He shifted the cloth to another bruise to apply cold there with one hand and felt along Steve's flesh checking for breaks that the other man might be hiding. He went for ribs mostly, walking his fingers up them in search of more than just bruising aches.

"They'll respect me," he corrected. "And they'll be forced to respect my decision that you're not to be bullied. We're all in this together and a team is only as strong as its apparent weakness member. Physically that's you. Emotionally, that's Hodge," he said simply.

He paused at the final statement and leaned his face in so they were practically nose-to-nose. "You deserve to be here like any other man. Never forget it, Rogers."