New Again

Chapter 9 (A Great Wish)

The lab downstairs from the lake house had been silent for a long time. Dusty equipment and lightless panels bore the marks of months Tony had been away. But that night, when Tony opened the lab door, the silence ended.

As the lights slowly came on, Tony strode toward the center of the room. He looked around; every corner, every device reminded him of his past. His mind was filled with both memories and concern for Prax.

“I'm back,” he told himself, his voice low but firm.

He placed his hands lightly on the table and paused for a moment. He took a deep breath and rubbed his face with his hands. “Prax… I will save you. I have to save you.”

Tony activated a projector on the desk. Old projects, half-done plans, and notes that had once reflected Tony's creative mind appeared on the screen. But this time, his eyes were focused on a different target: Prax's reports.

He reached out his hands towards a holographic file, scanned the data, and muttered: “Liver transplant… Nanobot technology… Biological regeneration… If I combine them all, I might be able to create a chance for him.”

He paused for a moment, tearing his gaze away from the projection. He glanced at an old Iron Man suit sitting in the corner of the lab. The suit, which had once reminded him of his strength and control, now seemed like a weight.

“I can do anything,” he said, looking toward the armor. “But what if it’s not enough this time?”

Tony pulled himself together and activated the devices on the desk. A series of formulas and designs appeared on the holographic screens as his desk came back to life. His mind worked rapidly to come up with solutions.

After a while, the lab door slowly opened and Pepper walked in. She immediately realized what Tony was doing and silently approached him.

“Tony,” he said gently. “What are you doing?”

Tony spoke without taking his eyes off the screen, "I've been searching for a solution for Prax. I abandoned this lab for months, but now I have a reason."

Pepper paused for a moment and sat down next to him. “Tony, you need to talk to him. You need to understand his decision before you try to solve this problem with devices.”

Tony nodded but did not look at Pepper. “I will,” he said quietly. “But first I have to give her a choice. It is my duty as a father.”

Pepper gently touched Tony's shoulder. "Remember, Tony. This is his life. I know you can figure anything out. But sometimes the solution is just being there."

Tony considered Pepper's words for a moment, but eventually nodded, returning to his design on the table. "Yes... But I'm not going to accept it until I give him the best option."

Pepper knew Tony's stubbornness. She stood next to him and silently left the lab. Tony muttered to himself as he reactivated the devices: "Prax... I'll save you this time."

While Harley was working in Tony's lab, Peter walked in, trying to remember the conversation he had overheard. The expression on Tony's face made it clear that he was confused about his thoughts.

“Tony,” Peter said, his tone more serious than usual.

Tony looked up. “Peter, it’s good you’re here. You have a mission with Harley.”

Harley noticed the weight in Tony’s voice and dropped the screwdriver in her hand onto the table. “What kind of mission?” she asked, completely devoid of any sarcasm.

Tony gestured to the report on the table. “Prax. I want you to bring him here. Do whatever you have to, but find him and bring him back. I need to talk to him.”

Peter hesitated for a moment, but tried to keep his expression under control as he spoke: “Prax… is he okay?”

Tony glanced at Peter briefly, then looked away, focusing on the table. “No,” he said in a short, sharp tone. “He’s not okay. But I can make him okay.”

Peter sensed the desperation behind Tony's silence. He decided not to tell him what he had heard, because he needed to let Tony have this conversation his way. Harley turned to Peter and said, "Come on, Parker. Stark gave us the information we needed. It won't take us long to find Prax."

Peter nodded to Harley. “Yeah. Let’s get moving.”

Tony saw the pair heading for the door. “Peter,” he said after him.

Peter turned and looked. Tony's face showed a rare determination. "Bring him to me," Tony said, his voice low but strong.

“We’ll get it,” Peter said, hesitating for a moment. Then he and Harley left the lab.

Harley and Peter knew where to find Prax. Harley got in the driver's seat of the car, with Peter next to her.

