I am the worst author in the world, six months between updates. I suck. But I really really really really really really WILL FINISH THIS STORY! I will, I will, I will! I'm so sorry for the wait, you probably don't even remembered what happened last time, so here's a little summation.

Tony and Bruce have managed to track down Carter's arch enemy, Harmon Monroe, and the Avengers are on their way to his location. Clint and Carter both plan to defy Fury's orders to bring him back alive, and Tony is supporting their decision. Carter hopes to save her mother, Melody, from Monroe's control, and avenge her father's death.

All in all, shit's about to hit the fan. It's a bit short, but we're on the final climax with only a few chapters left. Enjoy!

Jay X

As If I Was Human

Chapter Thirty Seven - Open the Door

"Hawkeye, what do your elf eyes see?" Tony's voice came through Clint's earpiece.

"Really, another Legolas joke?" Clint sighed, looking over the compound from his high vantage point in the mountains surrounding Monroe's warehouse hideout.

"Come on, it's a compliment," Tony insisted, stepping up next to him, his computerised vision zooming in on the main entrance.

"Four guards at the door," Clint replied, answering his previous question. "A dozen more patrolling ten feet apart."

"Got enough arrows?"

"Enough to shut you up."

"Boys," Natasha shushed them. "Less bickering, more recon." Holding a set of high-tech binoculars to her eyes, she glanced over the compound. "Steve and I can do down and take them out silently, without setting off any alarms," she then announced, lowering the binoculars. "Clint, you stay-"

"I'm going in with Carter," Clint cut her off firmly.

"You're a long range combatant," Natasha argued. "Your skill set's wasted in hand to hand combat."

"I don't care," he said, looking behind him where Carter stood, conversing with Steve and Bruce. "She's not going in without me." Natasha sighed, but nodded.

"Fine."

"What's the plan, then?" Bruce suddenly asked, walking over with Steve and Carter following.

"Sixteen guards to take care of," Tony reeled off. "Steve and Tash are on that, I'll blast open the doors-"

"No blasting," Steve interrupted, holding up a hand to silence Tony. "We want to keep this as low key as possible, we want to get in and tear the place apart before Monroe knows what hit him."

"That's boring, you're boring, Cap," Tony drawled. "But I guess I can just hack into their system, bypass the security protocols, reroute the power and….right, I'm in. Doors are open."

"That was quick," Natasha said, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"I know how to get a job done," Tony replied, smirking underneath his mask.

"Okay, the signal is coming from the electric tower," Bruce reminded everyone. "The control panel will need to be directly connected to the satellite broadcasting, so Monroe is most likely on the upper floor, meaning we'll encounter heavy resistance on the way up."

"Just the way I like it," Tony joked, turning to look at Carter, who was yet to say a word. "You with us, Sparky?"

"There's an emergency exit on the roof," she replied quietly, staring over at the warehouse. "You guys go through the main entrance, make as much nose as possible, I'll take the roof and get to Monroe and my mother first."

"You're not going in alone," Clint told her, grabbing her upper arm tightly. "You'll get yourself killed."

"Tony will come with me," Carter said, looking up at him. "I'll need a lift to the roof, not to mention his help freeing my mother from the control chip."

"Carter-"

"She killed you last time, Clint," Carter spoke over him. "I'm not letting that happen again. We'll kill Monroe together, but I have to do this without you. I refuse to risk losing you."

"Carter-"

"The longer we argue about this, the more time Monroe has to prepare," Steve spoke up, separating the two of them. "Carter and Stark will take the roof, the rest of us will deal with the grunts on the ground. Stay in radio contact."

"Come here," Clint muttered, grabbing Carter's hand an pulling her away from the group as they all agreed to Steve's plan and began their final preparations.

"Look, I know you-"

"Carter, I love you," Clint cut her off, taking her face in his hands. "Are you sure you want to do this without me?"

"I don't know what's going to happen up there," Carter replied, sighing heavily. "But I can't concentrate unless I know you're safe. Right now all I can see is her killing you, over and over, and no matter what, I can't let it happen again." There were tears in her eyes as she talked, the memory playing in her mind. "I love you, Clint, please understand this."

"…all right," Clint sighed, pulling Carter into his arms and holding her tightly. "I trust your judgement, just…please, no coma this time." Carter gave a small chuckle, coiling her arms around his neck.

