Chapter 34
Peter woke up hearing a steady beeping first. He couldn't place it, and it was beginning to annoy him for waking him up. His whole body felt tired...and like he was floating...until he suddenly felt a pressure building in his head that made it impossible to go back to sleep.
Slowly, he blinked his eyes open, flinching at the bright lights for a moment. They made his eyes burn, and his head throb as ringing filled his ears. When he blinked them open again, the lights had dimmed.
Thanks FRIDAY. Peter wanted to say, but couldn't quite get his mouth to cooperate to say the words.
As his vision finally cleared, he felt some panic to see he was in the med lab at the Tower. Ugh not again!
It took him a moment of pure panic before everything came crashing down and he remembered what happened. He moved to sit up and was hit with sharp pain all over.
Looking down fearfully he saw a blanket pulled up to his chest. His arms were on the cover, and that's when he noticed his right hand was in a cast from his elbow to his wrist, only showing his fingers. Which May was holding in her hand, as she was sleeping in a chair beside his bed. A blanket draped over her. Happy was in a chair beside her, asleep too.
To his left. His dad was clasping his hand in a vice grip, his head resting on his other arm, apparently asleep too. Then there was Pepper. Asleep laying on a sofa pulled into the room.
They were all asleep. It was made him wonder how long he had been here.
He gulped as he looked at all of them. Feeling so much relief that they were here with him, and the fact they were holding his hands. They couldn't be that mad at him right? A vague flash crossed his mind of when his dad found him at school. Assuring him that it didn't matter that he ran, he just wanted him ok. That had to be true right.
Looking at his dad, Peter froze. His face was turned to Peter, and there were some tired lines on his forehead that indicated some stress he was feeling. Stress Peter caused. This was his fault. He had acted so stupid, worried them, and now he was hurt. All because of Flash...Did...did his dad know about Flash? Oh no.
He considered not waking his dad and trying to go back to sleep. But his head was killing him, and he was beginning to feel the pain in his arm and all over. So sleep wasn't going to happen. And well...he wanted to talk to his dad. His dad would make him feel better.
Peter wiggled his fingers first to nudge his dad's hand to wake him.
"Dad?" Peter croaked, and cleared his throat.
Nothing.
Peter tried to nudge him again and managed to get his hand free from his dad's grip. His index finger had a clip on it leading back to the heart machine, but he ignored it, moving his hand to touch his dad's forehead. He watched as his dad's brow furrowed but he didn't wake.
Sighing, Peter moved to lay his hand on his dad's head, surprised at how soft his hair felt.
Finally, Tony's eyes blinked before opening and he shifted before locking eyes with Peter.
"Hey dad." Peter said quietly.
"Peter!" Tony grinned, shooting up and rushing to hug him. Catching Peter by a surprise. But when Tony kissed the side of his face and combed through his hair, whispering to him; "I'm so glad you're ok." Peter fell into his embrace and clung to him, burying his face in his dad's neck.
May stirred sitting up; "Peter?" She said sleepily, and Tony pulled back allowing her to see him. Peter turned to her hesitantly, and was so happy when she smiled at him.
"Oh baby how are you feeling?" She breathed rushing forward cupping his face and searching his eyes. It wasn't long before Happy and Pepper stirred, standing and greeting him, their reliefs clear on their faces.
"Here." Happy was suddenly offering him a cup of water with a straw, which he eagerly took to help sooth his throat.
"I'm ok...my head hurts though...well all of me does actually." He made it as a joke to lighten the mood. But concern crossed their faces.
"Here bud." Tony fumbled to slap a pump into his hand; "Push it if you're in pain. Helen's hooked you up with only the best so it will help believe me."
Peter nodded looking down shyly. So this was the point when he had to talk about what happened, he could feel their expectant gazes.
"You've got a concussion," Tony continued first before Peter could speak forcing him to look at him again; "And a broken arm, and some bruising on your ribs and body. You'll heal in a couple of days. Your healing is taking a little longer because you haven't been sleeping or eating enough." He finished sending Peter a pointed look.
