This story took way longer to finish than I ever intended, and for that, I apologize.
You may remember me saying that this was going to have 14 chapters, but what I had planned for the last chapter was easily fit into this one, so there was no point.

So here my friends, is the finally chapter of "A Tortured Soul"

~TH~

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Steve groaned, working his eyes open. "Will someone please turn that off?"

Ther sound continued as the Captain looked around him. No one moved. Tony had his arms on the bed, his head only slightly risen, his eyes wide as he stared open mouth. Natasha was sitting beside him, slowly stroking his hand, although the motion had now stopped and she was gripping it tightly. Bruce was sitting in a chair and looked like he was about to stand up, but had frozen mid-stance. Thor looked like he had stopped mid-pace. Clint was sitting on the top of Natasha's chair, his legs sitting on the armrests around Natasha's body.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

"Steve?" Bruce was the first to break the silence, finally rising to a standing position. 

"Can someone please turn that off? It's driving..." he stopped, realizing what was going on, "me... crazy..."

"You can hear that?"

Now it was Steve's turn to be frozen in place. "I-I can hear that." A small laugh bubbled up from the bottom of his chest. "I-I can hear that, and you, and I can see you and...." His eyes found Natasha's as he gripped her hand, "And I can feel you." 

He could have been wrong, but he thought that he saw tears in his brave assassin's eyes. 

The room erupted with noise. Thor was offering some ancient prayer of thanks, while Bruce rambled off about the possible scientific explanations. Clint let out a loud 'whoop' and wrapped his arms around Natasha's shoulder. Nat rubbed his hand softly and whispered, "Welcome back, Steve."

Tony didn't move. He seemed almost in shock. A white bandage was wrapped around the billionaire's head and he had a large cut down the side of his face. 

"Tony?" 

Everyone quieted down at that one word.

"You-you're okay." He breathed. "You're okay and you can hear and... and how?"

"The explosion." Bruce offered, "The explosion must have done something, ruptured the eardrum or caused something that made them bleed. It was chemical, right? Whatever they used?"

Steve nodded.

"The blood must have, have purged it of whatever was wrong!" 

"But you're okay." It wasn't a question. 

"I'm okay." Steve smiled. "But, what happened? Why was there an explosion?"

Tony sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I really should have seen it coming. With the way they were able to hack in and see and send videos. It made sense for them to plant something. Messed with Jarvis. Shut off his defences. It was my computer that exploded. Started a chain reaction. My workshops a mess. Everything's salvageable though. And Sigma is gone for good. I did a deep cleaning and debugging of the tower. Nothing is here that I didn't put here. Which is going to make Fury very angry." He smirked.

Steve hummed, closing his eyes. It felt so... good. So good to just hear Tony ramble on and dish out insults. 

"Why don't you get some more rest, Cap." Bruce offered. 

Steve nodded as he drifted back to sleep.

~A~

He let out a soft groan as he worked his eyes open. Natasha was there, still holding his hand. "Hey, there stranger." She smiled at him.

She was the only one there, the rest of the Avenger's having found something better to do than sit around and watch him sleep. 

"How's my angel?" He answered, lifting his hand to brush away a stray hair. 

"Angel, huh? I think you've forgotten who your dealing with." There was no threat or malice, just a statement.

"You sound like an angel." He laughed. "I'd forgotten. Forgotten how beautiful sound was."

She smiled, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now." He rubbed his thumb over her hand.

"Does your head hurt at all? You were unconscious for days and no one could figure out why."

"No. Nothing. I'm just... really tired."

They sat in silence for a long time. Natasha subconsciously began tapping on his hand. 

I love you.

He smiled and tapped back.

Really?

Natasha's head jerked up, her face taking on a slight flush. She tried to hide it, but Steve had already spotted it. 

"Thank you."

"For what?" Natasha hummed.

"Being here."

"Of course, Steve. I'm your friend. I'll always be here."

"Do you want to be more than friends?"

"What?" 

"My girlfriend. Do you want to be my girlfriend? I know that we're on a team and working together and things like this can get ... awkward but... the way I feel around you... I haven't felt that in a long time and-"

Her lips were on his, causing his flow of words to stop.

She pulled away, leaving Steve slightly dazed.

"Is, uh, is that a yes?"

"Don't make me say it again, Rogers." She smirked.

~A~

Bruce released Steve the following day. Hand in hand Steve and Natasha walked into the communal area. Everyone stopped and stared.

Clint smirked his eyes finding Natasha's. Thor let out a deep laugh, then engulfed them in a hug. Bruce nodded, "Congratulations." Tony was the one who seemed the most shocked.

"Wha- you tow? How long has this been going on?!"

"For a while now, Tony." Steve answered, "My life has been moving forward even when you're not around."

"Impossible! I am the centre of everyone's universe! How could you possibly have a life without me!"

"It was hard to manage, but I figure it out." Steve rolled his eyes.

"I'd stop while I still can, Stark. You may not be afraid of  Cap, but his girlfriend is pretty terrifying." Clint cut in.

"I'd listen to him, Stark." Natasha added.

"Oh, come on!" Tony threw his hands up in the air. "You're telling me that not only do you make a full recovery, but you get the girl too?! What is this an old 50s war movie?! Come on!" 

"Some of us just have it that good, Tony, what can I say?"

"Does this mean, you're BOTH going to gang up against me now? Now Natasha is always going to take your side!"

"I already always take his side, Stark. I have a brain." She smirked at Tony's faux hurt expression.

"Now, listen here I am right ninety-five percent-"

The noise faded to the background as the rest of the Avengers joined in the petty argument. Steve smiled as he listened. As he heard. The Avengers were a family. Things weren't going to be perfect. He was still going to have nightmares. Those would never go away. But with his family at his side, even the most tortured souls could be healed.

~TH~

Sorry for all the romance... don't typically write it, but felt it was needed.

I hope you liked this story!

I am really sorry for how long it took to get out. I finishing almost a year late (because this story was how I coped with finals week....)

Please let me know what you thought!

I have now switched over to the Broadway fandom, but felt I owed it to you guys to finish this story. If you're into Hamilton or Newsies, come say hi on my other stories!

Find me on Tumblr as Trekkiehood and give me a follow and just say hello!

Three cheers for a happily ever after!

Stay safe my friends.

God bless,
Jamie