AN: Well it only took me a couple months, but I finally finished the next chapter! Sorry for the long wait, but now I have a new beta, Kurosaki224! I hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

CHAPTER 4

Bruce looked confused, "What about Clint?"

Tony narrowed his eyes, "You mean to tell me, no one on this god forsaken team, has noticed that Clint hasn't slept in two weeks?!"

Bruce blinked, "He hasn't? I haven't seen him since the battle."

Tony sighed, "I guess he is a secretive person. I myself just found out last night."

Bruce nodded, "Do you know what's causing it?"

Tony shook his head, "No. But I do have a theory. What I really wanted is to ask a question."

Bruce sighed and moved over to the desk in the corner of the lab, "Alright. Shoot."

Tony began to pace, "Alright. When we go to sleep, and I mean willingly, we dream. I'm still not sure how that works, is it our subconscious, showing us things that we want or is just a random occurrence? How does that even work? Then again, we can conjure images in our mind… what's to say that we aren't doing the same in our sleep. Never mind I'm off topic. What I really want to know is if we dream during a medically induced sleep?"

Bruce cocked his head, brow furrowed in thought, "Theoretically… no. We shouldn't dream during a medically induced coma. We do that to shut down the brain to allow the body to recover the damage. Why?"

Tony grinned triumphantly, "I think I found a way to test something!"

Bruce narrowed his eyes, "Tony… what are you thinking?"

Tony shook his head, "JARVIS!"

Jarvis's mechanical voice sounded through the speakers, "Yes sir?"

"Locate Clint, and tell him to go to my room."

"Very well sir." JARVIS answered.

Tony turned back to Bruce, "Hey, doc. What would you need to put Clint in the medically induced sleep?"

Bruce shook his head, "I can whip up a sedative. Why?"

Tony shook his head again, "Don't ask. Bring enough for about five to six hours of sleep."

Bruce shook his head, "Alright. I'll be up there in a half hour."

Tony nodded his head vigorously, and he turned to walk out the lab. But he stopped and turned towards Bruce again, "Can you make something that could bring him out of the sleep?"

Bruce looked up, "I should be able to."

Tony nodded, and walked out. He looked up and down the hallway and headed towards the elevator. The doors opened and the person Tony didn't want to see at the moment strutted out.

"Hey… cap." Tony said awkwardly.

Steve raised an eyebrow, "There you are Stark. I've been looking for you."

Tony cocked his head, "Why would that be?"

Steve shook his head, "I really didn't appreciate you interrupting mine and Clint's discussion earlier."

Tony sighed, "Look cap. At the moment, that is the least of my worries. Now, if you will excuse me…"

Tony tried to slide past Steve, but Steve grasped his arm, "Stay away from Clint. He's mine." he growled.

Tony snorted, "I wasn't aware of that Cap. But does it really look like I care? I think that's Clint's decision. Now I really must get going."

Tony pushed past Steve and into the elevator. The doors closed and Tony let out a heavy sigh. Steve was getting on his nerves. He couldn't deny that he may be developing feelings for Clint. But at the moment he really didn't care who Clint ended up with, as long as he got the help he needed.

Tony had another thought, "JARVIS."

The mechanical voice sounded, "Yes sir?"

"Where is Black Widow?" he asked.

JARVIS took a moment, "Scans say she is located in the training area."

Tony nodded, "Tell her to go to my room. If she declines, tell her it's serious."

"Very well sir." JARVIS paused, "Black Widow has agreed to meet you in your room, sir."

Tony nodded, "Thank you JARVIS."

Clint stood in the archery range, bow in hand, and an arrow nocked. He sighted down the arrow and after a breath he released the arrow. It shot towards the target, and embedded itself in the center. Even half asleep and running out of energy, he could still hit his target.

Clint let the bow fall to his side, he was exhausted. If he didn't find a way to get a decent amount of sleep… he was going to run himself into the ground. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He turned to pick out another arrow, when he heard someone clear their throat.

He spun around and saw Steve walking towards him. He cursed silently, and waited warily as Steve stepped in front of him.

"Hello Clint. We didn't get a chance to finish our discussion earlier." Steve said as he crossed his arms.

Clint shrugged, "Tony had some arrows for me to test."

Steve cocked an eyebrow, "How were they?"

"They weren't balanced; the head's were too heavy." Clint lied, effortlessly.

Steve shook his head, "So… you were telling me about how you weren't sleeping?"

Clint sighed, and cursed in his head, why did he have to tell Steve about that? He shrugged, "Just… bad dreams, nothing to worry about." I'm passed worrying, he thought.

Steve leaned forward, "Clint. If you need help, I would be happy to help."

Clint shook his head, "I'm fine cap."

Steve narrowed his eyes again, "No… you're not. Why don't you let me help?"

Clint sighed again, "Because there is nothing to help. I'm just having some bad dreams."

Steve cocked his head, "Okay then. How about we go to my room? There is something I want to show you."

Clint looked around, wishing Tony would pop out of nowhere like he did last time, "Uh… I…"

"Mr. Barton? Mr. Stark has requested your presence in his room. He says it is important." the mechanical voice of JARVIS sounded.

Clint tried not to let the relief show on his face, and he looked at Steve apologetically, "Sorry Cap. I need to go see what tin man wants."

Clint sat his bow on the stand and left the archery range, he was certain he could hear Steve growl. He made his way to the elevator and rode it to Tony's floor.

He knocked on Tony's door and entered. Tony was sitting at the table nourishing a glass of water.

Clint frowned, "JARVIS told me you had something important."

Tony nodded, a triumphant grin on his face, "I may have a way to figure out the reason for your nightmares!"

Clint sighed, "Not that I'm not grateful, but I already told you. There is nothing you can do for me."

Tony shook his head, "I refuse to accept that Clint. I care about you too much to just accept that."

Clint stared at Tony, "You… care about me?"

Tony smiled, "You say that like I'm crazy."

Clint shrugged, "Are you?"

Tony shook his head, "About you… yes."

Clint smiled softly, then frowned, "Wait… what about Pepper?"

Tony sighed, "Me and her… well let's just say she likes someone else."

Clint frowned, "I really didn't expect that. Then again… I really didn't expect you to be interested in me."

Tony shrugged, "Ever since Pepper… I've wanted something real. Not some fling or one night stand. I want something permanent."

Clint smiled, "It's a good thing I'm interested in you too."

Tony grinned, "Now that the mushy stuff is out of the way. I really do think I can help with you nightmares."

Clint sighed, "Fine. But we aren't done with this conversation. What are you thinking?"

Tony grinned mischievously, "I'm thinking of putting you in a coma!"