8:00 AM sharp, Bruce stepped into the medbay.
He found Jennifer and Tony already inside, though he was a bit surprised to see his friend there this early as well- or at least he was, until he looked past the two and saw three treadmills with monitoring systems all set up in a row, the middle one with three monitors. He found that both Jennifer and Tony were also in their workout clothes when he arrived as well, answering part of his questions before he could even ask.
"Good morning." Bruce grumbled, taking a seat next to Tony on a lab stool. Jennifer waved briefly with a smile but she continued to work on her desktop over on the far bench. "I see you got caught up in cardiology, too."
"Well, she was bound to figure out I'm months overdue for my repeat stress test anyway- But Pepper ratted me out." Tony rolled his eyes.
"How evil of her to want you to stay alive..." Bruce teased.
"Listen- At least we're in this together." Tony said, patting Bruce on the shoulder.
"Are we?" Bruce snorted. "Do you come close to cardiac arrest when you get aroused?" He mumbled this under his breath to Tony, who he'd already complained about it to at great length. Although Jennifer was his attending physician, and knew of the situation, he was still not comfortable casually speaking on the matter in front of her. He had called Tony early the next morning after the incident with Natasha, and Tony had pointed out that to be safe and healthy, he would have to tell Jennifer, who had then insisted they set up the stress tests for the following week.
"Well- Not anymore. But, yeah. Been there. Don't you remember?" Tony laughed. "Before I found a suitable reactor materiel, it was poisoning me. I as in cardiac arrest about three times. Now I'm almost as nuclear as you, my friend."
"Alright y'all." Jennifer called, catching their attention as she turning on the treadmills and monitors at each station. "We will start at a slow pace, which will gradually go up to a full run. My station in the middle is mine, and I am baseline. I will keep an eye out on you boys as we go, and see if we can't figure out what's goin' on under the hoods, hmm?"
"Not sleep well, Doctor Ford?" Bruce ask, elbowing Tony to look up at the young doctor.
"Why?" She snapped, opening the front camera on her phone to check her face. "Do I look bad?"
"No, no. Sorry." Bruce laughed. "I just- I love that southern accent. But we don't get it as much when you're not tired."
"Or pissed off." Tony added, laughing in agreement.
"Right." Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Well, either way, who wants to get wired up first?"
"I will." Bruce volunteered. He stepped up on the treadmill and Jennifer began to stick leads and wires to his back and chest, careful to thread them back through his shirt so they would not pull off as he ran. It took a minute to get all the leads needed secured to his chest through the thick black hair, but she finally was able to get them stuck on securely. She then secured the blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter to his left arm.
"Alright, Boss. You're up." She instructed. Tony groaned in a loud, over dramatic fashion and dragged his feet, but stepped up and allowed the young doctor to stick the leads and wires to him as well. She then stepped up and carefully wired herself to the set up and with the push of a button on her controls, all three treadmills began to move.
"I appreciate the commitment to the experiment." Bruce offered in compliment to the younger physician. She looked over and raised and eyebrow.
"How do you mean?" She ask.
"Well, we know the baseline and normal limits for cardiac health, right? They're universal." Bruce pointed out. "But you're acting as control- even though you could sit and watch us run."
"As much fun as I could have making the two smartest men in the world follow my command while I watch from a desk- That isn't really my style. Plus, I like to run." She said with a shrug. Their treadmills picked up the pace slightly from a slow walk to casual stroll.
"Gah. Gross." Tony faked a gag. "No wonder you and Steve are so good together- only psychopaths enjoy running."
"Pepper likes to run. She and I run together in the morning occasionally when you two stay overnight here." Jennifer laughed. "Natasha used to, too."
"Redheads are insane. All of them. Strawberry blonde up to dark auburn." Tony retorted. "My statement stands."
"I'm telling them both you said that." Bruce called.
"Please don't." Tony gulped. It pulled a laugh from all three of them.
