Author's Notes
Part One of a Two Part Episode
Clint wakes, restrained in the medical bay, to find out he has injured Thor and attempted to kill two of his friends. What could have prompted the archer to such a course of action.
Shocked by the events of the evening, the team rally round to try and discover what has led to this shocking course of events.
Marvel Characters are based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and are copyright to Marvel and Disney. Their use here is for purely non-commercial entertainment purposes.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Violence, Strong Language
Reviews and comments welcome
Clint Barton moaned softly as he began to wake. He was used to waking up sore, but this morning every bit of him was throbbing and not in a good way. His head and back ached, his jaw was numb and it felt like the left side of his face was on fire. He tried to open his eyes and winced at the bright striplighting above him. This wasn't his bedroom.
As his vision slowly cleared he realised he was on a gurney in the medical centre at Stark Tower. There was activity around him. Trying to get his bearings further he realised he could only see out of his right eye, the left side of his face was covered in dressings.
Ok, what the Fuck is going on?
To his right, he could see Thor on another gurney. The big blond's arms were bandaged and that hot red-headed nurse was suturing a nasty looking gash on the Asgardian's chest. Thor was staring up at the ceiling, expressionless except for a slight wince whenever the needle went in. Clint had never seen him looking like that before.
Shit, that looks bad!
He tried to wave to Thor to catch his attention and realised that his wrists were shackled to the gurney. As he shifted it became plain that his chest and legs were secured with straps as well.
Fuck, how bad am I hurt?
He wiggled his toes to assure himself that he still could. Something big had happened that he couldn't remember. The archer tried to force his sluggish mind into recall. Okay, he had been playing his new game on the PlayStation. Ainsley and Darcy were making Chinese food in the kitchen
Christ! Ainsley, Darcy. Are they okay?
"Hey" he croaked, his throat dry and hoarse "Big Blond!"
The nurse flinched at the sound of his voice. Thor turned his head and gave him a strange, sad look. Clint felt the fear knot in his stomach
"What's happened?"
Director Fury stepped into his line of vision. When he spoke, Fury's voice was cold and measured
"What has happened, Agent Barton, is that approximately 40 minutes ago you attacked Dr Kerr and Miss Lewis. My job is now to determine why."
Earlier that evening
"Honestly, guys! I just have to find the next save point then I'll be done"
Ainsley laughed
"That's the third time you've said that, food's almost ready"
"Hey Darcy" called Clint as he deftly manipulated his CGI image with the controller "Who's got the cuter butt – real me or digital me?"
Clint had been the only one to really get into the idea of an "Avengers!" computer game, even going down to the studios to record a few PG13 wisecracks for his game character.
Darcy Lewis laughed
"You mean there's a difference?"
The young political scientist had been apprehensive when Dr Selvig suggested she take a teaching internship at the SHIELD Academy. Jane and Thor had never spoken since she had rejected him in London. Even though Darcy thought Jane had treated the Asgardian very badly, the idea of working in the same environment as his new lover and possibly encountering Thor as well worried her.
Her concerns were quickly dispelled. It was clear Thor was not going to allow the hurt he still felt to affect his fondness for her. The first day she met him the Asgardian he had mock-flinched "You are not going to Taser me again, are you, Miss Darcy Lewis?" and their shared laughter scattered the tension.
Ainsley had been a godsend. The brilliant young psychologist had taken her under his wing, getting her settled into the routine of the campus, helping her with class prep, always ready to offer tea and sympathy, and chaperoning her into the madcap social life of the Penthouse. Tonight, the plan was Chinese food and movies – if Clint ever got off the PlayStation!
The moment they met, the goofy archer had gone straight into Big Brother mode, cracking jokes, warding off the campus creeps and quietly teasing about her obvious crush on Steve Rogers.
It was just the three of them tonight. The others were off catching some personal time. Tony and Pepper were enjoying a night of dinner and dancing at the latest fashionable night-spot, Tasha and Bruce were having Italian somewhere as their quiet romance continued to develop while Steve and Thor were off at the baseball. The big guy had caught a bad dose of enthusiasm about the game from Steve, and was looking forward to having a few beers with the team afterwards.
