A/N So I finally figured out how to work this website. Yay me. Anyway, thanks guys for the reviews and stuff! My biggest fear though for a story like this is that I will start to get lazy and bored and flake on the details and choice of words, so you know, give me a shout. Enjoy!
"Alright, I need the welding gear on that side of the table. No don't put it next to the soldering station; I need more room than that."
Clint grunted, "You know Cap, I bet we could get away with killing Stark, no one will notice that he is gone."
Steve chuckled, "You hit him in the head. I'll hide the body."
"Deal."
It was at that moment that Tony put his arms around the two men, causing them to jump. "As fun as that sounds gentleman, I have a far more brilliant way of getting all of us out of here alive. And it may or may not involve a giant green monster, a super soldier, a demi-god, and two ninja assassins." Tony jumped towards were Natasha was putting up another one of Tony's work stations. "Hold it there Spider girl! That can't go there, I need more light."
Clint cursed when he dropped the propane tank on his foot. He straightened, stretching his back, "So, you going to share this master plan of yours Tony." He glanced up at one of the cheap cameras mounted near the ceiling, "Is it safe to be talking a plan?"
Tony followed his gaze, "Yes, yes," he said waving his hand, "those are cheap, trust me., there no good."
"Good to know." But Clint still felt wary.
Tony snapped his fingers, "Hey there McDreamy, pay attention. That tank needs to be closer to the welding equipment; I can't use it if I can't reach it."
Tony turned around, missing Barton's' snarl and the way his hands came up in the general height of Tony's neck squeezing the air, Steve quickly knocked them down.
Glaring Barton stooped again and picked up the tank as best he could with his handcuffed hands, "How exactly are we going to be able to help you out Tony with our hands so…restricted."
Tony whirled around, his eyes briefly flashing with fear, "You're not."
Clint blinked, and the other's stopped what they were doing, or sitting in Banner's case, and stared at Tony.
"What do you mean, we're not letting you do this alone Tony." Steve said, putting down the tool he had been examining, Tony looked away.
Bruce set aside the set of pages that he had been examining, "Tony I know you're scared but we can help you, with all of us working our part we can get everything done faster. The faster we're done, the faster we'll get home."
Tony turned, anger burning in his eyes, "I'm not scared Banner, this has nothing to do with being scared."
"Then what is it Tony," Clint said, "Because I sure as hell am not letting you go through this alone."
"I'm not alone!"
"We know you're not alone. Because we're here and not letting you act like you're alone." Natasha said.
"I'm not acting alone. I'm just saying that it will be easier for me to work alone. I told you before I work better alone, especially with this stuff. It's my element."
"You let Bruce help you all the time Stark. What is so different about the rest of us?" Thor asked.
"It's not about the people Thor, it's the location." Bruce said from the floor. "What's so wrong about this Tony? Just let us help. You're not alone this time."
Tony looked over at Bruce as if Hulk just said "please".
"What do you mean this time?"
Bruce looked confused, "This time, you're not alone, not like last time." It sounded more like a question than an answer.
Tony still looked confused. So Steve stepped up to the plate, "We've all read each other's files Tony. We know about your time in Afghanistan."
Tony stood there, "What file did you guys read?"
Steve blinked, "Is there more than one?" Barton asked.
"I do not understand, what are we talking about?" Thor asked, clearly confused.
"My file Thor, you know where S.H.E.I.L.D. puts all of those past, present, and future adventures of mine. We all have one, you do to. I've read it."
"Yeah, yeah, we all know that you hacked into S.H.E.I.L.D. database to get all the top secret information on us Tony. That is not what this conversation is about." Steve said.
"You're right, this current conversation is about how you have no fucking idea what I went through, or who I went through that shit with."
"Well then tell them Stark." Natasha spoke up, "I knew you didn't tell S.H.E.I.L.D. everything, figured you leave some stuff out. But, you do tell everything to Pepper, that's why I asked her about Afghanistan."
Tony stared at her, his eyebrows scrunched, "Ok, Pepper obviously can't keep a secret."
Natasha shook her head, "I only asked because I knew she would tell me. When I was hired to be your new P.A. I knew Pepper would want me to know as much about you as possible so I would know how to handle it." She paused, and in a tone that was far kinder than Clint had ever heard her speak in to anyone but him, "Tony, she told me about Yinsen."
