Previous part of Finding Heart.

***

Barton threw himself against the door of the TARDIS and started pounding on it. "Jack! Tony! No, don't do it! It's not worth it. Stop, someone listen to me. This isn't what you guys have to do," he yelled, trying to fight back tears. "Tony, you can't die. You can't do this to yourself." He slid down the door and rested his head against it, tears winning out. "You can't."

The noise alerted the others there was something going on and they dashed in, obviously expecting some sort of fight. "What's going on?" Natasha demanded. "Clint?"

"I don't know," Steve replied, obviously shocked and trying to process through everything he'd heard. "JARVIS said that Tony's going through some sort of an operation and is about to die and then Barton went crazy."

"Where's Jack?" Bruce asked, looking around.

"In there," Steve said, pointing at the TARDIS. "He slammed in there just before JARVIS told us about Tony."

"Tony," Barton whispered looking up at the door, "Tony."

"Okay, what is going on with you, Barton?" Steve asked. "I've seen you kill people without any emotion. You don't even laugh at movie night."

Natasha looked over. "He's in love with Tony," she said. "And hasn't had a chance to tell him that yet. Clint, come on, let's sit on the sofa and wait. You know Tony will be fine. He's too stubborn to just roll over and die. Come on, you can't do him any good here like this."

"I need to get in there," Barton whispered. "Please, let me in. I need to see Tony, please. Don't leave me out here like this."

The door cracked open. "Come on, Clint," Jack said. "Just you, come on."

"Harkness," Natasha said.

"I'll take care of him," Jack said. "I promise."

She nodded and stepped back, blocking the others. Barton crawled into the TARDIS, not seeming to care about his team watching him. "Natasha?" Steve said.

"That's where he needs to be," Natasha said. "Now I want someone to tell me what's been going on here."

"Captain Rogers seems to believe that the good Captain is trying to con Mr. Stark in some way and has objected to his presence here," JARVIS said. "Captain Harkness took understandable offense at such a comment, but held his temper until Captain Rogers suggested tampering with time."

"Steve, I can understand why you might have issues with Jack, his past and everything," Bruce said. "But Tony obviously trusts him and I thought you'd come around to the point where you were trusting Tony a little more. What happened?"

"You can never trust a conman," Steve insisted. "No matter what they say or what they do, they're lying."

Bruce looked over at Natasha as Steve stormed out of the room. "I think that maybe we need to talk to someone about looking into Steve's past."

"Yeah, the way he's talking, he's had problems with a con and no one ever helped him deal with it," Natasha said. "I'll talk to a couple of contacts as SHIELD and see if they know anything."

"I'll keep an eye on Steve," Bruce said. "JARVIS, is there anything you could do to help?"

"I fear not, Sir, not without something more specific to search for," JARVIS said. "However, I can search into Captain Roger's past if you think it would be help?"

"Anything can help at this point," Bruce said. "Thanks, JARVIS. Will you let me know when Tony's able to talk?"

"Certainly, Sir," JARVIS said.

"Natasha?"

"Yeah, I guess all we can do is research until Clint or Jack comes out to talk to us," Natasha sighed.

"Clint is really in love with Tony?" Bruce asked.

"That's what he says," Natasha replied. "I've never seen Clint cry, not once. Not even when he found out about Coulson. That display in there actually scared me."

"I didn't think anything scared you," Bruce said.

"Don't tell anyone," Natasha said with a small smile.
**
As mad as Jack was at Steve Rogers and his attitude, his heart about broke when the TARDIS showed him Barton against the door crying. There was no way that he'd be able to leave the other man outside, alone, when he was so scared and obviously hurting. Jack sighed and opened the door. "Come on, Clint. Just you, come on."

"Harkness," Natasha said.

"I'll take care of him," Jack said. "I promise." He stepped to the side to let Barton join him in the TARDIS and about cried when the other man crawled in. "Hey, come on, let's get you to a chair."

"Tony," Barton said.

"Clint, listen to me," Jack said. "Tony isn't doing this because of you. He's wanted the shrapnel and arc reactor out since he was kidnapped. We've been searching for ways to do it, and the Doctor is able to do it. I think if he didn't have the TARDIS, we'd be out of options."

"He's going to die," Barton said looking up at Jack. "He can't die."

"Hey beautiful," Jack said, looking at the main console, "can you show us Tony?"

The monitor by the main console turned on. The Doctor was carefully removing the canister that had housed the arc reactor in Tony's chest. Tony was breathing and the monitors all read normal vital signs. Barton stared at the image in front of him. "He's still alive."

"Clint, you don't want to watch him die," Jack said softly. "Trust me that he'll wake up and we'll be next to him when he does, but this isn't something you need to be watching."

"I love him," Barton whispered. "I never told him, Jack. I just watched him, too scared to make a move, thinking that he was still with Pepper." He almost whimpered when the monitor went dark. "How can you be so sure he'll come back to life?"

"Because he will. He's died a couple of times since the transfusion and he's come back each time," Jack said. He put an arm around Clint's shoulder and pulled him in. "I mentioned that you were interested in him, but that's not the reason he's in there. He's scared, Clint. He's been hurt so badly that he doesn't want anyone to touch him, but I think he's thinking about trying with you."

"Really?"

"I don't want to get your hopes up, but one of his reasons for the surgery is so he can try to have normal relationships," Jack said. "Talk with him, Clint, really talk with him and be willing to put up with a few bad habits and I think you can help him finally heal from his kidnapping."

"He's always touching people. How can he always be touching people and also have issues about being touched?"

"Control. It's about control and power. When he touches someone, he's in control. If someone touches him, then he has to worry that they might hurt him. They could do whatever they wanted and, if he's not alert, they might be able to," Jack said. "Come on, let's see if we can find the kitchen and get some coffee or something."

Barton looked around and finally seemed to take in the room around him. "How the hell?"

"Just take her as she is," Jack grinned. "You'd make the Doctor really happy if you commented on how it's bigger on the inside. He really likes that. Come on, the kitchen used to be sort of in this direction."

"Jack, you do realize you make very little sense," Barton said, following the other man out of the control room and down a hallway. "How big is the TARDIS?"

"I don't know, I've never been everywhere in here," Jack said. "If she likes you and wants you to get somewhere then the halls are short and easy. It's a pretty good clue that you're not supposed to be somewhere when the hall goes on forever. And I'll have you know I make perfect sense, you just haven't had the experience to understand what I'm saying."

"Jack." The Doctor's voice broke in. "It's done and I'm going to help with regeneration. Is Agent Barton with you?"

"Yeah," Jack said. "Where do you want us, Doctor? I was thinking kitchen, but we can come join you."

"Give me a few minutes to clean up in here and get things taken care of," the Doctor said. "I don't want to traumatize Agent Barton."

"We'll come on over and wait out in the hall until you say it's okay for us to come in and wait."

Barton looked up at him. "Jack?"

"Tony's dead," Jack said softly. "The reactor is out and the Doctor is going to start the regeneration of tissue and bone, but Tony's body will do most of that on its own. When he wakes up, it'll be like he was never hurt."

"I don't know if I can stand to see him all bloody."

"That's what's being cleaned up," Jack said. He turned down the lit hall and patted the wall in thanks. "Tony will be covered when we're sitting with him, and you won't be able to see anything."

"I don't know...."

"Clint, he asked for you to be there when he woke up," Jack said. "You don't have to, you can wait out in the hall. Tony will understand, I promise. As long as you're close and can get to him quickly then it's fine."

Barton nodded. "I'll have to see. I have so many emotions running through me right now that I don't know what's even going on with me."

"Is this the first time you've been in love?"

"I think so, yeah."

