Chapter 26
AN: Thank you so much for the response to the last chapter. Hope you like this chapter.
In Germany, Natasha is in her hospital bed and she is starting to drift off to sleep.
"Nat," FRIDAY says through the earpiece that Natasha still has in her ear. "EP43278 has been activated," FRIDAY says and the second she does Natasha is wide awake, despite how exhausted she was a few seconds ago.
"Heart, are you sure?" Natasha asks, feeling terrified.
"Yes," FRIDAY confirms, and Natasha can hear the annoyance in FRIDAY'S voice from being questioned.
"Can you put me through to him?" Natasha asks, as she pulls the various IV's that, include a blood donation, out of her.
"Communication systems have been compromised," FRIDAY answers.
"Of course," Natasha says sarcastically. "Have you got a location?" Natasha asks, as she pulls the last IV out so she can throw off the blanket.
"Yes, Boss is in Siberia, I will send the exact coordinates to your phone," Friday answers, and Natasha quickly tries to think of a way for her to get there as quickly as possible. "Nat, your medical records indicate that you are in desperate need of blood, fluid and medication," FRIDAY tells Natasha. "And the medical professionals are still waiting on the results to determine the extent of your injuries," Friday tells Nat, there being an element of concern in the AI's voice.
"Tony needs me more," Natasha says as she stands up, with slight difficulty. "FRIDAY call the number I have for Melinda May," Natasha requests, as she heads over to her go bag, and FRIDAY places the call.
"Nat? you okay?" Melinda asks, answering the call.
"As okay as I ever am," Natasha answers. "I know it's a lot to ask but any chance you have a plane in or near Berlin I can borrow?" Natasha asks curious as she doesn't have many options and while her suit can fly her quick enough it isn't an option because she doesn't know what state Tony will be in.
"I do actually," Melinda answers. "There are a couple of agents who are on a mission near you. They're not going to leave for a few days, so you can use their Quinjet and I'll send them a quinjet from the Iliad which isn't far," Melinda explains.
"Thanks Mel," Natasha says gratefully.
"I'm not close enough to help, but If you need anything else, let me know," Melinda requests.
"I will," Natasha assures her.
"I'll send you the address, you owe me the story next time we see each other," Melinda says, before hanging up.
Once Natasha hangs up with Melinda she pulls her clothes, widow bites, and other weapons out of her back, and then searches through the belongings still inside until she gets to the very bottom. Once at the bottom she carefully pulls out a box. Holding the box Natasha puts her thumb against the lock and once she does it opens, revealing what is inside when she sees the blue light she was expecting Natasha smiles relived, and she closes the box and puts it back in her bag.
"FRIDAY, I'm going to need your help to get to the address Mel's sent me as quickly as possible," Natasha says, as doing her best to ignore her pain, she starts to get changed.
"Yes Nat," FRIDAY responds once she is dressed Natasha takes the blood bag off her IV stand, and collects a few other things from the hospital, as she makes her way out.
After meeting up with Melinda's agents Natasha was able to fly to Siberia, as she knew that the arc, and thus Tony, would have to be in bad shape for her to get the emergency alert she got, Natasha pushed the plane to it's limits so that she would get there as soon as possible.
Seconds after she lands Natasha hurries down the ramp of the quinjet with her bag over her shoulder.
"FRIDAY, what way will get me to Tony the quickest and be the easiest?" Natasha asks, honestly, she is still feeling a little weak so an easy way will be preferable, and she knows Tony needs her to be quick.
"Abseil down the side of the structure, once on the ground you will be able to enter the area where Boss is and then once you have gotten him outside I can fly the quinjet down to you," FRIDAY explains, as she can't send the plane down to where it needs to go without Natasha being there as she needs a beacon, but she can completely pilot the plane as she is now in the system.
"Okay, can do," Natasha says as she uses a hair tie that is in her pocket to put her hair up into a ponytail. "Direct me to the exact spot that is close enough to get me to Tony," Natasha requests.
Once Natasha is at the exact spot FRIDAY said to go to Natasha uses her grafting hook to climb down the side of the structure. On a regular day it would be a slightly difficult climb, but the snow, and Natasha's injuries, only add to the difficulty.
