Chapter 26: Moments of Truth

Hey everyone. Ah, my last two chapters weren't my best. They were kind of weak. But, hopefully I can pull it out and come out with better chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own Iron Man.

Still rated T for language.

"Hi, my name is Jada Stark. I'm here to visit my husband Andrew, do mind telling us where his room is located," Jada asked the lady sitting at the nurses station in.

"Oh yes, your husband is at the end of this hall. It'll be the door on your left. Only two people may visit at a time," the nurse replied.

Everyone except for Tony headed down the hall to visit Drew. Tony took the extra time to mentally prepare himself. After clearing his mind and taking several deep breaths Tony made his way down the hall. The walk seemed to go on forever and the hall seemed to never end. He finally reached Drew's door and placed his hand on the cold metal doorknob. After closing his eyes for a brief second he finally opened the door.

Pepper and the twins were sitting in chairs by the windows. Jada sat on Drew's bed holding his mangled hand. When Tony's eyes fell on his brother he had to fight back tears. Drew was just lying there so helpless, so weak, and so hurt.

"How is he," Tony asked softly gently closing the door behind him.

As he made his way towards the other side of the room he listened to the beeping of the heart monitor and the buzzing of the respirator helping Drew to breath.

"The doctors say that Drew is doing better. The medication they give him makes him sleep for several hours. His cuts and bruises are healing nicely. And his broken ribs are starting to repair themselves. Drew needs to keep his casts on for another week and a half. And he'll be on a respirator for about a few more days and he'll be able to breathe on his own if he stays on the track he's on now. As for his spinal cord injury, the doctors said that all we can do is wait. When he wakes up, they'll check for any sensation in his lower leg area. If he does then he'll start rehab right away. And if he doesn't then I don't know what will happen," Jada said trailing off.

Jada wiped the tears out of her eyes as she adverted her gaze for a moment. It was hard for her seeing the love of her life lying in pain. Drew had always been the adventurous, sporty, and risk taking kind of person. Some of the things he did often left him injured but none were as bad as this.

"Mom look," Grayer said placing a hand on Jada's shoulder.

She turned to see Drew stirring form his medication induced sleep.

"Oh my gosh," Jada said tears filling her eyes.

"Drew, can you hear me? Andrew honey, wake up," Jada pleaded desperately while giving Drew's hand a light squeeze.

He let out a groan and slowly opened his eyes, "what, what happened? Where am I?"

As he tried to focus on the people around him, he tried to get up in a hurry, "where are they? Where are those terrorists," Drew said hotly.

"Whoa, Drew lay back down," Tony said as he and Grayer gently push Drew back into the bed.

Pepper slightly panicked and pressed the button above Drew's head for the nurses.

"I'm going to get them," Drew slurred trying to fight off Tony and Grayer.

"He seems to be a bit delirious. Jada you have to calm him down," Tony said as he and Grayer continued to hold off a fighting Drew.

"Andrew you're in the hospital," Jada replied hurriedly as the tears began to fall down her face.

Jada cupped Drew's face and rubbed his temples softly. Almost immediately Drew began to calm down. He closed his eyes and opened them again. Drew took in his surroundings and the people in it. When he saw Jada crying his heart began to break. Drew pulled her close to him and held Jada. Drew's eyes immediately fell on Tony and a kind of darkness filled Drew's eyes. When Tony caught the look in Drew's eyes he began to panic. And then for some reason, the darkness in his eyes just seemed to disappear.

"Tony," Drew said in his deep bass voice.

Tony hesitantly stepped forward as Jada got off of Drew's bed.

"What took you so damn long," Drew asked.

"I've been here the entire time," Tony replied unsure of what Drew meant.

"No, I mean, what too you so long," Drew asked again trying to get a point across Tony.

Before either Tony or Drew could ask for some alone time, Jada, Pepper, and the twins headed out of Drew's room. Drew watched as they left, and when they did, he adverted his gaze back to Tony.

"Hey," Drew said softly as he tried to sit up groaning in pain.

Tony rushed to Drew's side but he waved Tony off, "I'm hurt not helpless."

Tony nodded and backed up a little. He pulled up a chair next to Drew's bed chair and sat in it.

"So how are you doing," Tony asked nervously.

"I feel like crap. I'm hurting all over and these tube things are annoying me," Drew grumbled pointing to all of the tubes and wires.

Tony smirked, same old' Drew.

