Chapter Nineteen

Tony was nervous. The asshole physical therapist was watching him carefully. Peter was stretched out on the couch in the gym as Tony strapped on the braces.

"I know they're bulky, but that's because they're the first set. Once you're used to these, I'll make you some more sleek ones that you can wear under your clothes like Rhodey does now, and a better fit will make them more comfortable around your stomach and back. Remember, these are just the prototypes."

Peter grabbed his wrist and squeezed it. "I've got it. They're not perfect yet, but they're going to work."

Tony started to answer, to encourage, but the physical therapist cut in. "We hope they'll help, Peter, but you know there are no guarantees."

Peter looked annoyed. "I know. Don't worry. I'm not expecting miracles."

Tony was annoyed, too. This was a huge moment. If this worked—please, let it work—Peter was about to be on his feet for the first time in weeks. He'd be able to walk. This asshole was taking all the joy out of it for Peter.

Tony adjusted the last strap around Peter's thigh and was about to ask how it felt when he caught himself. Peter couldn't tell him how it felt because he could feel nothing at all. That was the problem. He ran his fingers under the strap, checking to make sure it was tight but not cutting into him, then took Peter's hands and eased him up.

Peter sat for a moment, staring down at his legs and the braces, and then something came into his eyes, something that looked like joy, and he manhandled his legs around to the edge of the couch.

"Let me help you up, kid." The couch was too high for Peter to stand easily, and if he fell, it was going to destroy all the kid's confidence.

Peter nodded, and Tony eased his arms under him and helped him to stand. Peter's face flooded with color and happiness. Tony had seen the moment Rhodey first got on his feet, and it had been big, but it hadn't been the same pure emotion that Peter was showing. Maybe because Rhodey didn't have the same faith in his invention that Peter had, maybe because he was a soldier and hid what he was feeling. All Tony knew was that he felt happier right now that he'd been in too long to think.

"How is it?" he asked.

Peter laughed. "It's unreal. I feel—was I always this tall?"

Tony laughed and squeezed his arms, which he was still holding. "You know, I think you've grown again."

"Awesome."

"You ready to try a few steps?"

Peter nodded eagerly. "Yeah. Definitely."

The physical therapist stepped closer. "Maybe we should get you back into the chair and take you to the parallel bars."

Peter's face fell, and he looked to Tony. "No, Mr. Stark's got me, right?"

He was so confident, so sure Tony would save him if he fell. It made a lump form in his throat.

"You know it." He moved himself to stand in front of Peter with his hands gripping his upper arms. "Whenever you're ready, Pete."

Peter nodded and stared down at his feet as he slowly lifted one and planted it a couple inches away in a kind of shuffle. His face broke into a wide smile, and he stared into Tony's eyes.

"I'm doing it."

The physical therapist was quick to speak. "Don't push yourself too hard too soon, Peter."

Tony's gaze snapped to the man. "You ever heard of encouragement? The kid is doing it, he's amazing, so quit pissing all over it."

The physical therapist scowled, but Peter snorted and then took another step. "I've got it."

Tony took a careful step back, still close to Peter and holding him steady. Rhodey had seemed more stable than Peter, Tony was taking a lot of his weight, but he was doing better than Tony had dared hope.

"Couple more?" he asked.

"Definitely. I want to get to the bars, so I can try alone."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Paul, the physical therapist said.

Tony gritted his teeth. Honestly, he wasn't sure it was a good idea either, it was a long way, but he wasn't about to crush Peter's dreams while he was doing so well.

"Okay. That means we're going to have to turn slightly. Move your upper body and your braces will be guided."

Peter nodded, taking a breath, and then carefully turned and took a step. The braces turned his feet as they were designed to, and Peter seemed surprised.

"Wow, they're even smarter than I thought they'd be."

Tony feigned a scowl. "Seriously, kid, you doubted my skills?"

"No, it's just … I didn't know how they'd work. I thought maybe it would be more like I was being moved by a machine, like a robot, but I feel like it's me doing in, too."

