Steve blinked a few times, then frowned, confused as to why his head was hurting so bad. He took it easy to sit up, rubbing his temples to find some relief. Yawning, he noticed he was in a hospital...

Hospital?

"Tony?" He flung himself off the bed a little too fast, falling forward onto his hands and knees. He forced his shaky body to cooperate as he pushed the door with his uncontrollable strength, said door falling off its hinges.

"Captain!" Agent Maria Hill called him to attention.

Steve stopped himself, panting. "I-I'm sorry, I just, uh..."

"Tony is fine, Steve. He just had a few minor injuries. Now, as for you with your concussion-"

"Concussion?" Steve could not remember the last time he suffered from a head injury.

Well, there was that one time when Bucky watched in horror as I went up to bat and I-

"You just need to wait it out, luckily, the serum saved you from what would have given anyone else permanent brain damage..."

Steve's eyes bulged out at that statement, then thanked God for the millionth time he had the serum. Definitely more pros healing than cons of a few broken doors.

"Um...ok, that explains the headache, but..." Steve slowed down. "Can I see him?"

"Sure, Cap." Maria smiled. "But the doctors think it might be another day or two before he wakes up...from shock and all..."

"Another day, but..." Steve's brain tried to recall. "...how long was I out?"

"About 42 hours." Maria sighed. "You had some strange brain activity, we think the Mind Stone had something to do with it."

"I don't remember anything past the fight with Loki..."

"Nobody remembers anything...just ask Agent Barton..."

Steve nodded in understanding. Clint never wanted to talk about that experience. And no one could blame him. Having one's mind warped and bent to a will not of its own is terrifying, especially when there are evil intentions.

"Follow me." Maria motioned. "His vitals are fine, we have round-the-clock staff constantly checking, with armed guards at the doors and around the perimeter. It's not JARVIS, but it's the next best thing."

"Thank-you..." Steve whispered, as he laid eyes on his boyfriend. He could not hold back his shock as he came up to the room.

Tony looked fine, nothing but a few bruises and scrapes, but what broke Steve's heart was how small he was.

"Oh, honey...what have you done to yourself?" Steve got down on his knees, carefully taking a hand, and kissing it. "I'm here, I'm so sorry I had to go. I came back...now it's your turn, ok? I promise, I won't let this happen again."

Steve felt so guilty, seeing how boney the genius' hands were, and how his collar bone poked out of tanned skin. Heavy bags sagged underneath tired eyes, and Steve could tell it was not a peaceful sleep, but one forced by a lot of medical assistance.

"What is going on inside that beautiful mind of yours?" Steve wondered out loud.

Late that night, Tony woke up in a cold sweat. A gentle but firm hand immediately tried to grab his, but he jerked away, scared of the dark, scared of him.

"Steve? Please, he's here, the-"

"Tony, listen to me, you're safe...he cannot hurt you anymore. I'm right here beside you...ok?" Steve flicked the lights on, and kept a safe distance to not overwhelm Tony anymore.

It took him a minute, but Tony nodded in affirmation, although not quite believing it fully.

Anthony...

Tony's eyes searched for the cause of that voice, that haunting voice inside his head. All he wanted was Steve, and to be free of that voice!

He flinched for second, only to realize it was Steve taking his hand in such a gentle and loving way. Their eyes met, and both started to shed tears. Steve got onto the bed, hugging him protectively.

"You don't ever have to worry about him anymore...forget he ever existed...I just want you to feel safe...that's all I want for you..."

Tony closed his eyes and sunk into Steve's arms, finally feeling again...

Loki gasped, choking on blood as he coughed up a lung, it felt like. He rolled himself over, wincing from pain all over his body. He was so weak, he could not even stand. He massaged the side of his head weakly, hissing.

The Mind Stone was gone. That little voice in his head was silent. He took a moment to ponder his situation.

He actually felt ok.

Shockingly, yes, he was fine...physically, he would heal, but now, his captor was no more, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn...

What horrors await back in Asgard? Thor was probably searching for him right now...

"Just as it always goes..."

Loki figured it would be best to not try to hide from the inevitable, so he found Thor, appearing before the God of Thunder.

"Loki...what have you done?" He did not expect to see sorrow, he thought a good punch would greet him.

Loki hated this reaction, and he hated that he hated it, because it showed that he still cared for his not brother...

"...I'm sorry, Brother..." Loki's big eyes told the truth, surprised he blurted out what his heart had been wanting to tell him for years.

Thor searched for a lie, a trick, but finally took it as relief, happy to see his brother slowly coming back home where he could finally find peace.