A/N: Apparently I only adult on weekends. Here's another shorter one before they get longer again...

Disclaimer: Still belong to Marvel and Disney, I assume.

"St've?"

It had been hours since Bossman and his cronies had left Tony even more battered and bruised than before. From the sound of his breathing, Steve could tell that at least a few ribs were cracked, possibly broken.

Steve had just woken up. While Tony was medically unable to sleep right now, the drug that was coursing through Steve seemed to have the opposite affect; Steve found it near impossible at times to stay awake.

"St've?... 'Wake?"

Steve jolted his eyelids open to look down at Tony. Thankfully, they hadn't restrung him up yet, but the chains remained, imprisoning his arms and inhibiting his movements.

"Yeah, Tony, 'm up. You 'kay?"

"No." The quiet admission scared Steve more than he was willing to admit. Tony never admitted to being sick or hurt.

"How long've I been out?"

"Dunno." A breath. A cough. A groan. More silence.

"St've? Tell me story?"

"What kind?"

"Dunno. Dis'raction."

"Did I tell you 'bout...?" Steve didn't get to finish.

"Sorry to interrupt story time, boys, but I think Cap needs some more medicine and... phew! Stark, you stink!"

It was true. While Steve didn't know exactly how long they had been captured, he knew it had been at least a day, maybe more? The drugs were dulling his concept of time. However long, he knew neither him nor Tony smelled particularly pleasant.

Steve also figured that even though they hadn't been given any food, they must be supplying them with nourishment somehow - probably while he was unconscious. He had hunger pains, but it was more like when he was a child and they were on rations than actual starvation, and he didn't necessarily feel dehydrated either. Part of the current stench was a testament to that.

During his speech, Tony had managed to sit up on his knees, arms weighed down by the heavy chains, his body silently waving back and forth, eyelids half-closed in his exhaustive state, but still very much conscious.

Steve heard a noise behind him. A fireman's hose appeared next to him, but his brain couldn't supply him with a reason why. That was quickly rectified when water shot out from the end, sending Tony tumbling into the wall behind him with its force.

The shower didn't last long, but it was enough to have done its job. Tony lay crumpled against the wall, arms circled around his chest, body rolling in agony, back facing Steve.

"Bass-tard!" Steve managed to get out.

Another blast of water pounded into Tony's back as the man yelped in surprised pain. Moments later, the water was turned off once again, Tony writhing in fresh misery.

"Aren't you supposed to be setting a good example to the people of America, Cap? Deplorable language," Bossman continued to grumble and gripe and tsk about Steve's word choices.

"Think it'ss mo' 'cause o' my honesty," Steve managed to lace his slur with some venom for the Bossman.

Bossman laughed loudly at that. "And snark on the side? Stark, you've got some competition!"

Tony was once again facing them, arms circled around his chest protectively, a shiver working its way through his limbs and body. Even from where Steve was sitting, he could see the dark bruises that were forming on the man's frail frame. He didn't know how much more the man could take.

Steve's attention shifted back up to Bossman as he took in a deep sniff, kneeling over Tony. "Ahh, that's much better, don't you think? Oh my, Stark, you're heating up." Steve strained to see if Tony was indeed flushed or not. "Why didn't you say something sooner? We'll turn the heat down for you don't you worry." Bossman's crazy eyes danced with glee as he stood back up. "Have a good evening, boys. Toodles!" Bossman waved his fingers at Steve as he exited the room.

Steve groaned as he felt the air dip even colder in their prison, his already cold body shivering to warm itself. The sigh of relief that came from the other side of the room, though, worried him deeply.

It was early on Day 4 when Bruce woke up his fellow rescuers.

"I've found their location!" Bleary eyes - eyes that hadn't slept restfully for nigh-on four days locked onto his.

"You sure this time?" Bruce tried not to take Clint's skepticism to heart, but he knew it was his analysis that had caused it to be there in the first place. "Sorry, Doc, didn't mean it like that."

"No, it's okay. I understand. But yes, I'm - rather, JARVIS and I - are both certain that this is where they're holding Tony and Steve."

"And where is 'this?'" Natasha asked, jumping down from her makeshift cot.

"Colorado. JARVIS has already uploaded the coordinates to the quinjet."

"Then, let us go and get our friends back!" Despite the strain of the past couple of days, none could suppress a smile at the thought of getting their friends back.