Once Kim was in bed with him, he snuggled up to her, holding her close. The guilt now settling in as to what he did. He felt like he couldn't help himself. It just...happened. He ignored the tears going down his face and the urge to find an alcoholic bottle. He needed something. He was craving for release. Release from the heartbreak, guilt, failure. He bit his lip to keep from crying, hiding his face in Kims neck as she slept. He wasn't enough. He wasn't enough for Kim, He wasn't enough for his kids and he certainly wasn't enough for the famous Hawkeye.
Kim woke in the morning groggily, feeling a soft weight on her. She looked over with a soft smile. He was asleep and she was glad. He never seemed to never get enough. Staying up late in the lab or nightmares plaguing the moments he wants to sleep. She turned over in his arms, kissing his head, bringing her arms around him. He was still in his tux, blood covering parts of it, droplets dried on his face. She kissed his head before getting up gently, going to there in room restroom, getting a wash cloth, wet and going back to Tony who was still peacefully asleep. She started to unbutton the rest of his shirt, taking his tie off and placing it on the bedside desk, starting to wipe some of the blood off of his face.
It was moments later he started to wake, turning enough to look at Kim. He felt his eyes water and guilt still fresh from the night hitting him like a wave. "Angel?" She smiled softly. "Yes. Your safe. Everyone is safe." He suddenly sat up, hugging her to him quickly, hiding his face in her neck. Tears falling. "Oh God...I love you. I love you so much..." She smiled, hugging him tightly, comforting him any way she could. "Shh..I know. I love you to." His body started to tremble, silently crying into her neck and hair. He only thought now was how was he going to face Clint?
After Kim calmed him down she left to go make breakfast, promising to send Clint up. Kim helped him dress in simple sweats and a tee shirt but now he was going to need Clint to help him. He was going to have to face him. He was sitting up in bed, trying to think of a way to go about it. He didn't get too much time as the door opened, reveling Clint. Tony couldn't read his face. He was stone and cold and put his emotions behind him. Tony wished he had that sort of power. Then maybe last night wouldn't have happened. Clint sighed, going in front of him. "Ready? Kim cooked breakfast." Tony nodded. "Uh yeah. Yeah, ready." Clint leaned down, putting his arm around him, helping him stand. Tony limped out of the room with his help.
They were half way down the hall when the words just started spilling out of Tony's mouth. "Look, I'm sorry-" "Shut it Stark." Tony couldn't help but feel the sting of hurt from the cold, sharp tone. He knew why but it didn't make him hurt any less. "What? I can't apologize? I'm sorry it went that far. Or went at all. Should have just slapped me or woken Kim up or hundreds of other scenarios that didn't invole-" Suddenly Clint had him pinned to the wall by his shoulders. He had to swallow down a bit of fear. Clint looked pissed and ready to lash out. For once, Tony remained silent. Clint spoke lowly. "Shut up. For one goddamn moment in your life just shut the fuck up" Clint paused, growling. "Nothing happened last night. I fixed your knee and that was it. Ok? You are nothing to me and your right. I should have let him finish you off." Tony had to swallow the tears down, knowing he was going to face his family. The words Clint was spewing wasn't unfamiliar to Tony,no, He was very familiar with them from Howard. He swore for a second Clint sounded exactly like his father. That was just salt on the wound. Clint growled, letting go of him, forcing himself to stand on his good leg. "Get yourself downstairs." He started stomping back to his room leaving Tony alone in the hall with a bad knee and broken heart.
Kim was just putting plates on the table when Tony made it down alone. Limping and using the wall for support. Kim raised an eyebrow. "Wheres Clint? He was supposed to be helping you." Tony shrugged. "He was taking too long to show. Wasn't gonna sit up there all day waiting." He smirked weakly, sitting down with a small thud. His bum knee making him off balance. He noticed it was just him and Kim. He frowned softly. "Where is everyone?" Kim sighed then smiled weakly as Gage came in behind Tony with Quinn and TJ. "Right here." Tony looked to Quinn and TJ. He frowned softly. They looked worn and scared and hurt and he felt so helpless. Quinn had a small splint on her wrist and a bruise on her face. TJ only with a few bruises. "How are they doing?" Gage sighed, picking up Quinn who clung to him. "This one can't be away from me for more then two minutes without freaking out and the other is eating himself in guilt." Tony nodded before sighing.. "Great. Guess we should start with breakfast." TJ spoke up, sounding small. "Can I go train?" Tony looked at him. "After breakfast. Every great warrior needs breakfast." TJ pouted. "yY sir." He went to his seat, sitting at the table as Kim brought his plate over, kissing his head.
