Steve was fitful, making soft sounds as he drifted off, no doubt dreaming something vivid thanks to the fever that had gripped him and overwhelmed him after the earlier excitement. He was speaking, probably - Tony couldn't really make out actual words - but the way Steve murmured was enough to tell him that he was trying to say something in his sleep. Tony couldn't help but wonder what Steve was dreaming, it didn't look like a nice dream, not by the way his brow furrowed or the sounds he made.
Tony did his best to soothe Steve, to smooth out his brow as best he could and calm him even if he was sleeping. He didn't like the idea of Steve hurting whether it was because he was an idiot and couldn't stay out of a fight when he should have been sleeping off this fever instead, or if it was bad dreams plaguing his sleep.
Most of what Steve said was intelligible, Tony couldn't make out most of it - instead hearing his tone more than anything. And he responded with little hums of his own, like they were talking without talking. Or something like that, it was all strange. Only two words were actually something that Tony could make out, and those words left him feeling like he'd had ice thrown over him. His hand stilled and his body tensed, while Steve seemed to relax and finally give into a true sleep - one that wasn't caught up in bad memories or images.
"Steve," Tony said softly, almost imperceptive. His heart ached and he wanted to know if those words were for him, or whoever Steve was dreaming about. He couldn't ask though - not now and not later. He had to take a slow breath, easing out the part of him that wanted to cling on to those words and keep them for himself. They weren't his, not yet. And he couldn't take them. Not like this, no matter how much he wanted to. "Get some rest, Cap." He said softly, before he pushed himself to his feet.
He took a little time to move Steve's gear so if he did get up in the night he wouldn't trip over any of it, and he left a glass of water for him near the bed. But in the end Tony couldn't stay, not after those words. He had to get home and try not to burst into flames along the way.