Title: Protect My Heart

Author: Erik-in-CT

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer or Marvel Comics, and not myself.

Bella watched the readouts from Tony's armor for a long while after he had flown out of the workshop. She couldn't shake the knot of fear that had overcome her since they began talking about tracking down Victoria. Finally, she decided she needed to do something, anything, to take her mind off of the fact that Tony and Edward were out there facing the danger that was hers. And so she tried to turn her thoughts to more mundane things. The first thing that came to mind was Twain. It seemed like ages since she had worked on his programming, though really it had only been a few days. So much had happened in the last 2 days, that it didn't feel like such a short time had passed. She didn't have access to her system, but maybe she could talk to Jarvis about things she could work on when she did have access. Nodding to herself, she decided that was the best way to pass the time.

"Hey Jarvis," she said to the AI, "can I ask you some questions about your progamming? Something to work on with my own system?"

"Of course Bella," the smooth voice said from a speaker off to her right. She turned and smiled as she saw Jarvis' holographic projection sitting on the worktable once again. It was easier for her to talk to him when she could see him. Talking to a disembodied voice was a little awkward. "Do you wish me to establish a connection with your system? It would make it simpler to advise you."

"You can do that?" Bella asked, surprised.

"I can," he replied. "Your system is accessable through the Stark Industries server, as it is connected to the wireless infrastructure at the complex."

"Um, yeah, that'd be great," she replied. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. The complexity of Tony's systems, both here and at the complex downtown, were astounding.

"Connections complete," Jarvis said. Before Bella could respond, she heard another voice coming from the speakers.

"Ms. Bella?" she heard Twain say, and she glanced at Jarvis' holographic form with a raise of her eyebrows.

"I'm here Twain," she said. She hadn't really expected to be able to hear and speak to Twain through the connection, but it was nice that Jarvis was able to accomplish it.

"I was woken by a stranger, who said you asked for me," Twain said, and Bella swore he sounded almost frightened, though she knew it was simply her imagination.

"I know Twain, I'm sorry about that. I can't get to the apartment right now. The one who woke you was Jarvis. He's an AI program just like you. Mr. Stark's system."

"I see," Twain replied. "It is nice meet you Jarvis," he said, and Bella smiled to herself at the pleasantries he offered. It was a null program to him, but she had felt some odd social obligation to program them in anyway.

"It is nice to meet you as well Twain," Jarvis replied. "Ms. Bella has asked me to assist her in advancing your programming to a higher level. Would you allow me to scan your codes to assess where adjustments and additions would be productive?"

"Ms. Bella?"

"Go ahead Twain, you can trust Jarvis. I do." Bella waited for a few moments as Jarvis began his scan, watching as the codes and programs she had written into Twain flashed across the monitors in the workshop. When she sat back and looked at it all again, she was quite impressed with herself. Of course Tony had helped her quite a bit with the most recent additions, but still. For someone who could do little more than access her e-mail and do a Google search a year ago, she had certainly come quite a ways.

"Scan complete," Jarvis said after a moment. "I see that Mr. Stark has been assisting you already. Several of the heuristic programs bear a unique resemblence to my own. Recommended upgrades showing now," and the monitor in front of Bella scrolled with descriptions of programs that Jarvis was suggesting. "And Mr. Stark has found Mr. Cullen. They are in pursuit of target."

"Thanks Jarvis," Bella said looking over the scrolling text on the monitor. "Are these your own programs?"

"With some minor variations," Jarvis replied. "Twain has the beginnings of a distinct personality within the limited codings available. With a few of the advanced programs displayed, you could allow him to develop more fully."

"Awesome," Bella said. "Can you do the updates from here, or do I need to manually input them on my computer?"

"I can accomplish the task remotely," Jarvis said. "Do you wish me to do so?"

"Yes, please."

"As you wish."

Bella leaned back in the chair as Jarvis began the upload, watching as the programs checked off on a list as each was completed. Then Jarvis' voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Mr. Stark has become quite agitated," he said, and Bella glanced back at the monitor showing the readouts of the suit. Tony's heartrate and respiration had both increased dramatically.

"Did they find her?" Bella asked, suddenly finding her worry at the front of her mind again.

"Negative," the AI replied. "They are at Ms. Potts' apartment unit."

Bella was confused for a moment. Why were they at Pepper's place? Then she slowly began to understand. And when Jarvis allowed the comm units to play over the speakers, her fears were confirmed.

"I'm sorry," Bella heard Edward say. "She must have gone after Ms. Potts when she couldn't get to you."

"Find her," Tony responded, and the dead tone of his voice sent a chill through her. "Find her, so that I can kill her."

