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Blue Eyes Angel 2

You do matter

It was one of those rare moments when Steve missed his old team.

"Put me down!" yelled Steve "Seriously Thor, put me down."

Being slung over Thor's shoulder was not how he was expecting to end a successful mission. Yes, Steve did get injured on the said mission. No, that did not mean that his current comrades had to treat him like an invalid and carry him to the infirmary like a pack of potatoes. Did Steve jump in front of Thor to block an attack meant for him that resulted in Steve falling off a rather deep drop? Yes. Steve's taken more significant hits before, as Captain America and Steve Rogers. He uses to jump on top of fake grenades and real ones. Jumping off buildings is Steve's every Thursday, falling off buildings are no different.

So when the battle was over, and Steve was standing there with blood dripping out of this side, he was not expecting for Natasha to be swearing at him in Russian, Tony to be stumbling out of his suit while cursing at Steve in English. A naked Bruce to be holding pressure on his injury with this shell-shocked look, Clint to be standing in front of Steven like a bodyguard while calling for emergency medical attention, and Thor roaring at the fallen enemy to rise again so that he may crush them.

Leading Steve to where he is now. "I'm fine, will you please let me go," he asked hoping one of his teammates will relent.

"No," said Thor.

Because of the way Steve was over Thor's shoulder he could not see the man's face. He could, however, look at the faces of Tony and Natasha, who were all but giving him death looks while walking behind Thor. Natasha's face was more of a critical look like she's trying to crawl inside his brain and get what she needs from him. Tony is looking at him like he's trying to figure out the best way to make his life miserable.

"Let me go right now, that's an order," said Steve.

Thor's movement did not halt, nor did he release Steve. Tony's mouth did a little quirk like he thought what Steve said was adorable. Damn them. The Howling Commandos were never this difficult.

The Howling Commandos listened to his orders and never became overdramatic when he got hurt. Only ones who would worry when he got hurt where his mom, Bucky, and Peggy.

"I don't need to go to medical, I will heal in a couple of hours," said Steve. He squirmed in Thor's arms, hoping to worm his way out of the man's grip. Thor only adjusted his grip, causing him to jerk Steve more over on his shoulder.

The motion caused Steve to grab hold like a cat holding onto a tree. "Hey! Oh, that is it! Let me down, this is ridiculous."

"Let me ask you something Cap," said Natasha. "If one of us were injured, would you think it's ridiculous?"

"No, of course not. I would never think that," said Steve.

"Then why are you the exception?" questioned Natasha.

Steve sighed. "Because I am the exception."

"Compared to what, an Asgardian God?" asked Tony, joining the conversation.

"They were using stolen alien tech; who knows what that could have done to Thor. And just because he's Asgardian does not mean that his life is any less easy to throw in danger," said Steve.

"Exactly," added Clint, who was walking in front of Thor. Still acting like Steve's bodyguard.

Steve tried to turn and face him. "What?"

"Your life is not any easier to throw away," said Natasha.

Steve tried to process that, but his brain would not allow it. "No, I...I'm the leader of this team, it's my job to-"

"To what, throw your life away?" questioned Tony. "You need to re-think the purpose of a leader if that's what you believe."

"No, it's what I do, it's what I always do," argued Steve.

"Not anymore. Not on this team," said Natasha.

Steve shook his head, "No, you don't understand I-"

"Do not argue with us kid!" yelled Clint. "You are already in a shit load of trouble so I would not make it worse!"

Steve was shocked. Did Clint call him a kid?

He thrashed harder on Thor's shoulder. "I'm not a kid! I'm older than all of you!"

"That would be Thor. Since he's like a century old," remarked Tony. "You're 70 years old and in yours in like what, your 20's?"

"Oh good, you're here, quick get him in here!"

Steve looked behind him to see Coulson waiting for them outside of SHIELD medical wing. His face became flushed; he was already embarrassed about everyone seeing Thor carry him like some dame throughout the building, now Coulson had to see him like this.

