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A/N: Since this is a comic, I figured it would be okay to make this a little larger than life. It's fun but pretty unexpected. I hope you keep reading. Sheila

The Darkest Time

Chapter 2

She woke with a deep pain in her head. She buried her face deeply into the sheets, and breathed in a smell so funky she gasped. Forcing her eyes to open, she found herself lying on the covers of a large bed. There was a sour, musty smell in the dark room. A closet door was open; jeans and flannel shirts lay in a pile of the closet floor. Hangers hung empty above. The walls were some sort of dark faux wood paneling, and they were starkly empty of art or photos. She winced as tried to move, and she felt an odd tightness on her face. She reached up and felt a weird line snaking from her left temple across her cheek and over her nose. Fear tugged at her, and she tried to scratch it off, but it was part of her skin.

Fear now flooded her gut. She sat up, even as the pain shot from her head down the back of her neck. Her legs were bare, and she wore only an oversized men's undershirt. She pushed off the bed and swayed. Her hands landed on a nightstand littered with cigarette butts and needles. Reaching for the wall, she walked herself to the doorframe. Noise came from down the hall, and she scaled the wall toward it. It was a TV blaring college sports loudly. She peered in, and saw a man laying on a recliner watching a big screen. The walls were the same fake wood paneling, and the green carpet looked like it hadn't been vacuumed in years. The man looked at her and laughed.

"Damn Darlene, you look like a used up whore."

She furrowed her brow. "My name isn't Darlene."

He rolled his eyes. "Are we back to playing that game again?"

"Where am I? Who are you?" Her bottom lip quivered.

"I am not in the mood today, Darlene."

"Please, I don't know where I am."

He clicked the mute button on the remote. "It's a good thing we're going to see Dr. Sikko today."

"Psycho?"

"No, ya' dumb slut. Its spelled Sikko. It's just pronounced psycho. Remember the doc said it was one of those old European names, like from one of those commie countries."

"Do I know you?"

"I swear Darlene. This game tires me out."

"Please."

He sighed deeply. "I am your everlovin' devoted husband, Lester. You are in our spacious mobile estate on blocks 25 miles outside the beautiful metropolis of Petunia, North Dakota. Now, don't bug me with this shit. My temper is a hair trigger today."

"I'm not Darlene, and we're not married."

"Then who is the Sam Hill are you, Darlene?"

She closed her eyes and hugged the doorframe. She was aware that this should be an easy question. She winced as her blank mind gave her nothing. Tears spilled over her eyes. "I don't know."

"I put up with a helluva lot more than the average man, I'll tell you that. I overlooked that scarred, ugly face, took you out of that strip club and married you. I should be up for sainthood, but woman, you try me on a daily basis with your games. We're leaving in five minutes. Get some pants on that ass now."

"Please help me. I want to talk to the police."

All of a sudden, he swung an arm, and a longneck beer bottle slammed into her hip. She moaned.

"I swear to God that I will come at you with this belt if you don't get yourself into some jeans and out the door.

……………………………………………

"I don't know who I am." Darlene leaned forwarded in a flannel shirt and jeans. The only shoes she could find were a pair of battered flip flops.

"That's very interesting, Darlene. Who do you think you are?" Dr. Sikko was a balding man with a thick mustache.

"Please don't call me Darlene."

Lester snorted. "She's turning schizophrenic, Doc."

Sikko ignored him. "What should we call you?"

She wiped at the tears on her face. "I don't know."

"Darlene, it is generally a good idea to have a new identity before discarding the old one."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do think that Darlene is still inside of you? Is she another part of you?"

"No! No! No!" She dropped her face into her hands and sobbed.

Sikko leaned forward. "Darlene, it is not unusual for you to have some memory loss. Lester tells me you were on a three day bender. I also heard that you did some dancing on the tables at the Cubby last night. Do you remember that?"

She shook her head. "That's not true. It's not me. I would never do that."

The doctor sighed and sat back.

"She's ready for the state hospital, ain't she, Doc?"

"I don't know what to say, Lester."

She stood up. "Why is this so hard for you to believe? My mind is blank. I can't remember anything. I'm not lying."

