Howard Stark searched for the body of Steve Rogers until the day he died. He funded expedition after expedition, going on many of them himself, searching for the Valkyrie and Captain America's body in the Greenland Ice Sheet. He found the Valkyrie with its advanced bombs that would have destroyed city after city killing millions if not for Rogers act of heroism and the Tesseract, but he never did find Steven Grant Rogers. Tony Stark grew up hating Steve Rogers.
In his mind his father's love for the man who became Captain America lessened the love that his father had for him. It was a simple mathematical equation, which was ironic since Tony Stark was a master of complicated math. Simple math didn't appeal to him. Yet, to honor his father he funded one expedition a year to search for the body of Captain America in the Greenland Ice Sheet. It had become a yearly event in which Stark hoped they found the body so he could have it mounted in his workroom.
"Mr. Stark," the voice of JARVIS, the AI that Stark created and used to run his household and much of his business, "there is a call coming in from the Reliant, the lead ship in the Captain America Expedition."
"Put it on speaker, JARVIS," he said, as he put down the screw driver he was using on his latest Iron Man suit of armor.
Stark yawned. He was dressed in work clothes, which meant jeans and a tee shirt. This time the tee shirt was a Clash tee shirt.
"Mr. Stark, Mr. Stark, this is Evan Cross. We found him," cross stated excitedly. The sounds of water and bad weather could be heard in the background.
"Found who?" smiled Stark.
"Captain America. The mini-sub has him spotted encased in ice. His body is perfectly preserved it appears. How do you want us to proceed?" Cross asked.
"Carefully. Keep him encased in ice to preserve him. Dr. Banner will want to exam the body, so we want it in pristine condition. I'll contact SHIELD. They'll pick him up from you and fly him to Avengers Tower in New York. I'll let Director Fury, Banner, and others know to meet me there. How long until you get the body out of the water?" he asked Cross.
"Six hours minimum," said Cross.
"Goody. That gives me plenty of time to reach New York before Captain America arrives," he sighed. "Stark out."
Stark stood up and stretched. He looked at the armor he was working on. It was going to be his best work yet.
"I guess I'll give you a test flight," he smiled. "JARVIS, contact Pepper for me and tell her I have to go to New York for a few days. If she needs me I'll be there. Tell her I have a Capiscle arriving and need to be there."
"I shall relay the message, sir," said JARVIS.
AVENGERS
Stark arrived at Avengers Tower well ahead of his guests, except for Bruce Banner, who lived at the towers and used the labs to search for a cure for the Other Guy. He changed into a Tom Ford suit and chose a pair of sunglasses with red tint. Now he was ready for guests. Nick Fury, Dr. Hank Pym, a former member of SHIELD, Scott Lang, Pym's associate, and two full-time SHIELD agents and part-time Avengers, Natasha Romanov and Clint Barton, who arrived with the body. Pym was invited because he was a genius and Stark liked having geniuses work on problems, much like himself. Besides himself and Bruce, the Avengers consisted of Thor, Scott Lang, who used Pym's discovery Pym Particles to become Ant-man, The Wasp, who was Hope Van Dyne Pym's daughter, and his part-timers, Spider-man, Romanov, and Barton. Barton and Romanov would loyal to SHIELD, which was why they were part-time Avengers. As for Spider-man, he had to graduate high school before he could become full-time. Bruce entered the lounge area of the tower where Stark waited for their guests.
"Where's Thor?" Stark asked him.
"Asgard. He had family business. At least that was what he said," said a nervous Bruce.
"Okay, what's wrong, Brucie?" Stark asked him.
"Rogers. The serum in his blood might be a possible stabilizer for me. I might finally gain control over the Other Guy. I have to admit that I'm nervous about the chance of success," replied Bruce.
"I like it when you turn green," smiled Tony.
"I nearly destroyed all of Hell's Kitchen fighting the Chitauri," Bruce stated.
"Think of that as urban renewal," grinned Stark. "It was Hell's Kitchen."
"And the people that died and the others that were hurt, Tony?" asked Bruce. "What about them?"
Stark looked at his friend. He knew that Banner carried the guilt of turning into the Hulk on his slight shoulders, but without the big Green Guy they would have lost to the Chitauri. He was their big gun, their equalizer. Yet, Bruce couldn't understand that. Stark looked at his Rolex watch.
"They should be here soon," he stated.
