The S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements arrived over an hour later, but the team soon realized as they landed their aircraft that almost all the enemy hostiles were gone. The surviving enemies had long fled or perished in the flames. The team had half a dozen aircrafts because they were expecting a large enemy force to be awaiting them, but little did they know the fight had ended the moment the building blew. But they still had a job to do, because two high level agents, who also both happened to be Avengers, were last heard from in this mess.

The commander of the reinforcement team was Maria Hill, a high leveled S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and a close comrade and partner to the two agents they were now searching for. Before they moved the search party out, Hill had tried contacting both Clint and Natasha on the communication's com, with no luck. Walking down the aircraft's ramp, her firm grey eyes scanned over her search team as she said quickly,

"Listen up. We have two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents possibly injured out in there. This is a hostile zone, but I don't give a damn, I want them found, and quickly. I don't care if you have to face an entire Hydra squad to get to them, you're trained to fight, so put yourself to good use. Find them. Contact me if you have any leads."

Setting out with her team as they began to spread out, her agile and swift pace helping her make good time. Fuming smoke billowed into the air, and she has to squint to see through it. The building in the distance was still half in flames, for the ruins still held an amber glow from the explosion. The scene looked like hell on earth, and two of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s finest agents were missing in it.

With every trudge of her black combat boots as she climbed up and over the charred rubble, her self esteem and hope slowly faded. Her breathing rapid, and her eyes locked on the surrounding area, which was a haze of grey smoke, she muttered under her breath in frustration,

"God damn you Barton, call me here to rescue your sorry ass, and then disappear on me why don't you."

But it was after she pushed aside large chunks of smoking rubble and cleared a few piled up bricks away did she see something under the rubble, a black metallic object. Clearing the rocks and debris to get to it she soon pulled it out only to see it was but a bow. The weapon was made by S.H.I.E.L.D., out of one of the strongest metals, and yet the black metal was dented and the string split. Retractable and with the most sleek and complex design she knew exactly whose weapon this was. As Maria held the broken weapon, a sense of dread filled her as she realized if a nearly indestructible object was in this kind of condition, what was Clint's condition? It couldn't be any better than the bow, and as she stood up and looked around urgently, she knew the situation was more dire than any of them imagined. Frantic yet controlled she picked up her pace as she swiftly leapt over rubble as she called over to her team through her earpiece.

"The far left side of the building, I think I have something, hurry and bring medics."

Yet just as she said that the smoke seemed to clear, and she could see she was standing right in puddle of blood that had pooled up all around the area. She couldn't help but stifle a chocking gasp as her gaze followed the flow of red liquid to where it originated from. Her heart sank as she gazed over the sight as she dropped the bow with a clang on the ruined ground.

Springing into a speeding dash, her eyes widening in fear as she splashed through the pool of blood, where only feet from her laid two still black suited and bleeding forms. Resembling even from afar the agents she was looking for she felt a sense of dread wash over her as she prepared herself for the worst. The blood was fresh and plentiful, pooling and flowing like a steady river.

As she approached it was Natasha that came into view first. She laid almost on her back, eyes closed and face pale, her breathing too shallow to detect if she was alive. This made the brunette haired S.H.I.E.L.D. agent freeze in her tracks, her eyes looking at her form as she saw the blood gushing from her side. Natasha looked frail and skinny, her face gaunt and lifeless and her mouth closed.

Hill dared to take a step closer, feeling her own emotions raging at the sight of the agent who she saw as invincible in such condition as she lowered herself to kneel beside her. She kneeled in blood that felt more like cold water than blood, and looking over Natasha she grabbed at her earpiece with a shaky hand and said to the approaching other Agents, her voice firm yet also almost frantic,

"I found them both, and they are in critical condition, get Fury on the line now. And hurry with that medical team."

She waited a moment before getting a response,

"Copy that Agent Hill, we'll be over immediately."

Hanging up she then placed quickly a firm hand right on Natasha's neck, her other shaking hand grabbing at her limp wrist, feeling for a pulse. Hill felt as if though she couldn't even breath for her lungs were tight and no air seemed to be able to escape her, but it was then that she felt it. A faint shallow beat that indicated that the red haired assassin wasn't gone. But her pulse was so weak, she knew any breath could be Natasha's last. Resting her on her back to get breathes more easily she didn't want to leave her fellow Agent and friend, but she knew Clint likely wasn't in any better condition than Natasha.

The archer laid right beside Natasha but on his side in an almost unnatural position as if someone had moved him there. As Hill stepped over to him, her boots still splashing up blood as she walked did she notice he looked absolutely horrible. He looked to have not just one, but several bullets in his back, which was oddly curved in, his shoulders rounded slightly. Hill was no doctor, but she could assume his back was likely broken.