When Thor evenly put Steve down it was on a plastic covered medical bed. The second his body hit the bed there was commotion. A doctor who Steve recognized as Dr. Peterson and two nurses came to Steve's side to attend to him. Tony, Natasha, and Thor were pushed out by a third nurse, who explained that the rest of them needed examined as well and would let them know the minute Captain Rogers would be available for visitors. Tony protested very loudly about not liking hospitals, especially SHIELD hospital, but before Steve could tell the man to go, Natasha had him by the ear and was dragging him away like a naughty child. Thor said he did not need the medical assistant but followed Natasha and Tony out anyway after exchanging silent looks with Clint. Clint stayed by the door entrance. Guess that meant he was still playing the role of bodyguard to Captain America. Bruce was inside the room and was helping the medical team with Steve. When one of the nurses came at him with scissors, to take off what he figured his suit, Steve tried to get off the bed, only for Bruce to push him back down.

"I'm fine, really my wound is going to heal soon anyway," he argued.

Peterson is looking at his side. "He's right. He is already starting to heal."

"But you should still be treated." cut in Bruce before Steve could say anything.

"Agreed," said Dr. Peterson. "There might be some unknown after actives from the blast, plus I heard from Doctor Banner that you had quite a fall. Better make sure you didn't suffer damage from that."

Steve finally held still long enough for them to cut him free of this suit and leave him in his shorts. The doctor began to examine him when Coulson walked back in with Fury.

"What the hell happened?" demanded Fury.

"He took a shot for Thor, and fell off a thirty-foot build," said Clint, back to the door while talking.

Steve avoided eye contact when Coulson, Fury and Doctor Peterson shot him a glare.

"Thor is a fucking god from another planet, do you think a gunshot would kill him!"

"No, but sir-"suddenly Steve felt himself become dizzy.

He felt himself fall back on the bed.

"Steve" somebody called.

Then everything went black.

When he finally woke up, he was still in SHIELD hospital. Except now he was in a gown and had an ivy attached to his arm. He reached forward to grab it.

"Don't even think about it."

Steve glanced over to see Coulson sitting on a chair watching Steve like a hawk.

"Hello," said Steve.

"You, young man are going to be the death of me. You passed out from too much blood loss, and that's because you were struggling against Thor so much," replied Coulson.

Steve winced at the "going to be the death of me" part, remembering Fury handing Steve Coulson bloody Captain America cards. He did not want to experience that again.

"Sorry," he said. "So, what's the damage?" he asked.

"You're going to be in here for at least two weeks," explained Coulson. "But the Doc checked you over, and everything seems to be good. You have a normal looking bullet wound that went right through you. That should heal in about three weeks."

"Three weeks!" exclaimed Steve.

"Hey, most people have to wait longer, but you're lucky with that fast healing of yours," said Coulson.

"Yeah" replied Steve wincing in pain. "Lucky me."

They were both quiet for a long time before Coulson spoke.

"Why did you jump in front of Thor?" he asked.

Steve looked at him surprised by his question. "The gun was alien tech; we have no idea what it could have done to Thor-"

"Steve"

Steve looked up at Coulson to see his usual "I know better, now tell me" stare.

Steve sighed. "For most of my life, I have also been the little guy that no one needed. I use to jump on top of grenades because it made sense to lose me rather than a whole squad of good soldiers. So when I became Captain America, someone that everyone needed and counted on, I had trouble adjusting, I still do. Bucky used to ride my tail about all the risk I would take on missions. It's just hard to forget that I'm not skinny Steve that no one needs anymore."

Coulson walked over to Steve and placed a hand on his forehead. "It's that little guy inside of you that makes you Captain America and makes all of us love and care about you. You do matter to us Steve Rogers, Captain America or skinny Steve. Try to remember that before you jump in front of a bullet or on a grenade."

Steve chuckled. "Okay, I will, thank you, Phil."

"No problem, get some sleep Captain, you're going to need it when your team comes in here to yell at you."

Steve groaned.

Just great.