A/N: Just a quick thanks for the favourites, follows and comments. It's much appreciated.

Natasha hit one of the Hydra goons square in the jaw and he stumbled back, swearing. Natasha looked across the room which was dimly lit by the half-light coming in through the skylight, and saw Matt get grabbed by the shoulders and thrown the the ground. She kicked a Hydra goon in the stomach, and fall backwards. Natasha looked back in Matt's direction, where he lay curled up on the floor, a Hydra goon leaning over him. She wanted to call out to Matt, but she didn't know what to say. There was no way for her to get to him. Natasha pulled out her weapon. "Sorry Matty, but it's you or them,"

"Look out, lover," a goon she'd already taken out snarled, appearing from the shadows. Why could these guys not just stay down?

"Look out?" Natasha baited, looking him up and down, "Why, there's nothing to look at."

"Ugly bitch," the goon said, and made a run at her.

"Seriously?" Natasha sighed. In three quick moves, she had the man disarmed and unconscious at her feet. For a second, Natasha almost felt pleased.

Bang.

Cold dread filled her body as she whipped around to look back in Matt's direction. Her stomach dropped and her checks burned as she saw him sitting slumped against the wall, head dropped down, arms limp by his sides, a Hydra goon standing beside him, weapon pointed point blank at Matt's head.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

No prisoners. The goon beside Matt dropped dead beside him, as did the three remaining threats around the room.

"Don't you dare," Natasha said, holstering her gun. She ran across the room, leaping over the bodies, and knelt down beside Matt. She ignored the body of the man she had just shot lying beside them, and the rigid body of the man Matt had been interrogating. They didn't matter. Only one thing mattered now. "Don't you dare…" Natasha felt Matt's neck for a pulse, and felt a rush of relief surge through her as she found one. "Matt? Matt I need you to wake up. Come on, Matt," Natasha lightly slapped his cheek, "Come on. I can't carry you. We need to get out of here. Come on," she begged, "Come on, come on. Please wake up."

A painful breath came out of Matt's lips.

"Matt?" Natasha asked. "Matt, I actually need you to speak, because I - I don't know ho else to communicate with you." Natasha blinked back hot tears. "Matt please," she slapped his cheeks again.

"Mmm?" Matt moaned.

Natasha exhaled with relief. "We have to get out of here. You're hurt Matt. You're really hurt. I need to get you to hospital."

"No…"

"You got shot, Matt?" Natasha looked at him. There didn't seem to be an obvious wound. "Where did you get shot?"

Matt groaned.

"Matt? Hey! Where did you get shot?"

"…Shoulder…"

"Right or left?" Natasha asked, running her hand across Matt's upper chest.

Matt yelped.

"Left it is," Natasha said, "Come on, Matt. We need to get you help."

"…Air…" Matt breathed.

"We'll get some air, we'll get out of here,"

"No," Matt said. He swallowed and shut his eyes tightly, trying to block out the pain. "Claire."

"What?"

"Call… Claire."

"Alright, but I don't have her number, and you don't have your phone. I have to get you to hospital, and,"

"No!" Matt cried. His tone hurt Natasha. "Home. And call Claire."

"Ok," Natasha said. She was worried. She hated being worried. It showed that you cared, and if you cared, that meant there was something that someone could take from you. "Ok, I'll take you home and call Claire. But you have to help me, Matt. I can't carry you." She pulled Matt's right arm around her shoulders and wrapped her arm around his waist.

With strength that Natasha didn't think he would possess, Matt pushed himself to his feet. Hanging onto him with everything she had so as not to let him fall, Natasha half guided, half dragged the dazed and bleeding Matthew Murdock from the Hydra hall, up the stairs and onto the rooftop. He cold air was a relief, and she let Matt sit down for a moment once they reached the roof. The moonlight and the nightlight of the city was brighter than the dim hall had been, and Natasha could almost see just how bad a state Matt was truly in. She wanted to remove his helmet to check his head, but she knew it wasn't safe. She had no way to patch him up until they returned to his apartment.

"Come on, superman," Natasha said, forcing Matt back to his feet, "Let's keep moving."

The journey back to Matt's flat was slow and hard. It took half an hour, but to Natasha it felt as though it had taken hours. They dropped threw the roof entrance, which Natasha quickly bolted once they were inside. Matt wandered dazed into the living room, murmuring.

"What are you saying?" Natasha asked.

"…ehe…"

"I can't understand you, Matt."

"Just call Claire," he breathed.

"Ok, ok, just sit down, ok?" Natasha said, guiding Matt to the couch. She went back into the bedroom and grabbed his phone off the charger. "How do I unlock this?" she asked.

"0 - 4 - 6 - 4," Matt breathed, then coughed.

Natasha entered the passcode and found Claire in Matt's contacts. She waited while the phone rang. And rang. "Come on," Natasha said. She walked back into the living room. Matt sat slumped on the couch. Natasha wondered if he was still conscious while the phone rang on, and on, and,

"Aww, seriously?" a drowsy voice answered.

"Is this Claire?" Natasha asked.

"Yeah," Claire replied, "Who is this?"

"A friend."

"Whatever. What time is it?"

"Umm, late," Natasha said, not having bothered to look at the time. "Matt, umm,"

"Say no more," Claire said, "Where are you?"

"In his apartment," Natasha replied.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Ok, good. Right, sit Matt down and don't let him move. Make him drink water and keep him conscious. I'll hopefully be there in under 25 minutes. If he dies before I get there, it's your problem. Ok?"

"Yeah, ok," Natasha said, "Thank-you."

"Let me save him first," Claire said, and hung up.

Natasha hung up and put Matt's phone down on the coffee table. "Matt?" she asked.

"Mmm?" Matt moaned.

"Claire's coming, ok? She's on her way."

"K…" Matt exhaled.

Natasha looked around. "Where's the light switch?"

"Why bother?" Matt asked. His voice sounded distance.

"I need you to stay awake, Matt," Natasha said. She sat down on the couch beside him, and gently began removing his helmet. As she did, she could feel something sticky. Matt grimaced. "Hey, this is going to hurt a lot more before it starts feeling better, ok?"

"Mmm," Matt moaned. Natasha looked at his lifeless, unseeing eyes. "Nat?"

"Yeah?"

"I've to…"

"You have to what?"

"Call…"

"I've called Claire," Natasha said. "It's ok. She's on her way."

"…Steve…"

"I'll call Steve later," Natasha said.

Matt groaned and rested his head against Natasha's shoulder.

"You stay with me, you hear?" Natasha said, running her hand through Matt's hair, sticky with sweat and blood. "Don't you dare leave me alone."