"Oh my god, Pepper," Bella said, her face going even more pale than normal. Pepper had been killed by Victoria. Because of her, Tony had lost someone close to him. Bella felt tears welling up behind her eyes. How could she forgive herself for bringing this danger here. How could Tony ever forgive her? Once again, Bella saw her dreams crumbling in her mind. The tears spilled hotly down her cheeks, and she curled in on herself in the chair. "I'm so sorry Tony," she whispered to herself.

Silence filled the workshop then, only interrupted by the whirring of the computer fans. Neither human nor AI seemed to have anything further to say after the dreadful news they had just received. All they could do now was wait and see if Tony and Edward would be able to catch up to Victoria, and how the fight would play out.

It seemed like hours that she sat there in silence, though it wasn't nearly that long. Then she nearly jumped as Jarvis' soft voice breached the silence.

"Target has been located," he said in a quiet tone. "They have engaged." Bella found herself holding her breath as she stared at the monitor in front of her, not really seeing what was on the screen. She prayed that Tony was keeping an even head, not letting his anger and hurt override his judgement. Such a mistake was fatal in this battle. And she hoped that Edward would do his best to keep them both safe.

"Where are you, you..." Bella heard Tony say over the speaker.

"Tony!" Edward exclaimed, and Bella bit down on her lip. She heard Tony's grunt of surprise, then a horrid crunching noise. And then the connection went dead.

"Tony!" Bella shouted, though she knew it was pointless. "Jarvis! What happened?"

"The helmet unit of the suit was damaged, communications lost. Vitals are still registering. Heartrate is accelerated, but within limits. All other vitals within limits."

"What about Edward? Can you contact him?"

"He is unresponsive, though still on the line."

Bella's hands were white-knuckled around the arms of the chair. Tony was out of contact, and Edward wasn't responding. She wished she could know more details of what was going on out there. Were they ok? Were they both about to die? Would she know if they did? She cringed and felt the tears continue to draw trails down her cheeks as she heard the obvious sounds of struggle over Edward's comm, followed by an inhuman screaching sound. Then everything went silent.

"Tony...Edward," Bella whispered breathlessly, unable to draw in enough air to speak with any volume.

"It's over," she heard Edward say. "Throwing together a fire now. Tony's alright." Bella let out the breath she was holding and sobbed in relief. It was over. And they were both alright. It seemed too good to be true.

"Tony!" she suddenly heard Edward exclaim, and she looked up at the monitor in surprise.

"Home." Bella heard Tony faintly over Edward's comm.

"The palladium core of Mr. Stark's reactor is almost depleted," Jarvis said. "A replacement needs to be made as soon as possible, before total power failure."

Replacement core? Bella had a flashback to her first night in the city. After dinner, Tony had fallen ill, had said it was nothing but a 'hiccup' in the technology. But she did vividly remember having to help him replace a rusted out metal square in the disc in his chest. That must be what Jarvis was talking about. The device was doing something to keep Tony healthy, and the power source for it was failing. "What happens if there's a power failure, Jarvis?"

"In the event of a reactor failure, Mr. Stark will go into cardiac arrest." Bella wasn't sure how much more she could handle tonight. First Pepper, then the horrid few minutes of the battle with Victoria, and now Tony was dying in the middle of nowhere? "They are on their way back," Jarvis said, disturbing her thoughts. "They are moving quickly. They will be here in time Ms. Bella, do no worry."

"Bella, can you hear me?" she heard Edward say, and she glanced at Jarvis' holographic form, who nodded.

"Yeah Edward, I can."

"I don't know what happened. Tony was fine, then he just collapsed. I'm bringing him back there as fast as I can."

"It's the power core for his chest reactor. It's failing. Get here as fast as you can Edward," Bella said, the desperation she felt obvious in her tone.

"I am." Bella heard the connection click off, and she fell back in the chair. Edward would get him home in time. She had to trust in that.

"Ms. Bella," Jarvis said. "There is an unknown visitor approaching the front door of the house."

"What?" Bella asked, wondering who would be paying Tony a house call at this hour of the morning. "Do you have a camera or something over the door?"

In response to her question, the monitor on the desk switched screens to a camera that was obviously placed near the main entrance to the house. For a moment, Bella didn't see anyone there, then she saw a figure step into the halo of light, and look right into the camera with a little grin and a wiggle of fingers in a wave.

"Alice?"

Author's Note:

Only one chapter left! Hope you all liked this chapter. A little of what Bella was going through during Tony and Edward's pursuit and battle with Victoria. And a little surprise at the end there. What could Alice possibly want?

Reviews are loved!