Title: All That Counts
Author: Shannon – shannyfish
Disclaimer: Iron Man and Avengers do not belong to me, but Marvel Entertainment and Disney. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: MA
Summary: Pepper accompanies Tony everywhere. The weapons demonstration for the military in Afghanistan is no different. An AU to "Iron Man".
Warning: none
Author's Note: I know this plotline has been done before, but hopefully this comes out as something different. Constructive criticism is as always appreciated! Check out my blog on my writing at
. . .
"Letting it get to you. You know what that's called? Being alive. Best thing there is. Being alive right now is all that counts." -The Doctor ('The Doctor's Wife')
. . .
When she woke, she woke feeling the most rested she'd felt in some time. That didn't mean that her body still didn't ache though. It felt better, but she still hurt. She opened her eyes and at first was taken aback and then remembered that she was safe. She was on the military base. The chair at her bedside was empty.
Rhodey was gone.
Pepper frowned and looked around. She didn't see him anywhere. He'd promised to stay. He wasn't there. She sat up and could see the clock. Maybe he was at breakfast? Maybe he didn't think she'd be up so soon? Maybe… Maybe they'd found Tony and he hadn't wanted to wake her? Her heart raced at that thought.
Turning in the bed, she let her legs fall over the side of the bed. She pushed herself forward until her feet rested on the floor. Her feet were bare and they hurt to touch the floor. She frowned. She needed to get used to it. They'd heal. She still didn't regret ditching the socks outside in the sand. She'd heal.
Pepper put her weight onto her feet as she held onto the bed and groaned lowly. Her whole body hurt even more. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to concentrate. She shouldn't hurt this much. She was safe and she was almost home and she was being taken care of… Pepper opened her eyes again and took a step. She was going to do it. She knew that Yinsen would tell her that after yesterday she was to rest for two days, but she couldn't do that… She needed to push herself. She needed to find Rhodey…and she needed Tony.
He was out there…
She knew he was.
"Ms. Potts, you're not supposed to be out of bed," a nurse said and hurried to her side.
"Colonel Rhodes," Pepper said and ignored the nurse. "Where is he?"
"I'm not sure, Ma'am," the nurse said. "I haven't seen him at all during my shift."
"I need to find him," Pepper said and didn't care that she was in scrubs. They were clothes and it didn't really matter. The biggest problem was that she didn't have shoes. She had those stupid slipper socks that had a square toe box. Her toes were not square… They didn't fit right…and she'd rather be barefoot anyway. Even if they hurt.
"I'll put out a call, Ma'am," the nurse said. "But I need you to get back into bed."
"I can't do that," Pepper said.
"You're supposed to be on bed rest, Ma'am. Doctor's orders. It says that I can administer pain medication though…and you can have a liquid diet tray. " The nurse made all of that sound really exciting. It wasn't. She'd been on bed rest before, she wasn't too keen on repeating that…at least not without Tony. "I can get those things for you and have Colonel Rhodes paged… The doctor probably just ordered him to get some sleep somewhere other than in a chair in here."
"I'll look for him myself," Pepper insisted.
"Ma'am, I can't allow you to leave," the nurse said. "If you refuse to cooperate, I'll have to alert security—"
"That won't be necessary."
The nurse turned around and immediately nodded at Rhodey. "Of course, Colonel… I was just—"
"She can be stubborn," Rhodey told the nurse. He looked at Pepper. "But I broke my promise… I kept falling off the chair," he told her.
Pepper watched as the nurse disappeared. Rhodey had a small box with him. He set it down on her side table before gently and carefully guiding Pepper back to her bed. Once she was sitting on the edge, he sat back down in his chair. She was frustrated. She didn't like this. She hated being helpless and useless. She wasn't used to either of those things. She strived to be productive and helpful.
"I have brought breakfast though," Rhodey told her and fished a coffee out of the box and handed it to her. "Hopefully you can handle this."
Pepper smiled and accepted the coffee cup from him. "I'm sure whatever you have is better than what they were going to feed me." She was handed some kind of breakfast sandwich that was wrapped in white paper. It would definitely be the most solid food that she'd had in months…and still better than what they wanted to bring her.
"Oh, Colonel, she can't have that," the nurse said seeing them with the food Rhodey had brought. She was carrying Pepper's pain pills and looked quite displeased.
