I went back to her room, shutting the door to have some privacy while I waited for her to wake up. I called Pepper. "Tony" She answered on the first ring, "how's Ruby?"
"Pepper, I need you to get in one of the luxuries, one with big back seats, grab a few blankets and a good pillow, and I need you to get to the Tower. Park in the back. Come as quickly as you can, please." I said.
"Tony, what's going on?" She asked.
"I just need to get Ruby home." I said.
"Alright, I'll be there soon." She said, and hung up. I knew she could hear the urgency in my voice, and would really be here soon.
Next was to get Ruby awake. I knew that they had sedated her, but I wanted her out of here now. I gently tried to wake her up, and after several minutes her eyes forced themselves open. "Hey, there you are." I said as I started to try and get her up.
"Tony, what's going on?" she asked, her eyes rolling back in her head. She gripped her head with her hands, "My head's killing me."
"I know, we are gonna get you out of here and get you something for your head." I said as I wrapped her blanket around her and tried to get her to her feet, but she didn't have the strength, and just fell back.
"I can't.. I can't walk." She said.
"It's alright, Ruby. I'll carry you." I said.
"Mr. Stark?" Peter's voice rang as I was about to pick her up. I turned around, Peter sat in his wheelchair staring at me, wide eyed. I gently laid Ruby back. "I was just coming to see how she was, I swear." He said.
"Peter, I need to use your chair." I said. I knew getting her to the car by carrying her would not only be a task, but probably would be uncomfortable for her as well, and with as much pain as she was in, I didn't want her to be anymore uncomfortable then she had to be.
"Yeah, sure, of course Mr. Stark" he said as he wheeled his way the rest of the way in. He could stand and even walk, the wheelchair was just a precaution when he left his room unsupervised. He leaned against the bed as I got Ruby, who was nodding in and out of consciousness, into the chair and wrapped in the blanket.
"Kid, if you need anything, call me. I will answer the phone. If the doctors start trying to steal your blood or making crazy accusations, run." I said.
"Uh, sure, whatever you say."
I grabbed the handles and began taking her out of the room, checking the halls first to ensure that it was all clear. I was almost to the back door when Rhode's stepped in front of me. "Uh, Tony, what the hell are you doing?" He asked, "Isn't she supposed to be in the infirmary?"
"Just help me." I said, "She's not staying here."
He held doors for me, "What's going on?" He asked.
"They accused her of being a mutant, they drugged her a lot." I said quickly, getting annoyed with the fact he was asking questions instead of just helping me.
"What do you mean they accused her of being a mutant? Is she one?" Rhodes asked, snapping at me, fear laced in his questions.
"No. Of course she is not a mutant." I snapped back, "We would know if she was. It's a trait carried by the father, and I nor anybody else in my family is a mutant, are they?"
"Tony, if the doctors said-" Rhodes started, but I was quick to cut him off, "The doctors continuously drugged her. They aren't looking out for her, so even if she was, which she isn't, I wouldn't leave her in their care."
"So get Bruce's help, Tony!" Rhodes exclaimed, "If she is a mutant she could very well be too much to handle. We need more opinions, professional opinions."
"Rhodes, Ruby is NOT a mutant." I snapped as he opened the final door where Pepper was waiting for us.
"Why would you think Ruby's a mutant?" Pepper asked, only when she asked it wasn't laced with fear, just concern and confusion. I looked down at Ruby, her eyes closed and her mouth partially open, "If she is a mutant, we will still do nothing different, that is who she is. She physically cannot help it. She was born that way, Tony. However, you've heard the horror stories, she may need help." Pepper said as she took a step towards us.
"She's not one." I firmly said, "Now help me get her in the car."
They helped me get her in the car. I laid her across the back seat and then got into the back with her, bracing her head. Pepper covered her up and helped me get a pillow under her head. I gently moved her hair from her face, looking at her swollen and bruised eyes.
"Tony, let me know if I can help you." Rhodes said, this time honestly filled with concern.
"Thanks." I said, not sure if I should actually take his word on that.
Pepper gently and cautiously began driving us home. "Are you sure we'll be able to take care of her? If she has a head injury…"
"The drugs are what's making her sleep, but we've treated head injuries before." I said and met her eyes in the mirror, "Remember my first Ironman concussion?"
She laughed, "How could I ever forget! You refused real medical treatment and insisted that I could take care of you! I thought you were going to die!"
