I know the boring talking is boring, sorry guys, I guess for these chapters I'm writing for myself LOL...either way, hope you enjoy the lead up into the action scenes which are coming by the bucket loads!

It gave me new found hope that everything was going to be fine, however our celebrations were short lived when Tony got sick again, it hit him harder than before, just as he said it would. Rhodey and Happy were ordered to stop coming around, he cut all ties to everyone in the outside world. His smile was non-existent and his eyes grew colder as the days went on.

The house was a tomb, I felt like I was mourning him whilst he was alive. I had lost count of the hours and the days which passed as most of my time was spent crying and trying to make sense of what was happening.

There were days where I wouldn't even see him; he would spend the day down in the workshop only to be told by Jarvis that he had lost consciousness. When I would try to help him he would shout. I never got angry, only frustrated, frustrated at the pain which I could see in his eyes and the inability to do anything to help.

One day I made my way down to the workshop with the intention of fighting every remark and retort he threw my way, when I got down there I was shocked by what I saw.

'Tony!' I ran to his side, I dropped to my knees.

'Oh my god, Tony, please, please wake up.' I shook his shoulder.

He lay on his stomach, a pool of blood welled up around his head, 'Jarvis!' I screamed.

No answer, I looked to the screens which lined his desk, Jarvis System reboot completion time estimated at two hours.

'Tony!' I screamed in his ear, 'get up, don't you dare do this to me!'

I turned him onto his back, he was still breathing, I felt myself calm down slightly, I sprinted to the first aid supplies he kept in the workshop. I threw myself on the ground beside him with the medical kit, I examined his face; everything was fine, his head was fine, at least he didn't crack his head on the ground.

I noticed that the blood was from his nose which was good news, this I could deal with, this I knew. I cleaned his face as best as I could, I cradled his head in my lap and pulled out my phone, 'Rhodey, please come quickly, it's Tony, I need help, I didn't know who else to call.'

Panic was something which I had learnt to keep under control working for Tony for so many years and even more so since Iron Man came into the picture. I controlled my breathing and remained seated by his side, before Bruce left amongst the other friends Tony had refused to see, he showed me what to do should he ever lose consciousness and depending on what the symptoms were, how to deal with it. So here I sat with his head cradled on the pillow and my hand on his chest letting him know I was here.

Rhodey ran down the stairs, 'what happened, Pepper, where are you?' he yelled.

'Here.' I croaked through my broken voice.

'Jesus, what happened?' Rhodey dropped to his knees beside me.

'He'll be ok, he should be in bed.' I whispered.

'Pepper.' He said quietly looking down at the pool of blood.

'Please, help me.' I looked at him pleadingly.

He nodded without making eye contact.

Together we carried him upstairs, a knot formed in my throat, this was too familiar, too soon. I shook my head, 'he's going to be fine.' I muttered.

Once he was safely laid in our bed, I walked wordlessly to the bar; I poured myself a glass of wine and sat with my back to Rhodey and the rest of the house.

I sat staring glumly at the giant bunny which sat on the stairs, an engagement present from Happy and Rhodey; I smiled to myself, their idea of a subtle hint of what was waiting for me as the future wife of a dissolute playboy. I looked away from the plush toy, I balanced the glass between my fingertips, my whole being was completely exhausted, everything was extraordinarily difficult.

'What happened?' Rhodey's voice broke through the silence.

I shook my head, 'he's dying,' I managed. The realisation was an impossible one. I felt the lump in the back of my throat double in size, saying it out aloud was even more sickening.

Rhodey stood in at the back of the room; it had been more than three weeks since he had seen Tony, since I was even able to talk to him without Tony getting upset.

I drank the rest of the wine and poured myself another glass, Rhodey took the glass from me and sat on the chair beside me.

'Don't do this to yourself.' He whispered.

'Why not?' I looked down at my feet.

'Because I'm not going to sit by and watch my two closest friends fade away from existence.' He said quietly.

I turned to the window and looked out at the night sky, 'he's going to die and I don't know how I can continue all this without him.'

'He won't die, you know we'll work something out, we always do, and he won't stop trying.' He said firmly.

'And if he does, there'll be nothing left, if he dies, I'm done, I'm not interested in all this anymore, the company, the cause, I'm done.' I took the glass back from Rhodey and drank it.

Rhodey dropped his gaze to the floor.

'Already written me off, Potts?' Tony said from the back of the room.

My face immediately broke into a smile I turned to face him; he stood by the door leaning against the frame; I made my way over to him.

