Chapter 22- Live bait

SHIELD BASE

It had only been minutes after the IMF and SHIELD team had left before Nick Fury turned to Lila Craddock and requested, "I'd like you to go over the recordings of Clint and Will's interactions with me".

Lila frowned at him, she could not figure out what was going through his mind. "Are we looking for anything in particular", she asked. Fury shook his head, "with HYDRA involved in this I just feel like I need to double check everything. Will Brandt should not have been able to get out of the base. It is possible someone did help him." Lila Craddock nodded soberly she had the same feeling as when Clint had sneaked out of her home, they were missing something important .Sitting beside Nick Fury they began to watch the playback of the data collected over the last two days.

Xxxxxxx

In the back of a SHIELD transport heading to retrieve his brother Clint Barton saw the others looking speculatively at him. The tracking signal coming from Will's phone had danced around erratically seemingly having no fixed destination in mind. It was just like he was aimlessly running and trying to tire his followers. Now it was holding steady at a location that seemed to be too well thought out to be just chance. It also seemed more than coincidence that once the team had started to head for the private airstrip to meet up with Clint's contact that the signal had steadied in a totally different location. That location would only be a matter of minutes away in this super fast SHIELD van.

Of course they knew the contact could have given Will details on the area. Because he was a smuggler he was most likely adept at finding hiding places for his goods. So he was the first choice for the one to blame for Will's selection of a hiding place.

The fact he had been drugged and acted angry and uncertain kept certainty of complicity away, though some suspicion still remained. He was Will's brother and they'd had two days together to plan something. Though nobody had witnessed them working together on anything other than getting to know his friends and colleagues. The suspicion was fine with him. They were after all quite correct in their feelings, all of this was part of a plan and this team had no idea what was about to happen.

He was not going to tell them until it was too late. Even his nerves worked well for the situation as he could attribute that to Will being missing. But he had to admit that he was scared. Anything could go wrong . He had agreed to see this through though and he vowed not to fail his brother. Glancing at his watch Clint saw he did not have too long to wait until he made his move.

In the front of the transport Steve Rogers was putting his own plan into action. Brandt had holed up in one of the abandoned bunkers left over from the war. They made secure fortified hiding places and were usually situated in locations that gave them a clear line of sight of the surrounding land. Though Brandt would not be able to hide out in the bunker forever he could certainly wait out an assault. But beyond that what was actually the mans plan. Was Clint right in thinking he was going to have an old style shoot out with the man from the island. He doubted that a HYDRA operative would come alone unless Brandt used some type of incentive. That thought worried him. "Alright I am going to send Tony over the area to check for any hostiles", he decided. Worry was pointless, they had to act.

Steve gave Clint a quick glance. His colleague seemed to be intensely fascinated by the floor at the moment. Clint was usually a solitary man who was hard to know but even this was a little too withdrawn for the archer. Moving a little closer Steve could see that Clint was a little pale. Perhaps there had been some affects from being drugged and Clint was still shaking them off. They had not been enough to slow his performance on the training ground though so he should not be concerned. Yet he was. Tony's voice drew his eyes away from Clint and his mind refocused on the mission.

"I have enhanced the shields on the suit . They should now give about 90 percent protection from the substance." I could not boost them further than that. Eventually the substance will compromise the suit, but it will take at least a couple of hours under heavy attack for that to happen. We should plan to finish off the enemy before then", Tony told them.

"Good, I doubt we will need longer than that", Steve remarked. He hoped this would be a short battle.

"Instead of splitting up like we did on the island we will all group together and use our combined strength to hold off any assault" ,Steve continued . He watched as Tony ,now completely suited up blasted out of the transport. Realizing Clint was speaking he turned back to his colleague, "I will take a high viewpoint, and pick off anyone coming near", Clint told them.

"As long as you stay in the view of the team", Steve told Clint. "We all know you want to go to Will, but we need to know where you are. The enemy will be focused on Will but may just redirect their focus if they had the opportunity to take you captive. " That's fine Steve, the trees are tall ,they will be effective enough as a viewpoint", Clint replied evenly. He almost sounded a little too compliant Steve reflected. But then maybe he did not want to do anything that would put Will at extra risk, and running off alone would certainly do that.

