FIC Even the Might Fall
8/11/14 22:38![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shanachie_quillTitle: Even the Mighty Fall
Characters: Darcy Lewis, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Pepper Potts, Jane Foster, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Maria Hill, various OCs
Fandom: Avengers 2012
Series: Sick in the Tower
Written For: maiel_alcinoe
Prompt: sick!Steve/Darcy
Summary: Steve is struck ill by something.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nothing major
Warnings: angst, upset!Darcy, Steve is sick by unknown means
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me, not making any money off this.
Author's Note: So my friend, maiel_alcinoe, was ill a few months ago and I was going to write her some fics to cheer her up… but I kinda failed at getting them done. She’s feeling much better now, but hopefully this will still cheer her up. :-)
“Is he injured? What happened?” Darcy followed along in Pepper and Jane’s wake as the three women hurried through the Tower. Normally she knew before anyone what happened with the Avengers, but she’d been spending the day in the lab with Jane when they returned. When Pepper had appeared suddenly in the doorway, Darcy had dropped the papers she’d been sorting and only the near-by table had prevented her collapse.
“He’s not injured. They aren’t sure what’s wrong,” Pepper answered over her shoulder. “They just said we needed to come.”
Jane gripped Darcy’s hand. “I’m sure he’s fine. I’m sure they’re all fine.”
“Why wouldn’t someone call me then?” Darcy asked. “I’m supposed to be notified when they return. It’s my job to go through medical with them and make sure there aren’t any incidents.”
“I’m sure it was just an oversight,” Pepper said. They’d reached the doorway by now and Pepper reached out, pressing her thumb against the scanner before leaning forward for the retinal scan. Although JARVIS had full control throughout the Tower, he wasn’t able to override the security to get into medical. Only authorized people would be admitted at this time.
Darcy ripped the door open as the light turned green and stormed into medical. “I want to know what’s going on. Right now,” she demanded.
The doctors scattered before her demands, revealing the Avengers grouped tightly around a hospital bed. Darcy’s eyes flittered from one to another, scanning each of them and seeing who was upright. She quickly registered Tony—his armor discarded and the man clad only in his unitard—as he moved towards Pepper. Thor was the next to move as he spied Jane, his cape billowing around him as he strode forward. Clint looked up from his perch atop a cabinet, his eyes zeroing in on Darcy as she came to a halt towards the end of the bed. Natasha stood below him, her hand resting on his calf.
“Where’s. Steve?” she asked.
The group moved farther back, revealing Bucky standing by the head of the bed and Steve laying prone on it. Darcy’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.
Instead of the flush of good health that Steve’s face normally wore, his face had the pink rosiness of illness under-laid by the paleness of sickness. His arms were drawn up tight to his body with Bucky’s natural hand resting on his shoulder. Every so often his body would tremble as if he was wracked with shivers.
Darcy pushed past the Avengers until she was close to Steve’s head, looking up at Bucky. “What happened? Where’s he injured?” she asked.
“He’s not injured, angel-face,” Bucky answered, ignoring the glare she shot him at the nickname. “We’re not quite sure what the problem is.”
Darcy spun around, looking towards the doctors. “You don’t know what the problem is? Isn’t that your job?”
One of the doctors stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. “We don’t know exactly what’s affecting Captain Rogers. What we do know is he appears to be suffering from the symptoms of pneumonia. Which doesn’t make sense…”
“Because he’s a super soldier and he doesn’t get sick,” Darcy finished. “Explain to me exactly what good you are?”
“Easy, angel… Darcy,” Bucky said. “It’s not his fault.”
“We’re treating the pneumonia. Because it’s not natural or we’re assuming it’s not, he’s not contagious. And there’s no reason for him to stay in medical,” the doctor explained. “Until we can figure out what’s causing it, we either have to let it run its course or solve the problem.”
“If you can’t figure out what’s causing it… how are you going to solve it?” she demanded.
“Lady Darcy,” Thor spoke up from where he was standing with his arm around Jane. “None of us will allow the Captain to lay ill for long; we are already planning to search for a cure.”
“So I can take him back to his quarters?” Darcy asked. “He’d be more comfortable there.”
The doctors exchanged glances. “I don’t see why not,” the spokesman said. “We can make arrangements to transport him there. But he needs to be watched.”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it,” she insisted. “I won’t leave him alone.”
The other Avengers quickly chimed in with offers to help her if she needed a break and Bucky offered to stay in the quarters with them so someone with a little more strength was near-by if she needed it. Darcy agreed, figuring she would find a way to get him to leave if it was too much.
As the doctors began the preparations to move Steve to his quarters with one of them giving directions to Darcy and two of them beginning to prep the Captain himself; Bruce wandered into medical. He looked at the group still gathered around the bed and asked, “What did I miss?”
By the time Steve was settled to both the doctors and Darcy’s satisfaction in his quarters, the super soldier was wheezing and Bucky looked tense from holding himself back. Darcy sent him to the kitchen to see about making something for them to eat as she tried to ease Steve’s breathing by making him more comfortable.
“I’m fine,” Steve rasped as Darcy fussed over his pillows. “You don’t need to fuss.”
“If it’s not me, it’s going to be James,” she told him. “Which would you rather have?”
“Well if you put it that way.” Steve coughed as he finished his sentence, gasping for breath.
Darcy turned to get a glass of water, letting out a squeak of surprise when she saw Bucky standing in the doorway. “He needs…” Bucky started.
