Author's Note: I'M BACK! Well sorta, I am writing again so that's nice… Most of my stuff is still in another state… This is a short chapter I know. But hey we do what we must. I own nothing.
46. Wake Up Call
Tony's head shot up from his hands as the door to the medical wing opened. Steve stepped out. The normally white star on his uniform was stained red with Piper's blood, his smile was slightly strained. The air in the room was tense for a moment.
"Bruce says you can go in." Tony ran past Steve, Pepper hot on his heels. Natasha made to lay a hand on Steve's shoulder but he shook his head.
"Better safe than sorry, radioactive blood and all. I'm gonna go toss this in the Hazmat Laundry and take a shower. I'll let Thor and Hawkeye know its ok to visit on my way." Natasha nodded and slipped into the room.
Tony had taken over the main seat in the room, Pepper hovering behind his chair. Bruce stood to one side fiddling with a monitor. On the bed lay a pale sleeping teenager, her hair was a mess, though short it fell onto the pillow around her head. An oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose periodically fogging up with her breath. Her arms lay on top of the blanket showing heavily bandaged wrists. Natasha stepped over to Bruce.
"How is she?" Bruce sighed lightly.
"She's going to be alright. The slashes on her side were deep. There were three of them, nearly fourty stiches on the middle one, twenty each in the other two." He leaned down slightly and whispered in Natasha's ear.
"Tony shouldn't hear this but if she didn't heal like she does…" Bruce left it hanging as Tony reached out to take his daughter's hand.
"You shouldn't move her wrists. They are pretty badly burned." Tony nodded, settling for laying his fingers over Piper's. There was a gentle knock at the door. James Rhodes stuck his head into the room.
"Hey. Heard what happened, can I come in?" Tony nodded as Natasha slipped out of the room. Rhodey strode in and motioned to the door. Mary Jane Watson and Eddie Brock stuck their heads in. MJ clapped a hand over her mouth. Tears built in her eyes. Pepper stepped forwards and herded the teens back into the waiting room. Rhodey frowned.
"I'm sorry, I found them arguing with JARVIS in the garage. He had her backpack, I knew MJ. Thought she might appreciate some friends. I can see how that could be a bit of a bad move right now." Rhodey rubbed the back of his neck. Tony shook his head.
"Nah. I'm sure she'll appreciate it." Rhodey nodded.
"She's gonna be ok?" Tony nodded. Rhodey smiled.
"Good, you need to get looked over too." Tony looked down at his hands. He was a bit scratched up from the fight the Avengers had been in before JARVIS informed him what was happening at home. The fight had been almost over anyway so Tony left the others to finish up and raced back home. He sat back in the arm chair in Piper's medical room. Rhodey sat down on one of the arm rests. He set a hand on Tony's shoulder.
"She's gonna be ok." Tony nodded and sighed.
"I never wanted her to be in this kind of danger." Rhodey nodded.
"No one knows what that thing, Venom was. I've got some feelers out, looking out for any information about what it could have been. No words yet. Hammer Corps released a statement that it's not theirs. Oscorp's claiming that they have no idea where its from." Tony snorted.
"Yeah right. Osborn's son was inside that thing! My ass they have nothing to do with it." Rhodey's eyebrow climbed up his forehead.
"You really think Harry Osborn would willingly hurt Piper? He's been head over heels for her for nearly three years, since before you even met the kid." Tony scoffed.
"Teenage crushes don't mean…" Rhodey cut him off.
"You don't see the way he looks at her. He looks at her like you look at Pepper when you think no ones looking." Tony froze. He looked up at Rhodey.
"You know?" Rhodey laughed. A third voice sounded in the room.
"Everyone but Pepper knows. You're not slick dad." Tony leapt to his feet. Piper's eyes, bright blue once again, were open. She looked tired but smiled slightly.