After longer than she would like Natasha finally gets to a small edge, and she quickly heads into the structure through the holes in the wall, and she finds Tony lying against one of the parts of wall. As she sees Steve's shield laying nearby Natasha figures out what happened.
"Tony," Natasha says, hurrying towards Tony who has his eyes close and to her relief the arc is still flickering, barely flickering, but Natasha knows that is enough for it to be keeping the shrapnel out of his heart.
"Nat?" Tony asks, opening his eyes and looking shocked. "Are you really here?" Tony asks, feeling amazed, and feeling like he is seeing an angel as he was sure he was going to die, and considering he was thinking of Natasha he isn't completely sure that she is real.
"Yeah," Natasha confirms, as she squats down next to him, as she takes her bag of her back.
"Barnes killed my mom, he killed her," Tony says, tears coming to his eyes, and Natasha realizes that he just found out.
"Steve told me he told you," Natasha says, sounding shocked.
"You knew?" Tony asks, sounding betrayed.
"I told that if he didn't tell you, I would, he told that he had already told you," Natasha explains. "I'm going to kill him, I am going to kick his ass so hard," Natasha says angrily, and despite the circumstances Tony can't help but smile at the protectiveness in Natasha's voice, and he feels the furthest thing from betrayed. "I'm going to cut of the front of your suit so you can get free," Natasha explains.
"Great idea, but how are you going to do that?" Tony asks curious. "And even without the suit preventing me from moving I'm not going to get far. The arc is functioning just enough to keep the shrapnel out of my heart, but that's it," Tony explains, as he is still pretty sure that he is going to go die, but he is glad to have Natasha's company as he does.
"I have both situations handled," Natasha admits, as she pulls a device known as a mousehole out of her bag. "I know you can't exactly move right now, but stay still," Natasha requests.
"Pity, I was going to get up and dance," Tony says sarcastically, as Natasha gets to work. "You'll look after Peter... right," Tony starts to say.
"Don't go there," Natasha says as she uses the mousehole to cut pieces of the suit. "Tony, you're going to be okay, I promise," Natasha informs him. "You're going to see our son, and you're going to be okay," Natasha explains, as she pulls of bits off the suit.
"You can't promise that," Tony tells her, as he feels himself getting weaker.
"I can, because I have everything I need to stabilize you. I always do," Natasha explains, as she manages to get the chest piece off. Once the chest piece is off Natasha opens her bag and pulls out the box, as she opens the box Tony, who is intrigued about why it has a fingerprint lock on it, sees just what is inside of it.
"That's the emergency arc I made," Tony realizes, sounding shocked as he knows the design well. "You just happened to have an arc reactor, in a locked box, in your go bag?" Tony asks.
"Be glad I do," Natasha says as she starts to grab what she needs, but she stops when Tony reaches out and takes her hand, forcing her attention back to him.
"Nat, when did you start carrying an arc reactor around with you?" Tony asks, his voice gentle, but serious as he knows that is a big deal.
"After SHIELD fell, just in case," Natasha explains, and as she does she avoids looking at him.
"Nat," Tony says, in a tone of voice which says, 'take to me,', and so Natasha turns to look at him.
"The arc is your heart, and you're mine," Natasha admits, her voice full of vulnerability. "I love you. If anything ever happened to the arc I wanted to make sure I always had a replacement, a way to save you, on me," Natasha explains.
"I love you too," Tony says, smiling back at Natasha as that is the first time, they have said that to each other. "Nat, the emergency arc will tide me over, but there's been a lot of damage, we need to get to the compound," Tony explains as while he has the supplies at both the tower and compound the compound only has the medical personnel he needs.
"I know," Natasha says. "I need to remove the old arch now, and replace it, can I? do you trust me?" Natasha asks, wanting his okay before doing it.
"More than anyone," Tony says, without hesitation.
"Okay," Natasha says, and she, moving carefully, but quickly, to remove the old, damaged, arch, which she puts back into the box, and replace it with the emergency one. "How does that feel?" Natasha asks once the new emergency arch is in place.
"Better," Tony admits. "I'm still hurt, and the arc isn't working as well as it should, but it does feel better. I need Doctor Cho," Tony explains, as she is the only Doctor Tony would trust.
"I know. When you're ready stand up and we can get out of here," Natasha explains, as she gives Tony a hoddie that she has pulled out of her bag.
