Tony didn't realise that the hospital room was occupied until something shifted when he opened the door to resume his watch once more.

It had been days – how many Tony couldn't remember, but enough to make his brain ache – since they had taken Steve from the island. It became natural to see one or more Avengers outside the captain's hospital room, or sitting on his bedside.

"You know, if I hadn't known you long enough, I would've thought you were going to kill me." Tony huffed, shutting the door quietly. He stared at the apparent intruder. "You didn't even give a greeting, how rude."

Natasha smiled for a few seconds, rolling her eyes. She was folded on a chair beside Steve's head, slowly plaiting his hair. It was getting quite long, almost past his chin, the serum apparently deciding that hair growth was more necessary than healing.

Well, to Tony it was anyway.

"You did the same yourself."

"What?"

"Not give a "proper" greeting." The assassin raised a brow. "You didn't say hello."

"Because you scared me!" Tony folded his arms, sitting in the seat beside her. "I had every right to be spooked enough not to give a greeting!"

Natasha rolled her eyes again, pausing from the plaiting of Steve's hair.

"Scared of a helpless woman, Stark?" She teased, a smile threading on her lips.

Helpless. Yeah right.

Tony expressed his thoughts as such with a snort of laughter.

"Sometimes I think Thor is more helpless than you." He retorted.

They fell into a comfortable silence, Tony watching Natasha plait Steve's hair some more. The assassin's gaze softened on the younger's face, her thumb lightly tracing his jawline.

Steve suddenly shifted, letting out a stream of mutterings as his eyes twitched. Natasha didn't stop her actions, but began to talk to him in a low, soothing voice.

"It is alright, братан." She told him. Steve stilled at her words almost instantly, though he did still twitch occasionally. Natasha looked up at Tony slowly once he quietened.

If there was a sheen of tears reflecting in her eyes, Tony didn't mention it, nor did he look when she wiped them delicately with the back of her finger.

"It has been happening every so often for the past few hours. Started a little past midnight, growing in severity." Natasha explained. Tony gave a hum of acknowledgment, biting the edge of his nail as he thought.

"Do you think he's waking up? You know, slowly." The billionaire asked to no one in particular. It was a fair assumption, seeing that most of his wounds were healing nicely. Still, he had hoped that the effects of the gas would have been thoroughly destroyed by the serum, but he supposed he couldn't be correct all of the time.

He decided to talk to Bruce later, his mind oh so helpfully persuading him to by forcing him to recall long term effects of gas and hallucinogens.

"I don't know." Natasha said softly. Her hands finished the final plait, leaving Steve's hair carefully braided and organised.

Cap will like it, Tony randomly thought, looking at the style. If he wakes up soon.

He shut of his mind the best he could after the thought, because god he really hated how it killed the mood sometimes.

He was tired, trying all night to design a new set of suits for the team (but mostly and foremost Steve's). He couldn't trust his old tech at all, if Steve was captured right under their noses, and began an entirely new project.

He still hadn't finished, still seeing too many flaws with his products. Heck, the only reason he wasn't continuing now was because FRIDAY locked him out of the lab after he went to use the bathroom.

He was still pissed that he allowed his AI to have enough personality to do that.

"Sam said he was quiet with him, only a few movements." Natasha continued. "Said that it was strange, and I think I agree."

"What? Cap being so still?" Tony could see what she meant. It was odd seeing someone so active forced into a bed, stuck in his own mind.

"I've done a lot worse in my life that is a perfect excuse for suffering." The assassin spoke quietly. "But somehow…"

She leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to Steve's forehead.

"…I cannot take the suffering away from him. It is never me." Widow stood, giving Tony a short nod.

"Rest well, братан." She said quietly to the young captain, before silently leaving the room. Tony watched her go, leaning back in his chair loosely. He let his eyes close almost involuntarily, before snapping them open again. He was not letting his fucked up brain sleep whilst he was with Steve. No way.

Then why was it so hard to keep his stupid eyes open?

"Probably working all night like a fucking idiot." Tony heard Clint say from the doorway, not even a minute after Natasha left.

Huh. He hadn't realised he said that out loud.

"Ha ha. I've never heard that one before." Tony replied, snarky.

"Nat told me you looked like you had been hitting your head against a table for an hour. Not her words, of course, but I got the message." Clint sat himself into Natasha's seat previously. He smiled at the braids in Steve's hair before turning his attention back to him.

"Sleep." Clint ordered firmly. "Seriously, your sarcasm goes to dangerous levels the longer you've been awake. I'm not ready to deal with that shit."

Tony wanted to mock him in a high pitched voice, or at least insult him, but found he really couldn't be bothered.

