Bitter Suite

Chapter Two

Tony got back into the house and pulled Pepper to one side, "Break it up now, get these people out of here." he said. Then rushed past her to go put on the suit. She stared at him open mouthed and followed watching him shouting at Jarvis to hurry up dressing him in the metal casing. She'd never seen him this wound up before, and certainly not at his beloved machine. He had built every piece of it himself, and kept it running perfectly programmed to suit his every need. Why now was he in such a rush to leave?"

"Tony, what's going on? You are drunk, you shouldn't be flying in that death trap!"

"I'm going after Steve before he crashes out on that blasted bike of his, Jarvis hurry up!" he snapped.

"Steve, on a bike? Do you know how much he drank?" she asked.

"That would be why I'm going after him wouldn't it!" Stark bit back.

Pepper would normally bite back at that but her boss was too freaked out for her to risk it, "Do you need help? I can get the others?"

Stark shook his head adjusting the helmet slightly. "I don't think he needs too many people around him right now."

"What did you do, Tony?" she demanded.

"Why do you always assume the worst of me?" he demanded.

"Because I know you!" Pepper answered.

"Pepper, dear, we can fight over this later. I don't have the time right now, I have to go save Captain Fancy Pants before he ends up as road kill." Stark glared, blasting through the roof to hunt down his friend.

Pepper sighed and pulled her phone out of her pocket. It picked up on the second ring, "Fury? We have a situation."

Meanwhile Steve was bombing down the road way too fast, tears clouding his vision as he drove. He'd lost everything he had worked for since he had woken up in this strange world. His job, friends, he'd almost found himself a new family in the Avengers. Now he'd never be able to face any of them every again. Not after his stupid admission! Surely he had learned better after hiding his feelings half his life then to shout out about them now!

He cursed himself for getting so drunk, and even more so for shooting his stupid mouth off about everything. How could he have been so stupid! He would go to Fury tomorrow and tell him he was leaving the team. There was nothing else that he could do now. There was no way he could pull it off as only a drunken joke or take back his words.

As the tears fell even heavier, Steve revved the bike to go even faster. 90, then 100, 120 miles an hour now. He swerved badly around a snaking corner nearly crashing out, but just managing to pull it back in time. He knew that he was in no condition to drive, hell he wasn't in any condition to do anything but go home and sleep it off. His raging thoughts wouldn't allow him to stop right now. The need for speed trying to sooth the anger and self loathing he felt for this whole situation. He thought about the look of surprise and horror on Stark's face as he had confessed his feelings.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he muttered under his breath.

He took one hand off of the handlebars to wipe his tears away. That was yet another mistake, the second he wasn't paying attention, the bike hit a bump in the road, and at that speed he completely lost control of the bike. At the next corner he tumbled off as the bike turned into scrap metal as it punched through the barriers and off of the side of the cliff. Smashing a few hundred feet below on the rocks.

Captain was moving with too much force still, that he was carried over the edge as well. He thought for a second about grabbing something to break his fall or stop him from completely going over. The darkness in his heart stopped him from reacting. Perhaps this is easier? he thought. He was lost in this world, he should have died in the ice. Maybe fate now was making sure of itself and putting the record back straight?

At least dead he wouldn't have to deal with any more of this crap, and his body could be made useful to Banner, in trying to fix the potion to breed more like him. Resigned to his fate, Steve crashed onto the rocks below and blacked out. The last thought he had was of Stark, wishing so much he could see him one last time. He could almost hear is voice calling him in the distance.

Iron man flew down the roadside after his captain, "Jarvis, any sign of an energy signature matching his bike?" he asked.

"Negative Sir, but there are signs of metallic debris a little under two miles ahead of you." Jarvis answered.

"Oh hell!" Stark muttered, turning on the boosters to get there faster.

Sure enough as he landed, Stark found pieces of the mangled motorbike. Stooping to pick up the buckled number plate he found resting on the ground. There were skid marks where he had almost stripped the tires bald trying to break. "God damn it, what did I make you do?" Tony muttered.

"Sir?" Jarvis asked.

Stark looked over the edge at the smoking wreck far below them. His voice cracked as he went to speak, but he coughed and tried again. Although his voice was a pale imitation of his usual vocal dexterity, "Are there any life signs?"

"One and it is very weak, you should hurry."

Tony was down there in a second, searching, tearing through the shattered metal parts, throwing them around looking for any sign of his dear friend. Hurling a chunk of exhaust out of the way, he saw a piece of a tattered tee shirt he knew all to well. "STEVE!" he shouted, shoving metal out of the way to get over there.

Stark froze at the sight of Steve's wrecked body. His leg was at a very strange angle, clearly broken in several places. His arm looked dislocated, a huge gash dominated his forehead, spurting blood still. And there certainly was a lot of it, staining the cap's clothing and the ground nearby. That in the end was what stirred his frozen body into action. "Jarvis, assessment!" he snapped, kneeling by the old man, trying to stop the flow of blood before it was too late.

"Dislocation left shoulder, multiple breaks and contusions, damage to ribs right hand side, internal bleeding, possible pierced lung, blow to left side of head, concussion, body temperature low, shock setting in. Recommended imediate removal to nearest hospital." the machine answered.

"Dear God Steve, what did you do to yourself?" Tony asked, "What did I do to you!" Trying to pick his friend up without hurting him anymore then he already was. Steve's eyes fluttered open and he moaned in pain. "Take it easy big guy, I'm going to get you some help." Tony promised.

Steve shook his head weakly, "Time to let me go." he muttered.

"Never, there is no way I'm letting you go anywhere without me!" Tony vowed as he raised into the air heading towards the hospital.

"Tony, I'm not worth saving. Please." he said as his head rolled weakly onto the other man's shoulder as they moved. If the situation was different, he could have found himself quite enjoying the position. Cuddled close enough to smell Tony's expensive aftershave.

"Stop talking, save your strength Steve. I messed this up, ad I'm gonna fix it. You said I'd never lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over me, now let me prove you wrong." Tony promised. Steve had taught him that you never leave an man behind, and he sure as hell wasn't going to give the Captain the chance to go anywhere!