"It's Stockholm Syndrome" Bruce had told Steve when the blond had asked him about Barry's condition.
Steve, Nat, Clint and Tony were all in the lounge of the tower with Bruce as they were all letting Thor have some time to try and get Barry back.
"What's 'Stockholm Syndrome'?" Tony questioned Bruce.
"Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response. It occurs when hostages or abuse victims bond with their captors or abusers. This psychological connection develops over the course of the days, weeks, months, or even years of captivity or abuse" Bruce informed Tony, and the playboy nodded his head, finally understanding what he meant.
"and this is what is what Barry has?" Natasha asked Bruce, and the scientist grimly nodded his head.
"He was there for two weeks, and this is H.Y.D.R.A we're on about," Steve confirmed, "There was no way he was escaping their clutches untouched"
Bruce nodded in response to Steve's statement.
"That's why he kept mumbling for the 'Winter Soldier' over and over again?" Clint questioned Bruce, and that got everyone but Nat's attention. Steve looked concerned, and that made Bruce worry about the kid.
Thor entered the room moments later, looking annoyed. Steve stood up so Thor could take the man's place on the couch.
"I'm guessing that went very well" Tony snorted as Thor just growled softly, his hammer dropping to the floor in front of him as he did so.
"Tony" Steve said, sending a pointed look to the man.
"Steve" Tony said, sending a pointed look to Cap.
Bruce sighed and grabbed Steve by the arm, pulling him out of the room. Steve and Bruce stood in the hallway leading towards the Med bay where Barry was.
"Steve," Bruce sighed, "We need to figure out how to get Barry back and fast"
"Stay with him for the night, make sure he gets some rest, he needs it," Bruce told the older man, turning to enter the lounge once more, "and that pun, it was not intended"
Nodding, Steve watched as Bruce entered the lounge before walking slowly towards the Med bay, smiling softly as he saw that the occupant of the lone bed in the room was asleep.
Steve grabbed the chair he had been sitting in when Barry first woke up and leaned his head back against the pillow. If Barry was going to get some sleep, he would too.
The first nightmare happened at around 2 in the morning. Steve had been jolted out of his slumber by the sound of the younger man twisting and turning on the bed. He had jumped up, commanded JARVIS to turn the lights on in the room and he had shook the younger man until he woke up.
Barry was shaking horrifically when he woke up, and he refused for Steve to touch him. Barry pulled his legs up to his chest and he wrapped his arms around them, his head pressing against them as his body shook from both fear and from the sobs he was letting out. Steve had had an idea of what heartbreak was, but this, this was so much worse. He wanted to take Barry's pain away, make it his, but he couldn't and Barry wouldn't even let him touch him.
It took awhile, but Barry had managed to calm himself down and when he lifted his head up from his knees, Steve felt like punching someone. The Scarlet Speedster's face was red and blotchy from the tears, and the tear stains were still so evident on his face. Barry's eyes were heavily bloodshot, and still very glazed over.
"Bear?" Steve questioned the younger man, sitting down beside him on the medical bed. He seemed to have been ignored though, as he noticed Barry had spaced out once more. Taking a deep breath, Steve did something he never thought he'd ever do.
He used two fingers to get underneath Barry's chin and he connected their lips.