AVENGERS: The Switch.

PART 11.

NATASHA POV:
As we're driving along, we have to stop so loads of people can cross over the road. Amongst them are bleeding and limping people, Galina speaks “That looks suspicious.” “Too right it does.” A vehicle pulls up alongside us and I take notice of the people and the black SUV “So does that.” She looks where I'm looking “They'll lead us right to him.” As soon as the people are out of the way, the SUV speeds away, so as soon as we're clear to move we follow it, a bit behind. The scenery changes ahead of us, snowy fields as far as the eye can see, with just a small road down the middle. We pick up a bit of speed, but so does the SUV.

We need to take these guys out before we get to Barnes, we can't risk them shooting him.

“I have an idea, can you get us up alongside them?” “You want to shoot them from here?” “Yeah.” “Alright. You'd better tell the guys.” I look over my shoulder and speak in English “Cap, open your window, we're gonna shoot them from here, take them out.” Cap, who's sitting behind me opens his window “I don't have a gun.” I switch back to Russian and look to Galina “I need your pistol.” She lifts up her arm and I pull her pistol from her waistband, I pass it back to Cap “Get ready.” I relay Galina's message “Get ready.” I open my window and Galina slams her foot down on the accelerator, forcing me backwards into my seat. She swerves around the SUV and lines up beside it, we immediately start shooting. I aim for the driver and passenger, Clint aims for the two in the back and Cap shoots out one of their tires, causing them to spiral out of control.

That worked well.

I look up ahead, to see a bus laying on its side next to the road and three more SUV's all parked. There are some people already dead, but others are shooting at the bus. Someone quickly pokes their head out of what I believe is the emergency exit, the person has a gun in their hand, but I don't hear a gunshot, they duck back inside “You gonna slow down?” “No, I've got a plan. We're gonna do a fly by.” “Guys get ready to pick them off!” We position ourselves and start shooting as we drive down the road, we then slow down and come to a stop just past the bus. We all get out, there are only two people left standing, so Clint takes out one and I take the other.

GALINA POV:
I run from my car towards the bus as fast as I can, as soon as I get there, I pull myself up onto the bus. I crawl over to the emergency exit and look inside. I notice myself, well, my soulmate, I smile down at him “Hey there, need a hand?” He looks up at me and chuckles “Yes, please.” He stands up and I notice he's holding his shoulder “You injured?” “Yeah, sorry. Shot in the thigh and shoulder.” “Alright, let's get you out of there.” I haul him up onto the side of the bus with me, then Rogers holds out his arms for Barnes and helps him down, I just jump down. The pair talk in English for a moment “You coming or not?” I turn and start walking back to my car, as soon as I get there, I pull out my phone and call my boss “Yakovich?” “Got him, could you send a clean up crew to my, I mean his, coordinates.” Rogers helps Barnes get into the back “Sending. You need any help?” “No, it's all taken care of, whoever they were they're dead now and I'm about to patch Barnes up.” Barnes shuffles to the middle seat “They'll be with you shortly, don't leave until they get there.” “Yes, Ma'am.” I grab my medical kit and get into the back, the wrong way round, so I'm facing Barnes, but sitting beside him.

This is so strange, looking at myself.

I pull what I need out of the kit and get to work, one bullet is still in him, so I have to pull it out. He doesn't complain, he just sits in silence the whole time. Occasionally I'll look from his wounds to his face and notice that he's watching me, I try not to think about it.