Tony whipped around, Clint had never seen such hurt and sorrow in Tony's eyes before, it surprised him, because Tony never showed this sort of emotion. Usually Tony hid his grief behind anger and arrogance. Even when Coulson died he didn't let it show, and Barton had been told by Pepper that he and Coulson had been on the fast track to friendship.
Come to think of it, Barton was pretty sure that Stark didn't even show any signs of grief when talking about his parents death.
It had been a month since the Avenger team had moved in to Stark Tower when Clint had first heard Tony talk about his mother and father's death. He had been just a tad bit drunk at the time so Clint didn't even know if Tony remembered bringing it up. Barton remembered at one point Steve had left the room – everyone knew that he and Howard had been friends during the war – and hearing Tony talk so casually and flippantly about his death had upset him.
After that Clint had only heard Tony talk about it twice more. Once when Clint had been hiding in an air duct above Tony's lab, Tony had been discussing some of his father's work with Banner at the time of his death. The second time was when Steve one night at dinner asked how old Tony was when they had died, odd that no one seemed to know.
Each time it was brought up Tony was always telling jokes and insulting the men who had plowed into his parent's car, killing them and their chauffeur.
But never had Tony features showed this type of grief.
"Who was Yinsen?" Steve asked Natasha.
Natasha shook her head again, "Not for me to tell you Captain."
Everyone looked at Tony, who had sat down, leaning against the table, hand cradling his head and hiding his eyes. By the slight shake of his shoulders Clint determined that Tony was very close to crying. And when he took his hand away Clint could see the single tear trail across his left cheek.
"Tony," Clint said softly, and kindly, "Tell us what happened."
Tony took a shaky breath. "I….uh." He stopped, sniffed and wiped his hand across his face.
Tony stood, and looked each and every member of his team in the eye, he cleared his throat and began.
"I was on my way back from a weapons demo. It was a new missile that our engineers had designed, I had actually helped with some of the calculations myself. But, uh, on our way back we were attacked." Tony paused, "You know it was weird, right before we were attacked I was talking to the people in my humvee, joking with them. I was taking a picture with one of them, Jimmy was his name, he was just a kid, and while we sat there taking that picture the humvee in front of us blew up.
"Everything went to hell after that, I watched those three shot down. One was a women, I had been joking with her about how I couldn't tell who she was with her uniform on, and then she was just gone. They all were." Tony paused, "And then I did something stupid, I got out of the jeep. I don't know what I was thinking, probably go find Rhodey if I'm being honest. But I got out and ran for cover. Don't know what hiding behind a rock was going to do me, didn't do much good because next thing I know a Stark Industries launcher is blowing up in my face.
"After that there isn't much I remember, pretty sure they put me through surgery without any anesthetics, I remember that pain. And then there was nothing. Next thing I know I'm waking up in a cave, with an elector magnet stuck in my chest, keeping the remainder of the shrapnel out of my heart.
"But there was also Yinsen." Tony said the name softly, like it hurt to even remember, "he was there when I woke up, he was fucking shaving. He was there, with me the whole time. He was actually the one who did this," he gave a brief wave towards his chest, "and then he was there to help with the first Arc Reactor. Help stick it in my chest." Tony looked away and down to his hands.
"He helped me make the first suit, the primitive one that got me out. But, uh…" Tony again stopped. Everyone remained silent, not willing to press Tony who was blinking away tears, "Uh, when it was, um, you know time, we were setting up the suit, and some of the men set off the bomb we rigged the door with. That's when it really went to hell.
"The suit still needed to be booted up, and it was shitty technology, slow computers, we needed more time. And Yinsen gave us that time, or well, gave me the time I guess."
Tony stopped, he sat there staring off into space for several minutes, "He, uh, well he took a gun and started shooting and yelling, scared some of them shitless I guess because he got all the way to the door. And, that's where I found him five minutes later, with a dozen bullet holes in his gut." Tears fell down Tony's face, "He didn't stand a chance." He broke off in slightly hysterical laughter.
