Chapter 3
“You and your Goddamned wife Barton! Is it even possible for either of you to complete a mission with no hitches or complications or drama or anything unexpected? You two are going to be the death of me. You and the team had better get Romanoff back, that’s all I’m going to say.”
“You can count on it Director.”
“Too Goddamned right Barton, too Goddamned right.”
Ten hours later, Clint Barton and the Avengers (minus the Black Widow) were landing in an open space somewhere in the Russian wilderness, approximately four miles out from where Natasha’s molar implant had led them. Which didn’t necessarily mean four miles from Natasha, but it was all that the Avengers had to go on. Climbing out of the quinjet, Tony Stark wrinkled his face at the blanket of snow before snapping on his Iron Man mask. Bruce Banner looked equally unimpressed. At least he did until he started going green. Captain America and Thor looked at Clint, awaiting instructions.
“Okay, we’ll have to hike the four miles or so but that should only take an hour maximum, less if we jog. I don’t know exactly how bad it is, but Tasha never asks for help.” Shuddering at this thought, Clint turned to the group, nodded, then started jogging.
The freezing air choked the avengers as they ran. It worked its way into their lungs, causing an unpleasant sensation in their throats. But the pain helped them to focus. After a long, cross country run, the group stopped when they hit a tarmac road and what looked like an underground bunker.
“I sure hope you’re ready, because this is it.” Said Clint with a menacing grin.