Enjoy. =)

FYI- the dark bold prints are conversations or memories.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

She felt like she had been there for days, but the truth, it was just seven hours. Seven long hours of waiting. Seven hours of staring at the floor praying that he would be okay. Seven hours of constantly apologizing to Tony in her head, over and over. Then scolding him over and over again for being an idiot in a freaking red and gold iron suit. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. Waiting had it pros and cons. One of the cons was watching Rhodes pace. Or maybe it was a pro. She wanted someone to pay for this. Somehow she blamed Rhodes. He was there…was he not? Surely this could have been avoided. Surely.

You should be ten hours away from here.

A long sigh escaped her lips. She just wanted answers about Tony. She was so tired of this freaking military hospital with its black sludge coffee and stale peanut butter crackers that were in bits and pieces. She was starving, sleepy, and was pretty sure she favored death warmed over. She had discarded her suit jacket about five hours ago. It laid in a bundle in the chair next to her along with her purse. Which she had cleaned out twice, it was considerably lighter. Pulling at her straps on her purple spaghetti strapped blouse she rolled her eyes. She was extremely uncomfortable in this getup. Her car was just right outside and in fact, she could go change, but the thought of the news being delivered without her here made her queasy. And if it turned out to be bad, she knew Rhodes wouldn't tell her.

She lifted her eyes to the window, the sun was setting and it was gorgeous. Her eyes became clouded with tears. They used to watch sunsets in the beginning.

'They should have named the sunsets, Pepper, instead of sunset. I can hear people saying now, 'Hey, wanna go watch a Pepper with me?' I think it has a ring to it.'

'I like the word sunset Tony.'

'I love the word Pepper. Wow, isn't this Pepper beautiful?'

And she laughed.

Not anymore. There wasn't anytime with all of the 'crime fighting'. Being a 'superhero' really had a terrible affect on your love life or well, just life in general. She caught Rhodes looking at her- he quickly looked away.

She let out a frustrated sigh. She wished he would just say something to her. After five hours, silence is deafening, "You keep staring. What?"

Rhodes pursed his lips tightly. She looked him full on in the face. His eyes looked tired, his hands were slightly trembling probably from lack of food, she assumed. His combat attire was filthy. There were blood stains on them. Whether it was Tony's or a fallen solider from his Unit, she wasn't sure. Honestly, she didn't want to know. It startled her though, he almost looked too human. Too vulnerable. All these damned men in her life, they all thought they were some sort of superhero's.

And she was stuck in the middle of it.

You could almost be to Washington now. She shoved the thought out of her mind quickly.

"You've not said much in a while," he said quietly as he looked at the space between them. He didn't want to face her. She watched him closely and suddenly wondered why she was sitting so far away from him. Because you're pissed, remember? She shook her head.

"I'm just thinking about things," she said before taking a sip of her coffee and then shortly after made a face. Disgusting. She stood up and crossed the room tossing the coffee into the trashcan. She closed her eyes tightly and rubbed her hands over her bare arms. She sighed. Don't say anything.

"I left him." Her willpower to shut her mouth was amazing.

Rhodes remained silent, so she continued, "This morning. I warned him…that if this was the life he wanted then I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't stand by his side and condone this madness. He was just hurting himself over and over."

She turned sharply on her heels and casually strolled to her seat while twisting her hands in knots against her stomach. She shook her head. He didn't choose you.

"You know what he said?"

Rhodes shook his head quietly, "What?"

"That…that I didn't need him like they need him." She scoffed, running her sweaty palms over her knees. Her dark grey pant suit was wrinkled beyond ironing. He didn't choose you. She looked terrible and felt horrible.

'I have to do this Pepper. They need me. They need me to save them!'

'And what about me? Do I not need you?'

'You do just fine without me. Or you know what, at least you tell me every damn day that you can make it without me. So you tell me.'

'Is that what you think Tony?'

'I have to go. They are expecting me. They're about to be under attack.'

'Fine. That's it Tony…just runaway. Runaway, like you always do. Go!'

'It's my fucking job Pepper. What the hell would you have me do?'

'Me or the suit?'

'Excuse me?'

"Excuse me, Ms. Potts?"

She whipped her head around toward the doctor in green scrubs. She couldn't remember what his name was and at the moment she didn't give a damn. She spoke, her voice high with emotion, "How is he?"

The tall older man took a breath. His blue eyes were sad. Oh God...please, no. He nodded slowly, "Well, he sustained significant damage to his spine. Four of his ribs were broken and he did have a mild concussion. The damage to his spine…is a bit more technical. His ribs will heal in all due time, but…"

He huffed before he continued, "He won't be wearing his suit for a while. We're not sure what's all been effected, but as of right now the lumbar region of his spinal cord is severely damaged. He has 45 percent leg usage at the moment."

