Chapter 9

Yinsen had to literally hold Pepper back when Tony was returned by their guards. As soon as the door was closed and they were locked in, they both ran over to where he lay, crumpled on his side, unconscious, soaked through and trembling against the dirty cave floor, his body streaked with blood. Yinsen knelt down and looked the man over, assessing his injuries, silently prioritising what to do first. Pepper wasn't as calm, she knelt opposite Yinsen, began stroking Tony's hair and gently calling his name, her voice full of emotion.

"It is better if we don't wake him," Yinsen said gently.

"But I need to know he is okay," Pepper's voice was defensive.

"Let me look him over, then you can wake him."

"Please, let me just talk to him, and I can-"

"Pepper!" Yinsen snapped. "Look at him. You want me to wake him up? He will be in pain. He is hurt! Let me help him, then we will wake him." Pepper looked at him shocked by his tone, then nodded as she realised how selfish she was being. "Good," Yinsen said, his voice softer this time. "Do me a favour – pull one of the spare cots over here, by the fire. And make sure the fire's not going to go out soon, we need to warm his body temperature."

Pepper nodded and hurried over to perform her tasks. Yinsen looked down at Tony. His face was swollen and bruised, he had clearly been given a beating, but there was no worrying damage there. His chest and back were in a similar condition – bruised, some scrapes, on his back, a particular bad hit had left a boot-print bruised into his skin. Yinsen winced himself as he gently prodded over the area, but decided again that intense bruising was the only symptom. Some of his ribs could be either bruised or broken, but as there was no way to treat this, Yinsen left it. It wasn't a priority. Swollen, bruised and broken skin would heal by itself, given time. There was a chance of internal bleeding but Yinsen could assess this when Tony was awake. For now, Yinsen's concern was the man's chest – the bandages were soaked through, and stained with blood, which had turned a pale pink colour from the water.

Pepper pulled the bed over, it wasn't heavy, and didn't take long. "Thank you," Yinsen muttered, "can you help me get him up – hold the battery?"

Together they managed to get their patient on to the bed – Yinsen gripping the man from under his arms, Pepper carrying the battery under one arm, the other trying to help support his feet. They both grunted from the effort. "He's – he's heavy," Pepper panted, surprised by the dead weight.

"Yes," Yinsen agreed somewhat distractedly, as he cut through the sodden bandages. He winced again as he looked at the mess that was this man's chest. The wound was inflamed and bruised, and it looked like one of the wires had become dislodged. Yinsen worked with a needle and some tweezers, and thoroughly checked each wire was fully connected to the socket. The skin around the magnet had already been pink, with burns and stitches scattered around it. Now it was also bloody, where the stitches had torn, and seemed to leak with more discharge than previously. Yinsen carefully cleaned the wound, before deciding it was the best he could hope for. The area was inflamed and bruised and Yinsen was sure it was infected. He sighed as he reached over for the bandages, and this time, packed a wad of cotton and a chunk of folded bandage against the wound, before bandaging over it. It added another layer of protection – not the best thing, but it was something. Pepper nodded her head as she watched the entire process, her eyes skipping between Tony's sleeping, bloodied and swollen face, to Yinsen's hands as he delicately worked on the man's injuries.

Now satisfied that the most important injuries had been taken care of, Yinsen instructed Pepper to fetch all of the blankets they had, Tony still felt cold despite the heat of the fire. Before wrapping him up in the threadbare blankets Pepper used one to gently dry his face and arms – droplets of water mixed with blood still clung to him, and she was determined to get rid of them. After this she moved and softly dried off his hair with a blanket, as best as she could. Pepper looked over at Yinsen who was rummaging through his kit frowning.

"Why is he wet?"

Yinsen shrugged, refraining from answering. He had a good idea of why the man was wet but he wasn't going to share that with Pepper.

"He looks better, at least, with most of the blood washed away."

"Yes," Yinsen agreed, although he hadn't seen Tony previously. "If you can get a cold cloth, it may be a good idea to press it against that eye – it looks completely swollen – he's going to have trouble opening it."

Pepper nodded and quickly got to work. When she returned she gently held it over his eye, then alternated it between his other, slightly less bruised eye, and then his ear which was black and blue and crusted with blood from a particularly vicious kick she remembered witnessing.

Yinsen zipped his bag up and yawned. "We need to keep him warm, and I'm worried about the magnet – the wound looks infected. We need to keep a close eye on him. It could be a good idea, to wake him now," Yinsen offered, remembering their earlier conversation, "see how he feels. It will help me assess his condition."

Pepper looked down at him, his sleeping form – it was strange, seeing him so – still. "Can we leave him, for a while? He probably needs the rest."

Yinsen knew they should wake him, but he found himself agreeing with Pepper, and together they watched him sleep.

As exhausted as she was, Pepper couldn't sleep after that. She didn't want to leave Tony either, if she was honest. Instead of going to her cot as Yinsen repeatedly suggested, she pulled the chair up to the side of his own cot, so she could be comfortable – her own body ached and pulled when she moved – and keep an eye on him. Yinsen pottered around the cave, breaking off every now and then to look inside his medical bag as though he was searching for something. Every thirty minutes he would refresh the cold cloth pressed against Tony's face. He insisted it would help with the swelling, although for now it looked just as bad as it had before.