"If she ends up sick, then we'll know it was too much," Rhodey said. "You can blame me then…"
The nurse still looked upset and just handed the pills to Pepper, watched her take them, and then left.
The coffee was warming her from the inside and she hoped that it would help with her energy level. It was one of those days where she could really use the caffeine. She didn't care what they wanted. She wanted to be out and looking for Tony, though she really wasn't sure what Rhodey would say to that. She figured that she'd wait to bring it up. She'd eat some of the sandwich, drink some of the coffee, and prove to Rhodey that she could walk…and then ask him. And if all else failed, she could guilt him.
Tony was out there.
They needed to find him.
"He's been out there all night," she whispered as she swished the coffee around in her cup. Pepper stared down at the coffee as she thought about Tony and if he was okay out there. She'd taken about two bites of the sandwich and had felt like she was just about full already.
"He might be in that cave you were talking about," Rhodey said. "I have men checking the area's cave system…"
. . .
"You're really all about pushing and flat out defying doctor's orders today, aren't you?" Rhodey asked.
They'd eaten breakfast and Pepper had been able to keep down three bites of breakfast sandwich and half a cup of coffee. The doctor had seemed impressed. And now, they were walking around the base. Rhodey had been able to get her something better instead of the scrubs along with a pair of shoes. Rhodey reminded her that they were expecting Obadiah at anytime, but she hadn't wanted to wait.
"I need to find him, Rhodey," she told him. "Let me go with you…maybe something will look familiar…" She was practically begging and just hoped that it would be enough.
"Pep—"
"Please, Rhodey."
"You know you're his personal assistant, not his—"
"I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires," Pepper told him levelly and calmly. It was the same response she would have given anyone else. "And right now he requires that I help him by helping you." She stared at Rhodey and tried to figure out what he was thinking and trying to figure out what he'd say…
"Whatever Tony's paying you, it isn't enough," Rhodey told her. "You need hazard pay."
"You don't know the half of it, I'm sure," Pepper said with some amusement.
"I have to see if I can get it cleared," Rhodey told her. "I'm not the one in charge here… Let me talk to a couple of people and see what I can do. In the meantime, let me take you back to medical."
"Can't I just sit out here?" she asked and found herself looking for a bench to sit on. The sun felt absolutely divine and she was a little terrified of being coped up again so soon…
She didn't miss the look on Rhodey's face. The worry. The concern. The fear. "How long had it been since you'd been outside before yesterday?"
"Five months," she told him. She was still grappling with that fact. It felt more concrete saying it out loud. It was still hard, though…
"They said they wanted more elaborate tests done when you got home," Rhodey told her.
"Yinsen was afraid of spinal damage," Pepper admitted. "I figure if I can walk, then it can't be too bad." Rhodey didn't look too convinced. She was sure he was right though…and she was sure she'd have a few too many tests done once they were comfortably back in Malibu. But right now, they needed to focus on finding Tony. She could wait.
"I know someplace you can sit," Rhodey told her.
"Why do I feel like it comes complete with a babysitter?"
"I won't call in one," Rhodey promised as he guided her in the direction of where this place to sit was. "There just happens to be someone stationed nearby…but that's purely coincidence."
Pepper smiled at him. She really didn't mind and she honestly understood. She appreciated it being someone nearby rather than someone who had to sit there next to her.
. . .
She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there. All she knew was that she was enjoying it. The sun on her skin…and the heat… She was realizing how much she'd taken living in warm and sunny Malibu for granted.
Someone sat down beside her, but she didn't mind. She was too focused on watching the military personnel going by and just thinking. Mostly, it was thinking. She'd been so lost in thought. Thought of so many things… It was his voice that caught her attention before she turned to see his face.
"Beautiful day."
She turned to look at him and couldn't stop the tears that fell from her eyes. He had a huge smile on her face and it was another piece that reminded her of home and how lucky she had had it. Pepper hadn't expected to feel how she felt. She threw her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. She found herself crying into his shoulder and just hoped that she wasn't making too much of a fool of herself.
"I'm glad you're safe," he told her as his hand rubbed her back gently.
"Rhodey would rather I be stuck in the medical ward."
"In all honesty," he told her. "I would prefer that too. Just to be sure that you really are okay…"
He'd obviously been talking to Rhodey. How long had he been on the base? Why didn't anyone tell her? Her mind raced and the tears kept coming.