The doc opened a thick file. "That's a little hard for us, knowing what we know about your history. I've got 20 years of psychiatric history here. You were diagnosed with conduct disorder in high school. Quit school at 16. Started dancing at Hoochie's at 17." The doctor dug deeper into the file. "Diagnosed with bi-polar disorder at age 21. Hospitalized for manic episodes 14 times. You have refused to take your medication for the last two years. Arrested for solicitation three times. Three arrests for fifth degree assault. Arrested for drug possession twice plus an arrest for possession with intent to sell. You've been in county lock-up 27 times, and you've served three sentences of at least 9 months. You filed domestic abuse charges against Lester 16 times, and you went back to him 16 times, often within the same day. Sheriff's deputies don't even respond to your 911 calls anymore. Darlene, I have to tell you that this is not the first time you've come at this from a new angle. The amnesia is expected although I am surprised that you didn't think to create a new identity to go with it. You always like to come at a story with a flourish."

She rubbed at her eyes. "That's not me."

Sikko shrugged and Lester gave him a long suffering look.

Her fingers found the raised scar across her face. "What is this? I've been wondering all day what happened here."

Lester folded his arms. "I ain't playing her game."

"I think that humoring her will do no harm. Darlene, that's the scar you suffered when you were 14. A drunk boyfriend cut your face with a knife. Your mom tried to treat it at home. When she finally decided to bring you in, it was too late. Scar tissue had already started to form."

She put her hands over her mouth and started to rock.

"Your mother said that you were a good student until that moment. You fell into drugs, and the scar was so prominent that you couldn't face people sober. Exotic dancing was the only way people would look at you. You danced with your hair in your face."

Her fingers reached up to trace it. "I'm not this person. I don't know what to say that will convince you."

"Darlene, you are in your clothes, touching your face. You are you. It's not that complicated."

"Hell, somebody oughta' pay me for putting up with her crazy ass." Lester said with a nod.

………………………………………………………………………….

He spread out bills on the hood of his truck. "Okay, let's work this out. We put 300 away for rent. That leaves 545 left. We split that in half. Quick, Darlene, what's half of 545?"

She looked away.

"Um, I figure it's almost 300, right?"

"272.50," She mumbled.

"Sounds good. We spend that 270.00 today, and save the rest for the 15th. Do you remember the drill?"

"No, I don't remember any drill."

He shook his head. "Doc says I gotta' be a patient man with you. Doesn't make any sense to me but whatever. Here's the breakdown. We go to Willie's liquor first. We buy four cases of Budweiser's and two of those plastic gallon jugs of vodka. Can't buy nothing for you since you lost your job at the Video Hut. You'll have to make due when I'm feeling generous. Then we go to Piggly Wiggly's. We get five loaves of white bread, 4 lbs. of bologna, 2 jars of jam, 6 of them big bags of cereal, and ten boxes of Little Debbie's. Got it?"

"What about soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, and cleaning supplies?"

"You're just begging to get hit, aren't you? If you was working a job, we'd have money for incidentals. As it stands, we only got money for necessities."

"Cheap liquor is a necessity?"

He looked around, grabbed her by arm, and punched her hard in the gut. She doubled over. "Listen Darlene, this money is my bad back government check. This money is for me. I let you live in my house. I pay for rent and food. I don't need your lip about cleaning supplies. I can't even remember the last time you cleaned a single thing."

She grabbed the bumper and retched from the pain.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Oprah Winfrey stood, curls a halo around her expressive face. She peered intently into the camera and began. "A week ago, Pepper Potts, personal assistant to Tony Stark, disappeared from her Santa Monica apartment complex. Every law enforcement agency who can get involved has done so. And yet, there have been virtually no leads. Tony Stark has been working non-stop getting the message out, doing whatever he can to find his assistant. Last night, there were no less than 300 candlelight vigils around the country. Tony has offered 100 million for her safe return. And today, he is here to share with us the special bond he shares with Miss Potts. With him is his best friend, Colonel James Rhodes. Join me in welcoming Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes."

She turned to the curtain and clapped as Tony and Rhodey came onto her set. Tony seemed disoriented under the bright lights. She motioned them to sit and took a chair next to Tony, putting a well-manicured hand on his arm.

"Tony, you and I have been friends for years. We have seen each other at countless red carpet events. First, let me express my deepest sympathies with what you are experiencing. The whole country has been watching your desperate search for Pepper."

Tony nodded. "Thanks Oprah. Your support means a lot to me."

"I have to say, Tony. We are compelled about your situation, but as someone who loves her staff dearly, I have never someone so undone by the loss of an employee."

Tony nodded. "I know. I've had a hard time explaining as well as understanding it. Let me start by saying that Pepper and I have worked together for the last ten years. There is not 40 hours a week. We are with each other constantly. I trust her. I depend on her. She knows everything about me."