She felt her stomach tighten and her own breaths grow shorter as she leaned down to look him over. He was paler than Natasha, and was so still it was as if this wasn't even Clint, but some lifeless replica of him. Hill kneeled down beside him, eyes saddened as she placed a soft and gentle hand on his throat for a pulse. Before she even felt for his pulse she noticed how cold his skin was, and she knew then that he was gone. She didn't startle at this, nor did she try to frantically save him, bring him back somehow. His body was cold and stiff, evidence that he had passed some time ago. She knew he far beyond saving.

Hill kneeled there, her weight shifting backward as she let out a long and hopeless exhale. She had failed to recover them both alive, and now she would be the one to break the news that one of the Avengers was dead. Her jaw trembled and yet she couldn't draw her gaze away from Clint. The reality fell upon her all at once, that this mangled and lifeless body was that of her friend, someone she had known and worked with for almost fifteen years. Grey eyes began to water, and several tears ran down her cheek as she let herself grieve and accept this shock.

But through the process of trying to wipe her tears, Hill then remembered the other agent who was clinging to life. Moving over to Natasha she placed a firm hand on one of her bullet wounds, applying pressure and gritting her teeth as she continued to check her vitals. It was then that the earpiece in her ear buzzed and he booming voice of Nick Fury spoke.

"Hill, what the hell is going on? First I get a call that Barton called for backup, and now you can't even find them? This was suppose to be a simple mission, and it's turned into utter chaos, what is going on?"

"No sir, I-I found them." She spoke her voice cracking slightly and also somewhat strained.

"Okay good, well is the file safe?" He asked almost not even grasping the urgent manner in her voice.

"I have no idea Sir, but the building was blown up. Not sure who blew it, but my guess is Barton or Romanoff had a hand in it. We haven't seen a single alive Hydra soldier. But Agent Romanoff is in extremely critical condition, she has a life threatening gunshot wound, and a lethal amount of blood loss. I have no idea how she's still alive, but we could lose her at any moment, sir."

"Send her to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s main hospital, in New York. Best doctors in the country there, if she's got any chance it's there. I'll call them and tell them to prepare the OR." He said his voice stern yet little did Hill know the stoic director of Shield suddenly felt a rush of dread fill him at that news.

"And what about Barton, Hill? Is he still missing?" He asked suddenly.

"No I found him by Romanoff. Sir...he didn't make it." She spoke her voice lowering with sudden remorse.

There was a long moment of silence before she heard him reply in a firm, almost angered, yet also deathly quiet tone.

"Get Natasha to that medical base, keep her alive. I can't afford to lose another one of my finest agents today. I will meet you there." He finished abruptly.

"Copy that, Sir." She said finally as her gaze shifted to the medical team that had finally arrived.

She helped them lift Natasha, who was nearly half her normal weight due to blood loss, onto a gurney, slipping several IV fluids and blood supplies right into her, as well as an oxygen mask. As they moved her, Natasha began to slowly shake her head, her consciousness returning. Hill would stay right beside her as the medical team rushed the gurney to the nearest aircraft.

Hill shouted for the team to move faster, get extra blood supplies on the aircraft, and prepare to accelerate to full speed as they moved her into the aircraft. Never leaving her side, Hill looked back through the smoke like haze where she saw Agent Jackson, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was second in command of this team, working to remove Clint's body from the broken and ravaged battle grounds. Hill pressed her earpiece and spoke solemnly to Jackson,

"I'm taking Romanoff to S.H.I.E.L.D Main, on Fury's orders. Follow us and bring him there as well, and find his bow. I'll see you there."

Just as the aircraft's ramp began to close, Hill saw Jackson drape a black sheet over Clint. Hill's stomach dropped, the shock was still setting in but she knew she had to stay strong for Natasha. Jackson commed just as Hill's aircraft took off, "Copy that. Commander, do you want to call it?"

Hill inhaled slowly, looking at her watch and her empty voice spoke over all the coms, even the ones that would report to SHIELD headquarters,

"This is Commander Maria Hill, declaring Agent Clint Barton as KIA. Time of declared death, 19:31."

After having broken the news to all of S.H.I.E.L.D. of the death of an Avenger, Hill moved to sit down on a seat by where Natasha laid. Head lowered, and looking at her bloodied hands, she could feel guilt begin to rise in her. What if they had gotten there thirty minutes earlier? An hour earlier? Maybe the losses wouldn't have been so great, maybe she could have saved him.

Natasha was slipping in and out of consciousness throughout the duration of the flight. Medics kept pumping oxygen into her, and they had already used several bags of blood. Natasha's head shook back and forth, and sometimes she would faintly mumble or groan.

Hill ordered to give her morphine, as she sat up and stood beside her. She grasped her thin and cold hand, saying softly in an attempt to soothe her,

"It's okay Agent Romanoff, it's going to be okay. You're safe now, it's all going to be okay."