She pulled back from him, suddenly feeling silly for embracing him like that. "Tony's out there," she told him. Pepper reached up and brushed her tears off of her cheeks. She really did feel silly, but she didn't think he'd hold it against her.
Obadiah Stane.
It was so odd to see him out there. He was in his full suit like he was everyday. He just looked out of place, but she knew that he'd come there for her and Tony. For both of them. And here she was alone…without Tony. She almost felt like she'd failed him in some way. She really tended to be Tony's glorified babysitter…she or Happy always knew where he was and what he was doing. Like she'd failed Stark Industries as a whole because she didn't have Tony at her side.
"I know," Obadiah told her. He sighed as he looked at her. His hand ran gently down her arm. She was wearing a short sleeve shirt, so bruises were easily seen, but she hadn't cared because it was comfortable and cool. He gasped and cringed. "I told him not to bring you here… I told him to let you stay home for your birthday… That he would be fine with just Rhodey…"
"I'm okay," she lied. She wasn't. Not really. Even if Tony were there, she wouldn't be okay. She felt like that was normal, though. It wasn't everything she'd been through…not the torture…not the fearing for her life… It was the not knowing how she felt and why she felt it… Was it real? Would it still be there? She was just so confused.
"Pepper," Obadiah scolded lightly. "Don't tell me that… Rhodey told me…"
She bowed her head slightly. "They told me that they were supposed to kill Tony," she confessed as fresh tears fell from her face. She looked up at him. It was like she was reliving it. Reliving that terrible moment when Raza had her tied to a chair. "He wanted to know if Stark Industries would pay a ransom…but I didn't know… And Tony wasn't doing what they wanted…at least not at the speed they wanted…" She shook her head.
"I would have paid anything they wanted to get you back," Obadiah told her. "We even reached out and put a plea on the television here and in the papers… We never received any kind of contact." He reached out and cupped her cheek. "You're safe now… I've brought clothes and things for you… The doctors want you on the next plane out of here. So, you're going to be on that plane and I'll make sure you get whatever you need to speed your recovery along."
"No!" she shouted quickly as she realized what Obadiah had just said. She couldn't just leave! She needed to stay! Was no one listening to her? Tony was out there! He was alive! They couldn't just pack up and go home! She needed to be there when he was found… "I can't just leave!"
"Pepper," Obadiah told her softly and ran his hand along her shoulder. "Their medical facilities are not as good as the ones in Malibu… They're concerned about a few things… They said you really shouldn't be up and walking… You could be further injuring yourself."
"I have to be here for Tony," she told him sternly. She wasn't leaving. She couldn't. Pepper's eyes were flooding now with tears. They didn't understand. None of them understood. She just wanted to walk back out into the desert and start searching for him herself. "He's going to expect to see me… He'll be looking for me."
"Rhodey is here," Obadiah told her. "He'll tell Tony that you're safe…that I've taken you home to get better care... He won't be upset. I think he'd be more upset to find out that you put off treatment that you need," Obadiah told her.
She just stared at him. She didn't know what to think. Pepper looked away from him for a moment as she tried to collect her thoughts. Why didn't he understand? Why was he so concerned about her? Tony was the name of Stark Industries and its heir. They needed to find him. There was no one else. Tony was the mind behind the bulk of the weapons that were designed, built, and then sold to the military. Without Tony, it just wouldn't be the same.
His hand was running down her hair and she was sure that he was trying to be comforting, but it only reminded her of Tony. It only made her cry more. It only brought to mind the thoughts of him holding her in that cave…of him pressing his forehead against hers…of him kissing her forehead…of him stroking her hair in order to help relax her so that she could finally sleep.
"He's alive out there," she whispered.
"You have to entertain the possibility that he might not have," Obadiah told her.
She shook her head. Pepper just kept remembering the plans that Tony had drawn up. She remembered listening to Yinsen repeat over and over again how many steps it was to get out of the cave and which way to turn. Tony had built the armor. He had to have made it out. He and Yinsen were out there… They were probably looking for her even though she'd made him promise to get himself to safety.
"He didn't plan for us to get split up," she told him simply. "He's probably out there looking for me…"
"Pepper…"
"I know you must think I sound silly or overly unrealistic…but I was in that cave with him for five months… I've worked with him for years. I know what he's capable of," Pepper told him as she turned back to stare at him.
He was out there.
