Chapter 7
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It has been a couple of hours since Doctor Cho managed to get Tony's heart beating again and he is still unconscious. Even though the others have been coming in and out Steve and Rhodey have been sitting next to Tony's bed the entire time, neither wanting to move.
As she knows that they aren't going to leave anytime soon Natasha walks into the room and hands both Steve and Rhodey a cup of coffee,
"Thanks Nat." Rhodey says gratefully.
"Not a problem." Natasha responds, "I'm heading into the city." Natasha informs the pair.
"What for?" Steve asks, not seeing why she would considering what is going on.
"Pepper deserves to know what is going on; They might have broken up but she's still important to Tony, and Tony's still important to her, plus if Tony is unconscious for a while she might need to know why to handle any PR troubles." Natasha explains to Steve and Rhodey.
"You're right, she should know." Rhodey realises.
"I was planning on telling Pepper everything." Natasha reveals, "Do you have any objections to that?" she asks Steve.
"No." Steve answers, not looking away from Tony.
"Okay, I'll be back soon." Natasha says before leaving, giving Steve's shoulder a squeeze as she walks away.
"Wake up, Tony, please wake up." Steve mutters to himself as Rhodey pretends that he can't hear the desperation Steve's voice.
About an hour after she gave Steve and Rhodey coffee, wondering if it was a smart idea to leave the compound the entire time, Natasha arrives at Stark/Avengers Tower which is where Pepper is and walks out of the elevator and heads straight into her office.
"You busy?" Natasha asks curious as she walks into the office and sits down across from her.
"Would it matter if I was?" Pepper asks curious.
"Not really." Natasha admits.
"What's happened?" Pepper asks, knowing that Natasha wouldn't be in her office unless something happened.
"A couple of big things." Natasha admits, "So the day you broke up with Tony, turned out to be only one of several big things to happen to him that day." She reveals.
"What do you mean?" Pepper asks.
"Steve had a relationship with Howard Stark before he went into the ice and we've all learnt that they both consider each other to be the love of each other's life." Natasha explains, "As you can expect that is a shock, but a bigger one is what happened after Tony collapsed and…." Natasha starts to explain, but then Pepper cuts her off.
"Tony collapsed? Is he okay?" Pepper asks worried.
"He's in a coma." Natasha explains.
"WHAT? Why? What happened?" Pepper asks.
"That's complicated. I can explain on the way to the compound if you'd like." Natasha offers.
"That would be good, thanks." Pepper says and she collects what she needs and once she has everyone she and Natasha leave the office.
Back at the compound Steve is the only one in the medical area with Tony as Rhodey has gone to the bathroom.
"So, um, I don't know if you can hear me." Steve says to Tony, "I'm hoping you can, I'm also hoping that you will wake up soon." Steve says, "I want to be your father Tony, I really do, but if you're not ready for that then that's okay, I'll wait as long as I have to, just please wake up." Steve begs, not realising that Rhodey has walked back in,
"Tony never wakes up when he's supposed to." Rhodey says, "Take that from someone who had to share a dorm with him at MIT." he comments as he walks over to his seat.
"Was that where you and Tony meet? MIT?" Steve asks curious.
"Yeah, we were assigned as roommates, probably because we were two of the youngest people there, Tony was the youngest." Rhodey explains, "We became friends pretty quickly." He comments.
"And you've been friends ever since." Steve realises.
"Best friends." Rhodey corrects, "Some of the best times in my life have happened thanks to Tony." Rhodey reveals.
"What was Tony like as a teenager?" Steve asks curious.
"A lot like he is now." Rhodey reveals, "Except, more closed off." Rhodey admits, "He'd be the life of the party, and if you were anyone other than his father I'd explain that more, but he wouldn't let anyone get close, he didn't want to get hurt. He does that now without anyone noticing, but back then it was a bit more obvious and more extreme." He admits, "Tony's been hurt a lot, he's been let down a lot, I really hope that your name is going to get added to that list." Rhodey says, there being an undertone of a threat to his voice.
