That was one hell of a nest of Hydra they ran into. And on top of that they barely escaped in one piece when a man in a damned mask came outta nowhere and attacked them. He had gotten this funny feeling fighting that man, as if he knew him from somewhere. He snorted, 'Me...know a Hydra agent...like hell I do.'

But that still didn't help him shake the feeling of familiarity he felt when watching the man move. His chest ached as he remembered his thoughts during that encounter.

Some of those moves had reminded him so heavily of Barnes that it had distracted him long enough for the man to get that hit to his head in. That was before he ended up slicing at his vest with a damn bowie knife. It had unfortunately caused the slip of fabric that had Lyla's perfume on it to fall out. The man had been crouched over him ready to bury that knife in his neck but just stopped. He just knelt there above him, knife held up and was looking at him with so much confusion in his eyes it made his chest hurt.

His life flashed before his eyes several times in the few minutes he laid there thinking his life was about to end.

When the man lifted the knife again, he closed his eyes and uttered only one thing. "I'm sorry dove."

Nothing happened.

One eye cracked open and the man was nowhere to be found. His eyes flew open and he looked around him in shock, and found the knife buried in the dirt next to his head. He slumped back with a groan. 'Damn that was close. Too close.'

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Dugan stumbled off the plane, leaning most of him weight on Morita. Most of his head was covered by a thick white bandage that was tinged pink and he was favoring his right leg.

"Damn Tim, can you be any heavier?" He grumbled.

Tim chuckled. "I could if I didn't exercise self control when it came to Lyla's baking. God what I wouldn't give for some Bread and Butter pudding right now..."

"Yeah, well right now you are going to the hospital. You don't look good at all."

"I feel fine. I just need-" He didn't finish because his eyes rolled back and he passed out, falling to the ground with a thump.

"Damn it! We need a medic now!" Jim panicked. Dugan had never passed out after a mission.

If it wasn't for that damn Hydra soldier hitting him too hard with his rifle butt, he would still be awake.

And what was Lyla going to say?

Morita went pale. 'Oh god, Lyla is going to flip out.'

Gabe rushed off the plane and over to them. "What the hell happened?"

"Dugan was saying he was fine, but he was stumbling all over the place like a drunk. One minute he was talking about Lyla's baking and before I could stop him he fell over unconscious."

"Damn! Lyla's not going to like this."

"Lyla va être très en colère avec lui. Very upset."

"Oui, you can say that again, Dernier."

They watched with bated breath as their commander was rolled onto a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance that pulled up.

"I'll ride with him. Gabe can you and Dernier get a hold of Stark and have him bring Lyla to the hospital?" Morita questioned.

Gabe nodded, "Yeah. I'll give him a call then I'll meet you there, okay?"

"Got it."

Jim watched the two men for a few seconds before turning and climbing into the ambulance after Dugan. He shook his head as he looked at his commander.

'You better wake up and wake up fast, ya big lug.'

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Lyla sat in the main sitting room, her fingers sliding across the pages of her new braille copy of The Hobbit. Gabe had suggested it to her one day and Tin had gone out of his way to get her a braille version so she could enjoy it.

Oh and she was.

She really could see similarities between her and this Bilbo. Both at first thinking themselves so out of their element. But not any more.

Her infant son hiccupped in his sleep and she smiled.

He was almost 5 months old now and growing like a weed. He was definitely going to be built like his father when he was older.

And he absolutely adored his father, always giggling when Tim would blow raspberries on his bare tummy or when he was pretending to eat his feet.

She giggled, 'It was his moustache that was pulling the giggles from the boy. It definitely tickled at times.'

Just then little Stevie woke up from his nap crying, jabbering, and kicking his legs. It was just a few seconds later that the harsh ringing of the phone filled the air.

Lyla frowned, something just didn't feel right. The phone usually never rang at this time of day, not unless Tim was away on a mission, but he wasn't due back for another two days.

She heard a click and then Edwin's voice as he answered.

"Hello, Stark residence. How may I help you?"

He paused before exclaiming, "Mr. Jones, how are you? You've just returned have you?"

"Oh no."

Lyla's heart sunk. Something had happened. That must have been why Stevie was crying like he was.

It was confirmed when Jarvis asked, "Which hospital? Alright, I'll bring Lyla immediately. We'll meet you there."

There was a click as he hung the phone up and then footsteps as he walked into the room.

Lyla held Stevie close to her and calmly spoke, "Its Tim isn't it? How bad is it?"

"He's being taken to the hospital right now. Mr. Morita rode with him."

"How bad?" She pressed.

"He suffered hits to both his right leg and the left side of his head. He fell unconscious just as he stepped off the plane. We don't know anything more than that."

She nodded, "Than you have to take us to him."

"I don't think little Steve should go. Ana would be more than willing to look after him for you."

Footsteps could be heard approaching from the direction of the kitchen. "What's all this about me watching little Stevie?"

"Tim is in the hospital, Ana. He's unconscious."

"Well, then give me that sweet baby and get going."

Lyla gave her a sad smile, "Thank you Ana. Everything Stevie needs is the bag by the couch."

"I know, I know. Just go see to your husband. I've got the little one."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

It took them no time getting to the hospital and Lyla was a nervous wreck by the time they reached the front desk.

"Can I help you honey?" The nurse questioned her.

