A/N: Thank you for all of those who read and I hope you enjoy. This chapter is shorter than the others but we are nearing the end.
Chapter 13
April 21, 1987
Steve heard the beeping of a heart monitor, the smell of disinfectant heavy around him, and the low tones of hushed whispers just beyond his bed. He opened his bleary eyes and saw Fury and Howard in a heated, whispered discussion. "What's wrong?"
Howard looked over at him and sighed. "Thank God you're up." He walked over to Steve and slapped him across the face.
"Easy, Stark," warned Fury.
Howard frowned. "He deserved it."
Steve looked at the old engineer. "I did. I'm sorry I got Tony stuck in this mess. I had no intention to."
"Yeah, I know, but we have bigger problems."
Steve's heart sank. "Peggy?"
"Sergeant Barnes. We currently have him in a holding cell as he is HYDRA. He's losing his mind in there," explained Fury.
"Then take him out."
"Rogers, don't you see we can't? He may have been our friend, but now he's the enemy. We can't let him go until we know for sure." Howard paused. "And we probably won't know until Peggy wakes up."
"Peggy's still asleep," whispered Steve.
Howard looked at him with a weariness that a man much older than him should have. "We've got the scientist trying to figure out what HYDRA put them out with. Neither of them have woken up yet."
"I'm sorry, Howard."
"Yeah, well you can't change what happened."
Steve tried to get out of the hospital bed, but waves of pain overcame him.
"You're not leaving that bed anytime soon Cap. You have three broken ribs, a punctured lung and a piece of glass in your back that would have killed a normal man, not to mention all the bruises that have got to hurt like hell. A normal man would have been dead," explained Howard.
"Well, then. I guess I'm just lucky."
"More like super serum. We already have the team that was sent out to find Agent Carter working on the problem in Russia, but I want to know what happened at the HYDRA base," asked Fury.
Steve sighed. "Zola wanted a sample of my blood to analyze for the super soldier serum. I guess he had managed to make his own version, but it wasn't good enough. Whatever he was looking for he must have found because after that he had me hooked up and pouring out blood like a maple tree pouring out syrup in the winter. Bucky came in once I learned I could throw my weight against the chair and pull it from its hinges. We fought, an alarm went off and I gave him the choice of staying or leaving. We grabbed Tony and Peggy and ran like hell. He killed Zola as we stole a bird and left. After that, I've got nothing."
"Shit, how much did Zola get from you," asked Howard.
"I don't know. I passed out after a while."
Fury uncrossed his arms and headed for the door. "I'll send a team to see if they can fish any HYDRA agents from that lab, but if they're smart they'll have already left by now." Fury left Howard and Steve staring at each other, the beeping of Steve's heart monitor the only thing breaking the silence.
Howard coughed and wiggled in the seat at the end of Steve's bed. "I haven't told her. Maria," he clarified when he saw Steve's confused expression, "I figured it would be easier for her to just believe Tony's still at college. I don't think she could handle the truth."
Steve sat up. "You should tell her. What happens if Tony never wakes up? She'll be pissed if you could have told her earlier."
Howard slammed his hands against the end of the bed. "Damn it, Steve don't you think I've already thought of that!" He sank in his chair. "If Maria knew...if she knew I let our only child be put in danger. She'd probably kick me out for it and I know I deserve it." He nervously ran his hands through his hair. "I am a terrible father Steve."
"No you aren't-"
"Bullshit. We both know what you were about to say was bullshit. I'm a terrible father and there really is no use to deny it. Jesus, what were me and Maria thinking?"
"You wanted a kid. Is it so hard to be human, Stark?"
Howard rolled his eyes. "Yes, Star-Spangled Man with a Plan, it's hard being a genius, billionaire, father, philanthropist, and human on top of all of that. Can't you cut me some slack?"
"Stop joking Howard this is serious."
"And I'm serious too! Do you have any idea what it's like wondering if your kid's going to die or not?!"
Steve frowned. "Yes, I do."
Howard's face turned to shock. "Oh shit. Steve I didn't mean-I completely forgot-"
"Get out."
"Steve-"
"GET OUT!"
Howard flinched, but stood his ground. "How would Peggy feel if she knew? That we were fighting instead of trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with them. She'd tell us to get our heads out of our asses and get to work."
"You think you know my wife better than I do?"
Howard crossed his arms and then uncrossed them. "No, but I'm saying she wouldn't be putting up with our shit. She would have told us to put it aside and fight later when there was time. If there was time."
Steve sighed. "Do you know when they're releasing me?"
"Probably tomorrow. You were out all of yesterday, so you were able to heal faster then," explained Howard with a sigh.
"So I'll see you tomorrow?"
Howard leaned against the doorframe wearily. "Yeah, tomorrow."