Jack slid down the wall and settled on the floor with the ease of a man who could be comfortable anywhere. "The first time I saw Ianto I felt like I'd been punched. Granted we'd been in a fight with an alien and I almost died in front of him so I was healing, which hurt, but everything about him just screamed ‘take me' and I wanted it. Then I found out that was what he wanted. He had a secret he wanted to hide and used my attraction to him to do it," Jack said softly. "I thought, after that, there was no way I would ever be able to trust him again. He called me a monster and told me that he hated me. I wanted to hate him, but I couldn't. He still pulled me in and I slowly started to open up to him again. I never told him everything, he found out that I come back after I was shot in the head by a team member, but he knew more about me than anyone else ever has. The worst part of it all is that I never got to tell him that I love him, not when he was alive. I don't know if he died thinking that I didn't love him and was just using him. I hope not, I hope something got through to him, but I still don't know for sure. I don't know how I could have been so stupid to not tell him, but I didn't. Maybe it was fear. I always knew I was going to outlive him, that he would die some day, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I won't say that I would do anything to get him back, because I can't, but there are nights when I wake up and I just cry because I'll never wake up with him next to me again."

"So you're saying that love is supposed to be a mess of confusing emotions making you feel like you've been punched in the guts?" Barton asked, sitting down next to Jack.

"Pretty much, at least that's how I feel," Jack said with a small smile. "With Tony, I love him and he knows it, but it's not wanting to sleep with him. It's like he's my kid, but I sleep with him."

Barton sighed. "You're probably the most confusing man I've ever met. You mean you sleep in the same bed as him, but don't have sex with him," he said.

"How can I be confusing when you understood what I meant?" Jack asked. "The only other person I've ever felt this confused tumble of emotions for is the Doctor. He's really different than when I met him, and I don't know how to read him now."

"Yes, well, let's just say that the feelings are the same, Jack, and leave it at that," the Doctor said, looking out at them. "Agent Barton, Tony is, well, he is dead at the moment, but you can't tell what's happened to him if you want to come in and sit with him."

"I don't know," Barton said.

"Want me to go in and start talking to him and you can join us when you're feeling more comfortable?" Jack asked.

"Maybe just give me a minute. I'll be there," Barton said.

***

Jack followed the Doctor into the med bay and sat down next to the table Tony was lying on. "What'd you find?"

"I've never seen technology like this before, Jack. They broke open his rib cage to put this in place and the bone healed around it, holding the metal in place," the Doctor said. "Tony's lucky he didn't have infections from the canister, there was rust on it and it's very obviously not surgical grade material. I manage to get everything out, including the shrapnel and the TARDIS ran a double-check for me. It's all out. I stitched up veins and arteries, made repairs so he won't have as much to heal when he's waking up."

"I really have no clue what all they did to him while he was held captive, Doctor," Jack said. He ran his hand through Tony's hair. "He was dying when they took him, he remembers pain from the surgery, but not much else until he woke up and was connected to this old car battery. I wish I'd known he was missing, I'd have gone in and rescued him."

"He's a remarkably strong man, he held on far longer than I expected him to," the Doctor said. "I'd appreciate you looking at the wound and seeing if you can estimate how long it'll take before he wakes up."

"Sure," Jack said with a sigh. He stood and leaned over so he would be able to get a close look at the large hole in Tony's chest. "How much damage was there to the heart?" he asked.

"Three pieces," the Doctor said. "The heart will have to repair itself."
"Five hours is how it would take me," Jack said. "Tony's got this second hand, so it could easily be tomorrow before he wakes up. I've never been able to tell if he has the ability in equal amounts to me, or if it's weaker with him."

"Based on how brightly you both shine, Jack, I would say its equal amounts," the Doctor said. "I need to go clean up, are you going to stay here?"

"Yeah, I want to be with him," Jack said. "I think Barton will join us before too long, but if he's more comfortable out in the hall, then I think we should just leave him be. It's a lot to take in and he didn't react well when he found out what's going on in here."

The Doctor nodded. "All right, I'll be back soon. Make yourself at home, Jack."
**
"Dr. Banner, I believe I may have found something of relevance to the current situation," JARVIS said a few hours after Bruce had settled down at the computer. He'd left Steve in the gym and had the camera feed up on a monitor in his lab.

"What is it, JARVIS?"

"A newspaper article from the time when Captain Rogers was a child," JARIVS said. He pulled the document up on the monitor Bruce was using. "A man down the street from his childhood apartment building was known as a conman in their neighborhood, but nothing could ever be proved. The man, however, was eventually arrested for immoral acts with minors."

"He was gay or a pedophile?" Bruce asked.

"I do not know, I am attempting to locate record of a trial or some form of discipline, however, it is possible that this is why Captain Rogers is reacting so strongly to Captain Harkness and his long friendship with Tony."

"JARVIS, how long have you been online?" Bruce asked. "I mean, you commented earlier that some stories weren't okay for five-year-olds, but Tony couldn't have built you that long ago."
"No, he did not. Mr. Stark completed my initial install and upload when he was appointed head of Stark industries and no longer had to hide his personal projects from those around him, unless he wanted to," JARVIS said. "I have known Captain Harkness for over twenty years, however, and have always found him to be an outstanding man, and a gentleman, if something of a flirt. Mr. Stark has provided me with a great many files and stories over the years in an attempt to help me understand the human mind."

"I'll say this much, Tony's showing no sign that Jack ever did anything unwanted to him," Bruce said. "In fact, he's more relaxed around Jack than I've seen him with anyone else, and that includes Pepper."

"The good Captain has always been there for Mr. Stark," JARVIS said. "Sir, if you wish to speak with Captain Rogers, he is leaving the gym and heading back for the main floor, where the TARDIS is."

"Crap. Thanks, JARVIS. Keep at the searches for me, would you?"

"Of course, Sir."

Bruce left his lab and hurried towards the common area. He didn't know what was going on with Steve, but the man had been different since Captain Harkness arrived. There was something going on that they were all missing, and Bruce was starting to think that there was a fight brewing between Steve and, at the very least, Captain Harkness. "Hey Steve."

"Bruce, hey, I thought you were in your lab working on something," Steve said. "Have you seen Barton since he went into that box?"

"Nope, he's still in there, I think. JARVIS?"

"Agent Barton is indeed still inside the TARDIS," JARVIS replied. "She says that Mr. Stark is currently dead, however, everything looks promising and he should be back on his feet tomorrow morning at the latest. Did you need me to relay a message, Captain Rogers?"

"Yeah, could you tell Barton that I need to talk to him?" Steve asked.

"Of course, Sir."

"Steve, what's going on?" Bruce asked, sitting down in one of the chairs. "You've been off ever since Jack got here. Are you upset with yourself that you didn't see how badly Tony's been hurting?"

"No, but I should have noticed something," Steve said. "He's just too good at hiding things from people." He looked over when the TARDIS door cracked open and the Doctor looked out. "Where's Barton?"

"Ah yes, sorry, he's on his way," the Doctor said. "I was just wondering if any of you had heard from Director Fury on when he was planning to arrive. Jack told me he never received a reply."

"He was unsure when he would be able to come, Sir," JARVIS said. "Director Fury does enjoy making an entrance so I believe it is unlikely that we shall hear from him before he arrives, especially with Captain Harkness in residence."

The Doctor grinned. "Jack does have that effect on people, doesn't he? Ah, here we are. Agent Barton, safe and sound. Are you sure you want to do this? Tony did ask for you to be with him when he woke up."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Barton replied. "Tony'll understand that the team needed me for something and I'll be back as soon as I can."

"All right, if you're sure," the Doctor said.

Barton nodded and stepped out into the living room. "What's up, Cap? You got something you need me to shoot?"

"We need to go up to the helicarrier," Steve said.

"For what?" Bruce asked, sitting forward. "None of us have gotten a call, there's no attack that we need to go fight. What's going on with you, Steve?"
Rather than answering, Steve reached over and took Barton's arm. "Come on, we need to go see Director Fury," he said.

Barton looked down at the large hand on his arm, up at Steve's face, and back down at the hand. "I will give you one chance to let me go, Rogers," he said softly. "Then you're going down."

