Hey guys! This is my first story so don't be too hard on me please…I've been reading so much pepperoni fanfiction lately that I decided to write my own! So here you are, enjoy!
It was another one of those nights. The house was quiet, even Jarvis seemed gloomy, if that's even possible for an AI (knowing Tony, it is). It was these nights that twisted my stomach, these nights that I sat in the mansion all by myself while the fireplace cast a soft glow into the living room and I sat on the bafflingly expensive couch, attempting to get some work done.
"I can't stand this! Ugh, Jarvis what time is it? Have you heard anything from him?"
"I am afraid not Miss Potts, may I suggest some soothing music?"
"Yes Jarvis that would be wonderful thank you." As the soft Jazz of Duke Ellington comes through the speakers, I feel myself relax into the couch. "Maybe I'll doze for just a few minutes…" I say to nobody in particular. Deep breathes Potts, he's done this a million times, he knows what he is doing.
BAMBOOMBANG, I jolt awake to the unmistakable sound of metal hitting cement as Tony presumably arrives in his shop. "OH TONY'S HOME" I screech as I jump off the sofa not bothering to grab my Steve Madden heels, sprinting down to Tony's shop. At first, I can't see him. What is going on? I think to myself as I walk briskly past his desk. Where could he- "?" Everything comes out of my mouth in a jumble of emotion as the adrenaline kicks into high gear. Tony lies on the garage floor, still in his nearly unrecognizable suit, groaning and panting like a sick dog.
"Just—ah, help me-out of, the suit, it just, argg" Tony mumbles out between pants.
"Tony, Tony please, tell me what happened? How do I get this thing off?"
"Just pull the pieces-off, try not to-hurt me-ugh"
"Okay Tony this is going to be ok I promise just let me get this off then we can get you over to the hospital and try to-"
"No hospitals-please Pepper. Don't, make me."
The armor slowly comes off, while Tony grimaces and whines. "Jarvis, scan him and tell me what's wrong with him."
"It seems Mr. Stark has sustained substantial damage to his abdominal area where he has 2 stray bullets lodged near his naval and rib cage. And undetermined amount of bone damage is also present, and seems significant enough to impair. Shall I contact emergency services Miss Potts?"
"Yes Jarvis, right away, thank you" Tony has no fight left in him as he lies on the floor. Once all the armor is off, I can see what Jarvis is talking about. His shirt is soaked in blood, some lighter and some darker, showing that he has been bleeding for a while as some of it has dried. "Tony, you're going to be okay, just stay with me, don't shut your eyes, please Tony"
"I'm…trying…sorry…" He sputters out. He's in even worse shape than I thought, because after his attempt at talking, a coughing fit ensues. The floor reddens when blood spouts out of his mouth onto the concrete. He is getting worse and the ambulance isn't even here yet.
"Just a little bit longer Tony. Don't you dare give up on me Anthony Stark. I won't allow it."
"Miss Potts, EMTs are waiting outside, shall I let them in"
"YES! See Tony, they are here it's going to be okay" But I can see he is too far gone to hear me. The EMTs come running in with a stretcher and haul him away. They won't let me go in the ambulance because I'm not immediate family (might as well be after everything I've done for him) but they were very tense. So instead, I hop into the first car I see, which happens to be Tony's favorite Audi, and drive what must be over the speed limit down the Pacific Coast Highway to the hospital they had hastily told me Tony would be treated in. I thanked my lucky stars that there was a parking spot near the entrance, as I raced inside.
Rhodey was already there, he seemed to be arguing with the nurse at the desk, making large gestures and piercing her with his eyes, but she didn't budge. I suddenly felt light headed so I found a seat and practically fell into it, hitting the wall with the back making a loud BANG in the otherwise peaceful waiting room.
I felt empty, numb, almost like I wasn't even in my own body. Did this really happen? Had I seen Tony bleeding his life away in his workshop not 30 minutes ago? I didn't know. And at the moment, I couldn't even comprehend what had happened. I felt so heavy and fatigued, like I could go into a deep sleep…
I see Tony, in the distance. It's light and sunny. Where are we? He smiles at me, that blazingly beautiful smile, my smile, I like to think. It's so honest and pure, it makes his eyes shine. I love that smile. I start walking toward him, and then jog, I want to hold him, to touch him, right now. I don't want to wait. But he keeps getting farther away. It's getting darker, I notice. I can't see him anymore. Where's Tony? "He's gone." I swing around to see Agent Coulsen. He looks professionally regretful, and I can't tell why. "What do you mean?" I ask. Hadn't I just seen him? "Miss Potts," he touches my arm soothingly, "Tony didn't make it."
"PEPPER!" Rhodey yells in my ear. My eyes fling open, I'm shaking, and freezing cold. What is going on? He must have been trying to wake me up for a while now, from the look on his face. Wait, what happened? Why am I in this chair, while Rhodey is yelling in my face? In a hospital, I don't remember getting hurt-OH. TONY. As the reality of what had very nearly happened right in front of my eyes hit me like a wave, I fall forward into Rhodey's arms, crying uncontrollably.
"I can't-he just-I tried-" I wail, but I can't even breathe through the crushing pain I feel in my chest.
"I know Pep, it's okay. I understand. He's gonna be okay. I was waking you up because the doctors said he did well in his surgery. We can go see him"
"I-really? He's okay?" I sniffle and try to dry my eyes, gosh I'm must look like a mess.
"Yeah, but he's asleep. He probably won't wake up for a little while. They had to take out the bullets so they used pretty hard-core meds."
"Okay let's go. I want to see him" We approach his room together, clinging to each other for fear of what we might see.
"Ready?" Rhodey asks. I nod, bracing myself.
We slip into the room so we won't disturb him. There's a loud beeping in the background, and he is hooked up to all kinds of machines. One has a line going up and down as his heart beats, another drips a clear fluid into his arm. A third is a little clip attached to his index finger, and another IV drips into the back of his left hand. "Tony…" I whisper, softly stroking his cheek. He looks so peaceful, though his hair is running wild around his face, and his cheeks are a bit too pale for comfort. He could be worse Potts, he could be dead. That thought alone shakes me out of my reverie, so I choose to pull up a chair and hold Tony's hand. "I'll just stay here, I want to be here when he wakes up" I tell Rhodey.
"Okay Pep well I gotta head out but I'll be back in the morning. Call me if you need anything okay?"
"Okay, thanks Rhodey" he slips out silently, and I continue to stroke a piece of Tony's hair.
Later that night, he starts to stir. I must have fallen asleep, I think to myself. I look up to see those delectable brown eyes meet mine.
"Hey Pep" He rasps out. God he must be so tired and in pain.
"Hey Tony, how're you feeling?"
"Like shit." He tells me matter-of-factly. Typical Tony. He tells it like it is. Just then, the nurse walks in carrying a new IV bag.
"Why hello Mr. Stark, how are you feeling?"
"Awful." He scowls, and then finds that even this once easy gesture hurts him.
"Well, I'm putting in some more medicine so you should feel better soon" The nurse tells us cheerily. Tony doesn't smile. The nurse attaches the new bag, and within a few seconds, Tony looks a bit loopy.
"But Pepper-I want to-talk to you" Tony fights to stay awake. Damn, those meds must be strong.
"It's okay Tony; I'll be here when you wake up. Go to sleep. Your body needs rest to heal." I can see him slipping back into oblivion; I hold his hand and give him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Sleep tight, Tony."
So, what do you all think? Please comment I really want to know, but don't be too hard on me please, this is my first time writing so I don't really know how good this is…anyways I might continue this but I might not. I'm not sure yet. Hope you liked it