"He, he told me not to waste my life." Tony stood and faced away from the silent members of the room, hand over his eyes. Taking a deep breath he continued, " 'Don't waste your life Stark', that's what he said to me, his last fucking words to me, 'Don't waste your life.'"
Tony chucked the small screwdriver he hadn't even realized he was holding across the room. It landed with a clang, causing him to jump. "I think I did a fucking fine job of wasting my life since then." He broke of laughing, and once he started he couldn't stop.
Hysterical laughter escaped his lips, and several minutes later they turned to heart wrenching sobs.
Tony sat down against a table leg, curling in on himself, not caring that the five people he has always made sure he was been strong in front of saw this, this complete breakdown.
Between sobs Tony finished his story, "He died, right, right in front of me. Left me a fucking last wish, which I didn't fulfill, and I left him there. I blasted my way out of that damn cave, destroying the pile of Stark weapons and rocketed my way out." He continued to shake with sobs.
"If he had just stuck to the plan." Tony moaned.
Clint looked shocked, he opened his mouth to say something, but Tony wasn't done.
"He was there, through everything. He was my translator, my teacher when I got tired of having a three-way conversation, and he was a friend. In a cave," Tony gestured wildly, "a cave of enemies, he was there. He just," Tony sucked in a breath, "he just didn't stick with the plan."
Thor took a step forward placing a hand on Tony's shoulder he spoke, "I cannot pretend to know what exactly what you have been through Stark, for I have not been through the exact same situation, but I have been in situations like those." Thor stooped down, placing both hands on Tony's shoulders, and looked him in the eye, "But that is what family is for Stark. We have only known each other under a year now, but we have become more than just members of a team, we have become a family." Thor wrapped his arms around Tony in a hug – as best he could with his bound hands – Tony surprisingly allowed it, even falling into it for support, "I have lost one brother, I will not lose another."
Steve walked up and knelt beside the two, placing his hand on Tony's shoulder. "We're here for you Tony. This isn't going to be like last time. You're stronger this time Tony, you know you can survive this. You have us."
Tony took a shuddering breath, and mumbled something into the crook of Thor's neck. No one made an attempt to have him repeat what was lost in Thor's flesh. But Tony repeated it anyway.
"He was from Gulmira."
Clint recognized that name, he had read in Tony's file about the first time Ironman had made its first appearance. "They were double dealing, and of all places for the shipments to land. It was there."
Clint was silent for a moment, "For the record Tony," Clint said, "None of us think you've wasted your life." And then Barton joined the two men comforting the broken man. Banner joined with Natasha's help, who surprisingly looped an arm around Tony's exposed right shoulder.
They sat in silence for several minutes, until Tony made a noise that clearly said 'Enough with the Avenger love in.'
Natasha was the first to let go, no surprise there, followed by Clint, who then helped Banner into a seat next to a table. Steve gave Tony one final pat on the shoulder and stood, moving over to Banner.
Thor was the last, who seemed disinclined to let go of Tony, despite Tony's fidgeting and noises of distress. But eventually Thor let Tony go.
Tony's eyes were red and tear tracks trailed down his grubby cheeks. Tony sniffed, and then wiped his face with his sleeve.
"Ok." Tony cleared his throat and stood up. For once Tony's eyes revealed everything, the wall he always kept carefully up were down. His eyes reflect hurt, pain, grief, and affection.
"Alright, fine. You're right, I do need help. But, if I do have your help you have to promise me that you follow this through." Tony looked at each and every one of them, "I know we can get out of here, and I know Thor that with you can get us out in a matter of seconds, and Banner could too. But I ca…I can't leave only to have them regroup again after, not again."
Everyone nodded, "Give me four days, five at the most. If this doesn't work, than you guys can hammer, smash, and maim at your heart's content. I just need to try."
Steve nodded, "Alright Tony, five days."
Barton smiled, "Yeah Stark, you have five days to come up with a wicked plan. Or we get to fuck out some of these shitheads."
"Ok then Tony." Bruce spoke up, "We have five days to come up with a brilliant plan. What's yours?"
Tony blinked, "What, no I have a plan yeah, but it won't take five days."
"Then why do you need five days?" Bruce asked.
