Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers.

Authors Note: Most of my other stories do revolve more around Clint and Phil, that will still be the case in this story but there will be more of the other Avengers too.

This story will take place after the Avengers movie and as you can probably tell I am keeping Phil around. I cannot believe they killed Phil and I am hoping that it was all some sort of way to make them team up together to Avenge Phil's 'fake' death. This will take place just after Thor has returned to Asgard with Loki and Phil was badly injured…..not dead!

I will rate this as T as there will be swearing and torture in later chapters.

Enjoy!

Our greatest Glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Unknown.

Phil felt himself very slowly return to the world of the living, he was lying flat-out on a bed he assumed. He kept his eyes closed for a moment, taking in the sounds all around him. He was pretty sure he didn't want to open his eyes just yet, a niggling voice at the back of his head telling him that would be a bad idea.

His body felt numb, and he was sure he felt the familiar irritation in his hand from an I.V. There were voices just outside, talking softly, obviously not wanting to disturb him. He couldn't make out who it was but he was now one hundred percent positive he was in medical when he heard the beep, beep. He groaned internally, then almost jumped when he heard a soft snore coming from beside his bed.

Who the hell would be camping out next to his bed?

Phil tried desperately to remember what happened and how he ended up here, but for the life of him he just couldn't. He did have a pretty wacky dream though, featuring an alien army, Loki, Thor, and the Hulk, finally meeting Captain Rogers and having to go bring Tony Stark in. That was nightmare enough but there was something else, something he was forgetting. Then it hit him like a thunder bolt, Clint!

Phil's eyes snapped open, big mistake. "Uhhhh….." Bringing his hand up to cover his eyes from the blinding lights, Phil spat curses and squeezed his eyes shut. The throbbing in his head was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. Phil nearly jumped for a second time in the space of a few minutes when a hand rested on his shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze.

"It's okay Phil, I turned the lights down." Clint spoke softly, he seemed to know how much pain his handler was in.

Phil very carefully removed his hand and opened his eyes slowly, the room was dark, just a little light creeping through the blinds. He gave Clint a grateful nod and sighed, leaning back against the soft pillows.

"Thanks." Phil whispered, his throat felt scratchy, like he'd swallowed glass. Clint lifted the small cup of ice-chips and slid one into his handler's mouth, he chuckled when Phil gave a small groan of pleasure.

"Contain yourself Phil, its only ice." He smiled and set the cup on the side table and pulled his chair closer to the bed.

Phil glared half-heartedly at his charge, then frowned when he noticed the look on Clint's face, one he hadn't seen from the kid in a long time, fear. He took in Clint's dishevelled state in just a glance, the dark circles under his eyes, the clothes that were covered in dirt and blood, and the concern shining in those blue eyes wasn't hard to notice. The archer's hands were clenched into fists and when Phil's eyes drifted to them, Clint quickly unclenched them and rubbed his tingling hands against his trouser legs. Phil always knew his tells, could always spot when the archer was trying to hide something.

"What happened?" Phil asked.

Clint was quiet and Phil was sure he looked ready to bolt for the door any second, but he knew Clint wouldn't abandon him, not when he was in the infirmary. Clint never left his side any of the times Phil had been injured, only left when Phil had told him after countless times to grab a shower and get something to eat. It was a sure way to figure out how bad things were, if Clint wasn't eating it was bad, the kid was a human waste disposal.

It seemed like forever before Clint finally answered. "What do you remember Phil?"

The older agent struggled to focus, to remember what happened. He looked defeated and turned to Clint. "I don't remember. I had a really weird dream while I was out though."

Clint frowned. "What happened in your dream?"

"There was an alien army coming to destroy the earth, led by Loki, Thor's brother. I met Captain Rogers, the Hulk almost took out Natasha, I got asked to bring Stark in after you got taken over by Loki's magic. That's when I knew it was a nightmare, whenever Stark is in my dreams its always bad news." Phil looked up to see Tony peeking his head in the door, Steve was standing behind him looking a little sheepish.

"That's slightly disturbing if you're dreaming about me Phil. I mean I'm flattered and all but I just don't see you that way." Tony chuckled then backed up a step when Clint moved to stand, glaring at the billionaire. He held his hands up in defence. Steve pulled Tony back out of the doorway and stepped into the room. He gave Phil a smile and walked over to the other side of the bed from Clint.

"It's good to see you awake sir." Steve stood almost to attention in front of the injured man. Phil glared at Clint when he tried to stifle a laugh.

Phil smiled at Steve. "There is no need for the 'sir' Captain."

Steve smiled and took Phil's outstretched hand and shook it. "Then there is no need for the 'Captain' Phil. Steve is just fine."

