GUESS WHO'S BACK WITH A NEW CHAPTER ?

Many thanks to my Beta Laurel who's amazing and puts up with me while I bother her on What's App with weird questions. You're a gem, girl !

Chapter 12:

It was supposed to be a day out in the desert. She would go to the preview with Tony in the morning, and then the military would escort her to a construction site for one of the hospitals that the Maria Stark Foundation was just starting to build. In and out of the country in less than 24 hours. He had promised to take her to his mansion in Dubai afterward, so that they could be together away from prying eyes and start getting to know each other again.

It was supposed to be a new beginning.

Instead, something explodes and her reality comes crashing down.

Xxx

Pain. Pain is all she remembers. Flashes of images start to assail her. The dust. The sound of explosions. Screams. The ricochet of bullets against the vehicle. Screams again. Tony's voice. Panic. Are you alright? Are you ok? Pepper? Pepper? –

Xxx

The first time she wakes up, it's because of the cold. She briefly opens her eyes but the darkness engulfs the room. Is this a room? She can sense a draft coming from somewhere. She can't see where she is. There's humidity in the air. She tries to move but her body is sore and pain shots through her right side. She tries to focus on the sounds around her. She knows something is very wrong. She knows it. But her mind is addled by the exhaustion. What happened? What happened? Where is she? Where's Tony?

Unconsciousness claims her once again.

Xxx

She realizes she's lying on a makeshift cot when she wakes up for the second time. It's the pain in her right side that wakes up her up, as well as the pounding in her head. She still can't make out where she is. And Tony? Where's Tony? She tries to sit up but a pain in the middle of her chest prevents her from doing so, making her shout in surprise.

Immediately, a man is by her side. She doesn't recognize him and the room (this isn't a room… where is she?) is too dimly lit to make out all of his face. Instinctively, she tries to move away, only to remember that she is unable to do so. The man senses her fear and tries to calm her down, holding up his hands.

"It's fine. Don't worry, I won't hurt you," he says, "But you're injured… I had to pull a bullet from your right shoulder. No major organ was touched. Also, I think one or several of your ribs may be bruised. Possibly broken. I didn't see any other sign of injury. Although, it's possible you might have a slight concussion. But I can't do anything about that, I'm sorry. Your friend is lying down over there."

He gestures to their left and she starts making out another cot with a form lying down. After a few seconds and her eyes getting used to the lack of light, she recognizes Tony, his naked chest and the bandages around his torso. Something seems to be coming out of the bandages but she can't see what. The man goes on:

"He's still unconscious. I'm afraid he wasn't as lucky as you. His injuries were far more serious than yours."

She tries to ask a question but her throat is dry. The man offers her some water from a tin goblet. She gulps it down greedily. In hindsight, she probably should be more careful when drinking something given by a stranger in what she'll learn later is a cave, but her mind is still foggy, and she's parched.

"He's fine for the moment. I had to perform surgery to keep the shrapnel from getting to his heart. But I'm afraid I'm no doctor and I had to improvise. I think he'll be okay, but I can't be sure until he wakes up."

Bile rises in her throat. The man helps her sit down and she heaves. Her ribs are killing her but the fear and horror are too strong to contain.

"I'm sorry. I know this is a shock. Try to breathe slowly."

She nods as she takes long inhales and exhales. Eventually her panic recedes and she lies down again.

"Who are you?" She asks. "Where are we? What happened?"

The questions spill from her as tears start to fall down her cheeks. Shock, she thinks. She's in shock.

"I am Yinsen. I'm a physicist and an engineer from Gulmira. We are somewhere in the mountains, in Afghanistan. You were abducted with your friend a little over a day ago. I don't know about how you got here. However, I can tell you that the people responsible, the Ten Rings, are a group of mercenaries very active in this part of the country. They are ruthless and will not hesitate to kill any of us if we do not comply with their demands. It's very important you make them understand that you're more valuable to them alive than dead. Your safety depends on it."

She nods slowly. He takes her hand.

"I'm sorry. The last thing I want is to scare you more than you already are. But fear is the only thing that'll keep you and your friend alive right now. Do you understand?"

