Chapter 10: A Desperate Father
Tony was stunned by Rhodey's words. He had me gone so far to protect Brigid and now he was telling him that he had failed. Tony could not let that be true. "What are you saying? She's dying? That's not my daughter. She's too damn stubborn to die. She wouldn't let even a bullet kill her. "
"Tony, she's lost too much blood. She was shot in the stomach and leg," Rhodey explained sadly, not liking the truth any more than Tony. "There's nothing we can do."
Tony wore a determined look. He had spent years devoted to protecting Brigid and he made a promise to her parents he would. He would be damned if he would let Obediah Stane take that from him. "No, there's nothing we can do, but there is something I can do."
Rhodey wore a perplexed look. He had seen most of his friend's ideas but this one was different. "Tony, what are you going to do?"
"What a father does," Tony replied, his voice firm and resolute.
Before Rhodey could stop him, Tony marched back to Brigid's room and faced Dr. Palmer square in the eye. "Dr. Palmer, what are you doing to save my daughter?"
"Mr Stark, I would argue that you should not be in here, but I know that would wash off you like water on a duck's wing," Dr Palmer commented.
"Damn right, so I'll ask again: what are you doing to save my daughter?" Tony demanded.
"We're giving her blood transfusions but there's a short supply," Dr. Palmer replied.
"She needs blood, so let me give it to her. So are you going to let me save my daughter or are you gonna waste her time and mine?" Tony questioned.
Dr. Palmer did not see the playboy before her. She saw only a devoted father willing to do whatever was necessary for his child. She would have no part in stopping him. "Nic, get Mr. Stark prepped for a blood transfusion."
Tony nodded appreciatively at Dr. Palmer as Dr. Nicodemus West took him aside to take his vitals. Tony waited anxiously, not caring a button for the cold of the iodine or the prick of the needle in his skin as his blood ebbed into the small pack. If Brigid needed every last drop of his blood, she would have it. After a long fifteen minutes Tony's blood was finally drained before he was shown to Brigid's room where his newly drained blood was hung on her IV. Tony was pale white and dizzy, but he did not care. It was a small price to pay.
"How long before this works?" Tony asked anxiously.
"That's honestly up to her," Dr. Palmer replied. "It could be hours or even days before we see any improvement. But all we can do now is make her comfortable."
"Can I stay with her?" Tony asked.
"This chair reclines and I'll bring you a blanket and pillow. Just don't tell," Dr. Palmer said with a sly smile.
Dr. Palmer left Tony alone as he pulled a chair up to Brigid's bed and held her hand. Tony managed a smile, despite his weariness and fear. "Hey, Little Leprechaun. You're a stubborn woman. I only wonder where you learned that from. You gotta show me how stubborn you are. I know you won't let a bullet stop you. I just gave you every drop of blood I had. so don't make a liar out of me. If anything happens to you, your mom and dad will kill me, so do me a favor and wake up."
Tony did not notice Rhodey standing in the doorway. "You know, it's rude to stand in doorways."
"I thought you two wanted to be alone," Rhodey replied before he noticed Tony's pallid face.
"Tony, you look like crap," Rhodey observed.
"Thanks, you look wonderful, too," Tony snarked.
"How is she?" Rhodey asked.
"It could be some time before she wakes up," Tony answered. "It's all up to her."
"Well, until then, why don't you get some rest?" Rhodey suggested. "You're not doing her any good when you look like an emo goth rocker."
"You know, when I've had a decent rest and coffee, we're gonna have a talk about how you speak to me," Tony said with a yawn. "Until then I'm staying right here until she wakes up."
"Tony, you're not gonna do Brigid any good if you're half dead," Rhodey replied. "Get some rest and she'll be here when you wake up."
"You really don't understand what promise I made to her mother and father, do you? I'm not sleeping till she's awake," Tony, weary but forceful.
"And will Brigid do any good if her father is in the hospital, too?" Rhodey asked.
Tony gave a long yawn. He wanted to protest but he was too tired to go on. "Look after my daughter, or I'll clip your wings."
Tony nodded off to sleep, his eyes on Brigid until the last.
Brigid found herself in another world. She knew this was not Earth, but it was not Heaven, either. She could see golden palaces before her eyes and soldiers in golden armor. There was only green hills and endless sunshine before her. Before long, Brigid came before figures that she knew all too well.
"Mother! Father!"
Brigid ran forward to embrace her mother and father and they spread their arms, welcoming her into their embrace.
"Brigid, we're so proud of you," Astrid said warmly.
"You're better than we ever were," Declan said proudly.
"Where am I? Am I dead? Is it over?" Brigid asked eagerly.
"You are only in between worlds, my dear," Astrid replied. "We have gone on. This is Valhalla, a place of rest for all of Asgard."
Brigid's eyes widened. "Asgard? But how? You…we are not from Asgard."
"You've been living your favorite stories your entire life," Declan replied.
"I don't understand," Brigid replied, wanting to know more.
Astrid's eyes filled with tears. "We hoped to tell you when you would understand. Your grandmother was of Nornheim descent and so am I."
"Norns?" Brigid gasped, perplexed. "So my dreams, my nightmares, it's because I could see into the future as the Norns do?"
Astrid nodded, her face full of sorrow and regret. "I'm so sorry, my dear girl. We wanted to tell you sooner."
"I'm glad I know," Brigid said with relief before her eyes welled up with tears. "I can't stay, can I?"
Astrid nodded her head. "You have your own story to tell, my dear daughter."
