Ok...so perhaps 'enjoying' the last chapter wasn't the right word to use LOL, but I hope it entertained you at least! So here we go, lets see what we've got planned for Tony!
'He's not letting anyone in to see him, I'm sorry.' The middle aged surgeon spoke quietly.
Pepper looked down at her feet, 'he'll see me, please.' She whispered.
'He asked not to see anyone, Miss Potts, especially you.'
She looked up at him, confusion swept over her; she looked to Steve and Bruce for answers which neither could give. Steve finally stepped up to her, 'just give him some time.'
Pepper pushed him away, 'I, I can't be here.' She rushed past Clint and Natasha who were waiting in the foyer, Thor and Fury walked after her.
'Pepper, wait, stop.' Fury reached her as she got into the waiting car. He put a hand on the bonnet to stop Happy driving away, 'Pepper.'
She wound down her window. 'There's nothing you can say, Director, move out of the way, please.'
'He just needs time, we all do.' He walked over to her.
Pepper let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh, 'no, what he needed was his team, and you failed him.'
Pepper raised her window and motioned for Happy to drive, he turned on the car, and pulled out of the hospital.
Tony felt his heart beating in his chest, the quiet thuds pulsed through his mind, he felt everything, but nothing at all. He couldn't move, he couldn't cry, he couldn't yell. He sighed loudly. He kept his eyes closed, the warmth of the sun on his face through the window was soothing, but the darkness in which he found himself in was overpowering. His arm lay twisted in a cast, the pain numbed by the vast array of pain killers which he was fed intravenously. He heard the door crack open, he didn't bother opening his eyes, he owed no one any niceties.
'I thought I said I didn't want any visitors.' He muttered.
The door closed quietly, but he still heard the quiet footsteps make their way toward him.
'I know, but I need your help, Tony.' The female voice spoke quietly.
Curiosity replaced his frustration; he opened his eyes and turned to face her, 'Maya?' he breathed.
She smiled softly, 'Tony.'
She stood beside him, looking at the man before her; her dark hair framed her face. Her petite frame was dressed elegantly in a grey suit and a lab coat, she pulled a chair closer to his bed and sat down, she placed the folders which she was carrying beside him.
'Well, this is unexpected.' He smiled weakly.
'I know that you're in no mood, but this is important, forgive me for being so abrupt.' She took the folders and started flipping through the documents.
'I don't know what you think I can help you with, but as you can see I'm not going to be helping anyone,' he paused, 'ever.'
She looked at him briefly, then turned back to her files. 'I need you to look this over, we don't have much time.' She handed some papers.
'Extremis?' Tony raised an eyebrow at her, 'you actually continued working on this?'
'After MIT, I took on few side projects, Futurepharm funded most of it, but this, this was something they wanted me to work on above anything else.' She explained.
Tony read the files, occasionally snorting at the equations on the page; he finally put the files down and looked at her, 'who looked over these in the first place?'
'Aldrich, he committed suicide last week.' She said quietly, looking Tony in the eyes.
'I'm so sorry, Maya.' He looked back to the equations, 'do you have a pen?'
She rummaged through her purse, she handed him a gold plated pen.
He looked at it; he smiled to himself as he made notes on the paper, 'kept my pen, huh?' he said without looking up.
'I kept a lot of your things, Tony Stark.' She said softly.
He looked up at her and saw her shy smile, she was blushing, he handed her back the files.
'The algorithm was wrong, the serum would only infect the host and affect the neural waves, not the physical state as it was meant to, I think.' He pointed to the notes he made above the equation, he handed back the pen, 'that should fix it, theoretically.'
'Theoretically, this will work?' She nodded.
Tony looked at her sideways, 'it's only going to work theoretically, this kind of serum is dangerous, and unstable, even with the correct algorithm the risks are, astronomical, at best.'
She looked at him intently, 'I know, that's why I needed you to fix this.'