"Tony, I hear your words, but I'll be honest. You act like a man in love."

"Of course, Oprah, I love her. Our bond is that tight, but I think what you are really asking is whether or not we're romantically involved. I have always maintained that our relationship is platonic, and it has been."

"You anticipated my next question. So this is truly about a man and his Girl Friday?"

Tony sighed. "Yes, but there is nothing ordinary about this. Pepper has stood by me through extraordinary events and times. I wouldn't have made it this far without her support."

"She sounds amazing."

"Oh, she is. She puts up with me when I'm selfish, arrogant. She makes me want to be a better person."

"How does she do that?"

Tony looked down, and for a moment, it was unclear whether he was able to continue this conversation. He took a deep breath and looked up, his deep, brown eyes shiny. "I don't know how to do this, Oprah. I've put myself out there everywhere I can find a camera for the last seven days. I want you to know that she's important to me, but I don't know if it's going to be enough. I don't know if this helps at all."

Rhodey leaned past Tony. "Oprah, its important to know that Tony has had very little sleep."

Tony nudged him back and faced the camera. "I've had very little sleep. That's true. But I just realized that by giving Pepper a face and a personality, it helps, but it only goes so far. I am pretty sure that a man like me doesn't deserve second chances, but I'm begging."

Oprah took his hands. "I don't know if it will be enough, but I know that you brought your heart and I am so very touched by you."

"I just want to be worthy of her."

Oprah nodded and looked at her audience. "We're going to take a break, and when we come back, we'll talk to Tony about his life as Ironman."

Tony closed his eyes.

Rhodey stood. "Oprah."

"Turn off your mic, Colonel"

Rhodey fiddled with the wire attached to his shirt and approached her. "You see what's happening. He's devastated. He'll answer any question you ask. For you, it will be unforgettable television. For him, it will be the last vestiges of his dignity."

"Does he eat?"

"I cut up apples for him, and make him chew power bars twice a day."

"We'll steer away from Pepper."

Rhodey shook his head. "Do you really think that's going to happen?"

"I got 40 minutes of live air to fill."

"How about talking to Ironman's best friend?"

She turned to look back at Tony. "What do we do with him?"

"Send him to the green room. I have a little powder here, and I was just waiting for an opportunity to get it into his coffee. He's desperate for sleep."

Oprah waved over a girl with a clipboard. "Devon, get a cup of coffee for Mr. Stark and put it in the green room."

Rhodey smiled at her.

She pointed a finger. "You better be twice as adorable as you look, Flyboy. I need you back in this seat charming our socks off within the next 60 seconds."

……………………………………………………………………………………..

Dr. Sikko sat back in his chair, and looked up at the widescreen. "This plan is amazingly elegant."

On the screen, a visage in black robes glared back. "Report."

"It's brilliant, really. Psychology can be the cruelest torture of all."

"Report!"

"Pepper Potts is living life as strung out whore with an abusive husband in a backwater small town in North Dakota. She has no memory, but a sense that this life can't be hers. Her dignity is being stripped bit by bit, and she can't do anything about it."

"Even in North Dakota, they have heard of Pepper Potts. She'll be spotted."

Sikko giggled. "That's the best part. I gave her the identity of a woman with a tight body and a ghastly scar. No one has looked at this woman's face in years. For her part, Darlene Heinz has always walked around with her hair in her face. I have the husband hypnotized so he recognizes no difference. I didn't even need to add a scar. I merely hypnotized her to feel it."

"Where is the real Darlene Heinz?"

Dr. Sikko sighed. "Unfortunately, she overdosed two nights ago with my help. She sunk to the bottom of the county's deepest lake."

The dark voice grew deeper. "Convince me that this will destroy Tony Stark."

"It's the best part. Stark is denied a focus. She's gone. His suit doesn't help him nor does his money nor does his charm. I bugged Jarvis, and have been watching. He is sinking bit by bit. He would be falling apart faster if not for Colonel Goody Two Shoes."

"It is not moving fast enough!"

"Yes, really all I have to do is unite Stark with his liquor bottle, and I have a plan for that."

"Guarantee me that California's Federal Reserve will be mine for the taking in 6 weeks."

"Are you kidding? This is unfolding so beautifully that I can guarantee that Ironman will be nothing but a gutter bum in no time at all. I can't wait to unfold act II on these fools."

"Just get him out of the way!"

"Not a problem."

The screen went blank. Sikko smiled and reached for a bottle of scotch.

………………………………………………….

Next Chapter on Monday