“He’ll be okay, James,” Darcy assured him as she turned to offer the water to Steve. “I might not be if freaky ex-assassins keep sneaking up on me,” she muttered under her breath, “but Steve will be fine.”
“I made soup,” Bucky offered after a minute as Steve’s coughing was finally alleviated. “And I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
Darcy crossed the room and gently kissed him on the cheek. “I know, James. It’s not you. I’m worried about Steve so I wasn’t paying attention like Steve and you and everyone else always tell me to.”
“Hey,” Steve called from the bed. “I’m sick. I’m not dying. No trying to steal my girl.”
“I don’t have to steal your girl, you punk,” Bucky replied affectionately. “I could have her if I wanted.”
“She’s got better taste than that, jerk,” Steve responded.
Darcy rolled her eyes. “You know I have a mind of my own, right? Forties mentality.” She pushed Bucky gently out of her way. “I’m going to get some of the soup James made and you are going to eat it, Super Solider.”
Steve watched as she sashayed out of the room before turning his attention to Bucky. “I’m fine,” he tried.
“Sure you are.” It was Bucky’s turn to roll his eyes as he moved towards Steve’s bed. “Just like you were fine all those times when we were kids.”
“I was fine all those times,” Steve insisted.
“Stevie, you almost died like six times before you turned thirteen. You were not fine and clearly the doctors don’t think you’re fine this time either. So let the pretty dame fuss over you. Enjoy yourself being sick for once,” Bucky pointed out.
“Only you would think this was something to enjoy,” Steve complained.
“I don’t think being sick is something to enjoy,” Bucky corrected, “but having your pretty dame fuss over me? Yeah that would definitely be something…”
“You’d better not be calling me a dame again, James Barnes,” Darcy ordered as she carried a tray back into the room.
“Of course not, ma’am,” he immediately replied.
Darcy kicked out at him, Bucky grinning as he dodged the blow. “You’d better not be,” she told him.
Steve struggled, trying to sit up in bed, and Bucky hurried to his side to assist him. Between the two of them, they soon had Steve sitting up comfortably and Darcy settled the tray she was carrying in front of him. She handed one of the bowls off to Bucky before sitting at the foot of the bed, tucking one leg up under her. “Thanks,” Steve said once he’d caught his breath again.
Darcy pointed her spoon at the bowl Steve cradled in his hands. “Eat.”
Bucky looked up as Darcy came out of the bedroom where she had been planning to sleep with Steve. “Did you need something?”
“I just wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything,” she answered.
He grinned at her, patting the couch. “This is a whole lot more comfortable than some of the places I slept in the war. Worry about Stevie.”
She made a face. “He’s asleep. I was concerned I’d wake him if I lay down with him.”
“Why don’t you take the couch then? The floor will be fine for me,” Bucky told her. Darcy looked conflicted for a minute, but Bucky got to his feet. “Even if I don’t sleep on the floor, I can go without a lot longer than you can, angel-face.” When Darcy looked ready to argue with him, he continued, “I can have someone bring a cot in here if you’d rather?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want.” She sighed, tugging at her messy ponytail. “That might disturb Steve. I’ll just get you a sleeping bag.”
It didn’t take them long to get settled, but Bucky didn’t sleep well. He could hear Steve coughing, even with the door between them. A couple of times he got up to check on his friend, but found Darcy already bending over the other man, speaking softly to him and coaxing him to a more comfortable position or to take a drink.
The third time he moved to the doorway to check on Steve, he stood watching the two of them together. Steve had clearly stopped fighting against whatever Darcy wanted to do to help him because he was allowing her to wipe his sweaty forehead with a cloth as she murmured to him. Darcy turned to find Bucky leaning against the door jamb watching them. “How long have you been there?” she asked softly.
“Just a few minutes,” he answered. “How is he?”
“He’s not any better.” She shrugged. “But he’s also not any worse. So I suppose that’s something.”
“Can I do anything?” he asked. “Want me to roll him so you can change his shirt or whateva?”
“I think I’ll wait until morning to change his clothes,” she replied. “He’ll just sweat through them again otherwise.”
Bucky frowned. “I’m not sure that’s pneumonia.”
Darcy looked back at him. “What do you mean?”
“It just. It doesn’t look right,” he said, still frowning.
“We can ask the doctor to examine him again,” Darcy said. “But they already said they only think it’s pneumonia. And it’s Steve… It’s not going to be normal.”
“I’m calling medical,” Bucky decided as Steve started to seize.
“JARVIS,” Darcy called, trying to keep her voice even. “We need Medical here now.”
“We need Medical here ten minutes ago,” Bucky corrected as he grabbed at Steve’s shoulders, clearly intending to hold him down.
“Bucky, don’t,” Darcy protested. “It’s…” She batted his hands away. “Don’t. You’ll hurt him.”
Bucky frowned at her words, but pulled his hands away, clenching his fists as he watched Steve continue to seize. Both of them turned as a group thumped through the suite’s doorway. Bucky immediately fell into a crouch, clearly in a position to protect both Steve and Darcy.
Darcy smacked his shoulder. “Ease up, soldier, they’re on our side.”
It only took a second for Bucky to realize that the group who’d burst in was the medical team they’d called. He backed away to allow them close to Steve, but hovered, watching closely as they worked.