"Is it true," Drew asked curiously look Tony dead straight in his eyes.

"Is what true," Tony asked.

"That you're Iron Man and you ended up going off the deep end."

"Yes, it's all true. But, I haven't been Iron Man in some time because of what happened," Tony, replied looking down at the ground.

"I thought so. I didn't want to believe at first. I saw all of the news and press. I just thought it was a bunch of rubbish. A lot of people talked and I started to believe them but I knew that the only way I would know if it were true was to go to the source of the news. So, what happened," Drew asked.

"What happened was alcohol. I had the biggest drinking problem of all time. I've drunk myself almost to my death before on several occasions. I'm not particularly proud of that. I was angry all the time. I don't know why I was angry, but I was angry. And, I was angry with all of the wrong people. When all of that started to happen, people started to turn their backs on me. All of the people who I thought were my friends looked down on me. I understood why they looked down on me. I've become a monster. But they talked crap about me, they started lies and rumors, they criticized me, and they took advantage of my company. I felt stabbed in the back. The only people who were really there for me were my fiancée Pepper and my two best friends James Rhodes, and Happy Hogan. They stood by me the entire time saw me through it all sent me off to rehab. By the time I was released and better, everything had settled down. Although I was only gone for one week, it seemed liked they didn't need me anymore. I felt like I was some kind of fad and eventually all fads fade and everyone forgot about me."

"I didn't know it was like that. When I heard about it and heard a confirmation from you, it surprised me. My once young and innocent little brother who always worked hard, who wanted the best, and who wanted to please everyone had turned into someone he didn't recognize anymore. If only I knew, I could've been there for you. I would've helped you get back on your feet," Drew replied.

"It's okay, you didn't know," Tony said in a mellow tone.

"No it's not okay. I should have been there for you. I should have been there no matter what kind of crap we had going on with each other. I wanted so bad to call you during that time to help you, to support you. But, there was something that was holding me back. I don't know what was, maybe a sense of pride or something of that nature. But I regret it now. I feel like I should have down something sooner so you wouldn't have to go through that kind of hell," Drew said angry with himself.

"Andrew, it's okay. It's better now; I'm better now. Remember what dad used to always say, 'no regrets.' I have no regrets. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm engaged to be married and I have a baby boy on the way. Don't beat yourself over this Drew. It's all on me. It was an obstacle I had to overcome on my own. It was a learning experience and I've grown a lot from it."

Andrew nodded and looked down at his hands. It was quit for sometime as they reflected on their past.

"What happened between you and me," Tony asked.

Drew just shook his head, "I don't know."

"I guess it was some kind of miscommunication between us. And it led to accusations, finger pointing, and hateful words," Drew said sitting up more.

"That's what I've been thinking all these years," Tony replied surprised that he and Drew were thinking the same thing.

Drew smiled, "you know the kids, they really love you. They always talked about you like you were some kind of God. They would always brag about you to their friends or whoever would listen to them. And they loved to show off the gifts you would send them," Drew chuckled lightly.

"And when that whole ordeal about you became public, they just brushed it off as trash talk and rumors. They just carried on bragging about you," Drew laughed.

Tony smiled; he had a big support system from Grayer and Amberly.

"Drew, whatever happened between us, can we just put it all behind us and start over?"

"I would very much like that," Drew replied holding out his hand.

Tony smiled and took Drew's hand giving him a hug. For the next half hour they reminisced about their childhood and all of the mischief they would get into. They got so caught up in talk over the years that Tony almost forgot what he was meaning to ask Drew.

"Before I forget, you know that Pepper and I are set to get married on December 12 right?"

"I heard something like that. Why do you ask?"

"Andrew, will you do me the honor of being my best man," Tony asked in a dorky manner.

So much so that it caused Drew and Tony to burst out laughing.

"I do," Drew laughed.

"Okay," Tony replied with a smile through the laughs.

"You're such a sap," Drew joked.

"You're still a punk," Tony joked back.

"Ah, why don't you go fetch your fiancée, my wife, and my kids," Drew joked.

"You make it sound like their dogs," Tony joked.

"Well then you must be my bitch," Drew laughed.

Tony shook his head and flipped Drew off. Drew laughed yet again and threw a pillow at Tony. Tony caught the pillow and whacked Drew with it.

"Punk," Tony grumbled as he walked out the door.

"You know you love me," Drew shouted.