Hello everyone, here's the next chapter:) Hope you love it as much as the others! Thanks for reading:)

Tony knocked out a few more drones before he started to realize that he wasn't going to be able to finish the mission. Sweat was dripping down his face, his chest felt like it was on fire, and he was having trouble reacting to the dangers all around him. There was a cut on his forehead that was probably going to need stitches; blood was mixing in with the sweat on his face. Through his thoughts, he saw a drone coming towards him and his foggy mind didn't seem to let him react in time. Tony braced for the impact that was definitely coming…

An instant before the drone hit him, it collapsed in a heap of metal and steam on top of him. He pushed it away and it dropped with a clang onto the ground. Tony let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and dropped to his knees, staring at the drone. What had made it collapse? He took a few deep breaths, willing the pain to go away and the SHIELD intercom within the suit turned on and Fury's voice filled Tony's suit.

"Okay everyone, Steve has infiltrated the main drone and shut off the control center. According to our data, every drone should have stopped working. Now all we need to do is the cleanup. Every piece of technology is now SHIELD property. Please take it back to the Manhattan headquarters on 4th avenue."

Tony sighed and went to stand up, the suit preventing him from swaying and falling over. There were a lot of drones on the streets; this cleanup could take hours. Not only that, but people were flooding the streets, surrounding him, cheering for the success. He raised his arm and waved, humoring the crowds.

"Thank you everyone, but I haven't finished yet. Please let me do my job and clear the streets."

They backed off some, letting him through as he began to pick up the scraps and put them in a large pile on the side of the street. Some of the people were actually helping him, and Tony almost smiled. One little kid was struggling to lift a large arm that Tony had blown off one of the drones. He went over and helped him lift it. They dropped it on top of the large pile that was growing every second.

"Thanks, kid. Couldn't have done it without you."

"No problem!" he said, a large grin on his little face. He turned and raced over to his mom. Tony turned around and bumped right into a very angry Captain America.

"Tony, it's time for you to go home!" He growled.

"I'm not going anywhere." Tony said.

"Why are you so stubborn? Can't you follow any type of order? You need rest."

"I'm fine! Why are you so stubborn?"

"Look, I was sent to tell you that Bruce is already back up in the tower and last I saw him, he hadn't changed back from the Hulk."

"You mean you just let the Hulk in my tower?"

"He does live there, you know. I thought you were a genius." Steve said with a smirk. Tony considered going back for a minute and then thought better of it.

"I am a genius." Tony said.

"Right, like I'll believe that a genius would do something as stupid as compromising his health just to fight in a routine battle. We all know you're trying to prove a point that you're fine and well here's news for you: we all know you're not fine, so grow up and admit it." Steve clenched his jaw and gave Tony his best threatening look.

"The Hulk isn't really in my tower, is he?"

"Yes he is."

"JARVIS says you're lying. Your heart rate is elevated and he's pointed out several nervous ticks of yours. Stop twiddling your thumbs."

Steve clenched his hands.

"Shut up and go home." He turned around and began cleaning up the street.

"Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Tony chanted. Steve's face went red but he continued on with his work, ignoring his fellow teammate. Tony really wanted to get a reaction out of him. His pride was feeling a bit hurt at the knowledge everyone didn't want him there even if he knew they were right, so he kept trying.

"Aww, does the red white and spangly have his pants all in a tangly?"

Steve continued to clean up, avoiding Tony's gaze.

"Hey Steve, you just lied in front of a church. Maybe you ought to…"

He never finished, for the pain that had been growing in his chest had become almost unbearable. Tony clenched his teeth.

"Ugh!"

Unfortunately, this simple interjection was the one thing that got Steve's attention. He looked up as Tony stumbled, the suit unable to catch him. He fell to his knees with a loud clank, the pavement cracking under the force of the metal. Tony felt like he couldn't breathe, and in his desperation pulled off the helmet. It fell to the ground, rolling in front of Steve's feet. Steve picked the helmet up and looked down at Tony who was gasping for breath, his face contorted in pain. The sight of his teammate in such a state was shocking. Sweat and blood mingled on his face, his hair matted in a disheveled mess. He had never seen Tony so unkempt. Tony's breathing slowed and he refused to look up, holding out his armored hand for the helmet.

"Give it…Give it back…" He gasped. Steve hesitated. Tony's hand dropped to his side and he looked up, squinting against the sunlight.

"Come on, play nice. Give Ironman his helmet."

"Only if you promise to go back."

Tony sat for a moment, thinking, and then gave up. He nodded, took another deep breath and lifted his arm. Steve placed the helmet gently in the palm of his hand and Tony put it back in place.

"JARVIS, get the landing station ready. I'm going back to the tower."

"Yes sir." The AI responded. Tony stood up and blasted into the sky, making the familiar trip back to the top of Stark tower.

Steve stood on the ground and watched him fly back, to make sure Tony was really going back, and when he saw Tony land gracefully where he was supposed to, he almost scolded himself for not trusting his teammate. Almost.

The land was graceful from a distance, but in reality, it was probably one of the most un-graceful landings Tony had made in quite some time. It jolted him, and caused the pain to flare up yet again. Tony seriously was regretting having left the tower. The machines whirred around him, and the suit was removed. He was walking off the landing pad and saw Pepper at the end of it. She did not look happy at all.

"Hey, Pepper." He said. "How's it going?"

"How's it going? You just risked your life for a stupid reason, hung up on my desperate phone call, barely make it back in one piece and ask me how's it going?" She yelled.

"Yeah, well I'm here now. Where's Bruce? I need him. Like, right now." He said desperately, for he knew what was about to happen. His vision swam and Pepper's voice began to echo strangely.

"Why? What's wrong? Tony? Tony!"

Tony took two steps and collapsed right in front of the door.