She nods once again before asking:

"When were you brought here?"

Yinsen sighs.

"Time here is difficult to tell. There are no windows and they make sure you have as little information about the outside world as possible. I think it must have been a month now."

Her heart clenches at that information. A month. A whole month. She thinks of Tony, injured and unconscious, probably in urgent need of medical care. There must be something she can do.

"Can I speak with them? The Ten Rings? I need to make sure Tony gets some medicine."

Yinsen shakes his head.

"It's better if you let them come to you." He points above their heads, to the right hand corner and the left. "They already know you're awake. My guess is it won't be long before they introduce themselves. They might even need something from you, since they took the trouble to bring you here, rather than killing you outright in the desert. But I'm not sure."

Pepper immediately tenses up. She didn't tell him where they were taken from.

"How did you know we were in the desert?"

Yinsen has a wry smile.

"Your clothes and your hair. They were full of sand when you were brought here. Mr Stark's as well. Don't worry, I promise I don't work for them. At least not willingly."

Pepper isn't completely convinced, but right now he's all she's got until Tony wakes up. He might also be their best chance of getting out of here alive.

She introduces herself: "I'm Virginia Potts."

"I know who you are Miss Potts." He answers. "I've been following your work at VAST, and at the foundations you've worked with. They have helped many in this part of the world. And for that, I am grateful. I also wanted to-"

He doesn't finish his sentence as the door opens. Quickly, he helps her get to her feet, despite her injuries.

"Quick, quick, stand up, you have to stand up. And do exactly as I say. Do you hear me? Just follow my lead. And don't talk unless spoken to."

Once again, she feels a shooting pain in her ribs but tries not to show it. She bites her lip as Yinsen makes her walk a few steps toward one of the lamps. A dozen men approach. It takes Pepper all the courage she has not to physically recoil from them as they get closer. One man breaks rank and lifts his hands toward her.

"The beautiful Virginia Potts. So nice to see you are awake. Welcome to my humble enterprise."

She stubbornly stays silent before Yinsen pinches her in the back. Startled, she says:

"Thank you. For not killing me."

The man laughs.

"Oh no worries, no worries. I won't hurt you. No one here will. That is, if you do what is asked of you."

She's almost too afraid to ask but can't help herself:

"And what is that?"

The leader smiles slowly, like a knife he probably stabbed someone with.

"Well, first, we'll do a little video. Then, we'll talk."

Another man enters the area and brings a camera with a tripod, as well as some American newspapers. One of the men already in the room drags a chair next to her and forces her to sit on it. They shove the newspaper in her hands and hold an electric torch in her direction after the camera is set up. The camera starts to roll and someone reads aloud a piece of paper in a language she doesn't understand as she faces the device. It lasts less than two minutes. They make her stand up again after the recording is done.

"See, not difficult was it?" The leader says. "Now. We have to speak about Mr. Stark."

"He needs medication." She blurts.

The man in front of her gives her a look of warning before agreeing. "Yes, we'll see that he gets what he needs so that he can recover as quickly as possible. Because my time is very precious, and I need something from him. Something you might have to convince him to do for me. But we'll see about that later. Right now, the only thing I ask of you is to make sure he doesn't die. I'll get you the medicine. But any sign of you not cooperating and I'll kill you. Am I making myself clear?"

She nods.

He leaves without saying anything else, his men trailing behind him. Both Yinsen and herself exhale once the door closes.

"Asking something directly was dangerous, Miss Potts. Next time, if you need something, let me ask him. He'll take it better coming from me. I'm afraid they do not approve very much of women talking or asking things directly."

Pepper sighs.

"I'll be more careful in the future. What did they say? In front of the camera, I mean."

Yinsen shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I did not recognize the dialect. But I think we can safely assume that this was meant to be proof of life. They may be asking for some kind of ransom."

Pepper scoffs. "The American government doesn't negotiate with terrorists. I doubt they'll pay them."

