He fell to the ground, writhing in the agony coming from his chest. It had happened again. Tony Stark's body slowed and finally became still as his clenched jaw released. The pain had passed, for now. Tony stood up and glanced around, with each attack his sense became more muddled. He saw he was still in his lab in Stark Towers, and he was still alone. He breathed a sigh of relief, then cringed at the ache in his chest. At least nobody saw it, I need to be more careful in the future. He thought to himself, busying his mind with his current project again.

"Hey Tony, what are you working on?" Steve came in the room, clad in a dark blue shirt and some jeans. He glanced at the projected screens that Tony was focusing on.

"Nothin' much stripes. To what do I owe the pleasure of your less-than spangly self?" He quipped back, swiping a few virtual mechanics into a virtual trashcan. His jaw was clenched, even everyday movement was becoming painful. But he wouldn't let anyone see it.

"We are thinking about going out for dinner, didn't know if you wanted to come or not. It's pizza, nothing special, just a night out to have fun since Thor is visiting." Steve stopped looking at the frankly confusing symbols flying around the scientist's body. He was more focused on getting a reply, everyone else was waiting for him downstairs.

"Sure, if it makes you feel any better I'll treat, but why not Shawarma?" Tony strode confidently onto the elevator, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. He wasn't too psyched about going out with his friends, mostly because he didn't want to succumb to an attack while he was out. He pulled vial out of his pocket and drank the contents, Steve glanced at him, but said nothing. The captain thought it was better when he had nothing to do with the crazy billionaire.

"Hey, good, you got him! I was worried he would refuse and spend another night in his lab." Pepper spoke to Steve as he and Tony exited the elevator at the ground floor. They were greeted by the smiling faces of Pepper, Thor, and a sheepish Bruce. The other two, Clint and Natasha waved but didn't really smile. Tony wondered if they even had a happy bone in their bodies.

They all exited the tower and walked across the street to their favorite pizza place.

"This was the best location for your home building man of iron. We barely have to move for food. Back on Asgard-"

"NO STORIES!" The whole group cut off Thor before he could start on one of his never ending story telling episodes. Natasha was the loudest, having fallen for his trap one day and being afraid to anger the God of Thunder, she had stayed for nearly a day listening about the time Thor had gone on an adventure to the store or something. Everybody had been warned after that and Thor didn't mind too much when he was cut off.

The team ate together in relative peace. They had a large round table that was usually reserved for them due to the frequency of their visits. Bruce sat next to Tony, who sat next to Clint, who sat next to Natasha, who sat next to Thor, who sat next to Steve, and completed the circle. Four large pizzas along with quite a few drinks (and broken glasses from Thor) later, the team was tired out and ready to head back. Tony was very tense, trying to hold his face in it's normal confident expression as another wave of pain his his chest, he felt like he was going to pass out. But he had to hold on, he couldn't stand to worry his friends.

Halfway across the street the attack hit him. Doubling over, he grit his teeth and balled his hands into fists as the worst possible pain swept through is usually strong frame. The team all turned with shocked and worried faces as their friend fell to the ground, half conscious.

"Quickly, we need to get him to the medical level, help me pick him up." Steve took charge immediately, realizing they were all in the middle of a busy road, he had Clint and Natasha help pick up Steve while Bruce ran ahead and Thor stopped traffic.

"I do hope the man of iron is alright. Back in Asgard…" Thor glanced over his shoulder to see them safely reach the sidewalk, he turned and followed after, forgetting his story for the moment.

The double doors to Stark Towers closed behind the team as they all helped carry Tony's heavy form to the elevator that Bruce had propped open. The limp form in their hands was mumbling softly and every few seconds would tense and become rigid as he was hit by another shock of pain.

Bruce, being the Avengers designated doctor, was on Stark in a flash after Steve, Clint, and Natasha had set him on one of the hospital beds in the infirmary. He cut off Tony's shirt and revealed the glowing arc reactor underneath. The skin around the metal was red and covered in blisters. The arc itself was beginning to flicker as Tony's breathing became erratic and harsh.

