Chapter 12- Two much trouble

Will Brandt thought he was in a nightmare. Firstly there was a giant green monster heading his way while tearing a cabin apart then there was a man who looked identical too him standing just a few inches away.

"What do we do", Ethan was asking that identical man for suggestions. "We need to find a way of getting to that secure cage. It is the only thing that will keep us safe", Clint told him.

When has this identical man become so cozy with his team. A wave of jealousy rose up but was just as quickly pushed down. He had no desire to be ripped apart by that green monster and if that lookalike knew what to do then he'd also go along.

A loud growl broke his reflection and Brandt turned his attention back to the green monster. Its giant green head was peering at them through the open door space. Its face was furrowed in deep anger with teeth barred in a unpleasant leer. One of those teeth was larger than Brandt's whole head. They also weren't that clean but he was not going to suggest toothpaste .

"Doc calm down", now his identical clone was trying to reason with the monster. This was most definitely crazy. "Please tell me what is going on", Will found himself begging.

Clint tore his gaze away from the hulk to give him one long speculative look. He was checking to see if there were any immediate signs of Will collapsing on the floor. Finding none he returned to Hulk watching. Explanations to Will were going to have to wait.

"We are going to have to go through that other door", Clint yelled above the Hulks roar. "It is jammed shut and would probably take a crane to force it open", Ethan yelled back.

They all jumped when the Hulks hand reached into the door hole and tried to grab them. "He's going to start ripping the walls down to get us", Clint told them. "Get back against the far wall".

They did that. "Your idea of using a crane was not a bad one Hunt ,we have one ready to work for us", Clint suggested. Ethan stared having no idea what Clint could be referring to. There was nothing around that had the force to rip open…. When the Hulk crushed a chair in his finger tips, what Clint was suggesting hit him hard.

"Are you out of your mind", he yelled. "The only way out is through that other door and the only thing that can open it is the Hulk's hand". Don't worry I'll draw him over ". You guys just get ready to run through that door. " Clint looked at Will, "make sure he's with you. I'll follow when I can".

He sounded grimly determined. Once again Clint was putting himself in danger to try and save them. He really needed help. However Ethan could not find it within himself to offer. In truth he was absolutely terrified of the Hulk and had no idea how to overcome that sort of foe. If that made him a coward then he was fully prepared to admit that fact as long as he was running away at the time.

He kept his back against the wall as Clint stepped forward and into The Hulks clear line of sight. Beside him Ethan could hear Brandt breathing fast as he watched.

Hawkeye aimed an arrow over the Hulks head and shot it off seconds later. An enraged scream indicated he had the Hulk's attention. Shit this was scary Clint thought. He fought to find his own inner calm. When fighting with The Avengers he was always aware of the fact he was one of the most vulnerable. But it never stopped him. He wished for any of his friends to be at his side now as he felt so alone . The others were not used to seeing things like this and were wisely keeping back. It was all resting upon him. Or so he thought.

Beside Ethan Will found himself for some reason taking a step forward. This motion was stopped by Ethan Hunt's hand on his collar. "Stay Back Brandt", Ethan warned him.

But something was compelling him forward, it was like a force he could not resist. Unaware he was even doing it he simply lifted off Ethan's hand and walked forward to stand beside his duplicate. "No Will go bck", his double told him . It was a familiar address like they were long lost friends. Perhaps they were because standing beside him was like feeling complete for the first time in years. It made Will feel so powerful. "Stuff that", he replied as he lifted a bow almost identical to the one in the other mans hand.

Then he stood back to back with his double. It felt warm and safe even though around them the cabin seemed to be falling apart.

The Hulk dragged out a large iron table forcing its legs through the sides of the door. That made the hole bigger which enabled his shoulders and head to be inside the room.

His eyes were as green as the rest of him Will reflected as he shot off an arrow. It flew in tandam with its twin then separated to fly over the Hulks right shoulder. Clint's had flown over his left.

The Hulk whirled around growling as his head turned from left to right. He seemed confused by the fact that there were two identical men attacking him.

"Come on big guy make a grab", Clint skittered closer well aware Will's feet were in perfect sync to his own. The giant green hands coming straight for them was a sight that would make most people turn and run. Clint was standing his ground waiting for the right moment.

Ethan, Benji and Jane stood half terrified half entranced as they watched Brandt and Will. The two seemed to have that almost magic connection of twins that knew instinctively what each other wanted.

As they moved and shifted position it was impossible to tell them apart. There seemed to be no difference in skill either with arrows fired with precision.

