"What does that mean?" Bruce asked, glancing from Strange to Steve to Gemma and back.

"It means that she has a large amount of magic that needs to be absorbed into her system." Strange shrugged. "There is nothing more we can do for her."

"Will she be okay?" Steve asked.

"Well, she survived the magic transfer without bursting into flame, so she'll survive."

"I'll keep an eye on her," Bruce said to Steve. "If her fever gets any worse, we'll have to get her into an ice bath or something. But for now we'll just keep an eye on her."

Steve nodded. "Alright. Just let me know."

"Would you mind showing me where she was?" Strange asked, looking at Steve. Steve nodded, a little reluctantly.

"I'll look after her," Bruce promised Steve. "I'll let you know if anything changes."

Steve left with Strange, showing him where he'd found Gemma. The two talked for a while before they went their separate ways, after Strange promised to check in again in a few days.

In the meantime, Bruce kept everyone away from Gemma and had Jarvis monitor her vitals. There wasn't much else he could do besides try to make her comfortable.

Steve checked in with Bruce once he got back, and then removed himself to pace somewhere else for a while. He was still worrying despite Strange's assurances.

Later that night, Bruce went to find Steve.

"Gemma will probably be more comfortable on a bed," he commented softly.

Steve nodded. "I'll take her," he said. He still had a free bed in his apartment, since he had three. "Thanks, Bruce." He picked up Gemma as gently as he could, taking her up to his level.

Bruce nodded and let him take Gemma.

Gemma was still mostly out of it, though she did stir a bit when she was picked up. Her whole body still throbbed in pain, and it even hurt to breathe.

Steve settled her on the spare bed in his apartment, making sure Bucky knew and Jarvis was monitoring her too. But he still didn't relax.

Gemma didn't really wake up for three more days. When she finally did, she groaned and whimpered a little as she tried to move. Everything ached, although she didn't feel like she was on fire anymore.

Steve was there literally minutes after she woke, crouching by the bed.

"Gemma? Can you hear me?"

"S...Steve?" Gemma rasped. She felt dry and wrung out. "Where...?"

"You're at the tower, in my apartment. You're safe." Steve touched her cheek gently with his fingertips.

"Okay," Gemma breathed. She settled back, exhausted just from trying to talk. "Water...?"

"Yeah, sure, just give me a second." Steve stood and headed into the kitchen, nearly tripping over Bucky in his haste.

Bucky blinked when Steve nearly tripped over him.

"Stevie, what's up?" he asked, getting up to follow him.

"She's awake," Steve said, walking into the kitchen to get a glass of water. "She's awake finally."

Bucky relaxed a little at that.

"Good," he said. He knew how worried Steve had been about her. "Think she'll be okay now?"

"Hope so," Steve said. "She's aware, at least, so I can ask Bruce to check her over once she's a bit more awake."

"Alright," Bucky said. He was quiet for a moment. "Just be careful. It's rough, being changed like that."

"Yeah." Steve frowned a little. "I'll be able to check that when she's a little more awake." Because he needed to make sure she was okay, somehow. He hadn't succeeded with Bucky, he hadn't been able to protect Bucky. He had to help Gemma.

"Like I said, careful," Bucky repeated. He settled back in, reaching for the can of soda he'd been working on.