Peter turned to Harley as she drove off. She was definitely not good at keeping secrets.

The moment he said, "Prax has 3 months to live," Harley braked suddenly.

“What? Where did you hear that?”

“As I was coming down the stairs, Tony was on the phone with a doctor.”

"Come on Parker, let's do Tony's job," Harley said, turning to Peter behind the wheel, and she sped off into the road.

As the car sped along, Peter thought about Tony's situation. Prax hearing the news, as difficult as it was, was Tony's last attempt to reach out to him. This was his last chance for a father and son bond.

After a while, Harley turned the steering wheel angrily, speeding away. “We have to do this, Peter. But at the end of this, there is a harsh truth that everyone must accept.”

“Yes, but no matter what, we have to make it happen somehow,” Peter said, taking a deep breath.

As Harley and Peter sped through the city, they eventually came across the bar where Prax worked.

The bar was crowded and noisy. People were singing, the bartender behind the counter was doing his job. Prax was sitting alone in the corner of the bar, a few drinks on the table next to him. His face was frozen, as if he were still looking at a stranger.

When Harley stepped into the bar, her eyes immediately found Prax. Prax noticed Harley but didn't respond. Peter took a step back, watching what Harley would do.

Harley quickly approached Prax. "Come on, get up," she said harshly. "You're coming to me."

“What do you want?” Prax asked, his voice indifferent, looking up. “You came to see me here, didn’t you?”

Harley took off her bag at her waist and took out a small bottle of chloroform. "We just have to take you away by force," she said coldly, waving the chloroform in her hand. "Or I can persuade you by other means."

Prax suddenly had a look of serious concern on his face. “You can’t do this,” he muttered, but fear was beginning to well up inside him.

“Harley, don’t go too far,” Peter whispered, looking out over the crowd in the bar, but Harley kept her eyes focused on Prax.

"Prax," Harley said, slowly pouring the chloroform from the bottle, "We don't have time to mess with you. Tony wants to see you. You have to come."

Prax hesitated for a moment, confusion in his eyes. But then, seeing Harley’s serious expression, he slowly rose from his seat. “I don’t want this, but… I’m going,” he said, and he had to admit it.

Peter paused for a moment, looking at Harley. He felt unsettled, still feeling out of control. But this was Tony's last chance.

“Come on, we’re going out. We shouldn’t waste any time,” Harley said, nudging Prax gently, and she headed toward the bar, keeping Prax under control.

In the car, Prax sat silently, Harley and Peter sat next to him in the seats. Prax kept his eyes on the road, hoping to get through this difficult situation as soon as possible. But Harley had a look of determination on her face as she turned the steering wheel hard.

“Three months,” Harley said, her words softly but clearly. “You have three months to live, Prax. Why didn’t you tell us that?”

Prax was silent for a moment. His eyes were slightly narrowed, as if he were listening to everything. "Why would we know that?" he asked, his voice harsh but somehow reflecting his desperation. "Tony finding me... I didn't expect this much."

Harley took a deep breath, a little impatiently. “All that time, while you were waiting to die, there was someone fighting to somehow save you. Tony spent all that time on you. Why didn’t you tell him? Why didn’t you tell him anything?”

Prax, unaffected by Harley's words, snapped, "Tony didn't give me a chance. He left me, he didn't want anything from me. He came here now, to say 'come on son'?" "Coming after all this time... He's just trying to comfort himself. That's all."

Peter was silent for a moment. He felt the pain inside him, but he couldn't take it anymore. "Prax," he said, his voice a little fragile but determined. "This isn't just Tony's story, it's yours too. When you hear you've got three months left, you have to look at it. But not just to see yourself, you have to see others. Maybe we need to give each other a chance."

Without turning his head, Prax said, his voice hard, "You don't understand that. I have no one to look after. Tony has enough trouble, I... I'm just going to pass the time."