"Hold your ground", Clint muttered to Will as the hand got closer. Will did not bother to say he was not planning on running away. This was by far the craziest thing he had ever done. He could just imagine retelling it over coffee with other IMF colleagues, not one of them would believe him.

Every part of him was tingling in fear and honestly he did want to run. But he found he could not. "Ready" ,Clint was slipping sideways closer to the jammed door. "A huge hand shot forward directly at him. If he misjudged this moment even the slightest then the hulk was going to make mincemeat of him.

On his left Will was also moving slowly as his eyes watched the giant hand. When it twitched slightly he jumped to one side. It was just in time, both the left and right hands of the Hulk went smashing through the jammed doorway. Fragments of door flew in all directions . "Run",Clint yelled over the noise.

Flat against the wall Benji , Jane and Ethan had all flinched as the giant hand moved past inches from their bodies. Now there was a gaping hole in the wall beside them. Not needing to be told twice the three agents ran out of that hole and down the corridor. Clint grabbed hold of Will firmly as he ran pulling him along with him. Will held on tightly feeling like he was secured by some lifeline.

The sound of the hulk screaming sounded behind them along with a loud crash. Risking a look behind him Will saw the terrifying sight of the whole of the Hulk. The monster stood full height, his head ripping through the roof of the cabin like it was made of paper. "Don't look, just run", his double warned. When the Hulk cam charging down upon then Will found himself outpacing his double. Running fater than he ever had before he barreled down the corridor like he was facing his doom. Which of course he could be if the Hulk caught him.

Seeing a door open before him Will kept running hard then slid down the corridor on his knees and into the secure room. His double followed seconds later. From his position on the floor he could see the Hulk coming fast, wood splinters flying around him like they were caught by a hurricane. Rage was written clearly on that horrid green face. His hands were grabbing everything in their path and shredding it. He was now only seconds away. When the door slammed shut moments later he partially relaxed.

Joining the others Will watched through the glass sides as the Hulk finally caught up with them. "I hope this cage really does hold", Jane mused as the green mass hurtled itself hard against the sides.

All of them jumped back half expecting to see the glass crumple around them. The large crashing sound as one hard object hit another was enough to make their ears ring. The glass held , not even cracking slightly under the impact. But the Hulk was not giving up, roaring loudly in fury he flew against the sides again and again.

It was like being trapped in a storm, intense, wild, noisy and frightening. All they could do was stand and wait half prepared for the moment when they would have to run again. But the glass held. Now he anger on the Hulk's face faded somewhat as he rubbed down his arms. Then with a final teeth baring roar in their faces the Hulk turned and slunk off .

Around him the cabin lay in ruins, broken wood, smashed furniture and smoldering electrical appliances. Only one wall remained standing and the Hulk finished that off as he crashed through it and outside into what once was Banner's garden

Their room stood now, alone amidst the carnage, a safe port within the storm. "Phew" it was the sound of sweet relief as the five of them realized the threat from the Hulk was now over.

None of them wanted to leave just yet though. "Alright, now that huge green whatever it is has gone would you mind telling me what is going on", Will swung to his double. "Do you mind telling me what you were doing risking your life like that Will. You don't know what you were dealing with", Clint snapped back. Will wobbled a little in reponse to that and found his double gripping him hard.

"Do you feel okay", the other man asked him touching his face and looking into his eyes. "Get off", Will pushed him away. Clint guess he was being overly familiar , "okay just checking to see if you are going to pass out".

"Yeah it looks like the Doc was right and a sedative did blunt the effects of having you close. At some point it is going to wear off", Ethan told Clint. Will found himself being pushed down onto a chair by his lookalike when Ethan had stopped speaking. Feeling annoyed he resisting pushing back against his double.

His hands and arms started feeling like they were on fire as a fierce burning sensation raged over them. He could not push his doubles arms back. Noticing that the other man also looked discomforted Will stopped. Clint looked at his hands, "that felt strange, it seems like we cannot fight against each other", he reflected. 'That just proves that you should not be arguing", Ethan told them firmly. He did not want to be referee in a fight between these two. They were both good men and needed to come to an understanding. Perhaps starting with the simple was the way forward.

"Will this is Clint Barton, he is also known as Hawkeye", Ethan made the introduction as part of settling things down. "Hawkeye is one of the good guys and saved us from being eliminated by the number 2's colleagues Logan and Jennifer".

He quickly added that last part when he saw Will tense. "Hawkeye", Will rolled the name off his lips and appeared to be thinking. "I've heard the name mentioned", he told them. "You have, when", Benji asked in surprise.

