The bullet was fired. Pepper expected a bullet already launched into her body in an instant but weirdly enough she didn't feel any pain except from her shoulder of course but all that happened was a sound which was a "clink" noise which gave her the impression that the bullet hit something metal like and when she opened her eyes she couldn't believe it. "I told you I would find you jerk!" The metal man yelled. "Tony..." Pepper said but still couldn't believe it. Mathew, Lynn and Axel came running over there. "Where's Sarah!" Mathew yelled.

Pepper motioned her hand behind the boulder. Mathew ran behind to see Sarah bleeding on the grass unconscious. "Someone call the cops and an ambulance!" Mathew yelled. Lynn dialed for an ambulance and Axel dialed for the police. Gary tried making a run for it but Tony grabbed his shirt. "You sick bastard your going away for a long time" he said. "But before we do that..." Axel said cracking his knuckles. Mathew stood up with an angry face and walked up to Gary too. The men all ganged up on Gary. "You don't understand I-" "They leave earth when it's their time not when you say so!" Tony yelled. They started beating him to death.

Tony grabbed spare cuffs he had hanging from his pocket and chained the severely injured Gary to the door handle. Tony hovered quickly over to Pepper. He pulled her into his arms. "Pepper tell me everything he did" he said still hugging her.

She didn't respond so he broke apart a little to look at her. He could see that she was trying to speak but it didn't work. "What's wrong?" He asked using one of his hands to cup her cheek and the other clutching her good shoulder. Pepper looked to the side where her injured shoulder was. Tony noticed and was shocked. "He did this to you?" Tony asked. Pepper nodded. She started mouthing some words but Tony didn't understand. "You can't speak?" He asked. She shook her head. "Say it again" he said. "Jarvis" Tony said. "Gary paralyzed my lower half of my body" Jarvis translated.

The ambulance arrived and immediately started working as much as they could on Sarah. Sarah was In more critical condition than Pepper. Tony hugged Peppers head close to his chest. Lynn walked up to them nervously. "I didn't laugh" Lynn said. "I didn't mean what I said either" she said. Pepper nodded smiling at her. Lynn smiled back then walked back to Axel. "You won't get away with this you know..." Gary said in a low tone. Tony turned his head and glared at him. "Like I said Pepper darling I'm a witch" Gary said. Pepper couldn't look at him, she was too terrified of his capabilities now. "What are you smoking dude?" Tony asked. Gary started laughing uncontrollably then started mumbling some words Tony didn't understand.

Suddenly his wrist went through the cuff like if he was some sort of ghost. "Hahahahaha you see?" Gary said getting up. "Shut up!" Axel said about to strike him. "Freeze!" Gary yelled aiming his palm at Axel. He froze. "What the hell?" Tony said. Axel just stood there frozen in his spot. "Oh my god undo that right now!" Lynn said running to Axel. "Leave Now" Gary said. The paramedics slowly wheeled Sarah on the gurney to try and pass him. "I don't think so!" Gary said casting a spell. "This guy is some serious apple jacks" Tony said. A rope magically appeared and tied the paramedics making them fall back.

Tony laid Pepper down. "I'll be back" he said. She grabbed his wrist. "He'll kill you" she said weakly. Tony leaned his head closer to hers and kissed her deeply. "I'll never leave you" he whispered on her ear. Tony got up and walked over to Gary. "Leave now I say!" He yelled. "Listen you need help ad I can give you that" Tony said. "NO!" Gary yelled. The ground started rumbling. "Calm down!" Tony yelled. "YOU CAN'T AND WON'T TAKE THEM AWAY FROM ME!" He yelled. "I WON'T LET YOU I SIMPLY WON'T!" He yelled then started screaming. He grabbed a small test tube full of purple liquid and threw it on the ground next to Tonys feet. A vine grew in an instant and wrapped around Tony.

