"I've got Pep conferencing with my PR team and Phil is on his way over here now."

Tony was going a mile a minute as he pulled up his holographic screens around him on the couch.

"JARVIS eliminate any and all footage of Steve in the old penthouse on the night in question."

"Already, ahead of you sir."

"How's it looking outside, Cap?"

"The press is starting to starting to swarm but they aren't trying to climb the walls...yet."

It had only been a few hours since Tiberius had told the entire country on national TV that Steve was the one who put him in a wheelchair and all Hell was already starting to break loose. The Avengers got their fair share of bad press- Tony more than most- but this story could prove to be bad for them. Captain America assaulting an "innocent" civilian in the dead of night was shocking to the public to say the least. The talking heads on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and everywhere else started raising questions of whether or not Cap was mentally stable enough to be leading the team after Bucky's death had apparently driven him mad. The speculation and theories were endless and each one was more ridiculous that the one before it.

"Don't worry about it Steve, my people know how to handle this stuff and SHIELD won't stand for any Cap bashing...namely Phil."

"Normally I might agree with you, Tony. But this time...it's true. I did attack a civ. I let my emotions take over- the one thing a soldier knows not to do- I didn't even think, I just started punching until I physically couldn't anymore. I completely lost control."

"You're saying that like you beat up the guy because he was eying you funny. You had every reason to do what you did, you saved my life, Steve."

Steve shook his head, still looking down at the street below.

"Maybe I should take a break from the team for a while."

"Oh God, Steve don't start." Natasha's voice breaks the tension as she lets herself into the apartment, taking Sylvia from Steve without asking and starts bouncing her on her hip and speaking sweetly to her in Russian.

Steve just half-smiled at the redhead with nothing but trust in his eyes.

"Agent Romanov is right, Captain. Don't get worked up over this." Coulson added as he and Clint came in too.

"Oh no, yeah come on in guys. We're not still in our pajamas or anything." Tony rolled his eyes.

"Stark, you're the only one here who isn't dressed yet." Clint so helpfully pointed out.

So what's the damage, Phil?" Steve

"The media hasn't gotten their hands on this yet but you're being summoned to trail. If the allegations are true you'll need to be tried and possibly sentenced. Due to obvious bias you'll be appearing in Federal District Court instead of a Court-Martial." Phil was efficient as ever.

"Have charges been filed?" Tony spoke up.

"Yes, Captain Rogers is being charged with assault, attempted voluntary man-slaughter..."

Phil paused, and that was something he never does.

"And a motion is being filed for child-endangerment charges."

"What?" Steve's head snapped up so fast it looked painful.

"Its a long shot but Tiberius' lawyers believe they have grounds to charge you with child-endangerment. Current mental and emotional instability impeding care of an infant, severe PSTD resulting in hallucinations, violent or unpredictable outbursts that could cause unintentional harm to a child under your care..." Phil was visibly saddened.

"That's all just bullshit! Steve, honestly you have nothing to worry about!" Clint tried to comfort Steve or maybe himself but the soldier was long gone.

"When is the court date?"

"Steve, you should give yourself some time before-" Coulson tried to change the air in the room.

"When is the Goddamn court date?!"

"...It's set for this coming Wednesday. We already have the best lawyers lined up for you."

"Yeah. Right. Thank you, all of you." Steve's eyes were focused on the floor.

Coulson and Clint slipped out of the apartment politely and Natasha encroached into Tony's personal space to transfer Sylvia into his waiting arms.

"Fix this." She said curtly before leaving.

"I will." Tony stated before pressing a kiss into Sylvie's hair.