So yes… I am back. After a long day at school, a long week actually, I can get started on my stories again! I'm planning to update all three of my stories and possibly get a one shot out by today. So without further ado… CHAPTER 9!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but my plot.

"Rhodey…" Tony felt his knees weaken and buckle. Pepper was whimpering in the background. Tony didn't even have to turn around to know that she was crying. Not in fear, but in defeat. Rhodey was apart of Whitney's little scheme now. Bringing his own brother back to the real world would never work, Rhodey was stubborn.

"I must say I did not see this coming." Whitney laughed. She put one arm on Rhodey's sagging shoulder and another on her hip. Rhodey stayed quiet. He couldn't bring himself into looking at Tony or Pepper. Their sadness, grief, disbelief and pain would only make it worse on him. He chose his path and he was going to follow it.

"Rhodey…" Tony ignored Whitney's outburst. Instead, he took a step closer to him. "Rhodey why? Whitney… she… look at what she did…." His voice was small and soft. It was something he never did before. Rhodey looked up and truly focused on Tony's face.

Tony's left eye was nearly closed from a black eye that shadowed down to his cheek. His arms were now skin- to- bone from the lack of nutrition. There was a long red gash that was hidden by his red t-shirt, but it started from the back of his neck and ran down (possibly) to the end of his sternum. That was caused by the extreme shock treatment Whitney gave him. His bottom lip was split near the ride side and his hair hugged his forehead from the water.

A sudden pang of guilt bubbled in Rhodey's stomach. But he forced himself to follow Tony's outstretched hands to his former friend: Pepper. Her former flawless face was now littered with small cuts and bruises. A large bruise, which was visible, was starting to darken on her high cheekbones. Her nose bridge was cut and right above her eyebrow was another larger cut. Her hair, as was Tony's, was damp and clung to her skull.

Another pang of guilt.

"Come on Rhodey dearest." Whitney purred. She slipped her arm into his and tugged him along. "We at least need to get you some warm clothing and a nice warm shower. Oh lets not forget food." Rhodey's mouth watered and his eyes suddenly brightened. With one look back at Tony and Pepper's sullen faces, he disappeared into the hallway.

"Tony? Can… can you help me?" Pepper sniffled. She tried blinking back the tears that kept forming in her vision, but at the moment they flowed like rivers down her cheek.

He turned around and saw her face. With a deep sigh, he walked up to her. He gently scanned the metal clasps and stood again. Tony scanned Pepper's head and, like an expert, he plucked out a hairpin.

"Hard to believe everything you need to get yourself out of a trap is within a girl's accessory." He mumbled. Tony quickly got to work undoing the blasted clasp. Within 5 minutes the metal cuffs swished open and Pepper got to her feet. She was shivering like a mad dog.

"Oh Tony! Why Rhodey?" Tony gave her a long look before yelping. Pepper had crumpled to the ground, and lucky for her, he caught her. She stared up at him with her hazel eyes, which were full of pain.

"We're going to die aren't we Tony?" Tony bit his lip. He didn't want to accept the fact that they were going to die in those monster's hands. But it was kind of obvious. Rhodey knew their weaknesses he knew everything about them. Whitney would know exactly what to do to make them break.

"We got to stay strong Pepper. Don't give up just yet. Just hold on." Pepper nodded and gently buried her head into the crock of his neck. Tony merely placed both of his arms on her back and sat cross-legged on the ground. Gently rocking his body, he was thinking about what was happening. Rhodey would probably call his mom and make an excuse about where Pepper, he, and himself were. No one would worry too much; they were on their own.

A sudden click from the dark metal door stirred Pepper from her sleep. Tony gently put her down and got up. "What is that Tony?" Tony looked back at her and continued walking towards the door.

"I… PEPPER DOWN!" A small canister rolled into the room. Within the moment Tony finished his sentence the canister whirled, and green smoke emitted from the opposite ends. Pepper shrieked.

Tony ran to her and threw himself on top of her. "Pepper COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE! Just pretend you're…. passed… Out…" Pepper felt Tony's body slacken on her. His arms fell on either side of her. She held back a sob, but she obeyed Tony's command. With some hesitation, she allowed herself to slacken like a rag doll and "pass out."

Pepper kept her eyes closed. She had to be at least the one who was awake. "Rhodey dear… please put her on that chair. Tony, though, put him on that table." Whitney's voice was full of venom. Rhodey must've told her something. Tony hated lab tables.

"Will they wake up?" Rhodey's voice.