"Thanks," Tony says, as now that the suit is in pieces it is rather cold. "I can't leave pieces of the suit here, or the shield," Tony tells Natasha.
"I know," Natasha says, as she pulls rope out from her bag.
"Okay seriously do you have everything in that bag?" Tony asks curious, and honestly a little shocked about everything Natasha has pulled from the bag.
"Pretty much, it's my emergency bag," Natasha explains, as she feels herself starting to get weaker. "Over the years there's been a lot of times where I have wished I had something so when I get out of whatever situation I'm in It gets added to this bag," Natasha explains, as she forces herself to stand up and to grab the shield then walks, back over to Tony, and then half falls, half squats down, again.
"You okay there?" Tony asks concerned, as he sits up.
"Yeah," Natasha says as she loops the rope around the legs of the suit, and then the arms, and loops the shield through the ropes, and puts the pieces that have been cut of in her bag, which she closes and puts over her shoulder. "Ready when you are," Natasha tells Tony.
"I think I can stand," Tony admits.
Hearing that Tony can stand up Natasha stands up, and for a second she thinks she is about to fall back over, but she manages to remain standing. Once she is sure that she hasn't fallen down Natasha sticks out her hand for Tony, which he uses to help himself to stand up.
"I got you," Natasha says, helping Tony to step out of the remain of the suit.
"I know, you always do," Tony says, and he puts an arm around Natasha's shoulders as she puts her arm around his waist. Once they are standing together Natasha pulls on the rope that is around the suit, and the suit almost folds slightly with the shield being attached.
"Let's go," Natasha says, and with difficulty they begin to walk, pulling the suit behind them, until finally they are outside.
"Uh, Nat, I really don't think we are going to be able to climb up," Tony comments.
"We won't have to," Natasha says. "FRIDAY, we're in position," Natasha says, through her earpiece, and moments later the Quinejet flies down and then the ramp opens so that Natasha and Tony can easily board.
"Thanks Friday," Tony says, knowing that FRIDAY will hear though Natasha, and the two of them, with the Iron Man suit and Captain America shield dragging behind them, get onto the jet.
Once on the jet Natasha lets go of the rope and then helps Tony over to the seats, which she honestly needs too, and they both sit down, or more specifically almost fall, into the chairs, and Natasha puts the bag next to her.
"FRIDAY, take us to the compound," Natasha requests, as right now she isn't sure if she would trust either her or Tony to fly and so it's better if FRIDAY handles that.
"Yes Nat," FRIDAY answers, and the ramp closes, and both Tony and Natasha feel as they are taken off into the air.
"How'd you know I needed you?" Tony asks curious.
"I set up emergency protocols a while ago. As soon as the arc was damaged, I was alerted," Natasha explains, and Tony is just amazed about the lengths Natasha has gone to.
"And the jet?" Tony asks, looking around.
"Borrowed from SHIELD," Natasha admits.
"I'm going to have to thank Melinda," Tony says. "Thank you, Nat. I honestly thought I was going to die," Tony says, as he reaches out and takes her hand.
"As long as I have a stay in the matter that's not going to happen," Natasha says, before leaning forward and kissing Tony. "Tony, we both know that the emergency arc is only a temporary. If by the time we get back to the compound you're not okay I need to know what you want; do you want the extremis protocol to be used?" Natasha asks as she needs to know what Tony wants, as she doesn't want to do something that isn't what he wants.
"Only if Doctor Cho says it's necessary," Tony tells Natasha. "I would prefer it stays in if possible," Tony explains.
"Okay," Natasha says, with a nod.
"Now tell the truth, are you okay? You seem rather pale," Tony comments, and he very much doubts it has anything to do with the cold.
"Yeah, don't freak out, but I kind of left hospital before they could figure out why I had blood loss," Natasha explains.
"What! Nat, you could have died!" Tony says, feeling terrified that Natasha risked her life for him.
"I'm fine," Natasha says, as she opens her bag. Opening her bag Natasha pulls out what looks like a hospital gown crumbled into a ball, but as she uncrumples it she reveals the bag of blood she was connected to earlier, and two ice packs.
"Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?" Tony asks shocked.
"Yep," Natasha says, as she pulls several other things out of her bag.
"Can I at least help?" Tony asks, as he isn't sure if it is a good idea for Natasha to set up her own blood transfusion. "Please Nat," Tony requests.
