Clint? Laura? Where are you? (Book 1)

Mt Elbrus

Russia. An ice cold heartless place. A place where children's nightmares come to life.

Chapter 10

The aticipation, the rush and pure love that Bruce felt normally towards Natasha was over whelmed by worry. She hadn't slept for days and had grown warey. TOny had refused to let her and the team fly again so soon, as they needed the rest, but made Natasha even worse. However today was the day they would fly to Russia.

Natasha got up from her bed bright and early, leaving her room in search of coffee. It would be a long day as she would be the pilot most of the way, if Clint had been here he would have flown the quinjet part way, but if he was here then they wouldn't need to go to the mountains. Natasha thought to herself. They sturred up bad memories for her, from her training days with the Red Room. She soom found the coffee mechaine and felt the hot steam from the water hitting her face. The smell of the drink was strong as it slowly filled the room as she sat down on the sofa and decided to check todays news. Steve and Tony walked in talking about the plans for the mission, everyone was trying to stay as detached as possible so that they didn't loose hope as Natasha feared she already was.

"Hey" Steve said sitting down next to Natasha whilst Tony made a cup of coffee.

"Hi" Natasha acknowledged and continued to watch the news until Cooper came in the room and clambered next to her. Puting her arm around him she passed him the TV remote.

"I'm surprised Tony even has a TV with a remote" Steve remarked.

The flight in the qunijet seemed to last forever if it wasn't for the fact that Natasha had borrowed Bruce's headphones and Ipod. He really did like his classical music. Natasha landed the jet in a clearing at the foot of the mountain. Once the ramp opened the team stepped outside all but Natasha deciding to go back a grab a coat. The snow lay thick on the ground at least a couple of feet. Icey clouds covered the top of the mountain blocking Natasha's view. Once the rest of the team re-emerged outside, they set off along a path that sloaped round the mountain. It was covered in ice making it trecherous. Part way up they had to stop so Tony could take off his iron man suit, it was too clunky and had no grip in the ice. Natasha kept her eyes pealed for anysign whatsoever. She was use to spotting the unspotible, especially when it came down to who they were dealing with. THe wind started to pick up, snow was falling from the sky creating a blizard. They continued onwards despite the weather. Creaking could be heard as snow up ahead fell onto the path. Natasha almost stepped into it, but Bruce pulled her back. A few minutes later more snow from above fell. Knocking Stark off his feet and onto the ground. As he tried to get up he slipped again, off the edge. His hands shot to the edge of the cliff holding on for dear life. Steve and Thor rushed over to try and pull him up. His grip loosened as his fingers became colder from the touch of the cliff. Just as he let go Thor and Steve grabbed his wrists and pulled him onto the path, to safety.

"Are you alright?" Natasha asked looking Tony in the face. He nodded in reply. They continued further up the ever more trecherous mountain, until they came to an opening of a cave.

It was a dark never ending pit of blackness. They entered the cavern the wind whisltling against the opening creating a tune, a warning maybe of the horrors that lay inside. It grew narrower the further they went and slopped up slightly. There was no sign of life. Natasha sighed in her mind, they were never going to find CLint or Laura.

"Lets stop for a while and rest here" Cap suggested. They all gladly ploped down onto the ground, Natasha was hesitant so leaned against the wall instead.

"Come Natasha sit down. You look the most tried out of all of us" Bruce ushered.

"Gee thanks" she replied sarcastically and sat down next to Banner. They'd been sat there for about half an hour before they heard footsteps coming towards them. The Avengers jumped up ready for a fight. The pace of the foot steps had slowed at their movement. It was one person. Their silouet present of the wall of the cave against Tony's torchlight. The person then started into a sprint towards them.

"Natasha?!" They called. The Avengers except for Natasha froze, she went towards the voice.

"Clint!" She exclaimed as they embraced in a hug. They pulled appart and Clint then asked,

"have you seen Laura?" His voice filled with desparation.

"You mean she's not with you?" Natasha asked.

"No, where is she?" Clint asked "where are the kids?"

"Don't worry their at Stark tower with Pepper, Vision, Wanda and Sam" Natasha explained.

"Ok, I also saw this symbol that seemed familiar come look." Clint led the rest of the team to where he saw it in the cave.

"I thounght you might recognise it Natasha, do you know what it means?" Clint said.

"Yes." Natasha says and walks out hurridly. She couldn't let the others know what they meant, ever. It would destroy them.

"Natasha what does it mean?" Steve eurged.

"We need to get back to the tower" and with that she didn't say a word all the way back.