"Oh no. They should be out for another hour. So that's when we will execute our plan. But no… I don't want them to rest if you know what I mean. I'm going to wake up Tony." There was an edge on Whitney's words.

"What…. What are you going to do?" Rhodey sounded doubtful. That jerk better feel some pain and guilt.

"It's probably my favorite toy in my belt. That's how Tony got his gash on his neck."

"You're going to SHOCK HIM? Whitney, when a person is sleeping shocking them can kill them. Especially Tony with his heart monitor." Was Rhodey trying to save him?

"Do you think I don't know that? That's why I'm going to do something special." Pepper gently peeled her eye lids apart, only to get a glimpse of Whitney's "special something." She stifled a gasp, and painfully bit down on her lip.

Whitney pulled out a gallon of water and poured the water onto him. Instantly, his clothing clung to his skinny body. With the remainder of the water, Whitney led a trail back to about where Pepper was.

"Watch this my apprentice." She sounded like a cheesy movie; Whitney really needed some medical attention.

Pepper watched in horror as Whitney flipped the switch on the tazer to AUTO, and tossed it into the puddle. "NO!"

Whitney looked at Pepper in shock but then merely smirked, she raised an eyebrow. "Get ready to get a show of your life time." And sure enough the light from the electricity danced along the water trail and it slowly made it's way to Tony's peaceful body.

Tony's eyes clenched together and his lips parted revealing a loud wail. It sounded as if a small had died. He wailed and screamed. His body arched off the table and his arms looked as if they were trying to pull off the cuffs.

"RHODEY!" He turned. The light from the electricity glittered on one side of his face. His hands we tightly held together behind his back. "Rhodey! Stop her! She's killing him! TONY!" Rhodey completely ignored her. He looked back at his brother and smiled. This was actually entertaining, but he knew what he had to do.

"Whitney… You need to stop." Her face was so bright from excitement. She turned on him.

"You serious? Rhodey this is beautiful." She gestured to Tony's screams and his writhing. Rhodey didn't wait, he quickly pressed his lips onto hers and waited until he felt her lips slacked to his own. He finally pulled away.

"Rhodey…?" Without another word she kicked the tazer away and watched as Tony opened his eyes. They were wide and his pupils with small: he was in shock.

"You kissed me?" Rhodey smiled slowly and cupped her cheek.

"I loved you. Then you tried killing Tony and then well, I didn't. But I know your real intentions Whitney. I want to help you and I am going to be with you every step of the way."

Pepper stared gapping at him. He kissed Whitney. That was weird. He told her once, and Pepper remembered it vividly.

"Rhodey! Rhodey!" Rhodey turned around.

"Hey Pepper what's up?" Pepper stopped and took a deep breath.

"I have a question." She didn't ask for an answer from him. She put her hand up. "Have you ever kissed a girl full on?" Rhodey chuckled and shook his head. He knew what this was about.

"No Pepper. I have never kissed a girl and I don't want to at the moment. I'm going to wait and hold these lips for later." Pepper raised an eyebrow.

"Well what are you holding it off for?" Rhodey started walking down the hallway. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his satchel gently bounced against his hip.

"A girl."

"Who? Whitney?" Rhodey made a face, almost angry.

"No. That girl is evil. I seriously hate her. I wouldn't ever want to kiss that girl. But I want to kiss the girl I love at my wedding. Which you won't be invited to if you keep asking questions."

"One more question Rhodey then I'll let you go to the world's most dullest subject." Rhodey chuckled.

"Shoot."

"When would you kiss someone? Like maybe, oh I don't know, Whitney?"

"I would only kiss Whitney if I had to. If any of you guys were doomed, hurt or dying. I would only kiss Whitney to save your lives."

Pepper gasped. She saw Rhodey temporarily glance at her. His eyes glittered as if he knew that she knew. "Rhodey…" He nodded with a small smirk.

Pepper sighed in relief as she watched his dark hands slowly stroke the golden hair. But she noticed a twitch in his arms.

This was a set up. An incredible well planned set up. This was all fake. Rhodey was playing Whitney.

Maybe they will be saved after all.

Yay! Done! This is super short chapter…. Sorry guys. But hey… I'm updating my other stories too! Okay so I totally forgot some stuff. One: Most of my lists are gone. Meaning the list of the requests people wanted for me to do got deleted. So the peeps (awesome peeps) that asked for a request please tell me what you guys wanted me to write. Haytar96 I know what you wanted so don't worry about that!

Okay so Thanks for reading and please review! Bye!