So it goes with saying that only things I own with any connection to MARVEL I bought on Ebay or Etsy. MARVEL COMICS & MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE are their own creatures and I have nothing to do with either of them aside from the fact I enjoy reading or watching them, and am grateful for the ability to play in their world. I claim nothing, and I receive nothing for this, expect the pleasure of putting something out into the world.

You can also find this story on ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN under the same title and pen name along with a place to post suggestions.

Don't forget to check out the Photobucket album listed on my profile page too. (My apologies. I didn't realize FF removed the links. I have corrected the problem in what way I can, so for those who like the visual additions, feel free to check them out.)

DAY THREE

CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN

THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012

1033 HOURS

RITCHEY WOODS NATURE PRESERVE

CARMEL, INDIANA

NORA

He promised to find me some Chai tea, and said relax, because everything was going to change soon. It did, and it was all wrong!

He didn't scream, he didn't yell either. The only thing close to a sound he made was a tight "ngh!" that was barely audible over the muted but distinctly wet impact sound that I recognized right before we started to move.

Clint whipped us around, but I knew something was wrong, because we weren't moving forward together. Clint was leaning, and I was falling, more and more of his arms entering my field of view as he tossed me away from him. I knew he'd been shot, and I knew that's why he turned and threw me back in the tree line, but as strange as it was, he looked relieved as he watched me fall, and I didn't know what to feel about that.

The confusion cleared itself up when a small cloud of red mist rose out of Clint's side and he fell too. I knew exactly what to feel then and it came out in a scream "CLINT!"

THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012

1033 HOURS

RITCHEY WOODS NATURE PRESERVE

CARMEL INDIANA

CLINT

The tunnel vision I saw in her eyes ended up making the decision for me. Even past the burn of the bullet I felt pissed when her little hands started tugging at my jacket shoulders when she should be running the other way, but once I blinked past the pain I knew she wasn't going to hear or see anything I said, she was too focused on my safety to remember her own.

So I helped her get it done quicker. Getting to my feet hurt like a son of a bitch, since I just had a bullet bore a path through my thigh, but her shoulder wedging under mine like a crutch helped the process immensely and brought us to the point to where she has us hobbling blindly in the opposite direction, at least until I stop and put a little more thought process behind our retreat.

Taking advantage of the fact that I'm bigger and stronger than her I swing us around, putting her between me and a tree wide enough to hide us from his scope. I didn't get the greatest look so I'm not totally sure where the sniper is, but given the field in front of us is flat and the entry angle, he was probably in the scaffolding of one of those cell phone towers.

It gives us a minute to regroup because that means he only has one angle to work with, and as long as we don't walk into a vision gap he will have to leave his perch to sight us in for another shot. It's a damn shame I don't have a rifle on me, because I could solve our problem right now.

I got another problem that's a little more urgent, and its her hands again. Her tunnel vision is dimming but it's still there and it's still far too focused on me. Now that we aren't moving her hands are redirecting their energy to seeing how badly I'm hurt, and that means she is trying to take off my jacket to get a look at those bullet wounds.

THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012

1034 HOURS

RITCHEY WOODS NATURE PRESERVE

CARMEL, INDIANA

NORA

"Nora, no." The ways his voice rasps in pain only makes me even more determined to check his wounds, but his hands have their own determination, and theirs is stronger than mine. "No Princess, stop."

"But!..." He doesn't even let me get my plea out, gently wrestling my fingers back from where they really want to be. "No Princess, I'm fine. It hit the vest."

THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012

1034 HOURS

RITCHEY WOODS NATURE PRESERVE

CARMEL, INDIANA

CLINT

"LIE!" She shouts back, with such angry darkness in her expression I can practically hear her teeth grind is she tries to crush that hate back in. "I saw blood!" but even with all that hate her concerns shines through when shining lines trace down her cheeks.

You're such a bastard Barton. "Yeah, you did see blood." I confirm, quickly catching the attempt of her hands again. "Nora. NORA!" I didn't want to shout at her but I could see her focus narrowing again and I didn't have time.

"Nora. Look at me, I need you to listen to me. There is a sniper out there. What kind of sniper aims for the thigh and your side and skips the head shot?" Come on Princess, calm down and think for me.

"Th-the kind that that wants their target alive." I knew she would figure it out if I got to her calm down, and she does me one better because I can see her trying to figure out which one of us is the 'target'. "This is not your fault, don't you dare." I can see the 'but!' in her wet eyes "They would have shot me eventually anyways Nora, even if I didn't take you. Now my shirts plugging my side, but I'm gonna need your help with my leg. You up for that?" Giving her an objective always draws her out of her own head.

She nods too quickly, and I love her for it, but I need her to know what I'm really asking. So I gently cup her cheek in my least bloody hand. "I'm probably gonna scream Princess." This time there is two seconds between her and her nod, but she gives it anyways, with her own unique brand of determination. "I won't listen."

THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012

1035 HOURS

RITCHEY WOODS NATURE PRESERVE

CARMEL INDIANA

DUNCAN

After the shots I climbed down the tower, and it wasn't until after I reached the bottom and had time to light and take my first drag off the cigar that I heard the sound I was hoping for. Its really quiet out here and the wind has shifted into my direction so the scream carries to me ears.

It brings a smirk to my lips before I take another drag. Serves the bastard right. But then I frown a little when my thoughts shift back to her. He is probably putting a tourniquet around his leg to slow the bleeding, and to prevent a trail from being left behind. But considering the round I put in his shoulder he is probably having her tighten it. That got to be so upsetting to her, gentle lil hen that she is. I wasn't trying to do that.

My thoughts shift away from that too just as quickly as I hear a the growl of a few motors before the sound of crunching field grass and bouncing suspensions greet my ears while the black frames of several army humvees grace my eyes and the boss exits the lead vehicle of the procession.

Taking one last drag of the cigar, which I regretfully didn't get a chance to finish, I reach down and pluck the cloth rifle case off the ground by one of the back straps, holding out to one of my mercs so he can take and store it in one of the vehicles. Then my attention shifts to the boss and the glowing jewel on his walking stick. "I take it it's time to go after her now then?"

"Oh, not quite yet." He says with more of a smirk then I thought he would. "It will not do to let haste ruin all of our hard work soldier." He elaborates when he see's my note of confusion over the fact he is in less of a hurry to reclaim her then I am. "This is a prize that is worth a little patience."