Hello! This thing has been over two years in the making (which makes it an AU since canon has changed since I started this thing. Thanks a lot Captain America 2 :)) and I sincerely hope you enjoy.

"Clint. Open your eyes."

Natasha watched her partner struggle to blink, like his eyelids were under a great weight. She held her breath in the still air, waiting for a coherent response, something that would give her hope that she wouldn't have to carry him out of the dense forest.

He stared at her for a moment, his eyes half-open. "Clint, we have to keep moving," she said, holding his uninjured arm. "You have to help me. I can't -" She took a steadying breath and wiped sweat out of her eyes with the back of her wrist as a wave of nausea hit her.

He rolled a little to the side, shifting his broken arm gasping in surprise when the pain hit. She held his shoulder tighter. "Don't - here." She grabbed his undamaged arm and tried to get it positioned across her shoulders but he made no effort to sit up and she had to sit back, shaking from the effort of trying to pull him up on her own.

She stared at Clint, calculating the risks of staying there for just a few more minutes, letting him rest. Letting herself rest.

"France's lighting up ..." he mumbled suddenly.

For a moment she was happy to hear him speak before she realized that it hadn't made any sense. She leaned over him, putting her hand against his face, frowning at the heat still coming off of his skin. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

He rolled his head toward her, leaning into her hand. "You never know."

"I don't know what you're saying," she said, frustration and fear swelling up inside her.

His eyes flickered open and cleared and for a moment she thought she had him back. "You're ... beautiful."

"Not helpful," she muttered, her heart sinking. "Do you know where we are?"

He nodded, his eyes sliding closed again.

"Tell me," she demanded.

He just nodded.

She sat back, the heat of the jungle pushing her down. She wanted to curl up next to him and sleep until this was over, but if they stayed in one place she knew it wouldn't be long before they were found. They'd already been here too long.

She grabbed Clint's arm again, pulling it across her shoulders and tugging at him. "You have to help me," she told him. "We have to keep moving."

She got her feet under her and tried to stand with a grunt, but he was too heavy for her to dead lift. "Please, Clint!" she gasped, one hand holding his wrist and the other one around his waist.

He bent his good leg and pushed against it, trying to stand. It was enough to get them both up, but her hand pressed against his broken ribs as she tried to keep her balance and he cried out, his leg buckling. She grit her teeth and fought to keep them both upright, not knowing if she could get him up again if he went down.

"You can do it," she said, doubting they could even manage a few steps. "It's just a little farther." She shuffled forward, taking most of his weight as he tried to limp along with her. "Stay with me. You're -"

She went still, her ears straining to identify a sudden sound. She desperately hoped it was just an animal moving through the dense underbrush. Then she heard a faint shout. Their captors were coming for them already. She cursed under her breath, looking around for some kind of inspiration.

But she already knew what she would do. She was going to have to leave Clint behind.