Clint grinned to himself and jumped his screen character up a couple of platforms to where he guessed the next Save Point could be found. He grimaced slightly as an irritating, high pitched whine penetrated his ear. That was the second time in the last few minutes. He hoped his new hearing aid wasn't acting up, but he would need to call in to SHIELD tomorrow to get it checked out.
"Dinner's ready! You want rice, noodles, or both?" Ainsley asked as Clint put down the controller and stood up
"Clint?" The archer was still standing with his back to them. Ainsley saw he had drawn the knife he habitually carried in his boot-sheath and was spinning it skilfully in his hand. The young doctor had often seen him do that before combat practise but now something about the body language gave him a chill.
"Clint, that isn't funny. Wash your hands and come eat before it gets cold"
Darcy noticed the unfamiliar edge in Ainsley's voice and instinctively moved closer to him. Clint turned to face them, his eyes cold and hard, knife ready.
He had caught them unawares, preparing dinner. Domestic settings were always best for the up-close work. People didn't expect death to meet them while draining pasta and choosing wine. He didn't like working this close, preferring to take out his targets from an antiseptic distance, but someone in SHIELD wanted to make this personal, a Message.
The targets were a couple, young, rich, science types, Hydra assets. No combat or security training. A pity, in a way, they were nice-looking. In other circumstances he wouldn't mind partying with both of them. Couples could be a problem though; they would usually fight to save each other.
Ainsley edged Darcy towards the elevator doors as Clint slowly paced around the couch and towards the kitchen area
"Jarvis; initiate Code Buzzkill" he would automatically notify the other Avengers, SHIELD and Stark Security that there was an emergency in the Penthouse.
The targets were trying to get away, either to the elevator or a Panic Room. Those were pretty much standard kit in swanky New York apartments these days. Let them think they had a chance, move slow until they tried to run. Sounded cruel, but people made more mistakes when they ran. They stumbled, fell, left themselves exposed. His eyes scanned the apartment as he moved, checking out stairways, doors, any possible escape route. Fancy place like this, security would already be on the way but he had done this before. He could complete the mission and be gone before the first rent-a-cop arrived.
"Excuse me" Tony pulled out his phone despite the sigh from Pepper. He looked up and spoke one word. They grabbed their coats and headed to the Parking garage
"Jarvis, speak to me" he urged.
"Mr Barton is exhibiting aggressive behaviour towards Dr Kerr and Miss Lewis. I believe he is preparing to attack them with the intent to kill"
Tony began to run
"Cap, you get that?"
"Loud and clear, Stark! Thor's already on his way!"
Clint moved fast, as the couple started to run. He crouched between them and the elevator doors, knife at the ready
Take the man first, the girl will run for the stairs behind her. Bring her down and end her quick. Brief says termination, no need to make them suffer.
The assassin lunged at Ainsley, pinning him against the kitchen worktop. Ainsley kicked desperately, trying to break away as he felt the razor-sharp edge against his throat
"Clint! Please…" he begged. The knife paused before the killing slash.
The target knew his name – how was that possible? Don't miss the moment, finish him!
The sharp edge of a photo frame smashed hard into Clint's shoulder. Darcy was throwing anything she could lay her hands on, trying to delay the killer in his work. The murderous grip loosened enough for Ainsley's flailing hand to grab the handle of the coffee jug. He swung it round and smashed it hard against Clint's face.
"CUNT!" screamed the archer, blood and hot coffee blurring his vision, feeling the jagged shards of broken pyrex grinding together under the torn skin of his cheek and forehead.
This is why he hated close work. Even without training people would fight, kicking or biting, striking with anything they could to keep living for a few more seconds. He had cut the male target badly but not lethally and he was now stumbling towards the elevator doors pushing the girl ahead of him.