He wrapped his arms around me and planted a kiss on my forehead, 'everything will be ok,' he whispered so that only I heard him. He raised my chin so that our eyes connected, 'and don't do this drinking thing Pep, I've been there, you don't want to be that person, trust me.' He said gently.

I immediately regretted it, I knew how long and hard he fought against it, I knew how hard he had fought to change and I was throwing It back in his face.

'I'm sorry.' I whispered back.

He smiled softly, 'don't be, I just don't want to see you become like me.'

'There's nothing wrong with you.' I whispered back.

He smiled, 'thanks to you, but before that, you remember how bad it was, you don't want to be that person.'

I nodded, 'are you ok?'

'I will be, I promise.' He smiled.

Rhodey and Tony looked at each other, the tension was ever present, I know it was pride that killed Tony and Rhodey didn't quite understand it, but despite any feuds between them, they were best friends regardless and Rhodey would always be there.

I caught Tony offer him a small smile and a quick nod before turning from us and making his way down to the shop.

'Does he just live down there now?' Rhodey asked as soon as Tony was out of earshot.

I nodded, 'all day every day.' I sighed.

'I should go and talk to him.' He said quietly.

'Maybe that would be a good idea.' I agreed.

Rhodey nodded and made his way down to speak with Tony, I hoped that something good would come out of it, even if he was just there so Tony could vent, and get it all out.

I sat in the hot rod, my favourite place to think. The glow of the screens before me was the only light in the darkened room.

'Can I come in?' Rhodey asked from the foot of the stairs.

I nodded.

He walked over and opened the passenger door and sat down, 'have you been working on anything new?'

'No, just trying to find some other way to keep the symptoms at bay.' I looked down at my hands.

'You're not confident are you?' Rhodey said quietly staring straight ahead.

'No,' that was the simple truth.

Rhodey nodded, 'I'm here, you know that right.'

'I know.' I offered him a weak smile, 'thank you,' I blurted out, he turned to look at me, 'for being…there.'

He shook his head, 'no Tony, we're not doing this whole thank you and goodbye speech.'

I nodded weakly and smiled, 'well, just wanted to say it anyway.'

'I don't want to hear it.' He said defensively.

I grinned, 'I know you're going to miss me Rhodes, but just imagine all the cool things you can do with everything here.' I gestured to the workshop.

'Don't even joke about that.' He said in a serious tone.

'I'm not joking, War Machine, Iron Man; whatever you want, it's all yours.' I explained, I nodded toward the suits on display.

He turned back to look at me, 'you're not dying, you're just not.'

I had nothing to say to that, I couldn't say whether I was or not, I couldn't tell anything at all and truth be told, it terrified me.

'Have you tried anything else?' He asked impatiently, 'any other ideas for something which may work?'

'I've been looking, I've got an idea, but it's not really going to be legal.' I looked to him for the disapproving look he donned so well.

Instead he grinned, 'well, no one ever said anything worthwhile doing was easy.'

I nodded, 'no they didn't.'

Jarvis ran the requested files over and over, while Rhodey looked over everything with me.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as nausea washed over me for the hundredth time today.

'You ok?' He asked quietly.

I nodded, 'yeah.' I breathed.

'Have you had anything to eat?' He asked.

'No, can't.' I managed through gritted teeth.

I felt him squeeze my shoulder, 'is there anything I can do?'

I shook my head, 'no, nothing.' I breathed.

The overwhelming nausea flooded my insides, and then came the pain. I knew that it was inevitable; I knew this would be a regular thing now. My insides felt like someone was pulling me apart inside out and squeezing every organ until it popped.

'Should I call Pepper?' He asked, I heard panic in his voice.

'No, don't call anyone.' I stammered, 'it's fine.'

'You shouldn't do this alone Tony.' He argued.

'It's fine, believe me.' I tried to reassure him, as much as I tried to reassure myself.

'You do this every day?' He asked incredulously.

I nodded, 'every day.'

I heard him sigh beside me, 'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be, my choice.'

'Because you don't feel you can ask us to help?' He said quietly.

I changed my mind, there was something he needed to do for me, 'I am asking for help.' I said breathlessly.

I slowed my breathing down and focused on the present, I tried to push out the pain, I leaned my head back on the head rest in the hot rod.

'What do you need?' He asked quietly.

'The cigar case from my desk.' I shut my eyes against the throbbing pain in my head.

'Ok.' He swung the door open and left my side, moments later he was sitting back down beside me.

I finally forced myself to open my eyes, I felt the bile building up in the back of my throat, my vision was red again, and these symptoms were hitting me so much harder than I had anticipated.

'Your eyes.' Rhodey gasped.

I blinked through it as much as I could, 'I know, the syringe with the blue vial.' I dismissed him.

