When Tony had finished speaking, Warden John Berry moved out sight of the witnesses to the other side of the chamber where only the appointed executioner along with his assistants would be able to see or hear him.
The prison official kept a close eye on the clock with his hand raised,ready to give the signal for the executioner to begin injecting the first drug into the IV line. The time Tony Stark had left to live waned down to thirty seconds, and then twenty-five. He very much hated this part of his job but when the clock's hand moved to 10:01, he wouldn't hesitate even for a second before he gave the signal for the execution to begin.
Twenty seconds.
Just as the number nineteen entered his thoughts, a loud ringing at the other end of the chamber intruded. He gave a glance towards the side room where the executioner was stationed, and said, "Hold."
The phone was on its third ring when he crossed the chamber again to answer it. "Yes, Mr. President?"
"What? What is he saying?" Tony said loudly, trying to with all his strength to move but couldn't as the straps holding him down did what they were made for
"Yes, sir. I understand," the warden said, hanging up the phone.
"Hey, are you going to tell me what he said?"
Ignoring the billionaire, the prison official turned on the microphone again, and looking towards the witness room with the two way mirror said, "By order of the President of the United States, this execution has been stayed for two hours, pending the outcome of the preliminary decision of the United States Court of Appeals." He then looked back at the guard, and the curtains slid shut.
Tony's face was as pale as the sheet covering his body when he asked, "So what does this mean exactly?"
"It means, Mr. Stark, that for the moment you are not going to die." If he had to make a guess based on his own experience from the past, the warden knew the execution is over for the night period. But he didn't voice his thoughts in this because there was a chance he he was wrong, and if they were ordered to resume, the false hope that he would live through the night would have been a cruel to inflict on the condemned man indeed.
"Okay, so I have been uh given two more hours to live by the President. Does that mean you're going to keep me laying here strapped down and unable to move with the needles in my arms the entire time? I hope not because I really need to scratch my nose!"
The warden looked away from him, then back to him, "No, I've sent for the IV team to return. They'll take the IVs out of your arms, and then you will be escorted back to the holding cell to await the decision of the Court."
"So we could be all having a sense of deja vu in a couple of hours from now if they decide against me?"
Although his tone had been light, the warden easily heard the underlying fear in the words. He took a moment to consider his answer, really consider it. He would like to tell Tony something he'd rather hear than the truth but he knew ultimately there would be no purpose served by misrepresentation of the facts. So he spoke frankly but not without some kindness to temper his words, "In the event that the Court denies extending you the stay of execution the President ordered, you'll be brought back to this chamber, and after you've been prepared, your execution will then go forward as was previously ordered."
Tony closed his eyes as the second needle was removed from his arm, and a bandage was applied to the area, "So I could still die tonight."
Although it had not been a question, the prison official confirmed it with a soft, "Yes."
At that moment the IV team exited the chamber, and the guards who had escorted Tony into the chamber returned. The warden moved away from the gurney to allow them to take their positions. The lead guard looked him directly in the eye as he addressed him.
"We're going to undo the restraints now, and let you sit up now. Because of what you've just been through, I prefer to give you the same leeway you had earlier when you were escorted here. So don't do or try anything that will force us to handcuff you. Alright?"
Tony nodded, "Alright."
With their leader's nod, the guards began working in chorus, reversing the process from earlier until all the strap were loosen and hanging limply from the sides of the hurney.
"Alright, you can sit up now but slowly."
With a nod, the billionaire did as he had been instructed, sitting up slowly on the gurney, and then just as slowly moved his feet to where they were over the side of what yet maybe his deathbed. Once he was up, he leaned forward, his arms across over his stomach, which made all the other eyebrows present in the room knit together in concern.
"Mr. Stark, are you alright?" the warden finally asked from his spot.
"No, actually I'm not. I feel like I'm going to puke… or pass out!"
"Please ask Doctor Weaver to step in here for a moment."
The next thing Tony knew the man he was vaguely familiar was standing beside the gurney a very concerned look on his face.
"Mr. Stark, I'm Doctor Weaver. Do you remember me?"
Tony nodded, he did remember the physician. The man had given him an examine when he first arrived at the prison.
"Good. I'd like to take a listen to your heart, Mr. Stark." It was then that Tony noticed there was a stethoscope hanging from around the man's neck, "Is that okay?"
