Here is what happened last chapter to refresh your memory...
"I'll make you a deal, if I clean up the rest of your wounds you have to tell me how you got into this mess in the first place" I say triumphantly.
He thinks about this for a moment.
"Fine, but you won't like it"
"Tell me something I don't know" I sigh.
"Promise you won't shout?"
"Well, I can't promise, you tend to bring out an anger I never thought I had"
"Well for the benefit of my ears then so I don't go deaf, they are already battered from the suit"
"Okay, I'll try my best but I don't think it's fair that I have to not shout and play nurse"
"I could buy you a uniform"
"No, it's okay thank you" I say politely when normally I would snap or shout at his inappropriate comment. Let him see what it feels like to be humoured.
"It would be very tasteful…"
"No"
"But…"
"Tony, just tell me how you got into this mess"
Here is the next chapter, thanks to NCISVILLE for the idea of how Tony got into that mess :) Seemed like a funny situation that fitted.
"Well I was in Afghanistan…"
"No, seriously Tony"
"I am being serious Pepper; I flew to Afghanistan in the suit!"
"Oh God, why do you insist on putting yourself in danger?"
"Just listen to what I'm going to say"
"I think I've got a migraine coming"
"I flew over there because I, I wanted to confront my fears and well just prove to myself that Afghanistan doesn't have to hold bad memories but when I got there, I saw war. Helpless children were being held captive and blown up by my weapons. It made me realise that I can't keep making them if they are being shipped over to be used in this way. That's why I haven't produced any recently, I knew it when I was kidnapped I just needed to be sure".
I realise that I must be gawping like an idiot and an inkling creeps into my head. Could he? Is that how?
"Pepper? Say something, please, you have a terrible poker face, what is it?"
How did he know?
"Did you uh use the suit to escape from Afghanistan?"
"Yes, I made it from scraps of metal, there was no way I could have escaped otherwise" he swallows.
I stand there awkwardly and try to imagine the awful situation of thinking there was no hope.
"Pepper, don't torture yourself, I'm fine" he smiles in the most heartbreakingly genuine way I have ever seen and I desperately want to hug him but of course I don't.
"Okay, but how did you get so injured?" I ask hoarsely.
"I was upset and annoyed at all the innocent people being killed so I started blasting the terrorists with the shoulder bullets but they had tanks too so while I was trying to get away from those shooting at me, I didn't see the building up ahead and… flew into it".
I stifle a laugh.
"It's not funny!"
"No Mr Stark it isn't"
"Then why are you laughing?"
"I'm not"
"Yes..."
"Tony, shut up, it is in no way funny, you are hurt and need to see a doctor, doesn't he JARVIS?" I raise my voice and find it slightly worrying that I am calling on a robot for backup here. Oh well if that's the only way he will listen.
"Yes Miss Potts, in fact Mr Stark has two cracked ribs, a fractured wrist and multiple bruising's to the chest"
I turn to face Tony with the smuggest look on my face trying to mask my worry about the cracked ribs and fracture.
"You look like the cat that got the cream Potts"
"Has that got it into your head that you need to go to the hospital or do I have to ask another one of your robots for confirmation?"
"Okay, okay fine I will go if it makes you feel better"
"It's for your benefit not mine"
"Yes Mum!" he mutters
"You didn't just call me that did you?!" I say, angry at his careless attitude.
"Call you what? I said yes Pepper"
"Don't act all innocent with me Mr Stark; I know exactly what you said…"
"Then why do you need to ask again?" he smirks.
I'm going to strangle him. I'm going to actually strangle him. I glare menacingly at him, hoping for an apology that I know isn't coming.
"Get in the car!" I hiss.
"What, where are we going?"
"Where do you think?"
"Pepper, don't take that tone with your boss please!"
"T..g...hru...fbs…" I babble incoherently and catch Tony's eye.
He laughs and I reluctantly join in releasing all the stress of the last five minutes.
"Sorry for being such an ass, I hate hospitals but I'll go… for you"
"Yes you were and Tony, no one likes hospitals, we all have to do things we don't like"
"I don't believe in that, if I don't like it, I'm not doing it and hey you aren't allowed to agree with me about being an ass!"
"Look lets have this conversation later, we are going to the hospital, Ill drive"
"Your... you're coming with me?" Tony asks incredulously.
"Yes of course" I smile, touched by the surprise and obvious delight in his voice.
We get in the car and I start driving towards the hospital.
"You do know JARVIS could have checked me over by now and we wouldn't have needed to go all this way?" Tony huffs.
"Yes but he can't treat all your wounds"
"That's what I have you for Nurse Potts"
"Please don't call me that"
"Why? It's…"
"Tony! Do you know what your problem is?" I blurt out in exasperation but there is no anger in my voice I just want him to know.
"No Dear Pepper, please enlighten me"
"You are selfish and so used to getting your own way that you never listen to what anyone else has to say!"
"Yeah, I don't play well with others or so I've been told"
"And it doesn't bother you?!"
"Should it?"
"Uh yes"
"Right, well maybe I'll make it a new year's resolution, only a couple of weeks to go!"
I just smile weakly thinking about the non-existent plans I have for Christmas and my general lack of enthusiasm for the holiday season.
"Pepper, I'm not a bad person am I? Because you would tell me if I was, wouldn't you?" he says looking genuinely worried.
"No Tony, you aren't" I assure him smiling and patting his knee.
"You are just a little challenging at times" I add with a smirk.
"Challenging is good though right? It's good to mix things up"
"Whatever you say Mr Stark" I murmur as we pull up outside the hospital.
I open the door and near fall over a camera man positioned outside the car door. I didn't see them arrive. I shoot a glance at Tony and he shrugs, looking as baffled as I do. They must have followed us here. We make our way through the crowd of journalists shouting things like "Why are you in hospital Mr Stark?" "What are your plans for the future of Stark Industries?" "Are you injured from a malfunction of the new suit you have been developing?" At that comment, both Tony and I whip round to face the paparazzi, who take their chance and snap away countless pictures of us.
"Who said that?" Tony challenges.
"Tony, leave it" I say, tugging on his arm.
"No, I want to know who said that!" he shouts at the crowd of journalists who obviously aren't owning up.
"Tony, please…"
"He turns angrily on his heel and ushers me into the building while the reporters whisper amongst themselves.
Once inside we check in at the desk and are told to wait until Tony is called.
"How the hell did they know that?! He says outraged.
"I honestly don't know who else have you told about the suit?"
"Well, you, Rhodey, Obie, and I think that's it, I know it can't be any of you. Why would the three most loyal people betray me?
In that moment I feel a pang of sympathy and sadness for my boss, I wonder how a man, who is known for being a genius, could overlook such a basic human act; the act of betrayal.
"Tony, I have to tell you something, I think I know who it may be"
Thanks for reading, would love to know what you think and who you think might have leaked the suit info to the paps. Ha sorry for the cliffhanger :P