Both men looked out onto the landing area of the tower. A SHIELD Quinjet started to make a landing like a helicopter. They watched as the Quinjet landed, the cargo ramp came down then Fury, a bald black man with an eye patch over his left eye dressed all in black with a black leather trenchcoat, exited the Quinjet. He was followed by Hank Pym, a man in his sixties wearing a suit, Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne, and SHIELD agents Romanov and Barton, who wore their SHIELD uniforms. Finally, six SHIELD agents, three on each side, carried Captain America encased in ice off the jet. They entered the tower.
"I have the lab on the fourteenth floor set up for the body. There is a cold zone waiting for him," said Bruce. "Follow me."
"Follow him," grinned Stark.
The agents carrying Captain America followed Dr. Banner to the elevator banks. Stark looked at his other quests.
"So, why don't we head to the observation lounge of the lab and watch Bruce work," he said.
Fury nodded. Romanov and Barton fell in behind him. Pym, Lang, and Van Dyne followed along. When the reached the fourteenth floor, Tony showed them to the observation lounge, which looked down on the lab. Barton and Romanov took seats and acted as if they were in a movie theatre waiting for the film to begin. Fury, Pym, and Stark sat together with Lang and Van Dyne sitting behind them.
"I wish Peggy was well enough to be here," said Hank Pym. "She married and had children but the great love of her life was Steve Rogers. You'd catch her staring at the photo she had of him in his Captain America uniform. She was devoted to the idea of continuing his work, fighting evil and protecting the little guy."
"My father mentioned that she loved Rogers once or twice," sighed Stark.
"My grandfather was a Howling Commando. He served with Rogers, I remember the stories he'd tell about Rogers when I was a kid," Fury stated.
"Oh, goodie another fan," sighed Stark.
"You have to admit, Stark, that there have been a great many copies of the Super Soldier Serum but Dr. Abraham Erskine's was the best of the lot and Howard added his vita rays to the process. They came up with someone special," said Pym.
"I heard my father say more than once that all he did was bring destruction to the world with weapons but with Project Rebirth that Steve Rogers was the one thing that that brought good to the world," said Stark. "My father idolized Capiscle."
"Capiscle?" Pym snorted. "Have respect for a legend and a great man."
"He looks more like a young man to me," Stark corrected Pym. "How old was he hen
"He would have died at the age of twenty-seven," Fury stated.
In the lab Bruce had the agents place Steve Rogers body in the cold zone then checked the temperature. The cold zone was currently 2 degrees Celsius. He'd get rid of the ice without unfreezing the body. Stark leaned forward and looked at Steve Rogers. Even in death he was still holding his legendary shield that his father made for him. It was said that Rogers could make the shield defy physics. There were a lot of legends about Rogers.
Bruce put on some winter gear then he grabbed a laser. He returned to the body and started to melt away the ice. If the serum preserved the body well enough then he'd be able to take tissue and blood samples. He thought of calling Betty and telling her that he finally found Steve Rogers. She'd be happy for him. But would she join him?
"Hey, Stark, you got popcorn?" Barton called to him.
"Sorry, Hawkeye," replied Stark using Barton's code name. "You and the Black Widow will just have to be patient and wait for dinner."
The ice turned to water under the heat of the laser. Bruce stopped when he got close to the body. He didn't want to destroy any tissue. Adjusting the laser he continued melting away the ice.
"This is amazing," said Pym. "Scott, what do you think?"
Scott Lang was nodding off suddenly sat up at attention.
"Fascinating," he said.
Hope Van Dyne laughed at him. He looked at her and rolled his eyes.
"Remember, Scott was out late last night, Hank, on business," said Hope.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot," said Pym.
Banner reached Rogers. Carefully, gently, he started to melt the last bits of ice away.
"It looks like he just sleeping," noted Romanov.
"It's kind of freaky," said Barton.
Stark leaned forward and noted that Rogers' skin looked like the skin of a living man not a cadaver. There was something wrong.
"Dr. Banner, I am picking up a slight heartbeat and pulse," JARVIS told Bruce.
Bruce stopped and looked at the body then stated, "That's impossible."
"What should I do, sir?" asked JARVIS.
"Bring up the temperature slowly until you reach 34 degrees Celsius. I want it cold but not freezing," said Bruce. "Let's not shock his system."
"It was said that his metabolism was four times normal after the serum. His regenerative ability was phenomenal," noted Fury.