"Prax, we're not taking you here by force. Tony wants to see you and talk to you. It won't make things any easier for either of us. But you don't have to carry this burden alone," Harley said, ignoring Prax's reply as she sped around a bend.

Peter agreed with Harley a little more softly. “Prax, this isn’t just for you. You need to understand those you’ve lost. Tony doesn’t want to lose you. We all have our broken places, but we have to share that.”

Prax was silent for a moment after Peter's words, then a brief smile crossed his face. "I don't know, Peter. Maybe I'm still confused. But… okay, I'll go. But I don't know what Tony and I are going to talk about either."

"Then we'll find a way, Prax. We'll do it together," Harley said, gripping the steering wheel tightly once more and continuing on her way.

At the end of the journey, the car slowly pulled up to Tony's house. Prax took a deep breath, taking his eyes off the road for a moment and looking around. He really didn't want to be here, he didn't want to face Tony, but somehow he forced himself out of the car.

"Are you ready?" Harley asked, looking at Peter, but Peter's expression was confused. They didn't know what to do, but things were quickly spiraling out of control.

Prax walked quickly, without speaking, toward the house. Tony was waiting for them in the lab, a complex expression in his eyes. Tony froze for a moment when he saw Prax, but then he approached calmly and said, "Come, Prax. We have a lot to talk about."

"What are we going to talk about, Tony?" Prax asked coldly, keeping some distance. "Isn't it late now?"

Tony took a deep breath and took another step forward. "I still can't understand why you're denying this. I just found out you have three months to live, Prax. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you stop me when I tried to find you?"

Prax was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on Tony. "Because I had nothing to do with you, Tony. You threw me away. You didn't care about me. What do you want now?" he said, barely holding back tears.

Tony shrugged and took a deep breath. "Prax, I had the chance to build a father-son bond that had been lost for years. But we never had the courage to do it. This disease... It's hard to accept. But I don't want to lose you."

Prax lowered his eyes and shook his head. "You can't want this. Now I know why you came. But I won't forgive you."

"You have to accept this. I have only one chance left for you, Prax," Tony said after a moment of silence, lowering his voice. He took another step toward her. But Prax stood still, resolutely refusing to back down.

Peter and Harley looked at each other in surprise as they listened to the conversation. They felt like everything was starting to get out of control. But then Tony's expression changed; he moved with determination and secretly took out a bottle of needles.

Before Prax could comprehend what was happening, Tony quickly injected the needle into his neck. Prax began to collapse to the ground, his eyes wide. “Pepper,” Tony called out as he coolly replaced the needle. “Tell Helen to prepare the medical Quinjet.”

Harley and Peter watched this in shock. Peter approached, asking, "Tony, what did you do?" Harley muttered, "What was the need for this?" The fact that everything had suddenly spiraled out of control told them with unexpected horror that things were getting to a much more serious point.

“I did it for her own good,” Tony said without looking back, his voice cold and determined. “Now I have one chance to keep her alive. We have one more chance, and that’s why I need it.”

Harley and Peter looked at each other with astonishment, thinking that Tony was aware of everything but still made this difficult decision with one last hope. A father was ready to risk everything to prevent his son's death.

Prax began to come to, his eyes opening sleepily from the injection. Slowly raising his head, he looked around and He realized he was in the medical department. while Helen was working on a large medical device right next to him. Prax could not move for a moment, but then he slowly sat up and looked at Helen.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice a little blurry and still uneasy.

Helen looked at him with a smile, but quickly became serious. “Are you okay? The injection might be a little harsh,” she said, then began checking some data on the tablet in her hands. “According to Tony’s information, you’re in serious condition. You have liver failure and only three months to live.”

Prax took a deep breath and nodded. "This is hard to accept, but I know. What do we do now?"