"That's because it is. They react to the movements of your stomach muscles, even the places you can't feel as they're all connected, so you're in control."

"Another step," Peter warned, and then lifted his foot.

It was a bigger one this time, and he wobbled. Tony steadied him and grinned. "You know that whole thing about walking before you can run…"

Peter laughed. "Yeah, I know I can't do that."

Tony stopped himself from saying it, that one day he'd run. That was something he had to keep from himself in case he couldn't pull it off. He thought he could, though. It was just a matter of strengthening the braces and increasing the sensitivity. He hoped so anyway.

"I really think you've done enough now," Paul said.

Tony rounded on him, a sharp retort on his tongue, but he was caught off guard by Peter. The kid snatched his arms away from Tony, and his hands are held out with a jerk-like on instinct. Tony knew what he was doing. If he had his web-shooters on, he'd be sticking the guy to the floor.

Tony had a split second to take it in, and then Peter lost his balance, toppling back. Tony grabbed for him, but he was too far away. Peter fell back, catching his head on the metal edge of the couch with a grunt of pain and then crumpling on the floor.

Tony dropped to his knees beside him, hands reaching for him, when he noted the small pool of blood under Peter's head, and he panicked.

"Damn. Oh—okay, Pete, lie still." He looked around for something to put on the wound, but the physical therapist was already in action. He grabbed a towel, holding it to the back of Peter's head with one hand and running a finger across Peter's vision with the other.

"Follow my finger, Peter."

Peter looked a little dazed, and Tony felt sick. If the kid was hurt, if he let him get hurt again, he'd never forgive himself.

"I'm fine," Peter said, voice breathy.

"Mr. Stark, by the door is a red button. Go press it."

Tony lurched to his feet, sprinting to the button and slamming his fingers on it. He rushed back to Peter, but Paul was holding up a hand to him. He was the one helping Peter right now, and Tony needed to trust him.

The door opened, and a woman in scrubs rushed in. "You need a stretcher?"

"Yes, and get a doctor from the floor. He's got a head injury."

The woman left.

Peter's eyes found Tony, and he looked almost scared, making Tony's stomach knot. He moved closer automatically. "It's okay, Pete. You're going to be fine."

"Mr. Stark, I think you should wait outside."

"I'm not leaving my kid."

The man scowled at him. "Peter doesn't need you right now. He needs medical attention."

"I'm not leaving!"

"If you're staying, then help get these braces off Peter. They're going to make it harder to treat him."

Tony undid the straps, his eyes on Peter's face as the kid blinked slowly. He hoped it was just shock, that he wasn't really hurt, but he was worried.

The door opened, and the woman returned with another in tow. Tony picked up the braces and backed away so they could get Peter on the stretcher, the towel still pressed to his head. They wheeled him toward the door, and Tony followed, but the physical therapist turned and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You can't be with him right now. He needs a doctor."

Tony's hand fisted around the straps of the braces. He wanted to throw a punch so bad that it was like a visceral need. "Look, I know you think…"

The man held up a hand. "Your invention," he said, emphasizing the word, "can work, I see that, but they can also fail when Peter isn't strong enough. I warned you."

"He fell because he was angry at you. If you'd just kept your mouth shut, he wouldn't have lost focus."

"Perhaps, but I wasn't the one holding him, was I?"

Tony was seething. Only thoughts of Peter kept him from doing something he would regret.

"If you want to help, you can call his aunt. She should know what's happened. I'm sure someone will find you when there's news."

He strode out, leaving Tony standing alone in the gym, his eyes on the smear of blood on the floor where Peter laid. It took him a minute to get a hold of himself, then he dumped the braces on the couch and took out his phone and dialed May's number.

He'd been looking forward to seeing her again, Peter had wanted to keep the first test of the braces from her, so he could show her what he could do in person, but now he was going to have to call and tell her their kid had been hurt on his watch.

"Tony? What's wrong?"

