Clint sat bolt upright in bed, still screaming at the top of his lungs. Sweating profusely, his hands were gripping at the sheets so hard that they had torn.

"It's just a dream." he told himself, over and over. "I'm in LA. Bobbi isn't here, and she's not in Mephisto's either." The words sounded hollow, even to his own ears.

"Damn, you know better Clint. That's exactly where she is."

Now wide awake, Clint got up and looked at the clock. 4:20am, it read.

"Sheesh...never get back to sleep now...not that I want to."

Clint headed for the shower. Stripping off his sweaty night clothes and turning on the cold water first. "It's gonna be one of those days." he thought to himself.

We see a gravestone. the inscription on it reads; "Bobbi Morse Barton 19??-19??. Eternity was in our lips...and eyes."

"Bobbi... I still can't let you go."

Clint is at the Shady Memorial cemetary in LA, standing in front of the gravestone of his late wife Bobbi, speaking to it.

"Somehow I feel like your still alive somewhere... Maybe Mephisto's realm. God, I can't bear the thought of you being there. So help me Bobbi, if you are there, I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you out again. I swear..."

Clint stands there awhile, staring at the stone. Time passes, and then a voice comes from behind Clint.

"I thought I'd find you here. Pretty safe bet I think. Why else would you come back to LA after all? Certainly not to see me." He smiles wryly.

Clint spins on his heels to see who is talking. A blonde man with a crewcut, wearing a black turtleneck and jeans.

"Sonofa-!!" Clint exclaims "Jack?!" (Jack Daniels AKA U.S.Agent -- U.S.Scott)

"How touching, you remember. I got a call from Tony Stark in New York this morning. He said that you were on your way out here, and that you were in a kind of strange mood when you left. Asked me if I might keep an eye on you."

Clint frowns "That jerk. You know, I still can't bring myself to trust him."

"I don't particularly trust him either, which is why I agreed to keep an eye on you. So, what brings you out this way?" He gestures at Bobbi's grave "Other than the obvious, that is."

Clint shrugs "This is it really. I haven't visited her in a while. I miss her Jack."

"Yeah..." Jack flushes a little. "What did you mean you were gonna find her, no matter what it took?"

"What?!!" Clint's face turns crimson with barely contained fury. For a minute, he forgets that Jack and himself had buried there past hatred. "You were listening in on me? How long were you standing there Jack?"

Jack holds his hands up in a gesture of defense "Hey, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help overhearing that little bit when I was walking up." His expression grows concerned "What's going on Clint? C'mon, level with me."

"Allright Jack, here it is." Clint says, growing calmer again. "I'm going to travel back to Mephisto's plane. I can't shake the feeling that Bobbi is somehow still trapped there, and I'll never be able to rest until I find out. And if she's there. I'll get her out, or die trying!"

"Yes, Hawkeye. You just can't ignore the notion that your wife may locked up in my realm. The realm of MEPHISTO! So come Hawkeye, and bring all the friends you wish. The more, the merrier!" We leave this evil realm with Mephisto laughing long and loud. The echoes of his laughter causing panic among the miserable denizens of his realm, fearing some new torture...

"Why, Master Phillip! (Phillip Jarvert AKA The Swordsman --Sword-wielding Scott) This is an unexpected suprise."

"Thank you Jarvis. I've come to see Hawkeye. Is he here now?

"I'm sorry to say, Master Phillip, Master Hawkeye has taken a leave of abscence from the group."

Just then, returning from his daily exercise routine in the Avengers training room, Captain America walks by the entrance way, and notices the conversation.

"Phillip? What brings you by here, friend?"

"Cap! Nice to see you again. As I was just telling Jarvis here, I had come to see Hawkeye, but apparently I waited too long."

Cap nods "I'm afraid so. Clint left the team because of something, well...personal he had to take care of. Come in and have a seat. We'll see if I can help you with anything."

Jarvis excuses himself to go make coffee for the two. Cap and the Swordsman move into the living room, to continue their conversation. Later, after coffee has been served and consumed.

"...So anyway Cap," says Phillip "The Hawkeye from my Earth, was my best friend. We grew up together. I know from reading Avenger files that this Earth's Hawkeye holds a rather slim view of the Swordsman. I want him to know that I'm nothing like that, and I was hoping to establish a friendship with him."

Cap seems to ponder this for a while, weighing his words carefully. "I see. Well, Phillip, I don't know what to tell you. Clint can be pretty bull-headed about these things sometimes. He may know you aren't this Earth's Swordsman, but that might not keep him from treating you that way. The only thing I can do, is give you his New York address. He may not want to listen to you. but tell him what you just told me and I think he'll come around. You can talk to him yourself when he gets back from LA." Cap smiles.

"Thank you Cap, I certainly will." Phillip gets ready to leave, and he and Cap shake hands.

"Clint, listen to me. I'm not going to take no for an answer. I'm going with you."

Clint gives Jack a sidelong glance that tells him he's getting annoyed with the line of conversation now.

"No, Jack. For the last time I have to do this myself. I can't ask anyones help. Chances are, I wont be coming back alive from this. I can't ask anyone else to risk their lives in this. Bobbi might not even be there."

Jack is unmoved "No way buddy. You an I have been through too many scrapes together. This is just like any other Avenger. You need my help. Someone to watch your back. Beside," He gives Clint a lop-sided grin, "If you don't let me come, I'll beat you silly like I did back on the beach at the old Compound." (Back in Avengers West Coast #69 --West Coast Scott)

Clint, despite himself can't help from laughing out loud. "Allright Jack, you win... you win. I guess you might come in handy. After all, even dull-witted brutes have their uses."

They ride in silence for a while, Jack seems to be mulling over something in his mind.

"What is it, Jack?" Clint asks, seeing the expression on his face.

"Hmmmm... I was wondering. How exactly do you plan to get into Mephisto's house? Did you pick up magic ability somewhere along the line?"

"Oh, that." Clint smirks "Sorry, no hocus-pocus. Not from me anyhow. We're gonna have to go back to New York for that."

"Huh? What's in New York that can help us?"

Clints face looks grim as he drives on. "Doctor Strange."

NEXT ISSUE: Swordsman! Doc Strange! Mephisto! Nuff said!