"I really don't intend for it to be." Steve says, hating that Tony has been let down so much.
"Good." Rhodey responds and the two of them drift into silence.
It has been about twenty minutes since Rhodey and Steve's conversation about Tony and Natasha and Pepper are walking into the medical area at the compound.
"Natasha told me everything, how is he doing?" Pepper asks Steve, it being clear that she is concerned.
"No changes." Steve answers, "He's unconscious, and Helen Cho isn't sure when he'll wake up."
"But he will, right?" Pepper asks as just because she and Tony broke up doesn't mean that she has stopped caring.
"He should." Steve answers, it being clear that he is worried that Tony won't.
"Good, that's good." Pepper says as she pulls a chair over and sits down too, joining Steve and Rhodey in their concerned silence as she does.
After giving Steve, Pepper and Rhodey one last look Natasha heads out of the medical area, knowing that there is nothing she can do to help Steve, Pepper, and Rhodey, that there is nothing anyone can do to help them until Tony wake up, which might be a while.
About an hour after Pepper came to the compound Steve, Rhodey and Pepper are the only ones in the medical are as Doctor Cho checks on Tony.
"How is he?" Steve asks concerned.
"His DNA is repairing, and it looks like he's stabilising." Doctor Cho informs Steve, Pepper and Rhodey.
"So he'll be okay?" Pepper asks, sounding amazed by that.
"Possibly, but the serum is more active in him now." Helen explains, as before now the traces of the serum that Tony had in him weren't active, it didn't change anything about him, "That's likely going to have a more obvious effect on him." Helen explains, "And some of his recessive inherited traits may start to become more obvious."
"So you're saying that he's going to be more like me?" Steve asks, as he cannot picture that.
"Maybe, but we won't know until he wakes up." Helen explains.
"When will that be?" Rhodey ask curious.
"I don't know." Helen answers, "It could be days or weeks, you've just go to wait." She explains, "I'll be back in an hour to run some more tests." She reveals before leaving.
"That's good news, right?" Pepper asks Rhodey and Steve.
"Probably as good as we're going to get." Steve admits as he reaches out and takes his son's hand, seeing the action both Pepper and Rhodey smile, both of them being glad that Tony, someone who is so important to them, now has what he's never had before, a parent who truly cares and isn't afraid to show it.
It has been four days since Tony went into a cardiac arrest and he has been unconscious, basically in a coma ever since. Ever since Tony has been in a coma Pepper and Rhodey have been by Tony's side most the time while Steve has only left his son's side when he absolutely had to, Steve's even been sleeping in the chair next to Tony's bed.
It is about five am and Steve is asleep in the chair next to his son's bed, holding his hand, when Tony starts to wake. Due to the fact that he is a light sleeper Steve is woken by the movement.
"Tony?" Steve asks, turning to look at his son, who he is amazed to realises is awake.
"Hey Cap." Tony says, "Is there something wrong with your bed? Because that can't be comfortable." He comments.
"I didn't want to leave until you were awake." Steve admits, causing Tony to feel amazed, not that he would ever admit that, "How are you feeling?" he asks curious.
"Like I'm not dying." Tony answers, "How long was I out for?" he asks curious.
"Four days." Steve answers.
"Huh." Tony response, not sure what to say to that.
"And you did go into cardiac arrest." Steve tells Tony.
"Yeah, I got that." Tony admits and he takes a deep breath, "I saw Dad." He reveals.
"You saw Howard?" Steve asks shocked.
"Yeah." Tony answers, "I mean I'm sure that it was just my brain being deprived of oxygen, but it felt real. He apologised for everything, said things I never heard Dad say." Tony admits, trying not to show how much he wishes it was.
"What makes you so sure that it wasn't real? It could have been." Steve tells Tony.
"I doubt it." Tony comments, "Although he did tell me something to tell you that made no sense." He comments.
"What did he say?" Steve asks curious.