Helen put her tablet aside and looked at Prax seriously. “We need to find a solution for this. If we can find a suitable liver, your situation would be much better. But the right organ donor is needed. Right now, the Stark Institute needs to find a suitable match for a liver transplant. This can’t be a waste of our time.”

Prax focused on Helen, his eyes a little dark. “How do we do this?” he asked. “How do we find someone suitable?”

Helen thought for a moment, then picked up her tablet again and looked at the screen. "I'll go through all our patients' data. But the best solution for that would be to request samples from everyone's database at the Stark Institute. We can scan all the donors and find the best match for you. It'll just take time. But Tony would agree with me, so we should definitely try it."

Prax nodded, “Yes, we must do that. But Tony… was he always this hopeless?” he asked, his eyes still filled with uncertainty.

Helen shrugged slightly. “Tony’s determination is crucial to this situation. He is aware of everything and will try to save you no matter what. But right now, we just need to find the right liver.”

Prax took a deep breath. “Okay, then let’s do it. Let’s find a suitable donor,” he said, trying to muster up some hope again.

Helen smiled reassuringly at Prax and headed toward Tony's office. "Then you rest here. I'll go to the Stark Institute and look through the database. I'll have more information tomorrow."

“Thank you, Helen,” Prax said, bowing his head. There was gratitude in his eyes. He was helpless, but he was also beginning to sense that he still had a chance for salvation.

Helen quickly opened the lab door and went inside to tell Tony, "Tony, I suggest we take samples from everywhere for the right organ donor. We need to do this quickly. Prax's condition is serious, and a suitable liver must be found as soon as possible."

“Yeah, right,” Tony said, looking up from his desk writing something. “Let’s comb through all the databases. We need to find a suitable donor. Get started, Helen.”

Helen quickly left the room while Tony remained deep in thought for a moment, ready to risk everything to give life to his son Prax.

Tony worked in the lab, while Helen pored over medical reports as she reviewed the database. A moment later, Helen came over to Tony, tablet in hand. “Tony,” she said, “We found a suitable donor. However, your liver will be your own.”

Tony paused for a moment, then fixed his eyes on Helen and asked, "My liver?" as he tried to sort of process the situation.

Helen nodded. “Yes. However, there is a big risk to this. Tony has heart and blood pressure problems. These could cause complications during the transplant. You have to think about that. Donating your liver would mean risking your life.”

Tony took a deep breath and calmly said, "Helen, I'll take that risk. I'm willing to do anything for my son."

Helen saw Tony's determination, but she was still worried. "This is a serious decision, Tony. Your body is not right now. It's such a big operation... It's risky."

Tony looked at Helen for a moment, then his eyes hardened. "My son is more important than anything in my life. He deserves another chance."

At that moment, Pepper walked in. Her face was dark with concern. "Tony," she said, her voice trembling. "Are you really sure? Donating your liver . . . It's a huge risk. For your health and for hers . . . Think it over. Don't rush into this decision."

Tony looked at Pepper and smiled at her in his favorite way. "Pepper, he's my son. I'm not losing him. Giving my liver is what I have to do as a father."

Pepper looked at Tony with fear and concern in her eyes. "But Tony, think about Morgan. If something happens to you, what will he do? I can't accept that. He has no right to lose you."

Peter and Harley stood silently next to Tony. Peter watched in shock for a moment before asking, "Tony, are you actually thinking of doing this?" concern evident in his eyes.

Harley added, her expression serious, "You're putting yourself in danger by doing this, Stark. You have to think about Morgan, not just Prax. He wouldn't want to lose you."

Tony was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I would do anything to bring Morgan back to life before I could lose him. He is my son, and I am willing to pay any price to protect him. I have to save him."

Pepper moved closer to Tony, her eyes filled with tears. "But Tony, I love you. Losing you… You really shouldn't do this."

Tony took Pepper's hand and said reassuringly, "I have to do this, Pepper. For Morgan to live. I won't lose both Prax and you. I have to do this."