Clint stretched, making it look like just a natural movement. He made sure he caught the time on the dial. He had perhaps half an hour at the most before he acted out his own part in Will and his plan. Standing up he stretched out his full body making that also look completely normal. Everyone around him was too busy to pay full attention to him and that would work to his advantage when the time came. He took that back though when ne noticed Ethan Hunt move away from an IMF huddle and come closer. Ethan could be the one to end his and Will's plans if he got a little too observant. But Clint could not afford to show nerves on his face. He just waited for the IMF agent to tell him what was on his mind.

Ethan too felt off balance. This was the second mission where Clint and not Will had been part of the team. It was becoming almost natural and he was accepting the archer as the more reliable of the two. That was going to be a problem for the future. After witnessing some of Clint's difficulties with SHIELD there was a possibility IMF could successfully poach the archer. Will would most likely go back to being an analyst and that would make everything work out well. Or would it. Will would feel angry and sullen about being pulled from the team.

Sliding closer to Clint Ethan told him, "I know how you feel Clint, Will has been unpredictable lately. I feel almost like I know you better, even though we only met a short time ago".

That made the archer smile slightly, yet his eyes still looked sad. "He told me about disobeying your orders not to go after the briefcase on your mission to stop Baxters group. "Will said it was the logical play and something you would have done yourself without hesitation. He said you didn't let him make that play because..", Clint broke off looking a little warily at Ethan, did he really want to tell him all of what had been said. "Keep going", Ethan said evenly . Somehow he had the strangest feeling what Clint was going to tell him. "You have gotten too close to your team, too caring over their welfare. In situations of high danger your prefer to revert to your old habits and do things yourself. Will didn't say it like he thought it was a weakness Ethan, he was awed over the fact you cared about him . You have a heart Ethan Hunt, it makes you a good man, but sometimes he might not be so helpful in being a good agent." Clint took a breath looking serious, "Will is doing this for the same reason, he cares about us, he does not want to have our deaths or even injuries on his conscience. " Don't judge him for that, I certainly don't, though naturally I am still going to smack him in the face a few times", Clint paused and wet his lips, continuing mught just give Ethan a few too many clues but he also needed to get this part of his chest. "He's been through a lot over the years Ethan, and has had time to think about what he'd do if the past ever caught up with him. You can be certain he has a plan ,sure he's not sharing but I believe there is a very good reason for that. I may have only just come back into his life but I know enough to say with confidence that I trust him, perhaps all you need to do is feel the same".

Ethan found himself nodding, what Clint had said was totally correct, he had become used to Will, Jane and Benji as part of his team, he no longer wanted to be the lone wolf agent of the past. Subconsciously he had perhaps done things to ensure his team survived intact. If he was going to continue with them, then he would have to rethink his strategies. What Clint had said about trust had also impacted deeply, yes he did trust Will and perhaps all that was happening was that Will was back to being the confident agent he had been before Croatia. He was now becoming a little too much like him, planning crazy schemes and not telling everyone the full picture. Maybe he should smack himself firmly.

As though he knew what was on Ethans mind, Clint patted his shoulder , "I can smack you later as well if you want, just to get the sentiment out", he teased. Ethan found himself laughing again, "just maybe I might let you", he said with a grin. He moved away, then looking back over his shoulder at Clint, "be care…, " he broke off, now Clint was laughing at him, "see sentiment again Hunt, you have to watch that".

He waited until Ethan had moved out of earshot before whispering, "be careful too ". A couple of minutes later the transport stopped and they all made their way to their assigned positions. Clint stopped under the large tree and pulled the cellphone he had hidden in his sock out. It was time to get their own plan underway.

Xxxxxxx

A few miles away Mr Fields studied the data coming through from the HYDRA recon team. "At the moment there is only one heat signature in the seems like Brandt has chosen the most secure location he can. There are signs of a fast moving transport heading in this direction and it is likely that is the SHIELD retrieval team". At their current speed they will be within target range within the next twenty minutes. We can send the HYDRA reinforcements to engage them while you and I secure Agent William Brandt", Fields reported. He made it sound easy, like they could just walk up and grab Brandt.

