mountain side, she was too far up to feel the heat but the flames sent an eerie glow over the scene. In the aftermath there was a deathly silence.

'No.' She whispered under her breath. 'Please, please, no...' Her fingers clenched and unclenched as she desperately scanned the debris for a sign of him, any sign.

'Barton!' She screamed at the top of her lungs like a wounded animal. All the pain and fear released in one primal howl of loss. He couldn't be dead. It couldn't be possible. He was indestructible he had to be indestructible, she needed him to be... She needed him. He was her one constant, her family, her life and they had only just... A small sob escaped her lips. Why hadn't she realised years ago how she felt about him. Tears began to course down her cheeks and she let them fall unchecked.

'Natasha!' She thought for a moment her ears had deceived her. 'Natasha!' There it was again.

Wiping her eyes a strangled laugh left her throat. It was him.

'Clint?' She peered further over, trying to see where he was.

'Rope!' He yelled. He sounded as if he struggling.

'Rope... rope...' She repeated, trying to keep the relief from actually making her heart leap out of her chest. Jumping to her feet she ran back to the jeep and took the rope from the back. She threw it over the edge and tied the other end to the vehicle.

Under the canopy, Hawkeye was indeed having a few problems. It was fortunate the boot catch had been unlocked before the sedan went over the edge of the cliff. It enabled him leap from the vehicle and catch hold of a tree branch before the explosion. He had just managed to swing upwards and grip the main trunk with his legs when he heard Foster's scream. Hanging upside down he was able to catch her by her arm as the girl passed. The force had dislocated her shoulder and subsequently the pain had caused her to pass out, but at least she was alive. The problem Clint currently faced was hanging on to an unconscious body whilst his own grip on the tree trunk was precarious to say the least, it groaned disturbingly under the additional weight.

The rope appeared through the foliage. Shifting Foster so that he could hold her around the waist with one arm, he couldn't quite reach. There was nowhere to put the girl where he could be certain she wouldn't fall. Shifting his legs he swung out towards the rope, but it was just too far.

'Further to your right!' He shouted.

The life line disappeared upwards as the trunk groaned and the roots began to pull out of the ground.

'Come on Tash.' He muttered as he and Hannah jerked downwards suddenly. It was a relief the girl wasn't awake to see this, below them was a sickening drop onto rocks and the still burning car debris.

Once again the rope appeared, this time closer. He was able to swing far enough to reach it with his fingertips. It was soon tied around the stricken girl. Once her weight was supported, he could grasp the rope himself. The roots finally gave way as he released his grip, the trunk crashing down and shattering on the rocks below.

Exhaling in relief he tugged on the rope. 'Ok, bring us up.' He shouted.

Natasha started the jeep and began to reverse slowly away from the cliff edge until she finally saw Clint's hand appeared at the top. She ran to the edge dragging the unconscious girl to safety while her partner scrambled onto solid ground.

Natasha crouched over Foster's, checking the blonde agent's jugular for a pulse.

'Is she ok?' Clint asked, his hands on his knees.

'She will be.' Natasha said, before looking at him. The tear stains were still evident.

'How about you?' He asked seriously.

Standing up Natasha crossed quickly to where he stood and punched him hard in the shoulder.

'What was that for?' He exclaimed angrily squaring up to her.

The Black Widow stood with her hands on her hips tapping her foot impatiently. Her still damp face full of fury. 'Don't you ever do that to me again засранцем!'

Before he could say anything she threw her arms around his neck, kissing him desperately. Barton stepped back under the initial onslaught but soon responded in kind, his own arms circling her waist and lifting her from the ground, their mouths locked together until they eventually had to breathe.

'We should really deal with that shoulder before she wakes up.' Natasha said as they broke apart.

Barton nodded before drawing her in for one more kiss before he would release her.

Between them the two agents reset Foster's shoulder. The girl was now conscious but slumped in the back of the jeep. Natasha watched her closely from her own passenger seat.

'You don't remember anything?' The Widow asked.

Hannah Foster had said nothing. Since she had regained consciousness she hadn't uttered a word, simply sat with her arms wrapped around herself rocking slightly. Her eyes were wild darting back and forth, she shook and rocked but she refused to speak.

'We have to get her to a hospital.' Natasha said glancing at her partner.

Barton's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. His jaw set in grim determination as the jeep skidded around corners negotiating the mountain road descent at speed.

'Clint?' She said softly as she gripped the roll bar during another manoeuver.

'What?'

'Don't do it.'

He glanced her way fire burning behind steel gray eyes. 'Don't do what?'

'You'll be letting him manipulate you.' She said as they flew around another corner.

'And what am I supposed to do?' He raged. 'Wait for him to plant something on you, on Coulson? Perhaps he already has? What other little surprises has he left? If he can do that from inside S.H.I.E.L.D custody then there is no telling what else he can do... and now he's really pissed me off.'

'Coulson won't like it... Fury really won't like it.' She reasoned.

'I can deal with Fury.' Clint snapped.

'You'll be giving him exactly what he wants.' She added. 'If you kill him then Red pole wins.'

The back end of the jeep skidded around as the vehicle shuddered to a halt. Hawkeye turned to face his partner holding her stare. There was murder in his eyes.

'Then today really is going to be his lucky day.'