Steve tried to ignore the pain running through his body as he took as deep a breath as possible. He wondered if Johnny and Peter had been able to get away? Were they able to reach Tony and let him know where he was? It had been a shock to both Steve and Peter when Johnny had been brought in on a stretcher, two months ago. He had been threatening his kidnappers with everything he could think of until he'd seen Steve and Peter.
"Poppa, Peter? H-how...they said t-that...this isn't...y-you're not real it's just a-a dream. You're not here a-and dad will be here in a few to pick me up from school..."
Steve had done the only thing he could remember to reassure his youngest son. He walked over and slowly stretched out his hand towards Johnny's face and very gently slid it down, from the top of his forehead down to his chin. Splitting his fingers into a V shape once they reached his eyes. "Hey kiddo..." Steve had tried to keep the tears out of his voice. To hide the pain of three years without his husband and youngest son. He'd watched as tears had welled up in Johnny's ocean blue eyes and spilled over. Steve had fought the guards to get them to release Johnny, to let him stay with Steve and Peter. It had taken a lot out of him but he couldn't let them hurt him just as he wouldn't let them hurt Peter.
It had been a miracle, Johnny being kidnapped had to have been hell for Tony but it was a miracle to Peter and Steve. They had been able to send a picture to Tony as well as escape from their kidnappers. They had been on the run for what felt like months but had been only a few weeks and now, here he was in a drainage pipe, hiding from their captors. He looked around the corner to see if he were still being followed, when he didn't see anyone he sighed, letting out a soft groan of pain. He needed to get back to the other side of the pipe, that's where Johnny and Peter had gone. He hoped they had been able to find someone to help them. If they could find a way to reach Tony...
The sound of glass breaking echoed loudly around him and he froze, trying to determine which direction the sound had come from. Fighting back a wave of nausea, Steve pressed himself as close to the wall as possible. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm down his racing heart as he listened to the echo of foot steps bouncing off the walls.
"Steve?"
Steve's eyes flew open at the sound of his name. He didn't want to give in to the wave of hope that washed over him. He'd heard that voice so many times over the past three years...
"Steve, baby, please...c-can you hear me?"
"Tony..." Steve gasped. Please, please don't be a trick of my mind. Please be Tony, please.
"Steve i-if you can hear me, babe please, say something. Jarvis damnit where is he, I thought you said he was down this way?" Frustration sounded in Tony's voice as he looked down at his phone. He could see the heat signature that Jarvis indicated to be Steve but couldn't see him.
"Another 5 more feet and then turn to your left. Sir, you must hurry, Captain Rogers vital signs are fluctuating dangerously below normal levels."
Tony looked up and down the pipe, looking for the turn Jarvis spoke of. "Steve, please, babe I need you to answer me." Desperation sounded in the words. Tony knew they needed to find Steve, get him to a hospital and taken care of as soon as possible. "Steve..."
"Tony..."
Tony turned to his left and froze. There he was, pale and shaking but that gaze, those bright sky blue eyes stared at Tony as if he were looking at a ghost. Tony couldn't breath as he stared at the blond man in front of him.
"P-please...please, Tony, d-don't l-leave me." Steve gasped. He moved towards the figure that looked so much like his husband. Tears filled his eyes as he pleaded with him again. "Tony, please..." He begged softly, sinking down to the ground.
Tony surged forward and wrapped his arms around Steve. "God I've missed you." Voice rough as he tried to control the tremor and hold back the flood of tears but couldn't. Finally, after three years he could hold him again! "I'm taking you home Steve. You and the boys, we're going home." He held him close, taking in the feel and scent of him.
Steve sagged against Tony, crying as he finally realized he wasn't hallucinating. Tony was standing in front of him, holding him, he was taking him home. "T-the boys...P-peter and J-johnny...d-did you f-find them?" He was shivering from the cold, exhaustion, and lack of nutrition.
"Jarvis, tell Avie and Thor that I've got Steve and that we're headed to the car. Make sure that there is no one around. I don't want anyone near us right now." Tony slid his phone back into his pocket and pulled Steve up to his feet, then bending down to pick him up and carry him out. "Come on gorgeous, it's time to get you taken care of. The boys are at the hospital with Bruce, Pepper, Rhodey, and a few of Thor's friends. Thanks to the fact that their father made them remember signs and safety measures that helped save them both." Tony was trying to keep Steve awake so he kept talking. He told Steve about anything and everything he could think of. He filled Steve in on what Johnny had been up to for the past three years then told him of the changes he'd made to the Tower. It wasn't until Steve let out a gasping cough that Tony really began to worry. "Babe, come on, hang in there now." He hugged Steve as close to him as possible. He could feel the weight loss on the small frame, the lack of muscle mass was beginning to worry Tony. How long had the three of them been out here hiding and dealing with the elements? How long had their captors chased them through the pipes, hoping to catch them and return them back to where ever they had come from.