Again Tony nodded.
The doctor moved to put the instrument into his ears, and was halted before he could get any closer to the gurney.
"One second, Doctor," the lead guard said, before looking at Tony, "Keep your hands where they are while he's looking you over. Okay?"
Tony looked at him, noticing the man's hand was on a pair of handcuffs at his waist, and he heard the unspoken implication that they'd be used if he tried anything, Swallowing, he nodded, "Okay... I'm not gonna to do anything."
"Alright you can go ahead, Doctor."
"Yes, thank you," Weaver replied before finally stepping up closer to the gurney.
To everyone in the room, it was obvious that Tony was in fact oblivious to the doctor's actions. He only became aware when the physician addressed him directly.
"Mr. Stark, are you having any difficulty with your breathing?"
Tony nodded.
"I believe you are in the middle of a panic attack, Mr. Stark, which is why you are having trouble breathing and are experiencing heart palpitations. Now I can give you something to help you with relaxing-"
"No!" Tony said, vigorously shaking his head, "No!"
"But it would help this to pass sooner."
"No… don't want… want to feel sleepy."
"Alright, I understand. Then we'll try something else. Mr. Stark, I know you're having a problem with breathing, but I want you try to take long, deep breaths for me. Can you do that?" A nod was his answer. "Alright, please follow me and copy my breaths. Inhale as I inhale, and the exhale when I exhale."
He stayed with Tony for several minutes, breathing in slowly before releasing them, and he did not leave his side until he was certain that Tony was okay. After telling Tony to keep up with the slow breathing, he went over to the warden.
"Is he alright, Doctor Weaver?" the prison official murmured.
The physician nodded, "I believe he is, and I think moving him out of this room as soon as possible would help to keep another panic attack from coming on."
"Sound advice, Doctor, and we'll move him if he's able to be moved."
As if on cue, they heard the man they had been talking about ask in a somewhat loud voice, "Can I get out of here now? Please?"
"Excuse me, Doctor."
Weaver nodded, "I'll be outside if you need me again, Warden."
The prison official nodded, and turned his attend to his prisoner, "Mr. Stark, the guards are prepared to return you to the holding cell anytime you are ready."
"I'm ready now. So ready!"
The team leader took over addressing Tony, "Stand up then, please."
Nodding, Tony did as he was asked to do, and immediately found himself almost doing a faceplant on the floor in front of him. It was only almost because the leader and another one of the guards reached forward to stop his fall.
"Do you need the doctor, Mr. Stark?" the warden asked as the guards finished steadying him on his feet.
Shaking his head, Tony put a hand back on the gurney to further steady himself, then answered, "No, I don't need him. Just let me have a minute... my legs feel like they're made of jelly."
"Take your time. Just start walking whenever you're ready."
The billionaire nodded, before he dropped his head and concentrated on taking a few deep breaths. A minute passed in silence, and when he was ready, Tony gave the warden a look before he straightened himself up to his full height, and then started walking by putting on foot in front of the other. Since he didn't almost faceplant after taking a few tentative steps, Tony continued on until he was out of the chamber. Flanked by the guards, he slowly made his way back to the holding cell. Once he was back in the cell , he slowly lowered himself onto the bunk, and released a few ragged, loud breaths. .
"So, now what?" he asked once the cell door was locked , and the warden reappeared.
The prison official took a seat in one of the nearby chairs, shrugging, "We wait."
"So you're just going to sit there the entire time while we waiting?"
"Yes. Why am I disturbing you?"
"No, it's your prison. Just don't expect me to carry on a conversation with you while we're waiting because, I'm definitely not in the mood. You're the last person I'd want to spend what might be my last two hours in the world talking to. "
The warden smiled, "I don't expect anything from you, Mr. Stark." He thought about adding that Tony was free to spend this time however he wished. But he decided that it wouldn't be helpful, so he kept his silence instead. To keep from disturbing the man in the cell any further, he got one of the guards down some work from his office to him.
Tony still felt like his legs be jelly if he stood up. But after he had been sitting for awhile, he felt like he couldn't stay still any longer. So he got up, and walked as far as he could to one end of the cell before turning around to walk to the other end. The cell wasn't that big, only about eight feet by six, so it didn't take him a long time to travel the length several times. About an hour when Tony had finally tired himself enough with the pacing to sit back down on the bunk, picking up his most prized possession in this place.
