The scream echoed throughout the room, vibrating off the walls and fading into the sounds of broken sobs, the voice hoarse from screaming and crying in rage and frustration. He could feel hands shaking him, a voice calling to him to open his eyes, to wake up and breath. Steve jerked awake, arms swinging at whoever was touching him. Looking around wildly, he saw Bruce standing off to the side of the bed. Gasping for breath he sank back onto the bed and groaned. "Bruce don't...don't do that please, I could have...y-you could have been..."
"You could have but you didn't so no harm done and the other guy understands." Bruce looked at Steve, "Another nightmare?" He was concerned about his friends health. Steve barely ate or slept and when he did it was only enough to make sure that it sustained him. He could tell they were losing him and wasn't sure what could be done to save him.
"Yeah, it...it was more real this time. Like I was there and couldn't save Tony from being killed." Steve bit back a sob and rolled over onto his side, curling into a ball. He felt for the ring on his finger then reached for the chain around his neck. Pepper had told him to make sure that Tony's murderers paid with their life and he would. They had been looking for them for the past year with no luck though and his patience was beginning to wear thin. "The ring Bruce, it's a fake." He whispered softly, he slid his finger around the inside of the band, feeling the smooth surface as he twisted it repeatedly.
Bruce looked up from the book he had in his hands and frowned. "You're sure, I mean we never did examine it to be sure but how...how do you know for sure?" If the ring was a fake then there was hope that Tony was still alive and that was something they could all use right now.
"The inscription on the inside of our rings has our initials and wedding date." Steve responded absently. He twisted his ring around his finger, the dream still echoing in his head. "The one we were sent is blank, the metal is to smooth. Tony always worked with his ring on no matter what and there are no dirt stains or anything, this one is to shiny and new." Steve pulled at the ring and chain around his neck until the chain broke. He sat up slowly and blinked, trying to clear his vision. His head throbbed as he tried to focus, "JARVIS, lower the lights to fifty percent please." He sighed in relief when the lights lowered and the pain receded to a tolerable level. He handed Bruce the ring they had been sent over a year ago. "I've known for a while it wasn't Tony's, was hoping we could find a lead, a hint, or something about where he and Aveline are or what happened to them." He watched as Bruce looked at it then handed it back to him.
"You're sure it's not his though, I mean Steve you've been pretty out of it since he was murdered, you're positive that this isn't Tony's ring?" Bruce watched as Steve took of his ring and handed it to him. He was surprised by the action because neither Steve nor Tony were known to ever remove their rings for anyone. He took it from Steve and looked on the inside of the band. He saw Steve and Tony's initials as well as a date inscribed on the inside. "Hang on did you say the date is your wedding date? Why were we not told of this or even invited?" Bruce handed Steve his ring back and frowned at his friend. "At the very least Tony should have said something about it, there is no way he wouldn't brag about marrying you." Bruce knew Tony's penchant to share all things Captain America/Steve Rogers related. He could never shut up long enough about the tall blond for anyone to ever appreciate what he said but Bruce knew that if a wedding had taken place Tony would have said something.
"He wouldn't have told anyone Bruce, not even you. We were worried about someone using it against us if the other was ever captured. It would have also put everyone we know and love in danger." Steve slid his ring back on his finger and sighed at the familiar weight. "They had to have let Tony keep his ring Bruce. He has to be alive if they sent me a copy." Steve looked up at Bruce, he knew he was grasping at straws, after a year anyone else would have given up hope but Steve knew anything was possible. He'd lost over seventy years when he had first met Tony, been frozen in ice, sleeping, as the world passed him by and everyone he knew and loved had come and gone. He knew he was expecting a miracle that very well may not happen. "There is no way I can believe Tony is dead Bruce. He wouldn't give up on me, would never believe that I was dead and he would never stop looking for me." He knew Tony was alive, he wasn't sure how but the fact that the ring he'd been sent was fake helped solidify the feeling.
