Tony Stark slid into the back of the HumVee after his weapons demonstration in the middle of the Afghani desert. He wanted to get back to the hotel provided for him by the military and shower before his jet was gassed and ready to leave. He'd just go straight to the airport, but he really needed a shower.

"Tony Stark?"

Tony looked over at the army officer sitting beside him offering him his and. He looked over the hand and back up to the man offering it.

"Captain Rogers. Steve."

"Nice to meet you," Tony said, taking the hand and shaking it.

"We'll be taking your to your hotel. It is paid for through the night if you'd like to reconsider staying."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'd really prefer to get back to New York."

Steve nodded his head. "I'd give anything to be going home myself. I'm from Brooklyn."

Tony nodded his head. He wasn't one for small talk, but it was a good hour and a half back to the hotel, so he may as well talk to this overgrown biped.

"I'm from California, but Stark Industries is based in Manhattan."

"Your technology is pretty advanced. I'm not too sure how a lot of it works. All we get is the lower end mechs down on my level."

"You mean as Captain?" Tony didn't understand.

Steve laughed, shaking his head. "No. Ground infantry. Your Airforce technology is definitely more advanced."

"I suppose you're right. Do you need something more high-end on your level?"

Steve's ears perked up. "Not that I'm the one you need to be talking too, but being down here on the ground, I can say that it would be nice. Not that we don't already have more advanced weaponry than our adversary."

"But it still would be nice to have toys like the flyboys, right?"

Steve laughed. "Yeah."

Tony nodded. "I'll get to work on it as soon as I get home."

"Very ni-"

Their attention was immediately directed ahead of them as the Humvee driving ahead of them was blasted by an IED and blown off the road. The driver in the front seat in the vehicle Tony was in tried to swerve and miss the wreckage, but drove right into it, hitting as more explosives went off. Steve threw his body on the civilian. The Humvee was thrown.

Once it had settled, the front end burning, Steve pulled back from the man he had shielded. Pulling off his glove, he checked to make sure he had a pulse. It was there. It was faint, but it was there. Turning to look at his comrades in the front seat, he called to them. He could tell the driver was dead by looking at him, but the officer in the passenger seat didn't respond either. Steve reached forward and pulled off the man's helmet. His eyes were open wide in terror. He was gone as well.

Steve knew it was only a matter of moments before the Humvee exploded on him and the unconscious man beside him. Opening the door Tony Stark was slumped against, Steve pulled him into his arms and pushed his way out of of the vehicle. He pulled the man over his shoulder and started running from the wreckage. Behind him, the Humvee did explode, sending debris into the air and blowing Steve and the unconscious man he was carrying another several yards.

Tony awoke to an incessant beeping beside his head. Squinting, he realized he was in quite a bit of discomfort. Not really pain, but achy and he could tell things weren't right somehow, but he didn't know exactly what was wrong with him. He tried opening his eyes, but they felt as though they were clamped shut. Wincing a bit, he forced them open and turned his head slightly, through the discomfort, to look around.

"Oh, thank God! You're awake!"

Tony couldn't immediately detect who the voice had come from. It sounded almost vaguely familiar. It wasn't a voice he'd heard a lot, but it wasn't as though he'd never heard it before. However, he was sure he'd heard it a whole lot more than just what he could remember. Turning his head slowly, he saw someone through the darkness, and the haze of his blury eyes, sitting beside the bed he was laying in.

"Where am I?"

"Military hospital. You barely made it through surgery. Doctor said he wasn't sure you'd wake up."

Tony closed his eyes and coughed slightly. "Can I get some w-"

"Water? Yeah! Of course."

Tony opened his eyes and looked over to see the man pulling himself up onto some crutches and hobbling over to the sink to fill a pitcher with water.

"Isn't there a nurse or something?"

The man shrugged. "I can do it." He turned back toward Tony and hobbled with his crutches back over to the bed. He pulled the wheeled tray over closer to the bed and poured some water into a cup. "Let me help." He sat the pitcher down and laid his crutches against the wall at the head of the bed, sitting down on the bed.

Tony furrowed his brow at the man and took the cup in his lips as it was offered. Drinking up as much as he could, he let his head rest back on the pillow. He hated people handing him things, but he had to let go of that disposition and accept the drink. Looking up at the man sitting beside him, his vision had begun to clear. He still couldn't place his face. He knew the voice, but he'd never seen the man's face in his life.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"

"Rogers. Captain Rogers. My name is Steve. Do you remember what happened?"

Tony furrowed his brow, looking down slightly. "You were the captain in charge of my transport from the test site back to the hotel."

Steve nodded. "Our convoy hit an IED and several of my unit were killed."

Tony's eyes shot open at the news, but he quickly let it settle and recovered. "Is that what happened to your," he looked over the side of the beg to the captain's leg wrapped in a cast, "leg?"

Steve nodded, patting the cast. "Small price to pay." He looked back at Tony. "How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"

Tony shook his head slowly. "More discomfort. What happened to me? Why am I here?"

Inhaling deeply, Steve swallowed hard. "You had hit your head when the Hummer was thrown, and there was some internal trauma. I pulled you from the vehicle and the traumas were worsened when the vehicle exploded, tossing both of us several feet away from the blast."

"What exactly is wrong with me?"

Steve realized the man was not one who liked to pussyfoot around. "Your heart stopped a few times. They've had trouble getting it stabilized. They had to put a pacemaker in there to keep it working properly. You have a couple broken ribs. The concussion. But pretty much, the worst of it is your heart."

Tony let the information sink in, pausing only briefly before asking. "When can I go home?"

"Mr. Stark, the doctor's recommend you take it easy for a few days. Don't rush right back into work."

"When can I go home?" Tony repeated himself.

"I'm sure you can sign yourself out at any time."

"I'd like to go home now."

Grabbing his crutches, Steve pulled himself to stand. "I'll get the doctor and arrive for transport."

"All things considered, I think I'd rather arrange my own transportation, Captain."

Steve turned to look at Tony. "I can... I can understand that. I'll go get the doctor."

He left Tony's side. Ever since Steve had been out of surgery himself, he'd been by Tony's side. He had been placed on medical leave until further notice and was supposed to return home to Brooklyn, but Steve hadn't wanted to leave until he knew Tony was going to be alright. The two of them were the only two who had survived the incident and he felt responsible. He was the ranking officer there and it was his responsibility to ensure everyone's safety. Tony was the only other one who had survived.

Tony turned his head and stared at the white wall across from the bed. He wished the captain had just left him to die. He didn't want a damned pacemaker keeping his heart ticking. He wanted his own damned heart. Closing his eyes, he cursed that day.