Chapter 18- Nightmares during the day

52 hours later

Clint Barton heard someone calling his name softly, like they were trying not to be overheard. Consciousness was rapidly returning and as the minutes went by the voice sounded more familiar. "Come on Clint hurry and wake up I need to talk to you before they catch me", Ethan Hunt was telling him. "Catch him, now that sounded strange. Clint forced his eyes open and looked up at the ceiling, then he turned his head to look around him rapidly. This looked like the medical section of SHIELD so they had not been caught while he was unconscious, what was Ethan Hunt going on about. "Hunt shut up", he muttered sourly. All he wanted to do was lie here and feel relieved that it was over and he could actually acknowledge the fact he had a brother. Suddenly Clint sat bolt upright as his mind caught up with the fact he was alone in this room. Where was Will. He felt fear rise as he considered the fact Ethan had come to tell him some bad news. Looking at Ethans face intently did not reassure him, the other agent clearly looked distressed and was not trying to hide that fact. He would have leapt from the bed, but he still had monitors attached to him, there was also a heaviness within his limbs that told him he was medicated. There was nothing wrong with his voice though and he demanded, "whats happened".

Ethan touched his hand warmly for the first time offering a small smile. He knew exactly what Clint was thinking and was sorry for causing him distress. "Will's not dead,I am sorry if I scared you", he reassured him quickly. Clint lay back as relief filled him. He sat back up again moments later though . Ethan Hunt still sounded strange and he needed to know why. "Okay he's not dead, but something is wrong", he took a breath thinking rapidly. Another reason for Ethan's behavior entered his mind. "Is it his arm", he asked shakily. Ethans nod, brought back the fear. Had Will's arm had to be amputated so save his life. " That and other things, theres a problem Clint", Ethan told him. Well that was obvious. Clint did not immediately ask what that problem was as he wanted to know the answer to a more important question. "Where is Will", he insisted. Ethan glanced at the clock then back at Clint. "He should be leaving the recovery room any minute", he told Clint. "So I'll see him soon then", Clint asked. The desire to see Will was beginning to become more intense as he became more aware. Ethan looked around him again, nervously. He was well aware he was not supposed to be here talking to Clint, that was Fury and Secretary Killian's job. But there was no way he wanted Clint to find out news this important from them first. He braced himself intently knowing how he had responded when director Fury had told him this. "No Will is not coming here Clint. Fury had ordered him placed in a secure room within SHIELD. I believe that is where they take people they perceive to be enemies". Ethan felt like hitting something and rapidly crossed the room to punch the wall. "I told them Will is not betraying anyone, but they won't listen".

Clint was feeling scared and confused, what the heck had happened while he was unconscious. He was about to get answers when the door on the far side of the room opened. Ethan just stood there not looking or feeling guilty about his actions as two important people entered. "Gideon Killian looked angry at seeing him and snapped, "out Hunt now". Ethan stood his ground, "no', he said firmly, "this concerns me and my team as well". Director Fury looked Hunt up and down coldly, "I would like to know how you managed to override security and get in here", he growled. "Yeah I bet you would", Ethan responded in a tone that was equally as icy. All the respect he had for SHIELD and Director Fury had vanished the moment the word betrayal had been associated with Will.

An atmosphere of tension clearly hung over the room and the three of them sized each other up. Ethan was well aware that he could simply be dragged from the room. At least if that happened Clint had been told by a friend what was going on.

"For goodness sake stop it all of you and let me know what the hell is going on", Clint angrily demanded.

"Let Hunt stay, he is right in the fact that it does concern him and his team", Gideon Killian was suddenly changing his mind. It was because he knew exactly how Hunt felt. He too had screamed at the SHIELD director and there had been a scene in full view of many SHIELD personal. Then he had been dragged off to a interview room and left there to sort himself out.

Fury was now most definitely in charge. But he was not going to sit in that room and stew. So he'd had to go along with what was happening for now.

The director of SHIELD approached Clint Barton slowly the look on his face clearly indicating what he was about to say was not going to be pleasant. "We found the person responsible for informing the enemy about the IMFs teams location, it was Will", he told Clint.

Clint's fists clenched at the information and his mind lurched out of balance. This was very bad.

"For goodness sake it was not his damn fault and you know it. Stop all this nonsense Fury", Killian found himself exploding again.

Fury's one good eye flashed as he swiveled away from Clint. 'I take all threats to SHIELD seriously Mr Secretary. There are questions that need to be answered. Now do you need to be put back in that interview room again", Nick was icy calm when he made the threat. He did not want problems between IMF and SHIELD escalating but dammit he did not like the thought of a man who was clearly anti SHIELD being out there plotting his next move either.