"Um could I have a drink of water please?" It had been several hours since his last meal had been served, and Tony suddenly realized just how thirsty he was.
Without a word the guard at the desk pulled a paper cup from the dispenser, and filled it with water from the cooler. He walked over to the cell, and handed it to Tony through the bars.
"Thanks."
The guard nodded, and watched as he gulped it down in almost one swallow. "More?"
"Yes, please."
Tony handed the man the cup and watched as he filled it, then returned. He nodded a thanks then drank half of the water before saying, "This is good. Thank you."
The guard nodded again, and returned to the desk. Tony sat back down with the cup, and sipped on the water slowly, looking once again at the pictures.
Fifteen minutes passed, and some motion from across the room made him tear his eyes away from the pictures He looked up to see a man that he didn't recognize but remembered seeing inside the death chamber after he was strapped down. The man motioned to the warden to follow him outside. He swallowed hard as the two men disappeared knowing that he would be the topic of their conversation.
There was nothing to do but wait for them to return. His stomach was in complete knots, and feeling another panic attack coming on, he began breathing deeply again like Doctor Weaver had shown him.
What would they say when they came back into the room? Were they going to tell him the news the courts had denied him a stay? Would they tell him that this was it for him? Would they be coming back to tell him that he would never see the morning sun again since they'd execute him as soon as they could get him… and everyone else back into place?
Any further thoughts were interrupted when the warden followed closely by the mystery man returned. The man fell back, and allowed the prison official to take the lead as they approached the holding cell. He stood up to meet them as they stopped in the space in front of the cell.
"The Court of Appeals has reached their decision, Mr. Stark, and it's good news for you."
Tony stared at him blankly, "W-what?"
"You've been granted a thirty day stay of execution while the Court reviews the new evidence," the mystery man added.
"So I'm not going to die tonight?"
"No, you're not tonight," the man confirmed then turned his head, "Now if you'll excuse me, Warden, I need to go tell the witnesses what's going on, and that they can go home now."
With that, he was gone.
"Hey, wait a second!" Tony said, snapping out the place where his thoughts had taken him when he heard he wasn't going to die. But the mystery man was gone before he had even managed to call out the first word. He looked at the warden, "I wanted to ask him if he could take a message to Pepper. Could you-"
The other man shook his head, "No, I'm sorry I can't. For one thing, I don't anticipate seeing Mrs. Stark again tonight, and for another, it is not permitted by our regulations here."
Sighing, Tony returned to the bunk, and sat down, "So what happens now?"
"Right now I would suggest that you get some rest, Mr. Stark. I know from the report of the guard regarding last night that you did not sleep more than three hours total."
"Hey you try knowing you're going to get a lethal injection the next night and let's see how well you sleep!"
"That is a fair observation. However I do have another point for bringing the topic up. I wanted to ask you if you think you will be able to sleep tonight?"
Tony ran a hand through his hair, and shrugged, "I don't know. I mean tonight kinda feels like one of those nights where my brain isn't going to shut up no matter how many times I tell it to or how much I want it to. I mean I feel like I've been on a five day inventing bender where I haven't sleep for more than 2 hours in those five days. I am beyond exhausted but I am not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight. Why do you ask?"
"Why do I ask? Well, I asked because there is a way we can help you, I think. But accepting it will mean accepting an option that so far you have rejected every time it has been offered.."
"Oh, let me see if I can guess. You're asking me if I'll let the doc give me something to help me sleep?"
"Yes, precisely. Do you want me to ask for Doctor Weaver to come see you?"
"Before I say yes, I want you to give me your word that nothing is going to happen to me after I'm asleep."
"Mr. Stark, you have been given a stay, first by the President of the United States, then by the Court of Appeals."
"That doesn't matter, I want to hear it from you, your mouth, that I am completely safe."
The warden sighed, nodding, "Very well, then. You have my word, Mr. Stark. You are absolutely safe tonight. Satisfied?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, will you let Doctor Weaver help you to sleep tonight?"
Tony stared at him a long time, and nodded, "Yes, I will."
The warden looked at the guard at the desk, "Call and ask Doctor Weaver if he will come here for a few minutes please."
"Yes, sir."
