A/N: Here we go! Finally were getting somewhere, hehe.

Chapter Fourteen: Something I'm Forgetting…

Steve woke up with a feeling of all consuming numbness. It took him a while to realize that he was in fact awake and… Well… Alive for that matter. He looked no better either. He had prominent dark circles under his eyes and his face was a little sunken in. He spaced out watching his heartbeat on the monitor.

"Oh! You're awake!" A voice rang out somewhere to Steve's left.

He slowly turned his head, immensely reluctant to stop viewing the heart monitor, to find Dr. Hank McCoy with a relieved expression on his face, standing in the doorway. He came all the way in to check the monitors.

"It was very touch and go there for a while." Hank said as he adjusted some of the settings.

He smiled kindly at Steve. The Captain could only blink. He heard what Hank was saying but it just wasn't sinking in. Hank analyzed Steve's reaction.

"Hmm, I figured you may have a condition like this. As far as I can tell it's temporary." Hank said pensive, more to himself.

Dr. Jean Grey walked in suddenly.

"Professor said he was awake?" Jean stated as she stood next to Hank.

"Yes but he's not quite responsive." He said.

"So I see," she paused. "Do you need my assistance?"

"That is not necessary, at least for now. The fact that he had acknowledged my presence is a good sign." He said. "I just have to make some adjustments to his treatment."

She nodded.

Steve watched the exchange like it was happening miles from there. He was vaguely aware that they were talking about him. However, he was still unable to be fully present. He felt so lost. He watched as Jean and Hank finished their conversation. He turned back to the beeping monitor as Dr. Grey left the room.

There was something itching at the back of his mind. He resolutely ignored Hank in favor of focusing on that inch. There was something important… Yes… Important. He did not know what.

The monitor kept beeping.

He blinked at it. There was something important he was doing.

Yes! That's right!

He was doing something important. He blinked again only to discover more people in the room. Director Fury was talking to Hank and Charles. When did they arrive?

"Yes, he's been awake for three hours now." Fury nodded with a pinched look on his face.

Huh, three hours? Steve could have sworn it had only been minutes… He turned his attention back to the monitor.

Fury's presence means something. He knows who Fury really is but he can't seem to remember why that's important.

Important… He was trying to figure out what he was doing that was important! He did not have time to identify Fury's significance. But what was important? He did not know.

He was doing something. What was it?

"Destroy the core."

What? Destroy the core? Was that what he was doing? Yes! It was important to destroy the core.

But why?

He could feel it, destroying the core was incredibly important.

What was the core anyhow? Destroying it was important… Because… It was dangerous… And painful.

No! Lots of pain! It caused so much pain!

Why did he go near something so painful? That's just stupid… Stupid?

"Something stupid!"

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you!"

What? He knew it was stupid but did it anyway.

Why? What was so important to destroy the core that had caused so much pain? Something had to be worth it.

Yes that's it! Something else so important that he had to feel the pain and break the core.

But what was so important?

"It's been ten hours since he has awakened." He heard Hank speak again. Someone else spoke but he could not hear their response.

"No! You shouldn't see him yet. He's conscious but unresponsive. We fear any over stimulus could make his condition worse."

The person spoke again but Steve could not hear his words.

"Don't worry I will alert you immediately of any changes, I promise."

Steve turned just in time to see a silhouette leave the doorway as Hank closed the door. Steve could have sworn he saw a flash of soft blue light. It was somehow incredibly soothing. Like all the sudden all his questions have been answered.

His questions? He looked back at the monitor. But his questions weren't answered.

Why was it so important to destroy the core? That blue light…

What was so special about that blue light? What was it about that light that made it important to destroy that core?

He stared at the heart monitor as it continued to beep that constant rhythm. Beep…beep…beep… His heart… A heart… It was a heart! The blue light was a heart.

Who does it belong to?

Someone special? Yes! There was someone special!

What did it have to do with destroying the core? The core of a devise that could cause so much pain…

Did this devise hurt that special person? He would destroy the core to protect someone. Someone with an artificial heart… Heart… He holds his heart.

"Do you love him?"

"Yes, I do."

Who does he love? The man with the artificial heart. Artificial… Artificial… He has an artificial body… No not body, armor. Iron armor, not actual iron but called iron… Armor… Iron something… Iron suit? No… Iron person?... No… Iron Man? Iron Man yes! It was Iron Man!