Ethan looked over at his boss. He recognized the danger clearly. Many people had underestimated this secretary and learnt the hard way that they were wrong. But here in this base Gideon Killian was clearly outnumbered. It was a scary thought that suddenly IMF had become the prisoners of SHIELD. Getting out of this situation was not going to be easy. Ethan waited tensely to see what next more either of the bosses made. The solution though came from an unexpected direction

"Alright there are questions to be answered, I'll get Will to tell you everything", Clint shouted. Fury and Killian looked over at him. Fury's anger seemed to have dissipated when he replied. "Alright, I'll take you to him. Bare in mind Clinton that I want the truth", he warned.

Fury had felt like Clint may know something and was protecting his brother. Steve Rogers had told him of the archers comments to Will when he climbed the tree on the Island. Clint evidently was the big brother and saw it as his responsibility to look after his sibling. How far would he go though. Would he lie, Fury had always thought of Clint as being unfailingly loyal to SHIELD. But with the discovery of an identical twin it looked like things may be changing. He felt sorrow fill him at that. The potential for this to end badly had gone even higher.

Looking deeply into his bosses eyes Clint felt like he needed to tell him something. "I won't lie for him Nick, because I don't need to, Will is not the enemy in all this."

"Yeah well the enemy is still out there Clint. Our man from the island escaped and I do not know how he did it", Fury told him. Clints horror at that statement was quite clear to see. "Then you shold be protecting Will, not condemning him", he demanded.

Fury's eyes did not drop from his and Clint could read something there that made his anxiety go even higher, "oh I see, you think Will is working for him". Well you are wrong", Clint shouted that last sentence. "He had a huge knife under Will's throat and was going to gut him like a fish." He still had not got that image out of his head.

"That is what he has done to others in his quest to get answers. It is evident that he thinks Agent Brandt has something to tell him", Nick responded. "Yeah well lets not sit here all getting uptight, let's just go and find out", Gideon Killian responded.

"Yes but just to be clear, since the threat is to SHIELD, then I an in charge", Nick just had to have the last word. He was not too sure what the almost smug look the Secretary of the IMF gave him in response meant at first. But when the man pulled a phone out of his pocket and handed it to him he found out.

The voice on the phone was very familiar and it told him firmly that , "since the agent concerned is IMF they have the right to lead this investigation". He had no choice but to say "Yes Mr President' and hang up. Evidently Gideon Killian had some powerful friends. "Well will still share all intel Director Fury. Your agent is right we need to focus on the real enemy in this. I am sure that is not my agent"", he stared at Fury before marching past him saying, "lets go talk to Agent Brandt". Ethan managed to keep the smile from his face as he walked past the SHIELD director. Clint did smirk slightly as he climbed shakily out of his bed. he would not let Fury help him as he wavered for a moment before regaining his balance. Feeling like his mind was still stuffed with cotton wool Clint left his room.

Will had awoke an hour earlier to find himself alone in small room. It did not take him long to determine that the room was secured as the doctor used some sort of scanner before entering. Although the woman told him her name she would not tell him anything else. He had been an agent long enough to sense trouble though. There was very little he could do about that trouble now as he still felt like a newborn kitten, weak and powerless. He knew he was drugged and found himself trying to force the foggy feeling in his mind away. Lifting his left hand he could see the IV attached, snaking somewhere up above his head. Part of his though did not want to look toward his other arm. There was no sensation there and it scared him. Perhaps his arm was not even there. Bracing himself Will turned his head. Relief filled him as he saw right arm lying on top of the sheets. A dressing ran from just below his arm joint right down to under his elbow.

Hearing the door beep again Will turned his head to see Doctor Minalla approaching. She was not quite practiced enough to keep the concern off her face. "What's going on Doc", Will croaked out through a dry throat. "Where's Clint", guilty he thought that he had not asked that question yet. "He's on his way", the doctor replied. That was obviously not what she had come to tell him ,he thought. "Well that is most likely the good news Doc, so what is the bad", he asked. She gave him a small nod confirming that fact that he was sensing right, something unpleasant was coming. "Some things have happened Agent Brandt and director Fury and your boss need some answers. I know you do not feel the best, but I had no choice other than to approve them talking to you", the doctor told them.

Will hardly hd much time to take that in as the door opened the minute the doctor finished the sentence. He found himself smiling despite his anxiety as Clint pushed the other two out of the way and approached him. "Hey", he greeted warmly touching his hand. "Hey yourself", Will responded softly. He could not help a glance past Clint as the other two men. Gideon Killian looked rather grim as did the man beside him. His anxiety levels peaked a little, making an alarm sound for a brief second on the monitor. When the doctors head swiveled angrily toward the other men Will found himself tensing. "Gentlemen Agent Brandt is not really up to this", she snapped. "I do not care, the man with an eye patch said grimly. 'Get him stable enough to talk to us ,then leave".