"Oh, it will take me about two days to make a new Arc Reactor, I was stretching the amount of time this car battery will hold out, so I should probably make a new one so I don't die on all of you. Then where would you be!" And Tony was back.
Thor laughed, "Well than Man of Iron, let us begin this journey of creation, and ultimately our freedom!"
"Might wanna keep your voice down there Big Guy, can't guarantee they won't hear you through these walls."
Steve laughed, "So Tony, what are we building?"
"I thought that was obvious, we're going to build them what they wanted the last time!" Tony laughed, "A missile."
AVENGERS
"I don't get it." Tony groaned.
"Come on Barton, think, it's not that hard." Tony grabbed the prongs and pointed towards the fire, "I need you to grab this cup thingy with these prongs that look very similar to scissor like tools and I need you to bring the cup thingy over to this table. Then I need you to pour the very liquidy, very hot Palladium into this bowl thing, make sure you make it in the circle I made from the doughy stuff and don't drop it because I don't even think Hulk's skin can handle that being spilled on it."
Clint slapped Tony across the back of his head. "What are you doing?"
Rubbing his head Tony replied, "You said I don't get it, so I switched from using big boy words to using little boy words."
Clint pursed his lips, his raising hand was grabbed by Steve. "That's not what he meant Tony, quit being an ass."
Tony scowled, "Fine, Clint what are you not getting?"
"I thought Palladium was bad for you." Tony raised an eye brow in surprise. "Nat told me." Clint mumbled.
Tony turned to Natasha who was lounging back on a cot that had been brought in the previous night. "Did she now, and what did Miss Rushman say?"
"Oh knock it off Tony, it wasn't much of a secret what was going with your Reactor." Natasha said while flipping a screw driver between her hands.
"I am confused, who is this Man of Rush? And what was wrong with Stark's reactor." Thor asked.
"I was assigned by S.H.E.I.L.D. to watch over Stark a while back, before all of." Natasha waved her hand vaguely, "this happened. My undercover name was Natalie Rushman."
"Yeah, she was a sneaky little devil. I'm still waiting for that coffee by the way." Tony said.
"Keep waiting, because it's not going to happen." She said while tossing the screwdriver in Tony's general direction, who yelped and jumped to the side.
"Hey, watch it crazy Spy Girl! Delicate instruments around here." Tony glanced around, "No matter how junky."
"Anyway," Clint said, "Tony's old Arc Reactor core was Palladium, and he started to get Palladium poisoning. When Nat was assigned to Tony he was on the fast track to singing with the angels."
Thor shook his head, "I do not understand, if this is a danger to your life Stark, why use it?"
"Because Big Guy, the Starkium isn't found anywhere in nature, it has to be synthesized. And I doubt they will let me build a collider in here." Tony was shuffling around a table, grabbing random items as he went past. "It will only be for a few days, I'll be fine." He said waving his hand.
Tony didn't miss Natasha's small snort. "That is rather unlady like Romanov."
She proceeded to flip him the bird.
Tony grinned, then he turned on Clint who had been watching them with a smirk, Tony snapped his fingers in Clint's face. "Come on Barton, you need to get that out of those flames or it's going to be compromised."
Clint snatched up the prongs and headed towards the fire. When he turned to head back to the table Tony was there, battery in hand. Clint yelped, "Damn it Tony, I thought you didn't want me to drop this!"
"I don't, I'm making sure you don't."
"Relax Tony, I'm pretty steady with my hands." Tony blinked. "What?"
Tony shook his head, "I am having the oddest sense of déjà vu right now."
Tony shrugged and turned towards Bruce who was splinting his own leg. Walking over to him Tony clanked the battery down onto the table.
"Need any help there Brucey?"
"Uh yeah, could you hold this here? I would ask Thor but I'm afraid that he might accidently snap my leg somewhere else." Thor looked a little sheepish.
Tony held onto the thick wooden dowel that Bruce was using as a splint. "How long do you believe you will need this?" Tony asked.
"I doubt it will stay like this for long. It doesn't hurt anymore, not like when I woke up." Bruce said tightening a strip of cloth around his leg and dowel, "But with my unique genetics I don't usually stay injured for long."
Tony nodded, "Alright." His voice betrayed some worry.
