I'm Iron Man, And I'm Agent Coulson

Chapter 58 Freak Out

Three Weeks Later

My eyelids flickered to life, once a calloused hand squeezed mine. I really had no sense of how much time passed, or why I was still alive, but my gaze was met by big blue eyes and a pinched brow.
The pain was still there, but everything seemed to come in a bit clearer than before.
I forced my fingers and toes to move, and swallowed the small gasp of relief that wanted to leave my sore mouth. I remembered vaguely, the long list of injuries Tony had listed some time ago, but my body, especially my mouth, chest and shoulder, twitched in pain, and restlessness.

"Hi," Steve's voice dripped with worry, "you're looking better.."
I moaned, and tried to smile through the large amount of relief that lifted off my shoulders. My eyes teared up and I tried to reach for him, thanking the higher power he was alive and looked healthy. His hair was combed and he wore his usual button up and jeans.
"Shh, don't cry and try not to move, or Stark'll be even more angry with me," he professed, getting up out of the chair he was sitting in, and sliding onto my bed. He was so close, his warmth seeped into my skin and his smell invaded my nose, "I've been right here, waiting weeks for you to open your eyes," he mumbled, and gave me a weak smile, "(y/n), you and me..I have to admit I didn't believe you'd stay, and fight for me, only because I didn't want you to," he mumured sadly, "christ (y/n), I care about you too, but after.. I didn't expect you to..I had to watch while Buck...I'm so sorry sweetheart. I... I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stop him, and you almost paid the ultimate price," he rushed out, "I told you to go, I gave you an order, but..hon, I'm..I'm glad you're okay, and.. thank you.."
His eyes shined with wetness, and his hand squeezed mine. Guilt and shame rolled off his body like a heavy rain, making it hard to breath, but his guilt instinctively had my hands trying to reach for him.
I swallowed my pain and reluctantly tried to open my mouth. My jaw spasmed with stress, and my mouth was so dry, my tongue stuck to the top of my mouth, but I squeezed his hand and forced my lips open.

A small gasp escaped my open mouth, and my teeth rubbed uncomfortably against my cracked lips,  "St....St...Steve," my voice was just above a raspy whisper, and the pain was damn near unbearable, but it was worth it to see the shocked smile on Steve's face, "it..it's o...kay."
"Tony's gonna be upset he missed your first spoken words in over a month," Steve admonished, leaning down and reluctantly kissed my forehead, "I'm sorry, and I'll never forgive myself for letting Bucky hurt you."
My breath left my chest once flashes of Bucky stood over me. I gritted my foreign feeling teeth, noticing how uncomfortable my own mouth felt, as I tried to remember the punches, words, and clear ice blue eyes staring, as I fell.
I shook my head, and focused on Steve, "l..et me? I..I.do what I wa..want, so don't...don't do..that.. C..ap, I...I told..told you..you wouldn't..be...alone," I croaked, unable to wipe the cold paths of wetness my tears of pain left down my cheeks, "he's... he's in there. B..ucky, co..uld of kille," I paused as my jaw flared and my teeth ached, "kil..ed us both, bu..t he di..didn't. He... stop..ped.."
A large breath left my chest and my mouth snapped closed. I squeezed his calloused hand, hoping to alleviate some of the pain, and looked around. My eyes opened wider when I finally realized I didn't recognize the hospital room I had been in before. Walls of glass and state of the art equipment surrounded us on all sides. I could see an oriental woman in a lab coat along with Bruce, looking over something on a clip board, and rows of soft blue lights hanging overhead.

"We're in Stark Tower, well uh, Avengers Tower, this is home to the Avengers now," Steve stated, watching me cautiously as I looked around.
My heart started beating faster in my chest, and small pictures of Tony looming over me came roaring back. Whispered words of love and protection reached for me through the fog of discomfort and meds.
"He..saved me..didn't he?" I rasped, only to whine when the pain flashed.
"You don't remember?" Steve asked, looking through the window at the busy floor.
I tried to shrug, but the cast across my shoulder and torso made it impossible. My jaw hurt too much to try and talk again, but I had to know if what I remembered really happened.