Pepperony100 challenge #45 sleep

Managing

Pepper had been out when Tony took the Mark II out for its first flight, and she was glad that she was. Coming back to gaping holes through the house, not to mention a destroyed piano was something she did not want to have witnessed. It was quiet, too quiet.

"Jarvis, where is Mr. Stark?"

"Mr. Stark is currently in the workshop Ms. Potts."

"Thank you Jarvis."

Tony was fast asleep leaning over his desk when Pepper entered the workshop.

"Tony…Tony….." She cooed softly, lightly shaking his shoulder. He groaned a bit, and batted her hand away, but didn't wake up. She was poking him now, with a little force, over and over again.

"You could be a little gentler Potts." He mumbled, lifting his head out of his arms. His big chocolate brown eyes were still full of sleep, and his hair adorably messy. She laughed.

"What?"

Pepper pulled a post it note from off the top of his head, her post it note, and handed it to him.

"Oh yea….thanks, I may end up being a bit nostalgic after all." He yawned and ran his hands through his shaggy hair.

"You should get some real sleep Tony, in a bed perhaps, this hour or two every now and then isn't good for you." She really was concerned, the bags under his eyes were more visible with each passing day.

"I manage." He was defensive, avoiding her eyes.

"Manage…you…..manage? This" she motioned to the desk "this is not managing!"

"What do you want me to do Pepper? Drop everything and just go to bed?"

"Yes!" Her eyes wandered to the pile of rubble that somewhat resembled a car, and the holes in the ceiling above it. "I'll call and have someone come out and repair your damage." She sighed and turned to leave.

"And a Piano" She heard him mummer quietly.

"Yes, if you'd like."

"I would thank you…..and I'll work on the sleep thing." He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Good." She smiled to herself as she went off to bed.

Jarvis pulled her out of her sleep at three o'clock in the morning.

"Ms. Potts? Mr. Stark's heart rate has elevated and he appears to be in a state of discomfort."

"What?" She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"I believe he could use your assistance Ms. Potts."

She let out a breath of air, and began down the stairs.

"Mr. Stark is currently in his bedroom Ms. Potts."

"Really?" She was glad he was finally getting some sleep, but what did he need her for.

Opening the door she was shocked to see Tony trashing around on the bed.

"No….Yinsen…..Pepper…Jericho…Pepper." There was pain etched in his face, she hurried to his bedside.

"Tony…Tony you need to wake up." She tried but he kept on murmuring and trashing.

"Tony…." She grabbed his wrist, out of reflex he clamped down oh her arm with his free hand, eyes popping open.

"Pepper!" He was breathing heavy, his hand still tight on her arm, he noticed her wincing and quickly let go.

"Oh Pepper." He whispered, tracing the red mark on her forearm. "I'm so sorry."

"Tony I'm fine, don't worry about it. Are you alright?" He settled back leaning his head against the headboard.

"Yea….bad dream, I knew they would come soon or a later, once I had time to really sleep." She realized he had been avoiding sleep for a reason.

"I'm sorry Tony, I shouldn't have pushed you."

"No, you were right, I do need to get some sleep, I just don't want to relive any of that again." He looked so vulnerable.

"Just let me know if you need anything ok? Even if it's just to keep you company." She patted his hand and started to leave.

"Wait….I understand if you say no but….do you think you can stay with me, at least until I fall back asleep." She considered how unprofessional it would be, but quickly threw that out the window, they had been having quite a few unprofessional moments, and hell right now he needed a friend, not just an assistant.

"I promise Pepper, I won't try anything" He looked away "I just don't want to be alone right now."

She smiled softly at him as she went to the other side of the bed and untangled the covers at the bottom.

"Really?" He asked in shock.

"Yes Tony, I'll stay….now lets go to sleep."

She usually needed it to be pitch black to fall asleep, but she found his glow to be a soothing nightlight. A few times during the night he would stir, and she would rest her hand on his shoulder causing him to calm down in a few moments. She woke with Tony's arm protectively over her side. Carefully moving it so she wouldn't wake him she got up and went to get some work done.

"Jarvis, keep the shades drawn, and let me know when he wakes up."

"Yes Ms. Potts."

A/N: So obviously this is set during the first film, and I'm trying to make what happens between them believable, so I am probably going to make some changes. Don't hate me for mixing things up a bit, just consider it a slight AU if you may. Anyway, thanks to my wonderful reviewers, I keep it going all because of you! I made a companion video to this fic, a link is on my profile page, go check it out. Thanks for reading, let me know how you feel and what not.

-Shelly