They re-broke three bones in Man's body today.

Tony watched from the back-benches, but he had a good enough view. He saw the way Man was shaking when they told him. He saw the way he shook more when hands reached for him. He saw the way Bruce was shaking, too. They were equally white on their faces and the only reason only one of them passed out was because Bruce knew that he couldn't - not while Man needed him conscious.

Tony may have been shaking a little as well.

This was the one condition Man begged for - no drugs. He did take what they made him take - antibiotics, Bruce told him - but it never got any easier. Bruce decided to avoid every pill and injection that he could.

That included painkillers.

And this was the result.

Tony took a breath and walked to the middle of the room. He tried not to look as the nurses collected Man from the floor, dusting him off like the limp object that he was. He approached the other victim of this instead. He put a hand on a shaking shoulder.

"Sit down, Bruce." They had chairs in the examination room now.

Bruce shook his head stiffly. "No. I need to--" Man's limp body layed between them. "I need to meditate." He hesitated for a moment. "You'll take care of him?"

Tony tried to look reassuring. "I will."

It was apparently good enough for Bruce. "Thank you." His hands still shook. "Tony. Thank you."

Before anyone could react he was walking away, and Tony was left alone with the body of his charge and an army of cold, medical faces.