Stark looked at the head of SHIELD and asked, "You expected this?"
"Thought it might be a possibility," he smiled.
"God damn it," chuckled Pym. "This is incredible."
Bruce saw the temperature was now 34 degrees. He started to take the shield away from Rogers, when his eyes opened. Bruce's brown eyes stared into Steve's blue eyes then Steve reacted quickly. He took his shield and smacked Bruce against the side of his head with it. Bruce fell unconscious to the floor, which made Stark exhale with relief. Better an unconscious Bruce than a raging Hulk. Rogers sat up then he got off the gurney he was on. Fury looked at his agents.
"Stop him," he ordered.
"Sounds like fun," said Natasha.
Barton grabbed his bow, nocked and arrow and shot it at the glass. The arrow exploded breaking the glass and allowing him and Romanov to jump down into the lab. Romanov prepared her widow bites, but before they could act, Steve sent his shield careening off the floor and hit Barton knocking him out cold. Natasha looked at her best friend and growled. She came at Steve aiming her widow bites. Two of them caught him in the chest sending volts of electricity through him. He ignored the pain. As Natasha went to jump on him in one if her patented take down moves, she was met with a kick that sent her against the wall a good ten feet away. Steve retrieved his shield and started to make an escape. Fury and Stark along with Lang where up and off to stop Rogers.
Rogers kicked open the lab doors and tried to get his bearings. His head was feeling lightheaded and his body felt a lack of energy. He had no idea when he ate last, but it felt as if he was running on empty. Hell, he had no idea where to go. The elevator doors opened and Fury, Stark, and Lang got off it. Stark spoke first.
"You knew my father. Howard Stark," Stark told him.
"Howard? Where is Howard?" Steve asked. "He's my friend."
Standing there in his World War II gear he looked like an exhibit come to life. This was a man from another age, some said he was the first superhero and the finest.
"Dad's dead," said Stark.
"Howard's dead?" Steve asked. "What about Peggy?"
"You're in the future, Cap. The war is over, A great deal of time has passed," Fury told him in a gentle voice.
Steve stood there for a moment then the adrenaline rush started to fade. The elevator doors opened and the two agents stared at Rogers. Romanov noted that he looked so young, so handsome. Steve started to sway then he fell to floor. When Barton and Romanov got to Rogers he was sound asleep.
"And I was afraid we were going to have to make him kick the shit out of us again," smiled Barton.
Natasha growled.
AVENGERS
Steve woke up in an unfamiliar bed. He was now wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a white tee shirt instead of his uniform that he and Howard had worked on. Steve groaned. His head hurt, as did his body. On wobbly legs he got out of bed and made his way through the apartment.
"Can I help you, sir?" JARVIS asked him.
"Umm... where are you? Who are you?" Steve asked as he looked around.
"I am Mr. Stark's AI system that runs this tower for him, among other things," said JARVIS.
He really must be in the future. Hydra had advanced technology but nothing like this.
"Um... I'm hungry. I mean real hungry," said Steve. "Where can I get food?"
The front door of the apartment he was in suddenly opened.
"Exit the apartment. I have an elevator waiting for you. Off the communal lounge is a fully stocked kitchen, including pizza, which can be microwaved and frozen foods," said JARVIS.
"Microwaved?" Steve asked.
"You have never used one?" asked JARVIS.
"I've never seen one," admitted Steve.
"Ahh, well, there is eggs, bacon, and potatoes if you can cook," said JARVIS.
"I can cook," said Steve. "Show me the way."
AVENGERS
Both Barton and Romanov stayed at Avengers Tower, as well as Stark and Banner. Fury left with Pym, Lang, and Van Dyne and told them he'd be back to talk to Rogers in the morning. Natasha, wearing black yoga pants and a black halter top, decided to raid the refrigerator in the lounge. As she left her apartment, he saw Barton in jeans and a tee shirt waiting for the elevator.
"Hungry?" she asked.
"Starved," smiled Barton.
She joined him standing by his side.
"How are you feeling?" he asked Natasha.
"Fine. Why?" she asked
"I don't know, maybe, Captain America kicked your butt and you don't like getting your butt kicked," he chuckled.
:"How would you know, Barton? You were out cold when I attacked him," she said.
"That shield of his defies physics," smiled Clint.
"Yeah, sure," she said, as the elevator doors opened and they got on it.
