Sorry everyone for a short chapter, I didn't want to make you all wait again! Hope someone is still with me, and thanks for the wonderful reviews, makes me feel so loved :)
No reply came from Jarvis, instead he heard hurried footsteps and someone caught him as he felt himself drop to his knees.
The gauntlets unlatched themselves from his arms and collapsed in a heap beside him, he felt his chest burning and what he assumed was blood, escaping the corners of his mouth.
'Tony?' Rhodey gripped his shoulder trying to keep him awake, he cradled his head in his lap, 'Christ Tony, talk to me, open your eyes.'
A gargled sound was the only reply Rhodey got, Tony's eye lids became heavy, and the luring blanket of darkness beckoned. He smiled weakly at the warmth which was waiting and closed his eyes.
'Tony, stay with me buddy, keep your eyes open, focus on me, help is on the way.' Rhodey looked around desperately; his search for a working phone was cut short when Tony's laboured breathing ceased.
'Jesus, Tony, stay with me, Jarvis, we need help!' He yelled to A.I. a desperate call for help, he felt tears escape his eyes as the lifeless body of his best friend lay in his arms, 'Jarvis!'
'Jarvis system is online, my systems were rebooted Colonel Rhodes, help is on the way.'
'Thank you.' Rhodey whispered, he shook him with force, he couldn't think, he didn't know what to do, he didn't know what happened, so much noise filled the house before everything went dark, he couldn't work out what happened, 'come on Tony, please stay with me, help is on the way.'
Rhodey rubbed his face, a sickening feeling hit him, he reluctantly looked down at his hands, blood, Tony's blood. He raised Tony as best as he could, and let out a painful sob as the pool of blood which welled under him escaped.
'Jarvis, tell them to hurry!' He yelled.
A loud whine of sirens sounded in the near distance, footsteps ran through the door and knelt beside Tony.
'What's his condition?' Natasha spoke quickly as the two S.H.I.E.L.D paramedics began to move Tony onto a stretcher.
Rhodey wiped his hands against his jeans, 'gunshot wound, looks through and through, he's been unconscious for about three minutes, and he's lost a lot of blood.' He looked at her helplessly.
She nodded as they watched the paramedics carry him away.
Natasha got to her feet, 'they'll look after him.'
Rhodey tried to step around her, Natasha took hold of his arm.
'Hey, hey he'll be ok.' She tried to reassure him.
He eventually stepped back and nodded, 'don't let him die.'
Natasha, satisfied with his response, took out her phone and walked away from him.
"Where is he?' Pepper rushed into the mansion, fighting away the small group of S.H.I.E.L.D agents who tried to stop her, 'Rhodey!' She screamed as they tried to hold her back, Happy right on her heel.
'It's ok, it's alright she's with us.' Natasha spoke to the agents and they immediately parted.
Pepper ran into Rhodey's arms, 'please tell me he's ok Rhodey, please.' She looked up with tears in her eyes.
'He'll be ok, I know it.' Rhodey whispered against her hair. His own tears deceiving his words.
Happy wrapped his arms around both of them. Natasha walked away, and was met by the rest of the Avengers, all offering support to each other.
'Colonel Rhodes, we need a few minutes of your time.' Natasha stood before them, 'please.'
He nodded, leaving Pepper with Happy.
'I only blocked the power source Dragon was using; it shouldn't have interfered with Tony, what happened?' Natasha asked quietly.
Rhodey closed his eyes, 'he ran out of time, we never found the cure he needed.'
Natasha nodded silently, 'does Pepper know?'
'No.' he whispered finally.
'We need to tell her.' Natasha whispered.
Rhodey nodded, 'I'll do it.'
He left her side, not knowing how to even begin. He spotted Pepper leaning against the one window which was still standing. Her forehead rested against the glass as silent tears fell down her cheeks.
'Hey, Pep.' Rhodey barely heard the words leave his mouth.
She turned to face him with a weak smile, 'hey.'
Happy came to join them as soon as he saw Rhodey enter, 'how is he?'
Rhodey shrugged, 'they're doing the best they can, the bullet wound should be easy enough, but…'he trailed off.
'The Extremis.' Pepper finished.
'He didn't have much time left, he fought as hard as he could, he beat them, it's over.' Rhodey muttered.
Pepper looked down at her hands, she somehow knew this would come, it was inevitable, but it didn't hurt any less, then without warning her eyes shot up and caught Rhodey's, 'no, no it's not, we have the chip, the files he needed for the cure.' She reached into her pocket and retrieved the lock chip and handed it to him.
A spark in his eyes showed his understanding, 'Banner!' He called over the noise the S.H.I.E.L.D team were making colleting Dragon and his men.
Brue came rushing over to them along with Natasha. Rhodey thrust the lock chip into Bruce's hand, 'Tony doesn't have much time, this should be everything we need to solve this once and for all.'
Natasha looked at him questioningly, Bruce finally took the chip and nodded, he had no time to waste. He stumbled through the rubble and made his way down the flight of stairs to Tony's workshop.
He pushed his way through the battle scarred room, and stepped his way over to the remnants of one of Tony's work stations. He found one laptop which remained intact.
They stood around him waiting, watching, and anticipating. Natasha stood by with her phone in hand, ready to make any calls should she need to.
Finally Bruce spoke up looking to Natasha, 'I need you to contact the paramedics, I need them on standby to administer this.' Bruce explained as he began deciphering the information on the lock chip.
Natasha nodded quickly and made the call, 'they're on standby.' She announced.
Bruce looked up at her, and then at the others, 'I think it's done, it's ready.'
Pepper, Happy and Rhodey all exchanged nervous glances, Bruce had been theirs, and Tony's saviour before, and they held all hope in him again.
Rhodey nodded, 'do it, make the call.'
Pepper looked to Natasha, 'take me to him, please.'
Natasha agreed and immediately led her up the stairs, 'the helicarrier is close by.' She explained.
Pepper simply followed her silently as they made their way into the waiting transport, the five minute flight seemed never ending, poisonous thoughts entered and raided her mind. She chastised herself for allowing such thoughts to penetrate her. She tried to push them out to no avail.
Bruce was the one fellow scientist Tony trusted as much as he trusted her, so she could trust him too. She allowed that to ease her mind temporarily. But the ease wouldn't be permanent until she had Tony in her sight, until he had her in his arms.
As they landed a small squeeze of her hand brought her back to reality, 'we're here,' Natasha smiled gently.
Pepper returned her smile and followed her, she didn't know what was waiting for her or Tony, but she knew whatever it was, he wouldn't be alone, she would be there with him, the way it should have been all along. Her heart tensed at the inconceivable possibility that she wouldn't speak with him again, hold him or tell him she loved him. She knew she would explain everything when he woke up. If he woke up…
IRON MAN 3 in 43 days in Aust! So damn excited and every time I watch the new trailer I get so giddy...gah!