Chapter 5: Worries and no solution?

Note: Sorry it took so long! I was really busy and didn't know how to end this chapter. I'm not totally satisfied how it turned out but I will try to make the 6th chapter better.

And before I forget it: Thank you very much for your reviews! I'm really happy that you like my story!^^


Steve wandered around in the mansion in the search for Tony. It would be an understatement to say that Steve was worried; he was just a few centimetres away from pulling at his hair out of frustration. During the flight T'Challa had asked Tony if he was alright and of course Tony had said he was but Steve had heard a slight strain in Tony's voice and even without seeing his face he knew that something was off.

When they had landed he had left the plane with the others he had hoped that Tony would come to him if he needed help. He was so naïve! As if Tony Stark (!) would come to anybody for help or even confess that something is not all right!

Steve was searching the whole mansion for the man he called friend and in the process he had run into Thor who volunteered to search for Tony in the upper parts of the mansion while Steve would search the basement.

First stop in the basement was Tony's workshop but instead of a door that would open for him as usual said door was closed.

"Uh… J.A.R.V.I.S.? Why is the door not opening?"

The AI didn't answer him and that made Steve worry even more than he already was. Instead of freaking out he tried to address the AI again: "J.A.R.V.I.S. I asked you a question: would you be so kind to explain me why the door won't open?"

"Master Stark ordered me to." was the short reply Steve got and these five words said him that Tony had to be in there!

"Can you please open the door for me? I want to see him."
"See who, sir?"

Steve couldn't believe his ears: the AI was playing dumb! "I want to see Tony!"

"I'm sorry sir but he is not available right now."

"And why is that?"

A few seconds ticked by till the AI settled on the response: "He is working on something and he doesn't want to be disturbed."

"You know what JARVIS, for a brilliant AI you're a really bad liar. Now tell me what is really going on before I lose the last of my patience!"

Another few seconds went by till the AI sighed in defeat. "Your latest mission left Mr Stark… exhausted and he will need a lot of rest before he can go back to fighting criminals."

Well that statement didn't help Steve to ease his nerves, at all. "Can I see him?"

"I'm not so sure that…"

"Please JARVIS!"

"…Alright but please let him rest!"

"Of course."

Finally the door opened and Steve walked right in.

"He's in the back." The AI said helpfully.

Steve murmured a "Thanks" and quickened his pace in the given direction.

What he saw shocked him. If Tony had looked pale during the flight back to the mansion then he looked now like death himself.

"Oh Tony… JARVIS will he be alright?"

"As I already said sir: He will need a lot of rest before he can be described as 'fit for duty'. But since I know Mr Stark well enough, I think I can say that he won't give himself that rest… Captain, you will have to promise something. Mr Stark doesn't like it when someone sees him like that – which is why I didn't call Ms Potts – and he doesn't like it to worry other. That is one reason why he won't tell you or the rest of the Avengers when he isn't well but don't tell him I told you that. Just promise that you won't tell no one - and mean no one – about his health!"

While the AI had said that Steve had grabbed a chair and sat down besides Tony. He took the inventor's right hand in his own and said: "I'm not comfortable with that… but I promise. I will also look after him so that he won't overdo it."
"Thank you Captain."

Steve sat there holding Tony's hand in silence for a few minutes till he remembered that Thor might still be searching for Tony since Steve hadn't informed him that he had found him already.

So he stood up and turned to leave but before he left he took one last glance at Tony.

"JARVIS please inform me if his condition changes."

"Of course sir."

With that he finally left the workshop and this time in search for the god of thunder.


When Tony regained consciousness he felt a bit better than before. He didn't feel like breaking down and sobbing disgracefully like a little child because of the pain and that was definitely an improvement.

Another thing he realised was that his right hand felt like as if someone had held it.

"JARVIS…?" croaked Tony.

"Yes sir? How are you feeling?" The AI asked with concern clearly in his voice.

"Better… Was someone here?"

"Ah, well… Mr Rogers was worried about you and he wouldn't leave till he got to see you o I let him in but I made him promise not to tell anyone."

"…I see."

Tony sat up and swung his legs slowly over the 'bed' and stood slowly up.

"With all due respect sir, I think it would be better if you stayed in bed."
At first Tony didn't acknowledge the AI's words, only when he had almost reached the door he said: "If I have to stay in bed JARVIS I at least want to do that in my bed in my room."

With these words Tony stubbornly left the workshop and went upstairs to his room in the mansion.

On the way to his room he hadn't as much luck of not running into one of his teammates as when they had arrived at the mansion. Without really realising it he ran into something – correction someone.

"Man of Iron!"

'Oh just my lucky day.' Thought Tony but said out loud: "Hey Goldilocks!"

"Are thou well my friend you look a bit pale." Asked the god of thunder concerned when he took a closer look at Tony.

"Yes I'm alright, just a bit exhausted nothing what sleep can't cure." Lied Tony with a (fake) smile on his lips.

"Well then I then I won't hold you up to replenish your energy!" boomed Thor – his voice was really loud and Tony hoped that the god would learn one of these days to speak less loudly since his head would be really glad about that.

"Yeah well I'll be going then." And with that Tony walked away from Thor and straight to his room where he let himself fall onto his bed.

Before sleep took him he murmured: "JARVIS be so kind and lock the door and let no one in till I tell you."

"Of course sir."


Steve was in his room drawing something on the block Tony had got him right away when he had heard that Steve loved to draw, when JARVIS startled him from his concentration.

"Captain I want to inform you that Mr Stark has awakened and went to his room to rest there. He wants to be left undisturbed."

Steve looked up from his block and said: "Thank you JARVIS."

"No need to thank me Captain."

Since Tony wanted to rest – which Steve was really grateful for – Steve began drawing once more…