Bruce looked up at him, "I'll be fine Tony, it should only take a couple of days before the break is healed enough to walk on."
After their little love fest the night before the group of superheroes were interrupted by the barrage of men swarming into the room. After some head holding and brief murmured conversations six cots were brought in: along with a pot, cans of beans, water, and a tea pot, something Tony had asked for specifically.
After that Tony cooked up the beans – which turned out to be surprisingly good – and then made up some tea using nothing but a piece of cloth and spices that had been brought in with the beans.
Getting to sleep hadn't taken anyone that long, even with the cold – which was considerably less after Tony got a fire started – and few blankets. However; since each of them had suffered not only an injury but also a trying day; sleep took them quickly.
In the morning there was a rough awakening for Tony by Baqi himself, handling of first aid kits, and having soft murmuring conversations. And then it was off to work.
Three hours into the day found Clint ready to strangle Tony, until Tony had asked him to get the smoldering cup of liquefied Palladium out of the flames.
And while Clint had been keeping his itching fingers under control Tony had Steve and Thor hooking up the welding station, soon followed by having them dismantle a metallic missile with Stark Industries stamped on the side, all under Tony's careful and watchful supervisions.
Bruce and Natasha were the only ones without a job. Natasha was still slightly woozy from her head injury, something she was not happy about. While Banner had taken the first aid kits and taken people at random to take care of their wounds.
A bandage for Thor, a brace for both Tony and Steve's fractured wrists, a small splint for Clint's broken finger, and another bandage for Natasha's head wound. Then he found Tony had a fractured rib so Bruce then wrapped Tony's ribs, working around the metal disk and wires in his chest. He had finished with splinting his own leg, something that was far more difficult than he had expected.
Tony reached over Bruce to grab a pair of tweezers, the wires hanging from his chest brushing against Banner's left hand. Bruce followed the wires to the battery hanging form Tony's left hand by a chunk of rope he had found on the ground.
Bruce swallowed. When he had first woken up it was to shouts and cursing, it had taken all of his control not to let the 'Other Guy' out. He could not guarantee how Hulk would react to the situation, they were in far too close quarters to ensure the rest of the team would escape uninjured. So, as much as Bruce would love to let the 'Other Guy' rip these men beating his friend apart, he had taken a breath and willed his heart rate to slow.
It wasn't until Thor had stood between Tony and the men that Bruce had first noticed the car battery and wires. And again Bruce had to keep his anger in check, especially noticing the way Tony had put one arm in front of his chest, protecting his makeshift magnet, and the other arm thrown over his head. That however left Tony's midriff free and easy accessible, causing him a fractured rib.
Tony had squeezed his eyes shut, leaving his face open to all emotions, fear, pain, and betrayal blending into a single emotion. That had almost sent Banner over the edge, never should Tony Stark look like that. Bruce had actually felt the beginning pulls of the monster within when Thor had stood, he had calmed a bit then. He had completely calmed when he felt Steve nudge him, Steve being so close put a stop Bruce's change. Even despite Hulk's surprising gentleness to the team, Bruce didn't trust his emotions at the present time.
So now here they all were, sitting in a dirty, smelly cave building Tony a new Arc Reactor – something Tony insisted was actually quite easy – and building a couple missiles that in all actuality were bombs.
Tony picked up the tweezers, looking over and noticing Bruce's staring. He stepped back, giving the physicists personal space back.
"Got something on your mind Doc?" Tony asked.
"No." Bruce said, trying to ignore Tony's eyes.
Tony placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder, causing the man to look into Tony's eyes.
"That wasn't a very convincing lie. Next time try some eye contact, works wonders."
Bruce smiled than jerked his chin towards Tony's chest, "Does that hurt?"
Tony looked down, then back up, "Like hell."
Bruce blinked, he hadn't expected Tony to be so blunt about it, or truthful for that matter. Tony tended to either blow the pain out of proportion or refuse to even admit he was hurt. He reached out and lightly touched the metal plate, it was cool, not surprising given the temperature – even with the fire – the wires hung on the outside of the t-shirt that Tony had magically come up with.