"You need help!" Tony yelled. "DIE!" Gary said grabbing rocks and throwing them at him. Tony used his unibeam to free himself. Gary fell to the floor. The police arrived. "He needs to be taken to the hospital now" Tony said. The officers nodded and cuffed him. Gary struggled to

free himself. "NO!" He yelled as they took him away. Tony sighed then turned around facing Peppers direction. She was laying there clutching her shoulder. He ran over to her. "How are you holding up?" He asked. She started coughing and groaning from pain then her eyes grew wide and she dragged her body to the side of the rock and threw up. She hadn't eaten anything in days most of the substance

was blood. "Jarvis scan vitals" Tony said. "Sir this woman needs medical attention as soon as possible. Calculating life expectancy" Jarvis said. "One hour and twenty three minutes left until the heart gives out" he said.

"Axel untie the paramedics I gotta go now" Tony said picking Pepper up. Axel nodded and Tony blasted off. "Jarvis locate nearest hospital" He said. "Locating...three nearby hospitals found" Jarvis said. "Pick the closest to me" Tony said. "Mercy hospital 1 mile north of you" Jarvis said. "Pin point it" Tony said. He flew as fast as he could, once he got there he ran inside the emergency room. "I need help now!" He yelled. Everyone was either with their jaw dropped or whispering things about Pepper or thinking 'IRON MAN IS HERE!?'. Even the nurses where a bit shocked because they've never seen this before.

The nurse at the front desk started dialing someone. Pepper was taken into the ICU followed by two doctors and a couple of nurses. Tony sat on one of the chairs and stared at the blood Pepper shed on him. Even though his suit was red her blood was a darker shade so he could still see it. He thought they would probably take awhile so he walked up to the nurse and left his information so if they were done they would call him.

"Locate Gary" Tony said. "Gary located inside St. Peter's mental care hospital" Jarvis said. Tony flew over to the hospital with mixed emotions. He was furious at Gary for harming Pepper but at the same time he felt bad for him because he probably had some trauma that led him to be this way. He landed and walked inside. "I would like to see Gary please" Tony said to the nurse at the front desk. "I'm sorry but he is unavailable at this time" the nurse said. "No he's allowed the officer told me" said a doctor walking out of a patients room. "I'm doctor Hoffman I'm Garold's doctor" he said hold out his hand to shake. Tony shook his hand. "Is he alright?" Tony asked. "Oh I'm afraid he won't be alright for quite some time" Hoffman said.

"He's suffered 10 years of trauma and torture he will never be the same" he said. He pulled out a file and gave it to Tony. "These are his trauma records if you want to see what I mean by never being the same" he said. Tony opened the file. 'Garold Manson, age 18, male, etc' after the biography came his problems. 'Suffered child neglect, child abuse, started doing drugs at 15 etc.' "Can I see him" Tony asked.

"Sure" Hoffman said pointing to the door. Tony walked in to his room to see his body tied to the bed. "I gave him something to knock him out" Hoffman said leaning against the door. "Well tell him I visited" Tony said then left. He felt bad for the guy. He knew that if Gary was normal he wouldn't do this but it was his upbringing that ruined his life and messed with his mind. Mercy hospital called him."Your welcome to come back" the nurse said over the phone. Tony flew back to the hospital a bit nervous about Peppers condition.

He landed and entered. One of the doctors immediately recognized Tony and told him where Peppers room was. "Room 242" the doctor said. Tony walked looking for the room now full of anxiousness and worry. He opened the door to see her shoulder bandaged up and an IV hooked up to her arm. He walked over to her bedside.

She was awake. "Hey how are you feeling?" He asked. "I'm better" she said. "Can you feel your legs?" He asked. "Yeah" she said moving her legs a little. He ran his fingers through the crown of her head. "Hey...how did your hair get so long?" He asked curiously. "He dumped some liquid he made on my head" she said. "But why?" He asked. "He said he was going to take pictures of Sarah and I to remember our goddess looks" she said rolling her eyes.