Darcy also peered over their shoulders, watching as the medical team moved quickly, taking vitals and questioning both Darcy and Bucky about what had happened. Within minutes, they had lines and an IV attached to him and one member was calling for transport. "What are you doing?" Darcy demanded as the other two team members began to prepare Steve.
"We need to get Captain Rogers to medical now," the one who'd called for transport answered.
“You’re not takin’ him anywhere until you tell us what the hell is going on,” Bucky growled. “And exactly who you are.”
Darcy laid a hand on Bucky’s metal arm, just the mere motion holding him back. “We understand that you’re trying to help Steve,” she said, clearly attempting to be the more rational voice, even though she was demanding just a moment before. “But we’re…”
Bucky stepped in front of the team as they attempted to move Steve, glaring them down. “You aren’t takin’ him anywhere. Where’s Banner?” He stared at the man who’d been giving the orders. “I don’t know you and I ain’t lettin’ you take him until someone I know is here.”
“You don’t have any authority,” the man started.
“No. But I do,” Darcy replied. “I’ve got medical proxy for all of the Avengers, including Captain Rogers. So call Doctor Banner. I’m positive he won’t have an issue with being disturbed.”
“You realize you’re jeopardizing the Captain’s health,” the man tried.
“You realize you’re about to be out of a fucking job if you don’t do what we want,” Darcy cut him off. “If you don’t call Bruce now, I will.”
“Not necessary, Miss Lewis,” JARVIS broke in. “I have taken the liberty of notifying Doctor Banner of the issue and he should be knocking on your door momentarily.”
“JARVIS for the win!” Darcy crowed. “Let Bruce in as soon as he gets here.”
Before there could be anymore protests from the medical team, there was a perfunctory knock on the door followed by Bruce entering. “What’s going on?” he asked, taking in the tableau before him.
“They won’t let us take Captain Rogers to medical,” the team leader immediately said.
Bruce raised an eyebrow, but turned to Darcy, asking, “Is everything okay?”
“We called medical because something wasn’t right. Steve… had a seizure. I…” she glanced at Bucky. “We. Just wanted them to look at him. But they immediately tried to take him away.”
“Why are you trying to remove Captain Rogers?” Bruce asked calmly.
The medic looked a bit disgruntled, but answered readily enough, “We are better able to treat Captain Rogers in medical. Since clearly the diagnosis of pneumonia was incorrect, we’d like to run some more tests.”
“No,” Darcy said immediately. “No more tests. Steve wouldn’t appreciate them. Isn’t there another way?”
“Not if you want to find out what’s wrong with him,” the medic tried to argue.
“Non-invasive, no cutting, no bleeding. You can observe or scan him without probing, but that’s it,” Darcy ordered.
When the medic turned and looked at Bruce for more orders, he shrugged. “She’s the boss.”
“You will not harm him,” Darcy added.
“Or you’ll have me to deal with,” Bucky growled.
The medic took a step back at the Winter Soldier’s tone, until he realized neither of the other medics had moved. He straightened his shoulders, stepping forward again. “If we abide by those rules, can we take him to Medical?”
Darcy and Bucky exchanged glances before Darcy nodded. “But we’re both going with you,” Bucky said, resting his flesh hand on Darcy’s shoulder.
“Just stay out of the way,” the medic ordered.
Darcy opened her mouth to protest, but subsided at looks from both Bruce and Bucky. “We’ll be right there with him, angel-face,” Bucky assured her.
The medic looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, but simply asked, “Are we able to transport Captain Rogers now?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Move him,” Darcy commanded. When the group moved out, Steve being wheeled along on the gurney, Darcy wiped at her eyes. “I’m fine,” she insisted when Bruce reached out towards her.
“Steve’ll be just fine,” Bucky told her. “If everything back then and Nazis and Hydra couldn’t kill him, a magical flu isn’t going to do him in.”
She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
By the time Darcy, Bruce, and Bucky arrived at Medical, they’d moved Steve into a bed. One of the doctors was monitoring his vitals while one of the technicians was beginning to run the scan. Bruce moved over to see the scan as Darcy took a seat next to the bed. She linked her fingers through Steve’s, her eyes flicking between Steve and Bruce. Bucky took up position behind her, able to reach both her and Steve as needed.
“Wait. Stop,” Bruce said. He pointed to a spot on the scan. “What’s that?”
The doctor came around, peering at the scan. “Huh. Well I don’t think that’s supposed to be there.”
“What? Is there something…? Did you figure out what’s wrong with Steve?” Darcy demanded.
“It appears…” Bruce turned the hologram so Darcy and Bucky could see it too. “That there is something embedded in the Captain. I’d wager that’s what’s causing his issues.”
“Can you get it out?” Darcy demanded.
“I can’t… no.” Bruce shook his head. “I’m not that kind of doctor. And…”
“Yeah, I don’t trust any of these quacks to do that type of surgery on Steve,” Bucky interrupted him. “No offence, angel.”
“That’s fine, James,” she said. “Bruce, do you have a recommendation or an opinion?”
Bruce looked up from where he had still been examining the scan. “We can talk to Maria. She might know who to contact. There has to be someone within the new SHIELD or the scattered agents who can help.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Bucky volunteered. “I need to do something.” He looked down at Darcy. “You gonna be okay, angel?”
“Yeah.” Darcy squeezed Steve’s hand. “I’ll just stay here with Steve. Try not to be too long?”