'Fix what, Maya, it's just a theory,' he stopped then looked at her, 'only it isn't is it? It's real and you've used it on someone.'
Maya didn't break eye contact; she looked at him, willing him to understand without her having to say the words.
'Mallen, Mallen is a result of this?' He shook his head; he snatched the files from her, to look over the notes again.
'Tony, I'm sorry.' She finally breathed, taking the papers from him.
'Do you have any idea how bad this is, Maya, he's killed people, what were you thinking?' he chastised her.
She nodded, 'I know, it was stolen from our facility, Aldrich tried to stop them, when he saw what Mallen had become, he took his own life.'
Tony shook his head, 'I don't believe this.' He ran his hand through his hair.
'Tony please, only you can help me with this, you were always the smarter one, always.' She took his hand into hers.
He pulled away from her, 'I'll help, because of what this thing did, not to alleviate your guilt.'
'That's fine, I don't expect any forgiveness from you Tony, this is something that can never be undone, I know that, but we need to stop him from doing any more damage.' She stood up, taking her files.
'Leave the files, I need them.' He said sternly.
She nodded, she walked back toward him and handed him the files, 'thank you.' She said quietly, she bent down and kissed him on the forehead.
He looked away from her, once he heard the door close he exhaled deeply, 'what have you done, Maya?' he whispered to himself, looking down at the papers in his hand.
'How is he?' Rhodey asked taking a seat next to Pepper, he handed her a drink, she gulped the liquor down in one shot.
'He's absolutely devastated, won't let anyone in.' She replied, gently placing the glass on the coffee table before her, she folded her hands in her lap.
'He needs time.' Rhodey nodded. He placed his glass down beside hers.
'It's been two days, this isn't healthy.' She sighed.
Rhodey leaned forward, he rested his head in his hands, 'this will never get healthy for Tony, some people can push through this kind of thing, some write books, and make movies and inspire others, Tony isn't one of those people, he'll never get over this, you have to be prepared for that reality Pepper.' He spoke quietly, but truthfully. 'Tony's gone; the man that's left is a broken shell.'
Pepper leaned her elbow against the arm rest, she leaned her face into her hand. Without warning she felt her own sobs becomes tears, she felt Rhodey's arm around her, she didn't look up at him, but she could feel his body shake with sobs too.
Happy knocked on the door and announced his arrival, Pepper looked up at him through tear stained eyes, she couldn't see clearly, but she could see the redness in Happy's eyes.
He sat on the other side of Pepper, she clutched his hand, he pulled her into him, she buried her face in his chest and he stroked her hair. 'I know,' he whispered. 'I know.' He tried to soothe her, but his own broken voice was strained.
Rhodey, Happy and Pepper sat silently holding on to each other, fearing the life would simply slip away if they didn't hold on tight enough. The quiet sobs filled the room; the air became heavy with dread and sorrow, mourning for the loss of their best friend. Pepper dared her mind to think, would it have been better if he had just died?
'Mr Stark, you have a visitor.' The doctor said in a quiet voice.
Tony looked absently outside the window, the doctor gently squeezed Tony's shoulder, 'son, would you like me to let them in?'
Tony finally turned his head to face the doctor, 'no.' He said just as quietly, and turned back to the window.
The doctor sighed. 'Mr Stark, I can appreciate that this is difficult for you, but you need to start your rehabilitation, and that includes seeing your friends.'
'Thanks doc. But I'm fine like this for now, can you pass me that folder please.' Tony pointed to the table. He pushed a button which elevated his bed and raised him to a sitting position. He took the file from the doctor and looked down at his work. He retrieved the tablet from the bedside shelf. He started to work.
'Ok, you're going to need to emerge for air eventually, let me know when you're ready.' The doctor nodded and left Tony to his work.
As the door closed, Tony pulled out his cell phone, 'Maya, I've finished it, bring me what you have.'
'What do you mean he's not here?' Pepper raised her voice to match the man who was trying to calm her down. 'Don't you touch me, where the hell is Tony, who authorised the transfer?'