"He was mentally sick Pep..." He said. "I figured that out when he told us he wanted to eat our hearts" she said. Tony kissed her head. "I think you looked pretty" he said smiling. Pepper gave him a small smile. "Yeah well I'm still cutting my hair I can't deal with this much hair" she said. Tony chuckled. "Hey wait how did you find me anyway?" Pepper asked. "Well at first I didn't know where to look the computer couldn't find you" he said.

FLASH BACK...

Tony flew over Arkansas thinking about clues as to what could lead him to Pepper. "Something is telling me the word angels is the key" he said. "But angels could be anything" he said. "I wish Jarvis could just scan my head and figure it out himself" Tony said groaning out of frustration. "Sir to narrow down your search might I suggest a few things?" Jarvis asked.

"Shoot" Tony said. "I've been examining the recording of the young man and if my processing is correct the person who wrote this note might think angelic people should belong in a suitable place" Jarvis said. "Hmm..." Tony said. "This man appears to be mentally ill as well" Jarvis said. "Ya think!" Tony said.

Tony thought for a bit. "Hmm...a suitable place...if I were a mental physco that was obsessed with a girl thinking she was an angel I'd take her to the City of...oh my god I found Pepper!" Tony cried. "Jarvis message Mathew and Axel to get to Los Angeles as fast as they can" Tony said. "Right away sir" Jarvis said. "City of angels..." Tony said.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Wow that's some computer you have there" she said. "Mhm" Tony said. The doctor walked in holding a clipboard. "Well Ms. Potts ill release you in a few days" he said. "A few days?" Pepper said. "Is that going to be a problem?" He asked. "Do you know my situation?" She asked. "Yes you were kidnapped correct?" He asked. "Yes all the way from New York!" She said. "In that case you'll just stay for one

Night then ill have you transported to New York" he said. "Well now ill be in the halls if you need me" he said walking out. Pepper sighed. "What's wrong?" Tony asked. "I miss home" she said. Tony kissed her head. "I know you do but don't worry you'll be home soon" he said reassuringly. "Why can't you just fly me?" She asked. "Because Pepper they would

Never allow it" he said. "I'm 17 I can do whatever I want!" She said. "I'm sorry love but you need to be 18" he said.

"I'm only two months away..." Pepper mumbled. Tony chuckled. "We'll get through it" he said. "Ohh no then I have to eat hospital food!" Pepper whined. "I think you'll live" Tony said smiling at her.

Pepper managed to make a quick recovery and in a week she was able to go to school again with stitches on her shoulder but of course no one could see that. The night before she was able to go back to school Tony was at Peppers house in her room. Pepper had walked into her room holding scissors. "What are you doing?" He asked looking up from his pod as he laid on her bed. "Cutting my hair" she said. "Uhh maybe you should get a professional?" He suggested. "Oh please" she said.

She took the first cut. "Pepper your going to ruin your hair don't do it" he said getting nervous. "Shush" she said cutting another piece. She cut up to her neck where her hair length used to be. Tony covered his eyes. "All done" Pepper said brushing her hair. He took a peek and saw the old Pepper. "Wow you did a nice job" he said

Uncovering his eyes. "Told you panic pants" she said grabbing the chunks of long hair and went to go throw it away.

Tony yawned and looked at the time. "I'm gonna go I'm beat" he said stretching on her bed. He stood up and headed for the entrance door. Pepper followed. "See you tomorrow" he said. "Love you" she said giving him kiss. "Love ya" he said then left.

...

The next day everyone in science class was wearing a baby blue shirt with Tomorrow Academy written in white across the chest. Pepper walked in feeling like a different color. She walked over to Tony and Rhodey who were standing up wearing the shirts. "Why is everyone wearing those shirts?" She asked. "The field trip is today" Rhodey said. "WHAT!" Pepper yelled. "Shhh calm down" Tony said. "Great now I get sent to another class room and have to do work!" She said pouting. "No your going with us" Tony said chuckling. "Huh?" Pepper said confused. "I thought this might happen so I went ahead and had your dad sign and your other teachers sign the form" he said. "You did that for me?" She asked. "Yup" Tony said pulling a blue shirt from his backpack and handed it to her.