Now that really scared Will. "My lead remember", Gideon Killian interrupted. He pushed past Fury and approached the bed. Looking down at him with unreadable blue eyes Gideon Killian looked menacing. Clint's expression was sad now and his hand tightened over his. "What's going on Clint", Will asked.

"The man who held knife against your throat was captured by SHIELD but unfortunately escaped not long ago. Since he is unavailable for questioning have to find another source for our answers and you Agent Brandt are it", Gideon Killian explained. Will felt his throat constrict in panic, he still remembered the feeling of impending death as the knife cut into his chin. The monitors screamed again prompting the man with the eye patch to lean over and turn the sound down. The doctor had not moved from his bedside and glared fiercely at that man."He's going to talk no matter what doctor", the man growled in response to the unspoken protest. No matter what, he could tell by the tone that it was serious. Looking up he could see a camera watching him. He was obviously not in this room for his own protection.

Turning his head toward Clint he asked shakily, 'what's happened". Clint wanted to scream and yell about mistreatment but knew that would just see him removed from the room by force. He imagined that at the moment he felt like Bruce Banner trying to contain a Hulk out. It was so difficult, to force an angry response to Will's imprisonment down but he had to do it. Taking a breath he told his brother, 'it is time to tell the truth Will".

Fury and Killian noticed the look that seemed to pass between the two of them, like some form of non verbal communication. It was almost spooky. After 2 minutes of intense staring Will broke off the gaze and said simply, "alright". Nick cast a look at Clint . It was evident that the archer was indeed holding back some information. That concerned him deeply. He knew that evicting him from the room would only cause trouble though. So he just had to forge ahead, or rather Gideon Killian did.

Moving over to a small cupboard, The secretary of the IMF opened it and brought the covered object over to Will's bedside. "The issue is Agent Brandt that we found out how Mr Ivanoff and his team knew your location. It was down to you Will." He uncovered a small metal device. "This was found in your arm". "It was giving off a signal that once the frequency was known would be able to be tracked".

Clint's hand tightened on Will's and he awaited anxiously for his brother to say anything. It was not his voice that was telling him the answer however it was his look .Will stared at the object in what could only be described as absolute horror. He closed his eyes feeling the shakes decend upon him. When he spoke his voice was barely audible and shaky, "I betrayed the whole team, they could have all died. That to me is the most horrible thing you can imagine. When I thought I had not managed to save Ethan's wife from death I quit being an agent because I felt a failure. This is far worse. You should just fire me now Mr Secretary because I don't deserve to be in the field."

Surprisingly Gideon Killian ventured a small smile. He could tell from the tone of total devastation within Will's voice that he had not known about the device . Though he had not actually believed that Will would possess that knowledge. They had already examined the device and came up with some interesting facts. "Don't get all self sacrificing on me Agent Brandt, as you obviously did not know then it is hardly your fault. That whole mission only had one goal and that was actually capturing you. I presume the device is what they wanted." Although it is old it is still a technological wonder and would be an asset to anyone undertaking some sort of covert mission."

Clint gave him a much wider smile and squeezed his hand firmly. "So that is what caused the paralysis in my arm", Will stated with a disgusted look at the device. "Yes , actually that explosion did you a favour Agent Brandt. The device had caused a high grade infection. If we had not discovered its presence you could have permanently lost all use of your arm and possibly had to have it amputated to save your life. As it was it was you were lucky", the doctor told him. Will looked down at his right hand and carefully noticed one of his fingers move slightly in response to the thoughts of movment in his mind. For the first time he relaxed.

He forced himself to look at the offending device, "so it's a tracking device then. How long has it been in my arm. Shit I could have compromised all my missions", he muttered. "Actually it is not a tracking device Agent Brandt, the man with the eye patch told him. For the first time his voice sounded less menacing. "Oh heck I forgot the introduction, the secretary apologized. "This is the director of SHIELD, Nick Fury". Clint works for SHIELD." That was a simple explanation but it did cover almost everything .

Will had heard of SHIELD and stared up at Clint in awe. Clint smiled back. "So if it is not a tracking device, then what is it", Will asked ,his gaze still on Clint. "It is a stealth device, Agent Brandt. Simply put it enables you to disappear. Not physically you understand, but from any device searching for your location. It is ingenious little gadget and not something we have ever seen before. From our studies of the device it is evident it has been in your arm for several years. Who it was designed by is a mystery as for why it was in your arm ,well it most definitely would stop any criminal element trying to trace you unless they physically knew your location. We thought perhaps Clint may also have one, but have now dismissed that theory", Nick Fury replied. He took a breath, "you are not in this room, simply because we thought you knew about the device Agent Brandt. It is because we encountered other tech that we had not heard of and that was being used by the enemy".

