With a heavy sigh, Tony closed his eyes in a feeble attempt to get some rest. He wasn't the type that counted sheep, but after mentally reciting the elements of periodic table in order by atomic number, then symbol and finally by atomic weight, he gave up all hope of dozing off. He could use another drink or better yet, a drink and few hours in his lab. The only question was if he could get up without disturbing Martha's sleep.

Tony opened his eyes and stole a glance at her. She had rolled over at some point during the night and turned her back to him. He felt the shift in position, but didn't question it. They were still close enough that he didn't feel alone and he assumed that it was just a natural reaction to being in bed with a person she hardly knew.

Once again, he found himself questioning the validity of this so called therapy. Was either of them really supposed to get anything out of it? The pillow talk had been nice, but he was no closer to a good night's sleep. An escape to the lab was beginning to sound more and more like a good idea.

Tony lifted his head from his pillow a bit to check on Martha. He listened for the slow and steady hum of slumber, but instead he heard Martha sniffing quietly. The sound was barely discernible and a tell-tale sign of someone that was used to hiding their tears. And if he had any remaining doubts about the cause of the noise, then the way her body convulsed made it clear that she was crying. Tony hesitantly looped a loose arm around her midsection, still not sure how this whole thing was supposed to work, but when she pulled him closer he relaxed into the embrace, resting his head against her shoulder.

It probably should have been weird. Well it was weird, but not in the way that Tony would have expected. There he was snuggled up with a woman he had met less than 24 hours ago. Not to say that he had never taken a woman to bed the same day that he met her, but this time his intentions were pure. More or less pure. He'd definitely have sex with her, if the offer was ever on the table, but that wasn't what this was about.

Somehow this woman had gotten under his skin in a way he wasn't prepared for. Maybe it was because he finally agreed that she did understand him. And if he was honest, he wanted to understand her better as well. More importantly, he wanted to protect her from the memories he felt responsible for triggering.

"I'm sorry," Martha told him quietly once her breathing began to even out. "I was supposed to be here to help you not the other way around."

"Who says those things have to be mutually exclusive?" Tony replied close to her ear.

"I think it was talking about it. About Japan and the Master…"

"I shouldn't have pushed you," Tony said quickly. "I could tell you were wigging out. I should have just dropped it."

Martha turned in his arms to face him. Even in the dim light spilling in through the window from the city around them, he could see that her expression was earnest. "You didn't mean any harm."

Tony stared her in the eyes. "It was still a dick move."

Martha huffed softly. "Anything to turn the subject back to your dick, eh?"

"Have you always been such a potty mouth?" Tony retorted in amusement.

Martha chuckled. "I would have said penis, but I've been accused of being too clinical."

Tony smirked. "You're a right. Dick is better."

"You say that like you're a fan."

"Of my own, but in my defense it's the only one I have intimate knowledge of. I'd have to see a few in their natural habitats to be sure."

"A few?"

"At least three to be scientifically sound."

"Just ask the other Avengers," Martha joked.

"The green, the godly and the geriatric? Great idea," Tony retorted sarcastically. "I don't even want to think about what Barton has going on down there."

Martha dropped her head against his shoulder and laughed, snuggling closer to him in the process. "Are those your only mates?"

"No," he answered after adjusting to the change in position by putting an arm around her waist. "There's Rhodey. He's my best friend. He's put up with my shit longer than most people." He inhaled deeply and let it out. "I can't believe he's never let me see his before," he added after a brief lull in conversation. "I mean that seems like a basic bonding experience, right?"

Martha stifled another chuckle against his chest. "I have plenty of friends, but at no point did we ever feel inclined to flash our fannies to one another."

"Seems like a missed opportunity to me."

Martha lifted her eyes to meet his. "Don't even think of asking."

"I know. I know." Tony sighed dramatically. "No sex. I get it, but if we keep talking about our naughty bits, my mind is gonna start to wander," he informed her, only half joking.

"I don't mind your mind wandering, just make sure that your hands don't," she warned.

Tony shifted his hand upward from its previous position at the small of her back. "Is this alright?" Martha nodded before lowering her head once more. She snaked an arm around his midsection and sighed softly. "Do you think you can get back to sleep?" he asked.

"Maybe."

"Want another drink?"

"Definitely."

They pulled apart and Tony led the way back to the bar. Martha followed close behind with the blanket from the bed wrapped around her. "Take a load off," he said gesturing to the sofa while he filled two glasses.

He joined her a short while later with their drinks and the bottle and they leaned against one another as they nursed their whiskey. They spent the rest of the evening chatting about random things until they both managed to nod off.

Tony wasn't exactly sure how long he had been out, but when he woke, the sun was up and both Martha and the whiskey were gone. He sat up, pushed aside the blanket that had been tucked around him and reached for the coffee table, where a note sat between the empty decanter and a neatly folded Iron Maiden t-shirt.

Sorry to cuddle and run, but duty called and I needed a shower and some aspirin for my hangover before work. We should really pace ourselves next time. Well that's assuming that there IS a next time. No pressure, of course, but last night was the best sleep I've had in ages! I reckon I can't be sure if it was because of you or the alcohol. Maybe we should give it a go two or three more times just to be sure? You know…for science. Let me know what you think. But seriously, it was really nice talking to you. So even if you decide the therapy thing isn't right for you, give me a ring some time. – Martha

Tony smiled in spite of himself. If he was being honest, Tony didn't have a lot of faith in the effectiveness of the touch therapy technique, but he couldn't ignore that he did wake up feeling better than he had in a while. He should at least test the theory with a follow up or two. For science.