After an hour Tony began to move in his sleep. Just small movements, a slight shake of his head, a twitch in his face. Pepper didn't notice how one of his hands was gripping the edge of a blanket tightly. The other fist, hidden beneath the covers, was wrapped around the edge of the cot, again fist tight, the joints on his hand white from the pressure of his grip.

"Yinsen, I think he's waking up."

Yinsen came over as Tony moved again, this time more of a jerk than a fidget, and he moaned in his sleep.

"If he becomes any more active, we may need to hold him down, or wake him up. It's either a bad dream or the pain is too much, and he feels it even now."

"Can't you get something for the pain?"

Yinsen smiled at her naivety. Chloroform was what the Ten Rings classed as anaesthetic and pain relief, it was all he had. "These men only give me the tools to keep bodies alive – they are not concerned about their comfort afterwards."

Tony moved again, another sharp jerk, and then began to mutter under his breath, his lips moving, but Pepper couldn't hear his words.

She leaned over to smooth his hair down again. Such a personal act – but she couldn't help herself. Pepper brushed his hair back away from his sweaty forehead, and found it soothed her almost as much as it did him. Tony suddenly opened his eyes – correction – eye – and froze for a second as he stared warily up at Pepper. There was no recognition on his face, so Pepper brushed his hair back again, and this time Tony reacted, whacking her hand away before trying to scurry off of the bed, only stopping when he felt the pull of his chest and he gasped as he fell back onto the mattress.

"Tony, Tony - it's me, it's Pepper, it's okay."

Tony lay still on his side, hand curled against his chest as he breathed in ragged breaths through the pain that had assaulted him. As he calmed, he woke fully, and finally turned back over, laying on his back, the pain in his chest seemed to ease, slightly.

"Sorry," he grumbled. Pepper shook her head, indicating that no apology was necessary.

"How are you feeling Mr Stark?"

Tony almost smiled. Somehow, Yinsen's calm demeanour seemed to comfort Tony. "Okay," Tony sighed as he slowly pushed himself up. "A little warm under these covers," he added as he pushed them away.

"Well we had to warm you up, your body temperature was low," Yinsen probed.

Tony ignored the probing statement with a simple "thanks."

After brushing the covers away Yinsen was pleased to see Tony stayed seated on the bed, didn't attempt to get up. Whilst it meant the man was in obvious pain, it also meant his body could heal better. "Pepper, would you please heat up some soup while I check Mr Stark over?"

Pepper nodded, giving Tony his privacy.

"How do you really feel, Tony," Yinsen asked, his voice a notch quieter as Pepper busied herself with the soup.

"I'm-" he paused again as he shifted slightly on the bed, but was pleased to hide the flinch of pain that had tried to erupt from his bruised body. "I'm, okay, really," Tony said, staring across the room, watching Pepper work.

"You have taken quite the beating. Your back and chest are severely bruised, possibly your ribs are broken. Your face has taken the brunt of their fists, clearly. Although it should all heal – in time. But your chest," Yinsen sighed, wanting Tony to understand the gravity of the situation, "it is not good. You must do your best to protect it."

Tony's head snapped to the side as he stared at Yinsen through his good eye. "I don't really have much choice about that, do I?"

Pepper came over, carrying a bowl of murky looking soup – their staple diet. He shook his head, felt nauseous at the sight of it. "I'm not hungry."

"You must eat," Yinsen interrupted, "you need to keep your strength up."

Tony took the bowl, stared down at it. He really didn't want to eat. His body was aching, it hurt to breathe, or move, and his head felt like an inflated balloon – which it probably looked like. "What happened," Tony asked, trying to distract himself from the pain, and Yinsen from forcing him to eat. "How did I get back here?"

"They brought you here, about an hour after I was returned," Pepper interrupted, watching him carefully.

Tony tried a spoonful of soup, swallowed it, grimaced, forced himself to keep it down. "Do you remember what happened, after I left? You were, you were wet through when they left you here."

Tony shrugged, forced his face to remain blank. "I don't remember anything. You were there, in the chair. I was on the floor, I think. Then I woke up here."

Yinsen stared at the man as he spoke. It was interesting, he really was a convincing liar. Why not convince the terrorists he didn't know how to make the bomb? Yinsen decided to leave the point for now.

Tony rested the bowl on the bed besides him, pulled a hand up to the back of his neck, let his head rest against it as he willed away the pounding of his head. "Pepper, about before, I – I'm –" He looked down at his hands. "I'm so sorry."

Pepper smiled and shook her head. "You don't need to apologise to me Tony."

"I do. Look at you. What they did to you. What I did to you!"

Pepper made her voice remain calm as his became more and more stressed. "You didn't do this Tony. You were just as powerless as me."

"I may as well have hit you myself." He looked down at his knees again as shame and disgust snaked across his damaged face. "I'm just so sorry."