Iron Man, whom he loves, was in danger so he destroyed the core! Ah ha! It felt so good to finally come to that conclusion. Steve's elation was short lived however. There was something else even more important.

What was it?

It was fine right? He destroyed the core so that everyone could get free…

Everyone?

Free?

His team! His family! The Avengers! And,

"Tony!" He shouted out suddenly.

They were hurt, they could have been dying! Where are they? Are they safe? Steve's mind finally clicked back together after eighteen hours of regaining consciousness.

The Captain took in his surroundings. He found that he was in an infirmary room in the compound. He looked at the monitor that had held his attention since his awakening.

"Oh! I thought I had heard something?" Hank came rushing into the room.

Steve nearly startled at his sudden appearance. He swiftly turned to him.

"Where is Tony? And Natasha and Clint and Johnny and everyone? Did they make it? Is everyone okay?"

Steve was ready to leap out of the bed just to shake the answers out of Hank. The Beast stared at him wide eye for a moment in complete stunned silence.

"Well?!" Steve uttered brokenly, mistaking Hanks silence for a reluctance to deliver bad news.

What he hadn't realized of course was that Hank was merely shocked after the fact that the Captain was now lucid, after spending nearly eighteen hours staring blankly at his heart monitor. Hank shook off his surprise quickly in order to alleviate the anxiety attack that was now building in our dear Captain.

"They're fine!" He assured quickly.

He was at Steve's side in moments, checking him over while reassuring him.

"Don't worry Captain. They are all fine." He said soothingly while rubbing Steve's back. "They all made it out safely because of you." He said.

"All of them?" His eyes were pleading.

"Yes, you by far brought us the most concern." Hank replied.

Steve was immediately relieved. His shoulders sagged and his breathing slowed. Before Steve could ask more questions, preferably about the children, the door to the room was slammed open suddenly.

The first thing that Steve noticed was the gentle glow of the arc reactor.

"Tony!" He breathed.

He could not stop himself nor think of any of the implications, he needed to touch Tony.

Right now.

He was so weak, he realized, he definitely could not move out of the bed. Instead he held his arms out the best he could. Immediately his arms were full of asinine genius. He breathed in Tony's scent as he held him as close as he could to his weak body. He ran his hands up and down Tony's back and tangled his fingers into his hair. Tony was shaking slightly trying desperately to hold back sobs.

"I was so worried!" Tony spoke, his words muffled in Steve's neck.

Steve only nodded. He pressed a kiss into Tony's hair. Tony leaned up to look Steve in the eye.

"You are so stupid!" Tony nearly wailed. He grabbed each side of Steve's face putting a grip on his ears.

"You nearly died you idiot!" He could no longer contain the tears that now spilled from his eyes. "Do you know how horrible it was to watch you dive into…" He inhaled sharply. "I nearly lost you!" He said finally in a whisper.

"I'm so sorry Tony. But I couldn't let you die. I couldn't." He choked down a sob. Tears were trailing down his own cheeks now.

"You're Stupid! So fucking stupid!" Tony repeated in hysterics.

Just as Steve was going to go into yet another round of apologies, Tony successfully shut him up by quickly and desperately pressing his lips onto Steve's. The Captain responded immediately, cupping Tony's face in one hand and pulling him closer with the other. Steve felt like he was on fire.

During their exchange they had not realized that Hank had excused himself quietly.

Steve thought he could kiss Tony forever. Somehow this was the most at peace his heart has felt in well… Nearly a century.

But before he could completely lose himself to Tony, someone in the doorway cleared their throat. Tony jumped away so quickly Steve felt like someone had just slapped him.

Clint and Natasha were standing at the door with bemused looks on their faces. Tony's ire did not go unnoticed by any of them.

"Jarvis!? A little warning that have been nice." Tony grumped at the AI.

"Indeed Sir, however you had commanded not to bother you in the event that you and Captain Rogers were-"

"Yes Jarvis, I recall." Tony snipped.

Meanwhile Clint and Natasha had approached Steve's bed. Nat had leaned in for a hug first.

"Oh, I am so glad you're okay." She said as her expression became a bit wet.

"You're crazy son of a bitch!" Clint uttered in relief as he leaned in for a hug after Natasha moved aside.

He smiled at them gratefully.

Unlike Hank, Tony's departure was noticed. Steve felt every single step he walked away. His heart shuddered in agony the moment Tony was no longer in the room. Natasha and Clint were successful in recapturing his attention as they began to tell him in excruciating detail everything that happened that day.