"How long have I been here?"
"Only overnight. You had us all pretty worried honey." Pepper murmured squeezing his shoulder; "We'll all relieved you're ok though. You're going to be just fine."
"May..." Peter's throat clogged as he looked at her pained; "What I said to you before...And Happy...I'm so sorry."
"Oh no honey it's ok." May said quickly shaking her head.
"We're not mad Pete." Happy assured him for a firm smile.
"No it's not." Peter objected; "I was so horrible to you but I didn't mean it. I swear I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. And for running like that." By now tears were streaming down his face, and he looked guiltily at his dad; "I'm sorry to all of you for making you worry like that. And for this. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He covered his face full out crying now. He tried to stop it but the tears wouldn't stop coming.
"Baby no..." May said softly worry on her face and she leant forward cupping his face and pushing his hand to wipe the tears away; "It's ok. I'm not mad. I know you didn't mean it. It was just a silly fight. I'm the one who should be apologising for yelling at you like that. I had no idea what you were going through."
Peter froze looking around the room; "So...do you...I'm guessing you know what happened. At school." Peter said looking down and darting looked at them warily.
"We do buddy." Tony murmured taking his hand in both of his; "And don't worry about that ass Flash anymore. He's taken care of. He won't bother you anymore."
Peter stilled; "Wha..what did you do?" If Tony told the school, Flash would just be a lot worse, and the school would see him a rat.
"It doesn't matter." Tony said quickly and smiled at Peter, reaching to ruffle his hair; "All that matters is he won't bother you anymore. I promise."
"Peter." May said before sighing; "Why didn't you tell us about Flash? Or about how you were feeling about being a secret?"
"What?" Peter paused; "How did you...?"
"FRIDAY." Tony said simply. And it all clicked Peter. Karen must have told FRIDAY, who then told them everything. Oh god no please don't say they heard everything he confessed to Karen.
"Peter." Tony said his face earnest; "Were you really going to run away?" His grip on Peter tightened as if Peter would pull away or run, and Peter saw there was real fear and hurt on his face. Not what he was expecting at all.
"No of course not." Peter said quickly offering a shaky smile; "I didn't mean it. I wouldn't do that." Maybe he could get them to believe none of this was a big deal.
Tony narrowed his eyes, he heard how broken Peter sounded on that video. And hearing him now, he knew that Peter was lying.
"Honey why did you run then?" Pepper prompted.
"I just needed some space. It doesn't matter now."
"It does Peter." Happy insisted; "We care about you. We just want to help."
"Peter we need to talk." May said firmly; "About what you've been hiding from us, how you've been feeling. About running away."
"It's not a big deal." Peter interrupted panicking. He really didn't want to talk about his feelings, he had already hurt them, and he didn't want to hurt them anymore; "Please just leave it alone."
"We can't do that buddy." Tony replied softly; "You're not getting out of it this time. We all need to talk. Now."
They all froze seeing Peter's hear rate pick up.
"Please don't...I can't...just please don't...not now..." Peter begged, his breathing escalating.
"Ok honey just take a breath." May said worriedly; "It's ok just calm down."
Peter tried but he was just too scared. Scared to admit the truth, scared of their reaction, scared of what happened with Flash, and now he couldn't get his heart rate to calm down, his breathing becoming ragged. It didn't help seeing all their faces become concerned.
"He's having a panic attack!" Pepper realised; "I'm getting Helen!" And she rushed off.
"Peter just take slow deep breaths." Tony encouraged, his own hand shaking as he tried to calm Peter down.
"I can't dad...please..." He winced feeling a sharp pain in his head and pushed on the pump hard.
Acting fast, Tony grabbed Peter's face, cupping his cheeks forcing Peter to meet his eyes; "It's ok buddy I'm here. You're safe. Just copy my breathing ok. In real slow," Tony demonstrated taking a slow breath in and holding it for a moment, pleased when Peter copied him, and then exhaled; "Good now out, real slow. And again. Just keep doing it."
