Two Missed Calls

by virtualailee

"It wasn't a ghost ship, Stark. It was a bait. Ross', and we walked right into it." He can't be ogling the phone all day, can he? "Clint saw soldiers and told us it was a trap, but it was too late. They had their crosshair on Steve from the beginning. Took everything we had to get all of us out in one piece." Two missed calls. He should've been there when Steve needed him.

4. Chapter 4

Rhodey: Steve? It's Jim.

Steve: I'm here. What happened? How's Tony?

Rhodey: Stabilised. It's his fault, we told him to stay in bed – his lung collapsed. Broken ribs, see. He's fine now. We tried to strap him to the bed so he'll stay put – don't think he likes restraints much. He thrashes in his sleep. That makes it difficult to keep the bones aligned. Then… he starts talking in his dreams. He thinks he's back in the Raft. They asked about you, Steve.

Steve: …

Rhodey: They asked about the suits, the arc reactors and the Tesseract, then they asked about you. Where're you hiding, where's the rest of the Avengers. Who was he talking to constantly on this beat-up phone.

Steve: ... Jim, I'm sorry.

Rhodey: … I'm not supposed to be telling you this –

Steve: Then maybe you shouldn't.

Rhodey: I've family, too. Maybe, maybe this is for the best. Tell Clint and Scott that their families have been taken care of. Whisked off to some luxury island owned by one of Stark's family friends. They're very low-profile, and Tony's parked some suits around it, just-in-case.

Steve: ... Thank you. I'll let them know.

Rhodey: We're all he's got, Steve.

Steve: I know.

Tony: Cap?

Steve: Hey. How are you feeling?

Tony: Same ol'. I uh… I can't talk long. Ross called again.

Steve: Tony –

Tony: It's different. This is P and C but I'm gonna tell you anyway. Soon after the Accord went official, I built a sensor… it's.. colossal. Planetary-level colossal. In preparation for another Chitauri invasion, or worse. We got a code red forty minutes ago, we have eyes in the sky. All members are on stand-by, twenty-four-seven.

Steve: … Let us help.

Tony: That's why I'm meeting Ross. I have to go, Steve.

Rhodey: Steve? We got an update on the projected direction of the energy disturbance. It's like the waves are homing onto a target. Whatever it is, it's huge enough for the sensor to pick up.

Steve: Where is it currently?

Rhodey: Andromeda. It's heading for our galaxy. Fast.

Steve: Any news from Tony?

Rhodey: Not yet.

Vision: Thor is here.

Rhodey: Oh boy. Thor's here, Steve. He doesn't look happy.

Steve: Keep us posted.

Rhodey: … Exactly what Tony told us to do.

Tony: Steve, pack your bags. Tell T'challa to clear out the runways. We're sending a dozen quinjets your way. And tell the others to put some gas into it. You're all coming back to New York.

Steve: What's the threat?

Tony: Honestly? Some purple dude on a floating throne. He calls himself Thanos the Mad Titan.

Steve: How long before he reaches Earth?

Tony: Dunno. He's making a pit stop at Io. We need you here, ASAP. Shit, where's Strange when you need him?

Steve: OK. We're on the move, Tony.

Tony: … I'll you soon, Cap.

Steve: Be safe, Tony. I'll be there.