One.

Two.

One.

Two.

Tony counted rhythmically as he pressed down, hands folded on top of each other.

One.

Two.

One –

"Come on!" He growled, staring down at Steve's slack features. He pressed down harder against his chest.

One.

Two.

One.

Two.

"Here!" He heard Clint yell from his right, followed by a flurry of footsteps approaching him. For the briefest moment, the billionaire snapped his head up, catching a glimpse of the white SHIELD Medical uniforms before resuming the compressions. Steve's face remained still, blood trickling from his parted lips.

"It's okay, Tony." The medical team had stopped behind him. Bruce was gently tugging him away. "Let them do their job."

But Tony couldn't let go.

One –

"Hey! What are you doing?!" A shout from Barnes made Tony pause momentarily. The stop in rhythm was enough for the medical team to all but shove him out of the way, pulling out various tubes and equipment.

"Don't touch him!" Barnes snarled, stepping threateningly towards two nurses who held a defibrillator between them. The soldier's arm was raised, a knife glinting from his fingers.

"Easy, Barnes." Sam slipped between the soldier and the staff, letting them pass. "They ain't hurting Steve, they're helping him."

Tony stared back towards the fallen captain, breath hitching as his chest was shocked with the defibrillator. His vitals remained still, flashing red in his helmet.

Again and again the medical team tried to revive him. Each turn made Tony slump further and further, the world spinning around him.

The team had gathered towards each other, watching Steve in silence.

"Try again. All the way." Bruce was with the staff. Tony watched as he gestured to the defibrillator with a shaking hand.

"But sir –"

"He's a super soldier, don't forget." Bruce said sternly. With a uncertain nod, a blond nurse turned the dial to the highest, as another gave the signal.

"Clear."

Electricity cracked into Steve's chest, making his back arch and muscles tense. Immediately, the Captain let out a choked gasp.

Tony did fall to the floor, out of pure relief.

"He needs medical, now!" A doctor yelled as they pulled Steve onto a stretcher. Wordlessly, the Avengers followed, determined to never let him out of their sight again.

The medical report was horrific.

When Tony first read the extent of the injuries, he felt bile rise sharply in his throat. The words blurred together, through his rage or despair he couldn't tell.

He was feeling, he knew that much. And he hated it.

Severe nerve damage. Electrical burns. Shocks. Broken bones. The list went on and on, highlighting each part of Steve's pain whilst they were standing around in the safety of their tower.

And to top it off, it wasn't even over.

"A what?" Tony had heard, but the ringing in his ears made it hard for him to process anything apart from Steve was suffering because of him.

"A coma. We think it's from the gas's chemicals." Bruce explained quietly. The team stood around him, completely still.

"Why haven't they been burnt by the serum?" Clint asked tightly. Bruce ran a hand down his face. Tony noticed it looked slightly green at the fingertips. Maybe he would try and get Bruce to take a break later.

"The serum seems to be having a hard time deciding what areas it needs to heal first. Not to mention that it's effects seemed to have been impacted in the first place by whatever Hydra created." Bruce explained. "This thing destroyed nearly all his vital organs slowly, until it was almost too late. It seems his body is prioritising those over his mind or the gas."

"How long?" Barnes asked. It was the first time he spoke properly since the island. Bruce sighed.

"We don't know. Until then…" he trailed off.

"He's still having delusions." Natasha finished grimly.

"I'm sure that company could ease his pain, and perhaps pull him out of this coma." Thor suggested. Bruce gave a thin smile.

"Any contact could help."

Thor nodded, straightening.

"Then there is not a moment to lose." The god strode out of the hall, slipping through the door and into Steve's room. Tony held back, sliding onto the bench.

"We should see him in shifts. So he's never alone." He suggested. The avengers made noises of agreement, before departing themselves. They were still covered in grime and blood from the island, not wanting to change whilst Steve's life was in immediate danger. Now, reassured that he could at least breathe, they could at least tend to themselves for a few minutes.

Tony's armour suddenly felt itchy, and he longed to rip it off and change into his more casual attire. He was about to get up to do so until he noticed a certain soldier staring at the door.

"You cleaning up?" Tony asked. Barnes shook his head slowly.

Normally, Tony would leave the interaction at that. He was stressed, tired, and furious at himself beyond belief. He wanted to shut himself in his lab, and design a tracker that could not be pulled from any of their suits ever again. But he also remembered the way Barnes would not remove his eyes from the fallen captain, or the way he embraced him in the hellish lab.

"What were you talking about, back at the island?" Tony suddenly asked. Barnes turned to look at him, expression carefully guarded.

"What?"

"You asked Steve to remember." He elaborated. Barnes narrowed his eyes, not replying.

They stood in silence, listening to the sounds of the hospital around them. Tony slowly buried himself back into his thoughts, almost forgetting his question until:

"Steve would get sick a lot when we were kids. " Barnes said, still staring through the glass window on the door.

"Yeah, I heard. Read my Dad's reports." Tony muttered.

"Yeah – every winter he would get sick, over and over. If it wasn't winter it was early spring, when the rain made everything damp. Nothing a man couldn't shrug off, but Steve…" Barnes grew silent.

"…was weaker?" Tony finished. To his surprise, Barnes shook his head.

"No. Never weaker than anyone. Not his spirit, at least."

The silence resumed. Tony listened this time, feeling that words would be inappropriate.

Barnes continued. "Every damn winter. And he would get this fever that was so bad he could barely lift his head, and would see demons." The soldier's eyes softened. "I remember hugging him, to stop him from thrashing, and letting him listen to my heartbeat. It worked like a treat."

"So that's what you tried to do? And it worked, as well…that's why we need to keep you around." Tony murmured. Bucky turned to him, breaking eye contact with the door.

"What?"

Tony, too tired to try and filter his mouth, let words tumble.

"You helped find where he was, calmed him down…it's more than I did, just waiting in my tower like a fucking idiot."

"You're lucky Steve ain't hearing your self pity shit right now." Bucky said to him. Tony let out an irritated huff.

"Yeah, well –"

"How the fuck were we able to identify the man? Or get to that damn place?" Bucky interrupted. "Cut the crap."

Tony was speechless for a minute, blinking at the ground.

"Potty mouth…" he was only able to come back with, folding his arms. "Don't let Steve hear that either."

To his surprise, Bucky gave him a smile.

"Come on, I was in the army. So was Steve - he's worse than me."

Tony scoffed.

"That man hasn't swore once." He stated, raising a finger. Bucky rolled his eyes.

"Not in English" Bucky actually gave a small, quick chuckle. "I only know so many Irish swears because he curses so damn often."

Bucky's smile faded, and he turned his attention back to the window. Tony stood, walking beside him. They both watched as Thor was holding an unconscious Steve's hand, rubbing his palm.

"He always pulls through." Tony said quietly. Bucky pressed his hand against the glass.

"I know. It's just how long until he does. How much he can take when his own mind is fucking him up." The soldier replied. Tony hummed.

"Well, we have a long list of Avengers willing to sit with him until he wakes up again." Tony turned to Bucky with a raised brow. "Knowing those guys, I'm willing to bet he's going to be awake pretty soon."