"But I didn't, because of you." I said as I laughed with her.
She rolled her eyes at me, and then her face got serious again, "Honestly Tony, do you think she is one?" Pepper asked, trying to be as gentle as she could.
I opened my mouth to respond when Ruby's weak little voice stopped me. "Dad?" She groaned, trying to open her eyes.
The word made me hesitate, it stopped all thoughts going through my head. I could feel Pepper staring at me intently. "Yeah, sweety, I'm here." I said.
"Good." She groaned, then her eyes shut again.
"Is that-" Pepper started.
"Yeah, the first time." I quickly said.
Pepper got us home and helped me get Ruby inside and comfortable on the couch. "She needs a room, Tony. A room here."
"And clothes." I said.
"I'll start ordering some and have them fetched." Pepper said, and I could feel that she was uncomfortable.
"I'm going to stay here, with her." I said. Pepper nodded and began walking away. "Pepper, what if she doesn't want to stay here. Live here, in my home?" The question slipped out before I could even try to stop it.
"Well, it's her choice. If that is what she wants, I don't think you can really blame her, but it's better to be prepared. Show her we want her here."
I nodded my head and she face me a gentle smile before leaving.
I woke Ruby up about every hour- asking her simple questions like what her name was and if she remembered what had happened. It almost made me sad knowing that she remembered, but at the same time- I knew it was a good sign.
Finally, she came out of the fog the sedative had put her in and she woke up and stayed up. "Thanks for saving me." She said, sounding uncomfortable.
"It's my job, Ruby. My job as your father. You don't have to thank me." I said as I gently pushed some of her hair out of her face.
"I'm really sorry I just showed up out of the blue. Really, I am." Tears were beginning to fill her bruised and swollen eyes.
"Ruby, please, don't apologize for that. I'm sorry I was never there to take care of you like I should've." I said.
"You didn't know about me. That wasn't your fault." She replied.
Relief washed over me knowing that she saw it that way. That she no longer blamed me. "Ruby… I checked in on your mom. I wrote her letters. She never even got back to me. I'm so glad, eternally happy, that she brought you here so I could meet you, so I could know about you, but it was so suddenly. Was there a reason behind it?" I couldn't keep the question back- I didn't want to.
She turned away from me, her brow furrowing. "Why?" She quickly asked.
"Ruby, I just was wondering. Like I said, I am eternally grateful. But if there is a reason, you can tell me anything, it will change nothing in the terms of how much I love and care for you." I said as I gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes were big and glassy as she looked up at me, "There was a man. A man that gave her, my mom, the time of day, a man that fed us. He was great at first, but then something changed. He hurt her… and… we left shortly after that."
"Ruby… Did the man hurt you?" I asked through gritted teeth.
She sat there, not meeting my eyes for several long moments. "Tony… I really don't want to talk about this right now."
"You don't have to then." I said, my heart aching because that in itself answered the question, but who knows how bad it was. How bad the abuse she had endured was.
"Hey you two." Pepper's voice caught me off guard. She looked exhausted. She was exhausted.
"Hey baby." I said, "Ruby, this is Pepper, my fiance. Pepper, you of course know Ruby." I said, trying to make this less awkward.
"Hi Ruby, it is so good to meet you." Pepper said as she sat down next to me quickly, trying not to look or seem uncomfortable.
Ruby looked shocked. "You're getting married?" Her voice sounded breathless, shocked.
I felt Pepper tense up. "Well, yes, I am. We are." I quickly said as I slid my hand slowly to Peppers, and squeezed it tightly.
"I am so sorry." Ruby said barely above a whisper.
I sat forward at the same time Pepper did. Ruby already had tears soaking her face. "Ruby, what are you sorry for?" I asked as I gently pulled her into my arms.
"I screwed everything up, didn't I? All of you plans…" She started, sobbing harder.
"Ruby, no honey. You didn't ruin anything. I promise." I said as I rubbed her back.
"You've made things better." Pepper said, surprising me, but I quickly mouthed a thank you.
We got Ruby settled down and relaxed on the couch, then me and Pepper snuck away while she watched a movie. "Thank you for saying that back there." I said as I wrapped her in a hug.
"I meant it, Tony. If nothing else she's made us stronger. Stronger is better." She gave me a gentle smile and I returned it. In that moment, I thought everything just might be okay.