Chapter 7
“He was unstable for quite some time, and his healing wasn’t kicking in his skin was broken too badly, and all the places where his skin was cut out, they had to sew him up so that the tissues would regenerate. God I can’t even believe what I'm saying, but whatever was in that liquid that they were depositing in his body, was used to paralyze him and the doctors couldn’t figure out what it was made of so they just had to leave up to his body to drain it, which is why that tube is still protruding from his stomach. His chest would need a lot of time to heal, the doctors didn’t know how to heal all the lacerations and jagged parts where the dagger had been dragged down. Right now, he is stable because somehow the anesthesia Tony and I had worked on for Steve worked an he’s in a deep sleep, let’s just hope that he doesn’t fall into a coma because the amount of agony his body had to go through it’s a major possibility and I don’t even want to start on the extent of PTSD this will bring.” Finished Bruce leaving everyone silent and shocked at the amount of hurt their Captain had to go through.
Tony had taken the seat right beside Steve’s bed and by his facial expression and the look of anguish and determination on his face he wasn’t going anywhere. The team wasn’t either. Sam along with Clint brought in extra chairs and everyone took their seats with Bucky sitting on the sofa Nat on his lap, and Bruce on the other side of the sofa.
There was pin-drop silence for a long time, everyone just absorbing what happened to their leader; until Tony picked up Steve’s hand, brought it to his lips, placed a kiss on it and a whimper escaped his lips followed by tears streaming down his face as he closed his eyes. It had everyone on alert and they felt as if they were watching their other leader at one of his most vulnerable moments. Slowly and silently, they begin to leave the room giving Tony some space and time with Steve alone.
“C’mon wake up sweetheart, you are so much stronger than what pushes you down and I know for a fact you won't leave me alone. So please please wake up, don’t let yourself fall into a coma, who would I annoy and at tease if you’re not there. I don’t even know what I'll do without you. You have always been there capsicle don’t leave now. Please wake up I don’t want to lose more time without having you to hold me.”
After that, hours went by but Steve was still unresponsive, the doctors assured them that he was okay but still asleep as his body was still rejuvenating from all the trauma it had endured.
“Tony, you need to sleep and eat something, go back to the tower we’ll stay with him and you can come back in the morning.” Natasha stated placing a hand on his shoulder.
“No, I'm fine Nat, you and the rest go back I'll stay you all need to sleep as well, I'll just sleep on the sofa, yeah.” Tony said, his voice low without looking at Natasha, his eyes still fixed on the numerous scars on Steve’s chest.
“You know Tony, Steve wouldn’t like that you aren’t taking care of yourself, even if he was hurt.”
“Well, then Steve can goddamn wake up and tell me this himself.” Tony said sternly ending any further conversation.
Natasha nodded in response and left; she knew arguing more will be of no use.
Everyone had left hours ago and Tony was quite sure it was three in the morning by how silent everything around them was, but he couldn’t get himself to sleep. No matter how much he tried every time he closed his eyes the images of Steve screaming, his flesh being cut open, his face contorted in pain would appear in front of Tony’s eyes and he would have to jerk awake and try to get his heartbeat under control.
He laid his head on Steve’s leg still holding onto his hand and gave sleep another try.
Everything is dark and there is just too much pain around him. He really wants to move but it's as if his body is paralyzed, but at the same time there is a warmth around his hand and he knows he has to move towards it. Steve knows something is wrong, his body isn’t like what it used to be, and asthma attack couldn’t leave him immobile for some time now so why can’t he just open his eyes. Why does his chest feel like it's on fire? Before he could contemplate more, he felt his hand being squeezed and a weight being placed on his leg. Rather than his body becoming stiffer and more hurt by the increase weight placed on his leg, he felt relief flowing through his body and he could feel himself relax. The mere sensation of this feeling, this relief made him curious and he wanted to wake up.
He wasn’t conscious but there were voices around him. No, not voices, but a single voice. a voice he knew, adored, loved. But he couldn’t pinpoint who right now. All he could hear at the moment was how much the person, the man behind the voice wanted him to wake up. There was such devotion coursing through the voice that all Steve really wanted to do was wake up and take the person in his arms and never let go. But no matter how much he tried to move his fingers or open his eyes but it was of no use. Giving up he delved into darkness again not knowing what was happening around him anymore.
