He left because there was nothing else to say. Nothing remotely polite, anyway. Tony briefly wondered when he'd gained such amazing self-control, but apparently sobriety had all sorts of interesting side effects. His nerves were still rattled though, so instead of going home he went down to NICU. Babies were supposed to have a soothing effect. He'd heard something along those lines somewhere.

There was no actual need to go inside though. At some point since he had last been there, the doctors had wheeled the incubator close to the window that separated the unit from the rest of the medical ward. Tony could easily see the baby and smiled, touching the glass.

"He looks better, doesn't he?" he still faced the brier but was now speaking to the owner of the pair of heavy approaching steps. "I think he put on some weight, and they took of that blindfold thing so he can... see things, I guess," he released a small nervous laugh. "Christ, listen to me: I'm actually trying to sound like a know something about kids."

Thor, who had made his way to stand next to him by then, clapped the smaller man on the back hard enough that Tony really felt it. Guess sometimes even gods don't know their own strength, he thought wryly making an honest attempt to straighten himself again.

"He looks like a warrior," Thor proclaimed.

He is, Tony silently agreed. How else could have survived all that?

"I have yet to offer my congratulations," the Norse god began, "And I would also offer to buy you a beer, except..."

"Don't even go there," the billionaire waved his hand dismissively. "It's too depressing."

"Very well. How do you feel, my friend?""

"Physically?" he ran a had through his short black hair. "I'm just trying not to think about it. Then maybe I won't throw up all over their nice clean floors. I'd like to think I'm a little better though, you know?" he tapped his temple. "Up here. Brain tumor not withstanding."

"I'm certain you are," Thor smiled and jabbed a finger pointedly at Tony's chest. "And here too, I expect."

"If you have to go all sentimental on me," the man pretended to be annoyed. "Didn't really expect that organ to still function, but life's full of surprises."

"Indeed it is."

"Mr. Stark?" he glanced up as the door of the unit opened. The nurse he remembered from a few days ago stood there smiling. "We think he's ready to come off the ventilator, so you can hold him now if you like."

"Great!" he opened his mouth to say that, of course, he would, then stopped and sighed. "Actually, why don't you call Danvers and give her the good news? She should have the honors first, right?"

The nurse smiled and disappeared back into the unit, presumably to call upstairs. By the look on her face, he just knew she was thinking something stupid along the lines of "Isn't that lovely? Such a nice man...". Thor clearly knew better. As the woman left, the god cocked his head to the side and frowned at him.

"Two more days to go," he held up his fingers in the V sign as a means of explanation.

"Ah," Thor nodded in understanding. "Then I wish you the best of luck."

"Can't you do more than that?" Tony asked, only half joking. "Can't you... wave your magic hammer and fix all this?"

"You know very well I cannot," the god smiled. "That isn't how things work."

"Oh, sure," Tony rolled his eyes in pretense sarcasm. "You can summon an army of ass guards..."

"I believe you mean Asgardian warriors..."

"...but you can't help out one kid."

That earned him a meaningful look. "I'm going to assume that was the withdrawal talking and not hold it against you, but I find it interesting that you would ask on behalf of your son but not for yourself or Colonel Danvers."

"I should be able to help myself," Tony said defensively. "As for the other part, unless you want me to tell you you're taking cues from someone you once considered a 'fascist government lackey', leave it alone."

"If you mean Captain America, I take no offense."

"Yeah, well, speaking of which," he wiped his face and yawned. "I'm heading out. Going to see if I can get any work done at the office. All this drama is costing S.I. millions. Not that I'm actually worried Nicky-boy's going to turn down Stark tech..."

"And you don't want to be here when she comes down," Thor added.

"That too," he did not even bother to deny it. "See you..."

The farewell was interrupted by the sound of a bang, like someone had stumbled against a wall. Both men followed the sound to the elevator doors. Apparently the nurse had made that call, because Carol was slowly but persistently making her way towards them.

Without a wheelchair, Tony noted with some annoyance. What the hell is she trying to prove?

Something was not right. She looked far too pale, even in comparison with how he'd seen her just an hour ago. The walk was clearly becoming more and more difficult with every step, and suddenly Tony forgot his anger.

"Carol?" the worry escalated in his voice.

She stumbled, and he saw that the white hospital gown that should have covered the safely secured stitches from her surgery was once again stained in crimson all around her abdomen, and the red was spreading. He was not even thinking as he ran, somehow managing to catch her just before she crumbled to the floor. Somewhere in the distance – it sounded like very far away – he heard Thor shout for a medic. All Tony heard coming out of his own mouth was:

"Oh, fuck!"