Peter and Harley waited a moment, respecting the silence between them. Finally, Peter nodded slowly, saying, "If you're determined to do this, we'll stand by you." Harley warned him, "But there could be serious consequences, Tony. The risks are too great."

Helen felt a little more relaxed at Tony's determination, but she still felt anxious. "Then we'll start making preparations right away," she said. "But remember, Tony, this is a big risk. Even if this transplant is successful, you'll need a lot more testing and monitoring to keep you healthy."

“I know,” Tony nodded. “But I would do anything for my son. Even my own life to save his.”

Pepper wiped away her tears and hugged Tony one last time. "Please, be careful," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I need you. We need Morgan."

"I will always need you and Morgan," Tony said, casting a loving look at Pepper, "But he is my son. And he deserves his life."

Prax slowly opened his eyes and started to wake up with the pain in his head. His eyes were blurry, the sounds around him were unclear. In a few seconds, he noticed the silhouettes of Peter and Harley coming from the dark corner of the room. He tried to slowly raise his head but his body resisted him, he lay back down with a feeling of tiredness and weakness.

Peter noticed Prax was awake and quickly approached him. “Prax, relax. Everything is fine,” he said, his voice sounding reassuring. Harley quickly appeared next to Prax, looking at him closely. “Slow down, this isn’t supposed to happen so fast,” she added.

Taking a deep breath, Prax opened his eyes fully. Still confused. “What’s going on?” he mumbled. “Why am I here?”

"Tony's here prepping you for surgery. They say you're fit for surgery, but we still don't know exactly what happened," Peter said, lowering his voice, shaking his head.

Harley took a deep breath and said, her voice firmer, "Prax, we need to tell you something. Tony is willing to do anything to save you. But there's something... something hidden." There was concern in her eyes.

“What is secret?” Prax asked, with a little more effort, looking up.

"You don't know who they're going to take your liver from, do you?" Harley asked, a little hesitantly, a little nervously.

Prax looked at this question with astonishment, uncertainty in his eyes. "What do you mean? Why don't I know who to buy from?" he repeated, a touch of fear in his voice.

“Prax, Tony wants to give you his liver,” Peter said, bowing his head, but his voice was still very soft. “But there’s a huge risk to that. It’s for your health, but it’s also for Tony’s life.”

Prax's eyes widened when he heard this sentence. After a moment of silence, he suddenly became startled and his heart began to beat rapidly. "No! No, I cannot accept this. I cannot risk his life! He cannot give his liver for me!" he shouted, feeling a tremor in his body.

Harley and Peter remained silent, looking at each other. They had expected this reaction, but there was still a sense of surprise. Peter slowly sat down next to Prax and touched his shoulder. “Prax, this is a father. Tony would do anything for you. But you have to admit, he doesn’t want to lose you.”

Prax took a deep breath and put his head in his hands. “No. No, I can’t accept it. Taking her liver would mean losing her life. I don’t want to lose her. Her life is more valuable than mine,” he said, his voice trembling.

"But he loves you, Prax. He loves you enough to risk everything for you," Harley said, softening a little, but there was still a hint of pain in her voice.

"He's my father. I don't want to lose him," Prax said, closing her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

Peter took a deep breath and said, "Prax, this may be hard to accept, but Tony wants to save you. He doesn't want to lose his son. He's risking his own life, as well as yours, in making this decision."

Prax finally looked up. “But this… I can’t accept this. I have a chance, but he doesn’t,” he said, rubbing his head with his hands. “For me, I can’t risk another’s life. His health is more important.”

Harley and Peter saw Prax's determination, but they also felt a pang of sadness. They understood Tony's sacrifice, and they realized they were still in the thick of it all. But somehow, the final decision was in Prax's hands.

Taking a deep breath, Prax once again put his head in his hands. “No, I don’t want this. I can’t put her life in danger,” he said, tears streaming down his face, his body slowly shaking with exhaustion.

