It was another hour before Steve and Tony were rescued. Tony insisted on going straight to the hospital and refused to leave his bedside, even when an overly-polite nurse asked very kindly for the fifth time.
"Please, sir, regular visiting hours won't start until noon."
"Well I'm not a regular visitor."
"The visiting hours for spouses and significant others open at 8, that's just a couple hours away. You could go home, get some rest, change out of that suit…"
Tony had honestly forgotten he was still wearing the Mark VI armor. "Opens at 8, you said? That should be enough time to change and come back I suppose."
"But sir, that's only for spouses and significant others…"
Tony just chuckled at that. He turned to Steve, who was lying in the bed hooked up with tubes. "I'll be back buddy, I promise. Even if I have to buy this hospital to do it." He said that last part louder than necessary for the benefit of anyone else on the staff within earshot.
To the nurse he said, "Will he wake up before I'm back?"
"No, he's sedated pretty heavily. The doctor should be bringing him out of it sometime around noon."
"Excellent. I'll be back in a few." He kissed Steve on the forehead and left.
True to his word, Tony was back at 8 sharp, and he made sure his face was the first thing Steve saw when he woke up. It took some convincing from both of them, but eventually Steve was released on the condition that he continue to be observed by SHIELD's medical staff.
Back at Stark Tower, they were in the gym at Steve's insistence. "I'm feeling much better, Tony. You forget, my body heals at a much faster rate than normal."
"Doesn't mean you can't take it easy for a few more days."
"It's been long enough already, come on. I'll take it easy on you, I promise!"
"You taking it easy on me isn't exactly my worry right now, Steve."
"Okay, how about this. Either you hit me like you mean it, right now, or I'll make you sleep in your own bed tonight."
Tony threw a punch like he meant it, but of course Steve blocked it. "Not fast enough!"
"You weren't complaining about me taking it slow last night."
"Shut up, Tony."