Steve's POV

The movie came to an end soon enough. It didn't seem like any of us were actually paying attention. The one person who actually had wanted to watch it was sleeping fitfully in my arms. Thor Bruce and Clint got up to clear the table as silently as possible while Nat and I sat without moving so as to not wake Tony from his slumber. Once they were done clearing up, Bruce pointed to the elevator indicating that we should head up. I nodded, "should I wake him?" I whispered? Too late, he roused on his own his hands going to rub his eyes.

"did I sleep through the whole movie again?" he said sleepily. "yeah you did, come on Tony it's time to head upstairs " I told him, not rushing him as I brushed my hands through his hair. He was slightly trembling from the cold, but Jarvis had increased the room temp to a much more comfortable level. He nodded rising to sit up straight.

"Thor do you wanna go spar?" Clint asked him urging him out, knowing not to crowd Tony. Thor agreed following him out. Bruce nodded at them as they left, "see you guys in the morning "

"see ya"

I pulled Tony upright supporting most of his weight, as nat picked up Tony's clothes still lying on the floor along with the blanket which she draped around Tony's shoulders. He huddled into it grasping the ends to prevent it from slipping.

"Tony?" I asked calling his name trying to wake him up a bit more, he was practically trudging by my side.

"hmm?"

"do you want to use the bathroom before Bruce puts in the iv?"

"I am fine, why can't I just drink the blood instead?" he whined

Natasha smacked the back of his head at that "that's disgusting, even for you"

"be nice kids" Bruce murmured.

I let Tony sink into the bed, before I pulled up the blanket over his torso.

"here, Tony the transfusion is going to take a couple of hours okay? So get comfortable."Bruce said handing Tony his memory foam pillow to help prop him up. I climbed over the bed and settled down on his right side, giving Bruce access to his left. Nat crawled in behind Tony, resting her head on his pillow.

"Bruce, I promise to eat healthy and take the pills, pleaseeee" Tony whined and I placed my hand over his arc reactor pinning him down knowing there was going to be a little struggle , "Tony, let Bruce do his job" I told him

"sir, would you like me to play some heavy metal?" bless Jarvis, even if we didn't always have the fore thought, Jarvis always did.

"no, what I would like is for you to work on a way to eradicate the use of fucking needles!" he was getting agitated from the nervousness. But the anger and snarky comments are a welcome emotion as compared to the whimpering mess he was last time.

"Steve, let me go! You don't have to imprison me" he glared, yup, definitely better than last time, but I didn't dare move my hand. If I did he was definitely going to run. He struggled a little, while Bruce went back downstairs to get the supplies, Tony was constantly shouting profanities, so I shut him off with a kiss. He succumbed to it, and once I released his lips, he was much more relaxed. But I could feel his heart hammering below my hand, under the reactor.

"Nat?" Bruce said walking in carrying a bag of blood for transfusion, Tony flinched at the sight, instantly going a sickly pale grey, "yeah?"

"here, can you hang this up on the bed post?" she nodded reaching her hand out to grab it. And that was enough for Tony to start hyperventilating.

Tony's POV

I had two hours of movie time to prepare myself mentally for this. But nothing was stopping the rapid breathing, I could feel the dizziness starting to cloud my vision as I desperately clung to Steve's chest trying to get away from the prying hands of Bruce.

"breathe Tony, come on baby. It's just an IV. You will feel better I promise, I need you to breathe" Steve was almost pleading, but I was unable to shake myself from the anxiety this is giving me. I felt someone tugging at my arm that was tucked between Steve and me.

"Tony come on, you need to take a deep breath, or you are going to pass out" I felt hands in my hair, hands pushing me down, and hands pulling my hand, and held tightly. I gasped as I felt the needle go in, my vision greying out, I felt myself go lax, Steve tapping my cheek.

"he's okay, let him sleep" I heard Bruce say, and the last thing I felt was hands brushing my hair, and Natasha's lips on my head as her hands pushed me to a more comfortable level on the bed.

Waking up the past few days has been a struggle, but this time there was extra effort involved. I felt and unusually shaky even though I knew I was already laying down. I felt hands smoothing the frown on my forehead.

"Hi, how are you feeling?" nat whispered, why was she whispering? I was awake now, I turned to look around the room and found the reason, Steve was curled up on the futon by the end of the room, he was wearing his jogging clothes, so at least I knew he has not been in that position for long, because that has got to hurt.

"mmm, weird" I said suddenly remembering how I had fallen asleep last night, I jerked my hand up to see the IV was no longer in place, only a little iron man band aid. Looking up, I saw no evidence of the transfusion in the room whatsoever. I sighed trying to rub the sleep out of my face.

"yeah, you are probably a little feverish right now from the transfusion, do you want to go back to sleep?" she said, pulling my hand away from my face. I nodded my head no, trying to get up, I was still feeling shaky, so she helped and propped me up by setting pillows behind my back.

I nodded my head towards Steve, about to ask how long he has been asleep but nat answered me before I even had the chance to say anything "he hasn't slept all night, just held u, the whole night. You slept rather fitfully. He was really worried Tony so were all of us. Thor stopped by this morning, he left some orange juice, are you up to it?" I nodded my head yes, my eyes still not leaving Steve. He looked downright exhausted even in his sleep, the guilt it kindled in me was like no other.

"I know you are scared Tony, trust me I understand it. But I need you to listen to me okay?" Natasha said handing me a glass of juice, as she sat back down and waiting until I took a sip and nodded trying to anticipate what she was going to say "this, you not taking care of yourself? Needs to stop. Or you need to at least let us take care of you. Do you know how worried Steve has been, he has been blaming himself for not taking better care of you. This time scary for all us to watch you fall sick, but it's not going to happen again, do you know why?" she asked waiting for me to look up, "because from now on, you are going to let us help you." She said with no place for argument, no place for even a nod as she firmly planted a kiss on my cheek and leaned back sitting against the headborad. I nodded my head anyway, the guilt now threatening to come out in the form of gasps. I felt the panic before I heard the gasps. Natasha's hands moved the glass out of my hand placing it on the nightstand. She pulled me into her embrace, as I struggled to escape her hold, she just held me tighter "let us help you Tony" she said firm enough to penetrate my panic addled brain, but low enough to not disturb Steve. I let myself relax in her hold, feeling her hand move up and down my back, until my breathing calmed.

"okay?" I nodded and she let go, placing the glass back in my hand

"thanks"

"always"