Phil nodded and sank back into the bed, he watched as Clint and Steve shared a look then the Cap gave a small nod and headed for the door. "I will come back and see you later Phil," Steve said before closing the door behind him.

Phil glanced at Clint who was looking almost afraid of having to explain the situation to his handler, his friend. Phil gave him a nod, silently telling him it was alright. Clint sighed deeply and leaned forward in the chair.

"I take it you realise now it wasn't a nightmare, I wish to hell it was Phil." Clint struggled to keep his emotions at bay. "Everything that happened in your dream, is what really happened. I was Loki's puppet, the other Avengers assembled in time to take on the alien army I helped Loki bring here." Phil knew his agent would be taking this personally but he needed to remind him that it wasn't his fault, there was nothing he could have done.

"It's not your fault Clint, none of it." He almost growled in frustration when Clint started shaking his head. "Don't you dare? You hear me? What did you think you could have done differently?"

Clint wouldn't meet his handler gaze when he spoke. "I could have fought harder, did something other than let that dick control me like a fucking puppet Phil. You nearly died, do you remember that? Because guess what? I didn't even know, not until after the battle with Loki and the Chitauri." Phil's eyes widened at the words. "I snapped out of it just in time to go off and fight, I didn't know that Loki had stabbed you with that damn septor, I didn't even think about why you weren't there. Only that I wanted to take him out." Clint angrily wiped away the tears that had fallen. "I didn't know Phil, I am so sorry. I should have been here, you have always been there for me and I let you down."

Phil swallowed the lump in his throat, he'd never seen Clint cry before, never in all their years together. He reached out and took Clint's hand and gripped it tightly. "Now Clint, I am only going to say this once, so you will listen, understood?" He knew he needed to get whatever he said through Clint's thick skull. He waited until his charge nodded. "Number one; you have never let me down Clint, I am so proud of you and I wouldn't have wanted you sitting around here waiting for me to wake up when the world was in danger from an alien army. Number two; I know you would have fought with everything you had, there is no doubt in my mind about that, but this was monsters and magic Clint, nothing we were ever prepared for." He frowned when he saw a slight smirk on Clint's face. "Natasha said pretty much the same thing to me."

Phil smiled, he'd thank her later for that. "And finally, I did my job Clint. I know a part of you is probably pissed at me for going up against Loki, but I would do it all over again. You need to stop blaming yourself for everything, a lot of shit happens in this world kid, we just have to do our best to get through it, without taking it all on our shoulders."

Clint nodded at Phil and gave him a small smile, he relaxed back in the chair with a sigh. "Thanks Phil."

"You're welcome, dumbass." Phil smirked at the shocked look he got.

"It's just as well you're injured or I would have hurt you for that." He laughed at the raised eyebrow from his handler.

They settled into a comfortable silence, it wasn't usual for them, it was familiar. Phil cleared his throat and glanced at his young agent. "So how did you break free from Loki's control?"

Clint chuckled and faced Phil. "Natasha hit me really hard in the head."

Phil just stared then burst out laughing. "It's just as well you have a hard head then, she might have broken you."

Clint glared but was glad Phil was laughing, it meant things were going to be okay.

When Phil cleared his throat for a second time Clint arched his eyebrow. "So….do I want to know how bad it is?" Phil gestured to himself.

Clint sat up a little straighter. "Let's just say you have an angel on your shoulder Phil, the blade missed all your major organs, and you ended up losing a lot of blood though and developed an infection. That's probably why you have been out as long as you have."

"How long have I been out?" Phil asked already dreading the answer. "Three days." Clint told him.

Phil's eyes widened. "You've been sitting here for three days?" He almost shouted but his throat protested the abuse. Clint was already standing and calming the older man down.

"No I haven't. I've gone to the toilet a few times." His attempt at humour was apparently unwelcome if the glare he received was anything to go by.

"Clint….." Phil started, his voice quieter but the tone was clear, he was pissed. "You don't have to sit here now, go get some rest, eat some food and for Christ's sake, go shower!" Phil ordered, he almost laughed at Clint's horrified expression. "I don't smell that bad. Do I?"

Phil chuckled and nodded at the younger agent. "I didn't want to say anything but…."

Clint glared but moved to stand. "Fine but I will be back in a bit. Alright?"

Phil nodded in agreement, he knew there was no point trying to argue any further with the archer, he wouldn't win that one. He waited until Clint had left the room and closed the door before closing his eyes, he hated how tired he felt when they pumped his full of drugs. Letting the sounds from the small room wash over him, Phil let himself relax. He found out what happened, had spoken to his agent about not blaming himself and he was alive.

Yeah, things were definitely looking up.