Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers :(:(

Authors Note: Thanks to all those who have reviewed, JRBarton, Hawaiichick, Lollypops101, Kimbee and Bookdancer, you made me very happy this morning :)

And because you made my day here is another chapter!

Enjoy!

As it turned out he was right, Phil tossed and turned for the next two hours before finally giving up and heading outside to the roof. It was cold outside and he was glad he'd thought to bring a jacket. He stepped out into the night and sighed. Then made his way round to his usual spot and froze at the silhouette of a familiar figure sitting on the wall, legs dangling over the edge.

Phil made his way over quietly, he knew the young archer would already be aware of his presence, he always was. Phil stopped next to him, and looked out at the lights shining from the city. He glanced sideways at the young archer, he was sitting stiffly and Phil frowned when he realised he was shaking, his whole body had tiny tremors running through it.

Placing his hand gently on Clint's shoulder he was surprised when he flinched and looked up at his handler in shock. Phil was about to comment on the fact he'd even managed to catch the archer off guard when Clint pulled his ear buds out and frowned up at Phil.

"What?" He asked, his tone a little hard.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, thought you'd heard me when I opened the door." Phil explained, he was glad when the young agent nodded in understanding.

He turned back to the view of the city but didn't put his ear buds back in, just left them dangling.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Phil sighed and moved to sit next to him on the wall, his own legs dangling over the side. Phil was never one who was afraid of heights but even he was wary of some of the stunts Clint could pull off.

"No. Which is how I ended up here. What about you?" Phil asked.

Clint frowned as he looked out into the darkness, how could he explain to Phil that he was scared, he really didn't want to go back to jail even if it was for a mission? When Clint had first been incarcerated and Phil had come offering him a new beginning Clint had though he was nuts, and that he must have had him confused with someone else. But Phil had been persistent and kept coming back until Clint finally agreed to go through the training. He wasn't sure how Phil knew about his skills with a weapon, not many people did. But when he had mentioned that he knew about Clint's past and his skills with a bow and arrow, Clint had finally realised how big an organisation SHIELD was.

Clint turned to look at Phil who was watching him with concern. Clint gave him a small smile, maybe he could tell him, Phil was more than just his handler, and he was a friend, a brother and was constantly looking out for him.

"I had a nightmare, about going back." He told him truthfully.

Phil sighed and put his arm around Clint shoulders. "I know you don't want to do this mission Clint and if I could get you out of it I would. But I think Fury is right about you being the best for the job, you are the most talented young man I have ever met, and I know if anyone can pull this mission off it would be you."

Clint nodded and smiled. "Could we not just blow the whole place up, might save everyone the trouble?"

Phil laughed. "If only it were that easy Clint."

Clint nodded, he wished it could be that easy. He had hated jail and he was in a minimum security prison, this one was going to be maximum security, murderers, rapists and serial killers would be in this prison and he would be there to take out one guy and get back out, in one piece. It was going to be anything but easy.

They sat in silence for the next hour, just silently supporting each other. When Phil finally moved to stand he held his hand out for Clint, the archer glanced at him and nodded then accepted the hand. He swung his legs over the wall and stood.

"You going to be alright kid?"

"Yeah. I think so."

Together they headed back inside, Phil just hoped that they would both manage to get some much needed rest, he was sure they were both going to need it.

It was a day later when Clint was on his way to the hangar to start his mission, Fury had organised Clint's back story, his crime and why he was being sent to the same maximum level prison that Dexter Loran was in. They had also come up with two plans to get the archer out once his mission was completed, the first was if he had finished and needed extraction, the second was if everything went to shit and he needed an extraction. Plus Phil would be nearby in case of any emergencies.

Clint almost made it to the hangar without any of the other agents saying anything inappropriate, Agent Peters was just walking out of the door to the hangar when he spotted Clint and smirked.

"I told you you'd be sent back eventually, the past always catches up with you Barton."

Clint froze, then turned to face the agent, his eyes narrowing in anger.

"Maybe they'll just leave you there, it's where you belong. I know I would."

Agent Peters very quickly found himself slammed up against the wall, the archer's forearm across his throat and a gun pressed into the side of his head. He looked into the younger agent's eyes and swallowed down the fear he was feeling. Maybe winding Barton up hadn't been his best decision. Clint flipped the safety off and glared at Peters.

"If I'm such back news Peters, I would have no problem taking you down for that comment." Clint removed his arm from the agent's throat but kept the gun pointed at his head. Peters coughed when the pressure was removed but kept absolutely still.

"Clint!"

Clint didn't bother turning to Phil, he simply relaxed his stance and holstered his weapon after putting the safety back on, he leaned in to whisper a few parting words. "I'll see you when I get back."

Agent Peters eyes widened and then he was quickly moving away down the corridor.

Clint turned to see his handler glaring at him. "What? The guy is a dick."

Phil huffed. "Was he a dick before or after you pointed a gun at his head?" Clint shot him a look that said, 'duh, I wouldn't have aimed my gun if he wasn't'.

Phil nodded and together they headed towards the jet. He eyed his young charge with worry, he wasn't sure Clint should be the one to do this, the kid had been in a dark place for the past few days since hearing about this mission. And he wasn't sure what frame of mind the archer would be in when he returned, all he knew was that he didn't want the kid going two steps back instead of forward. Phil had spent too much time getting the kids head back on straight and they still had a lot of work to do.

Clint turned to Phil after dropping his bag on the floor and looked for the first time like a young kid, and not a twenty-two year old assassin.

"You won't leave me in there will you?" Phil almost pulled him into a hug right then, the kid sounded so broken it hurt Phil to hear. Instead he stepped up to Clint and squeezed his shoulder.

"No, I won't leave you in there Clint. Trust me." Phil hoped the young man heard the sincerity in his words.

Clint just stared at him for a few minutes before slowly nodding. "Okay."

Phil stepped back. "I will be there in the next two days, try not to get into any trouble till then?"

Clint smiled and was about to turn away when Phil's hand on his arm stopped him, he looked at his handler in confusion.

"Just…..just be careful, alright?"

"I'll do my best Phil." Clint gave Phil a pat on his shoulder and stepped back.

Phil stayed until the jet had taken off and was nothing more than a dot in the distance. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before spinning on his heel and heading to see Agent Peters, it was about time the man got an earful from Coulson, and it might help Phil feel better too.