The next time his conscious woke him up was when he felt tears on his face and someone lovingly petting his hair.
“Wake up, please , you know it’s literally impossible for me to function without you. Without your presence hovering over me reminding me that it's time to eat and sleep, you know, like normal human beings.”
The voice held so much longing, grief and pain in it that Steve was bound to open his eyes. He concentrated all his efforts on opening his eyes and focused on the voice speaking. Slowly but surely his eyes started to open.
The first thing saw was white blinding light. He turned squinting his eyes which fell on a figure sitting beside is hospital bed. The brown curled hair which was disheveled easily gave away who was seated beside Steve.
“Tony?”
Tony turned his head towards Steve so quickly, Steve was sure he got whiplash.
“Steve? Oh my god you’re up, oh let me get the doctor oh Steve, thank god you’re up.” Tony started rambling, his expression going from shocked to scared to chaotic in the timespan of a minute.
All through this Tony was still holding on to Steve’s hand tightly as if scared that if he let go Steve will disappear. Steve couldn’t help but smile at such cuteness of Tony. Mind you he knew this was no situation to smile at and if Tony saw Steve smiling like a dork he would probably smack him on his head but Steve had just woken up and the love of his life was right there beside him, going anarchic over him and he could feel his heart going all fluttery.
“Tony,” Steve said firmly, his voice hoarse from disuse.
“Tony,” Steve said, holding onto Tony’s hand tightly his voice firm yet hoarse from disuse. Tony stilled making sure not to look at Steve.
Steve squeezed Tony’s hand once more, coercing him to look up at Steve. Once their eyes met Steve could easily pinpoint why Tony was so hesitant in making eye-contact with him.
There was so much grief, regret, and guilt in Tony’s eyes that Steve had to swallow back a whimper.
“It wasn’t your fault sweetheart,” Steve started in a soft tone, but before he could say more Tony’s eyes filled with tears and he collapsed on Steve’s bed, taking care of the tubes sticking out of his body, and tucked his head in Steve’s neck.
“I am sorry, so sorry, I wish I came sooner and JARVIS tracked you sooner, I tried my best, I really did…” Tony muttered, tears clear in his voice.
“Shush, Tones take a deep breath, c’mon honey, take a breath for me.” Steve stated calmly running his head through Tony’s hair soothing him.
Steve moved to the side even though his body screamed at him and patted Tony to move onto the bed.
“Hey Tones, look at me. C'mon show me those beautiful orbs of yours.”
Tony complied and looked at Steve, their faces a hair’s breadth from touching. Steve tilted Tony’s chin upwards.
“Listen to me sweeetheart, and listen carefully, yes I got hurt, and it would take some time to get over the trauma I brought with me but not once while I was tied in that horrendous place did, I blame you for anything. Rather it was quite the opposite. Tony, the thought of you was what kept me going through all of it. Knowing you will be looking for me, you will come to find me, and I'll finally get to hold you was what made me not give up. So please don’t blame yourself, I just need you here with me now. That's all.” Steve completed; his voice all soft his eyes full of adoration directed towards Tony.
Tony gulped and without another thought crashed his lips on Steve’s. Steve was shocked at first but caught up with the program fast, his hand going to Tony’s waist and the other on his nape. Tony’s lips were warm and soft and they parted granting Steve’s tongue to slip in. Steve was hyper aware of how Tony’s hands were running through his hair probably making a mess of them but it was last of his worries, not when tony let out a little gasp as Steve bit this bottom lip.
Steve was the first one to pull away and see how beautiful Tony looked, as he broke into a grin.
“Well, if you thought you weren’t stuck with me before, you definitely are now,” Tony chuckled nervously.
Steve grinned, “Oh I wouldn’t dream of anything else.”
Tony turned and a sincere gentle smile appeared on his face, “Whatever happens next, it’s going to be you and I; you hear me? Together.”
Steve's heart skipped a beat at that and he never felt more contented, “Together."