Chapter 7

Dream World

"Jacques," Clint returned calling the Swordsman by his first name. "I wish I could say it's nice to see you again but we both know that wouldn't be true."

"Tisk, Tisk, always a pessimist," Jacques quipped as the HYDRA team parted forming an even path for the Swordsman to enter the room. "Tell me, something Clint. Are you still just second best?"

Clint felt the burn of the Swordsman's words hit him right at his core. The entire time Jacques had been his mentor, Clint had continuously fallen short of the man's expectations. Jacques was always stronger, faster and more accurate. Initially, Clint felt inferior until he learned the man's true intentions.

Averting his eyes Clint scanned the room for anything he might be able to use as a weapon. A Hoodlum tactical knife with a four inch blade laid on a makeshift nightstand just a few cots over. If he could get to it they might have a fighting chance. Then there was also Natasha's utility belt. Normally he wasn't a fan of guns but in this case he was more than willing to make an exception.

"Still a fan of mind games, Jacques?"

The Swordsman smiled an evil grin and then ordered his henchman to attack. "Take Them!"

Doing the only thing he could, Clint reached for Natasha's service revolver and fired until he emptied her clip, successfully taking out several HYDRA agents. But it wasn't enough they were still advancing with guns blazing.

Knowing, he had to protect Nat, Clint dove for the knife taking a bullet in the right of side of his abdomen. Ignoring the wound, Clint grabbed the knife and hurled it straight into a man's chest, leaving just one HYDRA Agent and the Swordsman standing.

"BRAVO!" the Swordsman jeered clapping his hands. "Too bad it isn't enough."

The Swordsman paused for a moment boring his eyes right into Clint's.

'Kill the girl!"

"No!" Clint sprang back upright earning the blunt the end of an assault rifle to the side of his head. The last sound he heard before succumbing to darkness was the bullet being fired into his partner's chest.

SHIELD

Natasha's eyes went wide with horror as blood suddenly began to bloom from Clint's abdomen and right temple region. He was bleeding? How was that possible? The in-between. Poking her head out the door, Natasha called for assistance. Within seconds two SHIELD doctors where attending to Clint's new wounds.

Slowly, Natasha started to back out of the room, nearly colliding with Fury, Bruce and Steve.

"What happened?" Fury demanded.

"I'm not exactly sure. Something attacked him."

"Something attacked him?" Fury repeated. "Agent Romanoff tell me how is that possible since you were the only person in that room?"

"Berman's Jinn," Natasha swallowed. "He said that Clint was stuck in the in-between. If that's true then something attacked him on the other side."

"The other side?" Fury repeated in disbelief.

"Limbo or a dream realm," Bruce clarified.

Fury's eye shifted. "Are you telling me that Agent Barton is stuck in sort of dream?"

"We believe so," Bruce said softly realizing how incredulous it all sounded. "Folklore suggests that Jinn's have the power to trap their victims in an alternative universe based on their dreams and fears."

"So, how do we get him out?"

"Ava," both agents said together.

Upon hearing Bruce's call Ava appeared to them instantly. "How may I serve you?"

"We need to know if Dr. Berman was telling the truth when he said Agent Barton was stuck in some sort of in-between."

"It is absolutely true. Dr. Berman asked his Jinn to send Agent Barton to the Dream World. Jinn's often use this world to control their victims while they perform rituals in the real world."

"Where is the Jinn?" Steve asked. It stood to reason that if could find the Jinn and stop the ritual that the dream world would cease to exist.

"I do not know," Ava responded, "He has cloaked himself from me. Most likely he is somewhere in the dream realm overseeing the torture of your friend. "

"So if we can't find the Jinn how do we get Clint out?"

"The only way for Agent Barton to return is to defeat his fear and break the hold that the Jinn has over him."

"Can you grant me a wish?" Natasha asked the wheels of her mind turning. What if she could go to Clint?

"Most certainly," Ava returned instructing that this would be the last wish that could she grant for them.

"I want you to send me into Agent Barton's dream."

Ava pursed her lips in doubt. "That is only possible if the two of you share a very powerful connection." The type of connection required was the connection that was usually reserved for lovers or twins, mothers and children. If not, Natasha would be stuck in her own private limbo.

"We do," Natasha replied with conviction.

"You must understand that I cannot guarantee that you will be able to return. This dream realm was designed specifically for Agent Barton, not for you."

"That's a chance I am willing to take." Natasha returned earning the eyes of all of her colleagues.

Ten minutes later, Natasha was laying on hospital gurney beside Clint. An IV port leading to a powerful sedative was inserted into her left hand.

"You don't have to do this," Fury told her fearful of the fact that he now risked losing two of his best agents.

"I owe him," Natasha said quietly, "Besides we both know he would do the same for me."

Fury could only manage a slight nod as Natasha turned her attention to Ava.

"What about my weapons?"

"Whatever you have on your person will travel with you." Ava said as Natasha directed Steve to go to the armory and retrieve Clint's extra quiver and bow. It stood to reason that since Clint's quiver was left behind he was unarmed.

When Steve returned he placed the quiver and bow at Natasha's side. I'm ready now." Natasha told Ava as tucking Clint's paraphernalia under her arm.

"Take his hand," Ava ordered.

As directed Natasha reached over and grabbed Clint's hand and closed her eyes signaling Bruce to allow the sedative to run free through the assassin's veins.

Fury watched pensively as he and the others stood around the two unconscious agents. "I sure to hell hope that she knows what she is doing." He grumbled fearfully.

Dream World

When Natasha opened her eyes she found herself crouched on the ground in the middle of a fiery hailstorm. Small pellets of fire were all around her. Gazing around, she reached for Clint's quiver and bow. They were lying just a few feet from her. Ava had been right; the weapons had travelled well she thought as a large flaming stone landed next to her foot. She needed to move she reasoned taking off in a dead run for nearby cover underneath a set of covered picnic tables. Safe under the canopy, Natasha began to survey her new surroundings. She was certain that she had been to this place before and not in a good way.

Then she saw the sign: Carson Carnival of Travelling Wonders

"Clint… What have you gotten yourself into?"

A/N: I would have thought the correct title for the circus should have been Carson's Carnival but the Marvel site has it listed as Carson.