Bucky nodded. He moved to leave before turning back to the doctor and medics. “It might be the whatever inside Steve that’s causing his issues, but his symptoms are an awful lot like what he had when we were kids. Can you treat those symptoms? Maybe help him that way until we get more help?”
The doctor nodded. “If Miss Lewis can give us some direction, I don’t see that being a problem, Sargent Barnes.”
Darcy nodded. “I can handle it. Go talk to Maria. Please, James.”
With a last look at Steve, Bucky left Medical, calling to JARVIS to ask where Maria was at that moment. The doctor immediately moved around, reaching for the near-by tray. “Let’s see if we can get Captain Rogers a bit more comfortable.”
Bucky stalked back into Medical with Maria Hill on his heels. “How is he?” he demanded as he reached the bedside.
“Captain Rogers appears to be resting comfortably,” the doctor answered.
“Darc?” Bucky questioned.
“He’s doing all right at the moment, James,” Darcy assured him. She turned her attention to Maria who was conferring quietly with Bruce. “Do you know someone who can help him?”
Maria turned her attention from the conversation she was having with Bruce to face Darcy more fully. “I do and I’ve already called her. Stark left to get her as soon as we got off Skype.”
“And she can do this?” Darcy questioned. “She can get this whatever it is out of Steve?”
“She can and she will, provided we let her go back to England as soon as she’s done,” Maria answered.
“I’ll take her back myself,” Bucky growled. “As soon as Steve’s out of danger.”
“There’s no need to promise that, Barnes,” Maria assured him. “We aren’t looking to hold her here.”
“How much longer?” Darcy asked, her eyes darting to Steve’s still form before looking up at Maria.
“She should be here any minute,” Maria assured her.
Darcy was almost asleep with her head on the pillow next to Steve’s when there was a clatter and a banging followed swiftly by a British voice swearing politely. When she lifted her head, a brunette was carefully picking up the tray on the floor. “Can I help you?” the former intern asked.
“I actually think I’m here to help you,” the brunette answered, setting the tray down.
“You’re not doing anything until James gets back. And…” Darcy frowned. “Who are you?”
“Oh.” The woman tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and held out her hand. “Jemma Simmons. So… James?”
Darcy tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling. “JAVIS? Where is Sargent Barnes?”
“Sargent Barnes is in the gym with Agent Romanov,” JARVIS answered promptly, causing Jemma to jump and look around for the voice.
“Well at least that’s more productive than the pacing he was doing,” Darcy pointed out. “Could you ask him and Natasha to come up here when it’s safe to interrupt them?”
“Of course, Miss Lewis,” the AI responded promptly.
“Was that… were you talking to…?” Jemma flailed a hand at the surrounding area.
“JARVIS? Stark’s AI? Yes, it was,” Darcy answered, a smile slipping across her features. “Should I get Bruce also?”
“He’s already been alerted, Miss Lewis,” JARVIS broke in.
Darcy nodded jerkily. “What do you need?”
“I’d like to see the scans. And then we’ll see…” Jemma pointed to where Steve lay unconscious on the bed. “We’ll see if we can help the Captain.”
“Isn’t that what you’re here for, Doctor?” a voice drawled behind them.
“James, be kind,” Natasha chided.
Both Darcy and Bucky favored her with a look. “The sad part is that was him being nice,” Darcy told her.
“Well, that really wasn’t that rude. I mean I am here to help. I just. If I can’t I wouldn’t want to hurt the Captain and…” Jemma babbled.
“Relax, Doctor Simmons,” Bruce said as he joined the group by the bed. “We’re not expecting you to do anything you aren’t able. Come with me and I’ll show you the scans.”
Bucky rested his hand on Darcy’s shoulder after the two doctors had stepped away. “Not much longer, angel. Bruce’ll make sure the new doctor lady can help Steve.”
In just a few minutes Jemma was back with a group of medics trailing behind her. Gone was the stammering woman they’d met a few minutes ago and in her place was a confident doctor, who issued orders and directed the medics. Within minutes they had moved Steve to another bed and were wheeling him away.
Much sooner than Darcy expected they were wheeling Steve back into the room. She popped to her feet as they locked the bed in place, having removed the original one. “Is he okay?”
“Got it all,” Jemma announced proudly. “Good thing in a way that this thing was beating the serum back. It was the only reason we were able to cut into the Captain.” She pointed to the bandages around Steve’s middle. “He’s already showing signs of his accelerated healing.”
“How long until he wakes up?” Darcy asked, taking her position next to Steve again and linking her fingers in his again.
“It’ll depend on how fast his system recovers from the invasion,” Jemma answered, “but it shouldn’t be long.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Bucky said gruffly. “We appreciate you coming all this way to help Steve.”
Jemma blushed, ducking her head at his praise. “I’m just glad I could help.”
Darcy let go of Steve’s hand, moving around and wrapping her arms around Jemma. “Thank you.” She hugged the other woman tightly. “Thank you so very much.”
“Doctor Simmons,” JARVIS said, “Sir is waiting to return you to your home.”
“I guess this is good-bye then?” Jemma asked, looking around at the rest of the group.
“Just swoop in and save the day,” Darcy told her with a bright grin. “But.” She tilted her head up. “JARVIS? Don’t let her be a stranger, okay?”
“What’s with all the noise?” Steve asked sleepily from the bed. “And why is the room so bright?”
Darcy gave a happy cry, turning back to the bed as Jemma slipped from the room. Bucky leaned over her shoulder to grip Steve’s as he spoke to his friend. The Super Solider blinked against the bright light as he tried to answer both of them at the same time.