"Cousin, are you down here? Have you found Steven?" Aveline's concerned voice floated down the pipe towards them.
"Avie, get Thor and tell him to come help me carry Steve. He isn't breathing well..." Tony stopped as Thor appeared in front of them.
Steve looked up at his friend and gave him a weak smile. "Hey Thor."
"Steven, I am most pleased that we have finally been able to find you. Come, we must get you to the hospital so that you may rest and get well." Thor took Steve from Tony and carried him back in the direction he had come.
"Be careful with him Thor, they did something to him and now he can't heal fast enough." Tony could see the bruises and lacerations criss crossing Steve's body. He looked so small and frail against Thor, Tony couldn't help but wonder what all they had done to him. Had what Johnny said been true, did they really hurt Steve? He kept his gaze on the blond being carried by Thor, alarmed at his color and breathing. "Thor let's go, we need to get Steve to Bruce like yesterday." Tony took off at a run, knowing the Norse god wouldn't drop Steve.
"Tony, the car's ready did you find..." They were greeted by a pair of stormy gray eyes looking from Tony to Thor, then widening as she took in Steve. "Steven?"
Steve lifted his head weakly at the voice. "H-hi, A-avie." He gave her a tremulous smile then laid his head back down against Thor's chest. He was so tired and his body ached everywhere. "H-how are the boys?" He gasped weakly. His chest was on fire but he needed to know if they were ok, he needed to know that nothing had happened to them.
"They're at the hospital honey. We're on our way there to make sure you get taken care of as well, then we'll go see them, ok?" Tony brushed a strand of blond hair off of his forehead. He tried not to flinch from the heat of Steve's skin. He could see that he was in pain and trying his best to hold it together. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Tony spoke to his AI. "Jarvis, make sure that Bruce is ready, I want everyone to clear their schedules. I don't care who gets pissy about it, Steve comes first."
"Dr. Banner and the hospital staff have been alerted Sir. Captain Rogers it is most gratifying to have you back with us."
Steve smiled weakly, "T-thank you J-jarvis, f-feels good t-to be back." He tried to hold in the cough but it was to much for him and he
ended up shaking against Thor as he tried to catch his breath.
Tony jerked the door of the car open, glad they hadn't had to go to far to find Steve. "G-give him to me Thor, please." Tony looked up as Thor placed Steve on his lap, Tony pulling him close. "One of you contact the wonder spies & let them know we found Steve."
"They will meet us at the hospital once they can get away from Fury. Hill has been informed as well that this is to remain between us until Steven is safe." Aveline looked between the two, aware of the changes in Steve's appearance. She gave Tony a sad look, the pain in his face breaking her heart.
Tony looked down at Steve, and tried to keep from crying. "Hey beautiful, need you to stay awake just a little longer, ok?" His gaze scanned the pale blond, taking in everything he missed in the dark. Some how his captors had been able to take the serum from Steve, returning him back to his original body. Despite this, Tony loved him even more because this version of Steve was a fighter. He was a protector of those weaker than himself and in this case it had been Peter and Johnny. "Once we get you taken care of, I'm taking you and the boys on an extended vacation to the warmest place we can think of."
Steve smiled shakily up at Tony, "Y-you still think I'm beautiful?" He knew what he looked like. He wasn't the 6'2", 220 lbs super soldier anymore. He was just Steve now and this Steve was the sick Steve. The one who had to fight death back more times than he really cared to count. This time, however, he wasn't sure if he was going to win the fight though. "I-it hurts s-so much Tony, every w-where it h-hurts." Steve gasped out weakly. A fresh wave of tears filled his eyes and slipped down his face as he kept his gaze on the brunette now holding him.
"I know angel and we're going to do our best to make it better, I swear to you I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you healthy again." Tony looked up from Steve's face and looked over at Aveline. He was afraid they were to late. He could feel Steve's breath rattling in his chest, the rapid beating of his over used heart. Holding him closer, Tony tried to warm the trembling frame, silently begging any higher power he could think of to save Steve. He would give anything to make sure nothing else happened to his family. "Happy, step on it." The panic he'd been trying to hold in since they found Johnny, then Peter, was beginning to take over. Holding Steve tighter to him, Tony looked down into the sky blue eyes he'd missed for the past three years. "You're beautiful no matter how you look, honey. I've told you this before, with or without the serum I'd always love you. I loved you when I saw your pre-serum photos and I've loved you after the serum." He pressed a gentle hand against Steve's chest, "It's what's in here that I fell in love with and that's something that can't be duplicated by anyone."
