A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

dogman999: thanks for your review, my friend.

Clint's POV

Consciousness came back to him slowly. There was a beeping machine next to him. Only by a few feet if he had to guess. The smell of antiseptic was all over the room. Wherever the room he was in was at.

Did Phil take him back to the helicarrier? Or was he in a local hospital? No, he wouldn't have survived his wounds if he was in a local hospital. The particular area they were in was bad. Nearby hospitals wouldn't be able to care for gunshot wounds like his.

There was someone sitting at his side too. He could hear their light even breathing that indicated whoever it was, was asleep.

Clint opened his eyes wincing at the room's bright light. When his eyes adjusted he recognized that he was in the helicarrier's hospital. Turning his head to the side he saw Panov asleep in the chair. Turning his head to the other side he saw Coulson sitting in the opposite chair holding a file.

His handler looked up feeling eyes upon him. Eyes widened in surprise and he stood up heading for the door. Clint blinked in surprise he tried to call out to the man but of came out a croak.

That had Panov awake and checking him over. He brought over ice chips and allowed Clint to take some. The ice meltwater was soothing to his parched throat.

Doctor Banks came in and began to check him over. Clint had several questions but he would wait to ask them. Banks checked over the bandages on his abdomen. Vaguely Clint could remember being shot in Budapest.

Banks questioned once his checks were over, "Do you have any lingering pain? Dizziness? Nausea?"

Clint croaked out, "No. How long have I been out? Where's Nat?"

Banks smiled as he replied, "I'll let Coulson answer that one. As for how long you've been out two weeks. You had us all worried Hawkeye. Even the Director has been in to visit you while you were out."

Fury came to visit? Why? The man had barely tolerated his existence before now. It wasnt like the man to visit him in the hospital.

Banks turned to Coulson and said, "His wounds are healing nicely. A few more days in here and I can release him into your care. No missions until hes completely cleared by me. Try to keep the visit short. He needs rest to heal."

With that, the doctor left leaving Panov and Coulson in the room with Clint. Both of the older men looked lost in their own thoughts. For his part, Clint could feel the edges of unconsciousness returning. He would not be able to stay awake for much longer.

Coulson sighed as he sat back in his chair, "Barton your stubbornness almost got you killed. Why is it you're always expecting to die?"

Clint gave a hoarse laugh only to stop when it brought pain from his wounds. Everything he did almost got him killed. From his time in the circus to his time in Medusa. He was a soldier. If he didnt die fighting his death wouldn't mean anything.

At least that's what he had thought before he joined SHIELD. Coulson proved that he didnt have to die on the battlefield to make his death worthwhile. Dying to protect those he cared about was just as worthwhile.

Clint said coughing lightly, "I don't go in expecting to die Coulson. If I die to protect those I care about so be it. As long as I have something to fight for I will do all I can to keep living. Both of you taught me that."

He wasnt able to keep ahold of his consciousness to hear the reply. The world faded to black and he slumbered dreamlessly. The next time he woke it was only Panov by his side. The doctor had several files laid out on the bed.

Without really meaning to he glanced at them. Faces he recognized were all over the files. It was his men's combat files. What the hell was Panov doing with them?

Trying to sit up he caught the attention of the doctor. Panov said trying to soothe, "Easy there. Your men are just fine. Abbott wants to start a new program and asked that I look over the Medusa Program to find those who are best suited. Your men are just many of those being considered. If they do get chosen it's an entirely voluntary program. They don't have to join."

Clint laughed despite the pain it caused, "That's what they said about the Medusa program doc. We all saw how that turned out. No, they will find a way to force those they want into a program."

Panov's face grew dark as he replied, "I won't let them do that. Alex knows better than that."

"He might not get a choice with Abbott," sighed Clint rubbing at his abdomen where the bullets had entered, "Abbott will do anything to achieve his goals. That's what he does. Though many of the Medusans owe him for what he did for us. Without him, most of us would have been in jail instead of on the battlefield. Taking us from the darkest places of our own hearts and giving us a purpose. Some of us didnt take to that purpose. Others thrived under it."

Panov leaned back in his chair as he questioned, "Like you thrived?"

Clint looked back at him coldly, "I didn't just thrive Panov. I flourished. Being in Medusa brought out a side of me that had always been there. It was just waiting to become real. Even now I can feel it always there. Always waiting to be needed again."

"Delta is apart of you," reminded Panov, "Two halves of the same mind. Accepting Delta is part of healing."

Clint didnt reply. He laid back on his pillows looking up at the ceiling. Accepting Delta was easier said than done. While the other half of his mind had saved him more times than he could count. It didnt make the blood on his hands any easier to handle. Panov and SHIELD wanted to make him into a hero that he wasnt.