"You can't take me," Steve said. He took a step forward and pulled.

"Yeah, you think?" Barton twisted and ducked at the same time, breaking the hold on his arm and getting back quickly to avoid any strike that might be coming towards him. "I'm not telling you again, no one touches me. Not unless they have my permission and hey, guess what, you don't. Now do you want to tell me what the hell is going on here?"

"I think I know," Bruce said. "This has to do with that guy down the street from you when you were a kid, doesn't it, Steve?"

"What guy?" Barton asked. He flipped up on top of the TARDIS and patted her roof softly. "Sorry, but I need somewhere safe. Is this okay?"

The light on top of the box flashed at him. "She says she's not a gym to be climbed on, Sir," JARVIS repeated. "However, if you need to be safe, she will allow you to be there for a time. Captain Rogers, Sir, I would suggest you not try anything until Director Fury arrives. He is currently in the lift."

"There was a man who lived down the road from Steve back when he was a kid who was arrested for immoral acts with kids. It's possible he was a pedophile, but he might also have been gay. Or both, really," Bruce said, answering Barton's question. "I'm willing to bet that this has something to do with that, combined with a few beliefs from the time period."

"Okay, someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here?" Fury demanded as he strode out of the elevator. "Why is there a police call box in Stark's living room? Hell, who even has a police call box these days? Barton, get down from there now."

"No, Sir," Barton said. "Captain Rogers is acting weird and tried to drag me back to the helicarrier. I believe I'll just stay right here until I'm sure he hasn't been compromised in some way."

Fury took a deep breath and looked around. "One of these days I swear I will find some way to make everything make sense," he said to the room in general. "However, today is not that day, so someone had better tell me what the hell is going on before I get really mad and start shooting."

Natasha turned around and walked back out of the room without a word. Bruce watched her go, wishing that he could follow, but he also didn't want to leave Barton alone.

"I believe that Agent Barton needs to undergo a full psychological evaluation," Steve said.

"You get points for saying that and still being alive there, Capsicle," Barton growled from on top of the TARDIS. "I don't suppose Dummy could bring me my bow, could he, JARVIS?"

"We are not currently allowing Dummy out of the lab, Sir," JARVIS replied. "He has found where Mr. Stark hid the fire extinguisher and we have been unable to take it away from him."

"Captain Rogers, there is no way that Agent Barton needs to undergo any sort of evaluation at this time," Fury said. "He was checked over thoroughly after the events with Loki and cleared for duty with no problems noted down in his file. The three member team who evaluated him is on holiday at the moment, but we've learned to deal with that."

"So I make ‘em cry when they see me coming," Barton shrugged. "It's hardly my fault that they can't take it when a man jumps off a seventy floor building with nothing but a bow and arrow to break his fall. I practice and know what I'm doing. They don't."

"Which is why you're banned from psych level unless you absolutely have to be there," Fury pointed out. "Captain, you want to tell me why you think he needs to have an evaluation?"

"Agent Barton has stated that he's in love with Tony Stark, Sir," Steve said.

"Okay, I can see a few issues there, mainly that SHIELD will never be the same again, but if they love each other, why the hell not?" Fury asked. He paused for a minute. "Oh, shit."

"Director?" Bruce asked.

"When we did all the classes trying to bring Captain Rogers up to speed, there were a couple we skipped because we didn't think he'd be living off-base so soon," Fury said.

"You skipped the sexual awareness and harassment classes?" Barton demanded. "You made me sit through those three times."

"You kept traumatizing the instructors with questions they couldn't answer," Fury said. "There are days when I wonder how hard you try to make trouble, Barton."

Barton grinned. "I don't try to make trouble, Sir. Trouble follows me around. It's hardly my fault if the instructors are all repressed losers who haven't had the experience I have."

"Maybe you'd like to teach the class next time."

"Sure," Barton grinned. "How do you feel about practical demonstrations?"

Fury took a step back when the door to the blue box opened and a stranger poked his head out. "Agent Barton, what are you doing up there?" the young man demanded. "That is not a perch for you to sit on while you're watching telly." He looked around, seeming to notice the others in the room for the first time. "Oh, hello. I'm the Doctor. Would you be Director Fury?"

"I am."

"Good, good. One moment, please." The Doctor ducked back into the TARDIS and came back out carrying a box. "As long as you're up there, make yourself useful and change the bulb for me. It's past due." He tossed the box up to Barton and then clapped his hands together. "Director Fury, it's come to my attention that you are using alien tech to create weapons. Have you any idea how dangerous this is?"

"And why should you care?" Fury asked.

"I'm the Doctor."

"So you said. I'm still wondering who you are."

The Doctor sighed. "Do you have access to Torchwood's files?" he asked. "Or do I need to get Jack up here to grant you access?"

"We've never been able to get into Torchwood's files," Fury replied.

"I see. Old girl, would you ask Jack to come out for a moment, please?" the Doctor asked. "I need his help. Yes, yes, I know he doesn't want to leave Tony alone in there, but it will just be a brief moment. Thank you."

"Who are you talking to?" Fury asked.

"My ship." The Doctor patted the side of the box. "Last of her kind, a Type 40 TARDIS. Best ship in the universe. Ah, Jack, thank you. Director Fury doesn't seem to know who I am and I was wondering if you might be able to give him access to Torchwood's extensive file on me?"

"I don't know if our severs are still running, Doc," Jack said. "The 456 did a number on everything the government didn't. Fury, I'll tell you who this is. The Doctor is one of the oldest, wisest aliens in the universe. He is a Time Lord, the last of his kind, and he is the final word on matters alien here on Earth. Call UNIT if you don't believe me. The Doctor has banned Torchwood and UNIT from creating weapons with alien technology because the Earth isn't ready for that level of tech. I have a feeling that SHIELD is about to get added into the ban, but I don't know if you're the type to follow that lead, so let me tell you about this story. Remember Harriet Jones, the Prime Minister?"

"Yes," Fury said.

"She ordered Torchwood to use a weapon built of alien tech," Jack said. He put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "The Doctor then destroyed her career with six words. He's also the only reason that the invasion at Canary Wharf didn't happen."

The Doctor sighed. "Thank you, Jack," he said softly. "How's Tony?"

"About as good as we'd expected at this point," Jack replied. "I need to get back. Anything else?"

"Yeah, I'm coming with you." Barton jumped down and landed next to Jack. "Seems some of my team thinks I'm sick for liking men rather than women and I don't want to listen to the crap they're saying."

Jack shook his head. "Quaint boxes," he said. "Come on, you're more than welcome to come with me." He stepped to the side and let Barton into the TARDIS. "Captain Rogers, you need to realize that the ideas you grew up with have been altered and proven wrong. There is nothing wrong with same sex relationships. They are not sick and they are not deranged. If you need it put another way, I'll talk with you once Tony's back on his feet."

"What's wrong with Stark?" Fury demanded.

"Go ahead," Jack said. He shut the door behind him.

The Doctor smiled. "Tony's dead, but don't worry, he'll be up and around again in no time."

***

"You want to run that by me again?" Fury asked.

"Tony's immortal, Director, just like Jack," Bruce replied. "He's having some kind of operation done in the TARDIS, but we don't know what it is, other than it killed him. Doctor?"

"I'm sorry, but that's for Tony to reveal as he feels comfortable with," the Doctor said. "Now then, Director Fury. Now that you know who I am, you need to stop using alien tech to build weapons. As Jack said, the Earth is not ready for such a high level of tech, and you risk far more than you shall gain from such a process."

"He's right, Director," Natasha commented from the doorway. "Look how much we lost just in the battle here in New York. Those people didn't need to die."

Fury sighed. "We can talk about this, Doctor," he said. "What's your last name, anyway?"

"Just Doctor will do," the Doctor said with a small smile. "Now then, Captain Rogers. What should we do to help you?"