Characters: Darcy Lewis, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Pepper Potts, Jane Foster, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Maria Hill, various OCs
Fandom: Avengers 2012
Series: Sick in the Tower
Written For: maiel_alcinoe
Prompt: sick!Steve/Darcy
Summary: Steve is struck ill by something.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nothing major
Warnings: angst, upset!Darcy, Steve is sick by unknown means
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me, not making any money off this.
Author's Note: So my friend, maiel_alcinoe, was ill a few months ago and I was going to write her some fics to cheer her up… but I kinda failed at getting them done. She’s feeling much better now, but hopefully this will still cheer her up. :-)
“Is he injured? What happened?” Darcy followed along in Pepper and Jane’s wake as the three women hurried through the Tower. Normally she knew before anyone what happened with the Avengers, but she’d been spending the day in the lab with Jane when they returned. When Pepper had appeared suddenly in the doorway, Darcy had dropped the papers she’d been sorting and only the near-by table had prevented her collapse.
“He’s not injured. They aren’t sure what’s wrong,” Pepper answered over her shoulder. “They just said we needed to come.”
Jane gripped Darcy’s hand. “I’m sure he’s fine. I’m sure they’re all fine.”
“Why wouldn’t someone call me then?” Darcy asked. “I’m supposed to be notified when they return. It’s my job to go through medical with them and make sure there aren’t any incidents.”
“I’m sure it was just an oversight,” Pepper said. They’d reached the doorway by now and Pepper reached out, pressing her thumb against the scanner before leaning forward for the retinal scan. Although JARVIS had full control throughout the Tower, he wasn’t able to override the security to get into medical. Only authorized people would be admitted at this time.
Darcy ripped the door open as the light turned green and stormed into medical. “I want to know what’s going on. Right now,” she demanded.
The doctors scattered before her demands, revealing the Avengers grouped tightly around a hospital bed. Darcy’s eyes flittered from one to another, scanning each of them and seeing who was upright. She quickly registered Tony—his armor discarded and the man clad only in his unitard—as he moved towards Pepper. Thor was the next to move as he spied Jane, his cape billowing around him as he strode forward. Clint looked up from his perch atop a cabinet, his eyes zeroing in on Darcy as she came to a halt towards the end of the bed. Natasha stood below him, her hand resting on his calf.
“Where’s. Steve?” she asked.
The group moved farther back, revealing Bucky standing by the head of the bed and Steve laying prone on it. Darcy’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.
Instead of the flush of good health that Steve’s face normally wore, his face had the pink rosiness of illness under-laid by the paleness of sickness. His arms were drawn up tight to his body with Bucky’s natural hand resting on his shoulder. Every so often his body would tremble as if he was wracked with shivers.
Darcy pushed past the Avengers until she was close to Steve’s head, looking up at Bucky. “What happened? Where’s he injured?” she asked.
“He’s not injured, angel-face,” Bucky answered, ignoring the glare she shot him at the nickname. “We’re not quite sure what the problem is.”
Darcy spun around, looking towards the doctors. “You don’t know what the problem is? Isn’t that your job?”
One of the doctors stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. “We don’t know exactly what’s affecting Captain Rogers. What we do know is he appears to be suffering from the symptoms of pneumonia. Which doesn’t make sense…”
“Because he’s a super soldier and he doesn’t get sick,” Darcy finished. “Explain to me exactly what good you are?”
“Easy, angel… Darcy,” Bucky said. “It’s not his fault.”
“We’re treating the pneumonia. Because it’s not natural or we’re assuming it’s not, he’s not contagious. And there’s no reason for him to stay in medical,” the doctor explained. “Until we can figure out what’s causing it, we either have to let it run its course or solve the problem.”
“If you can’t figure out what’s causing it… how are you going to solve it?” she demanded.
“Lady Darcy,” Thor spoke up from where he was standing with his arm around Jane. “None of us will allow the Captain to lay ill for long; we are already planning to search for a cure.”
“So I can take him back to his quarters?” Darcy asked. “He’d be more comfortable there.”
The doctors exchanged glances. “I don’t see why not,” the spokesman said. “We can make arrangements to transport him there. But he needs to be watched.”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it,” she insisted. “I won’t leave him alone.”
The other Avengers quickly chimed in with offers to help her if she needed a break and Bucky offered to stay in the quarters with them so someone with a little more strength was near-by if she needed it. Darcy agreed, figuring she would find a way to get him to leave if it was too much.
As the doctors began the preparations to move Steve to his quarters with one of them giving directions to Darcy and two of them beginning to prep the Captain himself; Bruce wandered into medical. He looked at the group still gathered around the bed and asked, “What did I miss?”
By the time Steve was settled to both the doctors and Darcy’s satisfaction in his quarters, the super soldier was wheezing and Bucky looked tense from holding himself back. Darcy sent him to the kitchen to see about making something for them to eat as she tried to ease Steve’s breathing by making him more comfortable.
“I’m fine,” Steve rasped as Darcy fussed over his pillows. “You don’t need to fuss.”
“If it’s not me, it’s going to be James,” she told him. “Which would you rather have?”
“Well if you put it that way.” Steve coughed as he finished his sentence, gasping for breath.
Darcy turned to get a glass of water, letting out a squeak of surprise when she saw Bucky standing in the doorway. “He needs…” Bucky started.