"He said the he loved you, and that he was sorry about being wrong about the pocket knife thing, especially considering who proved him wrong." Tony explains, and as he does Steve does get a pained look, but a look of realisation, "I'm guessing that that makes more sense to you than it does to me." He realises.
"Yeah, it does." Steve confirms, being sure, thanks to those words that it was really Howard that Tony saw.
"So, what does it mean?" Tony asks curious, being pretty sure that he is pushing too much, but he has a deep desire to know.
"When Howard first started to design our gear he told me that Hydra wouldn't attack me with a pocket knife, and then when Nat, Sam and I were fighting on the bridge the day before S.H.I.E.L.D fell I was." Steve explains.
"And the second part?" Tony asks, causing Steve to look even more pained.
"It was Bucky who attacked me with a pocket knife" Steve comments.
"Oh your brainwashed friend." Tony realises.
"Yeah." Steve responds, his voice full of pain, and the two of them drift into silence.
"Why'd you really stay?" Tony asks, breaking the silence again after a minute.
"I didn't want you to be alone when you woke up." Steve admits, "From what I know from Howard's message and the things I've learnt over the last few years I realised that just telling you I am here and that I care won't be enough for you to believe me, I'd have to show you." He explains, "I'm not going anywhere Tony, I want to be here for you. I know that you are an adult, and I also know that adults still need their parents, and I want to be your parent and I'll wait until you're ready to let me." Steve tells him, and for a little while Tony is quiet as he ponders Steve's words.
"I've never been a very good son." Tony admits, after a couple of minutes.
"I've never been a father before. So, I guess we'll figure this out together, if you want." Steve says, thinking that this is the closest Tony has been to seemingly being okay with everything.
"I think I do." Tony says, slightly surprising himself by the words coming out of his mouth, "But not zero to one hundred in one go, I still need time. So, how about we start with talking and I'll stop avoiding."
"I'd like that." Steve says with a grin, feeling amazed, as this is what he really wants, he wants a relationship with his son, "You know I should probably go get Helen, there are probably things that she needs to check." Steve comments.
"Yeah, probably." Tony responds.
"I'll be right back." Steve promises before getting up and leaving.
"You do that." Tony mutters to himself as Steve leaves. As he watches Steve leaves Tony thinks about how he's not completely sure about having an actual father/son relationship with Steve because honestly he hasn't had that before, but at the same time he is prepared to try even though it's going to be hard for him.
It has been a couple of hours since Tony wake and Doctor Cho has informed him that he is healthy, but cannot leave the medical area yet, though he doesn't have any intention to stay.
"Tony, don't." Steve, who has stayed with Tony for the last couple of hours, says.
"I'm not doing anything." Tony says with an innocent look on his face.
"You're about to." Steve says, "I know that look." Steve says, knowing it because he saw it on Howard's face, he even saw it on his own in the mirror.
"I'm am not staying in bed." Toy says as he throws the blanket off himself, "I'm not dying anymore, I don't need to stay in bed."
"Doctor Cho disagrees." Steve tells Tony, "She said that you need to stay in bed."
"Yeah, I don't listen to doctors." Tony comments, "And can you honestly say that if you were in my position you would? Would Dad have?" he asks, being pretty sure that he knows the answer to both.
"No, neither of us would." Steve admits.
"See, you can't expect me to either." Tony says with a grin, being glad that that worked how he was planning.
"You know Peggy once said that Howard and I were the stubbornest people she's ever met; I cannot be surprised that you are even more stubborn." Steve comments
"That sounds like the kind of thing Aunt Peggy would say." Tony comments with a smirk.
"Aunt Peggy?" Steve asks as he remembers that Howard called her Aunt Peggy in his message, but didn't explain why.
"Peggy's my godmother." Tony explains.
"Oh good." Steve says, being glad about that, and Tony stands up, "That's really not a good idea." Steve says as he does.
"You worry too much; you know that?" Tony asks.
"Yeah, I've heard that before." Steve admits.
"I'm not going to stay in this bed any longer." Tony says, "You can stop me if you want, but I'd rather go to breakfast." He comments.
