AN: I have to say… I really feel stupid right now. I made the genius mistake of posting the wrong chapter. Sorry to all of those that I confused and to those who haven't read this… No worries you won't know what I'm talking about anyways. Thanks!

Chapter 3

Clint heard the one voice he never wished to hear again, the smooth maddening voice, "My little Hawk… did you really think you could get away from me? Your body may be free… but what about your mind?"

Suddenly Clint's worst nightmare was staring him in the face, his hands roaming over him, "Why don't I show you just how much control over your mind I have?"

Clint's vision shifted. He was back to when he was six, and watched as his car flew straight into the tree. He watched as his mother tried to climb out of the car only for her hand to fall limp. Clint could feel the tears building in his eyes as his father, always the strong one, slid out of the car with the little boy in his arms. Only to fall to the ground where the little boy fell and tried to get his daddy to get wake up.

"I know the deepest memories of your past, little hawk."

The scene shifted again, and Clint watched as he drew arrows from his quiver and started shooting at the Helicarrier, and all of its agents. Shooting Fury through his undamaged eye, killing Phil in an effort to release Loki, all because he wanted to. Because he wanted to please his master.

"I know your worst fears."

The scene shifted once more, Clint stood on the rood of Stark tower, he was shivering lightly, from the night wind. Out of nowhere a pair of arms encircle his waist and a head is pops on his shoulder placing a quick kiss to his neck. Clint smiles, as he looks into the loving eyes of Tony Stark.

"I know your wildest dreams."

Suddenly Tony is on Clint's arms, blood seeping out of his body as arrows pierce him. He looks accusingly at Clint, "why did you do it?"

Clint's throat contracts, "I didn't…"

Tony coughs, "It's always your fault! You don't belong here!"

Clint struggles to keep his tears back, "I'm so sorry."

"Sorry doesn't cut it! This is all your fault!" Tony shouts.

"Oh how easy it is to get to you. You're not nearly as tough as you make out to be. Why couldn't you resist me? Why didn't you try to fight back? Why weren't you strong enough?"

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Clint screamed.

Tony had just exited the shower and was in the middle of cooking breakfast. He was starving, and wasn't sure how long Clint would be out. He was completely out of it, when Tony sat him in the bed.

Tony felt something was off, he sat the eggs off the oven fire. Of all the things that Tony did, cooking was the one thing he preferred to do personally. Just like making his machines, cooking was all about measurements and fixing the ingredients together.

HE walked into the room and found Clint looking distinctly uncomfortable. His head started twisting from side to side. Suddenly he started thrashing, Tony jumped into action and tried to wake him up.

"Clint! Come on man. Wakey wakey! I got eggs and bacey, so why don't you open your eyes!" Tony tried again and again to wake Tony up.

Finally Clint's eyes snapped open and Tony registered the panic and raw fear in his eyes. He bolted upright and took one look at Tony before lunging at him. Tony was surprised when he was drawn into a hug. Clint had a death grip on him, so Tony did the only thing he could, and wrapped his arms around Clint awkwardly.

When he gets over the shock, Tony could feel Clint shaking violently. Tony feels his heart break in two at the panic Clint's exhibiting. He whispers comfort into Clint's ear, until Clint finally draws back.

"Sorry about that." Clint mumbled, eyes downcast and shame written all over his face.

"It's fine… although I must admit I don't usually have my dates that grabby after one night." Tony said with a wink.

Clint offered a ghost of a smile, "I thought I told you I don't sleep with my dates till the third date?"

Tony shrugged, "You might have mentioned it. Now that you're up why don't we get some breakfast?"

Clint shrugged, "I'm not really hungry."

Tony grinned, "Well I'm starving and you can keep me company while I dig in!"

Clint chuckled, "You really do get excited over everything."

Tony's grin widened, "I remember you telling that already. Not come on!"

Clint kicked off the covers and followed Tony into the living room, and took a seat at the table while Tony resumed his post at the stove.

"I didn't know you cooked." Clint said.

Tony smiled over his shoulder, "There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

Clint laughed, "Mysterious. What got you into cooking?"

Tony thought for a minuet, "I guess… it was one of the times me and my mom would actually get to spend time together. My dad and I had out mechanics… mom and I had out cooking."