Kim walked over to Gage who was holding Quinn, brushing some of her hair back. "Sweetie, are you hungry?" She shook her head, looking about ready to burst into tears. Gage sighed, holding her closer. "She didn't sleep a wink. Shes over-tired." Kim frowned softly. "Why don't you two watch some cartoons then?" Gage got the hint. Cartoons always seemed to put her to sleep. He made his way into the adjoining living room, sitting with Quinn in his lap. TJ was eating, slowly. Clint then came in the room, making Tony's heart beat faster and a lump form in his throat. He took a quickly gulp of coffee, wishing it was whiskey. Kim smiled weakly. "There you are. Why didn't you help Tony down?" Clint put on a weak smile. "Uh just had to run to the bathroom first. Can't help it if he gets inpatient." Tony was happy when he took the far end of the table, near TJ. Kim smiled, bringing him a plate of food.
Tony had managed to make it to the living room on his own, sitting next to Gage who was now holding a sleeping Quinn. Tony smiled weakly. "Least shes asleep." Gage smiled, holding her tighter to himself. "Yeah. She needs it." Tony gave him a look, seeing some of the dried blood still on him. "Why don't you go take a shower? I'll watch her." Gage nodded, gently handing her over. Tony held her close against himself as Gage stood. "I promise, I won't be long." Tony smiled weakly. "Take your time. You need it." Gage nodded, walking out of the living room and up the stairs.
It wasn't five minutes later that Quinn started to wake, eyes opening. She whimpered, seeing she was in her fathers arms, not Gage. Tony held her, feeling her start to shake with anxiety. "shh..it's ok...your safe." He hated how terrified she looked, like something or someone would jump out of the shadows and hurt her. About 10 minutes later Gage came back in the living room, looking a lot better without the dried blood on him. Quinn quickly crawled off Tony's lap, running to Gage. Gage frowned softly, picking her up as she clung to him, crying into his neck. "You were gone so long!" Gage kissed her head, holding her close. "shh I was only gone for a shower. I'm sorry princess." As much as he loved the little princess, he worried about this new separation anxiety. Gage went in the living room, holding her close, sitting back down by Tony as she started to fall back to sleep in Gage's arms. "Sorry about that. I didn't know she would react so strongly. I'm worried thou." Tony nodded. "I am to. But I get it. The separation anxiety. She feels safest with you. She thinks the moment your away form her someone is gonna come out of nowhere and hurt her. So she stays with you." Gage sighed. "How's TJ doing now that he's eaten?" "Better but now he's in the training room. Damn. Four years old he's already eating himself in guilt." Tony shook his head. He hated this. He wished more then anything his children could have a normal life. They shouldn't have to know this kind of pain so young.
TJ was punching the punching bag with all his might. A scowl deep on his face. He let his sister get hurt. He couldn't protect her. He was hating himself. He growled as a strong punch made a seam rip. Clint was watching from the entry way with a frown. He knew the feelings well. When he heard the growl mix with a whimper was when he stepped in. "TJ. At ease." TJ stopped, wiping his eyes, standing straight looking up at Clint. "Sir?" Clint frowned softly, kneeling to him. "Stop this. You did all you could. It's not your fault she got hurt." TJ whimpered. "Yes it is. I should have protected her better." Clint sighed. "You were tied up. You did all you could. Com'on, why don't you go spend some time with us upstairs?" TJ nodded, wiping tears away. Clint stood, holding his hand out to him. TJ took it, letting Clint lead.
Tony was still in the living room when Kim walked in with his cell phone. "Tony, it's pepper and she doesn't sound too happy." Tony smiled weakly, reaching for the phone. "How may I be of service?" "Cut the crap Tony, you realize how much trouble Stark Industries is in because this kind of stuff keeps happening?" "None?" He swore he heard her roll her eyes. "Alot, Tony and there demanding a press conference about last night. I know it's a bit soon but I can't postpone them. And you owe a lot of veterans a personalized hospital visit." Tony groaned. "Fine. Set it up. We'll be there." He heard pepper hang up before he threw the phone on the couch. "They want a press conference." Kim and Gage both frowned. "So soon?" "Yeah because apparently they don't believe in recovery time." He saw Clint come in holding TJ's hand. Tony frowned seeing the tears going down his sons face. "Hey little man, com'ere.." Clint let TJ go who started to walk to his father. His lip trembling. "I'm sorry...I couldn't protect her." Tony reached, picking him up easily, holding him. "shh it's ok son. You did all you could. If it wasn't for you she may have gotten worse so I think you did a pretty good job." "Really?" Tony smiled, kissing his head. "Really."
The limo stopped in front of the building that was holding the press conference. Tony let out a heavy sigh, getting his anxiety under control. He didn't want to think of what happened last night let alone talk about it in front of the world but he had no choice in the matter. He felt a hand over his he looked over, seeing Kim with a weak smile. He knew she was thinking the same. He looked at Gage and Clint who had TJ and Quinn. Tony sighed as Happy opened the door. "Lets go." He got out, using a crutch, waving at the flashing cameras, putting on a smile as he helped Kim out of the car. She waved but stayed close to his side, making sure he didn't fall. Gage and TJ were next out of the limo, Quinn still clinging to Gage and TJ waving, copying his dad.
