Tony Stark was a mechanic. That's what he did. He fixed things. So one Sunday morning he sat in his workshop, tinkering with the Mark 42 suit. "Jarvis, I think I've finally got it," he smiled, signaling to the AI to pull up the video camera. "Mark 42, test one," the genius said, "throw my jam." He slowly started shaking his hips and rotating his arms before striking a pose that sent the arm of his suit flying towards him. "Alright, we're good. Send the rest," he added. On cue, the rest of the suit started flying towards him.

Pepper Potts, Tony's PA and girlfriend, was used to the constant sounds of Tony in his workshop. However, the noise was almost unbearable today. Slipping on her three-inch heels, she decided she better go check on the man. The Stark Security System immediately recognized her, and she was granted access to the workshop. "Tony, what the hell is-" she started, but was interrupted by a flying hunk of metal hurtling towards her, and clocking her on the head.

"PEPPER!" Tony screamed, signaling to Jarvis to shut the test down. He ran over to where his girlfriend lay, a pool of blood forming around her head. "Oh my god," he breathed, his teeth clenched. At a closer glance, he realized she had fallen right on top of his toolbox, and a pair of pliers had gone straight through her stomach.

"Tony?" she muttered, her eyes flickering open and closed. Tears were forming in her eyes, and he knew he had to get her to the hospital as soon as possible. He quickly threw on the rest of his suit and scooped the woman up in his arms. "AHHHHHHHH," she screamed.

They were in the air in seconds. Tony hated seeing her so, so vulnerable. He felt his own tears stinging at his eyes. But he knew he had to be strong; for both of them. As soon as he got to the hospital, (it had felt like decades), he burst into the emergency room and started barking orders.

"Sir, please calm down," the nurse said, placing a hand on Tony's shoulder. He hadn't even bothered to take off the armor yet. "We'll get her all sorted out. Now please sign this paperwork."

"I don't like being handed things-" he started, but realized that Pepper wasn't there to take the paperwork from the slightly over-weight nurse. This thought made the tears threaten to spill even more. He hesitantly agreed, and was handed a stack of papers. He watched as the strawberry-blonde was lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled back into the hospital wing.

A few hours later, the chubby nurse signaled to Tony that he could go and see her. He practically jumped from his seat and ran down the hall. "Be strong," he whispered to himself. He slowly took his armor off, and opened the door to the hospital room.

The sight that greeted him felt like Hawkeye had shot him with an arrow through his heart. Her usually rosy cheeks had been drained of all color, and a giant gauze strip was wrapped around her forehead. He didn't even want to know what her stomach looked like. "Oh Pepper," he cried, the tears finally spilling, "I'm so sorry."

"Mmmmmm," she groaned, attempting to sit up.

"Shhhhhh," the billionaire said, gently pushing her back down. "Just relax," he whispered, pushing her bangs out of her face. He heard a quiet hiss escape from her. "Crap! The stitches! I'm so sorry Pep," he apologized, silently cursing himself.

"Tony," she mumbled, once again trying to sit up. A single tear escaped from her beautiful blue eyes. Tony's heart practically melted at the sight.

Just then, the doctor came in. "Mr. Stark?" he asked, turning to face Tony. "She's good to go home. Just make sure that there is no physical activity for at least two weeks."

"Oh thank god," Tony exhaled. He hadn't even realized he had been holding his breath.

A few weeks later, Pepper was just as busy as ever, and, besides the scar on her forehead, it was as if nothing had ever happened.