Bruce watched as Steve looked down at the other ring, the one made to look like Tony's but not. "Well we do know that Emilie is in Europe, Fury is trying to track her down now. We still haven't heard from Aveline but we think there may be some type of dampener being used to where she can't get a call out to us. If Tony is alive our concern is now doubled. From what I understand from the villagers in Laos, the man that had gone in with Avie is still there, along with a few others but the rest of the group is not. So you may be right and if that's the case then we need to get everyone together and head to Laos or Thailand." Bruce pulled out his cell and sent a text to Maria Hill, "I'll have Hill meet us with the Quinjet within the hour. JARVIS contact all the Avengers and let them know to be ready to leave in an hour or less."
"Yes Dr. Banner. Will there be anything else I can assist you or Captain Rogers with?"
Steve looked at Bruce, the baby blue eyes were still dull but there was a glimmer in there depths that had been missing since Tony's kidnapping. "Make sure that we have everything we need JARVIS and make sure that we have one of Tony's suits. I want the bracelets as well and let Pepper and Rhodey know that we are going after him."
Steve wasn't sure what they would find but he knew he had to do something or lose his mind just sitting in the Tower. He looked at Bruce and offered him a small smile, "He has to be alive Bruce, I can't do this without Tony." He looked at the door at the sound of someone clearing their throat. He smiled when he noticed Bucky standing in the doorway.
"I heard you're going after Stark, I want to go." He looked from Steve to Bruce then back to Steve. "I have to know if Aveline is alive as well Steve. She means something to me, something I can't put my finger on but I know she means more than just a friend. Besides, what kind of best friend would I be if I let you up and leave to go look for Stark and not at least come with you to help?" Bucky wasn't sure just how important Aveline really was to him but he knew how much Tony meant to Steve. He, along with the rest of the Avengers had watched as Steve had slowly started to turn into himself, closing off everyone close to him. He wanted his best friend back and happy and he knew the only way for that to happen was if they found Tony's body or Tony alive. "Besides, if we find Stark alive I may be able to negotiate with these people if that's what it takes."
"No. Tony wouldn't allow either of us to do that then and he wouldn't now." Steve sighed, he knew it was the reason Tony had given and despite Steve having not agreed he did as he was asked. He had not negotiated and in turn it might have gotten Tony killed. "We are not going to risk anyone else to these bastards. We've only heard from them once since they..." he hesitated to say the words, the pain they brought still fresh in his mind. He looked up at Bruce and then over to Bucky, "We're going to Laos first, see what we can find out and if that doesn't work we're going to Thailand. There has to be some trail or...or something to find them. Someone has to have at least seen Aveline, her eyes are unforgettable and there has to have been a doctor brought in to...to at least check on Tony..." He was frustrated they hadn't been able to find anything about where either of them or this Division X could be.
"So we're finally going to go look for ourselves now?" Clint stood in the doorway of the bedroom, dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black tank top. He had his bow and quiver already strapped on and ready to go. "I mean we have heard what all our contacts had said but we all know it won't do us any good unless we go ourselves. Besides, I've been dying to put some arrows in some Division X ass for a while now." He grinned at Steve and winked at Bruce.
Shaking his head, Bruce couldn't help the blush, he was still shy about the fact that he and Clint were in a relationship but would freely admit it if asked. Looking back at Steve he smiled, "It's good to see you up and more animated. We were beginning to worry about you big guy."
Steve looked down and frowned, he'd been in a fog for so long. He hadn't realized how his moods had been affecting everyone else. "I-I'm sorry Bruce, I wasn't trying to..."
Bruce cut him off softly, "No one is saying you need to apologize Steve. We all understand that this has been harder on you than anyone else. We don't expect you to be all smiles, I'm just saying that it's good to see some life back in you." He smiled at his friend, relieved to see him talking more despite the hoarse voice.
Bucky nodded is head and grunted as Natasha poke him in the side with her elbow. Looking down he noticed she was holding a silver case. Frowning he looked up at her then back to the case. It looked familiar but he couldn't figure out why.