Change of Plan. Take her out with the knife, the man will instinctively try to aid her. Finish him and make for the air ducts. The elevator light was moving. He had 10, maybe 15 seconds to finish the job. He hefted the knife ready to come in for the killing blows. Make this count, Hawk!
The panoramic window imploded in a spray of tiny shards, Mjolnir spinning through the air with a loud ringing, pulverising the granite floor where it came to a halt. Thor had planned his landing carefully, rolling and coming up in a fighting stance between the assassin and his targets.
"GO, RUN!" he yelled at Darcy and Ainsley as the elevator doors opened, revealing two security men "GET THEM OUT OF HERE, I HAVE THIS!"
The distraction was brief, but Thor's guard was dropped long enough to allow Clint to get through and slash him deeply across the chest and right forearm. The Asgardian swore and tightened his stance, protecting himself while looking for an opportunity to take out his friend without killing or crippling him. The wound was bad and blood was already soaking his shirt,
This was bullshit! The targets were gone, safe in the descending elevator with their armed goons. Now this guy! Big, fast, obviously enhanced. Nothing in the brief had indicated this level of security. Intelligence had fucked-up bigtime. The targets had to be more important than mere assets. Oh well! Even big guys go down when you hit them in the right place
The next slash took Thor across the left arm but he jabbed sharply with his right fist, hard enough to dislocate the archer's jaw and send him flying into the plasma screen, his body falling into a crumpled heap on the floor
"Jarvis! Update! Now!" Demanded Tony as he manoeuvred his car as fast as possible through the downtown evening traffic
"Thor has rendered Mr Barton unconscious. Dr Kerr and Miss Lewis are with Stark Tower security. I have ETAs in the next 5 minutes for Captain Rogers, Miss Romanoff and Dr Banner. Director Fury is on his way with a SHIELD Response Team"
Tony let out a long sigh. The immediate danger might be over but this was going to be ugly.
The Present
Clint thought he would throw up. If it was anyone else but Fury he could tell himself this was some sort of sick joke
He swallowed hard
"Are they…"
Fury put a reassuring tone into his voice
"They're fine. Dr Kerr has a few cuts and bruises and they're a bit shaken but they'll be ok"
No need to tell him, yet, that he almost cut Dr Kerr's throat and that Miss Lewis is in a state of catatonic shock
"You cut Thor up pretty bad though"
"Aww Christ…." Clint moaned as his head fell back on the pillow, knowing what the drill was now. Fury spoke again
"Can you remember anything of what happened?"
Clint shook his head slightly. There were blurred images but nothing he could grasp hold of. It was like when Loki had been in his mind, that sense of having been elsewhere with no knowledge or control over his thoughts or actions
"Only some kinda weird whining noise, like a mosquito. Then I woke up here"
Fury sighed. He was not looking forward to this
"Agent Barton. I must inform you that you are suspended from duty and will be detained under armed guard until full investigative and clearance processes have been completed. If you attempt to remove yourself from custody the guards are authorised to use lethal force. Do you understand?"
Clint nodded numbly. He knew what clearance entailed for a compromised agent; he'd never heard of anyone getting though it twice.
Thor was back on his feet, the wounds on his chest and left arm bandaged, holding the blood-soaked rag that had been the baseball shirt Steve bought him as a present. An agent came up to him
"Excuse me, sir. We'll need that for evidence I'm afraid"
The Asgardian looked at it dumbly for a moment, as if trying to figure out what it was, then handed it to the agent who sealed it in an evidence bag. He had fought men berserk with battle-fury before but the look of ice in his friend's eyes was different to anything he had seen and this disturbed him in a way beyond his ability to understand.
Fury could sense the anger and bewilderment seething in Thor and turned to him
"Thor, if you would accompany me back to the others?"
The big guy nodded briefly. He walked over to Clint and put a hand on his arm in an attempt to be comforting although he was unable to put much feeling into the words
"We will get to the bottom of this, my Friend. I know you would never attempt to hurt Ainsley or Darcy."