Steve smiled up at Tony, "T-thank you." He whispered. He could feel himself drifting. When Tony gave him a gentle shake a short while later, he let out a soft cry of pain. Steve's gaze snapped open and up to Tony's face. "Tony?" His voice was small and filled with pain.
"Fuck, I-I'm sorry angel, just have to keep you awake until we get out of the car. Hang in there for me, ok?" He held onto Steve tighter as he let out a soft, pitiful groan of pain. Once the car stopped in front of the hospital, Tony slid out the backseat, holding onto Steve as tight as possible. Looking down he frowned, "Steve, baby, come on I need you to please, stay awake." Fear was beginning to return double fold. Steve's face had taken on a gray cast and his breathing was becoming shorter. "Bruce!" Tony yelled as he moved as quickly as possible towards the hospital doors. He saw the other brunette running towards him, a gurney following close behind. "Bruce, d-do something, please. H-he can't breath and he said he hurts everywhere." Tony laid Steve down as gently as he could.
Steve's eyes snapped open as he felt Tony moving away. "N-no, T-Tony w-wait, please!" Steve reached out for him, wanting to pull him closer, to hold him near. "D-don't go, Tony please."
"I'm not going anywhere I promise but I have to let Bruce check and make sure you're ok. I'll be right here through everything." Tony held onto the small pale hand, taking in the feeling of bones and tendons and muscles. He hated this, what they'd done to Steve, he hated the fact that it had been done and before the process could be reversed they needed to get Steve better.
"Hey Steve, good to see you again." Bruce looked down at the small blond, already prepared for the transformation in his friend thanks to Aveline's texts. He glanced up at the petite brunette, smiled, then looked back down at Steve. "We're going to make sure you get better that way you can get back to spending some time with your family." He was walking and talking at the same time, he could tell by looking at Steve they needed to get him taken care of immediately.
Steve looked up at Bruce, eyes clouded by pain. "B-Bruce?" The soft voice whispered.
Bruce smiled, "Yeah buddy, it's me. I'm going take you back with me for a few. Tony is going to be right here when we get finished and I'll bring you right back to him, ok?"
Steve's gaze moved sluggishly between the two brunette's. "W-where are t-the boys? N-nothing happened t-to my boys did it?" He was trying to focus but it was becoming difficult.
"They're in recovery baby, now it's your turn." Tony whispered softly. "Bruce will take care of you and I'll be here when you get back." Tony had to stop at the operating room doors. He wanted to go back but knew how Bruce felt about following medical procedures and protocols.
"I-I love you, T-Tony..." Steve gasped before the doors closed behind the group.
"I love you too, Steve." Tony stood in the hallway shaking. How was he supposed to keep it together? How was he going to handle it if he lost Steve for real this time? It took everything he had in him to keep from following them into the operating room, he didn't want anything to stand between them anymore. Looking through the glass, Tony jerked when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he was greeted by his best and oldest friend, Colonel James Rhodes, or Rhodey as Tony affectionately called him.
"Hey buddy, heard you found Steve? How's he doing, anything I can do to help?" Rhodey's dark gaze scanned Tony from head to toe taking in the exhausted expression and tired slump of his shoulders.
"I-I don't really know. I mean, this is Steve and he should be better but...they...he's been turned back to how he was before the serum and I-I'm not sure if I can get him back to the way he was. What if I can't give him this back, Rhodey? What do I do then?"
"You love him as he is Tony. We all know that you could care less how Steve looks and even less what anyone else has to say about it. You know you love Steve and Steve loves you. Its taken you guys three years to find each other again, Tones. You already know what you're going to do and none of us have to tell you how to do it." Rhodey squeezed his shoulder and gave him a tired grin. "I'm going to go back and check on the boys, let them know that you found Steve and that he's in surgery. Maybe there's something they can tell us that we didn't already know or may have missed."
Tony nodded his head, his gaze never leaving the proceedings going on behind the glass. He knew Rhodey was probably right but he couldn't focus on that right now. All he could think about was the possibility of him losing Steve for good this time. "What if..." Tony cleared his throat and tried the words again. "W-what if we lose him Rhodey? What do I do then? This isn't enough time t-to tell him..."
Tony's words were cut off by the sound of an alarm going off. Jerking at the sound, Tony blinked, refocusing his gaze on the scene in front of him. "Steve?" He moved forward, watching the scene unfold. He could see the medical team scrambling as the monitors all screamed at them. Tony moved towards the doors. "Steve?" He could feel his heart hammering in his chest. This isn't how it was supposed to go, this isn't how things were supposed to end for them. "Please...please..." Tony pleaded with no one in particular.
