Can We Be Fixed? (Stony)

Chapter Eight: Aftermath

A/N: This chapter was rewritten thanks to some incredible ideas from my readers: doryudhan and x-Um-YIKES-x (who's books you should totally check out btw, cough). Hope you guys like the chapter, and hopefully I did some justice with this chapter, let me know what you think later in the chapter!

****

After waiting patiently for twelve hours, and then another two hours for them to get Steve situated in the medical ward, the doctors finally gave him the permission he needed to go and see the soldier. And even if they didn't, he would most likely throw a fit and get his way regardless, because he cares a significant amount about the blonde.

To the genius it was a surreal in a way; the first time he'd been in a hospital- or rather a hospital like situation that involves surgery, because a cave in Afghanistan is most definitely not a hospital, he was the one being operated on and received a makeshift plate in his chest that was powered by a car battery. He was then in another hospital situation where he had surgery done on him to remove the shrapnel from his chest, which was the same day he finally stopped having to rely on the Arc Reactor to keep him alive- but that very day birth experimentation to find a replacement Arc Reactor since he felt way too naked without the contraption on his chest. In a way, the Arc Reactor became a part of him, relatively speaking because, well, it was a part of him because it was inside his chest.

Regardless of that, the first time he wasn't the one in the hospital bed and stood just like he is now, behind a glass window looking into the operating room where the patient lay was when Rhodey was hurt. He sat behind the glass window feeling powerless to do anything, feeling guilty that if he had just done something different this could have been avoided. Now this is the second time he's behind a glass window, but instead of Rhodey, it was Steve.

Once again he felt like it was all his fault, and the guilt was settling deep into his bones and coiling around his muscles. He keeps thinking to himself that if he had just done more this wouldn't have happened. If he had just made sure that all of Ross' guards had been accounted for, if he hadn't let that chopper slip past him, Steve wouldn't be here right now.

He touched his lips, remembering the kiss they had shared before S.H.I.E.L.D.s medical team had arrived at their location. And God, does he wish that those soft lips were against his own at this very moment, because only then will his thoughts stop clouding his mind and quiet the guilt that's loud in his own mind. He sighs heavily and lets his hand drop to his side, his feet moving from his location towards the door.

"Excuse me, Mr. Stark?" He heard someone call out his name. He blinked and looked away from the door, seeing one of the doctors that had helped Steve coming his way. She was about his height, blonde short wavy hair that sat neatly on her shoulders, circular glasses, and petite frame. She carried a manilla folder in her hands as her black heels clicked on the shiny silver titles as she made her way over to him.

"Yes?" He responded.

"I know you are about to see Captain Rogers, but I think there are some things I need to tell you." She spoke professionally. He raised an eyebrow at her, however, because he was confused.

"I thought you guys gave me all the details about his injuries?"

"We did, but there's a little more that we have to tell you that we didn't originally figure out until afterwards, and... It's worse than we thought." The way she faltered in her explanation made him uneasy. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, chewing on his bottom lip and scratching the back of his head, turning towards the door to look away from her.

"So uh... What-what's wrong?" He hoped it wasn't anything too serious, because if there was something terribly wrong with Steve, he would not be able to live that down.