"You wished to see me, my friend?" Thor asked as he entered the gatekeeper's domain. "Your message said it was urgent."

Heimdall placed his sword in its slot on the pedestal and turned to face his prince. "Indeed, it is most urgent. A short time ago, I turned my gaze upon your mortal friends on Midgard and what I saw was most troubling." As he spoke, the portals shifted so that once more his view of the world they, the Asgardians, called Midgard and the realm mortals themselves called Earth was unobstructed.

"Pray, good Heimdall, tell me what has happened!"

"The Man of Iron's firstborn has been stolen by one of his many enemies..."

"Okay, Thor just showed up."

Phil and Natasha gave each other looks that said Did he just say what I think he said? Coulson asked for clarification before she could. "Repeat that, Agent Barton."

"I said Thor has just appeared here on site."

"Why is Thor here? Last we knew he was still on Asgard," Natasha pointed out.

"Only one way for us to find out. Agent Barton, go talk to Thor and ask him why he came to Earth."

"Standby."

They heard the telltale noise of Barton having cut off his comm.

"You know I would think it was a mere coincidence that Thor just happened to arrive here on Earth right before I issue the order to assemble to the Avengers but I know better than to think that. Especially since he lands in the very area where Ethan Stark was taken, and what's more I think it's very likely the reason why he's here. He knew about the abduction of Stark's son."

Natasha nodded, "I agree."

Barton's comm signal came back at that moment. "Thor said he's here because, and I quote, 'The Man of Iron's firstborn has been taken by his enemies'."

"Agent Barton, did you or any agent on site tell him about the kidnapping?"

"No, sir, no one on site told him anything. He wasn't on site two seconds before I reported his arrival, and he had only been here about a minute when I spoke with him. He specifically came to Earth because he knew about Stark's son being taken."

"The question is how did he know?" Natasha wondered.

"I'd like to know that information eventually but for right now it's irrelevant. Agent Barton, as soon as your team is finished on site, bring Thor to Headquarters where he'll, along with you and Agent Romanoff will wait for the others to gather. I am issuing the order for the Avengers to assemble."

"Understood, sir. We'll report to HQ as soon as we're done here. Barton out."

"I just hope Dr. Banner isn't going to be that hard to find."

"So do I, Agent Romanoff. So do I."

"Please, Mr. Stark, keep your conversation with Mr. Hogan as brief as you can because we need to get him into surgery as soon as possible."

Tony nodded, not trusting his voice right at that moment, allowing the doctor to lead him to where they had stopped his bodyguard's gurney just outside of the OR. The doctor continued onto into the operating room while the surgery staff waited a few feet away to take their patient in once he had said whatever it was he so urgently needed to say.

Tony inhaled in a sharp breath at the sight of the blood soaked bandages covering a large portion of the other man's abdomen, and seeing that his eyes were closed, he reached out to squeeze his hand. Happy's eyes fluttered open and he struggled against the painkillers to focus them on Tony's face.

"Hey, boss," he slurred, "I'm s-s-s-so... s-s-s-s-sorry."

Tony swallowed the lump in throat because this man was more than someone who just protected him and his family. He was also a treasured friend, family, and next to not knowing where his son was at the moment, seeing another member of his family in such a serious state was scaring the billionaire. "It's all right, Happy, I know you did everything possible to stop them from taking Ethan."

Happy nodded and muttered, "Love him... you too."

Tony blinked away tears, and forced that lump out of his throat again. "Me... all of us too, Hap."

One of the nurses came out of the OR.

"Mr. Stark, we really need to get him into surgery now." She nodded at the other two, and the three of them moved into position to push the gurney in.

"Wa... wait."

"Mr. Hogan-"

Tony waved her off, and he moved closer to the gurney. "Happy, you've got to let them take care of you now."

Happy shook his head weakly, "Nooo... it... was... m-m-my fault, boss. My fault!"

"I already told you, Hap, everything's fine."

"Mr. Stark, you really must let us take him in now!"

They began pushing in the gurney again but stopped when Happy used what strength he had left and shook his head more vehemently than ever before.

"Tony, p-p-please!" His mouth continued to move but there was no sound coming from it.

"Sir, if you don't let us take Mr. Hogan in now, I will have security remove you from this area!"

At seeing his distress, Tony ignored her and leaned forward asking, "What? What is it?"

"My... f-f-f-f-fault. I... vouched... f-f-f-f-for Mason. I... sorry!" His eyes slid shut with the last word, and he was mercifully unconscious.

"Call security now!" the nurse said as she moved to check Happy's vitals.

Tony backed away, his hands held up in a way to suggest they wouldn't get anymore interference from him.

"Code Blue!" The nurse said and repositioned the gurney so it was laying flat as board was slid under Happy. She then climbed onto the gurney with him to begin chest compresses while another pressed a breathing bag over Happy's nose and mouth. More medical personal appeared to help rush the gurney the last few feet into the ER, and the last sight Tony had of his friend was his body jumping in response to the electricity of the defibrillator paddles.

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