He wasn't aware of pushing the operating room doors open, nor was he aware of Bruce yelling at him to leave the room. His gaze was on Steve, the blond was lying on the table, body convulsing, blue eyes closed...hidden from Tony's desperately searching gaze. He could hear the monitors screaming alerts to the team but it was the heart monitor that held Tony's attention. When Steve let out a soft gasp, his body suddenly going limp, the monitor sounded with a single tone. Tony surged forward, crying out helplessly "Steve...baby...please!" He couldn't do this again without him, not after having just found him. He couldn't rebuild his life knowing that this time he'd lost Steve for good. "Please...don't do this...Steve!" Tony cried out to him. He struggled against who ever held him back from getting to Steve. He needed to save him, to make sure nothing else happened to him. Tony watched as Bruce called for the paddles, shocking Steve twice in order to restart his heart.
There was silence, except for the buzzing sounds of the machinery, they heard nothing. Then softly...a beep...then another and another, until they gradually got louder and closer in frequency.
"Steve!" Tony cried out one more time. "Steve, baby come on. You're a fighter and I need you to fight. Please...please, you have to come back to us...to me...Steve..." Tony tried to move closer only to finally realize he was being kept in place. Turning his head he glared up at Thor. "Thor, buddy, let me go now or I swear..."
"Cousin, you can not be in here. You know Steven's immune system and how it can be for him right now. Please, let Bruce do what he does best. He will not let anything harm your husband but right now you are endangering him...please...Tony, come with us." Aveline had appeared on the other side of Thor, a look of concern clouding her face.
Tony turned to her, ready to give a scathing retort until the alarms sounded again. Turning, Tony made the move towards Steve again, only to be stopped by Thor and this time Rhodey. "No, damnit! Thor, Rhodey let me go!"
Bruce yelled at Tony from his position over Steve. "Tony, I swear if you don't get the fuck out of here and let me do my job!" He glanced at Aveline and Rhodey, then watched as Thor physically picked Tony up and carried him out while he yelled for Steve. Bruce tried to tamp down the rage and fear warring inside of him. Right now was not the time for him to lose his cool, Steve and Tony both were counting on him. He looked at the nurse standing beside him. "Cut the alarms and get everyone ready to work double time. We are not losing him." He stated gruffly.
"Yes Dr. Banner..."
"Steve! Steve! Answer me, please! No, Thor let me go I need to stay with Steve!" Tony shouted as he struggled against the taller blond. "Thor put me the fuck down! I can't leave Ste..."
Tony was cut off by the sound of Bruce yelling for the paddles again. His gaze snapped to Steve's face and he felt a wave of coldness sweeping through his system. He remembered Steve's words from earlier.
"I love you Tony..."
Tony twisted in Thor's grip, trying to get back in the room. "Steve! Steve please don't do this! Steve, baby wake up! Thor let go of me!" Tony struggled against the iron grip, fear and rage mixing with grief and helplessness. "Steve!"
"Tony, calm down! You're only going to make it worse if you don't calm the fuck down!" Rhodey yelled at him.
Tony ignored him and everyone around him. His gaze was fixed on the blond in the other room. "Please...please don't take him from me again." Tony could feel the tears threatening to fall. The tightness in his chest was becoming worse as he watched the monitors. "Steve..." Tony couldn't get anything else out. His lungs seemed to have stopped working as he heard the sound of the flat line alert. He went limp against Thor, trembling as he watched the pale body jerk on the table from the electricity of the paddles. "Steve, please, don't leave me..." Tony sank to his knees as he heard Bruce yelling at the others to once again, silence the alarms. He slid his hands in his hair, gripping tightly. It was the same feeling he'd had three years ago when Steve and Peter had been reportedly killed. "Please...pleasepleasepleaseplease...don't take him from me. Not again...I'll do anything...anything if you just spare him." Tony pleaded with no one in particular, as he watched from the other side of the glass. He kept his gaze focused on the now still body of his husband, silently willing the blond to move or breath. Tony silently begged him to do anything but leave him and their sons. When he heard Bruce yelling, "We're losing him!" Tony jumped to his feet and raced for the doors, only to be stopped by Thor and Rhodey. He needed to get to Steve, he needed to save him, to keep him with him this time.
"Steve!" Tony yelled. "Steve...come back! Please, y-you have t-to come back! F-for me a-and the boys! Steve...please..." Tony gasped as he felt a pinch at his neck. Growling with rage, Tony struggled then gasped weakly as he felt the room beginning to tilt. "No...Steve...please..." The last thing Tony remembered, was the sound of the flat line of Steve's heart as darkness engulfed him.