Pepper smiled, reached over, took his hand in hers. It was shaking. She held it tightly. "You did nothing wrong, but I forgive you anyway. I knew you were just trying to protect me. And it worked. Look at yourself, and look at me. Clearly, I did better out of this than you did."

Tony smiled at her – despite the sting it caused to his cracked and split lips. God, she was always so – kind, and selfless, and – good. Somehow the words didn't seem to do his feelings justice.

Pepper returned the smile, then her eyes turned stern again as she pointedly stared to the bowl of quickly cooling soup. The message was clear. Tony sighed, took another spoonful, and Pepper laughed, it felt like any other day at the office, in the workshop – Tony apologising, although at least this time, for once, he genuinely didn't need to; and Pepper taking care of him, making him take care of himself. She watched in silence as he finished his meal, clinging to the feeling or normalcy, knowing it wouldn't last.

That night, they moved back to the sleeping area at the back of the cave. Tony lay on his cot, breathing in and out as slowly as he could – it kept the rattle of pain his lungs caused in his chest to a minimum. He couldn't sleep. How could he? He was worried and scared and knew this wasn't the end of it. They were going to come back for him. Or Pepper. He had to do something. He needed a plan.

Yinsen was snoring softly, Tony didn't mind the noise, it was almost comforting. But it wouldn't help him get to sleep either. He shifted slightly on the cot, wrapped his blanket around him, mindful of the battery wires.

"Tony?"

"Pepper," he whispered.

"Are you okay? I heard you moving – is it the pain?"

Tony smiled in the darkness. Once again, Pepper trying to take care of him. "I'm fine, I'm just.. thinking. Why are you awake?" His voice got louder, from the whisper, but he tried to keep the tone down for Yinsen.

"Same," she said, still a whisper. "Do – do you think anybody will come for us?" The crack in her voice told Tony how scared she was.

Tony didn't know how to respond. "I think people will be looking for us. But will they find us? I don't think so."

"But Rhodey-"

"Rhodey's probably dead," Tony interrupted, his voice cold, empty. "Please, I don't want to think about Rhodey right now. I can't think about him."

"I'm sorry."

"No – I'm sorry. I just – can't, think about him. If he is dead – God," Tony sat up in bed, held his head in both hands. He heard a shuffle and suddenly Pepper was seated beside him, her hand gently rubbing a circle into his back. "All of this is my fault," he whispered again. "You're hurt, all those soldiers – dead. And Rhodey – he's dead, I know it, and it's my fault."

"It's not your fault," she whispered. "Any yes, Rhodey may be dead, but he could be okay. Until we know for sure, you should hold onto hope, we have to. The soldiers," Peppers voice hitched in her throat, "as tragic as it is, they were doing their job – their duty. And you didn't kill them, the terrorists did. And I'm fine Tony, and I'd much rather be here, with you, than be back home worried sick about you."

Tony nodded, but the gesture was insincere. "Thanks," he muttered, to pacify Pepper – no point making her feel as bad as he did. "I promise you Pepper," he said, his voice full of determination. "I am going to get us out of here."

A loud bang was suddenly heard – Tony looked over to Yinsen, had he fallen out of bed? It was too dark to see. Suddenly the door was opened from the other side of the cave – men with guns ready, screaming for Tony. The lights came on, blindingly bright, adding to the confusion. Tony raised a hand to shield his eyes from the light. How had that happened? Men were pouring into the room, lots of them, led by the fat man. Razza was nowhere to be seen. Tony quickly glanced at Pepper, she sat still on the bed, frozen in place, her hand clutching his wrist tightly. He shook his arm free, moved slowly towards the men with the battery slung under his arm. He turned back once more, saw Yinsen scrambling from his bed, looking tired and confused from the commotion.

"Mr Stark," the big man leered, "so good to see you on your feet again!"

Tony stared at him. "What do you want?" Tony spun round, saw Pepper striding over angrily, her hands on her hips. "Stay there!" He yelled at her, his voice angry. Why would she get involved? How could she be so stupid? She should be hiding back there, not arguing with the men – what if they take her again? He was relieved to see her stop moving, and then Yinsen gently pulled her to the back of the cave.

"Don't worry!" the fat man continued, in high spirits. "We only want you, for now." The threat was very clear. The fat man finished his statement with a solid punch that was thrown into Tony's stomach. Tony doubled over, gasping for breath, winded from the force of the hit. The battery tumbled through his grip and clattered against the cave floor.

"Pick it up."

Tony knelt down to pick the battery up, still coughing. In the background he could hear somebody shouting, the words "leave him alone" standing out over the commotion. Pepper. He stood up straight again, the battery held tightly to his chest, against his aching ribs and bruised skin.

A guard approached, handed Tony a filthy canvas sack. Tony grabbed it, then pulled it over his head, understanding that this was what they wanted him to do. Somehow it felt worse, doing it himself, worse than when he had been forced to wear it. Then hands pulled at his arms, shuffling him forwards. He clung to the battery as he was moved through the underground compound, trying not to think about what was going to happen, what they were going to do to him. He clung on to the rusted metal box like it was a lifeline, which ironically, it was.

Thank you to Jimenush for your kind , encouraging PMs :)

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