"Okay, fine, but if it gets too much you're coming back here, no arguments." Steve tells Tony, it being clear that he doesn't think it is the greatest idea.
"Deal." Tony says and he and Steve head out of the medical area, Steve being pretty sure that this is a very bad idea.
A couple of minutes later Steve and Tony walk into the eating area where Sam, Natasha, Rhodey, Pepper, Wanda, Helen and Vision are.
"Tony! I told you to stay in bed." Doctor Cho says when she sees Tony and Steve walk in.
"I don't do what I'm told, you should know that." Tony comments, "What's for breakfast?" he asks.
"What's for breakfast? Tony you were in a coma!" Pepper says, sounding shocked.
"Pepper." Tony says amazed, "You're here?" he asks, sounding surprised.
"Of course I am." Pepper says, "As soon as Natasha told me that you were in a coma I knew I couldn't stay at the tower."
"I'm glad." Tony says with a half-smile, "Can we talk after breakfast?" he asks curious.
"Of course." Pepper answers as Steve and Tony sit down at the table.
Together the group just spends the next ten or so minutes enjoying their food.
"Tony are you feeling okay?" Rhodey asks his friend.
"I know I was just in a coma but there is no reason to ask, I feel great." Tony says, "You can stop asking."
"I know, but that's not why I was asking." Rhodey comments, "I don't think I've seen you eat that much, except…"
"Let's not go there." Tony comments, knowing exactly what Rhodey is about to say, "But you're right I have eaten more than normal, and I'm still hungry." He says, looking thoughtful for a minute, "Increased metabolism, is one of the things the serum causes, that's probably why."
"It would make sense." Helen admits.
"Does that mean you're going to get Steve's other abilities?" Clint asks curious.
"Probably not to the same degree, but I could have some of them." Tony admits.
"Maybe you should figure out which ones." Natasha suggests.
"I could, but I'm going to figure it out as I go along instead." Tony comments.
"Are you ready to talk now?" Pepper asks Tony curious.
"Sure." Tony respond sand the two of them get up and head out of the room.
A couple of minutes after they left the others Tony and Pepper walk into the one of the empty common area, as soon as the door is closed, no that it will do much if the others want to eavesdrop, Pepper hugs Tony.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Pepper informs him.
"I'm glad about that to." Tony admits as they break apart, "And I'm glad you're here."
"Natasha told me everything that you found out. How are you?" Pepper asks concerned.
"I'm still working on that." Tony admits as he sits down on one of the tables, "I don't think strange describes how all this feels." He admits, "Steve wants to be a parent to me." He tells Pepper.
"How do you feel about that?" Pepper asks curious.
"I said I'd give it a try, if we go slowly, but I don't know if it's a good idea" Tony admits, trying to hide what he is really thinking, forgetting that Pepper knows him so well.
"You're afraid." Pepper realises as she walks over and sits next to Tony, "Your whole life you've been let down by father figures, they've just hurt you, or with Edwin Jarvis you've were heartbroken when he died. You made armour for yourself long before you built those suits, and you use it to keep most people out, so that you don't get hurt again. You use it to project an image you want people to believe." Pepper says, causing Tony to curse how well Pepper knows him, "You let Rhodey see beneath your armour and you let me, but we weren't the only ones who were sitting by your bedside for the past four days, Steve was too, he only left when he had to, and he desperately wanted you to wake up." She says, "He cares, Tony, he wants to be a father to you and I know that's not easy for you to accept, but you should try." She says as she reaches over and takes Tony's hand, "The man I've seen the last four days sitting by your bed wants to be there for you, he wants to be your Dad, let him Tony. Show him the real you and let him be a father to you, I know you want that, even though it terrifies you." Pepper tells him.
"Why would he even want to be a father to me?" Tony asks, asking Pepper the question that he has been wondering since he learnt the truth.
"Because he is your father, and he's missed most of your life; he doesn't want to miss anymore." Pepper explains to Tony, "This could be a very good thing for you, Tony. Don't close yourself off from it because you're afraid of getting hurt." Pepper tells him.
