So you all went a while without update then you get one and it changes everything! I'll try and update more but I can't promise, I start my summer job on Monday and I need to see everyone before I head back to University.

Fix It

Tony sat in the back of the car as Happy drove him away from his home, away from his wife and kids and away from his life. Happy glanced at his boss in the back of the Bentley he'd never seen him so defeated, so broken. Happy supposed Tony deserved it he'd brought it on himself drinking himself in to oblivion. The quiet contemplation of the two was interrupted by the ringing of Tony's cell phone.

"Hello?" Tony asked not even bothering to check the caller ID, the one person he wanted to call wouldn't be calling.

"Mr Stark, you're needed…"The voice of Nick Fury came across the phone. Tony was in no mood to deal with him.

"Listen Nick, whatever you're need me to do now is not a good time…"

"I can't help it Stark, wrap up whatever the hell it is you're doing and…"

"Pepper threw me out." He snapped and hung up, one eyed government officials be dammed, he looked at Happy "Take me to a hotel Happy."

"I can't boss, Pepper's told me to take you directly to rehab."

"I don't need rehab…"

"With all due respect sir, I think you do." Happy said and Tony stared at him.

"Feel free to speak candidly." Tony said sarcastically

"I always do." Happy said and an uneasy silence fell over the pair, Tony unwilling to face his reality and Happy falling in to his role as the silent chauffer.

Whilst Happy and Tony continued to drive somewhere Tony didn't know the phone rang again, Tony looked at the caller ID, blocked; it could only be one person.

"Stark, listen whilst I'm sympathetic to your situation, I need you to be Iron Man right now."

"Listen…"

"Tony, I'm only going to say it once…please. We think we're going to face another situation like the abomination and I'd rather stop it before we call in the other guy. Problem is they're close, real close to figuring this out and we can't have that."

"Where am I going?" Tony sighed.

"This line isn't secure the co-ordinates are already hooked up to your HUD." Fury hung up.

"Happy pull over."

"Boss, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Happy pull the car over. I promise tomorrow you can take me wherever it is you need to go but I need to do this."

"Pepper won't be…"

"She's already mad, what's a little madder?"

Happy pulled the car over on the side of the road and he grabbed his red and gold suitcase and Happy watched disapprovingly as the Iron Man suit wrapped itself around Tony and he blasted off towards a location unknown.

As soon as Tony was out of sight Happy pulled out his cell phone and dialled someone who was not going to be happy to hear what he had to say.

She picked up after 2 rings "Happy?"

"Pepper, we've got a problem. A red and gold one."

…..

It was later that evening when JARVIS announced to Pepper that Tony was about to return to the mansion and she went down and waited.

"JARVIS, it's very important that no matter how much he begs that you don't let him leave the workshop and come up to the main house tonight."

"Of course Mrs Stark."

He landed and the bots immediately began to take off the battle scared armour, he saw her waiting for him and he was suddenly filled with hope.

"Pepper." He reached out a hand as he walked towards her however, he was again crushed when she took a step back.

"What are you doing here?" She asked coldly

"I…"

"Please Tony you can't be here."

As painful as his next question was he knew it needed to be asked "Are we over?"

The features on her face softened "No, we're not over Tony, but until you sort yourself out I can't have you near our children. I don't want you to hurt them."

"I would never…"

"You already are."

Tony nodded, he knew Pepper was not negotiating right now so he accepted his fate. He was determined not to let this be the end of them. "What do we do now?" He asked.

"Now? Now you can either stay down here or go to a hotel and Happy will take you to rehab in the morning."

Rehab. There was a word neither had mentioned during this whole incident but was now quickly becoming his reality. He grabbed the bag which had been dropped off by Happy and climbed in to his car and as he left the tears finally began to slip from her eyes.

Pepper eventually braved going back upstairs, the kids had fallen asleep watching a movie. She carried them both to bed but couldn't sleep so she flicked on the TV stopping when she heard his name.