"Help me? It's not me who needs help, it's Barton."

"Agent Barton can love whoever he wants to," the Doctor said.

"Doctor, with all due respect, let me handle this," Fury said. "Captain Rogers is one of my people and I let a few things drop through the cracks when we were bringing him up to speed on the current era."

"As long as he doesn't hurt anyone," the Doctor said. He turned and went back into the TARDIS, shutting the door firmly behind him.

"That has to be one of the oddest discussions I've ever had," Fury muttered, staring at the TARDIS. "He's really an alien?"

"That's what they tell us," Bruce said. "Sir, rather than putting Steve through the strain of classes, would you let me talk with him for a bit? I think I can bring him up to speed as well as SHIELD's classes could, without the possible problems that having Captain America in those classes would cause."

"Thank you, Dr. Banner, that would be helpful," Fury said. "Now then, I either want some answers or I want dinner, and I really don't care which one I get at this point."

"JARVIS, will you order takeout from the pizza place?" Bruce asked. "Get the usual for when Thor isn't here."

"Yes, Sir. Anything special you would like to add to the order, Director Fury?" JARVIS asked.

"No, that's fine. Pizza sounds great." He flopped down in one of the chairs. "Sit, Captain Rogers. It's time to bring you up to speed on the current age."
**
"What did you mean by ‘quaint boxes'?" Barton asked as he walked next to Jack.

"Humans and their little boxes to put people in," Jack replied. "This one is heterosexual so he goes in this box." He mimed picking something up and tucking it away. "This one is homosexual so he goes over here where no one will want to play with him and he can't contaminate any of us. This one is, wait, this one likes both men and women? We don't have a box for that, he'll have to choose."

Barton started laughing. "I never really thought about that," he said. "I guess, being from the future, things are really different for you here on Earth. Why'd you stay?"

"It's a long story. I came here to wait for the Doctor because I knew he'd have to show eventually and in a timeline I could enter without messing things up, but I overshot and ended up back in the 1800s," Jack sighed. "I had to live on the slow path, one day at a time, until he showed up a few years ago and I was finally able to talk with him and get some answers. By then, I'd kinda fallen in love with the planet, and Ianto, and wanted to stay. I had Tony too, and he's the reason I haven't taken off again. I'll stay with him as long as he needs me to."
"So, that does raise a question," Barton said. He took a deep breath and walked into the medical bay. "Do you always sleep with him or do you have your own room?"

"It depends on how badly he needs me," Jack said seriously. "If he had a partner though, I wouldn't want to intrude. That partner would have to understand that there were some nights when Tony needed me in bed with him though."

"You're easy enough to look at," Barton grinned. "I don't see getting that far with Tony for years, so it's cool with me." He stopped suddenly when he caught sight of Tony lying on the table. "He really is dead."

"Yeah, he is," Jack said. He stepped up and ran his fingers through Tony's hair. "He's got a lot of damage to heal up and I'm not sure when he's going to come back to us. It's possible his body will heal everything and then he'll come back. With the amount of damage he took, I don't know that he can be alive with it unhealed."

"I don't want to see," Barton admitted.

Jack nodded and peeked under the sheet, making sure to keep it over the wound. "It's healing," he said. "We just need to give it time. So, what do you think is going on with Captain Rogers?"

"Truthfully, I don't know and don't really care," Barton said. He sat down next to Jack and leaned back in the chair. "I've never hidden who I am or who I like from anyone and if he has issues with it, thinks I'm morally wrong or a child molester, that's his problem. Fury has a reason for me being on this team and he's not going to pull me for his Golden Poster Child. Coulson would come back to haunt him."

"Coulson?"

"My former handler with SHIELD, and probably my best male friend," Barton said. "He was killed during the early stages of the battle with Loki and I was compromised and never got a chance to tell him good-bye or how much he means to me. I think I'll regret that more than anything else I did while I was under Loki's damn spell."

"Father figure?"

"Yeah, along with quick reflexes and one hell of a right hook," Barton grinned. "I guess what I'm saying is that Rogers can have his issues, that's fine, it's when he grew up and his belief system. I just don't want him touching me and I don't think that's unreasonable."

"It is unreasonable to expect you to be comfortable having those beliefs thrust onto you though," Jack said. "Everyone is entitled to believe what they want, you're right enough about that, but no one has any right to force those beliefs onto another. Besides, I remember the 1930s. Mental issues were only the tip of the ice berg."

Barton grinned. "Everyone knows I'm crazy, Jack. Hell, you kinda have to be to work for SHIELD, it's practically a job requirement," he said. "I know I'm not sick, I'm not going to go out and accost little kids in the street for orgies, and I'm not wrong. Rogers wants to believe all of that without proof, that's his problem."

"It sounded like Fury wasn't going to let this become a problem," Jack commented.

"Yeah, well, Fury's got some other delusions going on that we've all wondered about," Barton said. "This is a big tower, it'll be easy enough to avoid Rogers for a while."

"If that's how you want to play it, then I'm not going to argue," Jack said. "I just hope that he listens with an open mind to what Fury is going to be telling him."

"Me too," Barton admitted.
**
"We've got about 70 years worth of research, politics, culture and events to bring you up to speed on, Steve, where do you want to start?" Bruce asked once the pizza boxes were spread out on the one remaining table in the living room. The TARDIS had parked on top of the other.

"Director Fury, you weren't just talking about technology when you told me things had changed more than I was expecting them to, weren't you?" Steve asked.

"Times change, Rogers, you know that," Fury said. "It's one reason we had you go through some of those classes, so you could see how much was different from before you went into the ice. To tell you the truth, this was something I didn't even think would be a problem, and that's my fault. I should have made sure you went through as many classes as you could so nothing would catch you off-guard."

"I can't help how I was raised," Steve said.

"None of us can, but can you listen to what we're going to be telling you with an open mind?" Bruce asked. "I'm not going to try and change your beliefs, I just want to give you some information that might help you slot events into your worldview."

"You don't think its wrong, do you, Bruce?" Steve asked.

"I don't, no," Bruce said. "It's not for me, but I have no problem with same-sex relationships. One of the best women I ever worked with was a lesbian, and I would have missed so much if I'd turned away because of her sexual preference."

Steve looked at him. "What does the Catholic Church say about it?"

"We could talk about just that for weeks," Bruce said. "I'm not even sure what their official stance is on it, but I know they condemn same-sex relationships. I'm just not sure if they're classified as sins or not. Guess you can tell that religion isn't really my strong point, huh?"

"You can look it up on line and ask us any questions you may have," Fury said. "Just stay away from the opinion pages and you should be fine."
"How has opinion changed so sharply on this?"

"Research has shown that a number of the beliefs in the past were wrong," Bruce said. "It's biological, something that happens when the baby is forming, not bad parenting. It's just people in love, and I don't think that's a bad thing."

"It's not normal," Steve said.

"What is normal?" Bruce asked. "You're a super-soldier who spent 70 years frozen in ice and lived through it to wake up and fight an alien invasion lead by a God. I have the other guy, Tony's got the arc reactor and his suits. I don't think that normal should be any sort of measure for you to be using for anything, let alone trying to understand cultural mores."

Fury snorted. "Hell, if you're looking for normal, let me know when you find it. I could use a holiday," he said. "I feel like I should point out you're sitting in the living room with a police call box that's an alien spaceship waiting for one of your friends to come back from the dead." He paused. "Dr. Banner, do you ever say something and realize you never thought you'd say something like that?"

"All the time," Bruce said. "I think I'm going to take Steve down to my lab and do some work on the computer. It'll be better than me trying to talk through things when I don't have all the facts. Come one, Steve, let's go play."

"All right, but I don't see how you're going to change my mind on this," Steve said. "It's how I was raised and what I believe."

"I told you, not trying to change your beliefs, just trying to show you the other side so you have the full picture to think about before you make your final decision."

"Fair enough," Steve said.