It was not going to be that easy, the man was in likelihood armed and had high enough ground to see them coming. This was going to be the moment that Fields probably put him straight in the firing line. Cory thought about shooting him and then finishing the plan himself. He would have to do it quickly or else Fields would retaliate. The man was looking at him in a way that told him he expected an attack. Cory felt chills come over him, Fields was deadly . He would have to wait until the man was unawares before acting. Hearing a slight breath of expressed air Cory noted Fields looking at his phone. "There is another signal piggybacking of the tracker, it just gave me a cell phone number. Will Brandt wants to chat", Fields declared. He turned his gaze fully onto Cory, "if you want me dead then your going to have to be man enough to take me on now. Otherwise go back to your corner. I am too busy to want to keep looking over my shoulder", he folded his arms and stared the younger man down.

Cory only thought about it for 2 seconds, he knew enough about Fields history to know he'd never win in a fair fight. He pushed down his instincts . Fields smirked, then began to dial the number, perhaps Will Brandt was going to make it easy and go for a one on one confrontation. He was probably much like this young HYDRA agent, over confident that his training would be enough. Both of them would be wrong and eventually both of them would die. It would be quick for Cory, but William Brandts death would only come after he'd worked him over with the knife first. He was looking forward to that.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

SHIELD base

Fury sighed,so far they had watched a lot of footage and it had not told them a lot. It seemed like Will and Clint were just chatting about old times. Right now the footage showed them walking down a corridor while talking about the Avengers. Lila straightened in her seat, they were heading for the back door. This was the small side entrance that could be used in an emergency to flee the base. It was only manned by one guard. Will and Clint were laughing with that guard about types of Pizza.

"Now they are ordering pizza and Clint is suggesting that he go out and pick it up", Lila remarked, "I would say that was how Will got out, he took Clint's place for pizza collection, simple yet effective".

"Yeah well it was too damn simple", Fury growled. 'But at least I am confident nothing I amiss".

Lila took a breath and turned to her boss, "after watching all this I am not too sure that is true director"

Now Fury turned to her ,his expression startled, they had both seen the same tapes and he had not picked up anything, so what did she mean. "Enlighten me", he hinted.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tony scanned the ground below him, a heavy forested area that made visual identification of targets difficult. He could not detect any heat signatures in this area. If HYDRA was present they had found a way to avoid detection. He knew that it was possible. That meant of course that they would have no idea how many agents would attack them. That made him feel slightly nervous. Turning his flight slightly Tony flew over the hill were Agent Brandt was holed up. He could not see any visual sign of the agent, though his scan clearly showed one heat signature present. He could not so easily hide his heat signature, though the bunker did offer a secure location in other ways. Even using something like sleep gas would not be effective as Brandt could simply seal himself in the bunker and wait until it dissipated. It all still seemed really stupid though, Brandt was a former analyst and thus should be more adept at planning than this. Why did that give him the feeling he was missing something.

He was about to change flight again and scan the other side of the hill when JARVIS informed him,"Sir, I am picking up a signal coming from the bunker. "It is piggybacking off the tracking signal, indicating it is coming from the phone that Brandt has in his procession. The signal is short range, directed at a point not to far from here".If you give me a few moments I can connect our systems to the signal."

Tony waited and soon Brandts voice could be heard, after a few moments of listening it became obvious he was talking to the enemy.

Benji heard that and sighed, "I knew I should never have shown Will how to do that". Luther , who was back in the IMF transport coordinating the technical aspects, made sure the conversation was channeled through the ear pieces .

"Hello I think you know who this is", Brandt voice was even, controlled. "Yes, I do, William Brandt. We did not get much time to chat earilier", Fields replied. "No ,you were going to use your knife instead of your mouth. I remember you love to do that. That was not the only thing that I can recall. Its been a long journey for the two of us, Byron Ink". We met when I was just an little kid, before the surgery, you were my dads friend, or at least you pretended to be.."

Luther was quickly running the name Byron Ink through ever known data base.