Was it a parents' sixth sense to know when something was wrong, or did she expect him to screw up? Without asking, he began to tell her what happened. "Peter had an accident…"

Harrison was happy. Tony delivered the new wheel covers for his chair, and they were, according to Harrison, perfect. The colors were exactly what he wanted, and they had the added feature of being glow in the dark around the edges.

Peter was struggling. He's had three days off from physical therapy since he gave himself a concussion, but he was due to start again soon.

He'd been doing so well, got so excited, but he'd screwed it up and worried Tony and May. He'd seen Tony's fear after he fell, and May had been upset when she arrived to find him with three stitches in the back of his head.

And if he was honest, he'd lost his nerve. He was worried about falling again. He didn't want to hurt himself and make Tony feel bad again.

"—and Mr. Stark says they'll spin if I press this button, like really fast," Harrison said.

"That's great, Harri." Peter forced cheerfulness into his tone.

"Yep. I can't wait to show them off at school. The kids are going to be so jealous. None of their wheely sneakers are as cool as these are going to be."

Peter smiled. Harrison was great, and he was going to miss him after tomorrow when they said he'd be discharged, but he'd gotten his number and promised they'd meet up again when Peter got out of the hospital. Harrison said there was a great park near his apartment that had a wide, straight path, so they could race in their chairs.

The door opened. Peter stiffened, thinking it was his reminder to head down to physical therapy, but it was Tony, and he was looking pleased. Peter eyed him cautiously.

"Morning, kids," Tony said brightly. "Pete, you ready to head down? I've got a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"You know the concept of surprise, right? You'll see. Trust me when I say it's something you need, though."

Peter was curious and leaned forward to tug the wheelchair closer. He raised the arm of the seat he was in and then pulled the wheelchair into place and locked the brakes, pushing up with his hands and sliding into the chair. It was the first time he'd done this in front of Tony, but he felt confident enough to do it. He wanted Tony to see him doing something for himself. He got settled in place and looked up.

Tony was grinning. "Neat move, Pete."

"It's harder than it looks," Harrison chimed in. "You've got to build your arms up to do it. It took me ages. Peter's really strong."

Tony nodded, face serious. "In all kinds of ways."

Peter ducked his head, feeling better about himself now, and then Tony said, "You ready to go?" and his nerves picked up again.

He wheeled himself out and along the hall with Tony at his side.

"How do you feel about getting back into the braces?"

"Okay, I guess."

"It makes sense if you're nervous, but you know your guy Paul wouldn't have you in them if he didn't think you could handle it. It'll be a little different this time, he says he's got ways to make it safer, and he'll hold onto you."

"You won't?" He tried not to sound as let down as he felt.

"No, I'll be there, but there's something I've got to do before you start. Don't start without me."

Curious and a little anxious, Peter nodded, and they carried on.

When they got down to the gym, Tony pressed the button for the automatic doors, gesturing Peter inside. "I'll be right with you. Go on in. Your surprise is waiting in there for you."

Peter went in, and the door closed behind him. He saw his 'surprise' at once. Colonel Rhodes was leaning against the couch Peter had fallen against. He stepped forward as Peter wheeled himself in and said, "Hey, Peter."

"You're my surprise?" He realized that sounded rude and rushed to continue. "That's great."

Colonel Rhodes laughed. "He told you that I was a surprise? Sorry about that. He was definitely overselling it." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Tony figured you might need to talk to someone that's been in your position, so I came in."

"You didn't have to. I know you're busy."

"Peter, I've been waiting for him to loosen the ties a little for me to be able to see you since your accident. He's really protective of you."

"Yeah, maybe too much."

"Yeah, maybe, but it's only because he loves you." He took his hands from his pockets and stepped forward, hand outstretched to shake. "It's good to see you again."

Peter shook his hand. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yeah, I did. For me as well as you. I wanted to check in, to see how you're doing since Tony's been pretty close-lipped about how you were doing. And I thought seeing someone that's been in your place might help you, too. I know it would have helped me when I was there. Let's walk around a little."

Peter was confused, but he wheeled himself at Colonel Rhodes's side, watching how easily he moved from the corner of his eyes. He had complete control of the braces. He made it look so easy. He was so confident. Peter wondered if he'd ever look like that.