"I'm going to stay here and enjoy this pizza," Fury said. "Maybe the Doctor will come out and have another talk with me. JARVIS, think you could hook something up for me?"

"I will try, Sir," JARVIS said.

***

Jack looked up when the Doctor walked into the medical bay. "What's up?"

"You did not just almost do that," Barton said.

"The Doctor can be very, how shall I put it, creative about curing people of bad habits," Jack grinned. "He really doesn't like being called ‘Doc' either, so I try not to. Just an old habit."

"I've been called worse," the Doctor said. "I've matured, Jack, I'm over 1,000 years old now. Director Fury wants to talk to me again and I'm wondering how worried I need to be about that, Agent Barton."

"Depends on what he wants to talk to you about," Barton said. "Fury's tough, but he is fair. I think he'll listen to what you have to say and take it into consideration. I don't know about his bosses though. They may be where the problem is."

"Oh dear, so many problems," the Doctor said, wringing his hands. "The Earth does not need to be advertising that its at a higher level of technology than it is. That just leads nasty aliens to come and visit."

"Gives me something to shoot if they start acting up," Barton grinned. "Jack, was that a groan?"

Jack was leaning over Tony's still form. "I think it might have been. Barton, this is going to look horrible, but it's just what happens. I can't warn you about it because I don't even know what's coming. Every revival is different."

"I'm ready, I guess," Barton said. He took Tony's hand in both of his and held on tightly. "Tell me if I'm in the way."

"You're fine," the Doctor said. He checked the monitor. "The TARDIS is showing only 45% regrowth on tissue and bone, Jack, so we're going to need to bandage him until he heals properly."

"Got it." Jack moved onto the table and straddled Tony's hips, lifting the smaller man forward into a sitting position. "Ready when you are, Doctor."

"Agent Barton, hold his arms up for me, please," the Doctor said. "Jack, here's the padding. Make sure it doesn't get down into the wound. You know how nasty that can be."

"Tell me about it," Jack grimaced. He settled the padding against Tony's chest carefully and shook his head. "It's not going to work, Doctor. We put any pressure on this right now, it's going to collapse back in on itself and hurt Tony more."

"Then what can we do?" Barton asked.

"Jack?" Tony muttered. "Hurts."

"I know it does, kiddo. I know it does. Doctor, can we knock him out again?" Jack asked. "Didn't you used to have some sort of a tissue regenerator around this place?"

The Doctor took one of Tony's arms gently and injected him with a sedative. "There, that will give us a little more time," he said. "Back down on the table, Jack. Let's have a look and see what Tony's body has managed. Agent Barton, if you could move to the side, please?"

"Sure." Barton moved several steps away from the table and crossed his arms over his chest. He really didn't want to see Tony in such a state, but wasn't about to leave either. "Anything I can do?"

"I'll let you know," the Doctor said. "Jack, his heart is still rebuilding itself, but the surrounding areas look good. I think that we're going to have to give him some blood when he wakes up, and I don't have any of that on hand."

"That's easy enough," Barton grinned. "I know where I can get some. What type do we need?"

"A positive," Jack said. "Can you get it?"

"Trust me, the vampires on the Helicarrier won't know what hit them," Barton grinned. "I'll be back as fast as I can."

"There goes a good man," the Doctor said softly. "Jack, I didn't want to mention while Agent Barton was in here, but I'm concerned about Tony's lungs."

Jack nodded. "Let me see," he said.

A hologram popped up over Tony on the table, focused in on his lungs. Jack studied it for a long moment and sighed softly. "They cut out parts of his lungs to make the arc reactor fit," he said. "They should regrow, Doctor, but it won't be today. That much repair will take days."

"How do you know that, Jack?"

"Because I had a bomb planted in my stomach and it detonated," Jack said. "Yet here I am. The man who can never die."

"Never have I been so glad of that before," the Doctor said. "Who did that to you, Jack?"

"Couple of idiots from the government," Jack said. He didn't look away from the hologram. "They wanted to level the Hub and they managed it. I only just managed to get Ianto out in time. The idiot was going to stay with me."

"You aren't going to tell me their names, are you, Jack?"

"Nope, because they're both in the river with bullets in their brains," Jack said. "I took care of the problem when I found out Ianto was dead. I never wanted him to see that side of me, Doctor. He knew that I had darkness within me, how could he not with all the mistakes I've made, but I never let him see me hurt someone else."

The Doctor came around the table and wrapped himself around Jack in a hug. It was a little awkward because of how thin he was, but he managed. "You are such a special man, Jack Harkness," he said softly. "I wish I could bring your Ianto back to you, I'd love to see you happy again, but I know. I know."

"Yeah, I understand," Jack said. He tilted the Doctor's head back and kissed him softly. "I still love you, Doctor. That hasn't changed, but I still can't go with you. Not for good. Tony needs me too much."

"I understand," the Doctor said. "Though maybe you'll join me for a short hop now and again? We'd love to have you."

"Yeah, I think I'd like that," Jack said. He kissed the Doctor again and looked back at the hologram. "I don't think Tony realized he was operating with such limited lung capacity. This is probably one of the reasons there were so many stresses on his system. I blamed the arc reactor, thought it was just putting pressure where it shouldn't, but if they removed parts of his lung, then that's the cause, not the housing for the reactor."

The Doctor nodded. "Tony told me the man who performed the operation, the one who created and perfected it, died," he said. "It's a shame, because I would really like to meet him. Find out how he knew so much about technology."

"I'd like to thank him for saving Tony, but I don't know who he was, where he lived, or even what his name is," Jack sighed. "Tony won't talk about him."

"He might someday, and the TARDIS can always take us back," the Doctor said. "Tony might even want to join us for that trip, even if he can't talk to his friend."

"Yeah, timelines," Jack agreed. "Doctor, didn't you need to go and talk with Fury?"

"I did, yes, but Tony's health is far more important," the Doctor said. He leaned against Jack. "Not to mention you're very warm. I'd forgotten that about you, Jack. Still, there's no point to allowing this weapons manufacture to continue longer than it has to. You'll stay with Tony?"
"Not moving until he does," Jack grinned.

"Then I'll be back when Agent Barton returns," the Doctor said. He kissed Jack softly. "Call if you need me, Captain."

***

Barton stopped for a minute just inside the TARDIS and took a deep breath. He wasn't sure what he would do if Steve was still in the living room, but he knew he had to get through there quickly and get to the helicarrier for the blood Tony needed. Pulling the door open, he looked out. "Director Fury, Sir?"

"Agent Barton," Fury said. "Pizza?"

"No, thank you though, Sir," Barton said. He was a little thrown by how at home the director looked in the living room of Stark Tower. "Sir, did you come by plane or car?"

"Plane, Barton, why?"

"Could I borrow it, Sir? I need to get to the helicarrier quickly and back again even faster," Barton said. "It's Tony, Sir; he needs blood and we don't have any stored here."

Fury studied him for a long moment. "What's Stark doing in there, Agent Barton?"

"He'll tell you if he wants you to know, Sir," Barton said.

"Aw, hell, go ahead," Fury sighed. "You'll just take the plane anyway. Go get what you need, I'll call on ahead and let them know you're to have whatever you need."

"Thank you, Sir," Barton said. He started towards the landing pad stairs, knowing that there was probably a pilot on-board waiting for Fury's return.

"Agent Barton, I want you to know that we're bringing Captain Rogers up to speed on the new era," Fury called behind him.

"As long as he doesn't touch me again, Sir, I don't care," Barton said. He shut the door behind him and trotted to the plane. "Andy, good to see you. You up for a flight?"

"You're not flying, Clint," Andy said. "You can sit there and behave yourself. I'll get you home and back again as fast as we can go, but I'm not sitting through one of your flights."

"You could just let me go and go have pizza with the Director," Barton pointed out with a grin.

"In your dreams," Andy said. He started preflight procedures. "You sit down and buckle up or we're going nowhere."