Happy and Rhodey looked equally as frustrated, but they stood their ground.
'He did.' A voice beamed over all of them. The doctor held out his hand, Pepper shook it, 'Doctor Robins.'
She recognised him from when they first brought Tony in. 'Where is this facility?'
'I'm not sure, the doctor who signed him out only gave me a note, for when you came.' He pulled out a small envelope and handed it to Pepper.
'Thank you.' She said softly without looking at the doctor. Rhodey and Happy walked her out.
They made their way to the car, where Pepper sat and read the note to herself, Rhodey's eyes never left her, he was the first to notice the faint smile cross her lips.
'What is it, everything ok?' he asked quietly.
'I think it will be.' She finally said, she folded the note and put it in her purse. 'Take me home Happy.'
'You are crazy; you can't possibly be serious about doing this.' Maya paced back and forth.
'You asked for my help, don't back out now.' Tony muttered prepping the serum.
'No, Tony, this isn't the kind of help I wanted from you; you saw what that serum did to Mallen.' She tried to reason with him.
He grinned at her, 'don't worry about it, I worked on this, it'll be fine.'
'I don't know Tony; I don't feel right about this.' Maya rubbed her face with her hand; she stood looking at him with one hand on her hip.
'Don't look at me like that, Maya, you know this will work, I need you to do it.' Tony held out the vile, 'please.'
She took it from him, 'Tony, if anything goes wrong.'
'It won't.' He said simply.
Maya signed loudly, 'have you told your girlfriend?'
Tony shook his head, 'not yet, but she's on her way, I will tell her, and then we'll do this.'
'Ok, alright.' She nodded. 'You need to eat, before, you'll be unconscious for a few days, your body will need sustenance.'
Tony ate a burger which Maya brought him, and she finalised her preparations. A young girl, Maya's assistant, Tony guessed, walked in and whispered something to her. Maya nodded and the girl left.
'Miss Potts is here.' Maya announced to Tony.
'I won't be long.' Tony assured her.
Maya took her leave and held the door open for Pepper.
Tony's face lit up in the familiar smile Pepper recognised, her heart melted, she rushed over to his side and threw her arms around his neck. She buried her face in the nape of his neck. Tony ran his fingers through her hair, kissing the top of her head.
'I love you so much, Tony.' she breathed into his chest.
'I love you, Pepper, always.' He whispered back.
She pulled away from him, her eyes pooled with tears, Tony wiped her tears away, offering a weak smile.
'Tony, what are you doing here, I don't understand your note.' She sat beside him.
'After today, everything's going to be different, but it will be better.' He smiled at her.
She nodded, 'but what does it mean?'
'I've figured something out which will fix this.' He nodded to his legs.
Pepper shook her head, 'Tony, what are you talking about?'
'I just need you to trust me.' he held her hand. 'Do you trust me, Pep?'
She nodded, 'of course I do, but Tony-'
'Please, Pepper, I need you behind me on this.' He pleaded with her.
She clutched his hand, 'I am, Tony, whatever you need, I want you to be happy again.'
'I will be, I promise.' He smiled at her.
'Ok, do what you have to do, I'll be here.' She pressed her lips to his.
He cupped her cheek, 'thank you.' He whispered.
Maya walked in, and gestured for Pepper to leave them.
'I'll let you know when we're done.' She informed her as she closed the door to the room.
Pepper sat in the lobby with Rhodey and Happy, 'She'll let us know when we can see him.'
'What are they doing?' Happy asked quizzically.
'I didn't ask,' she cleared her throat. 'He asked me to trust him.' Pepper replied taking a sip of the coffee which Rhodey bought her.
'I hope he knows what he's doing.' Rhodey added.
'He does.' Pepper nodded. 'I know he does.'
Oh boy, it's getting exciting for me now! Let me know how you foudn this chapter and how you think it's all coming along!