Rhodey came back an hour later with the body.

After that everything blurred together.

There was a funeral. A large, statewide funeral. Even Ross attended.

Captain America was mourned. The same people who had been hunting him only a week ago were now sobbing onto each other's shoulders, saying what a tragedy it was.

And it was. It was a tragedy.

One Tony felt personally responsible
for. It was clear Sam felt the same way. Clint had shown up at the funeral, it seemed house arrest didn't matter now that the leader of the rouges was dead. Clint was just as angry, if not more, than Sam.

Natasha stayed silent. She hadn't even looked at Tony since their brief encounter.

Wanda stood between Clint and Natasha. She cried nonstop. The Vision held her hand while she cried.

Pepper showed up. She didn't say much. It was clear she blamed him too.

Rhodey stood beside him, silent tears falling.

But Tony didn't cry. He felt numb. He didn't respond to anyone's condolences or accusations. He felt like nothing was real. Like he was living a dream. He's sure it only made the others hate them more.

Someone gave a speech about the life of Captain America. Some person from the VA talked about suicide in veterans. Tony tuned it out.

When it was done, it was done. They buried him at Arlington National Cemetary.

Only a week ago Steve had been a wanted fugitive, now he was a national hero.

A dead national hero.

When the press had stopped asking him questions, when he had finally made it home, he collapsed into an overused armchair. Rhodey sat across from him.

"Don't torture yourself, man. There's nothing you could have done."

Tony snorted.

"Seriously-"

"Go home Rhodey."

"Tony..." The colonel sighed.

"I'll be fine. I just... Need to be alone."

Rhodes gave him an appraising look, "Call me if you need me."

"I will," he waved.

"I'm serious Tones. I'm here for you. Don't blame yourself."

"Everyone else does."

"You know that's not true."

"Sam-"

"Sam's upset. He's angry. He doesn't actually blame you."

"The others-"

"Listen, Tony, you know these people. They may be upset now, but they'll get over it. They don't actually blame you. If they did, you'd already be dead."

"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing." He mumbled.

"Don't. Don't even go there. I've already lost one friend this weak, so just don't."

Tony nodded absentmindedly.

"I'm staying here tonight."

"No, Rhodes-"

"No arguments. I'm staying. You know where my room is if you need to talk."

Rhodey gave a final nod before heading to his guest sweet.

Tony was left alone.

It was silent.

It was a very loud silence.

Rhodey was wrong. It was his fault. Everyone did blame him. They would all be better without him.

Rising from the chair, he went to the room that Steve had formerly occupied. Tony looked around the tidy room. No one had lived in there for months. Even before the 'Civil War' most of the Avengers lived in the new compound, only he regularly stayed in the Tower.

But some things hadn't changed. Slowly he opened the drawer of the bedside table. Laying there was a S.H.I.E.L.D., standard issue Glock.

Tony stared for at it for a moment. It was loaded. He knew it was loaded.

Nobody would miss him.

Nobody would care.

With a shaking hand, he reached out.

Tony picked up the gun.

Fin

~TH~

Yes. This is the end. 🙃

I think I'm going to combine all five chapters into one and make this a one-shot book about depression and mental disorders.

Let me know what you think about that.

And also what you think about the story!

God bless,
Jamie