Holy cow batman! an update at last! Sorry for the long wait -.- to be honest I had a few other fics I was tending to (ROTG mostly and a new Sherlock one). Anyway, I tried to start this one off with a take from Bruce :) It's been a while so I hope this chapter blends well with the others. I've rewritten it several times and something still seems off so I guarantee I'll be trying to fix it in the next few days, hopefully just some minor improvements, maybe some changes to make them all more in character.

Bruce felt as though he were going to explode. A part of him, the calm and rational Dr. Banner, logically knew that the events in that footage had taken place a long time ago; while the other was painfully worried. But there was a third part as well. A dark presence that he struggle to contain, burning with nothing but rage as it replayed the video over and over in Bruce's head.

Doesn't it make you want to destroy them? It seemed to say; don't you want them to suffer as he did? This wasn't the anger Bruce was used to. It was the anger of Tony's other friend, the big green one. But that's impossible; the Other Guy didn't have friends. There were a handful of people he tolerated, and then there was everyone else. Yet Bruce couldn't deny the presence inside him felt…protective wasn't quite right but it was close. Uncomfortably close.

Tony's right downstairs, he reminded himself, he's fine. No, that's not entirely true. Call it a hunch but Banner couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Tony was acting too calm. Bruce expected him to throw everyone out after the video, expected yelling and screaming. He certainly hadn't expected the showy Iron Man to back down from his conflict with Steve. He sulked for a while, but in the end he sat there and did his paperwork. And that definitely isn't the Tony Bruce knows. So if he isn't angry and he isn't himself then what is he? Bruce ran a shaky hand through his moppy hair.

That's right, he'd had a panic attack first. It was minor and still the image appeared in Bruce's head again. Tony, standing frozen, his eyes in a far off place no one could ever reach. The thought brought a fresh wave of anger rolling through him and Bruce's jaw clenched as he leaned onto an expensive table for support. It looked a bit like cherry wood, lean yet delicate. There was a resounding crunch it splintered under his grip.

The Other Guy coming out in the middle of Stark Tower would definitely not be good. Keep it together, he thought. Bruce had warned Stark about this, but Tony had a way of getting what he wanted. Before Banner could hardly blink the few belongings he had were in a suite on one of the lower floors, perfectly furnished as though it were made for him. Maybe it was. The furniture was sturdy as well as simple, and the bed was…hulk-sized. Then again maybe all the beds Tony bought were like that Bruce hadn't really taken it upon himself to explore much of his new surroundings yet.

"There goes another table." Tony mused, slightly teasing, like it didn't matter at all. Tables are replaceable, he thought to himself, a lot of things are replaceable. Bruce let his hand fall to his side as he turned around. Tony was staring at him casually, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. His usually perfect dark hair was slightly mussed, and his eyes were disturbingly shadowed under his smile.

"Thank God." Bruce murmured, catching Steve's eye for a brief moment. The super-soldier stood warily beside the billionaire, as though the very room they stood in could become a battlefield at any moment.

"Funny," Tony shot back, moving off to check the holographic monitors in the corner, "I didn't peg you for the religious type." It was always fun to try and ruffle the good doctor's feathers, and even then Tony found a smile playing at his lips. Too bad he's always so cool about everything. What would it take to get on his bad side? You'd have to be one bad guy.

Usually Tony would head over and make himself a drink, just for something to do really, but it seemed that Captain-Spandex was cutting him off for the night. It was back to the nanny thing again. A man his age didn't need babysitting anymore. But there were more pressing matters to deal with anyway; such as the virus that had caused all the damn trouble in the first place. JARVIS seemed fine again, but he ran a few scans just to be safe.

"Tony…" Bruce murmured, "You should get some rest." Strike that. Tony had two nannies. Steve sighed.

"I tried to tell him that…" The Captain muttered.

"Thanks for your concern, Nurse Rogers." Tony darted sarcastically. He made no move to acknowledge Bruce. He knew him too well, it'd be dangerous…because the truth? His head was pounding, a heavy rhythm that made his eyes throb. What time is it again? It had long since gotten dark outside but from the lab he'd never noticed. The display gave a little flash.

"Dammit." Tony hissed, wildly flipping through lights that hovered at his fingertips. Steve and Bruce shared an uneasy glance.

"What is it?"

"The virus. JARVIS can't seem to track it."

"And that means?"

"Hell if I know."

"My apologies, Sir." The AI spoke in, "I can't quite track the signal. The link seems to be rerouted back to the Laboratory floor of Stark Tower." Tony waved the apology away, in a tasteless yet affectionate gesture. They were rare and well-disguised, but Bruce knew the affection when he saw it. He also knew that the way Tony held himself slightly turned away from the monitors meant that they were probably hurting his eyes. Had he been drinking? The billionaire smelled a bit like alcohol. Drinking coupled with traumatic experiences and panic attacks? Not good.

"Keep trying." Tony commanded. A hand touched his shoulder.

"Tony," Bruce murmured," Get some sleep. Please." The billionaire blinked in surprise. And…something flashed in his eyes for a just a moment. It was too quick, just a spark before it smoothed over into a quirky grin.

"You wanna get rid of me that badly?"

"Tony…" Steve interjected. The super-soldier was oddly silent, and Bruce made a mental note to ask him about what happened in the lab. Tony rolled his eyes.

"Relax, Capsicle. JARVIS is putting the finishing touches on the upgrade and tracking down our little rat. What else would I do now but sleep?" That was a lie. Tony didn't intend to sleep at all, but as he said his goodnights and headed off he was left alone with himself, and it was painful. Sleep could help…

Steve reluctantly left the Tower after a long and very secretive conversation with Bruce, who opted to sleep on the couch rather than return to his own suite. He wasn't very far from Tony, merely the space of a few hallways, yet the billionaire was alone with his thoughts. They were ghosts that entangled themselves in his head, tripping over themselves in an effort to keep him from rest. With a heavy sigh he rolled back out of bed and stumbled to his luxury suite bathroom. Pepper was still out on a business trip and, for the first time since he'd known her, Tony was glad she wasn't with him. It was better this way. Better she not see him like this. What time is it now? He still hadn't checked. Rest. He really should. His hand snaked its way into the medicine cabinet built into the marble counter-top and there it settled on a bottle of sleeping pills. He gently nudged a couple into his open palm.

Good? Bad? Please review! But...be gentle? It's been a while T.T