"I've miss you." Tony says, telling the completely truth.
"I miss you too, but we won't work Tony, not now." Pepper tells him.
"I know; doesn't mean I don't miss having you in my life." Tony informs Pepper.
"I'll always be in your life, Tony, we'll always be friends, we just won't be together." Pepper tells him.
"I know." Tony says and they drift into silence.
"I should go." Pepper tells Tony after a few minutes, "I've got work to do."
"I know."
"Bye Tony." Pepper says, giving Tony a kiss on his cheek before she stands up, "Just give him a chance Tony, give yourself a chance." She says before walking out of the room, leaving Tony alone.
It has been a couple of hours since Pepper left and ever since Tony has been in the garage taking apart cars that really don't need to be taken apart.
"Why are you hiding again?" Rhodey asks, walking into the garage.
"I'm not hiding." Tony says, sounding insulted.
"You kind of are." Rhodey tells his friend, "Look, I know better than anyone how much Howard hurt you, I saw it firsthand, but Steve's not Howard." Rhodey tells his friend.
"I know that." Tony snaps, "It's just…" Tony starts to say before trailing off.
"Doesn't change the harm Howard caused you." Rhodey realises and Tony nods, "Just give this a chance Tony, because I don't think Steve would ever let you down the way Howard did, and if he does I'll kick his ass super soldier or not." Rhodey says, causing Tony to laugh.
"Want to give me a hand with this?" Tony asks curious as even though he really doesn't need help he would like to work on a car with his best friend.
"Sure." Rhodey says, knowing what Tony is doing and together the two of them work on the car, that honestly doesn't even need anything done to it.
It has been a few hours since Rhodey and Tony started to work together on the cars and after cleaning himself up Tony has gone in search of Steve, wanting to say a few things before he loses his nerve. After a little bit of searching Tony finds Steve in his office reading Howard's journal once more.
"I never had a friend before Rhodey." Tony says and as soon as he hears Tony's voice Steve looks up.
"Tony…." Steve starts to say.
"I mean yeah, there were people at boarding school, but they were only interested in my mind, or my money, just like most people since then. Rhodey was the first person who was interested in me for me." Tony says as he walks over, "After Mom died, after Edwin Jarvis died, there have only been two people who truly care, who I've been able to count on and that's Rhodey and Pepper." Tony reveals, and as he realises how big this must be for Tony Steve is quiet, "So when you say you care, my instinct is to assume it's some kind of trick, because in my experience that's what it usually is." Tony reveals, "I'm going against all my instincts here, Steve, I want to believe you care, I want to have a relationship with you, but I apologise in advance if I'm no good at it."
"You don't have to apologise for anything." Steve assures Tony as he stands up, "I know that Howard hurt you in the past and I hate that more I can say, so I know that it's going to take you time to trust me, and I also want you to know that I am not going anywhere, and I will do everything I can to get you to see that." Steve says, hearing that Tony just nods,
"Guys, dinner is ready." A voice says and Tony and Steve turn to see Natasha, "And seriously if you want to have these kind of conversations, close the door." She tells them before leaving.
"Like it would stop you." Tony calls after Natasha, "Dinner?" he asks Steve.
"Yeah, I'll meet you there." Steve responds.
"Okay, see you there." Tony says before he turns and leaves.
After Tony leaves the room Steve puts the journal in the desk draws and locks it for safe keeping. Once the journal is locked into place Steve pulls his picture of Howard out his pocket.
"Damn it Howard, I love you so much, but you hurt our son so much, how could you?" Steve asks the picture, pain in his voice, "I want to try to fix the damage you caused him, but I don't know if it will be enough, I hope it is because he's an incredible person. I wish you were here." He comments, "I wish we got to do this together, things would have been so different." Steve says and then with one last look at the picture Steve puts the photo back in his pocket and heads out of the room, planning on doing whatever he can to show Tony that he isn't going to let him down. He's going to do everything he can to make up for the all the pain that the man he loves caused their son.