Peter saw Prax's determination and nodded. "I understand, Prax. But remember, everyone here is here to save you," he said, but there was desperation in his voice.

Prax closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “But I can’t do anything to him. I don’t want to lose him,” he said, repeating himself one last time.

And in that moment, the anxiety, uncertainty, and deep fear in Prax echoed within everyone in the room.

When Prax was alone in his room, his body was still weak, but his mind was active. The uncertainty inside him would not go away. But one thing was certain: he did not want to take Tony's liver. He was Tony's son, but his own life depended on it. He knew how lucky he was and how much his father cared for him, but he did not want to remain in this situation.

A few minutes later, the room door opened slightly. A nurse entered to check, but it closed again before Prax could notice. There was something he really needed to do. He wouldn't accept Tony's proposed liver transplant, but he needed to come up with a plan for it. He decided to start exploring his room, looking around carefully.

Next to the headboard, on the table with the most frequently used items in the hospital room, a tablet caught her attention. This tablet was the device Helen used from time to time during the hours she spent in the room, which contained all the data about the patient's health. A few days ago, Helen had looked at the detailed medical information on that tablet. It contained information about Prax's health, liver failure, and his treatment options.

Prax approached the head of the table where the tablet was located. There were several files and medical supplies on the table. The tablet was carefully placed, like everything in a hospital environment. All eyes examined it carefully, and then he turned on the screen.

The tablet was one of the devices Helen used daily, and Prax knew it contained medical information about patients’ health conditions, as well as data on critical procedures such as liver transplants. He glanced quickly at the tablet’s screen, seeing the many details of his own medical records. There was little information about his condition, because Helen and Tony had told him things would get better. But the tablet’s contents told the truth: Prax’s liver was in bad shape, and a transplant was needed to save his life.

However, as clever and careful as Prax was, he knew that his time was limited. Giving Tony his liver would put him in a difficult position and could cause problems with his other organs, such as his heart. But he planned to use this knowledge to push Helen and Tony even further.

After researching this tablet for a while, Prax decided to bypass the security system and exit the hospital. However, he still needed to come up with a plan to get past the security cameras and guards outside.

His eyes scanned the information on the tablet screen once more. The medical data needed to be manipulated correctly to reject Tony's proposed liver transplant. This would take him a few steps further and perhaps finally make his own decision.

Prax eventually took his tablet, put it back in a corner of the room, and returned to the headboard. But in its place, he not only found information, but also took a critical step towards his freedom. Now, he could more firmly formulate his own escape plan.

During the few minutes Prax spent scrolling through the tablet screen, he had extracted the most critical information from Helen’s medical reports. All he had to do now was to execute his escape plan. He took comfort in the idea that by manipulating information about her health, he could delay her future treatment. But one thing was clear: He had to escape.

After putting his tablet back in its place, he quickly looked around to check if there were any security devices or monitoring cameras. He looked around the room a few times, but there was no one. He had already figured out how to bypass the security system through the software on his tablet, but everything would move quickly from now on.

Prax quickly examined the bed and medical supplies in the room, then put his hand on the door handle of the room. Outside, security guards usually conducted their checks, but he had to use this opportunity. He quietly opened the door of the room and stepped into the dark corridor. He quickly began to walk through the hospital corridors, avoiding the areas monitored by the security cameras. He took each step carefully, walking carefully so as not to encounter anyone in the corridors.

The security guards had a constant patrol system, but Prax had observed their destinations very well. He was someone who knew how to act intelligently and take advantage of the current conditions. He first turned a corner and hid behind the corridor. He waited for the best opportunity to change the camera angle.

After a while, he caught a moment when the security cameras were completely off. He shouldn’t miss this opportunity. Waiting for the security guards to leave, he walked towards the back door of the hospital. Finally, he took his first real step towards the outside. He opened the door slightly and looked outside to check the security and the surroundings. The few cars parked outside were quiet for the night. Prax took advantage of this silence and stepped outside.

