The Avenger's facility was designed to run as a 24/7 operation, but night was the downtime for most activities. Tony Stark could be found working at almost any hour of the day in one of the labs he tended to use when he was in residence, but he was one of the few. Unless working with European colleagues the scientists housed at the facility worked during the day and kept nocturnal activities to a minimum. The facility was lit up, though, because there were workrooms, offices, the main control room and a well-stocked commissary that had to be available at any time, and it was a beacon for Stark as he made his return from his impromptu trip into the city.

He landed near one of the entrances close to Peter's room, but even as the Ironman suit disengaged he changed directions and went to check on the others, knowing himself well enough to know that once he was in with Peter he'd probably not be willing to leave. His first stop was Pepper, but she was sensible and was asleep. He watched her for a moment, but didn't want to wake her – even though he knew she wouldn't mind – and left without a sound.

On his way to the medical lab he swung by the VIP room that they'd put Peter's friend Ned up in, and he cracked the door just enough to make sure the boy wasn't staying up late eating junk food and playing video games. Which was exactly what he'd promised Ned's mother that he wouldn't let him do when he'd stopped by and picked him up in the city. Ned was asleep, too. A couple of busy days working with Strange and those techs that he had drafted to help him work on Peter's illness were taking their toll and the boy needed the sleep. Tony closed the door and left, and went to check on that progress.

Strange was standing in front of one of the hanging screens, flipping through data and various information when Tony walked in. He could hear a centrifuge whirring away in the corner, but aside from a lone tech looking into a microscope, the place was deserted. Stark went over to the doctor.

"How's it going?"

"We're getting close."

"How close?"

"Dating, but not fooling around."

Tony frowned at the analogy, but secretly decided that he liked it and might use it himself sometime.

"Still think it's nutmeg?"

"We know it is. Now it's a matter of isolating the primary toxin that has steamrolled Peter. Once we do, we can develop an antigen and squash it."

"Anything I can do to help?"

The sincere offer made Strange smile, because he was starting to really like Tony Stark and had a feeling that if the two of them ever found something that they could both do in a lab they'd be a serious force to be reckoned with. Medical research wasn't that something, however. Strange knew he worked best alone in this sort of situation – which was why he sent everyone else off to get some sleep.

"Just stay out of my way."

Tony's answering smile was amused, because it was absolutely the answer he might have given in similar circumstances.

"I can do that."

"I doubt it."

Stark chuckled, and put his hand on Strange's shoulder for a moment.

"Don't forget to sleep."

"Yes, dad."

Tony left, still smiling, and decided that he didn't need to stop and get something to eat before checking on Peter. Steve was probably ready for a break from the monotony of watching Peter sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

"UNO!"

A very feminine squeal of triumph drowned out three male groans – and one softly uttered curse that Tony heard even through the closed door of Peter's room. He frowned and opened it, stopping when he saw the small crowd sitting around Peter's bed, a pile of snacks and drinks at hand and a very cheerful Black Widow doing a little jig from her perch on the edge of Peter's bed as she held up the lone card in her hand – careful not to let the guys see what it was.

"What's going on?" Tony asked, closing the door behind him. Not that he needed anyone to tell him. Peter was in his bed with the rolling table pulled over it. Steve, Bruce, Clint and Natasha were all either in chairs or on the bed, gathered around and holding various amounts of cards in their hands.

"They're getting schooled," Natasha told him as he walked over to check on Peter. She wasn't even trying to pretend to be a good winner.

Tony glanced at the group and immediately noticed that Peter had what had to be half of the UNO deck in his hands, juggling them to try to keep from slipping out of his grasp. He looked alert, and when Stark put his hand on the boy's forehead it was warm, but not glaringly hot like it had been before.

"She's cheating, Tony," Banner said.

"You can't cheat at UNO," Natasha replied.

Tony picked up the scorecard that Steve had in front of him, and shook his head.

"I told you no cards, Steve."

Rogers smiled, completely unrepentant. He was having a good time, and so were the others.

"How was I supposed to know he was so bad at UNO? No one is bad at UNO, it's all luck."

"Ad skill," Natasha added, slapping her final card down on the pile and giving a slight bow when the others grumbled and started counting up their scores.

"Did you eat?" Stark asked Peter.

"He had a big dinner," Steve said before Peter could do more than nod. "And then we were going to play video games, but the cards were there and Clint and Bruce came by looking for me and Natasha stopped in…" he shrugged, and gave him a what can you do look.

"I said a distraction," Tony said, scowling. "Not a party."

"Stop being such a mother-hen, Stark," Natasha said, smiling and still flush from her victory. "That's my job." She wrapped her arms around Peter and gave him a hug, ending it with a kiss in the middle of his forehead. The boy blushed a brilliant red that made the men around him smile, and Tony lost his scowl.

"Come on, Tony," Banner said, gesturing to the end of the bed where there might be room for one more if everyone scooted over a little. "Play a few hands with us before we call it a night."

Stark hesitated, looking down at Peter again, just a little worried that the boy should be resting rather than upright and getting stressed from losing so spectacularly, but Peter looked like he was having a good time, and Tony was glad. And grateful to the others for being willing to spend time with him. He had plans for Spiderman, after all – and Peter, of course – and he wanted them to be a team.

"Fine." He grabbed a bag of potato chips and a can of soda and took his spot between Clint and Rogers. "Deal them up."