"I assume you know what to do?" Natasha asks, and Tony nods, so she hands him the needle. Doing what he has to do Tony sets up the IV and connects it to the blood. "Thanks," Natasha says gratefully.
"Helen is going to check you out when we get back to the compound, find out what caused your blood loss," Tony tells Natasha.
"Yeah," Natasha says, but she is going to focus on making sure Tony needs the medical attention he needs.
With great difficulty, even more than he was expecting, Tony puts his arm around Natasha, and the two of them snuggle up together as they drift into silence, both hoping for the others sake that they get to the compound as quickly as possible.
A little while later because of the way she is leaning on Tony Natasha has realized that his breathing has become shallow.
"Tony, wake up," Natasha says, worried, turning and gently shaking him, trying to get him to open his eyes; but he doesn't. "FRIDAY, how far out from the compound are we?" Natasha asks.
"Ten minutes, Nat," FRIDAY answers.
"If you could make that quicker that would be great, and put me through to Doctor Cho," Natasha requests.
"Yes Nat," FRIDAY responds, and the call is put through.
"Hello?" Helen's voice asks.
"Helen it's Nat, Tony and I are going to land at the compound in less than ten minutes," Natasha explains.
"Do you need medical attention?" Helen asks concerned.
"Tony does," Natasha answers. "The arc was significantly damaged. The emergency one is currently in so that will need to be switched out for a regular one. He's currently unconscious, I don't know the extend of his injuries," Natasha explains. "You're going to need the full med team," Natasha explains.
"We'll be waiting," Doctor Cho responds.
"Thanks Helen," Natasha says relieved, as the call is ended. "You listen to me, you're not going to die on me," Natasha tells Tony as she takes his hand. "We've got to much of a future together for you to bail now," Natasha explains. "So just hold on," Natasha asks.
For less than ten minutes Natasha waits with Tony until finally the plane lands and seconds after it does Helen and the medical team hurry on, with a gurney.
"Get him straight to the surgical wing, I want a full picture of his injuries as soon as possible," Helen instructs to her medical team, as they loud Tony on to the gurney. "Go," Helen says to her team before turning to Natasha. "What happened?"
"I don't know all the details but best I can figure Tony took on two super soldiers alone and it ended with a Vibranium shield in the arc," Natasha explains. "I have access to where Tony keeps the spare arcs I will go get one and bring it to you," Natasha says, as she knows the only other person who does is Rhodey, and even though she isn't feeling great she runs out of the plane.
After hurrying to where Tony keeps his spare arc's Natasha grabs one and she also grabs the things that are required for the extremis protocol. Once she has what she needs she hurries to the medical area where Doctor Cho is waiting.
"Here, this is the replacement arc," Natasha says, handing it over. "If you don't think you can help Tony, if his injuries and the damage done to him because of the arc is too severe come and get me, there is protocol that can save him, but he only wants it used on him as a last resort," Natasha explains.
"Okay," Helen confirms, knowing better than asking about that. "I'll give you updates as soon as I know more," Helen says, and Natasha nods.
After Helen heads back into the medical area Natasha goes to get the suit and shield out of the plane, and then she messages Happy before taking her seat outside the medical area, waiting for updates; making arrangements for Rhodey as she waits.
After a few hours of waiting, during which time there was several things she had to arrange, Natasha is glad when Helen finally walks out of the medical area. While Natasha has been getting updates it hasn't been Helen who have been giving them, but rather one of her medical personals.
"How is he?" Natasha asks worried.
"He's alive," Helen answers. "Tony did receive significant injuries, but I was able to use technology of mine to repair a lot of the damage. Replacing the arc also helped, it has kept his heart going," Helen explains.
"Does that mean he's going to be okay?" Natasha asks.
"He's sedated, and I would like to keep him like that for at least forty-eight hours, but yes, he should be okay," Helen explains.
"Thank you, Helen," Natasha says sincerely. "Can I sit with him?" Natasha asks.
"Of course," Helen answers. "I would like to check you over, Nat, to make sure you're alright," Helen explains.
"I'm fine," Natasha says, as she heads into the medical area.
Once in the medical area Natasha sits down next to Tony and takes his hand, having no intention of moving until Rhodey and/or Peter get home.