Little bit longer. Sorry, but nightmares happen to everyone, even if you don't have them constantly anymore. They even happen to Tony Stark after his whole PTSD. Nightmares are a fact of life; we can't escape it. Enjoy :)
Sleeping was sometimes an escape. An escape from the real world, the cruel, harsh world. If you don't know it in your mind, you have no reason to worry. Ignorance is bliss.
But sometimes the dream world is horrific. It can conjure worse images than life can. It can torture and destroy the soul, haunting the person to the point of shattering. No one knew this better than Tony Stark.
Nightmares had been a thing of the past. An effect of the battle in New York, a long forgotten terror of losing the one thing he couldn't live without. Tony thought he'd long gotten over that, confident in the protection he could offer his beautiful Pepper Potts turned Stark, who had been married to him a little under six months ago. They had been enjoying marital bliss.
Recently, while they were taking a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk in New York City, talking of everything under the stars, a lowly man dared to draw a gun on a them near an alley. Luckily, Tony never walked around without some sort of weapon, especially when he was with Pepper. He drew out his new toy, a round little dot, that when activated and tossed at someone, attaches immediately and paralyzes the victim temporarily.
He threw it without letting the man speak, and watching the man crumple to the ground without a sound. Pepper clung tighter to his arm and he felt her weight pulling down on him. He looked to her and all he saw was the red blossoming beneath her blue shirt. He had failed to hear the gunshot ring before the man was paralyzed. He had failed to save her.
He had clutched at her tightly. "No, no, no." He sank to the ground with her, holding her tight. He pulled her head close to his, pressing his forehead to hers. "Stay here, Pepper, please stay here."
He fumbled to pull his phone out of his pocket. "JARVIS, call someone. The Avengers. The ambulance. Rhodey. Call somebody, right freaking now. "
He could feel every rattling breath she drew, as he tried to press a hand over her wound on her right side. She let out a weak cry in pain and he wished he had his suit right now, maybe a laser to cauterize the wound or be able to fly her to the hospital within two minutes. But he realized that both methods would cause her great pain. Pain that he did not want to inflict upon her.
"Hold on, please Pepper, I need you. Stay here. Stay awake. Hold on a little longer, baby." He tried to stay calm but was failing miserably. He could feel tears prick his eyes and he tried to force them back, because, dammit, Stark men don't cry. But this was Pepper and she could be dying and no one could stop his emotions from running freely. Fat salty tears rolled down his cheeks and onto his shirt and Pepper's face.
"Tony." She whispered, touching his face with her fingertips. He kissed them gently, wishing, praying, yes praying, that someone would just hurry up and come. She couldn't die. She couldn't die. She couldn't die.
He couldn't breathe. Suddenly there were loud alarms and people began to jostle around them and he growled at them, shielding Pepper's body with his own. A hand landed itself on his shoulder and he looked back. Rhodey's stern yet worried gaze was rested upon him. "Tony, you need to let the doctors take her. They can save her. Let go."
He couldn't process the words coming out of his friend's mouth. But he numbly loosened his grip on his wife and the medics swarmed about her. He watched with a blank stare as they lifted her onto a gurney and pulled her up into the ambulance.
He came to his senses as they began to shut the doors. He leapt to his feet and charged the ambulance, only to be held back by two sets of strong arms. "No, friend Stark. It would be wise to let your healers deal with this."
"Hey man, take it easy. She'll be fine." Thor and Clint's voices were just noises to him. "No, let me go! I have to be there! She needs me, she needs me; I can't- she-" He couldn't breathe again. The world was closing in on him, he felt trapped, helpless, and worthless, unable to protect those he loved.
He struggled to get a breath in and he felt a third set of hands grab him, as he couldn't seem to carry his own weight anymore. "C'mon soldier. Stay strong." He wanted to punch, kick, scream, cry out in agony, but he couldn't move. Finally, he sucked in air and began to swing like a maniac. Four sets, no five, six pairs of hands were pulling him back. He felt his fist connect with something soft and a pained yelp. He kicked and the connection made a soft groan emit from one of the men.
"Sedate him!" Everything was a red blurry mess through his eyes. He was panicking again. A sharp prick in his leg shocked him and he sucked in, his lungs not cooperating with him. Then, he felt a strange calmness settle over him, dark spots forming at the corner of his eyes. He could barely see Bruce's face hovering over him. "Sleep Tony. Everything will be okay."
Tony felt the oncoming wave of peaceful darkness and whispered on thing before he went unconscious.
"Pepper."
He woke up in a chair. He grabbed his head immediately, his head pounding and ringing in his ears. At first, he didn't know where he was or why he wasn't at home with Pepper.
Pepper.
Shit.
He jumped up, ignoring the screams of pain from his muscles and head.
Shit.
A large hand was placed on his shoulder, forcing him to sit. He looked over and saw Thor sitting in a seat next to him.