As they spoke there was still a part of Steve's consciousness that was hyper aware of Tony's absence. But he still listened as intently as possible.

Apparently Steve had actually been unconscious for three days and was in a trancelike state for eighteen hours. The Captains immensely stupid and idiotic idea worked beautifully, however. From what they were able to analyze from various sources Steve's quick thinking and sacrifice saved thousands upon thousands of people.

The giant zapper was designed to go off like a nuke. The crazy dude they identified as Kumin Tankar had intended to set it off like a suicide bomb the moment the army infiltrated. Tankar also had it set up to where if anybody had tried to disable it, like knocking him out the way Steve did, it would have automatically went off.

Steve had winced at that. He knew it was a possibility but he was rather impulsive at the time. They also told him that the properties of his vibranium shield neutralized the core when he fractured it. Apparently that had been the absolute best course of action in that scenario. All other alternatives would have led to significant collateral damage.

Steve's way ended up discharging the excessive power in a shockwave. Though quite powerful and damaging with the capacity of knocking all of the Avengers through a loop, it was nowhere near the annihilating force it was meant to be. Despite the absolute terror of the entire circumstances the only reported fatalities were mostly birds. All in all not bad.

"What about the children?" Steve asked desperate to find out what happened to them. Though finding that there were no fatalities had been an extreme relief.

"They're fine." Natasha smiled. "Johnny made sure each one had been reunited with their parents. All of them were in perfect health, even Becka." Natasha verified.

Steve smiled impossibly wide.

"Thank goodness!" He exclaimed utterly relieved. All of his worries have been put to rest. Now that he knew everyone was safe and sound exhaustion took over. Before he knew it he slipped back into a deep sleep. Before he was out completely, however, he heard the faint muffled sound of his teammate's voices.

"You can give me my grand back Barton."

"Che, I didn't even have a chance to enjoy it yet…"

~-0-~

Meanwhile…

Deep in the heart of a frozen wasteland, inside of a long forgotten facility, a short rotund silhouette paced idly in the dusty halls.

"Boss! I found it!" A voice sounded off as a second silhouette joined the first.

"Excellent! Give it here." The fat silhouette demanded.

The second more slender silhouette handed over a worn leather bound book. The first man snatched it away greedily. He began to eagerly thumb through the book. His expression morphed from giddy excitement to sour crossness.

"What is it Boss? Is it not the right one?"

"Idiot! How would I know?! It's not written in English you fool! Get me a translator!" He screeched.

"Yes Boss! Right away Boss!" The second man scurried away quickly.

"Moron." The large one said as he began pacing once more.

~-0-~

The next few days have been vastly grating on Steve's nerves. He had been receiving a variety of responses from his team. Everything from elated gratitude to indignant concern. His primary team had been relieved and accommodating, however, some of the newer members had questioned the soundness of his mind seeing as his idiotic stunt had been thoroughly suicidal.

Professor Xavier had managed to snuff out that flame to some extent, however, there were some that remained wholly unconvinced. And to add icing to this immensely, infuriatingly, ludicrous cake, Tony had been stubbornly avoiding him.

It's bad enough that Steve already feels vastly inadequate, that if only he had more useful abilities, things would not have gotten so out of hand as it did. But now he had been barred from participating in any and all incoming missions, completely banned from active duty. That, to him, was a revoltingly low blow.

The only modicum of consideration they allowed him was that he got to be present for Tankar's interrogation. He couldn't participate mind you, but they allowed him to be there nonetheless.

Crazy guy squealed like a stuck pig anyway. Apparently, Tankar was hired by a man simply known as Harker. Harker was working on something big, so he had hired Tankar to be a significant distraction. Something to keep the Avengers and the world busy as he executed his plans.

Tankar swears up and down that he has no idea what Harker was planning. He did not care to ask as long as Harker generously funded his research and development of his Fuzz Buzz dolls.

Really? That's what they were called?

Anyway, that's all they were able to get out of him. He said that he had met with Harker's representative, Graham Rhododendron, once and that $100,000 ended up in his account every month after he signed the contract. Of course the funds were untraceable even with Shield and Tony's technology.

Go figure.