"Tony Stark was tonight seen checking in to a hotel, after being caught committing adultery last night who can really say they're surprised? When he arrived he wasn't that normal Tony Stark, he covered his face and walked straight inside. It leaves us wondering is the fairy tale over for Tony and Pepper Stark…"

She couldn't listen anymore, she looked at her phone, there were missed calls from her mother and her brother, her sister-in-law and friends. They could all wait she decided.

….

Tony stood in a bleak room as his case was gone through. "I'm very sorry Mr Stark, its standard policy here. We need to check you've not brought anything with you."

"It's fine." He answered glibly

"Can I check that case?" The man pointed to the red and gold case.

"No."

"Mr Stark…"

"I am Iron Man. That case contains no alcohol, but for national security reasons I can't show you the inside." The man got the unsubtle hint and just nodded.

"Ok Mr Stark, if you can follow me." Tony followed the man down the hall. "Today we'll let you settle in, you have a daily phone call for the first week, then you can call whoever you want for as long as you want after 2 weeks you can have visitors." They walked through a door, the room looked over a beautiful garden where a few other patients were walking around.

The staff member left and Tony heard the door lock, he paced the sparsely decorated room looking around. 'I could use a drink.' He thought and he chuckled when he realised what he said 'That's why you're here in the first place.'

After a few hours, Tony began to pace he was becoming irritated. The door unclicked and a guy walked through the door. "Tony Stark?" He asked

"No, James Rhodes." Tony replied.

"Very funny, last time I checked James Rhodes was black."

"So you know who I am do you want to share with the class who you are?"

"Robert Wallis, I'm here to help you. The next couple of hours aren't going to be pretty. Trust me, I've done this a few times."

"I'm sure you're only trying to help, but really it's not necessary. I'm not an alcoholic, I don't need a drink. Would I like one right now? Sure."

"Cool, I hate dealing with other alcoholics. Perhaps we can just talk instead? So they think that you're detoxing."

"I don't feel like talking, how do I know you're not a reporter?"

"I'm not a reporter, besides I signed an NDA. You'll be signing one too before the therapy starts."

"A goody…"

"Feeling irritable Tony?"

"No."

"So, what finally made you come?"

"My wife."

"Kick you out?"

"Everyone knows she did. It was all over the TV."

"No TV here Tony…."

"Well isn't that just fabulous?"

"You seem irritable Tony."

"Of course I'm irritable, I cheated on my wife and she sent me here where they've locked me in a room for four fucking hours with nobody except you to talk to."

"It's also a symptom of alcohol withdrawal."

Tony continued to trade barbs back and forth with Robert for an hour before he began to complain of a headache. Rob watched as the man climbed on the bed and fell into an uneasy sleep shivering, tossing, turning and moaning until suddenly he shot up and threw up, only just managing to get the bucket by the bed.

"Are you sure you're not in withdrawal?" Rob asked the smugness evident.

"So you're like…12, how have been through this a few times?" Changing the subject when confronted with an awkward topic. Tony Stark 101.

"I'm 23 actually."

"You've only been allowed to drink for 2 years…"

"Legally, besides it's not just drink that's my problem."

"You're being incredibly candid with someone who never signed a NDA."

"I'm a nobody Tony; no one will care if you tell the papers about me."

"So what are your vices?"

"Well at the moment I'm on booze, but the two times before that? Pills."

"The fun kind?"

"The pain kind. Started when I got wounded in Afghanistan."

"Wounded in Afghanistan? I can understand that." He unconsciously tapped his chest.

"Yeah well, the grunt candy you get after an IED is pretty good stuff…" The rest of the sentence was cut off by Tony vomiting again.

"So the booze."

"Flashbacks, getting drunk both helps and causes them."

"Sounds familiar."

"Yeah I read the file."

"Do I get to read yours? You show me yours and I show you mine?" It was an opportunity for innuendo and Tony couldn't resist.

"Nah, you didn't sign an NDA" He winked at Tony who rolled on to his back on his bed.