“He’ll be okay, James,” Darcy assured him as she turned to offer the water to Steve. “I might not be if freaky ex-assassins keep sneaking up on me,” she muttered under her breath, “but Steve will be fine.”
“I made soup,” Bucky offered after a minute as Steve’s coughing was finally alleviated. “And I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
Darcy crossed the room and gently kissed him on the cheek. “I know, James. It’s not you. I’m worried about Steve so I wasn’t paying attention like Steve and you and everyone else always tell me to.”
“Hey,” Steve called from the bed. “I’m sick. I’m not dying. No trying to steal my girl.”
“I don’t have to steal your girl, you punk,” Bucky replied affectionately. “I could have her if I wanted.”
“She’s got better taste than that, jerk,” Steve responded.
Darcy rolled her eyes. “You know I have a mind of my own, right? Forties mentality.” She pushed Bucky gently out of her way. “I’m going to get some of the soup James made and you are going to eat it, Super Solider.”
Steve watched as she sashayed out of the room before turning his attention to Bucky. “I’m fine,” he tried.
“Sure you are.” It was Bucky’s turn to roll his eyes as he moved towards Steve’s bed. “Just like you were fine all those times when we were kids.”
“I was fine all those times,” Steve insisted.
“Stevie, you almost died like six times before you turned thirteen. You were not fine and clearly the doctors don’t think you’re fine this time either. So let the pretty dame fuss over you. Enjoy yourself being sick for once,” Bucky pointed out.
“Only you would think this was something to enjoy,” Steve complained.
“I don’t think being sick is something to enjoy,” Bucky corrected, “but having your pretty dame fuss over me? Yeah that would definitely be something…”
“You’d better not be calling me a dame again, James Barnes,” Darcy ordered as she carried a tray back into the room.
“Of course not, ma’am,” he immediately replied.
Darcy kicked out at him, Bucky grinning as he dodged the blow. “You’d better not be,” she told him.
Steve struggled, trying to sit up in bed, and Bucky hurried to his side to assist him. Between the two of them, they soon had Steve sitting up comfortably and Darcy settled the tray she was carrying in front of him. She handed one of the bowls off to Bucky before sitting at the foot of the bed, tucking one leg up under her. “Thanks,” Steve said once he’d caught his breath again.
Darcy pointed her spoon at the bowl Steve cradled in his hands. “Eat.”
Bucky looked up as Darcy came out of the bedroom where she had been planning to sleep with Steve. “Did you need something?”
“I just wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything,” she answered.
He grinned at her, patting the couch. “This is a whole lot more comfortable than some of the places I slept in the war. Worry about Stevie.”
She made a face. “He’s asleep. I was concerned I’d wake him if I lay down with him.”
“Why don’t you take the couch then? The floor will be fine for me,” Bucky told her. Darcy looked conflicted for a minute, but Bucky got to his feet. “Even if I don’t sleep on the floor, I can go without a lot longer than you can, angel-face.” When Darcy looked ready to argue with him, he continued, “I can have someone bring a cot in here if you’d rather?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want.” She sighed, tugging at her messy ponytail. “That might disturb Steve. I’ll just get you a sleeping bag.”
It didn’t take them long to get settled, but Bucky didn’t sleep well. He could hear Steve coughing, even with the door between them. A couple of times he got up to check on his friend, but found Darcy already bending over the other man, speaking softly to him and coaxing him to a more comfortable position or to take a drink.
The third time he moved to the doorway to check on Steve, he stood watching the two of them together. Steve had clearly stopped fighting against whatever Darcy wanted to do to help him because he was allowing her to wipe his sweaty forehead with a cloth as she murmured to him. Darcy turned to find Bucky leaning against the door jamb watching them. “How long have you been there?” she asked softly.
“Just a few minutes,” he answered. “How is he?”
“He’s not any better.” She shrugged. “But he’s also not any worse. So I suppose that’s something.”
“Can I do anything?” he asked. “Want me to roll him so you can change his shirt or whateva?”
“I think I’ll wait until morning to change his clothes,” she replied. “He’ll just sweat through them again otherwise.”
Bucky frowned. “I’m not sure that’s pneumonia.”
Darcy looked back at him. “What do you mean?”
“It just. It doesn’t look right,” he said, still frowning.
“We can ask the doctor to examine him again,” Darcy said. “But they already said they only think it’s pneumonia. And it’s Steve… It’s not going to be normal.”
“I’m calling medical,” Bucky decided as Steve started to seize.
“JARVIS,” Darcy called, trying to keep her voice even. “We need Medical here now.”
“We need Medical here ten minutes ago,” Bucky corrected as he grabbed at Steve’s shoulders, clearly intending to hold him down.
“Bucky, don’t,” Darcy protested. “It’s…” She batted his hands away. “Don’t. You’ll hurt him.”
Bucky frowned at her words, but pulled his hands away, clenching his fists as he watched Steve continue to seize. Both of them turned as a group thumped through the suite’s doorway. Bucky immediately fell into a crouch, clearly in a position to protect both Steve and Darcy.
Darcy smacked his shoulder. “Ease up, soldier, they’re on our side.”
It only took a second for Bucky to realize that the group who’d burst in was the medical team they’d called. He backed away to allow them close to Steve, but hovered, watching closely as they worked.
Darcy also peered over their shoulders, watching as the medical team moved quickly, taking vitals and questioning both Darcy and Bucky about what had happened. Within minutes, they had lines and an IV attached to him and one member was calling for transport. "What are you doing?" Darcy demanded as the other two team members began to prepare Steve.