Field's aka Byron Ink was feeling cold, Brandt did have an excellent memory. With his real name now broadcast, he was feeling exposed, like raw nerve. Cory was eyeing him, obviously seeing him more and more like a liability. He needed to get the upper hand back, "so you remember , well done Brandt. I did think years would have a blurring effect on your recall. But it does not matter, you know what I want."

"Yes, the research". I am not just going to give it to you Ink", Brandt declared. "Back on the island I was not in the position to give you much trouble, now I am. If you want me and the research, you are going to have to come and get it, and don't think I am not prepared.I have had years to think about what I'd do if I ever had the opportunity to strike back". You are just a big coward with a knife who works for an agency that is itself inept and weak. They only want the research to stop themselves feeling small. The world is laughing at HYDRA and I am laughing too", the taunt was like a hard slap on the face.

"What is he doing", Bruce muttered as he listened, "he could just call Ink out instead it sounds like he's trying to get all of them to come for him." Natasha swallowed, "could he be planning to sacrifice himself and take HYDRA with him. It would explain why he did not tell Clint what he was doing." Hearing their conversation Benji and Jane looked concerned they knew Will well enough to know he may just do what the Black Widow suggested. Ethan though was not entirely sure, "he's only just got Clint back in his life, surely he would not make such a rash move, not when there were other alternatives. " He must have some plan".

Above them Tony circled, hoping Brandt was going to come out of the bunker. He would shoot a sleeper dart at him and end this quickly. But the heat signature was not moving, Brandt may be angry, but he was not stupid. JARVIS can I blast open the bunker and go and get the idiot", he asked. There was a moments silence while his suggestion was being calculated. JARVIS possessed all the information about the bunker and could assess its weaknesses. "There are several large military grade doors between you and the signal. This place was designed to resist persistent aerial attacks. Brandt had chosen his hiding place within the bunker well. We would use up all the power just blasting through two of those doors. It would be better to use our defenses upon the enemy", JARVIS concluded. Tony had to agree with that, unfortunately. He began to think of other ways he could possibly get to the agent, though Brandt had not made it easy. That thought made him agree with Ethan Hunt, Will Brandt did have a plan. He could not take on HYDRA all alone so he must have some help. That made him wonder again about Clint. The archer had managed to go from not being involved in this mission to active status and the catalyst had been Will's escape. Now he was only minutes from his brother. Tony decided he should suggest pulling Clint off the mission now

He was about to make the suggestion when JARVIS interrupted, "Sir, I am picking up another signal directed at Brandt's location, it is very low wave, bearly detectable but I have boosted it enough to ascertain its location. Someone within our team is also on their phone having a conversation with Brandt'. Tony swore, he did not think he needed to ask who that person was…. Clint was going to have a lot of questions to answer. "Take Clint in custody, we need to talk to him now", Steve requested firmly, he too had followed Tony's train of thought. Clint was about to find that messing with his plan was not very wise.

Ethan was the closest to Clint's location and quickly ran through the undergrowth while scanning the area. At first he saw nothing, then he caught sight of the glint of sun on glass. He could just make out Clint standing with his back against the largest tree. His fingers were moving rapidly upon the phone. At the moment ,he was not looking his way, so Ethan had the element of surprise.

Without much thought Ethan raised his gun, he was not going to take Clint on in a fist fight, he had learnt before how powerful the other man was. He would simply get him to stand down, tie him up and return him to the transport. Then he could explain what the hell he and Will were up to. "Clint, put the phone down", he requested firmly. The archer jumped slightly, but complied, placing the cell phone face up in the branches of the tree he was standing under. Ethan could clearly see the words, "do it now", on the face of the phone. "Sorry Clint but you need to stop what you are doing and come with me", Ethan growled..

Clint looked over at Ethan, staring down the barrel of the gun, unflinching. Beep, his phone flashed, "Do it now", came up again…In front of him Ethan had straightened his arm, he would not shoot to kill but he would shoot..Unfortunately the agent was about to find out what 'do it now' meant'.

Ethan, have you secured Clint", Luther requested as silence seemed to go on for too long…."Ethan, respond"…..nothing..