"It belonged to you during your mission in Paris. It was given to you by your...by the agent you were working with. We found it after it had been dropped off at S.H.I.E.L.D by a mysterious friend." She offered him a small smile. She knew he'd caught her slip up, could see the interest in his eyes as he looked at the case.
"Who gave it to me, do you know?" Bucky kept his eyes on the case, he knew he shouldn't be worried about it not but if it was Aveline...
Natasha's smile widened a bit as she simply handed him the case and walked over to where Steve was sitting on the bed. "It's about time we go. We're going to go finish getting ready and making sure things are set. You get a shower and make sure you bring all the little toys you know Tony loves." She smiled at the look that crossed Steve's face. She knew not to doubt the blond when he was determined and Steve was determined to believe that Tony was alive.
Steve gave her a small smile and looked at everyone, "Thanks guy's, I really don't know where I'd be if I didn't have you all." He grinned at the responses he got and waved his hands, "Let's get moving, the sooner we get out there and start looking the sooner we can get our answers." He was praying for a miracle, anything that would help him at least start to heal. If he were honest with himself though he was praying that Tony and Aveline were still alive.
When everyone left the room, headed to get their things together, Steve left the bed and headed to the bathroom. "JARVIS, give me a run down of all the information you and Bruce found on those drives. We're going to need to know the area as well as the people we'll be dealing with."
"Certainly Captain Rogers. Do you wish to know current events as well in all areas or just where the last known Division X activity was reported?"
"Everything, I want to be sure that we don't overlook anything this time. We'll need to be ready for anything as well." He turned on the shower jets and listened as JARVIS went over all the information they'd gathered so far. He wasn't sure what it was they would find this time but he was determined to at least find the ones who've put him through this hell for the past year. It wasn't until JARVIS said something about southern Thailand dealing with minor civil wars, did Steve pause in what he had been doing. "Run that back by me again JARVIS, where are these civil wars happening?" The area sounded like the type of place HYDRA would operate from and if Division X was a part of them...Shaking his head Steve turned off the water, stepped out of the shower and dried off. "Ok, so if we narrow our search area down, what areas are we most likely looking at?" If they could pinpoint a some what decent location they would have their search area.
"The most recent outbreaks have been near the Thailand/Malaysian borders. It is unclear as to what started them currently but there are a few of the rebellions being supplied weapons. It is, however not proven to be a fact at this time. The most recent uprising does coincide with the time that Master Stark was murdered, Sir"
Steve stopped midstep and frowned, "That would mean that they've been in Thailand the entire time we were looking in Laos. Make sure we have all information ready, I don't know what exactly we're looking for but it looks like we're headed to Thailand or Malaysia instead of Laos."
"All current information and hypothesis will be sent to the tablet per your request Sir. Would you also like a complete area analysis map of the terrain? There does seem to be a number of villages on the borders of most of the provinces. Most of them are highly populated, which would be an advantage in hiding among the chaos."
Steve walked around the room getting dressed, the area seemed to be what HYDRA would have picked. The chaos and lack of discipline would appeal to a group that felt the desire for power and control. "Yeah, send what you have and make sure that everyone has the same information. I don't want to walk into any of this blind and risk someone getting hurt or killed. We're not losing anyone else." Steve picked up his cell and keys. Before he left the bedroom he made sure his shield was strapped to his back. "As long as you're accessible JARVIS, I'll definitely feel better." He knew that they were going to need as much help as possible in finding Aveline or Tony.
"If it will help bring Master Stark home, then I offer my services to you Sir." That was the closest JARVIS was going to get to showing any type of emotion but it was understood by Steve, who simply smiled and left the suite.
By the time Steve made it to the launching pad everyone one was loaded and waiting. "Come on old man, we can't keep Stark waiting any longer now can we?" Bucky shouted over the sound of the engines. "You better hurry up before we leave you!"
Steve grinned and took off for the ramp, feeling better than he had since Tony had first gone missing. Finally, they had a lead that very well may bring Tony back to him and that was the only thing Steve cared about.