"We need to get Captain Rogers to medical now," the one who'd called for transport answered.
“You’re not takin’ him anywhere until you tell us what the hell is going on,” Bucky growled. “And exactly who you are.”
Darcy laid a hand on Bucky’s metal arm, just the mere motion holding him back. “We understand that you’re trying to help Steve,” she said, clearly attempting to be the more rational voice, even though she was demanding just a moment before. “But we’re…”
Bucky stepped in front of the team as they attempted to move Steve, glaring them down. “You aren’t takin’ him anywhere. Where’s Banner?” He stared at the man who’d been giving the orders. “I don’t know you and I ain’t lettin’ you take him until someone I know is here.”
“You don’t have any authority,” the man started.
“No. But I do,” Darcy replied. “I’ve got medical proxy for all of the Avengers, including Captain Rogers. So call Doctor Banner. I’m positive he won’t have an issue with being disturbed.”
“You realize you’re jeopardizing the Captain’s health,” the man tried.
“You realize you’re about to be out of a fucking job if you don’t do what we want,” Darcy cut him off. “If you don’t call Bruce now, I will.”
“Not necessary, Miss Lewis,” JARVIS broke in. “I have taken the liberty of notifying Doctor Banner of the issue and he should be knocking on your door momentarily.”
“JARVIS for the win!” Darcy crowed. “Let Bruce in as soon as he gets here.”
Before there could be anymore protests from the medical team, there was a perfunctory knock on the door followed by Bruce entering. “What’s going on?” he asked, taking in the tableau before him.
“They won’t let us take Captain Rogers to medical,” the team leader immediately said.
Bruce raised an eyebrow, but turned to Darcy, asking, “Is everything okay?”
“We called medical because something wasn’t right. Steve… had a seizure. I…” she glanced at Bucky. “We. Just wanted them to look at him. But they immediately tried to take him away.”
“Why are you trying to remove Captain Rogers?” Bruce asked calmly.
The medic looked a bit disgruntled, but answered readily enough, “We are better able to treat Captain Rogers in medical. Since clearly the diagnosis of pneumonia was incorrect, we’d like to run some more tests.”
“No,” Darcy said immediately. “No more tests. Steve wouldn’t appreciate them. Isn’t there another way?”
“Not if you want to find out what’s wrong with him,” the medic tried to argue.
“Non-invasive, no cutting, no bleeding. You can observe or scan him without probing, but that’s it,” Darcy ordered.
When the medic turned and looked at Bruce for more orders, he shrugged. “She’s the boss.”
“You will not harm him,” Darcy added.
“Or you’ll have me to deal with,” Bucky growled.
The medic took a step back at the Winter Soldier’s tone, until he realized neither of the other medics had moved. He straightened his shoulders, stepping forward again. “If we abide by those rules, can we take him to Medical?”
Darcy and Bucky exchanged glances before Darcy nodded. “But we’re both going with you,” Bucky said, resting his flesh hand on Darcy’s shoulder.
“Just stay out of the way,” the medic ordered.
Darcy opened her mouth to protest, but subsided at looks from both Bruce and Bucky. “We’ll be right there with him, angel-face,” Bucky assured her.
The medic looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, but simply asked, “Are we able to transport Captain Rogers now?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Move him,” Darcy commanded. When the group moved out, Steve being wheeled along on the gurney, Darcy wiped at her eyes. “I’m fine,” she insisted when Bruce reached out towards her.
“Steve’ll be just fine,” Bucky told her. “If everything back then and Nazis and Hydra couldn’t kill him, a magical flu isn’t going to do him in.”
She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
By the time Darcy, Bruce, and Bucky arrived at Medical, they’d moved Steve into a bed. One of the doctors was monitoring his vitals while one of the technicians was beginning to run the scan. Bruce moved over to see the scan as Darcy took a seat next to the bed. She linked her fingers through Steve’s, her eyes flicking between Steve and Bruce. Bucky took up position behind her, able to reach both her and Steve as needed.
“Wait. Stop,” Bruce said. He pointed to a spot on the scan. “What’s that?”
The doctor came around, peering at the scan. “Huh. Well I don’t think that’s supposed to be there.”
“What? Is there something…? Did you figure out what’s wrong with Steve?” Darcy demanded.
“It appears…” Bruce turned the hologram so Darcy and Bucky could see it too. “That there is something embedded in the Captain. I’d wager that’s what’s causing his issues.”
“Can you get it out?” Darcy demanded.
“I can’t… no.” Bruce shook his head. “I’m not that kind of doctor. And…”
“Yeah, I don’t trust any of these quacks to do that type of surgery on Steve,” Bucky interrupted him. “No offence, angel.”
“That’s fine, James,” she said. “Bruce, do you have a recommendation or an opinion?”
Bruce looked up from where he had still been examining the scan. “We can talk to Maria. She might know who to contact. There has to be someone within the new SHIELD or the scattered agents who can help.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Bucky volunteered. “I need to do something.” He looked down at Darcy. “You gonna be okay, angel?”
“Yeah.” Darcy squeezed Steve’s hand. “I’ll just stay here with Steve. Try not to be too long?”
Bucky nodded. He moved to leave before turning back to the doctor and medics. “It might be the whatever inside Steve that’s causing his issues, but his symptoms are an awful lot like what he had when we were kids. Can you treat those symptoms? Maybe help him that way until we get more help?”