"What if I don't want to?" Brigid asked. "I've been tortured. I can see what happens and it's terrible. How can I go back after that? I don't want to. I want to stay where I know I won't have to deal with that-that s* any longer!"
Astrid held her daughter's hand and stroked her hair. "My dear girl, we all endure pain. It's what you choose to do after that pain. You could stay here and the world would be all the lesser for it. Tony would be all the lesser for it."
"Ever since you were a child, you've never run," Declan replied. "Someone has hurt you. There is only one thing to do: get back up."
"And when the time is right, you hurt them," Astrid added with a fierce smile.
Brigid's eyes filled with a new determination. She wasn't going to wilt away like some flower. She was going to make Stane pay for what he had done.
"Then I can't stay," Brigid said, her voice filled with focus and calm.
"Take care of Tony for us," Declan replied with a sly smile.
"He will need more looking after than you," Astrid added.
Brigid knew she had to return, but she was held back. She loved her parents and her heart could not bear to turn on them.
Astrid and Declan read her fears and smiled, comforting her.
"We will see you again," Astrid whispered.
Comforted, Brigid turned and saw a white void before her. She knew this was her way home and without question or looking back, stepped into it.
Tony stirred as he woke once more beside Brigid. He was still pale, unwashed, and in need of a shave. Tony was concerned that she had still not awakened but he was glad to see her chest rising and falling beneath her sheets with ease.
"Hey Little Leprechaun, I know you're just sleeping," Tony whispered. "But I need you to wake up. I know you're in there."
Tony's heart rose in his chest as Brigid's heart monitor began to trill faster.
"That's it, little one. I know you're in there," Tony said, hope in his voice. "Wake up, wake up."
To Tony's relief, Brigid's eyes fluttered open. "Father?"
Tony's heart soared with joy as he saw Brigid's sky blue eyes staring back at him. "Hey, Little Leprechaun. I'd ask how you feel , but I think I have an idea."
Brigid's heart monitor began to trill faster as her breathing grew faster and tears welled up in her eyes. "You have no idea."
Brigid was breathing harder as tears welled up in her eyes and fell. "You don't know what he did to me. Stane, he…he tortured me. He just wanted to toy with me to hurt you."
Brigid openly wept as she recounted her torment with Stane. She shook with fear and pain. "I still feel what he did to me. I can feel his hands on me, the water crushing my lungs . I almost didn't come back. I wanted to stay with them."
Tony held his daughter close, as if protecting her from all the danger in the world. "Brigid, I know what Stane did to you , and I made him pay. It's over. He's never gonna hurt you again."
Brigid quieted as her father held her. She felt safe in his arms and she was filled with a fiery hate. "I'm not glad he's gone. I wish it had been me that got him."
"He's rotting in Hell where he belongs," Tony reassured her.
Brigid chuckled dryly, mirthlessly. "Hell is too good for him."
Tony did not know how to comfort his daughter. All he could do was hold her. "You said you wanted to stay with them. Who?"
Brigid perked up slightly. "I saw my mother and father. They are in Valhalla now. They told me everything."
"Everything?" Tony asked, surprised. "What do you mean everything?"
"My grandmother and mother are descended from the Norns," Brigid explained. "That's why I have such vivid nightmares, dreams. I can see the future."
Tony did not know what to say. The whole idea sounded ludicrous to him, but yet it made sense. Yet he it was all fairy tales to him. He was in no position to argue with his daughter or question her.
"I'm sure that it is comforting to know you have this power and think of it as a gift," Tony said compassionately, holding Brigid's hand.
"I think so," Brigid replied, agreeing with her father, yet her eyes were doubtful. "But you don't believe me, do you? I know you don't."
Tony chose his words carefully. If he said yes, he'd lose his daughter. If he said no, he'd be lying to her and himself. "It doesn't matter what I believe. You're my daughter, and I love you. Who am I to question you?"
Brigid chuckled. "I know you think it's crazy, but it's good to hear you see it my way, in some part."
"I'm your father, I'm here to take care of you, not question you," Tony reassured her. "I question everyone else."
Brigid couldn't help but giggle. "That's fair."
Tony did not believe in tales of the other side, but he indulged his daughter. "So, what did your mom and dad say when you saw them? Do they miss me?"
Brigid brightened, the color returning to her face. "They told me they're proud of me, and to look after you because you need more looking after than I do."
"Well, that I agree with in part," Tony laughed. "I am proud of you, too. I'm still supposed to be looking out for you, though. But that does sound like your parents."
"I wanted to stay, but they told me to go back and give Stane hell," Brigid said sadly.
Tony held her hand. "I'm glad you came back. We're gonna give 'em hell."
Brigid smiled, filled with new determination. She was glad she came back. If she could not take revenge on Obadiah in life, she would take revenge in hell.
The next day, Brigid sat up in bed, propped up by pillows watching television. Tony came into the room wearing a crisp black suit.
"Well, you look snappy," Brigid commented. "What's the occasion?"
Tony sat by Brigid's bed. "I'm making some boring press conference about last night. I just wanted to make sure you're alright. You good? You need anything?"
Brigid smiled. "I just came back from torture. I think I'm good. Go and enjoy your boring press conference. I'll be comfortable here."
Tony smiled at his daughter's resilience. "You're as tough as your mom was."
Tony kissed her head. "Watch me on the news. I love you."
Later that day, Brigid was watching the news when she came across her father, as he told her. She was just as curious as the reporters as to what happened last night. Brigid turned up the tv and leaned forward with anticipation. What she could not understand is what her father would say next: "I am Iron Man."
Brigid clicked off the television, taken aback and then a slow fury bubbles up inside her. "Son of bitch!"