"You know what your problem is, Andy; you just don't enjoy life enough," Barton said. He clicked his final buckle in place and started up the protocols for the second seat.

"Says the man who jumps off buildings for a living."

"Everything I do, I do with style," Barton grinned. "Come on, we need to be back yesterday."
**
Fury looked up again when the door to the TARDIS opened. "Doctor, pizza?"

"Thank you," the Doctor said. He flopped into one of the free chairs and studied the boxes in front of him. "I haven't had pizza in ages, I can't recall the last time I did, oh, no, wait; it was when I helped to remove the Stargel pigs from the Tower of London. Oh, that was a messy business that was. I forgot to mention that shooting them was a mistake, that they exploded when frightened. The King wasn't too happy with the state of the Tower when we were finished, but we got it cleaned up in the end. Is there a problem, Director Fury?"

"I'm just not sure what to make of you, Doctor," Fury said. "They say you're an alien, well, you look human to me."

"No, no, you look Time Lord," the Doctor said. "Still, one way to prove this, if only to set your mind at ease. JARVIS?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Do you have some sort of scanning ability that could show the Director how many hearts I have?" the Doctor asked.

"Certainly, Sir. If you would stand next to your chair to allow my sensors to get a good read of you."

The Doctor hopped up and spread his arms out to the side. A blue light flowed over him twice and then a hologram projection appeared next to him. "Thank you, JARVIS," the Doctor said. "Here you are, Director Fury. Two hearts, respiratory bypass system, lower core body temperature. Alien."

"Wonder how I could get Stark to sell us this tech," Fury muttered as he looked over the hologram. "There's so much that SHIELD would be able to do with it. Okay, I'll buy you're an alien, so how come I never heard of you before?"

"I tend to spend most of my time in London and the surrounding areas," the Doctor said. "I've been there many times, have so many friends and fond memories of the area, along with contacts within both UNIT and, well, I suppose Torchwood is gone until Jack feels like trying to bring it back again. Shame, really. Established by Queen Victoria after she met me and we had an encounter with a werewolf. Long standing tradition, Torchwood. Shame to see it die out."

"I've never had much to do with UNIT or Torchwood, beyond trying to obtain some information they had that I needed," Fury said.

"Which I'm sure they greatly appreciated," the Doctor said. "So, you're building weapons from alien technology. How many things have blown up in your labs, or backfired on you so far?"

Fury sighed. "More than I'd like to admit," he said. "But the aliens are out there and we need to be able to defend our planet against them. Not to mention all the people like the Avengers who are suddenly popping up. We have to be ready."

"Part of the problem is that you are playing around with technology you cannot possibly begin to understand, hoping that your scientists will stumble over something you can use, turn into a weapon," the Doctor said. "It's possible that by doing so, by allowing them to poke around they have triggered a signal of some sort that has alerted the planet the technology originated on. Not everything that arrives on this planet is meant to be a weapon. Jack and I both could tell you stories about the alien junk that is sent. At the same time, however, there are also traps sent through. Traps that look pretty enough to make you want to play with them, and when you do, you either go boom or you let the people who created them know that you're playing with them. Playing with them is the signal to show that you are ready to fight them. Develop your technology, Director Fury, but don't look to anything that isn't made here to create weapons. I won't stand for it."

"I'm still not sure how you think you're going to stop me," Fury said.

The Doctor smiled. "Director Fury," he said, with a small shake of his head. "The question you want to ponder is, how are you going to stop me?"

***

Fury stared at the Doctor. Somehow the man, the alien, in front of him had gone from sending off peaceful vibes to sending off vibes that said, should he be crossed, something extremely violent would happen. "Just what do you mean by that, Doctor?" he asked.

"Just what I said, Director Fury," the Doctor replied. "I think that maybe your best option would be to talk with the people at UNIT and ask them exactly what they know about me. What they can tell you about how dangerous it is to cross me. This planet is under my protection and my reputation keeps most aliens from invading, but there are always those who think they can sneak in and get away with it. Now, I've never encountered the aliens that your team battled, but it's a big universe and I haven't been everywhere yet. New species develop all the time, it's impossible to know them all. Still, I've defeated worse than them in the past and I'll just have to make sure that the message gets out into the far reaches of the galaxy. Such a bother."

"Hey, Doctor?" Jack asked from the door to the TARDIS. "Where's the tissue regenerator? I think it will help."

"Fifth drawer along the second counter under the first ledge," the Doctor said.

"Got it, thanks," Jack said, not bothered by the strange directions. He'd learned a long time ago that if he got confused looking for something to just as the TARDIS. She just wouldn't answer him without the Doctor's permission for things in the medical bay.

The Doctor shook his head. "So many things piled up again, I should have stayed in retirement," he said. "Still, easy enough to get a message out. Just have to get in touch with a couple of friends, make a call here and there and you shouldn't have to worry about aliens for a while. If I come back and find out this magical council of yours has done something stupid again, however, I make no promises about what actions I'll take."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard about their solution to the alien threat, Director Fury," the Doctor said. "Blowing up innocent people is one way to get immediately on my bad side. You helped stop them, so I believe that you're a good man at heart. Confused by the layers of lies you live with every day, but ultimately a man who cares about his people and his planet. Ah, Agent Barton, that was fast."

Barton grinned and held up a cooler. "We've got some pretty fast jets," he said, "but it helps that our base is close by. Director, thank you."

"Stark's one of ours, even if he denies it," Fury said. "Doctor, I'm going to call UNIT and talk to them. You go see about keeping Tony Stark alive long enough for him to explain this all to me."

"Keeping him alive is not the problem," the Doctor said. He opened the door to the TARDIS and let Barton go in first. "Healing him is the problem. Ask JARVIS to call me if you want me to answer any other questions you might have." He shut the door behind him and sighed. "Humans and their wars. You lot give me a headache, Agent Barton."

"I'm all for peace," Barton said. "Long as it doesn't come at a high price. Hope this is enough blood for Tony. The medics gave me a hard time, even with Director Fury on my side."

"We'll make it work," the Doctor said. "Jack's helping Tony's body heal so there won't be as many, well, leaks in his system. Thank you for this, Agent Barton."

Jack looked up. "I think I found the problem in his heart, Doctor, look at this."

"Clots," the Doctor sighed. "No doubt caused by that metal casing that held the arc reactor. Tony here was a stroke waiting to happen. We'll need to clear those out, Jack, before the system closes up anymore."

"Ready when you are, Doctor," Jack said. "Clint, you might not want to be in here for this."

"He's still breathing, right?" Barton asked.

"Yeah."

"Then I'm staying," Barton said. He pulled a chair over against the wall by the door where he would be out of the way. "I've seen worse in the field. Just get him healthy for me, that's all I ask."

Jack nodded. "We'll do our best," he said.

***

"Okay, ow," Tony muttered.

"Welcome back, Tony," the Doctor said, leaning in. "You've been out for a couple of days now, how do you feel?"

"Like I was hit by the Hulk during a battle," Tony replied, blinking a few times, "without my armor on. Where's Jack?"

Jack appeared on the other side of the table. "Right here, kiddo, just like I promised I'd be. You're about eighty percent healed so we thought we'd let you wake up and see how you're feeling. How much do you remember about what we've been doing?"

"I asked you to take out the arc reactor for good," Tony said as the bed moved into a sitting position. "I think I woke up before I was healed though. Why was it taking so long?"

"You took a lot of damage when the casing for the reactor was implanted in your chest," the Doctor said. "Parts of your lungs were removed to allow for space and clots were forming in your heart. I removed everything related to your reactor the first time and then Jack and I worked together to clean out the clots and other small problems that formed from having a foreign object embedded in your chest."

"We thought the reactor was putting pressure on my lungs," Tony said. "That's why I was having so many stamina problems."