Everyone had thrown a fit when Tony had detached the wires so he could pull the shirt on. He had attached them back through the hole he had cut out of the shirt with quirked eyebrows and an expression that read 'I'm too important to kill myself?'. He had laughed at their worried faces and waved them off. That didn't stem Bruce's brief flare of panic and its aftereffects.
Now every time Tony was within reaching distance Bruce had to force himself to keep his hands to himself. The urge to look and inspect the device was overwhelming; the ridiculous need to make sure that it was in fact keeping his friend alive was driving him to finish with the medical duties so he could help with the building of the Arc Reactor. Knowing that something Tony had built himself was saving his life comforted Bruce a hell of a lot more than the piece of junk currently sitting in his chest.
Bruce realized he was still touching the chest piece, he quickly brought his fingers back. Only to have Tony grab his hand and hold his hand to the cold metal object.
"Bruce, I'm fine okay. This will keep me alive for now, its working and it will work for another day." Tony's eyes were full of concern and compassion.
Bruce clacked his mouth shut. He swallowed, ducked his head, and gave a jerky nod, his throat burning oddly.
Someone coughed. Turning Tony and Bruce realized that there little "moment" hadn't gone unnoticed. Steve was blank, Natasha was ignoring them, Thor was grinning like a child, and Barton – who was also grinning – was eyeing them with mirth in his eyes.
"You two love birds done?" He asked with a unsuccessfully concealed laugh.
Tony stepped back, "Sure am." Bruce flushed with embarrassment, Tony however was grinning. Stupid Bastard.
Tony walked over to were Clint had been working, bouncing the tweezers in his hands. "Alright girls, let's get this party started." Tony grabbed something from the table as he walked past it.
Clearing his throat Tony grabbed a chair and sat down, "Alright." He rolled his neck, letting it pop, "Let's do this, again."
Steve watched fascinated as Tony worked. He had seen Tony work often enough down in his lab. His concentration had always amazed Steve, he didn't understand that the man who couldn't stay on one subject for more than five minutes could work tirelessly on a single project hours at a time. On more than one occasion Steve had enlisted the help of Bruce, Thor, and Clint to drag Tony away from his lab after spending three days straight down there. Each time he never willingly left until they threatened to go find Natasha and let her deal with him. The first time they had involved her she had knocked Stark unconscious in order to drag him out. Pepper had to have Jarvis lock Tony out of the lab for three days, until Tony was able to override the command.
But here in this cave Steve realized just how much Jarvis did for Tony. Convenience was how Tony described his AI, he had Jarvis run calculations and do tests that Tony didn't have to do them. "Faster done the faster I move on," Tony had said once. Steve had always thought it was because Tony was lazy and didn't want to do them.
But as Steve watched Tony build the Arc Reactor with no robots or AI helping him he realized just how talented Tony truly was with his hands when it came to building. He's definitely Howard's son.
Tony's hands expertly placed and added – and removed when so needed – different parts and wires. As the hours past the object that had started out as a metal ring attached to a glass tube grew into a recognizable Arc Reactor.
Tony finished his final touches, putting the sautering pen down on the table. Blowing carefully Tony waited till the last dredges of smoke dissolved away before picking up the dark reactor.
"Alright," Tony moved towards the table next to his, he took some tubes and other items, and within seconds Tony had the reactor hooked to what looked like a miniature generator. Cracking his neck Tony reached over and turned a dial on a charge box.
Thor and Banner looked up alarmed when the lights started to flicker, a pair of eyes appeared in the slit on the door.
Steve watched amazed as the reactor that had been as dead as Thor on Saturday morning was now shining the characteristic blue.
There were some differences to this Arc Reactor. It was bulkier, definitaley less advanced than Tony's usual reactor; the wires and tubes of the reactor were thicker, causing the reactor to look at least a half inch thicker than the one Tony had been wearing a couple days before; one particularly thick coil of wire hung from underneath the reactor as well. The color was also different, the one with the Starkium core had a whiter light, this one wasn't white, it was more…blue.
"Why does it look like that?" Tony turned his attention from the reactor to Steve.
"What?"
"The color, of the reactor, why is it bluer?" Steve asked again.