Clint nodded again, unable to speak. "No, you don't, you're just hoping it so you don't feel obliged to kill me" he thought as he watched Thor and the Director leave.#
###
The rest of the team were in Tony's private study. None of them were talking, trying inwardly to grasp what had happened. Ainsley was still shaking, a glass of scotch and a cigarette in his hands. Tony had decreed the No Smoking Indoors rule suspended for the evening. The others hadn't argued. Tasha and Bruce sat side by side, holding hands but lost in their own thoughts. Steve, still in his Dodgers shirt, stared blankly at the floor while Tony sat back at his desk spinning a pen in his fingers.
Pepper had already left with Darcy in an ambulance. The girl was deeply traumatised and she would be spending the night in the Academy clinic under observation.
Ainsley looked up as Thor and Director Fury walked into the room.
"Oh! Babe…" his voice cracked as he saw the bandages on his lover's chest and arms "Does it hurt much?"
Thor crouched in front of him, taking the young doctor's face in his hands and kissing him
"I would suffer far worse to keep you from harm" He gently touched the dressing on Ainsley's neck where Clint had cut him "This pains me more than any wound I could ever take"
"Excuse me, Dr Kerr," Fury spoke softly but there was a firmness in his voice "I know this has been a distressing evening for you, but I just need you to bear with me a little bit longer. Can you manage that?"
Ainsley nodded. Thor settled himself beside his lover and put a protective arm around him.
"Can you recall anything out of the ordinary that happened before Agent Barton attacked you and Miss Lewis?"
Ainsley swallowed a mouthful of scotch and shook his head.
"Nothing. He was playing his game. We were joking around while Darcy and I made dinner. Then Clint stood up, and…"
He began shaking again and Thor pulled him closer
"Can we not do this tomorrow?" he growled, with a dangerous edge in his voice. His lover had almost been murdered tonight in the place he should have been safest.
Tony came over and put a couple of pills into Ainsley's hand
"Here. single malt isn't the best thing to wash these down, but the worst that will happen is you'll feel a bit woozy for the next 48 hours"
Ainsley looked up at him with an attempt at a smile.
"Thanks, woozy seems like a good idea right now"
Fury sat down and turned to Ainsley.
"Agent Barton reported a high-pitched whining noise before blacking out. Do you recall hearing anything like that?"
"Nothing at all. I don't think Darcy heard anything either."
Fury thought carefully for a moment before speaking, he had caught Tasha's glance out the corner of his eye and knew she was thinking on similar lines
"Mr Stark, Dr Banner, would it be possible to identify any narrow-band data transmissions received in the Penthouse within the last 24 hours? Say down to 0.4 on the Tesla scale?"
"That should be possible" said Tony "Take a while to work on the Algorithms but with Dr Banner and Jarvis on the case it should be ready by breakfast. I know I'm not planning on sleep tonight."
Bruce looked up at the Director
"You're thinking about Neuro-triggering, aren't you? But for that to work there would need to be a receiver implanted in the target"
Tony glanced suspiciously at Fury
"Clint wears hearing aids" It was Tasha who spoke. She turned to Fury "At least this way it's not you who gets the blame for spilling the beans. He'll forgive me quicker!"
"What?" snapped Steve. He didn't like secrets on the team at the best of times. Tony was just nodding thoughtfully, his mind already working on the problem.
The SHIELD Director spoke firmly to the aggrieved Captain Rogers.
"Agent Barton suffered severe damage to his hearing 5 years ago when a concussion grenade exploded near his head on a training mission. It was determined that with the right type of hearing aid he could still function with optimum efficiency and was therefore retained as an active agent on condition of regular checks and updates.
"He made a formal request that this information be kept confidential so as not to be employed against him in the field and only released on a need-to-know basis. This request was approved and the conditions have been met by both sides. Clint was my Agent long before he became an Avenger and I have always maintained his trust and confidence"
"I'll need to have the hearing aids" said Tony suddenly "that'll make it easier to identify if they've been used as a receiver for a Neuro-trigger."