"Turns out they did a little more cutting than you thought," Jack said. "Your lungs will grow back now that you have the space for them again, but it'll take time. You're going to be weak for at least a month while you heal up totally."

"But it's out. No more worries about the arc reactor failing and my heart being shredded," Tony said.

Jack held up a mirror. "Take a look."

Tony took as deep a breath as he could and looked in the mirror. He'd had the arc reactor for so long, he'd forgotten what he looked like without it. "Where is the reactor?" he asked.

"Here," the Doctor said, holding up a plastic bucket. "Jack mentioned that you would need the pieces to work out something for your suit, so I didn't throw anything away. Not even the fragments I removed from your chest."

"Thank you," Tony said. "Seriously, thank you for everything. I thought I'd have to live like that forever. I would have been able to, but it scared me, deep down. Wait, where's Barton?"

"On a short assignment for the Director," Jack said. "Nothing dangerous, just a simple sniper job. He should be back tomorrow. He didn't want to go, Tony, but he was the only sniper who could take this shot, so he went."

"No, I understand. His work is important to him," Tony said. "It's fine, I'll talk with him when he gets back. Jack, you have that look in your eye that says that you're going to tell me something that could get the both of us into deep trouble."

"I was just thinking that we should keep the operation a secret from the general public," Jack said. "From your team too, unless you want all of them to know. Could you build a mini-reactor that's self-contained to wear under your shirts when you go out?"

Tony grinned. "That's a great idea, I hadn't even thought about that," he said. "I can totally build something like that when I'm working on the new power core for the suits. How did you come up with that one, Jack?"

"I was trying to avoid Captain Rogers," Jack admitted. "That's the last thing we need to bring you up to speed on. Turns out he's got problems with same sex relationships and tried to physically drag Barton out of here to go talk to a shrink."

"Oh, no way. What happened?"

"Agent Barton decided my TARDIS was a perch to sit upon," the Doctor said. "Still, he needed to be safe and couldn't get in here quickly enough. Director Fury says they are working to bring Captain Rogers up to speed on current relationship standards, but I haven't been out to hear how that's coming."

"So, can I walk?" Tony asked.

"With help, yes," the Doctor replied. "You've got thick bandaged around your chest as a precaution, but they should be able to come off in another day or so. Jack will be able to help you with that. Now, I've got some old friends to get in touch with, people to see, aliens to warn off the Earth, so I'll leave you both to it and pop back in later."

"Doctor, thank you again," Tony said as Jack helped him up. "This moment, this is what I've been dreaming of since I woke up in a nightmare. I don't know that I'll ever be able to thank you enough."

The Doctor hugged Tony carefully. "The best way you can repay me is helping to make sure those folks at SHIELD behave themselves and don't keep making weapons out of alien technology," he said. "The more eyes I have on that, the better. I'm worried that they'll activate something they shouldn't and the aliens that arrive will be far worse than anything you've seen before."

"Cybermen," Jack said softly.

"Exactly, Jack," the Doctor said. "I know you'll take short hops with me in the future, but for now, while you're helping Tony heal, keep an eye on SHIELD as well."

"I will." Jack kissed the Doctor softly. "Take care of yourself out there, Doctor. See you soon."

"Captain," the Doctor said. "Tony, it was an honor to meet you. Take care of each other, and tell Agent Barton I said good-bye, will you? He seems like a nice young man."

"He is," Tony said.

***

Tony and Jack stepped out of the TARDIS, which vanished with its usual rumble noise. "So, you and the Doctor?" Tony asked as he was lowered onto the sofa.

"We're working towards it," Jack replied softly. "Hey JARVIS, would you let everyone know that Tony's awake and back in the Tower?"

"Of course, Captain," JARVIS said. "Welcome back, Sir."

"Thanks, J," Tony said. "So, we've got some historical phobias to deal with. What's going on there?"

Jack sat down next to Tony. "You know how they felt about same sex relationships back in the day," he said. "I know you've read the reports after I told you about a couple of instances when I only just escaped from the police. I don't know what all is happening with Captain Rogers, but it sounds like he's a product of his time, just like you're a product of yours."

"We're bringing him up to speed on things, but it's slow going," Bruce said as he walked into the room. "You look good, Tony. JARVIS said you died in there, everything working again?"

"Yeah, everything's great, Bruce, thanks," Tony said. "Is there anything I can do to help with Steve?"

"I don't know, Tony." Bruce sat down in one of the chairs and leaned forward. "We've been reading through scientific studies, news stories, current events, and church bulletins and I can't tell if it's helping or causing more harm. I know that Barton's said he doesn't want Steve to touch him again, but I think that may just be more Barton than anything else."

"Let me talk with Steve for a bit," Tony said. "No, seriously, let me talk to him. I won't make fun, I've just got a question for him. One I want to see if he can answer and it won't cause any trouble. Then I want lunch and I want a nap. Pretty much in that order too."

"All right, he's in the gym," Bruce said. "He's been spending a lot of time with the punching bags again. I think it's how he thinks things over. He loses himself in the repetition and is able to focus on other things. JARVIS, would you ask him to join us up here when he has a chance to, please?"

"Of course, Sir," JARVIS said. "Sir, would you like me to order you your usual post-trip meal from the local diner?"

Tony moaned. "That would be awesome, JARVIS. Do that. In fact, order enough for Jack and anyone else who's hungry too," he said.

"What are we ordering?" Jack asked.

"Best cheeseburgers and fries in the city," Tony replied with a grin. "Milkshakes to die for too."

"Sounds awesome, I'm in," Jack said. "Dr. Banner?"

"Living here is killing my diet," Bruce muttered. "Why not, we've got Tony back from his mystery procedure. Let's celebrate in style."

JARVIS sounded amused. "Very good, Sirs."
***

"Steve, there you are, come join the party," Tony called when he caught sight of the other man in the doorway to the common area. "Seriously, we ordered you dinner. Come on before it gets cold."

"JARVIS said you wanted to talk to me?" Steve asked. He picked up the bag that Bruce was holding out and sat down in his usual chair. "What were you doing in that box anyway?"

Tony sighed. "It's not a box, it's a ship, and it's a glorious ship," he said. "She is so beautiful and her lines, oh, I could talk about them forever, but that's not the point right now. The point is, I have one question for you, Steve and I want an honest answer. Take all the time you want to think about it."

"What's the question?"

"What is love?" Tony asked seriously.

"Love?"

"Yeah, love," Tony said. "I don't want quotes or what poets have said about it. What does love mean to you, Steven Rogers?"

Jack realized what Tony was doing and rubbed his back. Tony glanced over at Jack and smiled. "We could all answer," Jack said. "Just so we're not putting Captain Rogers on the spot."

"That's not a bad idea," Bruce said, picking up on the intent behind the question. "Is that okay with you, Steve?"

"It'll give me time to think about everything love means to me and how to put it into words," Steve said. "Sure."

"I'll go first," Jack said. "Love is fresh made coffee, clear blue that you never see in water, insanity, and a sonic screwdriver."

Tony cocked an eyebrow at the last one. "A sonic screwdriver," he said. "Seriously, who the hell has a sonic screwdriver? Why would anyone have a sonic screwdriver?"

"I asked the same question when I first found out, but it really is handy," Jack said.

"I don't think I want to know what you're talking about," Steve commented.

"Those are all things that love means to me," Jack said. "Because each of them reminds me of someone I've loved and has loved me in return. Love is different to everyone, Captain Rogers, and that's what it is to me. Dr. Banner, do you want to go next?"

"Sure," Bruce said. "Love is fresh air, clean water, peace to think and not have to be running constantly. It's brown hair and sparkling brown eyes that were never afraid no matter what happened. It's home."

"We'll find her for you, Bruce," Tony said softly.

"I know."

"Okay, my turn. Love is warmth," Tony said. "It's the hum of technology and strength beside me when I'm feeling lost. Love also happens to be good food."

"I'll second that one," Bruce smiled.