"When I was in the field before my team was pulled from a mission by the secretary, I never got a proper explanation from him. But I overheard that it was because agents from another agency were handling the issue, one of the names mentioned was Hawkeye", Brandt told them. Brandt had often wondered about that moment. He had heard that another IMF team had been sent to finish the mission not long after his team had been pulled. All the questions his team had about that had been diverted. He'd had the feeling that the problem was with either with his whole team or one of their members. Later when he'd overheard his name being mentioned in regards to the mission he came to the conclusion the problem was him. But nobody would tell him anything. He had no idea what he had done that warranted being pulled. Now he knew why. It was an IMF ensuring he never met his double. He felt angry about what that implied."So it seems IMF knew about you, Ethan and the others knew about you, but not me, the one who should have known a long time ago".

Brandt 's voice had steadily raised to a yell. He eyed all of them before resting on who he thought was the main culprit, his lookalike.

In response to Will's obvious anger Clint slumped into a chair. His heart was hammering fast and words fell over one another as he raced to explain. He wanted it known that it was not because he did not care or was more important than Will. "I know, I wanted to tell you. But being around me is not good for your health Will. I'd rather us live apart safely than have anything happen to you". Clint found his emotions surging. He'd had wanted to explin things for such a long time and now the moment had come all he felt was afraid. What if Will wanted nothing to do with him. He turned to look directly at his double not bothering to wipe his reddened eyes. Let him see the truth for himself.

Seeing the emotion on his face Will found himself feeling off balance. It was an odd feeling to have someone you knew nothing about care for you so deeply. Will wanted to know more though because none of it made sense. Why was being near Hawkeye not good for him, they were after all only inches apart now. 'Are you really that dangerous then", he pressed.

"As an agent yes, but that is not why we were kept apart. I am the reason you fall unconscious. Every time we are near your whole body has a reaction that affects your heart and other systems. Over time the effects would worsen and eventually you would die. It would bring a whole new meaning to 'dying to meet you'. I could not have that happen. It was hard on this mission to think that saving your team mates might mean killing you." Clint found his voice cracking as everything that had happened finally caught up with him. It was embarrassing to be around a room filled with strangers right now.

In that moment Will found himself moving over and wrapping his arms about his double and holding tight. All that anger that had been building up just evaporated to be replaced by warmth. It was obvious Clint has suffered deeply. Had he been in Clint's position he would have felt the same. Now was not the time for anger. Finally they were together. Looking over at the others he saw pleading looks upon their faces. He had to tell them that everything was alright.

"I can't be angry with you", Will reassured Clint. "Being around you is like finding that one piece to a puzzle that has been missing for ages. I feel complete and powerful. If that green Hulk came in right now I might even punch him in the nose. Then I'd run away fast of course", he added.

Clint's beaming smile was all the answer he needed to that speech. Hearing a muffled sob both Clint and Will swung around to look at Ethan, Jane and Benji. "Gosh look at the three trained agents gone a little mushy", Will teased as he noticed all of their eyes looked damp. "Yeah well we don't get too many moments like that", Jane told them.

"None of us do", Clint was still holding onto Will and wishing he could stay like that. But it was time to get back to business. "I hate to break the moment but we still have problems. He gestured out to where the Hulk could be seen sitting amongst the grass. "Soon he will transform back into Bruce and when he does he will be vulnerable. It would be the perfect opportunity for Number 2 and his girlfriend to try something". Going after Bruce would draw us out into open ground. "

"You are right",Ethan mused." I thought that they engineered the Hulks transformation. As much as we would have hoped the Hulk dealt with them they would have had a plan for staying out of his way. Driving him toward us, would have been a perfect way to eliminate us as it would have created friction between our agencies." This would only make the enemies positions stronger".

Clint tapped his fingers against the table", Yes it would and that makes me wonder if whoever is behind the slow degradation of our agencies hired Number 2 to speed up the process". Maybe they were getting tired of waiting for things to fall apart."

"There's a problem with wondering that, Clint. It means we have to capture number 2 alive", Jane told them.

All of them grimaced at that. They were tired, injured and running out of ammunition. Number 2 had always been in control of this mission and even now he was out there probably setting traps for them. Taking him alive was going to be a huge risk. "We do outnumber them", Jane mentioned. They were all being a little negative she decided. It was time to start looking at the positive and plan to gain the upper hand again.

But when Clint's watch began to beep and the archer swore loudly, they got the impression there may be another problem.