He faced Tasha's angry glare
"What? If they haven't, the quicker we can get them back to him. Of course, if they have then there's a chance another Neuro-trigger might be used and none of us want that."
"Agent Romanoff" said Fury in a formal tone "Will you undertake that duty?" then his voice softened, as much as it ever could. "I believe it will be less painful for him if it's you who does it."
Tasha sighed
"Sure, just make sure that at least one of his guards knows ASL" She hated herself for having to condemn her friend to the silence he feared so much, but she knew that Stark was right, and like all of them she desperately wanted to know why and how Clint had been used as a weapon against the team.
"I'll come with you" said Bruce "I can take them to the lab and get to work straight away. I'll keep you posted on what I find"
Fury and Stark nodded their assent. Banner gave Ainsley's hand a gentle squeeze and headed out. The intense emotions in Tony's study were making him twitchy and he knew they would all be more comfortable with him in the sanctuary of his workspace.
"Who else knew?" asked Steve, still seething and looking for somewhere to hang the shock and frustration twisting inside him
"Selected medical and assessment personnel." replied Fury "Agent Romanoff and Dr Kerr"
Without thinking, Steve threw an angry glance at the doctor, curled under the protection of his lover's arm
Thor's voice was weary, but bore a note of danger and warning. He was in pain from his wounds and what little patience he had was almost done. In his own uncertainty, he was sure of one thing. His lover needed comfort and peace. These men may be his friends but he must let them know there were limits.
"Do not become angry with Ainsley, friend Steve. Not tonight. Not ever. It is the burden and duty of a healer to keep the secrets of another."
Steve got up and crouched beside Ainsley, taking his hand gently
"Ainsley, I'm sorry, I'm truly, deeply, sorry for what you've had to undergo tonight" he smiled at the shaken man, and to everyone's surprise, kissed him on the forehead.
"You're the only normal person in this madhouse. None of us could bear to lose you."
Thor gave an anguished sob and pulled the three of them into a tight embrace, regardless of the physical pain it caused him.
Tony was looking up at the ceiling blinking
"I'm not crying, I want everyone to know that, I just happen to have very watery tired eyes and need to take a moment"
Ainsley forced a smile
"It's ok Tony, I know you were inoculated against the Feels in childhood"
Fury had withdrawn into a corner of the room, allowing the friends their moment of closeness. He knew how important the kind, gentle British doctor was to all of them as a friend, a lover and a valued colleague. Tasha had summed it up once in a private conversation with the SHIELD Director "He's the only one here who's got no blood on his hands".
Ainsley turned to him with the question that was on all their minds
"What happens to Clint now?"
Tasha returned at that moment, nodding briefly to the Director who stepped forward
"Agent Barton has been taken into SHIELD custody for interrogation, debriefing and clearance. He has already been removed from the premises and is officially off the Avengers team until the process has been satisfactorily completed"
He ignored the protests from Tony and Steve.
"This is now a formal SHIELD investigative and disciplinary manner and I expect the protocols to be complied with, for Agent Barton's sake as much as yours." He paused "We need to work together on this."
Tony had made his expected complaint and now it was time to get down to business "I'll go down to the lab and see how Bruce is getting on."
Thor stood up "I am taking Ainsley to bed now. He suffered tonight. He must rest"
There was no questioning the command and authority in his voice. At this moment, not even Fury would care to challenge the Warrior of Asgard.
"I'll arrange a car to take you both to the Beach House." said Tony "It's going to be pretty crazy here and I think you could both do with being somewhere quiet for a few days"
"Thank you, Tony. We will go and pack some things" Thor took his lover's hand and led him out of the room.
Fury turned to Steve and Tasha
"Captain Rogers, Agent Romanoff, I need you to accompany me to HQ; Mr Stark, you will inform me as soon as you or Dr Banner have any leads. I'll have Agent Hill check in with you in the morning"
Tony nodded. The game was afoot.