Speaking of dead ends, there had been relatively no new developments in the Calamity case, even with everyone pooling their resources. Despite all of the information Calamity provided it was all still useless. It's like she knew no matter how much she revealed, none could hope to stop her anyway. Tony had yet to completely decipher the encryption but kept assuring everybody that he was close.

~-0-~

Meanwhile…

Deep in the heart of a frozen wasteland a slender figure dashed through the halls with a new visitor in tow.

"Boss! Boss! I found a translator!" The slender figure said dragging a frightened man behind him.

"Excellent! Bring him here." The slender man yanked the frightened one in front of the Boss man.

"Now, you're gonna listen good. I need you to read this book to me and tell me what I need to know." Commanded the rotund one.

The translator nodded desperately and began to glance through the book. If it were even possible he became even more terrified.

"What kind of monster do you mean to unleash?!" He demanded in a shrill voice.

The fat man pulled out a gun and held it to the temple of the translator.

"Like I said, you will read this book to me and tell me what I need to know. Or I will blow your disgusting brains out you ungrateful twit!" He bellowed spitting and foaming at the mouth.

The translator began to tremble almost violently but nodded weakly in submission.

"We'll get started!"

~-0-~

It wasn't until almost an entire week after the Fuzz Buzz incident did Steve finely get a reprieve from the constant stifling and anxious atmosphere that seemed to follow him around while he was in the presence of everybody else. And it came in the form of Johnny Storm of all people.

Steve was in his studio slowly adding color to his Coney Island painting. Even though this scene would usually inspire profound reminiscent feelings that usually consisted of guilt and grief, the Captains mind was blank, completely lost in the process of adding and mixing colors. He was so deep in his activity he did not realize he was no longer alone or that Jarvis had in fact announced the arrival of his new guest. He was completely shocked out of his reverie by the sound of Johnny's voice.

"Wow, the others said you were good but I had no idea."

Steve looked over his shoulder to see Johnny looking at his work around the room in different stages of completion.

"Oh! Johnny, what are you doing here?"

Really, Johnny was one of the last people he thought would come in here to seek him out like this.

"I actually have a surprise for you." He said excitedly, his grin not unlike his own. "I hope you don't mind me bringing them here, they just couldn't wait to see you." He stated still excited.

"Who's here?" Steve questioned.

Johnny, seeing that Steve was genuinely curious and not at all upset at having his privacy invaded, continued back to the door.

"Come on in." He said to someone outside.

Steve's confusion melted to shock then to equal excitement as four children bounded into his studio.

"Steve!" They all shouted excitedly. Steve opened his arms wide for the kids. They were wrapped in his big safe arms in moments, snuggling happily into his warm body. Behind the kids three sets of parents walked in. They all were staring at Steve like he was pure gold. Like he was the most wonderful thing in the world.

Steve stood with all of the children still latched on to him to greet the parents. The children were delighted. He held out his hand best he could before they all had bypassed his hand and tearfully joined their children in hugging Captain America.

"Thank you so much!" Maggie and Eli's mother said to him with watery eyes. She was holding Eli close to her desperately.

"We thought the worst when we could not find them!" Kevin and Tommy's father said to him. His wife began to weep as she patted Tommy and Kevin's hair.

"She's my whole world." Becka's mother said to Steve.

He could only nod, his bottom lip quivering as he began to get caught up in all of the emotion.

"We heard you had gotten hurt badly that day, we wanted to see you in the hospital but no one was allowed in." Maggie's father said sadly.

"The children explained to us what happened." Becka's mother explained.

"You… Went through so much to protect them." Kevin's mother said between sobs.

"I also elaborated on a few things." Johnny added.

Steve nodded.

"Thank you so much for stopping by. I had been wondering if the kids were all right." He said softly.

"Look at you thanking us. We came to thank you." Kevin's father said ironically.

"Please if there is anything at all we can do for you name it." Maggie's father said.

"Oh no, I don't want anything. Just for these kids to grow up happy and healthy." He said with an awkward smile.

"Because of you they will." Said Becka's mother.

Steve smiled. He needed this in more ways than anybody could possibly understand.

For the next two hours Johnny, Steve, the kids, and their parents spent some quality time together. Steve dug out some blank canvases and let the children have at it. It was fun and messy.

After they had all promised to meet up again, perhaps for a picnic, Steve and Johnny walked them out to their vehicles. The children were incredibly reluctant to part from Steve but he promised they would see each other again.