Steve was busy in the kitchen cooking scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, a couple of steaks, and toast. He drank some orange juice as he cooked. The serum had enhanced his body, including his senses. He heard the elevator moving and someone coming. Turning he looked out of the kitchen to see Stark and Banner get out of one elevator and Romanov and Barton get out of another one. They immediately acted to the smell of food.
"Okay, who is cooking?" called out Stark.
"I am, sir," replied Steve. "My system is empty. I have to eat or I'll start getting sick."
Stark looked questioningly at Banner, who nodded in the affirmative. The four of them headed to the kitchen.
"I made enough to share," Steve said.
"It looks good," said Natasha.
"I should introduce myself," said Steve. "I'm Captain Steven Grant Rogers."
"Yeah, yeah, we know," said Stark. "I'm Tony Stark. This is Bruce Banner. Those two are spies from SHIELD Agents Romanov and Barton."
"I'm sorry about earlier but I reacted in instincts," said Steve. "JARVIS was filling me in on the situation. So, I was in the ice for over seventy years."
"Afraid so, Captain," said Banner.
Steve paused for a moment then he looked at the food.
"You guys better sit down at that table," he nodded towards the dining room table. "I'll serve you up some food."
"Thanks, Cap," said Barton with a smile.
They headed off to the table and sat down. Steve parsed up the food, leaving a great deal for himself, including the two steaks. He served the group the he went and got his twp plates of food and sat down. Everyone looked at his plates.
"Hungry, huh?" said Stark.
"My metabolism burns at four time normal. Bad things start to happen when I have no food in my system and my body his healing mode," said Steve.
"His body starts to cannibalize itself," Bruce pointed out.
"You understand what the serum did to me?" Steve asked Bruce.
"I've studied you, Captain, and the serum," said Bruce. "I'd like to take samples of your blood and tissues if I can."
"No problem," smiled Steve, who cut a big piece of the steak and shoveled it into his mouth.
"You cook really well," remarked Clint.
"I grew up with just my mother during the depression. I learned to cook to help her out ," he said.
Natasha nibbled on some whole wheat toast. She observed the newly unfrozen soldier. He was taking everything too well. Either, he was the most well adjusted human being in the world, or the man could cover his problems better than most. She was betting that he covered his problems better than most.
"My father used to tell me stories about you," Stark told Steve.
"Howard was a good man and a friend. I'm glad he settled down and married and had a kid. When I knew him he chased every skirt that was around," Steve smiled remembering fondly Howard Stark.
"Where you a skirt chaser?" asked Bruce.
"No, sir," said Steve. "I went from a sickly, ninety pound no one to Captain America overnight. After six months of selling war bonds and making a couple of propaganda films, I went into battle and never came out until you pulled me out of the ice. I didn't have the time. Plus there was someone special, but we never had the time."
"So you're a virgin?" Stark asked with a big smile.
Steve blushed as he finished his first steak then he said, "I did mention that I spent six months with eight showgirls selling war bonds, didn't I?"
Clint laughed out loud. Bruce smiled. Stark pouted and Natasha continued to observe him.
"Cap, I like you," said Barton.
"When we finish here, do you mind joining me in my lab?" asked Bruce.
"Blood and tissue, right?" said Steve.
"Yes," nodded Bruce.
"Sure," smiled Steve.
AVENGERS
Nick Fury arrived at ten in the morning. Steve sat on couch across from him, as Fury started to explain certain things to him.
"I contacted the Pentagon yesterday and told them you were found and you were alive. It seems you have a great deal of back pay coming to you, Enough back pay that you might want to ask Stark how to invest money," Fury told him. "You have a lot of decisions to make, Cap. I hope to help you make up your mind with what to do with your time."
"How so, Director?" asked Steve.
"Become a SHIELD agent, Cap. You could do a lot of good at SHIELD," said Fury.
"I don't even know where I belong, sir, let alone if I belong in this time," said Steve.
"My grandfather was Sergeant Nick Fury," smiled Fury. "I know we don't look much alike, but he told me stories about you. Captain, you belong wherever you are because you are an exceptional man. Join SHIELD and do some more good."
"Can I take time to think about it?" asked Steve.
"Of course, Cap," said Fury. "Next, thing we have to do is get some things straightened out in DC with the Pentagon."
"Sir, what's the Pentagon?" Steve asked.
Fury grinned, "The Department of Defense. I think you knew it as the Department of War."
"I guess they do owe me some back pay," smiled Steve.