Once inside, pepper ran to him, hugging Tony. "Sorry if I seemed insensitive over the phone. I'm just stressed-" "Pepper your always stressed. It's your natural state." Pepper gave him a look. "Are you all alright from last night?" Tony sighed. "About as can be expected." Pepper nodded. "You guys better get up there then." They wanted the bodyguards as well since they were a part of it. Pepper continued. "Me and happy and Kim can watch the kids" Tony nodded. "Thanks pep." He made his way to the table with little difficulty with the crutch. He sat in the middle, his crutches leaning against the table. Clint sat on one side, making his heart beat a little faster as he felt his knee rubbed up against him. Gage sat on the other side. Tony let out a breath, speaking into the microphone. "We'll be taking questions now. Please let us know who the question is for." There was few camera flashes as the press conference started. One reporter raised her hand. Tony pointed to her. "You." She stood. "Agent Barton, how was it these kidnappers were so easily able to get the children? Are they not under your and protection." Clint let out a breath."They used the bombs first as a distraction then me and my partner got ambushed with modded weapons. Weapons we wernt used to. I was temporarily paralyzed and he was knocked out."
Th reporter continued with a small smirk. "But were you not with the children when the bombs went off?" Clint glared. "Yes, I was with the family but we got ambushed." Tony could see Clint's temper raising. He took a chance, reaching under the table to rub his hand. "Hey, calm down." Clint took a deep breath, letting Tony rub the top of his hand. He hated how nice it felt. Another reporter, a small man raised his hand. Tony pointed to him as he stood. "This is for Once you became aware they were taken, what did you do? What were you thinking?" Tony sighed. He didn't like thinking back to that. "I was knocked out by a beam the bombs dismantled. Once I came to, they were the first thing I thought of. I...I was terrified. My children were taken by God knows who doing God knows what. Once we realized what happened we hauled ass home so we could track them." "Track them?" Tony sighed. "Yes. If you haven't noticed me and my family tend to become targets. Side effect of being a super hero but all of us, even me have trackers inside us. Just a little chip, that way when this sort of thing happens we can find them fast as possible." "Why not rely on the police or swat teams?" Tony gave him a look. "Do you honestly think I'm going to wait around while I have not one but two trained assassins and a gallery of Iron Man suits at my disposal? If I chose to wait around my children could have died." Clint glared to the reporter. "Where there best line of dense. We'd give our lives for them." The reporter nodded, sitting down. Another raised there hand.
Tony pointed. The reporter stood, another guy. "What happened with the crutches?" Tony was sipping his coffee before answering. "This man that took them. He wanted my suits. Thinking I would agree with him with my kids as hostages. He..." He swallowed the forming lump in his throat. "He tied them up and held a gun to my daughters head. We were frozen. One wrong move and he may kill her. Luckily he got distracted enough and I took the opportunity to tackle him. Partially dislocating my knee. Clint here put it back in place and I gotta say.." He smirked weakly, thinking back to the moment he and Clint shared then the cold rejection. He swallowed some tears before continuing."It hurt like a bitch."
In the limo, Tony made a call to Bruce. He wanted him to help with Quinns separation anxiety. He was gonna meet them in the tower. Once they got home, Tony gave Gage instructions to take Quinn to the lab where Bruce was. Quinn seemed happy to see her uncle Bruce. Gage held her hand as he lead her to the lab where Bruce spun around in the chair gently, smiling when he saw Quinn. "Hey princess.." He held out his arms, waiting for a hug. Already knowing the reaction he would get. She looked scared to leave Gage's side. Gage spoke softly. "It's ok. I'm right here. I'm not leaving."Quinn swallowed down her tears, reaching out to Bruce who picked her up on his lap gently, holding her close, kissing her head. "Hey princess.." She hugged him but she kept looking over at Gage, making sure he was still there. Gage knelled down by them with a weak smile. "I'm right here.." Bruce spoke. "How are you feeling?" She swallowed. "Scared. He's gonna come after me and T J and daddy again. He's gonna hurt us." Her voice wobbled as tears fell. Bruce held her protectively. "Do you think we'd let that happen?" she wiped her eyes, starting to cry, hiccuping. Gage reached for a hand, holding her tiny hand in his. "I would give my life to protect you." She whined, a few tears falling. "But then you wouldn't be here." Gage smiled weakly. "I would do everything to stay by your side. But protecting you comes before my own life." Quinn pouted but Bruce felt her relax. "A princess can't be without her knight." Gage smiled, bowing his head, holding her hand. " And my lady's knight shall always be there for her as will the king and Quinn?" She sniffled, smiling weakly. "Mommy and daddy?"
Gage smiled. "Yes. Mommy and daddy." Quinns smiled. "And when my suit is done I'll be able to protect you to!" Bruce chuckled. "Seems someone is back to normal. Gage smiled. "Not if I protect you first." Quinn grinned. "My suit's gonna go super sonic! So you'll have to be faster!" Bruce chuckled. Gage chuckled, picking her up off Bruce lap. "I'm pretty fast." "Not faster then mach 5!" Bruce watched them a moment before leaving the lab, going to tell Tony the good news. He knew there was along road of recovery for everyone but they would get thru. They always do.
An: reviews please! I love you all!