(Sorry this took so long but it's finally here! Winter break is here and so is more time to write, yay! :D Please enjoy this chapter and review it too! Also I'm open to ideas for this fic as well as ideas for other fics! I have an outline of how this fic is going to go and it's intended to be six chapters long but, it could go on longer if perhaps you guys would like there to be more of Tony helping Pepper to recover from her current state. Alright, onward to the chapter!)

Chapter 3: Iron-Foot

Tony quickly carried Miss Potts down into his workshop. The glass door slid open and he set her gently down onto the cool metal table where she had replaced his Arc reactor. Tony was not a doctor by any means, but he had everything and more that doctor would require to fix Pepper's ankle in his workshop. He noticed her shivering (as she was soaking wet still) and he tossed her a towel hoping it would help her as he worked.

"Mr. Stark," she said through her teeth, "can't we just go to the hospital?"

"The waiting, the crowds, the paparazzi…I'm thinking this will by a time saver.

"Tony…" she gave him a pleading look.

He brushed some of her hair out of her face and replied in a serious tone, "Pepper, if it's anything serious, I promise I will take you."

Pepper stared at him, testing his moment of non-sarcasm, making sure it was genuine. The pain reminded her that she wanted him to hurry though and she nodded her head, trusting he'd do it if he had to.

Tony immediately got to work, "Jarvis, x-ray Pepper's ankle."

"Right away, sir," The A.I. responded.

An x-ray of her ankle appeared on a clear screen floating before Tony. He looked it over thoughtfully and pointed to a spot on the screen, "Zoom." The picture enlarged. "What is this, here? Is this a break, Jarvis?"

"It's a slight fracture of the bone. It will take some time to heal, but nothing is seriously damaged." Jarvis replied.

"So, how do we fix this?" Tony asked.

"It will require a splint and a cast, sir. The ankle should also be elevated to help the swelling go down. Cold packs will help with the swelling as well. Also, Miss Potts will require crutches and bed rest. It will take at least six weeks for the bone to heal."

Tony glanced over at Pepper who groaned in annoyance at the A.I.'s reply.

"That all?" Tony questioned as he started to gather up supplies.

"If Miss Potts is in pain she might require pain reducers such as Excedrin or, perhaps something stronger depending on-"

"I am in pain!" Pepper interjected. "Please, hurry up!"

"I'd go with the something stronger." Tony said raising his eyebrows. He grabbed a syringe and a bottle of something else out of a metal drawer.

"Tony." She looked over at him.

"Hm?" Mr. Stark filled the syringe up with a clear liquid. He taped the side of it with his finger nail.

"You can not miss this dinner tonight. I can't miss this dinner-"

"Pepper it will be fine." Tony took the needle over to her ankle.

"Some major backers will be there and we need the funding. Our new-"

"Yep, they'll understand."

"What are you doing?" she now noticed the syringe that he was holding.

"Codeine."

"I can't be on-"

"Relax."

"But, how the hell-dah!" She shrieked. He stuck the needle into her ankle and pushed the pain killer in.

"There, you see, no more pain. Trust me, it works." He smiled at Pepper's glare.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Pepper asked as Tony had a plethora of items he was fiddling with.

"No, but Jarvis does."

Pepper sighed and laid her head back against the slanted table, "Wonderful."

He smiled yet again at her sarcasm. Tony prepared to take off the remained of Pepper's shoe. She yelped and clinched her teeth together as he slipped it off. "Sorry," he grimaced and placed a cold pack on her ankle.

Pepper closed her eyes as she had started to feel the effects of the codeine. She wanted to relax, but so many things were on her mind. She had so much she still had to do. Why did this have to happen now…or at all? She sighed.

Tony in the mean time was mentally beating himself up. He had to make this right, in any way he could. She was always there for him, above and beyond. This was his fault. He had to help her. He looked at Pepper's face. Her eyes were now closed, but her expression spoke louder than any words. It was her worried look. Tony could tell, he could always tell. It was a look he would often receive from her. He wished he could reassure her somehow. Her job was her life and he knew this would kill her. Hopefully he could soften the blow. She really did need a break, perhaps this could be a vacation for her. Tony hoped when she awoke he could put her mind at ease. He looked back at her ankle. He had to make this right…he would make this right.

Tony sculpted the cast with precision and care. Like a thoughtful watchmaker he carefully crafted it. Tony was very gentle with Pepper's ankle as well, handling her like a porcelain doll. She hadn't moved once since he had started. Her eyes were closed the entire time. She was enjoying the pain free experience. Pepper even found herself drifting off and falling asleep.

"It's done."

"Hmm?" Pepper opened her eyes, "That was fast, quicker than I thought it would take."

He shrugged, "I've built things way more complicated than this. Why don't you take a look and see what you think."

Pepper nodded her head, "For not knowing what you were doing you seem pretty pleased with yourself."

"Well, it is not your average cast. More like a work of art."

"…what?" Pepper jerked up and looked down at her ankle, "What! No, no, no! What did you do to my ankle?"

"I call it, 'Ironfoot'. I'll have that copyrighted by tonight." He smiled.

Where Pepper's left foot would normally be was a metal boot like that of Tony's Ironman suit.

"No, oh no! Tony!" Pepper shrieked and then felt herself being gently shaken by two strong hands on her shoulders.

"Pepper?"

Her eyes fluttered open and her breathing starting to slow down to a regular pace.

"You alright?" Came a gentle voice as a hand brushed her cheek, "Sounds like you were having a nightmare."

Pepper had been awakened for real this time. She blinked staring up at Mr. Stark's face. "My foot is still a foot, right?"

"…yes?" he looked confused.

"Oh, thank God."

"Look for yourself," Tony gestured toward her ankle.

She sat up and looked down at her ankle; it was in a normal honest-to goodness cast. The only unique thing about this cast was that it had been autographed by a super-hero. Tony had written his John Hancock in red maker next to a hand drawn smiley face.

Pepper smiled, "It's perfect. Thank you, Mr. Stark."

He smiled back, "You're welcome, Miss Potts."

"Now, I need to call the Hyatt and make sure they reserved the conference room and-" she coughed and shivered slightly.

"No you don't. I found this in your pocket," he held up her Blackberry. "And like you, it needs some important rest and drying out, before it will be able to function normally."

"But, this meeting cannot wait! I don't have time to rest and, what were you doing in my pockets?" she raised an eyebrow.

"You need to take off your clothes."

"Wha…what, what! I most certainly will not! I'm not just going to give-"

He held up his hands in defense, "Whoa, hold on Miss Potts! I mean, you need to change. You're freezing in those wet clothes. I can't have you getting sick." Tony smirked.

She stopped and pressed her lips together. "You could have said that first."

"And miss that reaction? Miss Potts, really, where is your mind?" he wriggled his eyebrows in an inappropriate manor.

She held a straight face, "I only know where yours always seems to be."

There was a pause. Tony shrugged and gave her a look of innocence. He then continued, "Pepper, I'm giving you the rest of this week off. Jarvis said you needed to rest and so, you are going to rest."

"But Tony-" she stammered but he stopped her with a finger to her lips.

"Not another word." He smiled "Come on, I happen to have some woman's clothing up stairs." He picked her up in his arms once again. Tony was still shirtless and in his swim trunks. The glow from the Arc Reactor in his chest illumined Pepper's face as she smiled slightly, "Heh, I bet you do."

They exited his workshop and he headed up stairs.