May watched in awe as Tony was so gentle and patient with Peter, calming him down. He really was a good dad.
Finally, Peter calmed down at Helen rushed in looking at Peter's vitals and getting some medicine to help calm him down.
"Dad I can't just please don't..."
"Ok bud ok." Tony said nodding at him still cupping his face, frantic at how scared he was to talk about what he'd been feeling. This was beyond worrying. But clearly he wasn't up to talking right now; "We won't make you do anything you don't want to."
"We're here Peter." Pepper said touching his leg; "We don't have to talk, we can just sit here with you. And be here. It's ok. You're safe."
Peter just felt terrible now. They were being so patient with him, so nice. The tears were falling again. He covered his face with both hands; "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Never had Tony heard Peter apologise so much. He was terrified now.
"Peter it's ok. Baby we love you it doesn't matter." May tried to reassure him.
"Buddy it's ok. Look at me." Tony murmured trying to pull his hands away but Peter wasn't listening.
"It's the concussion." Helen offered softly; "And the drugs, and lack of sleep. It's messing with his emotions." She grimaced in sympathy; "I've given him another sedative to help calm him down."
That helped a little, but Tony was sure that even without all that Peter would have reacted like this.
"Dad..." Peter sobbed, and he sounded so sad, like a cry for help, it broke Tony's heart.
Acting on instinct, Tony climbed onto the bed, carefully laying beside Peter and pulled him into his chest; "I've got you spider baby. I've got you. It's ok just let it out. Let it all out." Peter had been bottling all this stuff up, it wasn't good for him. Crying might help him feel better until they could talk it out.
Peter fisted his dad's shirt, burying his face in his chest. His senses filled with nothing but his dad, which was perfect for helping him calm down. He always felt safe in his dad's arm, reassured that everything would be ok.
Tony pressed his face into Peter's curls, kissing the top of his head. He covered the back of Peter's head, and started rubbing circles on Peter's back as he cried into his chest. It killed him seeing Peter like this. Hurt and upset. All he wanted was to make Peter feel better. He missed seeing Peter joyfully bound up to him chattering away about anything and everything under the sun. Missed his laugh and smile. He'd do anything to get that Peter back.
For now all he could do was be there for Peter, reassure him and give him lots of love.
Gently rocking Peter, Tony murmured; "It's ok bud. Everything will be ok. I've got you. I love you spider baby."
May watched in awe at them both. Seeing Tony like this, as Peter's dad. So loving towards him, knowing just how to help him. And how Peter responded to him so easily. It was suddenly so clear. Peter needed Tony, he needed his dad, and Tony needed him too. Now she understood why Peter had been struggling with being a secret. After missing out on 15 years with his dad, he didn't want to lose out on anymore. She suddenly felt awful for trying to keep Peter from Tony. They belonged together. She could see that now.
It wasn't long before Peter fell asleep against Tony, worn out from his injuries and the crying, and succumbing to the sedative. Tony carded through his hair before looking at Pepper, May and Happy worriedly. Finally he looked at Helen.
"He's ok right?"
"It's actually normal for him to have some mood changes." Helen explained looking sympathetically at Peter; "Concussions are known for causing confusion and irritability, and he's clearly been through a lot. Give him some time. Once he's had some rest, and he's healed some more, he should feel better. I promise. There's nothing to worry about."
But Tony did worry.
Looking down at Peter, he rested his cheek on the top of his head, hugging him tighter. Just thinking about how close he came to losing Peter today, it scared the living daylights out of him. The only thing grounding him was having Peter in his arms again. He was never letting him go again.
Reaching for Pepper's hand he tugged her to sit on the edge of the bed. Smiling fondly at Peter, Pepper took over rubbing his back.
"We'll be here when you wake up honey. We're not going anywhere."