He glanced around, realizing he was in a waiting room. The others were all there; Bruce, Clint, Steve, Natasha, Rhodey's, even Jane and Cap's girlfriend and Pepper's friend Lucy.
Tony tried to stand up again, but Thor was much stronger when Tony didn't have his suit. "Damn it, Thor, let me up."
Clint shook his head. "No way man. You went all beserk last time. You need to stay calm."
Tony leapt out of the chair, Thor unprepared for his sudden thrust upward. He came nose to nose with the Hawk, who didn't flinch at Tony's iron gaze. "Where's Pepper?" He demanded to know; he had to know. He, surprisingly, was answered by Jane. "She's under operation right now Tony. The doctors said the bullet missed everything vital, but it'll be a couple hours until they can remove it." She replied softly, coming to sit next to Thor.
Tony ran a hand through his disheveled hair. She was going to be okay. She was going to be okay. She was going to be okay. He repeated the mantra in his head until his heart level settled to a comfortable rate. Then he asked, "Please tell me someone jailed that son of a-"
Steve patted his back. "He's in jail alright. He will be for a quite awhile, Stark. We made sure of that."
After what seemed like days of pacing and sweating and secretly praying, the doctor finally showed up. Tony tried exceedingly hard not to notice the small flecks of blood on the man's front. The team all gathered around to hear what he had to say.
"Mrs. Star's vitals are all healthy. She will recover fully from the surgery within a couple of weeks." Tony felt relief trickle through his blood like holy water in that of a sinner's. The doctor patted Tony's shoulder. "You've got a determined girl there Mr. Stark. I'm not sure you realize how strong she is. Or how lucky you are."
Yes, he definitely did understand. He was so incredibly lucky to have her. He didn't deserve her. Tears welled up in his eyes and he grabbed the man's shoulder before he departed. "How much do I have to pay you to let me go see her?"
The doctor looked surprised at first, a little confused, but then his face cleared with a gentle understanding. He shook his head. "No. Come with me."
Tony followed the man down the hallway, glancing over his shoulder at his team behind him. They waved, gave him a thumbs up, made a cell phone gesture towards their ears, hinting for him to call them later. He smiled, gave them a quick peace sign, then followed the doctor down the hallway. Finally they stopped at a room where the door was closed. The doctor stopped him before he could enter. "She'll be recovering, so you must be careful. Don't startle her, as too much movement could reopen the wound."
As Tony opened the door, the doctor said, "Visiting hours end at 9:30." Tony shook his head and pulled out his wallet. He thrust a wad of money into the man's hands. "For everything," he started. Then he gave him a sad smile. "And extra to stay the night. Please, I can't go home tonight."
The doctor looked bewildered at first, then smiled at him. "Thank you, Mr. Stark. Have a good night. I'll send a nurse in with a roll away hospital bed."
Tony watched him leave before entering the room. The sight of her almost made him lose his breath again. She looked so peaceful, so content, so different than the last time he saw her, covered in blood and crying in agony. He walked forward slowly, approaching the bed. He touched her fingertips, making sure she was there before fully grasping her hand. The tears rolled again as he made the contact. She was alive. She was alive. She was alive, he reassured himself. He didn't know how long he keeled there, holding her hand, taking in every detail of her face.
He didn't know how long he keeled there, holding her hand, taking in every detail of her face when a nurse rolled in a bed. He murmured a soft 'thanks' and the nurse left. He rolled the bed so it was beside Pepper, pressed close against her bedside.
He laid down slowly and laid on his side so he could face her. Before he knew it, he was asleep.
He was awoken by a loud beeping noise. He glanced over at the machine Pepper was hooked up to. He knew what the straight red line meant. The absence of the jagged lines and heartbeat.
At first, he was still. At this point, he didn't even wonder about the fact that no doctors came to her aid. Tony sat up and went to her bed. He looked down at her, so still, yet so beautiful. She looked as if she were still sleeping and it hurt. His heart was broken. Not even, more like shattered into a million fragments, never to be healed again.
He keeled beside her, sliding his arm behind her neck and cradling her to him. He kissed her forehead softly, wishing that at his touch, she would open her eyes and breathe. Tears slid down his face as he held his Pepper one last time.
"Tony, wake up."
Tony jerked his eyes open, breathing heavily. His heartbeat was beating rapidly, he struggled to figure out where he was. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he recognized his bedroom. He was in his bed. Lying next to a very alive and very concerned Pepper.
She stroked his hair, watching his face. As his breathing slowed and heartbeat dropped, he looked at her. "Nightmare." He breathed out. She didn't say anything, just hugged him, his head on her chest. He could hear her heartbeat, steady and strong. It was soothing.
His memory returned to him. Constant nightmares were a thing of the past. But the occasional nightmare was normal for everyone. He would be alright. As long as Pepper lay by him, he'd be just fine.
Please review. Only two more chapters. :) Next Chapter: Open Arms