"You all are listing things that are things," Steve said. "I'm not trying to minimize anything you guys are feeling, but do you really think that's love?"

Bruce looked at him seriously. "Love is different to every person, Steve," he said. "So what love is to us, how we chose to feel love and give love is going to be completely different from you. I will say this much though, love is safety."

"Yeah, I'll second that one," Tony said softly.

"I'll third it," Jack said.

"I'll fourth it." Barton appeared on the arm of the sofa next to Tony. "What are we talking about?"

"Love," Tony said. "Welcome back, Legolas. Good mission?"

"Had to use a mirror to make my shot," Barton said. He reached into the bag next to Tony and pulled out a burger. "So, love, huh? That's not an easy one for me to answer, am I the only one who hasn't gone?"

"I haven't," Steve said. "I'm still thinking about it."

Barton nodded. "Well, love is summer," he said. "The scratch of a pen over paper and a completely bland smile. Knowing someone cares enough to be there when you wake up in medical after a mission goes bad."

"We miss him too," Tony said.

"Him?" Jack asked.

"A good friend we lost during the battle," Tony said. "He was Barton's handler and best friend."

"Sorry for your loss, Clint," Jack said.

"Thanks."

"You guys all make this seem so easy," Steve said. "I don't know that I can just put it into words like this."

"Then think about it, Cap. We don't have to have an answer today," Tony said. "Just ask yourself this question too; everyone feels love differently, so how can it be a bad thing to be in love?"

***

"I wonder if I was able to reach him," Tony said later on that night, once he, Jack and Barton were up on his floor. "I mean, Cap's a kid who had a lot thrown at him and, yeah, he's strong enough to take it, but at the same time imagine that much changing on you overnight. He's got people telling him that the beliefs he grew up with are totally wrong and he should change his mind."

"I think it's less change his mind than ease up on Clint and you," Jack said. "I agree a person is entitled to their beliefs, but projecting those beliefs onto another is where I draw the line."

Barton flopped onto the bed and bounced a few times. "How come we don't have beds this nice on our floors, Tony?" he asked.

"Says the man who nests in vent shafts whenever he has the chance," Tony replied. "If you're going to mess up my bed, at least move over so I can join you."

"I'm all for that, but Tony needs to rest," Jack said. "Clint, you look like something is bugging you."

"It's just that I feel like I should be mad at Steve for what he said about me," Barton said. "But I'm not mad at him. I'm furious that he works with me, has lived in the same Tower as me for months and thinks that I go out an molest children in my spare time, but that's only a part of him. I was close by when he woke up, you know. Coulson was sitting with him constantly and Fury wanted another pair of eyes on the whole operation, so he asked me to lurk in the vents. Steve was so scared and lost when he woke up, he looked like a kid in a nightmare. I stand by what I say, he doesn't talk about this crap again or touch me, I'm willing to forget the rest of it, but I'm not hiding who I am or who I want to sleep with."

Tony nodded. "I think if we don't push it in his face it'll help," he said. "I mean, realistically, we're going to all end up in close quarters. We're a team of guys and none of us want to get up close and personal with Natasha. We're going to be almost sitting on each other part of the time. I don't know how Cap will take it, but I don't think making the problem worse or flaunting it at him will help anything."

"I think Fury would be surprised to hear you say that, Tony," Barton said. "He thinks you like to cause trouble."

"Oh, I do, but that's just around him," Tony grinned. "Jack, these dressings itch. Can we maybe change them for something else or leave them off for the night?"

"Yeah, let me take a look, kiddo," Jack said. He sat down next to Tony's hip and started to unwrap the bandages that were around Tony's chest. "You're going to have to remember to wear layers or tell your team what you've done."

Barton's breath caught when Tony's chest was exposed. "You healed up so fast," he said, reaching out and just stopping before he touched bare skin.

"It's okay," Tony said. "Clint, Jack told me that you have feelings for me. I've been so scared and hiding for so long, I don't know if I'm able to feel love for anyone ever again, but if you can be patient with me, I'd like to try."

"Yeah, I'd like that," Barton smiled. "I'm even game to having Jack in the bed some nights if you need him. Tony, none of us here are normal. We can't pretend to be, and if you need the man you trust more than anyone else in the world to hold you at night, then let him hold you. I know you don't have a sexual relationship and I'm not suggesting starting one."

"You'd be okay with a stranger in bed with you?" Tony asked. "Jack, how do I look?"

"Your skin has healed up so you don't need the bandages anymore," Jack replied. "I'm not kidding about the month to let your lungs regrow, Tony. You have to take it easy whenever you're not in the suit or you're going to hurt yourself again."

Tony nodded. "Yeah, okay, I can do that," he said. "Barton?"

"Jack's not going anywhere any time soon, is he?"

"Not that I know of," Tony said.

"Not planning on it," Jack said. "Tony's going to need me here for a while yet. Once things have settled down a little though, I am going to take short trips with the Doctor again. I'm not going to abandon you, Tony, I'm not going to abandon this planet, but I want to be able to spend time with him too."

"Think he'd take us too?" Barton asked. "Oh, come on, Tony; don't you think it'd be fun to see some other planets?"

"I've had enough aliens for a while, but maybe some time in the future, yeah," Tony said.

"If I may interrupt, Sir," JARVIS said. "Captain Rogers wishes to speak with you."

Jack looked over. "Want a shirt?" he asked.

"Nah, I'm cool with the team knowing," Tony replied. "Let him in, J."

Steve walked in and paused, although they weren't sure if it was the sight of three men in and on Tony's bed or the lack of the arc reactor that stopped him. Tony sighed. "It's gone, Cap," he said. "For good. It's also a secret, so no telling anyone, okay?"

"That's what you were doing in there?" Steve asked. "Tony, you could have died."

"I did, but I'm fine now," Tony said with a grin. "What's up, Cap?"

"I wanted to let you know my answer on what love is, Tony," Steve said. "Love is family. I don't think I'll ever be okay with the idea of same sex couples, it's not right, but you and Barton are both important to this team. I can overlook it as long as I don't have to see things like this."

"Be fair, Captain Rogers, you are in his bedroom," Jack pointed out.

"I am and it's his space and I'm going to respect that," Steve said. "I ask that you all do the same for me."

Barton sighed. "Cap, I'll be honest with you, since you're being so honest with us," he said. "I'll respect the boundaries of the common room. Hell, I would have anyway because who I date is my business, but it's gonna take some time for me to get past what you were accusing me of. You've led this team since the battle, worked side by side with me through clean-up and any number of missions. I thought you knew and trusted me, but as soon as you found out I'd rather sleep with a man than a woman, you said that I was sick and tried to drag me up to psych to fix me. Yeah, some gay men are child molesters and perverts, but so are some straight men."

"That's fair," Steve said. "I made a mistake and acted blindly and take full responsibility for my actions and the fallout."

"Steve, we're not trying to make you change who you are," Tony said. "Then you wouldn't be our Capsicle, but I gotta tell you that there are probably going to be problems in the future. I'm just letting you know."

"That's a point," Barton said. "I'd talk to Fury about the official line on your stance on same sex relationships just so we don't have a press fallout. You're our icon, Cap, and none of us want to lose you."

"Thank you," Steve said. "I'll see you all tomorrow. Captain Harkness, maybe we can talk about the War a little?"

"Sure," Jack smiled. He looked back at the others when they were alone. "There's a man who is trying to make things right. I hope Fury isn't too hard on him."

"I'll talk to him," Tony said. "I should probably let him know about what's happened to me. Now, I need to sleep so I can start engineering a couple of mini-reactors for the suit tomorrow and a fake one to wear in public. Barton, as much as I'd like to have you stay, do you mind?"

"Nope." Barton hopped up and headed out of the room. "We'll work on this at your pace, Tony. See you both tomorrow."

"You have a good group of people here, kiddo," Jack said.

"Yeah, I really do, don't I?" Tony grinned.

***