Had a day without really being on the computer so its a bit late-but still here ya' go. :) please comment! it makes writing fics worth it...other wise this might just be my first and last avengers story I write. :p

Steve was cradling Tony's head as best he could with the bars in the way.

Every one of them felt as broken as Tony looked. Both Natasha and Clint tried there best to look composed, but the unshed tears filling there eyes betrayed them.

Steve could do nothing but hold his broken, beaten comrade. Bruce had calmed down just enough sit next to Steve and check up on Tony being sure he wouldn't slip though there fingers. Thor had also taken a seat next to them running his fingers now and then through the iron mans hair, as if to reassure himself the man was still in fact alive.

Steve had his head rested on the bars for some time now, he just couldn't baring himself to move, even if he was uncomfortable, and somehow the bars made the pain in his body worse...but he ignored it-no amount of pain was going to make up for the pain Tony had suffered.

The broken man just laid there, breathing very shallow...Steve knew deep down, no matter how much he wanted to ignore it, push it away, say it wasn't true...but it was-truth was, Tony, Iron man...was dying. Right there, in his arms, his new friend's life was slipping away slowly but surely. And it hurt. It hurt to the point he wanted to just take a gun and put them both, himself and Tony, out of misery.

But he couldn't...he could only sit there and hold, and watch as Tony slowly lost his life right there; in front of all of them.

Suddenly, he heard Clint gasp; looking up he saw the archer staring at him as if he had grown another head or something. Natasha looking at him all the same.

The he heard Thor speak. "My friend! What's has happened to you?" fear and worry entering his voice, where he seemed to be trying not to show it. Bruce, still shaded green which Steve had come to the conclusion speaking was out of the question for him, had also been staring at him like he had mutated somehow-which maybe he did, as he noticed he felt... different...smaller almost. Tony's head felt a little to big for his hands-that in it self was odd, considering Tony's was small himself.

Looking down at himself it took a moment for him to realize; yes he had mutated! But...only back to his normal size he was before the serum.

Steve wasn't sure what to think of that. Without this build, without his healing capabilities-he was back to being no body-no longer Captain America, only...just Steve Rogers...the nobody. Tears plucked at his eyes stronger now. Now he could never get them out, now he had no hope of saving Tony's life.

'Tony'

He looked down at the dying man, his heart braking ever second. Frustration hit him so head he just...just- he bashed his head on the bars as hard as he could; however, instead of the sudden pain he was planning for, his head went through the bars.

Confused for half a second he smiled. Never in his life did he feel so happy being so small.

"Awesome! Looks like shirking was the best thing after all." Clint smiled watching him slip out of the holding cell.

Steve couldn't have agreed more. Making sure Tony was safe he climbed out and went for his shield. Sure it was to big for wear but at least he had it. Running over he quickly untied the spies. Natasha ripped the gag from he mouth with a spat. "He's going to die dearly for that." she growled and ran out of the room, Clint right behind her. No more then a few moments of them leaving the room Steve heard an arrow flying and suddenly Bruce was completely Hulk'ed out and smashing the bars they where held in.

"HULK SMASH PUNY RED HEAD MAN!" He yelled and headed out the door before Steve stopped him.

"Hulk!"

The said monster turned around; clearly pissed he had to stop-

"Bring me back his head."

Hulk smiled a sweet sick smile and smashed his way to where Red Skull was.

Steve couldn't help but smile, he would love to see what Hulk would do-but right now he needed to help Tony.

"Thor!"

The thunder stopped hammer back in his hand where it belonged.

"I need your help-in this state I can't lift him."

Thor nodded in understanding and lifted Tony up gently. But the movement still woke him as pain shot up through his body.

"I will take care of him Captain, I will not fell you." Steve nodded to Thor, thankful, and took off.

"Keep him awake Thor! At all costs!" Was Steve's last words echoed through the building.

Tony looked up at the Norse-god holding him and laid his head on his chest drifting off once more. "No! Anthony! You must stay awake, it is the Captain's orders." he said as if that only would make Tony obey.

Tony couldn't help but chuckle a bit, sending more pain into his beaten body. If he could speak he would have.

Steve ran down every corner looking for either Red Skull or the Hulk-it didn't take long before he ran into both.

Hulk had Schmidt by the throat making his human face turn blue. Steve couldn't help but think how good that color looked on him.

Sounds from the place where every where and Steve only thought for a brief moment how Hawkeye and Black widow were doing, but seeing as people, part of Hydra were yelling and running with a chicken with its head cut off, he figured they were doing fine.

Hulk smiled at Steve and put Schmidt in eye level with him. Steve grinned. "Guess the army needed a little guy after all." and punched him in the face.

The impact busted his face in ripping the human faced mask. Hulk finished him off.

"Captain!" Natasha called running to him. "You seem well again."

Steve looked at himself once more and noticed he was, "Guess the bars effect wore off." he shrugged, causing her to smile a bit.

Steve sat by Tony's bad while he healed; Bruce had worked on him immediately once back at shield-Thor had kept his word and kept Tony awake until he was in ER where they allowed him to sleep.

The idea of almost losing him still hurt Steve deep down, and even though he wasn't sure way other then he didn't want to lose another Bucky, he felt this one was deeper still...he cared more, more then a friend should. And maybe that was okay.

It would be a hard road getting over this, and more so for Tony to heal-but it was okay, they would make it through.

As if on cue Bruce came in, all of them did.

"He'll be okay." Natasha said gently and stroked the side of Tony's face. "You want to hold him don't you?"

Steve looked at her with wide eyes, "I can tell by your face." she answered his confusion of how she knew.

"It's okay you know, just watch out for the wires, is all." Bruce said smiling. Steve got up and moved to where he was sitting with Tony on his chest, laying back on the pillows.

Thor and Clint joined him sitting on the edges near the head of the bed and laying a soft hand on the healing man. Natasha and Bruce must have felt complied to so the same because suddenly they two where sitting on the bed with a hand on Tony.

Steve smiled softly.

Yeah, they all had each other...and that was enough.