Her body sunk down into the chair behind her. Her hand on her chest. 45 percent? Now what? God, she was such a fool for saying those things to him…those awful things. Rhodes laid his hand on her shoulder. And for that she was glad, she couldn't speak. She wasn't sure if she was even feeling anything beside this deep ache that surged through her heart.

"Will he be able to walk?"

"With therapy there are numerous options for him to be able to move about. Continuing in daily activities…"

Pepper interrupted, her voice straining between anger and pain, "Will he…be able to walk?"

"The 45 percent is declining as we speak. The damage was far worse than anyone could have intended. We simply didn't get to the damage in time. His main means of walking, right now, will be a wheelchair. But then, I can't tell or even begin to predict what the human body will do. There is always a possibility."

She was shaking. He'd never walk. Ever again. She shut her eyes and squeezed them together tightly.

'You can't even save yourself Tony. How can you save some complete stranger?'

'I have to go Pepper. Rhodes and his men are in trouble.'

'Then don't expect me here when you get back.'

'Maybe that's for the best then.'

"Um…I…uh…is he awake…I mean are we allowed to see him…at all?" She stumbled through her thoughts. This is not happening. This is a dream. She sucked in a haggard breath. A wheelchair? The great Tony Stark.

He wouldn't be able to walk.

You should be in Washington by now. He should be saving the world.

She wiped away her tears as they began falling. This can't be happening.

She waited outside Tony's room. Room 145. The hall was an awful color of yellow. It made her think of dead Marigolds. The smell was too clean. There was a chill in the air. She griped her purse along with her wrinkled suit jacket tighter. Rhodes had been in there for almost 45 minutes. She could have gone in, but she was working up to it. After everything that they had said to one another…would he even want to see her? The nurses eyed her closely as Pepper patted her foot on the ground impatiently. Regardless of what was said, she still loved. She still cared for him. She should be in there. Right? That was it. This was it.

She eased to the door. She could hear Jim's voice saying something. She pushed open the door slowly. This wasn't the first time that she had been in a hospital room to see Tony, but it was the first time for him being…

Handicapped? God, she hated that word already.

She met Rhodey's eyes as he kept on talking to Tony, whose eyes were closed. Maybe she had waited too long to see him. She should have just left after she found out he was okay.

'Maybe that's for the best then.' She took in an uneasy breath as she closed the door behind her.

Rhodes stopped and gave his full attention to Pepper, "I was giving him an unofficial debriefing."

She swallowed as she watched Tony's eyes opened slowly and search around the room. They fell on her and instantly became shiny. Clearly he wasn't expecting her to be here. Maybe she should have left. She pointed at the door and started to turn, "I'm just…"

Rhodes spoke quickly, "Hey man…I'm going to hit the road. I'll be around tomorrow to check in."

Tony gave a small smile, "Bring me back a scotch or two. Mixes well with morphine."

Rhodes gave a wholesome laugh, "I'll sneak it in. Glad to see you breathing."

He walked by her and gave a small nod, "Pepper."

She swallowed as she watched as the door closed. And then there were two, she thought biting her lip. She moved forward taking Jim's chair beside the solid white hospital bed. She gazed at the beeping machines and the flashing lights and the four bags filled with different kinds of solutions. This is a dream. He followed her gaze with his eyes and gave a short sigh, "It's not as bad as it looks."

"Yea," she said flatly. She brushed the tears away, not meeting his eyes. He grunted a bit as he moved. She looked up, eyes wide with fear.

"It's fine. Just a bit of pain," he said with a hiss. He closed his eyes, "Guess Superhero's can get hurt."

"Tony…"

"No. You were right," he said firmly meeting her eyes. She scrunched her eyebrows feeling angry.

"I don't want to be right Tony." He searched her eyes as she continued, "I just want you in one whole piece."

As soon as she said it, she wanted a do-over. She wanted to go back to this morning. Start over- make him stay home. He looked down at his legs for the longest time. "Tony, I…"

"I'm feeling really tired Pepper. You think, maybe, we could do this tomorrow?"

He never once looked at her as he spoke. She silently gathered her things and nodded. The tears gathered in her eyes. She should have left. She chewed on her lip, "I don't have anywhere to stay…so if you don't mind…"

"That's fine." He said quickly. It was clear he wanted her to leave.

You should be in Washington by now. He should be saving the world.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

How was it?