Clint smiled, "I'm guessing you were good at it because you thought of it as a new invention."

Tony looked at Clint with a raised brow, "Are you a secret mind reader?"

Clint shook his head, "No. I just see the way you systematically add ingredients and stir and all that other cooking stuff."

Tony chuckled, "Cooking stuff?"

Clint mock glared, "I never learned how to cook."

Tony snorted, "Obviously."

They feel into a comfortable silence. Clint started to think about his dream. They were starting to get worse. When they first started they were nothing more then just flashes of images or just simple words. Now they wer getting to the point where they seemed to be directed towards something. All Clint could remember was holding the bleeding Tony in his arms, while being accused for everything. He was so relived when he woke up to Tony that he forgot all about his stony out look. All Clint could feel at the moment was bone weariness. With barley any sleep for a few weeks… he was running on empty and if he didn't find away out soon, Clint didn't want to know what would happen.

Clint's musings were interrupted by Tony as he shoved a plate of food in front of Clint. Clint eyes the plate piled with eggs, bacon, and sausage, "I thought I said I wasn't hungry?"

Tony cooked his head, "I don't remember that, I only remember you saying you were hungry." He adopted a look of innocence.

Clint chuckled, "You can really be devious you know that?"

Tony shrugged, "I know… but you can say it again."

Clint shook his head, "I really don't think I can eat."

Tony looked at him, "I made that for you… so you have two options. Option A, you can eat that plate willingly, or option B, I can force it down your throat."

Clint winced, and picked up the form and started on his eggs. Tony looked pleased, "Good choice!"

Once both plates were clean Clint felt slightly better, although the effect of his dream still weighed heavily on him. He went there to make sure Tony go some sleep and he ended up clocking out. And embarrassing himself no less!

"Earth to Hawkeye."

Clint shook himself out of his thoughts, "Huh?"

Tony chuckled, "I asked if you were alright. Guess that answers my question.

Clint sighed and rubbed his face wearily. Tony cocked his head, "You were having a pretty intense dream Clint. If you want to talk I'm right here."

Clint sighed, "It's nothing big. No need to worry."

Tony shook his head, "But you see I AM worried. You've been trying to avoid sleep like the plague, like me, and from what I witnessed you seem to everything but fine."

Clint smirked, "So I'm good?"

Tony cocked his head with a frown, "What?"

Clint smiled, "You said I'm everything but fine… so I'm good? that's not fine."

Tony shook his head, "I'm a genius, and I can understand things that people take one look at and want to commit suicide. I have no idea how to follow that logic."

Clint laughed, "It's best if you didn't. Might lose that infamous mind of yours."

Tony shook his head, "You're deflecting."

Clint visibly deflated, "It's nothing Tony."

Tony sighed, "Wrong answer."

Clint narrowed his eyes, "What do you want me to say? I'm having nightmares that involve everything I hold close being ripped from me? That I can't control it?"

Tony raised his eyebrows, "Is that what's happening?"

Clint shrugged, He spoke quietly, so quiet Tony almost missed it, "Loki's still in my head. I can't get him out. Every time I close my eyes… he's there… taunting me, showing me my darkest and most painful memories. My worst fears… hell, even my wildest dreams that turn wrong. I can't stop it, no matter how hard I fight.

Tony was shocked. Clint had been dealing with that for haw many weeks? And none of them had noticed? Bruce noticed that Tony seemed to avoid sleep, but how come no one noticed Clint?

Tony took in the slump of Clint's shoulders. He had never seen the always confident archer look so broken, "Clint… why didn't you tell anyone?"

Clint snorted, "What was I supposed to say? 'Hey guys! Guess what, I can't sleep because the evil, manipulative god with the shiny glow stick that makes me want to kill everyone I know is in my head and not letting me sleep! Boy aren't I lucky!' No thanks. I can barley go anywhere now without people looking suspiciously at me when they think I'm not looking." Clint said, dryly.

Tony looked shocked, "How long have you been dealing with this?"

Clint shrugged, "Ever since the battle. Loki was take away and the next night… At first it was just images, and words. Now it's go to the point that they flow together and I can't wake up."

Tony shook his head, "I've never heard of this happening."

Clint sighed, "I'm sorry… I really shouldn't burden you with this."

