So here it is, the first chapter of my most favorite fic I've ever written. Enjoy!

I don't own anything. But I DO have a necklace that looks just like a miniature arc reactor. Yes, I am that cool.

Chapter 1

The impact throws him backwards several hundred feet, and he hits the ground hard. He lies there a few seconds, feeling the whirring of the suit's strong joints grow still, and then opens his eyes. The explosion has knocked out his HUD, and the connection to Jarvis has been broken too. Tony, struggling to move under the now-heavy weight of the suit, weakly gets to his feet and removes his helmet. The street is layered with burning debris, but seems otherwise unharmed by the blast. Great, he thinks feebly. That means I absorbed almost all of the damage. He certainly feels like he has absorbed all of the damage. He can barely stand, he is so exhausted. His head reels and makes it hard to see straight. Tony can tell that the suit is completely ruined, and through the gaping holes gouged all the way through the metal to his bare skin, he can see he is slightly burned where his skin is exposed. He has a deep, ragged cut across his chest where Mallen had hit him before, and now Tony can see that he is going to bleed out, and fast.

He looks up the street and sees Pepper getting up from where he had pushed her down. Hopefully he hadn't hit her too hard. Sometimes it is hard to control the strength the suit gives him. He begins to move towards her, his legs weak and stumbling, the heavy metal of the suit clanking against the concrete as he struggles to lift his feet in the absence of his suit's power. His genius mind seems to be working in slow motion as he watches Pepper run towards him with a look of horror on her face.

After a few steps, his vision begins to darken, and the world sways. The severely damaged suit suddenly feels too heavy, and he falls to his knees. Tony feels strange, lightheaded, like he can't get enough air. He tries to breathe, but it seems like his suit is too tight. He glances down at the arc reactor and sees that its light is flickering, reflecting the feeble beating of his heart. And then he knows he is dying.

So this is what it feels like, he thinks. He almost wants to laugh. Here he had been trying for so long to stay alive, having so many close calls, and he was going to die like this. It is almost humorous.

If he is going to die, at least he will die saving something he loved. Thinking of Pepper, he tries to smile. It seems that he is always protecting her. She has reached him where he has fallen on the pavement and he can feel her holding him now, but he can't see anything. He faintly hears her crying, calling his name. He wishes he could open his eyes just a little, to see her beautiful blue eyes one last time, but the heavy feeling is overwhelming. He gives in to it, knowing that there is no way to win. He feels himself sink further into the darkness.

"Tony," he dimly hears Pepper call to him, "Hold on! Hold on!" Then she runs, leaving him lying there on the rough asphalt. When Pepper returns to his side, he hears the snap of a briefcase being opened, and then the soft clinking of glass. Pepper's skilled hands reach across him, finding the hidden groove in Tony's armor, one that only she and Tony himself know about, and she runs a finger across it. Immediately the armor retracts, folding away from Tony's body, revealing the seriousness of his injuries.

Pepper hesitates upon seeing the extensive damage. She stifles a sob, fighting back the hysteria that threatens to consume her. She gets a hold on herself and continues, working nimble fingers to attempt the one thing that can save Tony's life. Pepper knows the risks, but at least trying this is better than nothing.

In his dull state, Tony's intelligent mind is unable to comprehend her actions, but he definitely feels it when Pepper jams the needle into his chest, right above the arc reactor. The contents of the syringe empties into his bloodstream like ice. The freezing feeling makes Tony's chest feel like it is being constricted even further, and he gasps for air. He shudders involuntarily. His body is caught off guard by the sudden change, and the heavy feeling recedes enough for him to open his eyes.

The first thing he sees is her. Tears course down her fair face, but when he opens his eyes, she forces a sad smile. "Pepper?" Tony manages to breathe.

"Tony," she whispers, "I'm sorry. It was the only way."

Tony's eyes narrow in confusion and he tries to say something more, but is racked once again by the cold, agonizing spasms. After a few seconds, the shuddering stops again, and Tony can see what the briefcase contains.

"Tony," Pepper sobs his name again. "The Extremis. I had to do it."

Then he understands. Pepper saw that the only way to possibly save his life was to inject him with the Extremis. The virus is unfinished, undeveloped, and definitely not ready for testing. It could kill the recipient, and the chances of it working are slim. Even though Tony knows he is too weak to survive the transformation the Extremis would cause, he is glad Pepper is with him. Tony knows she realizes he isn't going to live, but she won't give up on him. She never has. But he always lets her down. And this will be the last time he will ever let her down.

He smiles back at her, and nods weakly in understanding before he is taken by another painful fit of spasms. He tries to focus on her face, but all he can feel is the iciness seeping through his bloodstream and into his bones. The feeling is unbearable. His breathing becomes even more irregular, getting worse to the point where he can barely get enough air. The little air he can get tastes foul, like something electric was on fire. He can feel his heart stutter, barely functioning, and the light from the arc reactor in his chest grows dimmer. Tony's eyes close against his will, and the heaviness again threatens to smother him. He can feel Pepper there, holding his hand, trying to comfort him. He is glad she is there. He feels a strange sensation, like someone is lightly running their fingers across his skin, except the feeling is everywhere, covering his entire body. He knows it isn't Pepper, and wonders what it could be, but he is unable to form a coherent theory. Shivering from the coldness inside his bones, Tony finally succumbs to the heavy feeling, and feels his consciousness slipping away.

The last thing he hears is her sweet voice, calling out to him in awe. "Tony," she says. Her voice catches a little in her throat. "It's beautiful."

So, for those of you who have read this fic before, I apologize for re-posting it. It's just that this is my favorite fic that I've written and I thought it would get more views if I posted it in smaller chapters.

Please, let me know what you thought!