"I'll see what I can do," she assured him, pecking him on the cheek. "Now, let's end this bastard."

"Tony," Clint called to the man of iron as they returned to the group. "If anything happens to her, I'll tear your teeth out with a pair of pliers."

"Again with the threats," Tony whined. "What is it with you people and threatening me? Is it my boyish good looks? My millions of dollars? My perfectly poised posterior? Not that you can see it in the suit. I'll take pictures later, I'll send you all pictures. Might get one framed, hang it in the Helicarrier bathroom-"

"Are you done?" Steve sighed. "Carter, you ready?"

"I'm ready, Captain," Carter nodded grimly, stepping close to Tony. "Come on, Iron Man, let's go save my mother."

"Hold on tight, Sparky," Tony instructed, Carter wrapping her arms around his neck, hooking her legs around his waist. She gave Clint one last wink, before Tony took to the air and the ground team was left in their dust.

"We have multiple breaches on the ground level."

"Engaging hostile forces. Confirmed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."

"Strike team Alpha, come in."

"We've lost radio contact with Strike Teams Alpha, Charlie and Echo."

"Deploy Attack Formation Theta, keep them from reaching the upper levels."

"Shit! They've brought the Hulk, I repeat; they've brought the Hulk. We need…shit- we need reinforcements to the ground level!"

"It's tearing through our men- we have to fall back!"

"No, deploy the heavy canons! Take him down!"

"Breach on the roof access! All security footage from that sector is being blocked!"

"God dammit! Someone get those cameras back up!"

"Get Defence Teams to the upper floor! Don't let them get to the control room!"

"The Hulk has wiped out all Strike Teams. Heavy canons ineffective."

"Radio signal to all Defence Teams lost."

"Mobilise the Rear Guard! Put that monster down!"

"We've lost all contact, all footage is down. We're flying blind here!"

"Shit! Pull out, sound a full retreat! Get everyone still in contact out of there. Agent Thomas, do you read me?"

"I read you. Mr Monroe and I are well aware of the situation."

"I advise you to get him to the shuttle, our Strike and Defence Teams are lost."

"We will remain behind. You have leave to evacuate."

"Roger that, Agent Thomas."

"Godspeed, Agent."

"Do you hear that?" Carter asked Tony, cocking her head to the side as she grinned. Before he could reply, they both heard it again. "It's hard to believe that our little Brucie can roar like that."

"It's always the quiet ones," Tony replied, smiling to himself as the Hulk continued to howl down below. "Come on, let's get to the control room."

"You know where you're going?" Carter questioned, following Tony down the narrow stairwell.

"I'm still tracking Melody's chip," he answered, tapping the side of his helmet with an iron clad finger. "We're close."

"I have to ask," Carter whispered, smirking as Tony's suit stomped ahead of her. "Doesn't it feel kinda redundant to be walking around in that thing?"

"Patience, young grasshopper," came the answer. "Too quick on the draw and you'll miss your target."

"Monroe knows we're coming," Carter pointed out, ducking under a low beam as they passed into an access shaft.

"He doesn't know which direction," Tony replied. "You wanna free your mom, we need at least a little subtlety." At the mention of her mother, Carter fell silent, and Tony sensed her mood, stopping and turning to her. "It'll be okay, Carter," he said firmly. "We're gonna do this."

"I know," Carter nodded, her mouth set in a grim line. "We'll do this."

"Nearly there," Tony added, setting off down the access shaft again, Carter following close behind.

"Carter," Clint suddenly spoke in her ear. "You still kickin'?"

"You know it," she responded lightly, one finger pressed to her ear. "Having fun down there?"

"You know it," Clint chuckled, the 'thwip' of his bow sounding through the comm. "They really don't want us getting up there."

"We're close to Monroe," Carter said, Tony holding up the grate as she slid under it and into the main corridor. "We're on his floor."

"Kick his ass, gorgeous," Clint signed off, leaving Carter smiling as she reached the door at the end of the corridor.

"Here we are," Tony said, Jarvis beginning to hack into the security panel guarding the door. "You ready for this?"

"…you know it," Carter stated, fingers curling around her golden daggers, the static in her blood charging in fury. "Open the door."