Clint stood and Tony followed suit, "Oh no. You are going to sit back down and you are going to tell me that dream."

Clint shook his head, "There's really no point Tony… it won't help."

Tony crossed his arms, "I'll be the judge of that."

Clint sighed, "Tony we're not here to help me. I came to help you sleep. Don't worry about me, worry about getting the sleep you need. The team needs Iron man."

Tony shook his head, "We're here to help each other."

Clint sighed, "Tony, I'm pretty sure I'm beyond help."

Tony went ot speak but Clint just smiled, patted him on the shoulder and left Tony's room. Tony was shocked that Clint was pushing away help just so Tony would get it. Such a Clint move. Why couldn't he make things so much easier and let him help. Sighing, Tony thought about what Bruce was doing.

Tony couldn't help but wonder just why no one had noticed Clint struggling. Why hadn't Natasha sadi anything? Wasn't she his best friend?

Sighing Tony looked out the window, he was looking at the sun and was thinking how he could harness it's power and use it to make anything. He thought how it could be so far away yet still decide the fate of the Earth… wait a minuet.

Tony stood up suddenly, "JARVIS!"

The computer automatically answered, "Yes sir?"

"Find Bruce Banner. Call Fury." Tony answered.

JARVIS waited a moment, "Dr. Banner is currently in the lab on level 56. Fury is waiting on your call.

Tony nodded, "Put him through."

Fury's gruff voice sounded over the intercom, "Stark. This had better be good."

Tony sighed, "SO Fury… have you noticed Clint lately?"

He could practically see the sneer on Fury's face, "What are you talking about."

"Clint has barely slept in over two weeks." Tony informed.

Fury sighed, "What's happened?"

"He's having horrible nightmares." Tony answered.

"What does that have to do with me?" Fury demanded.

Tony sighed again, "I have a theory… but I need to talk to Bruce first. Trust when I say this Fury, this may be in out best interest to help Clint."

Fury sighed, "What do you want Stark?"

Tony smiled, "Can you reach Thor? He's still in Asgard isn't he?"

"Yes he is, and of course I can." Fury growled.

Tony sighed with relief, "Alright. Give a few hours and I'll call back. I think you'll be surprised by what I have to offer."

"This had better be good Stark. Or I will put a bullet in your mechanical ass."

Tony beamed, "You'll see."

Tony cut the call of and quickly exited the room and moved down the hall. He turned the corner and saw something he didn't like. Clint was backed up against the wall with Steve really close. Clint was leaning against it, arms crossed over his chest, his face a mask of calm and indifference. Although Tony could see the way his eyes flicked past Steve and how his legs were tense, ready to bolt. Steve himself was leaning in with one of his arms on Clint's shoulder. Tony felt jealousy course through him. He wanted to be the one to touch Clint like that.

"Come on Clint. Why don't you come back to my room and I'll see if I can help you sleep."

Tony was shocked, Clint had actually told him? Clint looked slightly distressed, "Sorry Cap. I uh…"

Tony ran up to meet the two. He saw the irritated look Steve threw at him, and the relieved look pass though Clint's eyes, "There you are! I've been looking everywhere. I have some new prototype arrows fro you to test."

Steve sighed, "can't it wait? We're in the middle of something."

Tony just grinned, "Nope.: He grabbed Clint's hand and pulled him down the hall. He looked back and saw the anger cross Steve's face before he turned and started the other way. Clint let out a shaky breath, "I thought he'd never leave. Thanks for that."

Tony grinned, "I've been waiting to get back at him for a while."

Clint smiled back, "I think that worked. Do you really have any arrows that need testing?"

Tony shook his head, "Sorry Cupid. But I'm heading down to the lab anyways so why I'm down there I'll see if I can whip something up."

Clint smiled gratefully, "I guess I'll be at the archery range then. See you later Tin man."

Tony watched Clint go, admiring the easy stride he had, even when dead tired. Tony then remembered the reason for his visit to the lab. He made his way to the lab that housed one Bruce Banner.

When Tony entered the room he found Bruce shifting though a number og papers. He looked at Tony when the door opened, "Why hello Tony. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Hey Doc. I just need to ask a question."

Bruce frowned, that was odd, "What about?"

Tony sighed, "Clint."