Part 5

Phil Coulson was the first to reach the hospital. Funny how things turn out. Steve had been the first one at Phil's bedside when the Avengers had learned that he was alive, and now Phil was the first to be staring at the large window, into the ICU when the dying man lay. He would've thought the man dead if it weren't for the heart monitor next to the bed.

Despite Nick Fury's orders to go fetch the others, he had politely declined, and decided to sit next to the window, his hands placed gently in his lap.

He didn't leave his spot, not even when Maria Hill came to inform him that Bruce Banner – whom was across the world at the time – was on his way in a private jet that was due to arrive in six hours. Courtesy of Clint, whom had been elected to go get the man.

Nor did Phil move when a worried Thor burst into the hallway, his face contorted in worry. He was dressed in Midgardian clothes, something that made him look all the more terrifying – with his eyebrows knit together, his lips drawn tight, and his fists clenched at his side.

It wasn't often the God came, and it was a mild surprise to both Hill and Coulson to see him in the hall of the hospital. Thor, taking one look at his friend – one of his best – slumped down in one of the seats, a couch in the lone hall, shoulders crumpling in on themselves as he looked at the sleeping man.

"Is Steve dead?" It was the first words the God spoke. It was a soft whisper that resonated throughout the chillingly quiet hall, and Phil barely caught the words, yet it still had the same impact – an impact that would've made the Agent flinch if he wasn't so accustomed to death in the first place.

"No." Phil said, shaking his head. His eyebrows knit together as he stared at the heart monitor, watching it move with every fiber in his body. "He's not dead. Not yet anyways."

Thor frowned, and sat back, rubbing his hands together.

They sat like that, in dead silence, until Clint and Bruce Banner arrived.

And they waited.

And waited.

And waited, for approximately fifteen hours after the incident until a stone faced Natasha and shell shocked Tony arrived.

Tony was pacing back and forth in front of the window within ten minutes of his arrival, his nerves wound up so tight that the slightest thing would've set him off. Clint was leaning against a wall, his hand rested on Bruce's tense shoulders, and Natasha was seated next to Thor, her foot tapping the floor nervously. They all hated hospitals and their hatred seemed to grow with every second that went by, along with their nervousness.

The silence didn't last long.

It was broken by Tony, who slammed his fist against the wall in pure rage. He was done being quiet. He turned his burning eyes to Phil, almost glaring. His shoulders were tense, and he tried to call his beating heart.

"Who found him? How did this happen?" He asked, his fingers slowly curling by his sides. His mind was reeling as he thought over what could've happened. He thought they – as in all the Avengers – were all under sharp eyes. How could they have let this happen, anyways? Wasn't it theirjob to make sure none of them did anything too drastic? If he remembered correctly, when hehad tried to end his life (which had been quite a while ago), a group of annoying Agents – aka Clint, Natasha, and Phil – had barged into his home and suggested they all go clubbing.

"I found him," Phil murmured, looking at Tony before looking back at the sleeping man. "He swallowed three bottles of pills – and downed them with alcohol. He was on his fourth when he passed out and fell to the floor." He rubbed a hand across his face. He was tired. He hadn't slept since yesterday, and having to speak at all was beginning to seem like a burden.

Tony's glare hardened and he stalked towards the man, his finger pointed accusingly at Phil's chest. "How could you let this happen?"

The silence that followed those words were heavy – like cement that weighed down on all of them. It took a moment for the agent to respond. Phil stood slowly, glaring back at the billionaire. He was startled, and rather shocked. He would've expected some accusation, definitely, but not with such ferocity, and not with so much hatred packed behind those words.

It was no secret about what Tony and Steve had shared, and all of them knew that.

Maybe that was why Phil was shocked.

The words slipped past his lips before he could actually think things over.

"This is your fault, Stark!"

"What did you say!?" Tony took three giant steps toward the Agent, grabbing hold of his shirt collar. The white fabric crumpled beneath his shaking hand.

The two glared at one another, Tony gripping Phil's collar, and Phil looking almost at ease. Their breathing was slightly heavily as they looked into one another's eyes, bright fires clashing with one another.

"Go ahead, do it," Phil egged on. "Punch me."

It was a surprise to see the normally cool Phil Coulson act so rashly. None of them moved, many holding their breath. Bruce was the one to jump up the moment he saw Tony's hand twitch into action. He stepped towards them tentatively, trying to smile. It ended up in a grimace, one that didn't really quite help the situation.

"Calm down you guys. This is not the place, or time, to be talking about this. This is a hospital. Now, both of you stop pointing fingers at each other like we're children and wait in your seats like good little boys until the doctor comes to –"

The sound was chilling.

To the bones.

The loud, erratic beeping of the monitor vibrated through the glass, sending all their heads swiveling.

No…

It couldn't be…

But it was.

Steve's heart monitor was beeping loudly, before it flat lined.

Phil shoved Tony away from him, "Somebody get the doctor! Hurry!"

But there was no need to call for the doctor, for he was already there, a small group of nurses with him. They shoved past the Avengers, the doctor shouting out orders.

"Nancy, get the crash cart!"

Phil rushed towards the doors. His heart gave a horrible squeeze as he heard the next words that were shouted in the room.

"We're losing him! Doctor Flynn, WE'RE LOSING HIM!"