After confirming with the front desk what the text he'd received from May had said - a simple message to let him know he should be cleared to make medical decisions for Peter without having to consult her now - he made his way down to the vending machines, needing something to eat desperately, even if it was just a bag of chips.

He bought a few bags of chips and a cup of coffee, then headed outside after a moment's thought. He needed a little bit in the fresh air, and he didn't want to wake Peter with his noisy snacks either.

He settled on an empty bench outside the hospital and sighed, taking out his phone to call Pepper. If he didn't update her soon, she'd be freaking out.

Despite the hour, she picked up on the second ring. "Tony?"

"Hey Pep." He sighed again, taking a long drink of his coffee and making a face. It wasn't good, but at least it was warm and caffeinated.

"Hey. How's it going? How's Peter? You haven't called in hours. I getting worried something happened." She stopped, and he could just picture her running her hands through her messy hair. "Nothing happened, right?"

"Nothing outside of the damage that has already been done." He leaned back on the bench. "He's stable, and he finally woke up, for a little bit at least. I'm sorry it's been so long. I had to wait on results and then I really had to tell his aunt what happened."

"How'd she take it?" Her voice was soft.

"About as well as could be expected. She was freaking out, but she knows he's okay and that he's with me and… the basic gist of it all. And she's not trying to keep me from seeing him or anything." Despite it being all his fault.

Pepper seemed to guess the added thought. "It wasn't your fault, Tony. You couldn't have known this would happen. You saved him, and that's all that matters, so long as you continue to be there for him."

The same basic gist as what his aunt had said. He just sighed again, looking down at his coffee. "About that, Pep…"

"About what?" Her tone had sharpened, and he could guess what she was thinking. You're not going to wriggle your way out of this one.

"It's not what you think. I…" He stopped, taking a breath. "I told his aunt I would take care of him until he got better. He's going to stay with us." When he didn't get an immediate response, he continued quickly, "He's really bad off, Pep. And May still has to work, and I just…" I can't leave him again.

She had an uncanny way of knowing what he was thinking, and he knew, again, he didn't have to add that last thought for her to understand. She just sighed heavily. "Oh, Tony. You know I don't have a problem with it, but… you also know you have no idea what you're getting into, right? You're not a doctor, and you can barely manage to take care of yourself. And the timing…"

"I know, I know. Believe me, Pep, I do, but what else was I supposed to do? He needs someone. And May… she loves him, dearly, but she's not qualified to deal with a teenage superhero, let alone a hurt one, even if she had the time. And she doesn't even know the truth."

"Tony...we're not really qualified either," Pepper cautioned him carefully.

"I know. But we're the closest the kid's got." He sighed. "It's just temporary." At least for now.

She was quiet for a moment. "You can't expect to keep the truth from her forever."

"I know. But it's not my choice, and I'm not going to take it away from him, either."

"How bad off is he?" He repeated the list of injuries to her that he'd given to May, and she groaned quietly. "How do you really intend to deal with this, Tony?"

"Very carefully, Pep." He held his head in his hand, rubbing his temple. "Very, very carefully."

It was silent for a long minute. Then she just sighed again. "Alright. You know I trust you, Tony. If this is what you want…"

"It's hardly about what I want, Pepper. More about what's best for the kid." But he did want this. He wanted to help take care of Peter. He wanted to be there to see him get better, and hopefully keep him out of trouble as best he could from now on. And he knew they both knew it.

"I know." She paused. "When are you going to be home?"

"As soon as they get the seizures straightened around. They fed him some kind of medication while he was out, and he hasn't seized in a few hours. So hopefully by tomorrow evening, if he stays seizure-free."

"Alright. I'll get a room ready for him tomorrow then. Just let me know when you get the go-ahead and I'll send Happy your way."

"Will do." Silence. "I love you, Pep."

"I love you too, Tony. Try to get some rest, okay?" Then she disconnected, not even waiting on an answer they both knew he wouldn't truthfully give.

He sighed, putting his phone away and going back inside. The worst of it was over now, but he still had a long night ahead of him.

If only it didn't have to be on the hard hospital couch.

Somehow, he did sleep. Not exactly comfortably, but exhaustion took over for once, and he was asleep almost as soon as he settled onto the couch.

He jolted awake every time someone entered the room, though, which happened frequently throughout the night. For the most part, it was just people coming in and out, checking on him. The worst time was when the kid's heart monitor went off, and he was up and off the couch in an instant, which was about as long as it took for the two nurses at the desk to get to the room.

He had to stand out of the way for them to do their jobs, even if it was painful. He couldn't hear a lot of what was going on over the monitor, but it only took the nurses a few minutes to discern what was wrong.

One of them silenced the monitor, and he looked up as she approached. "He's fine. There's nothing medically wrong with him. It appears he's just having a nightmare."

I can't imagine why. He sighed and nodded, moving up to the kid's side the minute they were out of the room. Then he stopped. So he was having a nightmare. He had nightmares himself, of course, but comforting other people wasn't really his strong suit, let alone when it was things he couldn't even see. He had no idea where to start.

He suddenly realized he'd better figure it out if he was going to bring the traumatized kid home with him. It was unlikely this would be a one time occurrence.

That thought in mind, he stepped closer to the bed, reaching out slowly to lightly run his fingers through his hair, stroking it back off of his forehead. He sighed slightly as the kid tensed and then relaxed under his touch, his eyelids fluttering rapidly and then seeming to settle after a few minutes.

When his breathing settled and he could see his heart rate had returned to normal, he retreated back to the couch, letting out a long breath and settling back down. This was only the beginning. If he'd woken up or it had got any worse… next time it wouldn't be so easy.

He sighed as he laid back down on the couch. For now he would just be grateful that it was and try to go back to sleep.