Jennifer leaned forward and pressed a couple of buttons on the controls, and the treadmills picked up the pack to a jog.
"So how was the rest of the team on the send off this morning, Doc?" Tony ask, checking his watch. The others that had been sent out- Steve, Sam, Clint, and Rhodey, had been gone close to three hours.
"Spirits were high. But then again, it was 5 AM so it wasn't like they were super talkative." Jennifer laughed. "Last I talked to Steve they were entering Yemen airspace and were about ten minutes out from their jump off."
"You sound worried." Bruce commented, looking over at Jennifer. She gave a halfhearted shrug.
"Steve isn't always the... Safest. Nor is he bullet proof. Usually when there is the risk of injury, I go along. But-"
"You're a woman?" Tony guessed. "Not the best idea in Yemen right now."
"That's why Wanda had to sit out too." Jennifer nodded. "Good news for you two, though. It meant we didn't have to reschedule all this fun we're having."
"Hooray." Bruce snorted sarcastically. "I missed the briefing... because I slept through it, since I'm benched right now, anyway. What's going on?"
"The US sent a large shipment of humanitarian aid to the people, which is being blocked. Tons of food, water, clothing, medicines- all being held and hoarded rather than given to the people. The Air Force base there has their hands tied a bit, if they don't want to engage in all out war with the terror groups operating inside the country. We, however..." Tony explained.
"Gotcha. In, out. No prisoners, no flash. I guess that stands to reason why you weren't invited." Bruce looked over Jennifer at Tony. "Flashy red suit would stand out, but the military trained boys- They have the stealth."
"You saying I can't be sneaky, Banner?" Tony growled in mock offense. "How dare you?"
"You're about as sneaky as I could be in battle, man." Bruce laughed. "Candy apple red battle bot and the eight foot tall rage monster- We're not exactly master spies."
"Are y'all really sad you don't get to go be shot at?" Jennifer questioned, interrupting the back and forth the two scientists had started.
"I mean... No?" Bruce shrugged. "Not when you put it like that. But I don't always go out into the fire- admittedly most of the time since we got you, we had to call 'Code Green', but a lot of the time I just act as mission control from the jet."
"But it is our job." Tony added. "To go get shot at, I mean."
"Yeah... Yeah..." Jennifer sighed. "I still worry."
Jennifer set the treadmills to pick up so that they were all three in a steady run. She kept quiet and ignored the teasing the two best friends on either side of her had continued to shoot back and forth as she watched their heart rhythms jump across the screen. She took screen shots at a couple intervals, but kept running.
"About ten more minutes and we'll be done. Y'all okay?" She ask, looking at each of the dark haired men in turn. Bruce looked a bit more tired than Tony, which was concerning to her as he usually got a boost from the Hulk and his radiation to keep him going.
"Yep, fine." Tony said, also looking over to observe Bruce.
Bruce had broken into a thick sweat and his skin flushed a bit. His heart rate showed significant depressive dips at intervals. Tony looked at the doctor, who nodded at the look he gave and killed the treadmills, bringing them to a stop. She jumped down and grabbed a bottle of water, and Tony brought over Jennifer's rolling office chair, which he helped Bruce sit down into. He was heavily out of breath, and his blood pressure read unusually high as well.
Jennifer took her pen light from the leg pocket of her leggings and shined it into Bruce's eyes- His irises were not their usual dark brown, but rather a well blended hazel with several bright, almost neon green streaks throughout. He looked on the verge of passing out.
"Tony. Help me get his shirt off." Jennifer commanded, and Bruce limply lifted his arms as his friends removed the thin white shirt. Tony took off the leads while Jennifer retrieved her stethoscope and a thermometer.
"Normal range for him is 100.7°. Tony, you test it while I'm listening." Jennifer instructed as she moved her stethoscope bell around Bruce's chest then back. She heard the thermometer beep and she looked up at Tony, who turned the screen to face her. 104.6°.
"Let's get him in bed." Tony suggested.