"How are you doing, Peter?"

"I'm fine. Good—great even."

"You are?" he sounded surprised. "You're doing better than me. How did you get on with the braces? Tony said you tried them out."

Peter was surprised Tony didn't tell him the whole story, but he figured he was protecting him.

"I fell and cracked my head open."

Colonel Rhodes laughed, which seemed mean until he said, "Honestly, kid, you might want to get used to that. I fell over so many damn times at first, which is mostly my fault since I was pushing too hard too soon. First time I was in them, when Tony brought them in, I fell on my ass and…" He took a deep breath. "It was all I could do not to scream."

Peter was shocked. Colonel Rhodes was a hero—as brave as Tony. He was amazing.

"What happened?"

"Lucky for me, Tony was there, so I had a reason to not meltdown. He helped me up, and I kept going. My physical therapist was a real hard-ass, so there wasn't sympathy when I fell down, and then I got better, fell over less, and started feeling like I was in some kind of control."

"You think I'll fall over a lot?"

"Probably not as much as me as you're younger and probably smarter—quicker to pick things up. Tony says you're a genius. I was never that smart. I kept pushing. I'm not saying it didn't pay off in the end." He spread his arms and did a kind of sidestep. "But I think I'd have done better taking my time."

Peter nodded. "I don't I have a choice in that. My physical therapist is kinda the opposite of a hard ass. He was getting a little pissed at Tony when I was in the braces. I get that he didn't want me to get hurt, and he was kinda proved right since I did, but that was partly his fault since he pissed me off, too."

"Yeah, I get that. I think too much caution is worse than not enough. You've got to find the balance on your own. Listen to what they say, they are experts on this stuff, but you're the expert on you. Know your limits, push them a little, but listen to them, too. I wish someone had told me that when I was starting out."

Peter felt bolstered. He wasn't being told to be too careful, and he wasn't being told to do something he couldn't. He felt like he had a better idea of what to expect now. He was going to fall, but as long as he was smart, he wouldn't be hurt too bad. And he'd have Tony there helping him.

He put a voice to the question he'd been thinking about for a while. "How long did it take you to get used to what happened to you? To being in the chair?"

"A while. I'm not sure I'm used to it yet, to be honest. You and me, our whole lives were redefined after what happened to us. For me, I found strength in my friends and finding all the things that didn't change. My friends, my family. Tony was amazing, though he'll never believe it if you told him, since he doesn't see just how good he is at this stuff."

Peter huffed a laugh. He knew that. "He's been amazing. I've been hard to help lately, though it's getting better. But him and May have been really patient."

"That's because they love you. Thing about Tony, he's guarded. It's a big deal for him to open up to people, but when he does, when he loves you, he is there for keeps. I saw it happen with you, probably the fastest I've ever seen in him, and I see it now. Damn, kid, he loves you."

"I love him, too," Peter said honestly. "I know how lucky I am to have him."

"Me too. He's great." Colonel Rhodes laughed. "Don't tell him I said that, though. We don't want him getting an even bigger head."

It was said with fondness. Peter could see that Colonel Rhodes really cared about Tony, just like Peter did.

The door opened, and Paul came in. Peter was more pleased to see him than he thought he'd be. He wasn't so worried now. He was going to fall, just like Colonel Rhodes did, but he'd get back up and try again until he got it. One day, he vowed to himself, he'd be that good in the braces.

"Colonel Rhodes." Peter hesitated, a little unsure.

"It's Rhodey."

He smiled. "Rhodey, can you stay for my session?"

"Damn right. I don't know when Tony will let me see you again, when he'll feel like sharing, so I'm going to make the most of this."

Peter felt good. He liked the idea of getting to know Rhodey better. He was nice, and he'd helped Peter see what he had to expect. He made him feel like he had more control.

So… I know that didn't go quite how you'd hoped, but there was always going to be bumps along the road. Does the bonus Peter/Rhodey time make up for it?

Until next time…

Clowns or Midgets xxx