Starks Pheonix {2}

Nine

*2 months later*

Izzy was flitting about the lab, checking all data she had. She needed this to be correct, to be perfect if this was going to work, it had to work.

'You need a breather Izzy. Why don't you take a break, me and Bruce can run through the simulations for you..'.. Tony caught her as she went to pass him again, and he spun her to him, locking his arms around her waist.

He could see she was exhausted, and the worry was evident in her face... 'You're burning yourself out here sweetheart, and you're no good to anyone, if you don't take care of yourself..'

'It has to be perfect Stark, I can't have a single thing go wrong..'.. She sighed up at him.

'And it will be perfect..'.. He leaned in to kiss her... 'Everyone knows how hard you've been working, especially Barnes. Go see him, he's been worrying about you..'.. He kissed her again, releasing her from his hold... 'Go see him, eat and get some sleep. I'll call you if there's any problems, ok?..'

Izzy dropped her head to his chest, fighting back a yawn. She really was exhausted. She had been working non stop since the committee meeting, trying to find a way to break the trigger words. Barnes had written them down for her, and she had committed them to memory. He said she was the only one he trusted to know them, and not abuse them.

Though he had been shocked initially to find that his best friend had a kid, let alone that kid was alive an breathing. Bucky laughed for the first time, in a long time when she had called him uncle Buck, and it was the only thong she'd call him, unless he'd done something to piss her off, then she'd call him by his last name.

'Ok, I'll take a break..'.. She looked up at him, smiling as she circled her arms around his neck... 'Only because I love it when you get bossy..'

He grinned at her, wishing Bruce wasn't in the lab... 'Misbehave for me later and I'll show you who's boss..'

'Jar..'.. Both turned to Bruce as he was leaning over his computer, not even looking at them.

Izzy giggled, knowing how much Tony hated that jar. It was Nats idea, as a way to make the two of them ease up on the sexual tension, when the others were in the room. Any time they made any sexual comments, they had to put $20 in a jar.

'I'll put in $100..'.. Tony called across to him, and Bruce shook his head sighing, focused on his work.

Izzy pulled him in for a deeper kiss, before stepping back... 'Sorry Bruce..'.. She clasps her hands behind her back, smiling over at him.

'Make sure y-..'.. Tony's words were cut off by Jarvis.

'Miss Matthews, you are needed in sergeant Barnes room urgently. He is experiencing another episode..'..

Izzy ran for the elevator, and Tony was right behind her. The two got in, and it headed straight for the living quarters. Tony felt pure empathy for Barnes. The man had been in the hands of Hydra for years, and by what they knew already, it was nothing but torture, beatings, brainwashing and complete abuse. The fact that he suffered from nightmares, memories that were coming back, was a form of PTSD.

Tony had ensured that Barnes had the best therapist in the country to assist him. When the doors opened, the two rushed out and straight into his room.

Izzya heart broke again, seeing him covered in a cold sweat, rocking on the floor, his knees up to his chest as he rested his head on them. She slowly moved closer to him, kneeling in front of him.