The two carefully eased Bruce to his feet and held him up long enough to get him up and onto a bed.
"I really need to know why this is happening to him." Jennifer sighed. "I don't understand and I don't like not understanding."
"Well, There really isn't anyone else like Bruce." Tony shrugged.
"Gee, thanks..." Bruce rasped with a weak smile.
"Bruce..." Jennifer sat on the edge of his bed. "I need to know something that's pretty personal."
"I mean... Can it get worse than you already know?" Bruce sighed, his pale face still showing how humored he was at the younger physician.
"I need to ask you something about... The Big Guy." Jennifer hesitated. Since she had started with the team, she had never brought him up; it seemed rude, especially since it was known to be a sensitive subject for him, and Bruce was somewhat of a hero of Jennifer's from a scientific standpoint, so she wanted to make a good impression and have a good working relationship.
"Oh." Bruce peeped. He turned away on his pillow for a few minutes, taking long, slow breaths.
"I'm sorry. I know it isn't really... You know- my place. Normally I would not bring up the issue, but I can't help but wonder if maybe this isn't a cardiac issue." Jennifer explained. "I understand this is hard, but please. I need you to trust me."
"Go ahead, bud. I'm right here with you." Tony said, sitting up near the head of the bed, taking Bruce's hand. Jennifer smiled at the gesture, and how close the two men were.
"Okay." Bruce nodded hesitantly. "What do you want to know?"
Jennifer stood up from the bedside and walked over to her desk, taking out a pen and notepad, then she sat down in the desk chair they had used to help Bruce move, leaving Tony with Bruce for support. She clicked the pen and scribbled to make sure it worked, then looked to Bruce and thought for a moment.
"Well, for starters, he wasn't born the day of your radiation incident, was he?" Jennifer guessed. Bruce shook his head, confirming her suspicion.
"No." Bruce admitted. "He's been with me much longer than that." He looked over at Tony, who gave a sincere and sympathetic look to his friend. Tony then looked over at Jennifer.
"I am the only other person that knows any of this." Tony explained. "And Dr. Ford- it will stay that way."
"Of course." Jennifer swallowed. She knew better than defend herself from Tony's protective nature when it came to someone he loved as much as he did Bruce, who he often referred to as a brother.
"When... When my mother was murdered..." Bruce croaked, pausing to put words together. "That is the first time I remember the voice in my head. The one telling me to run, where to hide from my father..." He paused and a shaky, shuttered breath wracked his body.
"Take your time." Jennifer said gently, jotting a few notes.
"The therapist my aunt took me to when she got custody of me diagnosed me with 'Multiple Personality Disorder', which as you know has had a title change to 'Dissociative Identity Disorder' in the mid-nineties. Natasha knows that much, that I have the diagnosis, but not when or anything..." Bruce looked away again. His large brown eyes filled with tears.
"Bruce... You don't have to defend or explain yourself to me. I swear, I'm as safe a person to tell as Tony, even if we aren't besties like you two are." She laughed lightly.
"You are with Nat, and I trust you." Bruce replied. "I really do."
"That means a lot, Doc." Jennifer smiled. "Please, whenever you're ready."
"That day. The day I saw my mom die. That was when it happened. I don't remember much for the following few weeks, but vaguely I remember his voice being with me. Sometimes I would find myself in situations I really shouldn't have been in. Messed around with some illicit chemicals, trying to kill the pain and noise in my head- when things got bad he always got me out. Sometimes, when I would take too much- whether on purpose or not, he'd make me..." Bruce paused for a moment "Us. Throw up. Sober up. Run away. Whatever was needed at the time."
"I am so sorry." Jennifer whispered through tears of her own, which she shrugged away.