"I'll wake you if anything happens." Clint added, as if reading his mind. Tony gave a small eye roll, but found himself sinking into his chair – which has suddenly became very cosy.

"Birdbrain." Tony muttered irritably, before his eyes closed.

"Holy shit! Steve!"

The cry jolted Tony from his light slumber, rocking back in his chair and almost toppling it backward completely. His eyes quickly fell to Steve's bedside, only to find an empty mattress and torn sheets.

"Steve!"

The billionaire snapped his head towards the panicked yell from Clint, and cursed loudly.

Steve was awake, which would usually be good – heck, great news – apart from the fact that the soldier had Clint pinned against a wall, hard enough to make the plaster crumble and scatter like snow around them. The archer was trying to struggle out of Steve's grip, but was only causing more bruises on his skin.

"FRIDAY, alert the Avengers of the situation – especially Bucky, he speaks Steve." Tony spoke into his watch, before turning his attention to the said situation.

"Steve?" The billionaire began. He raised his hands hesitantly, tilting his head when the captain didn't respond.

Clint's breaths were slowly growing shallower, and he let out a groan as Steve pressed harder. A crunching sound made Tony freeze, but he really didn't want to dwell on what bone had exactly broken in Clint.

"Come on, look at me." Tony, in an attempt to soothe the soldier, pressed a hand on his shoulder.

And he really, really, really shouldn't have done that.

He was very willing to admit that he fucked up majorly when Clint was promptly thrown at him, slamming into his chest. Both avengers crashed into the opposite wall, Steve feverishly staring down at them.

Immediately, the unnatural purple hue shone in Steve's eyes – however, he noted hopefully, the purple was significantly smaller, localised to his pupil rather than the entire eye.

So, the super Nazi drugs were fading, Tony could deal with that.

Despite his distress, the billionaire also noticed that Steve seemed aware of the things and people around him, unlike last time, where he remained still. Good news in the long run, sure.

But that also meant that Steve was now aware of a lot of makeshift weapons. And man, could he make a weapon out of anything, Tony realised as a notepad was thrown at him hard enough to embed into the wall behind him.

"He woke up and freaked out." Clint muttered from beside him. They ducked another flying object, which shattered above their heads.

"He doesn't mean it." Clint shook his head almost feverishly. "Look at him…"

Tony dragged the injured archer over to the hospital bed as cover, grabbing half of a snapped IV pole as protection.

Poking his head up from their cover, Tony could already see what Clint had tried to tell him. Steve's fighting was sloppy – no, desperate – and his eyes were constantly searching around him blindly.

"Where is he?!" Steve suddenly roared. With a swift movement, he flung the bed out of the way with a single hand. Tony let out a loud curse, attempting to press himself and the now unconscious Clint into the corner.

"Who?" Tony asked. He looked at his watch, realising that only a minute had passed. He wasn't sure how long it would take the other Avengers to get to the room, so he naturally was stalling time.

"Bucky." Steve growled. His hand reached out, grabbing Tony by the scruff and hauling him into the air.

"What?" Tony fought to stay calm. Steve's gaze was seemingly looking past him.

"Bucky Barnes. I know Hydra has him – I know he's here!" The Captain slammed him against the wall, making Tony choke. "Tell me!"

"Steve – I don't – Bucky –"

"Don't call him that!" Steve snarled suddenly, breathing heavily. "You have no right to call him Bucky, you bastard! Tell me where he is or I'll tear out your throat with my bare hands!" Steve's yells came out more desperate, and Tony could feel his hand trembling as he held him tight.

Still, distressed or not, the man was threatening to tear out his fucking throat. Steve clearly didn't recognise Tony – or anyone – and only now he truly realised how much danger he was in. In the right mood, Steve could punch through someone's stomach, thanks to the serum. Tearing out a throat with his hands really didn't sound like a stretch for him.

"Steve, Bucky's –"

"Steve. At ease."

Steve's head turned sharply to the new voice, but his grip on Tony's shirt remained. Tony let out a huffed laugh of relief at spotting the other Avengers standing at the hospital door.

Sam was in front of the group, Thor and Bucky hovering beside him like bodyguards. Natasha was quietly trying to sneak Bruce into the room, helping the scientist get a better assessment. Unfortunately, Steve noticed, and growled loud enough to make even the Widow freeze.

"Hey. It's us." Sam remained talking to him, voice calm and steady. He held his hands in a peaceful gesture. "You remember us?"

Steve just furiously shook his head, eyes unseeing.

"Hydra – Bucky! Where is Bucky!" With the shout, Tony felt himself get slammed into the ground, making pain explode in his ribs. He wheezed, attempting to just wiggle himself away from the volatile Captain, but a foot pressed against his back, hard and unrelenting.