"This sound means both good and bad news. SHIELD are always watching for Hulk incidents and are now alerted to this location . The incident was either noticed by someone or our enemy is adding something to the mix by alerting them. It is possible Number 2 has allies amongst our own agents." Once they arrive we may not have the advantage Jane mentioned", Clint explained.

"Shit", Ethan said the word for all of them. He seemed to be saying it more and more, which was really not a good thing. "Yep we are in our necks in it ", Clint muttered but he did not sound entirely unhappy. Benji guessed the reason for that, "hopefully that was the bad news, so there must be something else", he remarked. Ethan began to smile, "if your agency is alerted then so are your friends. We are going to get the army that can bend Number 2 into a pretzel."

Xxxxxxxxx

In Fury's office he was bent over his computer screen, trying to make out details concerning the report on the appearance of the Hulk. Information on the incidence was so far limited to this not very good quality video that had been apparently taken by a witness. Of course they could not find this person. Fury imagined that whoever it was had not stopped running yet. He was already thinking of putting together two teams. One was to deal with the Hulk and the other to secure William Brandt. The video had enough detail to catch glimpses of Ethan Hunt amogst the rubble. Fury knew Clint was not going to be happy to see his double taken away. He would be even less happy to know that indirectly he was to blame. Clint had done a lot of damage when under the mind control of Loki and that incident had only heightened nerves about having a group of powerful people loose without being monitored. Brandt would have to live his life under strict supervision and there would be no arguments about that.

Fury looked through his records handpicking the teams with employees he believed he could trust. But how could he be totally sure. He knew that some type of poison was already infiltrating SHIELD and that poison had human faces. So far he had hesitated in informing any of the Avengers about what was happening with Clint. How could he be sure the information was only given to them. He felt like the cracks in the agency were showing more and more . Could he actually stop it from falling apart . It was a question that really bothered him because the word 'no' kept popping into his brain for some reason.

"Alright Fury where is he", his office door flew open with such a force it banged against the wall and shot back. Nick found himself jumping almost an inch in his chair as his mind broke from his thoughts to contemplate who was in front of him.

Fury reflected that the Black Widow looked very beautiful when she was angry. He hurried to clear the information from his computer screen but found his finger caught by Natasha. "All of us saw the video on the Hulk incident. The big green guy appeared to be chewing on an arrow in one shot . It seems Clint is in danger and I knew nothing about it. So I will ask you again, where is he". She was staring him down her eyes boring through him. Now he knew exactly what her victims felt. He resisted the urge to squirm under her gaze.

"Natasha there are things happening here that you do not understand', he met her eyes squarely not looking down or flinching. His body posture was ramrod straight, assertive and sure. It said, 'I am the boss ' clearly. He waited for her to back down. Then his eyes caught sight of the arrow necklace around her neck and realized that hope was in vain. Sure enough she bent forward her eyes darkening in a menacing way."I don't give a damn about what I don't understand. Tell me where he is now".

As she said 'now' Natasha began to squeeze his finger in a manner that promised to be increasingly painful. He really should order her to stop. But his voice didn't work because an idea had just come to him.

"Alright", he muttered as he decided what his plan should be, sending the only team he could trust and hoping for the best. "I thought you might see it my way', Natasha waited for the computer printout. Then stalked out before Fury could even begin to tell her about William Brandt. He supposed she'd find out when she met him. He wished he was there to see that moment.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Then all we have to do it hold off Number 2 until help arrives", Benji remarked. "Yeah but Number 2 will think the same", Jane countered. "Then it's a race to see who's help arrives first. I still think that four against one is good odds", Benji remarked. He deliberately missed counting Will Brandt knowing the agent could fall unconscious at any time.

"Five", Will said it firmly. "Four", Clint countered. "That sedative might wear off at any time and leave you right in the firing line. You have been an agent long enough to know we can't take riks like that. I know you probably hate this, I would too but you have to stay here Will", Clint pleaded. He was ready to fight with Will on this.

"There is absolutely no way you are leaving me in here", Will stood inches from Clint and stared him in the face. He was the one that needed convincing. If he could get Clint to agree then he was sure the others would as well.

"If you are worried I am going to collapse then don't be. I'll just take some more of that sedative", Will told them. He waited a few seconds for Clint to say 'but' then added, "I do know what to take and how much". He waved the piece of paper Dr Banner had left him. It had simply said, "there is always a choice" and given him the name and amount of sedative to take.

Clint supposed he could not protect Will forever. It might be the one and only time they got to fight together. Because unless Banner had found a third option then the sedative was just a temporary measure. Once his was over then he'd be back to two terrible choices. It left a sour feeling in his throat. All he said though was "alright you are part of the team".