"I mean- it is what it is." Bruce shrugged again. Tony squeezed his hand, his face twisted with pain, mostly hurting because he didn't know how else to help his friend. "So the day of the accident, the day I somehow absorbed several nuclear power plant's worth of radiation... That was the day he broke free, found a physical form. It was the first time he ever really drove with me being sober. Other times, while I was under the influence of something, be it alcohol or some sort of drug- he could take over, and it was almost like an autopilot that got me where I was going anyway. But after the radiation, he had his own body, not unlike inside our mind- it was a shared space. His form housed inside mine."
"Fascinating." Jennifer mumbled under her breath, making more notes. "Listen- I have a... Former colleague? I guess? Who is somewhat of a world leading expert in neurology, psychology... A bit of a cocky asshole, but he was really the best in his field. I met him doing some of my clinicals. He always had to brag to students about getting an MD and PhD at the same time- I didn't have the heart to tell him I already had a PhD myself, bless his heart... Anyway... He has been a bit off the radar as of late, but I still have some old contacts who may know how to find him."
"Jen, honey, I love the ideas. Really. I do. But I don't know about bringing someone outside in on this one." Tony expressed, frowning deeply. "Who is this guy anyway?"
"Dr. Stephen Strange." Jennifer replied, unable to avoid the eye roll that came with saying his name.
"Mmm." Tony said, clicking his tongue over his teeth. He sat up and took his phone out, beginning to search for the specialist in question. "I dunno. He looks academically legit." He held the phone over for Bruce to see.
"Says he is unlicensed at current, following a vehicle accident." Bruce said, looking up to where Jennifer sat.
"Like I said, he has been a bit of a recluse, I guess. But I was never going to let him touch you anyway. So the lack of license is a nonissue." Jennifer smile. "I may be a little stingy with my patients that way."
"If you really think he could help..." Bruce hesitated.
"He had the bedside manner of a homeless hermit crab, but he is excellent. I doubt anyone knows more about the workings of the brain- physical and mental. I'd bet money on him." Jennifer insisted.
"I trust you, Jen." Bruce nodded. "See if you can get a hold of him."
Clint finished setting up the connection for the call Steve had requested for them just as Sam sat the plane down on the American Air Force Base in Yemen. Sam came over behind where the Captain sat and playfully gave him a punch to the shoulder.
"You sure about this man?" Sam ask, looking his friend over carefully. "I mean- now?"
"Yes, now." Steve said, pressing the button to send for the call. The screen on their end began to ring similarly to an iPhone call. After about thirty seconds of ringing, the line picked up and the thin frame of Thomas Ford could be seen, trying to figure out how to hold the phone.
"Hello?" He called, moving the phone around more.
'Here, Tom. Lemme show ya.' A younger man in similar coverall's with a name patch that read 'Harvey' helped the older man focus in on the call, but not before gasping a little and giving a wide eyed stare into the phone upon seeing Captain America on the other side.
"Hey Mr. Ford! How are you today?" Steve ask, leaning forward. He fumbled around with his fingers and bounced one leg up and down nervously. Clint nudged Sam in the stomach, and Rhodey came over and steered them both out of the cockpit.
"Well, Captain! To what do I owe the honor?" Thomas ask, adjusting his grease-stained hat up onto his head to clear his eyes.
"Well, to be completely honest, sir, I wish I wasn't having to do this via phone call, but I thought if that was necessary, then face to face call would be best. I- I just-" Steve hesitated, looking away for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "We're about to go out for a mission, and I just needed to do this first. I planned to come to Tennessee, but-"
"You're Captain America?" Thomas finished with a chuckle. "I think I know where this is going."
"You... You do?" Steve stammered.
"I do, but I would bet money that you have somethin' prepared so, les' hear it." Thomas said, moving to sit down in a rocking chair outside the door to his garage.
"Well sir, I have to be honest, I have been trying to figure out what I would say for a week or so now. A couple weeks ago I watched Jennifer wear herself down holding one of my teammates... one of my friends' heartbeat in her hand. Her gift is so remarkable and she just gives and gives... She is a remarkable, magnificent, profoundly gorgeous and selfless woman and I am absolutely and irrevocably in love with her. If I am to be totally honest, I never could have considered finding myself so lucky as to be with a woman like her- or even to have the honor of knowing someone like her." Steve felt his eyes going moist as he spoke, and he looked upward and blinked to clear his vision.
