Day 13

---

Everything else became a blur. That's all I can remember after I returned in that dark room.

---

I wake up to a characteristic smell of a hospital. I can't open my eyes because the room is so lighten that it blinds me. My ears are buzzing and I have a strange taste in my mouth. I try to move my fingers and clench them into my fists. My hands are so cold it's like I've been kept into a fridge. There's no one else in the hospital room - there's only the maddening sound of the monitors.

I can't remember what happened after I returned to that room. I can guess though, it's not that hard. Maybe I've fainted or maybe I've been shot or beaten by some enemies. My heart beats so fast that I can feel it beneath my arc reactor. The arc is still there, thank god. I don't feel any pain. I'm just very tired, that's all. Maybe it's from the medicine they've given me.

I try to open my eyes slowly. It takes a while until I can look around the white room. I'm disappointed that no one's here with me - taking care of me. This has to be a nightmare. It has to, because everything felt so right last night.

After a maybe half an hour I hear some voices and the door being opened.

"... think he should know, Jim."

I close my eyes and pretend I'm asleep. I wanna hear what they talk about. There is an awkward silence filling the room until I feel a familiar hand grab mine. I relax my hand and let her stroke my knuckles. I try to hold back a sigh while her fingers rub my cold hand.

I can sense something is wrong. They're not talking, neither making any movements. It's Rhodey who finally talks.

"You two a pair?" He asks Pepper, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Pepper lets go of my hand suddenly and I feel a smile creep onto my face.

"No." She replies quickly and sits down on the bed beside me. "Not even close."

Those three words hurt me. How could she say that? I mean after last night... we've almost kissed again. How the ---

"You know he's got a thing for you, right?" Rhodey asks her and she shifts a bit more so that her body is brushing mine.

"Rhodey..." She threatens, her voice tight.

"I mean he's been devastated last night when I told him that--"

"He's always had a thing for me. And yes, I noticed that last night."

"You honestly won't give him a chance? And you didn't tell him the real truth?!" My hearts starts beating faster when he asks her that. That's really nasty because the beeping of the monitor of my heart starts beeping faster as well and they notice that.

"Let's not talk about that here." She whispers, then adds. "What if he's awake."

Huh. She guessed that right.

"Well... it's your problem, not mine. So... you think we should tell him?"

"You know that the police wants more time until--"

"He's in danger, Pepper." He tells her seriously. A lump forms in my throat and I swallow hard. What the fuck happened?

"Wake him up..." Pepper whispers. "I won't. I can't."

I don't wanna know.... I don't wanna know.

Rhodey comes near my bed and shakes me roughly. I can hear Pepper gasping in the background.

"Not like that."

Pepper shoves him aside and tries to 'wake me up' herself. Her fingers ghost over my cheek softly, like she's trying to seduce me.

"Mmm-wow..." I whisper, voice rough.

"Tony..." She whispers and caresses my cheek.

I open one eye then the other one and look at them dumbfounded and a little confused. I pretend to look around me.

I frown and stare at them.

"What the hell?" I swear and try to take off the IV stuck in my vein. Pepper grabs both my wrists and looks at me tenderly. "Happened?" I continue softly when I see that look on her face.

There's again this awkward silence but I'm the one who breaks it.

"So... what happened? And why I'm here?"

"You collapsed." Rhodey tells me as matter of fact. I can't be surprised though. Too much stress and heart aches...

"The doctors said it was from too much stress..." Pepper continues. "Are you stressed about something?" She asks me, her voice barely a whisper.

I give her an inquiring look and sigh. It's all sort of a nightmare.

"Can I just go home?" I ask tiredly and shrug my wrists out of her hold even though reluctantly.

"Natasha showed up at your party last night." Rhodey tells me suddenly.

I feel nauseous. Pepper tries to compose herself - I can see that. She's not comfortable in this situation.

"I want to go home." I spat at Rhodey who flinches at my tone. "You get the fuck outta here!" I almost shout in frustration. "Why - how could this happen? I thought that she was in a Siberian prison - far, far away from where I am right now, under your surveillance."

Pepper is the first one who sits up and tries to leave but I catch her hand before she could move any further.

"No..." I whisper now more gently. "You stay here."

"You on the other hand--"

"Me what?!" Rhodey asks me indignately. "You gonna throw me out just because she showed up? She was your fuckbuddy, Tony. You find her and tell her you don't wanna see her again." It's his turn to spat at me and I just want to get up from this bed to beat the shit out of him. How could he say that in front of Pepper? Oh god, I'm shaking.

"Listen to him, Jim." Pepper pleads with him. "Please..."

Rhodey just gives me a sharp glare and walks to the door, but before he's out he says something else...

"...tell him..."

He exits the room then and closes the door with too much force. I don't know what he meant with that... Pepper looks at me with wide eyes and I think something is very wrong.

"Tell me what?" I ask her. She doesn't respond though. "Tell me fucking what?!" She winces at my attitude and a single tear drops on her cheek. I want to take it all back then.

"You're such a jerk." She mutters and shoves my hand away.

She sits up and takes her purse, ready to leave.

"God I hope you'll putrefy in here!"

The monitor starts beeping more strongly every second. My eyes are brimming with agonizing tears.

"Are you going to leave me here, alone?" I ask her - regret and pain in my voice. "After all we've been through..."

She doesn't hesitate. "You deserve it."

I swallow hard and collapse back against the pillows with a heart-breaking sob. She doesn't look back as she leaves.