"You may be right," he concurs, "which is why you need to make yourself indispensable. However, I think you won't need to. If anything, they'll keep you because it'll motivate Mr. Stark to do what they'll eventually ask of him. What concerns me is what happens after."

She closes her eyes for a few seconds. She knows she can't control what happens in the future. She has to focus on the present. And right now, Tony needs her help.

"Do you know what type of medicine he can get Tony?" She asks.

She makes her way toward Tony with difficulty. Yinsen holds her left arm as she sits down next to Tony on the cot. Her immediate reflex is to touch his forehead to see if he's got a fever. He feels warm, but no overly so, which reassures her.

"Fortunately, our captor is very well connected. He'll get Mr. Stark the medicine he needs."

She looks at the wires coming out of the bandages that are linked to a small device near the bed. She points to it.

"What's that? Why is it coming out of his chest?"

"This is a car battery" he replies while gesturing toward the box. "This is what is keeping the shrapnel from getting to Mr. Stark's heart."

Something cold seizes her body. "I'm not sure I understand."

Yinsen bends over Tony and shows her what's under the bandages.

"Oh my god! What did you do to him?!" She tries to reach for him but Yinsen prevents her from doing so. He puts his hands on her uninjured shoulder:

"Don't worry, it's fine. As long as the battery lasts, it's fine. I told you. I'm an engineer, not a doctor. I did what I could to make sure your friend doesn't die. I've seen this type of injury many times in my village. Men, women and children who had been injured by bombs and who died days later because of the shrapnel that inevitably got to their major organs and made them bleed internally. I couldn't take out the shrapnel without doing more damage to his body. I just made sure he wasn't bleeding internally anymore, and then I inserted an electro-magnet and hooked it up to a car battery. It will keep the shrapnel away from his heart. That's the best I could do."

Yinsen steps away and walks toward one of the tables before bringing a plate of rice.

"Eat. It's not very good but it will keep you from being too hungry and you'll feel a bit better. In the meantime, I'll see if I can't heat some coffee. That's the only luxury they allow us in terms of sustenance."

She takes the plate he's handing her and starts eating. It's mostly mush but she cleans her plate anyway. Later, Yinsen helps her move her cot next to Tony's. She wants to be able to check that he's fine, that he's still breathing, without having to get up or ask Yinsen for help.

A couple of days pass - at least so they think - and Tony has shown a few signs of improvement. His fever is mostly gone and so are the shivers he used to have. Her condition is only slightly better. Yinsen checks her wound every few hours to make sure it doesn't get infected and he changed her bandages. The throbbing in her arm has only slightly abated but she cannot move it. Her ribs now have a bluish colour, which matches the pain she's in. She tries not to move around too much but it's not that easy. Their captors provided them with the medicine they asked for and an IV to monitor Tony's medicine intake more easily and keep him hydrated. Some of the medicine is for her, not that they advertise that fact. Yinsen thanks them but Pepper can only nod. It's safer not to talk, and anyway, if she can get what she wants without talking or thanking them, then all the better for her.

Yinsen and her are quietly talking on her cot when Tony moves for the first time. Pepper immediately takes his hand and tries to see if he's awake:

"Tony? Tony, can you hear me?"

He grunts, and although he says nothing, his hand squeezes hers. Pepper can feel the tears starting to blur her vision. She reaches for his brow with her other hand, trying to convey some reassurance to him.

"I'm here. It's me, I'm here. Can you open your eyes for me?"

Pepper feels suddenly sick as she hears herself. If he opens his eyes, he'll see where they are, or rather where they aren't, and he'll panic. A knot forms around her heart. She wishes she could shield him from their new reality. Have him wake up in a hospital, with Rhodey and Happy by their side. Tell him that the best doctors in the world are going to do everything they can so that he'll live and be healthy again. She squeezes his hand harder, as if to anchor herself to him, and lifts it to her lips.

A few minutes pass. Tony doesn't open his eyes and slides back into unconsciousness. Pepper breathes easier for one moment. Ignorance is bliss, they say. But for how long? Yinsen watches, silently. He needn't say anything. They both think the same thing.