"Oh. Well several factors would cause the difference in color. The most obvious would be the change in elements, my first looked like this one so I have faith it will work." Tony was smiling, true happiness shone in his eyes. "Got this one done in record time too; even with Jarvis, Dummy, You, and Butterfingers helping me it still took two days. This one took," Tony paused looking down at his wrist before he realized that he hadn't been wearing his watch when he was taken, "well; actually I don't know how long this took. They should really think about putting windows up in this room, would really lighten the place up."
Now that Tony was done building he was practically bouncing off the walls. Tony stood, carefully cradling the newly made reactor in his hands.
"Ok," Tony said, "I need a volunteer."
Every person – except Natasha – raised their hand. Tony smiled.
"While I am flattered that so many handsome men want to lay hands on me I'm afraid your….masculine appendages aren't going to cut it." Tony turned to Natasha, "I'm also afraid to say that there is only one volunteer who can help me." Tony took a half step back when Natasha narrowed her eyes and glared at him, but in a surprisingly moment of bravado Tony held her gaze.
Natasha sighed and stood, somewhat unsteadily, "You better not be jerking my leg Stark." Tony smiled.
"Nope. Really I had the same problem, had to have Pepper help me out."
Sitting down on cleared table handed the reactor to Natasha with a simple "Don't drop it." Then Tony reached down and undid the wires connected to the chest piece. Quickly shucking his shirt Tony grabbed the metal piece and gave it a twist. He set that aside and then layed down on top of the table.
Ignoring Natasha's raised eyebrows Tony directed her along, "Ok now I need you to plug that into the base plate," Tony's features had gone slightly paler, "Shouldn't be too difficult."
Natasha calmly placed her hand inside of Tony's reactor chamber. There was a soft squelch and Natasha's eyes widened and her nostrils flared.
She leveled a glare at Tony, who grinned sheepishly and giving a strained, "Sorry."
Steve, Thor, Banner, and Barton jumped when Tony let out a "yea-OW!"
Natasha pulled her hand back out then placed the reactor in its rightful place, twisting it until it was locked. She however did keep her right hand splayed away from her body until Tony handed her a towel to wipe off the remnants of Tony's goop.
"You didn't tell me about the puss Stark." Natasha's tone clearly said 'I will get you for this when we are not in a cave full of people who want to kill us.'
Tony smiled, big and bright, "You sound like Pepper. Cool it Spider Chick! It's not puss it's a plasma discharge." Tony tapped the reactor in his chest, "It was from the other reactor, not my body, but that does mean it was several days old." Tony made a face, and then gulped when he saw the furious expression on Natasha's face. "Sorry." Tony gave lamely.
Shrugging on his shirt and reaching for a jacket Tony went over to one of the cots that was in the semicircle around the fire and flopped down. While his strength was definitely returning he still felt drained from the whole experience. And in truth he had probably been up for more than 24 hours. He needed a nap.
Bu he couldn't, there were five – well four – anxious face watching him. Tony cracked an eye and almost laughed.
Banner and Thor looked like they were deciding who out of the two were going to go over to see if he was alright, Clint just looked curious, and Steve – in his total boy scout way – looked ready to charge into battle if Tony said the reactor had failed and they needed to get out now.
Tony sighed and closed his eyes again, throwing an arm over his face Tony spoke up, "I'm gonna have to make a number change on the number of days we're going to stay here." Tony stopped and lied still for the time being, "I want to go home." He muttered.
Steve chuckled, "Get some rest Tony." Tony gave a thumbs up. Looking around at the rest of them, they all looked dead on their feet, except Barton and Natasha, but Steve supposed they were used to these types of schedules. "Why don't we all get some rest?" Everyone nodded and moved to their respected cots, save for Thor, whose cot Tony had stolen.
Steve stoked the fire before crawling underneath his thin blankets he had been provided. Turning his head he faced toward Stark who was beside him. He looked peaceful, far more peaceful than he had looked since they had gotten here. Keeping his eyes trained on the glow of the Arc Reactor – Steve hadn't been prepared for the relief he had felt when Tony was rid of the battery and wires – and took comfort in the fact that he knew the man would live now.
He and his team were going to make it, they were going to get out safe.
With that thought Steve closed his eyes closed and he fell into a calm dreamless sleep.