"Somebody call Pepper, she needs to know what's going on." Steve stared at his friends form on the bed, attempting to stay in control of his emotions, how had this happened? Why hadn't he noticed before? Thinking back, he had noticed how Tony was more tense and less talkative. "Speaking of that, what is happening? Banner, any ideas?"

"Not yet Steve. It appears that the arc reactor is causing some irritation to the skin around it. It also appears to be very painful and affecting Tony's breathing." The doctor moved around the room, hooking up wires and clips to his friends form. Before he could finish though, Tony stopped moving for a moment and everyone held there breath. Then he woke up.

"What hap- oh. OH." Tony said as he woke up and looked at his surroundings. His worst fear for the past week had come true. Now he was on everyones minds, they would never let him do anything after this. And while he loved being the center of attention, he didn't like the way it was aimed this time.

"Tony, are you okay? What do you feel right now? How long has this been happening?" Bruce, normally quiet and reserved was bursting with questions. His face was a mask of pain and worry for his science buddy. His hands were frantically shaking and clasping and unclasping as he waited for an answer.

"I'm-" Tony grunted as a headache hit, but sat up none the less, "I'm fine, it was just an attack, it's happened before. It usually only lasts a few minutes. Stop worrying. Wait, you didn't call Pepper did you?" The words had barely left his mouth when Natasha walked in from the other room and announced that Pepper was on her way. Her eyes fell on Tony and widened when she saw the look of outrage and pure dismay.

Hundreds of thoughts ran through Tony's head. Mainly focusing on the one thing he had really hoped wouldn't happen. Pepper finding out. He had known since the first few attacks that his teammates would inevitably find out, but he had always counted on the fact that he would tell them, or they wouldn't call Pepper. But now they had, the deed was done, there was no going back now, he had to face her. Face her and see the look of worry and anger that he hadn't told her before. See her need to help him, and tell her that there was no help she could give.

"How much did you tell her?" His tone was serious, very unlike the usual smart remarks he made. His team could only stare. They had never thought this would happen in their wildest dreams. Tony Stark being serious? HA.

"Just that you were unconscious and she should come soon." Natasha said calmly, trying to diffuse the argument that was boiling behind Starks eyes. "She needed to know, but lets not talk about her right now, okay?"

"Okay." The fire in Tony's eyes went away as he seemed to accept his fate.

"Why don't you tell us what's up with your glow stick chest?" Clint piped up from his position leaning on the wall. "We're all dying to hear."

"It's the least you owe us for collapsing without warning in the middle of the road!" Steve said, glancing around as the rest of the team nodded their heads in agreement.

"Fine. I'll tell you what I know, but it's not much. The 'attacks' as I call them started happening a week or so ago. At first it was manageable, just a sharp stab of pain and then it would disappear. But they got increasingly worse, more pain and for longer times. Usually it was all I could do to stay standing. The last attack was by far the worst. I thought I was going to die." As he spoke, the others could hear the strain in his voice, see the way his fingers gripped the sides of he bed. He was obviously still in pain, although he still wouldn't admit it. "Otherwise, I'm fine. The blistering was expected from the constant contact of metal on skin. It's basically a rash. Nothing to worry about, but I'll put some lotion on if you insist."

"Tony, I want to do some tests before you go back up to your lab. I'm not sure that these episodes, or attacks are having any sort of positive effect on you. I think you should be more serious about your health. You have Pepper to think of." Bruce continued putting the rest of the wires on Starks torso, it seemed the man had lost all his fight. He leaned back and closed his eyes.

"We'll head on upstairs then. Good luck Banner." Steve prompted the rest of the crew to follow him to the elevator and each went to his or her room for a good nights sleep. Bruce stayed behind and began running tests on his friend and fellow scientist. Tony fell into a dreamless sleep full of a dull pain that refused to go away.

Hope you like! Please review and I'll post the next chapter!