Will felt stunned and scared. He could feel his hand shaking within Clints'. 'Just take it slow, one step at a time", his brother advised him. Okay, first deal with the questions, you want to know before answering theres Will thought. "What is the point of a stealth device if you can track its location", he asked.

Gideon recognised a little avoidance in Will's question. But ignored it for now. He was off balance and answering his questions would give him time to regain his equilibrium .

"The tracking signal is meant for retrieval of the device only. As I said it emits a tracking signal that would only be detectable to those who know the frequency. That frequency can also be changed if necessary. For instance if someone undesirable found out about the device." Now Agent Brandt I think that question qualifies as stalling. "Someone went to great lengths to hide you from the world. Unfortuntely those lengths are no longer working and a very dangerous man is targeting you". What do you know about all of this", Nick Fury demanded. "I think I know why it was necessary to put that in my arm", Will replied. "It would not have happened at the time of our initial surgery but later on. I guess I only have myself to blame. "Its because of something I knew, that Clint did not". He glanced over at Clint for a minute and received a nod from his brother.

FLASHBACK-scene on Hawaiian island

Will could feel the hand in his own and hear that strange voice that sounded similar to his. When his eyes finally struggled open he found his own face staring at him. He could see a few stratches and makes on that face that told him the man was not wearing a mask. His heart started hammering very fast and he began to feel rather weird. "Look I know this is strange, that man told him, and perhaps scary . Theres a good reason why I look like you." Then the man paused like some dramatic movie waiting for the punchline. "It's because… Clints voice had trailed off when Will had spoken. His shock had finally worn off, "Clint, is that you", he asked. Now Clint Barton stood there in absolute shock. He had thought that Will would not remember him. "You remembered", he choked out haltingly.

"Actually Clint, I never forgot", Will told him

END flashback

Now that surprise was mirrored in the eyes of those around him. "So if you knew then how come you never tried to find him", Ethan asked firmly. He looked over at Clint expecting to see on his face that he had asked the same question. It would feel rather like Will did not want to know him. Strangely though he saw only understanding. "I was not supposed to find him Ethan, that was clear from the beginning. But I was only a little boy who wanted his brother and was determined to find him, no matter what. That led to me placing myself in danger and I guess that's when they put that device in my arm."

"How come you could remember", Gideon Killian asked. He knew that he was drawing the moment away from finding out more direct answers. But he had a feeling the answer to that question just might tell them more. Clint had not gotten an answer to that one either. He could see that Will looked paler' now like the memory was unpleasant. He knew his ones of the surgery had prompted those horrific nightmares and tightened his hand further upon Wills. "Easy remember', he said softly.

Will knew they were all waiting for answers but had to take a moment to compose himself. The memories of what had happened were just at the surface now and they were not pleasant. He looked at Clint sadly, 'there is a lot you don't know Clint and hearing it is not going to be easy".

Clint felt Will's hand squeeze his now. He could not read Will's face now but the voice scared him as did his bodys response. All the monitors attached to Will were now showing red lights and if they had not been turned down every alarm would be screaming. This was going to be bad.

"Clint was the first one to be operated upon. I was sedated at the time, but conscious enough to know what was going on". The horror in his tone was vivid and it brought tears to Clints eyes as well as Ethans.

His team leader looked at Will with new clarity. Hearing all this explained some of Wills behavior and made him decide to react differently the next time Will Brandt had an 'issue'.

"Mother was there watching it all. She knew she should not be doing this", Will's voice was not cold, just resigned. "Her guilt killed her, literally near the end of Clint's surgery." Clint swallowed hard. Now that memories of Will had resurfaced so had some of his mother. He remembered her smile and warm hands, and kisses toward both of them. That she had loved them was beyond questioning. But what Will was saying was scaring him. "She had only paid for Clints surgery not mine. So the doctor stopped the operation. Not that it matter because a few minutes later the door got broken down and someone came to our rescue".

"Who", came the questing of three voices interwoven. All of them wanted to know now. Clint had not spoken because of the look on Will's face. It was now sadness. "The same person, who put that device in your arm", guessed Nick Fury. "Will nodded, 'yeah". Do you know that persons name", Gideon Killian asked. Will nodded again his eyes still on Clint's. He was silent now his ,eyes still holding that sadness. Clint was now almost as pale as Will as he sensed a revelation coming. "So it is someone you have been protecting for a long time. He saved you, I get that agent Brandt. But as your brother has told you we need to know the truth", Fury pressed. "Clint you don't know this bit", Will spoke only to his brother now. He shut out the rest of them in the room and concentrated only on him. "His name was Joseph Brandt, he is our father".