He prepped the injection and held it out.

I pointed to my neck, 'here.'

'What?' He glared back at me, 'no I can't do this, I'm not qualified to do this.'

'Don't worry, you're fine, here, I can't do it myself.' I said calmly pointing to my neck.

He shook his head, 'I really can't do this.'

I took a deep breath, 'I'm going to go into shock in about five seconds, just do it.'

The look of shock on his face would have been amusing if it were any other time.

'Ok, alright, are you ready?' He held it up; he looked like he was going to pass out.

'Ready.' I nodded, 'do it.'

I waited for the needle to pierce my skin, I grit my teeth, it was over within seconds, and then came the burning pain. That was still better than the helpless feeling of shock.

My breathing slowed down and I felt my heart rate even out, I let out a sigh of relief, this was too close for comfort, last time I missed my window I fell and nearly cracked my skull open.

Rhodey's voice was distant, but I heard him calling my name, panic was laced through his words.

Once I gathered enough strength to open my eyes I lolled my head to the side and looked at him.

He sighed, 'Jesus Tony, this is crazy, are you ok?'

I nodded slightly, 'yeah.'

'What is this?' He held up the syringe.

'It's a wonderful concoction of Stark approved nano tech and reverse engineered Extremis serum.' I explained.

'You're treating the Extremis virus with the Extremis?' He asked dubiously.

'Yeah, it's like treating a hangover with more scotch.' I grinned.

'On the literal brink of death and still cracking jokes and taking chances.' He shook his head with a disbelieving smile.

I shrugged, 'best time to take chances,' I rubbed my face, 'and crack jokes.'

'You look a lot better.' He said seriously.

'Yeah, it's quite a good little cocktail.' I muttered, 'too bad it isn't a permanent fix.'

'There are a lot of people in the world with diseases and things that need constant medication, couldn't this be like that?' he asked thoughtfully.

'Could be, but I doubt it.' I rubbed the injection site, the burn was intense.

'Why?' He turned his body to face me, 'why couldn't it be like that?' He shook his head, 'I refuse to believe you're just going to die like this.'

I got out of the car and leaned against the door, 'you think I want to die Rhodey?' I asked simply.

My question lingered between us, I didn't turn to face him, but I could picture the look on his face, wracking his brain for the right thing to say, if anything at all.

'You think I want to die and leave Pepper behind?' I added, 'there is no way I'm giving up on life right now, I might not be worth anything to the people in this world, but I mean something to Pepper, and that's enough.'

'You're wrong, the world needs you, we all do.' He said finally.

'Maybe so; but I'm not doing this for the world.' I turned to face him, 'I didn't use the Extremis to protect them, I did it for her, and for the few people who actually care whether I live or die.'

'That's all that matters then, so fight, don't sit here and tell me there's an idea but it's illegal, since when do you care about legalities Tony, let's do it, I'm with you on this, whatever you need.' He got out of the car and stood leaning against the door.

I smiled and looked down at my feet, 'you're going to regret that.'

'Maybe, but I'm taking a chance.' He said immediately.

I nodded, 'thank you.'

'You don't have to thank me,' Rhodey smiled, 'just don't die.'

'Well then, let's work on this plan shall we?' I grinned.

'I am going to regret this aren't I?' he asked nervously.

'Maybe, but you just might enjoy it.' I said nonchalantly.

So it was done, I had my best friend on my side. The plan was insane to say the least, but it was a plan and that was better than what I had before, nothing.

I pulled up schematics of a building which Rhodey recognised immediately, and immediately I saw his jaw drop, I grinned at his reaction, but he didn't back down and that's what I needed. We worked into the night, and well into the morning, Pepper brought us dinner and breakfast and everything in between.

Everything was set and my mind was at ease, I swore Rhodey to secrecy, no one could know. Should it fail I needed everyone around me safe, the less they knew the safer they would be. Rhodey could look after himself and no one else need be implicated.

We parted the next day with a renewed sense of friendship and I felt hopeful for the first time in weeks.

Anyone excited to see what Tony's insane plan is? Poor Rhodey, he's a little scared! I'm going to take a little longer to work on the next few chapters, I want to make sure I do the story justice, and ensure the action sequences are informative and easy enough to follow!

Let me know what you think, I'm getting ready for the tough scenes now, so any advice or tips will be much appreciated. Also throwing an idea out there to you guys, what do you think if I write a few scenes from Jarvis' third person type POV, I think this will make the action sequences easier to follow and it will allow more characters to be involved! This was a suggestion from a reader, what does everyone think/feel about that?

Hoping to hear from you soon :)