Chapter 2: C

What a fast update! I am really loving this story, more than I thought I could. So I might focus on this story for a while. Don't worry I'll write my other stories as well!:)

Disclaimer: I wish that were the truth.

Tony eased himself off the couch. He was watching his favorite TV show: Burn Notice.

Tony reached for the remote and turned it off. His eyes were full of concern, and alert. He looked tired and was still looking as though he hadn't slept in weeks. That was normally how he looked.

Pepper was alarmed. This was her Tony! Not the one that was chasing her. But she didn't understand what was going on. How could the Tony that chased her get inside the house, change his clothes, and get settled to watching his favorite show?

He made a step towards her. "Pepper? Angel?" Pepper stepped back in alarm and hid behind Rhodey. Angel was a nickname Tony had given her two years ago. It was after their first date. They went to a movie that day and Tony loved how the boyfriend in the movie kept calling his girlfriend "Angel." From that day on it stuck and Pepper became Angel.

"No. Stay away." Pepper said cowering behind Rhodey. She grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled herself closer to him, and away from Tony.

When she peeked a glance, Tony looked hurt and confused. So confused, Pepper actually was almost convinced that he was not the Tony who chased her.

"Angel? What happened?" Tony felt his heart plummet to his bare feet. His white shirt suddenly felt as though it was choking him. What was wrong with her? He stole a glance at Rhodey. "What happened Rhodey?"

Rhodey shrugged and looked back at the cowering Pepper. "She came through my window. Dude, she was as white as a ghost."

"Yeah but that doesn't answer my question. What's happened to her? Why does she keep avoiding me?" Tony asked, sincerity flew out of his mouth like a river.

"Pepper keeps saying that you were chasing her, Tony. Like you were chasing her to do something. I don't know. Did you leave?" Rhodey asked suddenly looking at Tony with curiosity.

Tony was beyond hurt. He couldn't believe that Rhodey thought he actually chased Pepper! His angel! Was this what Rhodey thought of him? Some guy who would chase his girlfriend down?

"I never left. I was here watching TV. That's it." Tony replied. He was sure he stayed.

Pepper looked back at him. "You liar! You must've just gotten back!" She came out from under Rhodey and walked up to Tony. She jabbed a finger at him and glared angrily.

"Angel..." Tony took her finger and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I wouldn't ever come to your apartment. What happened?" Pepper took a step back and a year trickled down her cheek.

"You came to my apartment. And don't say anything. I saw you! You kept calling me 'Angel' and acted as though I was yours. You were possessive Tony." Pepper said quietly. She took another step back, towards somewhere. She needed to maintain the distance.

Rhodey looked between the couple and understood. "I'll leave you two alone." When he didn't get an answer, he retreated back to his room and shut the doors behind him.

Pepper heard Rhodey leave and realized that now she was alone with Tony. She didn't know whether she should be happy or scared about that.

Tony stepped towards her. "Pepper please." But Pepper put a hand out.

"I don't know anymore Tony. Who to believe? Who to trust. I know you were at my apartment." She came forward to him and put her hands on his chest. "If you love me, tell me the truth."

Tony's eyes turned sad and desperate. "Please, Pepper, I wasn't at your apartment. Angel, I came here right after our date. Don't you think that someone is disguising as me?" He was even more devastated that Pepper thought he truly was at her apartment.

Tony slowly began pushing her towards the living room wall. He put his hands on her waist and gentle pushed her back until her back touched the wall. He could feel her breathing heavily. Most likely in fear.

"Angel." Tony said. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of Pepper's strawberry scent. "I love you. Please. I wouldn't do a thing to harm you. What did 'I' do?" Tony asked opening his eyes.

Pepper was staring at his lips. He was telling the truth. This was her Tony. Not the strange one that tried harming her. This was the real Tony. But who was the one she saw at her apartment?

"I went home after our date. I changed and was watching TV when at around 10 someone knocked on my door. I open it and well, it was you Tony. You tried coming in but I didn't let you, until you forcefully opened it yourself.

"You came in and then said you wanted to play a game, some kind of chasing game. If you caught me I was yours forever. If I was able to escape, I would be free. I ran until I saw Rhodey's window. I didn't know what else to do." Pepper finished. She searched Tony's face for anything. She saw his jaw tighten and his fingers clench around her waist tighter.

"And he looked just like me?" Tony asked. His forehead leaned against her own.

"I thought it was the real you, Tony." Pepper responded. She snaked her arms around his neck. She needed him to kiss her. She felt as though she would forget all her troubles if he did.

But Tony looked troubled. He gentle pushed away from her and rubbed his chin. "How? How can I? No... I have no idea." Tony looked at Pepper, his expression wary. "Why don't you spend the night here? My room. I'll sleep in my couch and you get my bed. I'm not ready to let you out my sight." Tony said.

Pepper sighed and nodded. She walked up to him and gave him a kiss before walking to his bedroom. She opened the door, Tony right behind her.

As Pepper snuggled into Tony's covers she let his scent lull her to sleep. Hopefully everything would clear up in the morning.

But it only got worse.

...

Pepper woke up to find Tony gone. He wasn't in his couch, so she decided to see if he was in the living room.

"Tony?" She called out. Sure enough the TV was ablaze and Tony sat in the couch with his legs propped up on the coffee table.

"Tony?" She called again. He was strangely not answering her. When she found that he wasn't talking, she walked up to him. Pepper used her hair tie to pull her hair back into a ponytail.

The channel changed to the news. Pepper was astonished to see that three girls were murdered when a teenage boy caught them in the middle of the night.

In an instant it hit Pepper like a freight train. She tried backing up away from Tony, but his hand shot out and grabbed her hand.

It was him! The guy who chased her! He's in Rhodey's house! "Hello Angel."

Yay! Cliffhanger! Okay! Well, I'm officially in love with this story! I hope I'm not bragging, but I am! Haha;) okay guys! Review!