I'm so terribly sorry for this being such a short update, but since there's been eleven days I just felt like posting something. I have SUCH a lack of inspiration on writing these days, I know exactly what I'm going to write, it's all in my head, but I just can' . ! Well, autumn break is here, so I hope that means more writing. Enjoy!

There was something so… unnatural by the whole thing. He wasn't supposed to be up. When had they discharged him from the ventilator? He was wearing a suit. He was arguing with his friends. His right hand locked into a clenched fist. Pepper noticed, and Rhodey did too. In a matter of seconds, Tony lay in Rhodey's arms, fully awake, but with no possibility of bearing his own weight. Pepper saw the look on Tony's face, complete embarrassment and frustration. Tony was reluctantly laid back into the bed and Pepper was at his side right away.

"What are you thinking Tony?" She yelled at him, she was getting sick and tired of him not caring about himself.

"I'm thinking that I don't want to be here anymore!" He yelled back at her just as loud.

"Can't you see that you're not ready for that. Can't you feel that?" Pepper put her head in her hands and sighed heavily.

"I am totally ready for it. Pepper, I want to go home. Just… somewhere safe" He had that pleading look on his face matching his voice.

"We need to get you out of that suit"

"What, no, not-"

"Now!" A harsh yell spread around the whole room, making Tony, Rhodey and Steve jump.

Tony sat still, looking at Pepper with some sort of fright in his eyes. He clutched at his ribs with his right hand, leaning his head backwards and closing his eyes slowly. He let out two heavy breaths and let himself sink into the pillows. Guilt flushed through Pepper with great force and she wanted to just cry, but for god's sake… Tony had to learn to be a bit concerned about his own health. She leaned down, her cheeks red of guilt, embarrassment and frustration, and started to unbutton his jacket. Tony put his free hand on hers and pushed it away. Seriously, is it possible to be that stubborn? Pepper put her hand back to his jacket, but he just pushed it away once more, not making any expressions, as if it was the most natural thing to do.

"Tony, you can't-"

"I can at least manage to undress myself without assistance. I'm okay." His whole face was still expressionless, Pepper had no prerequisites to know what he felt, but she knew this was all about him showing to everyone that he didn't need anyone else.

Pepper turned determinedly on her heel, but with a smirk around her face, showing that she was being playful. "Well, except from the fact that you were taken hostage, beaten up until you didn't know your own name, your arc reactor flickered and that you're now in a hospital, you're okay." She murmured.

Pepper still smiled a bit to herself as she walked out of the room, not the least sorry for that she had to leave him for just a couple of minutes, she needed to collect herself, for everyone's sake.

"P-pep, help!" She heard a whimper from behind her back and rolled her eyes.

She knew he couldn't do it himself, but he had to be so damn stubborn, and now he was, once again, causing pain to himself. Pepper turned around with a kind smile on her face to go back and help him undress, but upon seeing Rhodey and Steve's faces, the smile disappeared quickly. She hurried over to Tony who sat doubled over in the bed, both arms crossed over his abdomen. Seeing how his whole body was trembling and chest lowering and raising at an inhuman speed, she understood he had a panic attack.

"Tony, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-" Pepper stopped herself halfway, understanding she had already said enough.

"Can't- I c-can't… Air!" Tony gasped as he tried his best on getting air down his lungs.

"One of you, get a doctor, now!" Both of the other two in the room jumped at Peppers demanding voice, but ran out the door together, crashing into Harley.

They dragged him with them on their way out, making sure he didn't get to see what was happening to Tony. Harley tried to drag himself away, he wanted to run to Tony, make sure everything was okay, but he knew everything wasn't okay, and he wanted to see what was wrong. Steve took a hard grip around his upper arm, causing him to wince slightly, and then he stopped abruptly while Rhodey continued rushing down the hall.

"We all need you to stay calm and on the outside of Tony's room right now, alright? You shouldn't really be here, there must be someone missing you and you are very far away from home." Steve was indeed good with children, with his deep reassuring voice.

"What's going on?" Was the only reply he got from the curious ten year old boy.

"Tony is… very unstable."

Both of them turned as they heard hurried footsteps coming towards them, then they saw the team of about ten doctors half running half walking after Rhodey. Steve grabbed Harley by his arm again as he tried to run after them.

"You're staying with me."

Bruce had slight memories of military machines coming towards him, pressing him into frenzy, but there were only small glimpses he could remember. This was a whole other experience, this time he was fully aware of what was happening, also this time there were so many machines in one place he thought it to be a new world record. It wasn't time yet, he had to stay calm and wait for the two others to tell him what to do, because he got no idea himself. He could feel his own hands ball into fists and his whole body going into a fighting position, but he didn't know how to fight? He didn't know how to do this without… him. There was only one person amongst the three of them who knew how to tackle this mishmash of metal tough, and that was he himself, not the other guy. He shot a glance at the red headed spy next to him, she was focused and ready, not the slightest of fear showing through her hard expression. After giving up trying to interpret Natasha's body language, he looked at the other spy. His bow was strung, ready to fire at any moment, but he was also waiting for something, something Bruce couldn't deduce. Suddenly Clint looked into his eyes and nodded slowly. What did that mean?

"I'm sorry guys, but what are we waiting for? Is there more of this high tech, avengers hating team?" Bruce mumbled low enough for none of the two others to hear him normally, but high enough for them to hear trough the earpieces.

The two spies looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Both of them shook their heads and slowly went back from the combat position to standing normal with straight backs. It was obvious that the innocent (or maybe not so innocent when he turned green) scientist had ruined something. Oh…yes… the thrill. If Bruce could have disappeared out of thin air it would've been just what he'd do right now, but he had a bunch of Hammeroids to take care of. The whole lot of them had created a formation, flying over the roof of Stark Industries and obviously standing(flying) ready to take down the three Avengers.

"Honestly, what are we waiting for Nat?" Clint asked with a confused look on his face, making him look like a five year old.

"For God's sake guys" Natasha rolled her eyes once more. "I don't think we need any technical or scientific information on this one Bruce, you may hulk out anytime now. That is what we're waiting for!"

BTW! This is my 16th chapter, my god this got longer than expected... I'm so happy about all of you reading and reviewing and all, thanks a lot guys! Now I'm, for once, not going to start on a new chapter, I'm going to watch Iron Man 3 for the hundreth time since I got the Blu-ray, peace out!