"I'm here, Steve." Out of the corner of his eye, Tony saw Bucky push himself through the crowd. Unlike the other Avengers, his stance was not fearful or tense – he was casually walking towards him, as if he didn't have Tony pinned under him, or Clint bleeding to his side.

"Buck?" The reaction was instantaneous. Steve's foot was removed from Tony's back, his voice now quiet and vulnerable. Tony wasted no time in dragging himself as far away as possible, happily taking Natasha's hand to be pulled to his feet.

"Clint…" Natasha whispered close to his ear. Wordlessly, Tony nodded his head towards the crack in the wall.

Bruce, after paling at the sight of the wall's damage and guessing what had happened, attempted to get close to the archer.

Which apparently was one of the worst decisions he could have made, as Steve was suddenly charging towards him at the sight of movement.

Oh fuck, Tony quickly thought, because it did not look like Bruce would survive a charging, pissed soldier, but Bucky quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him away.

"Steve. It's alright." Bucky held Steve's shoulders. Steve just shook his head again.

"Hydra…got you…can't…" Steve muttered, shaking his head again. Tony watched as the captain suddenly tugged Bucky towards the door, almost frantically.

"We gotta go, Buck! We gotta get you out!"

"No – Steve! Listen!"

But Steve didn't, and Tony watched as Thor stepped in his path, shoulders squared.

"Whatever plagues you mind, Captain, is far from the truth. We are your teammates, and friends." Thor's voice rumbled. Steve just stared at him for a few seconds, before attempting to move him out of the way.

The two met in a way that reminded Tony of two bears wrestling, only one of them was a literal god. Apparently, Steve didn't know or didn't care, as he seemed to think he could get past, and certainly tried.

"Steven, please." Thor attempted to reason, but Steve didn't hear him.

"We need to get outta here…I won't stop…" the Captain only mumbled.

Tony watched until he could no longer stand it; massaging his ribs, he gestured the other Avengers forward.

"Let's try and snap him out of it, come on." He said. Cautiously, they approached the two.

Thor, frowning deeply, suddenly pulled Steve into a hug, completely immobilising him. Of course, the captain didn't like it, but really couldn't stop it.

"Bucky, Bucky, Bucky…" Steve mumbled. "I gotta –"

"Steve, what do you see?" Bruce asked gently. Steve suddenly stopped, turning to look at him.

"Huh?"

Better than attacking him, Tony thought. He noticed, as Steve's gaze moved to his own, the purple hue in his eyes was a lot less prominent.

Good. Tony was getting frustrated at how long it was taking to have their Captain back.

"Bruce?" Steve asked quietly, and it literally took all of Tony's willpower (and a few broken ribs) to refrain from jumping into the air like a child, screaming fucking finally.

"Yeah, Steve. Can you tell us where we are?" Bruce pressed, giving a small smile.

Apparently, the recognition of Bruce was enough for Natasha to leap over to Clint, rolling him onto his back with a frown. Tony switched his attention back to Steve – he had seen the archer jump off a building and come back holding a hot dog, so he was fairly confident it wouldn't be too life threatening for him.

Steve was staring around him, becoming more distressed as he looked around.

"Snow…ice…" he whispered. Bucky surged forward at the words, holding Steve tightly.

"No, Steve. We ain't back there again." Bucky tried to say. Giving a meaningful glance at Tony and Bruce, he began to guide the Captain to the place where the bed should have been.

"You'll feel better after you rest a little, right?" Bucky said.

"Cold." Steve replied. He was shivering. "Cold."

Tony quickly joined in.

"We can get you wrapped up, don't let that bother you." He gestured to the overturned bed. "Thor, if you mind…"

"Of course." Thor strode forward, easily grabbing the bed with one hand and placing back to its original position. Bruce grabbed the sheets, gently placing them on the bed.

Bucky lowered Steve onto the mattress, who was still muttering under his breath, then moved to give him space. The Captain suddenly grasped Bucky's hand, his eyes flicking around the room.

"Don't –" he cut off, but the plea was the last straw for Tony.

"That's it – we're staying right here, agreed?" Tony asked around the room. All Avengers nodded immediately – even Clint, who had slowly come to and now had Bruce checking him over.

"Don't want you freaking out again, Cap." Tony added, his softer tone surprising him.

He wasn't sure whether Steve was truly seeing him, but he nodded slowly, letting his body relax as he was bundled into more sheets by Bucky.

All Avengers moved closer as one; Thor was sat on the floor, Tony leaning against the wall, Bucky and Clint taking the two chairs, Bruce and Natasha kneeling beside Clint as Sam moved to the door.

"Looks like we're gonna need more chairs." The Falcon said with a smile.