Somehow, Hill's voice seemed to almost bring the agent out of unconsciousness, as her bloodshot green eyes opened and closed periodically. However, it wasn't until they were an hour out from the hospital that Natasha's blood pressure began to decrease. Her pulse grew rapid and she broke out into a sweat. Her hands began to tremble, and her eyes opened wide and dilated, reflecting fear and hysteria in them. Heaving for breath, she began to cry in a raspy voice,

"Don't, don't, please don't."

The medics said she was going into shock, that the pain and blood loss were likely causing hallucinations. They injected her with epinephrine and got more IV fluid to try and prevent further dehydration. She continued to wheeze,

"Please don't leave, don't leave him."

Medics declared she was speaking simple nonsense, but the episode went on for minutes without end.

Hill heard meaning in what she spoke, and after the medics finished their initial emergency aid, Hill placed a gentle hand on Agent Romanoff's shoulder, as she continued to rasp those few words,

"Don't leave him, don't, don't treat. I-don't know, no, don't leave."

Natasha's words were becoming slurred, but her eyes wide and filled with determination. She knew what she was trying to say, but her mental and physical energy were fading quickly.

Hill kneeled down so she was on eye level with Natasha, as she tried to get Natasha to recognize her. She wasn't sure what Natasha could see, feel, or hear, but she tried to get through to her.

"Natasha, we didn't leave Clint behind. We didn't leave him." Hill said strongly, grey eyes looking into her green ones, trying to get her to understand.

Natasha stopped trying to speak, but instead laid her head back gently. She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but her eyes closed and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

Hill understood Natasha's plea, despite the hysteria and shock. She was scared not for herself, but for Clint. That's what the two had done for the past ten years, look out for one another. Hill's heart grew heavy as she began to wonder if Natasha thought Clint was alive, or if she knew what had happened. Either way, the two agents had been there for each other until the end, and even as her own life threatened to slip away, Natasha wouldn't stop trying to protect Clint.

Hill felt helpless, but Natasha's undying affection for her now late husband made the weight of reality fall upon her. Hill softly lowered her head into her bloodied hands, crying,

"I'm so sorry Natasha."

Hill realized nothing would be the same anymore. If Natasha lived, she would never be the person she once was. The Avengers would never be whole again, and every team member would have to go through their own way of dealing with the lose of a teammate. The world would become more vulnerable, as the people learned that even one of Earth's mightiest heroes could be killed. Fear and uncertainty would plague the globe, the security the Avengers brought to the world would be diminished.

Maria Hill would never be the same. Not just because of the lose of a fellow colleague, but because regretful guilt is perpetual. Despite how many people would say it wasn't her fault, she would never forgive herself. Because, she didn't know what would have happened if she did something different. Maybe she alone could have prevented this misfortune. Or, maybe she alone was the reason so much grief, pain, and fear would happen.

After the aircraft had landed, and Natasha was rushed into the OR, Hill found herself alone in a spare room. Doctors begged to let them examine her, fear of mild PTSD or shock, but she denied them. Fury eventually ordered the doctors to dismiss Commander Hill, and it wasn't till later that evening that Fury came to visit Hill in her solitude.

There was a moment of silence before Fury spoke almost softly, a rare form of affection for the Director.

"I went and saw Barton. I didn't believe you, I needed to see for myself."
Fury wasn't one to emote what he was feeling, especially if it would make him seem vulnerable. Yet, Hill could tell from his voice he was fighting to keep it concealed. His one eye looked down at his hands, as he exhaled slowly, saying half to himself,

"Seeing him like that..."

Fury then cut himself off, realizing he'd rather not go down the emotional route, not now. In truth, Fury was refusing to believe, but S.H.I.E.L.D. executives needed Fury's conformation Clint was indeed dead before allowing the news to be released to the public. Fury avoided the task for several hours, but he was eventually forced to follow through with obligations that came with being a Director. It took everything the Director had to not show sadness when he saw Clint, but there were the damned executives in the room with him, and the last thing he wanted was for them to publicize his emotional reaction.

But now, Fury could finally breath. Him and Hill sat there in silence, both too tired to talk, what was there to talk about anyways? They both felt the same grief, and guilt. Both worried for Natasha, who was currently being operated on. Both, were completely helpless to do anything but mourn and hope. This was difficult, especially for Fury, who was used to always having control of a situation.

There was nothing either of them could do, and so for a good while they did nothing, but sit together in solitude in a small closet like room. Two of S.H.I.E.L.D.s most authoritative figures, cowered away from facing doctors and even the other Avengers, who had arrived by now at the hospital. In this time of silent reflection, Hill realized Fury had finally found a private place to come to terms with everything that happened. She could have sworn his one eye teared up, even if it was just for a split second.

Eventually they would talk, and eventually they would come out of their little solitude, but for now, they were content with each other's silent company.