...

It would have been admirable to have agents chasing a wanted criminal like this. SHIELD was doing a good job of dogging the footsteps of the newest assassin. They were intent on catching them. If only that assassin wasn't him.

Clint really did not want to deal with this today. He had killed a corrupt politician that had been on the Jackal's hitlist. It like most of his hits were meant to draw the Jackal out. Draw him out and kill him.

Right now though he was trying to avoid a SHIELD agent who most certainly would recognize his style. Bow or no bow. Bobbi had sparred with him and knew him just as well as Echo knew Delta.

The mix of the two mindsets and skills were what created Bourne. The analytical skills of Clint Barton with the killer instincts of Delta. Bourne could not have the hesitation to kill. Otherwise it might be he who ended up in the river.

Though unlike Delta, Bourne knew his friends from his enemies. Delta would kill anyone who got in his way. Bourne would use them to get to his goals. It was a fine line between them though. More than once he nearly slipped into the more dangerous mindset. Nearly killed someone who was meant to give him information so they couldn't share his location with anyone else. His paranoia was slowly becoming worse and he knew it.

Gordon had tried to speak to him, to act like the psychiatrist he thought Clint needed. Alex had argued strongly against bringing anyone else in. Two more had been added to give them a place for the 71st files. It was where the handlers met up to ensure no one was stepping out of line.

They didn't trust the former Medusa members anymore than Clint and his team trusted them. Only Gordon was trustworthy in his eyes. The rest could go to hell for all he cared.

Clint dropped onto the street below rolling as he did so. Then he popped up and kept running knowing the Bobbi was right behind him. As he turned a corner though a shot rang out. White hot fire tore through his shoulder.

This caused him to stumble but he kept on his feet. His good arm immediately put pressure onto the wound. His teeth grit against the pain and his vision greyed around the edges for a moment. From her cover another familiar face appeared. A single glock was pointed directly at his head.

A sense of deja vu overcame him as he raised his hands slowly wincing as he did so. It was just like a few weeks ago when he faced down Natasha. Except this time he had been wrangled towards the most dangerous single SHIELD agent. Melinda May aka Cavalry could take on the Avengers and likely kill half the team before they stopped her. Unlike the Avengers she was not afraid to fight dirty or to kill as necessary. Agents weren't given the luxury.

May ordered, "Don't move Bourne. I will not hesitate to kill you."

That he didn't dare to doubt.

"I don't doubt that, Cavalry," he replied and nearly smiled when her hands tightened on the grip of her weapon, "After all you shot me before verifying it was me and not your own agent."

Bobbie replied breathing hard, "She knew you would be the first to come around the corner. After all I was trying to catch up to you and was keeping in touch via comms."

Clint said with a cold smile, "So she did. What have I done to have the honor of having both Mockingbird and Cavalry after me?"

There was a flash of surprise in Bobbie's face. Then there was contemplation that took the place of surprise. She came around so that she could peer into his face. Small changes had been made to his appearance. They should be able to fool her just as they had done for Natasha.

A frown darkened her face as she searched his. She knew something was familiar about him but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Clint smiled ever so slight as she came closer. He kept his muscles loose as she did so preventing May from realizing his plan.

After all who would be so stupid as to move under her watchful gaze? Surely not a professionally trained assassin. Surely not.

As soon as she was close enough however he grabbed her quick as a viper. One arm wrapped around her throat and he hid enough so that May couldn't get a clear shot. He didn't draw one of his knives it wasn't necessary in this situation.

Bobbie had stiffened but she did not try to fight him. She knew as well as he did he could break her neck or slit her throat easily from this position. Clint was feeling light headed from the bloodloss. He pushed through it knowing his extraction point wasn't far. He just had to lose these two.

To Bobbie he asked, "What does SHIELD know about me? About what I'm doing?"

"You're a killer," she growled in return, "An assassin for the highest bidder trying to dethrone Carlos. Our orders are to bring you in alive if possible. Dead if it can't be avoided."

Clint laughed mirthlessly, "Really that's it? I thought better of SHIELD or at least Fury. Your information network is supposed to be top of the line. Then again you lost your Hawk. Didn't you?"

He began to move them around into another alley. There was a building he could slip into that could only be entered by one of the Treadstone 71st program. It's defenses would be activated the moment he entered. There was a tunnel under a hatch that would take him out of the city. A former drug den and bolt holes. It was supposed to be a last resort but he didn't fancy taking another bullet.

It was May who answered this time, "How do you know about, Hawkeye? Better yet, who are you, Bourne? Records show a Jason Bourne, Australian born having been sent to a military post in Tam Quan. No records of death or any further action on his part. Including marching orders. This shouldn't be possible even for a group known as Medusa. So I think the real Bourne died out there and you are a former Medusan. Possibly someone who worked alongside Bourne."

Clint gave a cold smile as he said, "All very good guess. However you have no proof that I'm not Jason Bourne."

They had continued into the alleys slowly making their way to where he wanted to go. It wouldn't be long before he could get away.

May agreed with narrowed eyes, "Not any physical proof beyond the fact that you do not have an accent. I would think someone who spent most of his life in a country would have a corresponding accent."

Mother fucker. Mistakes like this couldn't be made. They would get him or any one of those who followed him killed. It was a stupid mistake at that and he should have known better.

Clint's jaw tightened and he closed the distance between them and the safe house. There were almost directly outside now. He had to do better. This couldn't keep happening. SHIELD was a distraction. Carlos was the real target.

Now he was close enough. Time to leave but first...

"Nothing is ever as it seems," he said cryptically, "You are members of SHIELD and should know this better than anyone. Look further into things and you will find we are not so different. Until next time Mockingbird. Cavalry."