Silence fell over the area as they waited for the prison doctor to appear. Tony was very thankful for it. He was beyond tired, his body aching from the lack of sleep, and from the stress of knowing he was supposed to have been dead for hours by now.
Doctor Weaver appeared in the holding area a few minutes of being called. While Tony watched, he stopped to speak quietly with the warden and the guards for a short time before he walked over to the cell. He was accompanied by the same guard he had talked to.
"I've been told that you want something to help you sleep tonight. Is this correct, Mr. Stark?"
"Yeah, that'd be correctamundo, Doc."
The doctor couldn't help but smile at the exhausted man's attempt at humor before he said, "I can help you with you that. But first I need to know is, how fast would you like to fall asleep?"
"Whaddya mean?"
"I mean do you want to be asleep in just a few minutes or do you want to have to wait thirty or more minutes?"
"If I say in a few minutes, what's the catch?"
"The catch, Mr. Stark, is that I would need to give you the medication by an injection."
Tony stared at him for a few seconds, gobsmacked, "I can't believe you just that word." He pointed to the band aids on his forearms, "I've kinda had it with needles for tonight, Doc."
The physician nodded, "Which I understand, Mr. Stark, but an injection is the quickest way for you to get to sleep. The only other option is for me to give you a sedative in pill form. But I leave the choice up to you as to which one you prefer."
"I need to sleep and I need to sleep sooner rather than later."
"So what exactly are you telling me?"
"Do I have to say it?"
"Yes, Mr. Stark, you need to state in your own words what your wishes are regarding this matter."
"Are you sure that you don't have anything else that'll work just as fast that's not a shot?"
"No, I am sorry. I do not."
"Okay, I'll take it... I'll take the shot."
Doctor Weaver nodded, "I'll prepare the injection." He was very well aware of Tony's eyes following him over to the desk when he had set his supplies down when he came into the area.
In the meantime the guard walked over from the desk, and motioned for Tony to stand up.
"Seriously? You've gotta cuff me even I'm practically dead on my feet?!" Tony said, cringing almost immediately as he realized what his choice of words.
"Yes, seriously. No civilians or personnel are allowed inside the same space as a Death Row inmate unless the inmate being placed in restraints or handcuffs first. If you want Doctor Weaver to help you, the handcuffs go on. No exceptions, whether you're tired or not. So I need you to stand up, and put your hands behind your back."
It took some effort but Tony managed to get to his feet. He stood near the slot in the cell door, turned his back to the guard, and allowed the other man to snap the handcuffs around his wrists.
Doctor Weaver rejoined them wearing rubber gloves and holding a syringe in his hand. "If you'll sit back down on the bunk, Mr. Stark, we'll get this over with as quickly as possible so you can rest."
Tony nodded, and sat back down on his bed.
The doctor entered his cell while the guard took up a position outside with his weapon drawn, ready for use if Tony tried anything. The exhausted billionaire did his best to ignore the fact a loaded gun was aimed at him.
Doctor Weaver eased up the sleeve over his left arm, and cleaned an area of the skin with an alcohol swab.
"Wait!" Tony said just as the doctor was about to give him the shot, "That's not the same stuff that's used to make me… know make someone go to sleep during a lethal injection is it?"
"No, Mr. Stark, this is a medication that is completely different from the one that is used to render someone unconscious during a lethal injection. This is just something to help you to relax enough so you can fall asleep. The other that you referred to is more like a general anesthetic, such as the kind that would be used for surgery."
"I uh guess I am going to have to trust that you're telling me the truth, huh?"
"Mr. Stark, I give you my word as a physician that I only want to help you to get some rest and nothing more. Will you trust me enough to let me help you?"
He stared at the man for a moment, then broke eye contact, nodding, "Yes."
"Alright, I am going to give you the injection now."
Tony felt the pinch of the needle as it punctured his skin, and then after a slight delay felt the doctor smoothing down a small band aid over the injection site.
"There, you should be asleep in the next few minutes."
"Thank you, Doctor Weaver."
"You're welcome, Mr. Stark."
Within minutes of the doctor leaving the cell and the guard removing the handcuffs, they could hear soft snores coming from the holding cell. With his charge finally down for some rest, the warden decided that it was time that he saw to some rest for himself. He was about to leave the area when one of the media room guards appeared.
EN: Again I am not a lawyer