…

"Hello?" Pepper answered the phone

"Pepper?" A familiar voice came down the phone.

"Tony?"

"Yeah it's me I called to talk to you."

"About?"

"Jesus Christ! Do I need a purpose? How about you're my wife and I love you? I want to hear your voice."

"How's Northern California?"

"If you mean rehab it's fine. They've got me in a room and I've got nothing to do! I'm bored. I miss you and I miss my kids."

"Would you like to talk to your kids?"

"Yes. But I'd like to talk to you."

"Here's Beth." She could just imagine Tony sighing as she handed over the phone handset to her daughter, she sat there and watched as she talked animatedly about everything from her day to painting her brothers toenails (with a permanent sharpie).

"Mommy, Daddy says I has to put you on now." She held the phone up to her mother.

"Pepper? Listen, I've got to go. I love you and I love Beth and Ed, I miss you."

"Good bye Tony." She hung up the phone, although felt a pang of guilt for not telling him she loved him too.

"Mommy?"

"Yes sweetheart?" Only Tony called her princess.

"When's daddy coming home?"

"Soon."

"When's soon?" The little girl demanded.

…..

"Tony, we've had a few of these sessions now and you've not said anything."

"I've got nothing to tell you." Tony sat back in his chair

"Why don't you tell me about what brought you here?"

"I got drunk cheated on my wife."

"What lead to the drinking?" The therapist kept pushing.

"It was a party, I had too much."

"Tony, we can't help if you won't talk."

"Have you ever considered I don't want or need help?"

"I'm aware you don't want it but I don't think you're foolish enough to think you need it." The therapist checked his watch. "Our time is up today Tony, we'll talk more tomorrow."

Rob was waiting for Tony when he left the therapists office.

"Still not talking?" Rob asked him

"How can you tell?"

"You're not crying."

"I am Iron Man, I don't cry."

"Your wife isn't going to let you come home until you talk."

"She won't talk to me."

"Well I'm on my third round of rehab my family want nothing to do with me either."

…...

"So how long has been gone?" Rhodey asked

"3 weeks."

"Have you seen him?"

"No, he doesn't get why he's there."

"You should see him Pep, remind him." Rhodey reached out a sympathetic hand to her.

…..

Tony was ecstatic Pepper was finally coming to visit him. He sat on the couch in the small family room then he heard the familiar clicking of her heels and he looked up and saw her.

"You came." He smiled at her

"I said I would. I keep my promises Tony." The subtle hint was hard to miss, she was still mad because he cheated.

"When can I come home?"

"When you talk to your therapist and participate in the treatment."

"Pepper, I'm fine I've not had a drink in 3 weeks and I won't get that drunk ever again." He took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling "Did you bring Beth and Ed?"

"No."

"They've got to be wondering where I am."

"They are, but I'd rather they miss you than see you as a drunk. My father was a drunken bastard and they won't be growing up the same way."

"Pepper I'm not like him." She'd talked about her father once and only once

"I bought you some reading material." She threw the magazines on the table and stood to leave, she looked at him.

"I miss you Tony." It wasn't the I love you he was hoping for, but it was progress. Tony looked at the magazines on the table, all tabloids but all featured him and Pepper on the front:

Insiders Tell All about Stark's Ice Queen and What Drove Him to Cheat

I Slept with Tony Stark! The waitress sells her story

Iron Clad Pre-Nup?

Did She Send Him to Rehab?

Pepper Pesters Divorce Lawyer

James Rhodes Seen Leaving Stark Mansion Late! With Tony out of the picture has she moved on from Iron Man?

"Nasty stuff." It was Rob "Your visit was quick." Tony said nothing as he stood and left the room, he walked in to the therapist's office.

"I'm in a session Tony."

"I'm ready to talk doc."

TBC…

Probably a little OOC, but it's a weird situation. I'm only planning on this little story line lasting one more chapter possibly two. We'll see more of Rob and find out about Pepper's dad.