They were halfway home when their HUDs started to beep and JARVIS' warning was in their ears.

"Unidentified suit, inbound," JARVIS announced.

This was exactly why Tony hadn't wanted her out for her last flight and she knew she'd hear about it. But she had Iron Man and War Machine there if she needed firepower.

"Let's stay tight," Tony's voice said.

"Relaying scan of incoming unidentified suit," JARVIS announced before the suit schematics came up on the HUD. JARVIS had already highlighted the weapons system in red. And there was a lot of red.

Pepper definitely wasn't going to be too helpful in a firefight, plus she knew Tony was going to want her as far away from there was possible.

Tony's voice filled her ears. "Unidentified suit, please identify yourself," he announced. He held his position, so she and Rhodey did as well.

They waited, but there was no verbal response.

"His weapons systems are arming," JARVIS announced.

"Rhodey, take Pepper and run," Tony said.

"Tony—" she started to argue.

"Go!"

She didn't argue, but took off with Rhodey right with her. "JARVIS, what's happening back there?" she asked. They were nearly halfway to the carrier and Pepper was filled with worry.

"The Iron Man armor has sustained heavy damage," JARVIS reported. "Armor durability has dropped to forty-seven percent and Mr. Stark is not responding."

"Rhodey! You have to go back for Tony," Pepper said. "JARVIS, relay information you just gave me."

"Already sent, Ms. Potts."

"I promised Tony," Rhodey argued.

"We're nearly there," she pointed out. She knew that Tony needed the War Machine more than she did. The helicarrier was expecting her and War Machine could track her, so they would know in a minute if she wasn't where she was supposed to be.

"Let me know when you're inside," Rhodey said before he broke away from their current flight path.

"I will," Pepper responded. "Go make sure my husband is safe." She watched on the HUD as Rhodey's dot made way towards Tony's and the unidentified armor. She'd be safely inside the helicarrier in moments, but she really wanted to know that Tony was okay. JARVIS had said that he wasn't responding, but did that mean there was something malfunctioning with the suit or had he been knocked out? Pepper just didn't know. But she started to beat herself up about having given Tony such a hard time about having to go out as Rescue one last time. It had been selfish, she just hoped that Tony didn't pay the price for her selfishness.

"Rhodey, I'm inside," Pepper said the moment she entered the bay of the helicarrier. She hadn't even landed yet, but she was still safe just the same.

Rhodey's voice echoed inside of her helmet. It was calm, but worried. "Pep, I'm bringing him in… I couldn't even get the suit to autopilot back… I'm dragging him in—"

Pepper turned immediately at that. "I'll come back and help—"

"No! You stay there!" Rhodey replied quickly. "I got him… Plus, I don't know where that other suit went… You're to stay put! Stay safe! Have medical waiting…and maybe a hack saw."

Pepper knew that he was right though. Tony wouldn't want her out there endangering herself, but their unborn son as well. "Okay," she whispered and her armor clad feet finally touched down. She removed her helmet, let it drop to the ground in a clatter, and then moved towards the door to hit the intercom.

The three of them had worked missions with SHIELD before, so being on the helicarrier was nothing new. Any of them being injured wasn't new either, but she hated it every time. "We need medical," Pepper announced while trying to remain as calm as possible.

She moved back towards where she knew Tony and Rhodey would be coming in. She paced nervously and just hoped that Tony's system had been knocked out and he was really okay inside the suit. Pepper tried to remain calm, but the worst case scenarios were running through her mind. She couldn't help, but to worry.

It seemed like forever, but eventually War Machine was dragging Iron Man into the bay. Iron Man was dropped unceremoniously with a loud metal thud. Normally Pepper would have scolded Rhodey, but right now it didn't matter. All that mattered was that Tony was alive in that suit. She immediately tried to pry the helmet free.

It didn't budge.

"Tony!" she screamed as she tried to pry the helmet off again. "Rhodey!" she shouted for help.

It wasn't only Rhodey who came to help. The medical team was hovering behind them, but Natasha and Clint were also there with engineers and equipment. Natasha was pulling her back and immediately the engineers were swarming the armor.

"Out of the suit," Natasha told her.

She didn't argue even though she thought about it. The Rescue armor opened and Pepper stepped out. She was trying to see if they'd gotten Tony out, but she was being looked after and pulled away by medical. "I can't—I'm fine—" she kept trying to tell them. The medical team didn't seem to be listening to her.

"He's going to be fine," Natasha said.

"I have to see him—"

"How far along are you?" Natasha suddenly asked.

Her pregnancy wasn't a secret. She didn't understand why Natasha was asking her this and she just stared at her for a moment. "Five months," she blurted out a bit confused.

"You and that baby need to be checked out," Natasha told her.

Pepper shook her head. "I didn't engage—"

"Still."

"Tasha, I—"

"They'll pull him out soon enough," she said with confidence. "And you and that baby are the first two things in this world that he's going to ask about."

"Fine," Pepper whispered reluctantly. She really didn't want to leave, but at the same time, she knew it was what Tony would want. She turned and started out of the bay with a medic.

"Pep—"

The voice was faint, but it was there and it was his. She turned around and was ready to run back to him, to be by his side. Natasha put an arm around her. "They're going to need the space," Natasha told her.

"She's safe, Tony," Rhodey said.

Pepper listened as she and Natasha slowly made their way out. She was soaking it all in.

"She's going to medical just to be safe."

. . .

"The doctor said that you checked out fine," Fury said.

Pepper had been ignoring all of them. Here she was, concerned about her husband and no one could bring themselves to speak of anyone else but her. It was irritating, frustrating, and infuriating. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she watched the SHIELD surgeons work on Tony from the observation room. No one had thought it was a good idea, but Pepper didn't care what they thought. She was going to make sure that everything was being done by Tony.

They were in there for hours. In all honesty, Pepper wasn't even sure who else had stayed in the room. Or who had stayed for so long. When they finally moved Tony from the operating room and the doctor moved into the observation room, that was the only time that her gaze moved to any one else in the room.

"Mr. Stark had internal bleeding, but it's under control," the doctor said. "He has a number of bruises and broken bones, but those will all heal—"

Pepper didn't like the pause. "Then what are you worried about?"

"He has a severe concussion and I'm afraid that there may be additional trauma…" the doctor said. "I've ordered additional tests, but honestly…time will tell…"

She just stared at the doctor. Tony would be okay, she told herself. Tony was always practically blowing himself up…in the field (and at home)…he'd be fine. He was always fine. "Can I see him?"

"Of course," the doctor said.

When everyone finally left her alone with Tony, she broke down. He looked absolutely broken. She couldn't even remember how many times she'd thought that she'd lost Tony…or that she had and he'd been brought back by some kind of miracle. Tony was strong and stubborn. Normally, he wouldn't be down for long.

This time, she didn't know…

She couldn't lose him though.

Pepper didn't know how she was supposed to go home. Charlie and Sophia would want answers. She didn't know what to tell them. The doctor didn't sound confident. She couldn't go home and tell her kids that everything was going to be all right and that their daddy would be coming home soon.

Her hand fell to her belly and she ran it around in a slow circle as tears continued to fall. She was carrying their son. Pepper had never imagined living in a world without Tony, not since he'd come back from Afghanistan… She'd never imagined raising three children alone…

"Tony," she whispered as her voice broke. She took his hand and held it between both of hers. She sobbed for a few minutes as she knelt by his bedside. "Come home," she begged.

. . .

TBC…