"Aw Tony your the best!" She said using her good arm to hug him. She couldn't raise her arm much. "No problem" Tony said. "You should probably go change now we're boarding the bus soon" Rhodey said. "Psh" Pepper said throwing the shirt over her pink one. Tony helped put her injured arm through the arm hole. "Smart" Tony said. "Class lets go!" Said the teacher. Everyone followed the teacher out of the room and to the bus. The bus was big enough to seat three people at a time so Tony sat by the window, Pepper sat in the middle and Rhodey sat on the edge. She wrapped her arms around theirs happily as they rode. When they made it the teacher told everyone to make small groups. Of course the trio chose each other.

"Everyone pick up a pamphlet and go explore the wonders of the fishes!" The teacher said. Pepper took one and looked inside it. "Lets go look at the-!" She stopped talking because she was side tracked by a strange shadow quickly passing behind a large fish tank. "What's up?" Tony asked. "Oh nothing um as I was saying lets go see the dolphins!" She said.

They all walked over to the dolphin exhibit. They watched the dolphins flip for raw fish. Suddenly Pepper saw the same shadow pass by the dozen buckets of fish. She clutched onto Tonys arm. "Something up?" Tony asked. "No" she said smiling at him and hugged his arm with hers.

"Hey lets go see the nemo's" Rhodey said chuckling. They walked to the clown fish exhibit and watched the clown fish swim away as they tapped on the glass a bit. "Look I found Dory!" Tony said pointing to another tank. "Hey there's that yellow fish that protects his treasure chest of bubbles!" Pepper said giggling. "My bubbles!" Rhodey said imitating the yellow paranoid fish from Finding Nemo. She looked at the pamphlet again to see what to do next. Tony looked over her shoulder at it. "Sea turtles!" He said. They walked over to the sea turtle tank and saw large and small turtles in separate tanks. "Turtle

turtle turtle" Tony said picking up a turtle and pretending it was crawling. Rhodey, Tony and Pepper played with the turtles until Pepper stopped and saw the shadow again.

"Just leave me alone..." She whispered. "I'll be back" She said leaving them and slowly walked to the shadow. She saw the shadow get larger and larger. Then she heard something fall which spooked her. She speed walked to Tony who was walking over to her worried. "What's wrong?" He asked. Pepper out her arms around him shaking a little.

"What happened" he asked hugging her close. "Someone's been following me because everywhere we walked I always saw a shadow creep up close to us and I think it's him" she said. "He escaped the hospital and now he's back!" Pepper said panicking. "Calm down ill handle this" Tony said. He had his armored backpack on so he detached the arm, put it on and aimed his palm at the direction of the shadow as he slowly walked towards it.

The shadow got closer and closer, Tony quickly jumped in front of who was making the shadow. "Got!...you?" He said confused. The figure revealed itself to Pepper. "It was only a cat?" She said. The car meowed and started rubbing his body on Peppers legs purring. "Aw" She said crouching down and petting the kitty. "I feel so stupid now" She said. "Naw you were right to be suspicious" he said crouching down in front of her and petting the kitty too. "Arnold!" Said a man behind them. Tony turned around to see it was Mathew. "Mathew what are you doing here?" Tony asked. "Oh Tony hey and I work here" he said. "Oh Arnold you silly kitty" Mathew said picking the cat up.

"He hunts for fish in here a lot he's a stray and the guys that work here decided to feed him fish everyday to keep him around" he said. "How's Sarah?" Pepper asked. "Oh she's awesome she's feeling much better" Mathew said. "That's great" Tony said. "Well better go and feed Arnold he gets cranky and really annoying if we don't" Mathew said. The cat meowed and attempted to claw Mathews face. "Bad kitty!" He said. Tony and Pepper laughed.

(Yeah I know I know I said I would post it YESTERDAY but I was too lazy and tired XD anyways that's a wrap I hope you liked it. Review please!)