The doctor nodded. “If Miss Lewis can give us some direction, I don’t see that being a problem, Sargent Barnes.”
Darcy nodded. “I can handle it. Go talk to Maria. Please, James.”
With a last look at Steve, Bucky left Medical, calling to JARVIS to ask where Maria was at that moment. The doctor immediately moved around, reaching for the near-by tray. “Let’s see if we can get Captain Rogers a bit more comfortable.”
Bucky stalked back into Medical with Maria Hill on his heels. “How is he?” he demanded as he reached the bedside.
“Captain Rogers appears to be resting comfortably,” the doctor answered.
“Darc?” Bucky questioned.
“He’s doing all right at the moment, James,” Darcy assured him. She turned her attention to Maria who was conferring quietly with Bruce. “Do you know someone who can help him?”
Maria turned her attention from the conversation she was having with Bruce to face Darcy more fully. “I do and I’ve already called her. Stark left to get her as soon as we got off Skype.”
“And she can do this?” Darcy questioned. “She can get this whatever it is out of Steve?”
“She can and she will, provided we let her go back to England as soon as she’s done,” Maria answered.
“I’ll take her back myself,” Bucky growled. “As soon as Steve’s out of danger.”
“There’s no need to promise that, Barnes,” Maria assured him. “We aren’t looking to hold her here.”
“How much longer?” Darcy asked, her eyes darting to Steve’s still form before looking up at Maria.
“She should be here any minute,” Maria assured her.
Darcy was almost asleep with her head on the pillow next to Steve’s when there was a clatter and a banging followed swiftly by a British voice swearing politely. When she lifted her head, a brunette was carefully picking up the tray on the floor. “Can I help you?” the former intern asked.
“I actually think I’m here to help you,” the brunette answered, setting the tray down.
“You’re not doing anything until James gets back. And…” Darcy frowned. “Who are you?”
“Oh.” The woman tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and held out her hand. “Jemma Simmons. So… James?”
Darcy tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling. “JAVIS? Where is Sargent Barnes?”
“Sargent Barnes is in the gym with Agent Romanov,” JARVIS answered promptly, causing Jemma to jump and look around for the voice.
“Well at least that’s more productive than the pacing he was doing,” Darcy pointed out. “Could you ask him and Natasha to come up here when it’s safe to interrupt them?”
“Of course, Miss Lewis,” the AI responded promptly.
“Was that… were you talking to…?” Jemma flailed a hand at the surrounding area.
“JARVIS? Stark’s AI? Yes, it was,” Darcy answered, a smile slipping across her features. “Should I get Bruce also?”
“He’s already been alerted, Miss Lewis,” JARVIS broke in.
Darcy nodded jerkily. “What do you need?”
“I’d like to see the scans. And then we’ll see…” Jemma pointed to where Steve lay unconscious on the bed. “We’ll see if we can help the Captain.”
“Isn’t that what you’re here for, Doctor?” a voice drawled behind them.
“James, be kind,” Natasha chided.
Both Darcy and Bucky favored her with a look. “The sad part is that was him being nice,” Darcy told her.
“Well, that really wasn’t that rude. I mean I am here to help. I just. If I can’t I wouldn’t want to hurt the Captain and…” Jemma babbled.
“Relax, Doctor Simmons,” Bruce said as he joined the group by the bed. “We’re not expecting you to do anything you aren’t able. Come with me and I’ll show you the scans.”
Bucky rested his hand on Darcy’s shoulder after the two doctors had stepped away. “Not much longer, angel. Bruce’ll make sure the new doctor lady can help Steve.”
In just a few minutes Jemma was back with a group of medics trailing behind her. Gone was the stammering woman they’d met a few minutes ago and in her place was a confident doctor, who issued orders and directed the medics. Within minutes they had moved Steve to another bed and were wheeling him away.
Much sooner than Darcy expected they were wheeling Steve back into the room. She popped to her feet as they locked the bed in place, having removed the original one. “Is he okay?”
“Got it all,” Jemma announced proudly. “Good thing in a way that this thing was beating the serum back. It was the only reason we were able to cut into the Captain.” She pointed to the bandages around Steve’s middle. “He’s already showing signs of his accelerated healing.”
“How long until he wakes up?” Darcy asked, taking her position next to Steve again and linking her fingers in his again.
“It’ll depend on how fast his system recovers from the invasion,” Jemma answered, “but it shouldn’t be long.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Bucky said gruffly. “We appreciate you coming all this way to help Steve.”
Jemma blushed, ducking her head at his praise. “I’m just glad I could help.”
Darcy let go of Steve’s hand, moving around and wrapping her arms around Jemma. “Thank you.” She hugged the other woman tightly. “Thank you so very much.”
“Doctor Simmons,” JARVIS said, “Sir is waiting to return you to your home.”
“I guess this is good-bye then?” Jemma asked, looking around at the rest of the group.
“Just swoop in and save the day,” Darcy told her with a bright grin. “But.” She tilted her head up. “JARVIS? Don’t let her be a stranger, okay?”
“What’s with all the noise?” Steve asked sleepily from the bed. “And why is the room so bright?”
Darcy gave a happy cry, turning back to the bed as Jemma slipped from the room. Bucky leaned over her shoulder to grip Steve’s as he spoke to his friend. The Super Solider blinked against the bright light as he tried to answer both of them at the same time.
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