They won't be able to protect Tony from the Ten Rings much longer.

Xxx

The leader of the Ten Rings comes back with two of his men a few hours later. Pepper wonders if they saw what happened earlier with Tony and if that's why they're here. However, he doesn't spare a glance to Tony's lying form on the cot and goes directly to Pepper.

"Miss Potts, you will come with us now."

Her heart skips a beat as a cold shiver run through her spine. Yinsen tries to stop them:

"Miss Potts is needed here, so that Mr. Stark can recover. I can't do it without her."

One of the men hits him in the stomach before he can say anything more.

"Lying to protect Miss Potts is unnecessary. No harm will come to her. I promise. And I'm sure Mr. Stark will be fine."

He puts his hand on one of Yinsen's shoulder. "Because you know what will happen if he doesn't."

Yinsen nods and the two men grab Pepper on each side. Pain immediately shoots up in her injured arm. She grits her teeth as she tries not to give them the satisfaction of hearing her cry in pain. Her ribs too hurt like hell. She shouldn't be walking, even less being dragged like that. Also, the medication she took a couple of hours ago is starting to wear off… She hears Yinsen shout after her as she steps outside their cell:

"Do not worry Miss Potts, I will take care of him!"

The door slams behind her and anything else he might have said is cut off.

They walk for a few minutes. It seems like an eternity to Pepper who cannot walk very fast, despite the two men dragging her along. She tries to memorize the path they're taking, but the tunnels are endlessly winding and she loses it almost immediately. Eventually, she starts seeing things more clearly and realizes they've taken her to the surface. The daylight almost blinds her and she has to close her eyes and look down so that she doesn't damage her eyesight. She can see several open tents all around them. She sees crates, many of which are covered with large sheets. She sees something that catches her attention from the corner of eye, but it can't be…

Her thoughts are interrupted when her captor turns toward her:

"Miss Potts, I suppose you'd like to know why I have brought you outside."

She doesn't respond, which makes him laugh.

"I see you have learned during your short time with us. Good. A woman should always know her place. Especially when she is used to being in power."

He pushes her forward and leads her to one of the open tents.

"I'm sure you remember our little video that we made. I was disappointed when your government said they wouldn't pay for your release. Such an ungrateful country you live in, Miss Potts. Even toward upstanding citizens like yourself…" He pauses and turns his back on her, as he searches through one of the smaller crates.

Her heart is pounding in her chest. Is that it? Are they going to kill her now? Are they going to… Pepper involuntarily shakes her head. Don't think about it. Don't think about it. She finds herself wishing for a quick death. A bullet to the head or the heart. Tears are falling down her cheeks. She starts visualising Tony, Aurelia, Andrew, Rhodey… all the people in her life that mattered to her. If these are her last moments, that's how she wants to spend them. Thinking about those she loves rather than those she hates. She waits for the click of a gun or the blade of a knife to run through her but it never comes. Instead, he says:

"It is lucky that the American government is not the only person willing to pay for such a pretty face as yours. Actually, you might be amazed how many people are willing to pay for the pleasure of your company."

She looks up, only to see him put a hood over her head.

Xxx

Tony wakes up with a start. A man he doesn't recognize is sitting next to him.

"Ah, finally, you are awake. You should take it slowly. We wouldn't want you to undo my handiwork."

He points at Tony's chest, the wires and the car battery. Terror seizes Tony.

"What the fuck did you do to me? Where am I? And where's Pepper?"

Yinsen sighs, shaking his head. Calmly, he starts retelling the events of the past few days to Tony, from his capture and extensive injuries to the Ten Rings and their interested concern toward his well-being. It's a lot to take in but Tony soldiers on. Yinsen stops talking and Tony asks once more:

"Where's Pepper? Is she okay?"

"I'm afraid I do not know. They took her away yesterday. I don't even know whether or not she's still alive.

Once more, Tony's reality crashes down.

TO BE CONTINUED...


I'M EVIL. MOUHAHAHA.

No but seriously. The next chapter's already been written. It's with my Beta. You won't have to wait too long for this one. Promise ;)

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