"Mr. Stane. Ms. Potts. Colonel Rhodes wants me to escort you to the front gates, he says there's something you're going to want to see," one of the nearby men announced.
"They're probably going to try to convince us to take the convoy back," Obadiah told her. "It's three hours to Kabul that way… I don't think it's good for you to have to go through that… I'll have a copter come in and pick us up. Safer that way." He got up just the same and offered her his hand.
Pepper took it a bit reluctantly. She didn't know how she felt about what Obadiah was saying. The convoy would give her the ability to look for Tony, but then…the last time she was in a convoy…it had been blown up. She really didn't care… She just wanted to buy more time. She needed them to understand that she couldn't just leave. Not like this… Not yet…
Obadiah took her hand and looped it through his arm and they walked slowly towards the entrance to the camp, which wasn't far from where they were. They followed the man and Pepper hoped that it was really going to be Rhodey saying that she could go out there to look for Tony.
. . .
"What's going on?" Obadiah asked.
"We've got a group coming back," Rhodey responded. "They were vague. All they said was that they found someone. They didn't say if it was a man or a woman or any description… I wanted you to both be here…just in case."
Pepper suddenly wondered if it was Rhosad. Wouldn't they know Tony Stark? Tony's face was plastered all over media and even though deployed knew what he looked like. He was a celebrity and she couldn't see them not radioing that in. Even in the state that she'd last seen him in, there was no denying who he was.
"She should be sitting down," Obadiah told Rhodey.
"I'm fine," Pepper told them.
A small group of vehicles approached Camp Joyce and Pepper told herself not to hope too much. She was still very worried that Rhosad had given his life to ensure that she reached the military camp safely. She wouldn't forget that…
The vehicles entered and stopped right inside. Those guarding the entrance shut the gate and they turned their attention to the group that had just entered. Pepper stood back with Rhodey and Obadiah and just waited. For all they knew, it wasn't Rhosad, Yinsen, or Tony…
Men in desert camo exited the vehicle and they seemed to talk amongst themselves and be in no real hurry. One of the doors was opened and the men turned their attention to whoever was getting out. They blocked her view, so Pepper just tried to stay back and be patient. They were trying to get him to let them help him, but he wasn't allowing it, instead he pushed through and stumbled a bit.
It was like a miracle…
Tony Stark had been found and brought back to Camp Joyce…and though he looked much worse than when she left him…he was alive. "Tony!" she found herself whispering.
"How the hell—" Obadiah started to say.
She didn't care about anyone else right now. She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. "Tony," she whispered again. His arms were around him and he was weakly laughing in her ear. "I knew you were okay," she whispered as tears came again.
"I was looking for you," he whispered. His legs started to buckle and Pepper was unable to hold them both up, but when they crumpled to their knees, neither cared. They held on, as if for dear life. He put his hands on both sides of her face and pulled away. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Did they—"
Pepper stared at him as he rambled on. There was so much in his eyes. So much that she'd never seen before. It scared her and excited her all at the same time. She didn't want to wait… She didn't want to see if things were different. She moved her hands to the side of his head and pulled him in, their lips meeting and she closed her eyes as she allowed the world around them to melt. And for the first time, they kissed…and Pepper wasn't sure if it was better than the almost kiss that Yinsen had interrupted, but it was what she needed…what she was sure they both needed.
They parted for only a moment to breathe and the grin on his face matched hers. "Does it count as sexual harassment if you kiss me?" Tony teased.
"Oh, shut up," she whispered before kissing him again. It was perhaps the best and worst decisions she'd made in her whole life.
There were clearing of throats behind them and Pepper finally realized that she'd just kissed her boss in front of not only Rhodey, but Obadiah. She pulled away from him and rested her head on his shoulder, trying to banish the blush away. Could they really blame them? They'd been held captive together for five months and they'd known each other for so long…with Tony sober…he was a completely different person.
"So…um…I see you guys took your time finding us…" Tony finally said a bit awkwardly.
"Pepper found us," Rhodey told him.
She dared not look back at them. Not yet. She couldn't. She was sure that her face was still red. It was bad enough that they'd been babying her and trying to run her life. She didn't need to feel completely embarrassed in front of them. Thank God, Tony had been found. Pepper knew that she'd have gone completely crazy if she'd been shipped home with Obadiah and had left him behind…
"That's my girl," Tony told her with a proud grin.
. . .
TBC…
