Chapter 9

By: MysticFantasy

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Tony had never been fond of hospitals. He hated getting sick which was one of the reasons why he tried to avoid them as much as possible. He was going against his attempts because he needed to be here. Needed to be here with his team during such a fragile moment.

Steve had been moved into a private ICU room of the medical wing with armed security posted outside his door. Only the Avengers, Fury and an escorted doctor were allowed into the room.

Thor hadn't been too sure why security for Steve was needed, although he agreed with it completely, but it became clear when it was explained to him that Steve had many enemies that would like to get rid of him and he needed to be guarded until he was healed incase the enemy that attacked him somehow showed up.

It was then that the thunder god declared that he would also stay to help protect Steve. It honestly made everyone feel better knowing that Thor would be around.

He and Steve had bonded very well since the Chitari battle. They were also the only two on the team that weren't up to speed on all of the current technology and things of that subject. It would only make sense that they became close friends.

Tony looked over to the bed that held the form of their team leader. He was hooked up to machines that were reading his body vitals and medicine was being fed into his body through IV's even though they all knew the medicine would only work for a max of about three seconds since Steve's metabolism would burn it off so quickly.

True to her word, Natasha was at Steve's side and looking at him with concerned eyes. The soldier hadn't given any kind of sign that he was going to wake up and that was making Natasha, as well as everyone else, nervous.

The men were walking on egg shells around Natasha since she was more dangerous while she was nervous than any other time.

The doctor had warned them that, even with his regenerative healing abilities, Steve would be asleep for at least a day or two and that Steve most likely wouldn't show any signs of regaining consciousness during that time.

But that wasn't going to stop any of them from staying with their captain.

Tony had already warned the others that if blood was going to be drawn any time during their stay with Steve then he would run out of the room like a scared child at the dentist.

Clint had somehow convinced Thor that if the situation came to that then he could pin Tony down with Mjolnir.

The inventor hadn't been too happy about the idea of being pinned by Thor's hammer but he eventually came to the agreement of it.

Darkness had eventually claimed the sky and sleep claimed most of the Avengers.

Only Natasha and Tony remained awake.

"Maybe you should get some sleep." Tony quietly suggested.

"No." she replied. "I can't. I need to be here."

"He's not going to wake up for a while." Tony said. "Might as well get some sleep. He'll want to see you rested. You know how easily he feels guilty about things."

"I know but..." Natasha was cut off by a yawn.

"See? You need to sleep for a while." Tony stated. "He'll be here when you wake up."

"How can you be so sure?" Natasha lightly snapped. "We thought the same thing not too long ago and the next thing we know, he's gone. Went into hiding and none of us could find him."

"But why would he tell us where he is other than the fact that he was hurt?" Tony pointed out. "Natasha, he was right all along. Something is going on. We just thought he might be loosing touch with reality a little. Probably depressed from fully accepting that he's not in his rightful time."

"That's what hurts." Natasha said. "None of us believed him and now look what's happened. He nearly died because we thought he was seeing things. He left because he lost trust in us. He doesn't like us anymore. Especially me."

"That's not true." Tony said. "Steve cares about you Natasha. Never stopped."

"Right. That's why he just decided to hop on his bike and leave without saying a word." she said. "I messed up and now he won't want anything to do with me."

"Keep telling yourself that." Tony said. "Steve cares. You'll see when he wakes up. He'll be glad to know that you're here with him. Maybe you should sleep so he won't at least see those bags under your eyes."

Natasha cast a light glare to the inventor. If there was one thing he should have learned from being with Pepper, it was that he should never call a woman out on her looks.