"Well, see, that is what a father wants to hear if a boy decides he's in love with his daughter." Thomas smiled. "Go on."
"Well, sir, I was hoping you'd allow me the privilege and complete honor of your blessing to ask her hand in marriage?" Steve finished, his voice squeaking as he forced his words out. On the screen, Thomas was laughing.
"Oh..." Thomas breathed, smiling, "Oh, son."
"Sir?" Steve ask, his face pale. A fear gripped his chest that Thomas Ford was about to read him the riot act and tell him to take a long walk off a short pier.
"What kind of idiot would have the Steve Rogers ask them for their daughter's hand in marriage and then say no?" Thomas chuckled. "Yes, Captain. A hundred percent. Just- Please. I am nervous enough with her bein' with you folks and how dangerous the job is. You gotta promise me you'll keep her safe." Thomas replied. "And maybe get her home a little more often to visit."
"Yes! Yes sir." Steve nodded with a grin. "I swear. On my life, sir."
"Alright. Well, I better let you go save the world. I just want you to know, our church, we keep all you Avengers in our prayers. Y'all do good work." Thomas said. "We can talk more in person, and believe me, we will. But you go and be a hero."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Ford." Steve exhaled, finally relaxing a bit.
"Thomas is fine, son. Talk to you later." He said, and Steve gave a wave before disconnecting.
Steve stood up and adjusted his uniform, pulling the shirt down and retucking the deep navy blue top back into his tactical pants and securing it back with the belt he had removed for comfort during their flight. He left the cockpit and came out into the jets cargo hold where his teammates were suiting up for the task they'd been assigned.
"So?" Clint ask, grinning. "Tell us."
"He seemed thrilled." Steve beamed. "I have his blessing."
"Congrats, man!" Sam called, pulling his wing pack onto his back. Clint and Rhodey also offered their congratulations.
"I know how much you love the young doctor, Cap, but why did this have to happen, ya know... Now?" Rhodey ask after opening the mask on his War Machine suit to see the others.
Steve shook his head and looked down.
"I uh- I had a nightmare." Steve confessed. "I've had the same nightmare three times since Dr. Banner's first incident. I-" he squeezed his eyes shut tightly for a moment and shook his head.
"It was bad. Like- Bad bad." Sam interrupted on the Captain's behalf, having been told all about the nightmare by Steve before. He looked at the other two men and shook his head, signalling for them not to press the subject.
"I just- I wasted enough time in my life, and this round- this life, it is my second chance. I don't want to waste another second. So when we get home-" Steve moved over to his locker and dug in his dufflebag and took out a small red-crushed velvet ring box and clicked it open, revealing a shining diamond ring inside.
"And you don't think that is a bit... Rushed?" Rhodey ask. "Not that it is any of my business."
"Dude." Sam scolded.
"I proposed to Laura after three weeks." Clint defended. "We were married 4 months later. Sometimes, you gotta trust that gut instinct. You should know that, Rhodes. You're a hell of a warrior."
"No- it's okay, guys. I get it." Steve sighed and looked over to Rhodey. "Colonel, I appreciate your input. You're a very intelligent and level headed man. It might be rushed, but I don't know if it matters, because I was not aware that I could feel like this. I missed seventy years of my life, and she is the reward at the end of the ice."
"Aww. That's sweet, man. Sappy, but sweet." Rhodey laughed. "You boys ready to rock and roll?"
"Let's hit it so Cap can get back to the good Doctor." Clint called, slinging his quiver up onto his back and pressing the hatch door open.
"Let's do it." Steve agreed, loading his pistol and putting his shield on his back. "I've never been more excited to get home than now."
Thank you all for reading this newest chapter! Sorry its been so long- I had to have another surgery.
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