CHAPTER #70

BIRD took Barton back to the Challenger Deep and they stayed cloaked, scanning the area for activity. They picked up something that was areal, but not close enough to identify. Since there was no rush to return, Barton decided to wait. Instinct told him that Kazimir would come and soon. Still the time seemed to pass slowly and give Barton too much time to reflect on the last few days with Romanoff. She would always be under the influence of Fury and her duty to the Avengers. He was over, ever having her just to himself. They were soulmates after all. They respected each other, would always be connected and understood how their love worked. And they both knew, no matter what, that the other had their back, if it was truly needed.

BIRD announced something was coming up out of the water and that brought Barton's mind back on topic. Clint asked, "did it come out of the Challenger Deep or is it heading into it?"

"Coming out and about to breach the surface," BIRD reported.

"Are you able to scan it and see what it is and if Kazimir is on board?"

"Yes to both questions," BIRD announced.

"We're going to follow that thing. If it surfaces, I can get a tracker on it. I need 100% confirmation that he is not going to escape, in order to contact Romanoff."

"He is not on it and it is some kind of organic pod. It's living and yet not."

"What the heck? What are you saying BIRD?" Clint asked, trying to get a visual.

"It's not of this world, it looks almost like a cocoon of some sort. Breach is in two, one…."

Barton looked at the thing floating on the surface of the water. Clint had BIRD maneuver closer, so he could inspect it. "Damn, I need to get this to Banner or Stark. Guess we'll have to tow it. Call Stark and report this to him… I wonder if Kazimir was in it."

He put a tow on the pod and was disturbed by the texture of it. Stark sent Banner on a speed boat, designed to carry a small sub. The sub had been left in port and allowed space to pull the pod on board. They raced back, so that Barton's favourite science geeks could analyze the pod. They left it on Stark's ship, but took some samples back to Stark's. Barton paced around Stark's lab, waiting for them to tell him about the pod.

"This thing is so cool. You should've felt the membrane on the inside," Tony marvelled.

"Gross, no thanks. What the hell is it? Was Kazimir in it?"

Bruce answered, "we're not sure what it is, but it is likely that Kazimir in his natural form was inside."

"So the bastard made it through the portal and on to the other side before it closed?"

Jarvis reported the odds of how true that was, at Stark's request. He continued explaining, but Barton stopped listening. He ran his hand through his hair. "Nat's not going to like this. Her plans for revenge and closure, won't happen now."

Tony looked up from a microscope. "Maybe that's for the best. Knowing it…er… he isn't in our world anymore, could be just the right amount of closure she needs."

"Maybe. I guess I'll leave that pod thing with you," Clint said. He gave them a nod and went back to BIRD. In motorcycle form, he rode off, after BIRD received the co-ordinates of where Romanoff and Fury were. He met up with her, but Fury wasn't around.

"So what's up, that you had to tell me in person? Is Kazimir back?" Natasha asked.

"No and he's not going to be," Clint said. He explained about the pod.

"One day he'll be back and that's when I'll kill him," Natasha said after a few moments.

Clint touched her arm, "are you okay?"

She smiled and winked, "of course. We've taken care of the council and S.H.E.I.L.D. is no more. But Fury is working on that too. He knows if the Avengers are needed, he can easily have them assembled."

Barton could see that she was at ease and really believed that she was okay. Stark had been right, she'd been given enough closure to move on and forward. Romanoff explained to him that she and the Cap were going on a new mission for Fury. What it was about, she didn't reveal and Barton really didn't care. Barton said that he had been invited to visit with Marcy and Tucker. He told her that if she got some time off, he'd rather spend it at her compound. She told him to visit the carnival, because she didn't know how long the operation with Rogers would take. Romanoff told him he had an open invitation to join her once it ended. They shared an embrace and a long kiss, before Fury returned.

"I want to see that pod thing. Where is Stark and Banner right now?" Nick demanded.

Clint checked with BIRD, "they're at the harbour. They think they know how it works."

"Tell them to stay put, we're on our way. And Stark's got a lot of explaining to do about that black diamond!"

Barton smirked behind Fury's back, almost making Romanoff laugh. He knew the two science geeks, were in for a verbal beating, when Fury saw them and he couldn't wait. Barton took BIRD and Fury drove with Romanoff in a black SUV. It didn't take them long to arrive at the marina. Stark was his usual annoying self, but Fury did appreciate the applications that the black diamond had been used for. Also he was very interested in the pod thing.

"It has a brain? Wait, what?" Clint asked in shock.

"Not exactly. See this appendage? Well it sticks to your head like this…." Tony said as he demonstrated. "Now watch… see it responds to my mental commands."

"That's sick," Clint said, undecided if he was grossed out or intrigued.

"Alright I want you two continuing your investigation of this alien technology," Nick approved. "And that portal is definitely closed?"

"Well Tony's AI unit never returned and all data indicates that the portal closed," Bruce confirmed.

Nick wasn't done. "Tell me more about the black diamond."

Banner, Romanoff, Fury and Barton all listened to Stark. Fury's reaction to Stark's missing reactor in his chest, was anti-climatic. Since they were at the marina, Stark couldn't show off all the gadgets and tech that the black diamond had enhanced.

"Well, wait until you see the black diamond change the Hulk from a raging green ape into a giant purple Care-Bear. Then you'll be impressed," Clint laughed. "Right buddy?…. Oh shit!"

Banner couldn't contain the Hulk from coming forth. The Hulk roared at being called a purple furry bear, that shot rainbows out of it's chest. He gave chase after Barton.

"Hey Hawkeye, don't let him destroy the marina!" Nick shouted after them.

Still laughing, as he dodged a punch, Clint replied, "can't promise anything, but I don't think Barney can swim!"

Stark, Romanoff and Fury watch the Hulk run after Barton, who had been picked up by BIRD. "Clint's going to have his ass kicked and the black diamond barrier won't protect him from that," Tony said dryly.

"We've got more important things to work on. Even though S.H.E.I.L.D. no longer exists, that doesn't mean we're out of work," Nick replied.

"The Avengers will always be ready to help, just call us. Speaking of which, anyone hear from Thor lately? Maybe I'll use the black diamond portal jump device and go visit him… this time without the Hulk," Tony chuckled.

With that they all looked towards the direction where the Hulk continued to chase Barton. Romanoff shook her head, "some things never change." Secretly in her heart, she was glad that Barton never changed. He was her rock, her friend, her lover, her partner and most importantly, he would always be her soulmate.

~THE END~