Instead of parting ways after the departure of the kids Steve and Johnny had ended up in the kitchen. After a lengthy discussion on the best picnic foods, they both had agreed that it had been ages since either of them had a legit and homemade from scratch apple pie. And after Steve admitted that he knew how to bake, Johnny laid on the charm.

Johnny told Steve about pies long passed from their mother and how Sue could never bake a proper pie, like he could get any closer anyway.

Surprisingly, Steve found himself talking about Bucky and how he loved Steve's pies and anything he cooked really.

They fell into a comfortable silence as Johnny prepared the apples and Steve beat the dough into submission. That was until,

"Steve?" Johnny uttered quietly.

"Yeah?" He answered pausing his discipline over the dough.

"I… Never mind! It's stupid…" He said agitated.

"Hey, it's okay, what is it?" Steve asked genuinely concerned.

"I can't…" He thought for a moment. "It's just I can't stop thinking about what you said to the kids." He said finally.

"What did I say when?" Steve asked needing clarification.

"You told them we were brothers… And I wondered if that could be true one day." He went red in the face, the apple slice in his hand sizzling a little.

Steve removed his hands from the dough and wiped them on his apron. He grabbed Johnny shoulder and looked him in the eye.

"We already are." He smiled kindly at him.

"Yeah? 'cause we didn't have the best start." He laughed nervously.

Steve thought about it for a moment.

"I tend to not have the best start with a lot of people." He laughed as he thought about his miserable and deplorable first meetings with Bucky and Tony.

"I guess I just rub people the wrong way." He shrugged with a laugh as he scratched the back of his head.

Johnny smile that that.

"Come on let's make these pies to die for!" Steve smiled wickedly.

Johnny laughed ready to comply.

Steve had decidedly thought it to be a good idea to make twenty seven pies. Good thing too, once the scent of apple pies baking wafted around the compound, many people emerged from their niches and followed the smell. One by one people had wandered into the kitchen to figure out the source of that divined smell.

Once it had been established that pies were happening, most waited patiently in the dining area. Natasha had a brilliant idea and went out to get vanilla ice cream. Once the pies were done some sort of odd domestic peace and tranquility fell over the compound.

Even Tony came out of hiding for a short time. The temptation of fresh homemade pie too great to pass up. Sue teased Johnny over his involvement in the pie making process, suggesting that the pies might have been poisoned.

Not one crumb of pie was left. With full bellies, sated appetites and a warm atmosphere, Steve felt at peace amongst them after days of what felt like constant animosity. His calm was short lived however, just when he was about to talk to Tony the genius had abruptly dismissed himself.

Steve was not gonna lie. It hurt, it hurt like hell. And that's saying a lot considering everything he's been through the last couple weeks. As the others conversed amiably together, Steve silently and stealthily left to go back to his studio.

He needed to get lost again.

Steve sat at his desk staring at his blank sketch pad. He let his thoughts run all over the place before he could no longer decipher them. He absent mindedly put his pencil to the paper and began to sketch.

Before he even began to realize it he had drawn that farmhouse of old once more. As soon as he realized what he had produced he sighed.

"If only."

He squeezed the bridge of his nose forcing his emotions back. Despite having a better day than he's had in awhile his heart was still so raw after everything. He just didn't know any more. He felt like coming out of the ice all over again and he hated it.

He slowly tidied up his studio before retiring to his room. His dismal thoughts weaved around the 'what ifs' and 'what could have beens' before falling into a mercifully dreamless sleep.

Little did he know there was a storm on the horizon. A wicked torrent that would surely consume him and tear his life apart.

Winter was coming early.

~-0-~

Meanwhile…

Deep in the heart of a frozen wasteland the fat man stepped over the lifeless body of the translator and entered a secret chamber deep within the long forgotten facility. He looked around the room at the treasures abandoned that he claimed for himself. He stopped and smiled salivating at one of six treasures.

"Boss? Are you sure you want that one?" The slender man asked.

"You fool! This is the only one we have any hope of controlling!" The fat one seethed. "Well? What are you waiting for? Thaw him out!"

"Yes Boss!"

-0-

"Boss! He's waking up!"

"Good, good." He opened the red leather bound book to the proper page.

"Boss!?"

"Hush you fool! He belongs to us now!" The fat man turned his attention back to the book.

"Zhelaniye…"

End of Chapter Fourteen.

A/N: Woot, What's going to happen next?

Please if you've got a minute let me know what you think about this story.

All comments and theories welcome!