A/N : I unfortunately don't have the pleasure of owning The Avengers.
This is the first chapter out of three. Please Review - it took me a lot of time (and research) to write this.
The apartment was completely dark. Tony lay on the couch, a half empty bottle of scotch on the coffee table.
Through one of the large windows he could see planes fly past. Transfixed by the flashing wings be began to count the number of flashes. *One, Two, Three*. He didn't know how long he'd been here, he didn't know the time either, but he suspected Pepper would be turning up any minute. As in on cue JARVIS broke the silence.
"Pepper Potts is approaching Sir".
Tony sighed; Pepper was a blessing and a curse. He couldn't deny she'd helped him out of some tight spots, but there are some problems even she couldn't solve. Tony reached for the bottle of scotch and took a swig. He felt the warmth sliding down his throat. If only he felt that warmth in his heart. Still holding the bottle of scotch he curled himself up cuddling the bottle of scotch as if It was a child.
"Tony! What are you still doing on that sofa, you need to get up and get out. And since when are you drinking again".
The disdain in Peppers voice hurt Tony, but she didn't understand; none of them did. Tony didn't have it in himself to move on, not again. His damaged relationship with his father had left Tony with a need to be loved. It also left him with no idea of what true love was. As a result Tony always fell fast and he fell hard. He had no idea of how many times he'd had to pick himself up after his relationships had broken down.
"Tony?" Peppers voice had softened. "Tony is everything alright". Pepper put her hand on his shoulder; he was curled up on the sofa holding the scotch like it was his lifeline. She shook one of his arms and tried to get him to move. His skin was so cold. "Tony if you're alright I need you to say something now". Pepper held her breath. She counted to five and was only greeted by silence.
"JARVIS I need you to call an ambulance, something is wrong with Tony". Pepper managed to keep the panic from her voice.
Tony tried to tell Pepper he was alright. But he couldn't get the words to come out. Maybe I'm not alright. He tried to straighten out but he couldn't get his arms and legs to move like he wanted them too. Stark, pull yourself together. Your upsetting Pepper.
"Pep… Pepper?" the words were jumbled and Tony promptly tilted his head to the side and vomited.
Pepper didn't know what to do. Conflicting medical advice rushed through her head. She tried to remember a First Aid course she'd taken before she started working for Tony. She paced across the room, what use was knowledge if it couldn't help him. His skin was taking on an almost blue tinge. What if he died. A loud sob racked her chest and she ran her fingers through her ginger hair.
"Ms Potts the Paramedics have arrived". JARVIS's voice echoed throughout the otherwise silent apartment.
"Thank you JARVIS." Pepper said out loud.
Tony let out a mental sigh of relief. The paramedics were here. Now Pepper could stop worrying herself. "I wonder what Bruce is doing." That was Tony's last thought before he blacked out.
Pepper heard a lot of words but the ones that stood out were alcohol poisoning.
"Tony has alcohol poisoning. Why didn't I stop him drinking, why wasn't I here?"
"Miss Potts?" The young female paramedic tried to get Peppers attention.
"Is something wrong?" Pepper prayed the answer was no.
"We've done some basic tests and we believe Mr Stark has alcohol poisoning, we're going to take him down to the hospital for further tests and treatment."
"Thank you, will he be OK?"
"It's too soon to say. Will you be coming to the hospital?"
Pepper had to think. Should she go to the hospital? It was getting late and she had meetings early tomorrow. "Pepper what are you thinking, this is Tony! Meetings can be rearranged".
"Of course, I have some things to sort out first though."
"That's fine Miss Potts. Tony is in good hands". The paramedic smiled and turned back to the other members of her team "Okay let's get Mr Stark going then".
Pepper let out a breath she hadn't knew she was holding. She grabbed her cell from her jacket pocket and held 6.
"Hello Natasha? Sorry it's so late but I need you to cancel all my appointments for tomorrow morning".
"Hmmm… Wait what? Why? What's Wrong? Pepper? Are you still there?" Natasha had been taking a short nap before Pepper had called.
Pepper just held the phone and cried. Loud, heavy sobs. "Why wasn't I there? Maybe this is my fault." "Deep breaths Pepper. All you have to do is reassure Natasha and then you can go down to the hospital".
"Tony's been taken into hospital with suspected alcohol poisoning. I'm on my way down there now. I will not be able to attend tomorrow's meetings and would appreciate it if you could inform the major shareholders of Tony's condition. Oh and try not to get the press involved".
There was a sharp intake of breath of Natasha's end of the phone.
"Okay Pepper, I will sort everything out. Does Bruce know?"
"How could I have forgotten something so fundamental?" Pepper thought to herself.
"Not yet I'll call him now. Thanks Natasha and goodnight".
"Okay Pepper, send Tony my love and I hope things go well with Bruce".
Pepper sat down on the white leather sofa that Tony had been on only 10 minutes ago and looked out the window. There was nothing out there. The night sky was dead, no stars, no planes, no clouds, just an infinite sea of black. She sighed. She couldn't put it off any longer. Bruce needed to be told. After all he was Tony's boyfriend. Still holding the cell she dialled Bruces number. The phone started to ring.
"Please Bruce, please don't pick up" Pepper knew this conversation would be difficult.
*Ring Ring*
"What if Bruce loses control. He wouldn't. He couldn't. Could He?" Pepper didn't want to think about that right now.
*Ring Ring*
Bruce Answered.
"Hi Pepper, it's a bit late to be calling isn't it?"
"… Bruce I have some bad news"
"Does S.H.E.I.L.D need me again? No, it can't be that. Go on then Pep, what's the news?"
Pepper always hated the nickname 'Pep', but Pepper was always a bit too scared to anger Bruce by telling him so she just went along with it.
"It's Tony. He's started drinking again. And he's got suspected alcohol poisoning and Oh God Bruce, what if he dies". Pepper couldn't stop the words coming out of her mouth. She heard a glass drop on the other side of the phone.
"Pep…"
Bruce waited while he collected his thoughts. He stepped back from the glass he'd just dropped and considered his options. The only man he'd ever truly loved was in hospital but Tony had said that he didn't want Bruce around anymore. "Bruce, you can do this for Tony, it's what he would have wanted".
"I don't think Tony would want me around, you see we had this argument and things got kind of bad. I'm sorry Pep I truly am, but I don't see what I can do".
That bastard. Tony was possibly dying and he couldn't even be bothered to go and see him. Pepper tried to contain her anger. Really she tried. For what seemed like the hundredth time she ran her fingers through her hair. It soothed her. Usually.
"Tony Stark loves you. He could be DYING and you won't even go and visit him. He was a mess Bruce. I've seen him break up with countless men but never have I seen him in this state."
She stopped to breathe. The mental images of Tony's blue tinged skin flashed through her mind. The memory of him calling out for her before he vomited rolled through her mind.
"You're a Bastard, and I swear If you're not at that hospital by time I get there, I will find you and I will make you suffer".
"Pep…"
"And another thing, NEVER call me 'Pep' it sounds stupid. Bruce I'll see you at the hospital. Bye".
And with that she hung up.
Bruce sighed. Maybe Pep, sorry Pepper was right. Maybe Tony did love him. "Only one way to find out" he thought out loud. As if on autopilot Bruce put on his jacket grabbed his car keys. Thinking about this anymore would only convince him not to go.