"Um, yes, my husband was brought in a short time ago. Timothy Dugan. I'd like to know what room he's in?"

"Well, how you going to know its him. I mean you-"

Lyla snapped, "Yes I'm blind, but I still have my ears and my hands. So if you would PLEASE give me the room number or do I have to just start yelling his name down the hall? I bet that would be very helpful to you, now wouldn't it?"

The nurse swallowed hard, "I'm-I'm sorry, Mrs. Dugan. He's in room 354. Down the left hall."

Jarvis took her arm and lead her down the left hall. He leaned over to her and whispered, "You are quite intimidating at times, you know that right?"

"You can thank Tim for teaching me that."

"Oh no, I'm quite sure you didn't learn that from him."

She gave a soft smile and just shook her head.

"Ahh, 354, here we are."

They both stopped and they could hear low voices talking in the room and when they entered, the voices fell silent.

"Lyla."

That was Jim and Lyla remembered what Edwin had told her he had done.

She smiled, "Jim, thank you for getting him here."

"No problem at all, ma'am. He'd do the same for me. The doctor has already been in to look him over."

"What did he say?"

Gabe was the one who answered this time. "He'll live. The wounds aren't life-threatening."

She let out a long breath, relieved that it hadn't been bad news. She couldn't handle losing Tim like she lost her brother and Bucky. She feared that if she lost him, it would destroy her completely. She wouldn't be able to live without Tim in her life. She loved him far too much.

"But there's another problem."

Her voice shook, "What problem?"

"He hasn't woken up yet."

"What do the doctors think?"

"Well, if he doesn't wake up after a day, he'll be marked as a coma patient."

Tears sprang to her eyes, "A coma patient? No, he'll wake up. I know he will. He wouldn't leave me and Stevie like this."

"You should try talking to him. I..uhh...heard that hearing familiar voices can help. And I know he'd wake up faster if you told him to."

She giggled through her tears, "He doesn't want to upset me."

"Here, let me help you."

"Thank you Gabe."

He helped her to the side of Tim's bed and she reached over and touched his arm. One hand moved to grip his hand tightly and the other slid up to his face. His cheek felt too warm. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes and how motionless he seemed. If it wasn't for the gentle rise and fall of his chest...

Her breath hitched in her throat.

"Tim? It's me, Lyla. Your dove?"

There was no change in his at her words and the tears slid down her cheeks.

"Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader Dugan, you listen to me right now! You better wake up mister! Your son and I want you awake and at home as soon as possible, you hear me strongman?"

Still he didn't make a move or utter a single word and she laid her head down on his chest and cried.

"Damn it, Tim! Wake up! Wake up!"

"Miss Lyla, here. Let's get you to a chair, alright?"

She sniffled and nodded.

Once she was sitting down, Jarvis spoke again.

"Do you need some water?"

"No, but can you call Ana and check on Stevie? I'm worried about him too."

"Of course. There's a phone over here."

There was a click and a grind as the receiver was picked up and the number was dialed.

After a few seconds he started speaking, "Ana, dear, it's Edwin. How's...whatever is wrong? Oh...is he hungry? You tried that already? Well, what about a fresh nappy? Tried that too? Hmm..."

Lyla frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Apparently Steve is missing his mother. He hasn't stopped fussing since we left."

Lyla sighed, "Well, can you go get them and bring them here? I can't leave Tim's side, not until he wakes up."

"Did you hear that Ana. I'll be there to fetch you and the baby momentarily. Yes, I'll tell her. Good bye."

The phone call ended with a click.

Footsteps made their way to the door and stopped, "I'll return in half an hour, okay? Can you gentlemen keep her company til then?"

"Of course. We're not gonna leave until he wakes up too."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Lyla knew when they returned because Stevie was crying profusely now. His cries echoing off the walls.

Gabe whistled low, 'That kid is not happy right now."

Lyla shook her head, "This isn't like him at all. He's usually such a happy boy."

"Well, we managed to make it here. Complete with pounding headaches."

"Here, let me take him."

The baby gave a hiccup and sputtered a cry.

"Well, look at that. He's reaching for Tim."

Her brow furrowed, "But how?"

"Hmm...I wonder..." Edwin mused.

"Wonder what?"

"I think the little boy knows something's not right. Let's try setting him close to his father."

"Alright, but I'll hold him, okay?"

Edwin helped her to the bed again and she sat down, slightly turned towards him, and Ana set the boy down in her arms.

Lyla smiled, "Tim, look who's here...Its Stevie. Little Bit? He's really upset at the moment as I'm sure you can hear. Stevie can you say hi to daddy? Say hi, daddy?"

The little boy's cries faded to a gurgle and then all of a sudden a little voice breaks the silence.

'Dadaa...daa."

"Well, I guess we now know who his favorite is." Morita interjected.

A low groan caught their attention and Steve began to wiggle in her arms.

"Daadaa..."

"Lyla?"

A cry caught in her throat and tears ran down her face. "Tim?"

"Yeah, dove?" His voice was shaky, but it was his. He was awake.

"You're awake!"

A coo caught his attention, "Hey, little bit. You been a good boy for mommy?"

"Dadaa...dada..."

"Did he just-"

"He just said his first word. His first word!"

Tim grinned widely, "That's my boy."