In the darkness of the night, he couldn't see anyone around the hospital. He had managed to escape. But escape was only the beginning. His goal was to feel safe first, then he could make a move against Tony and Helen's plans.

Prax scanned the area carefully and began to walk away from the hospital. For him, freedom meant refusing medical treatment and protecting Tony from this deadly decision. The price would be high, but for now, the most important thing was to put this plan into action.

Even as he looked back at the hospital once more, his eyes showed determination. This was not just an escape, but also a fight.

Helen was checking the hospital’s security cameras when she suddenly noticed something strange on the screens. The security system in Prax’s room had suddenly gone offline. She quickly scanned the screens and realized immediately: Prax had escaped.

Helen’s heart began to race. She quickly tapped her tablet and called Tony. Within seconds, Tony’s voice echoed through the phone.

“Tony, Prax has escaped. He hacked the room’s security system and is now leaving the hospital. What do we need to do?” Helen said, her voice anxious and determined.

All the comfort she felt around Tony disappeared in an instant. She quickly put down her phone and walked to the other corner of the room. For her, this was not just an escape, but also a great danger to her son’s life.

“You can’t do this, Prax…” Tony muttered. Then, he looked at Peter for a moment. “Peter, I trust you,” Tony said, in a moment of determination. “You and Harley find him. He could be anywhere, but you have to find him. I’m sure Prax has a plan.”

Peter noticed the determination in Tony’s eyes. No matter how difficult his situation was, Tony’s top priority was his son Prax. Peter nodded, determined to trust him and find Prax.

“Yes, Tony. We’ll find him. We’re taking action now,” Peter said reassuringly.

Helen nodded, taking one last look at Tony. “I’ll double-check the security systems. Maybe I can find a way to track him down,” she said.

Tony paused for a moment, then bowed his head. Knowing his son was missing was a greater burden than anything else. But he would continue to trust him. He knew Prax was in danger, but there was one chance he could fix it. “Come on, hurry up,” he said. “We can’t lose Prax.”

Peter and Harley began to move quickly, following Tony’s instructions. Peter and Harley began to scan the area around the hospital, tracking Prax, while Tony tried to retrace his tracks on the security cameras. They had to find him. Because time was running out.

Harley quickly took out her phone and called Happy. After a few seconds of ringing, Happy's voice was heard.

“Happy, Prax escaped,” Harley said, panic and determination mixed in her voice. “He escaped from the hospital and managed to bypass the security systems. Please, notify the security teams. We have to find him.”

Happy’s voice immediately became harsh. “What? Okay, I’m taking action right away. I’m contacting the security teams, but do you need anything?”

Harley considered the seriousness of the situation for a moment. “Yes, act now. Prax is very smart, but we need to do everything we can to track him down. It would be great if you could help.”

“Sure, I’ll do whatever it takes,” Happy said before hanging up. “I’ll start scanning the area around the hospital with the security team until you get to him.”

Harley hung up and turned to Peter. “I called Happy. He notified the security team. Now we have to track him down, he could be anywhere.”

Peter nodded and said firmly, "Yes, now. We need to find Prax." The two of them quickly headed out of the hospital. Finding Prax was crucial, not only for Tony's safety, but also to saving his life. Their time was limited, and every second was precious.

While Happy was quickly scanning the hospital's surroundings with the security teams, his eyes suddenly caught the back street across from him. Prax was quite weak but there was still determination in his eyes. When Happy saw him, he quickly ran to his car and immediately took out his phone and called Peter and Harley.

"I found Prax! He's in the back alley, but it's serious. Get here now!" Happy said, the urgency and concern clear in his voice.

At that moment, while Happy's hands were in his pockets, Prax suddenly drew his gun. He quickly approached, took Happy's gun from his hand and put it to his head. Happy looked at him in surprise for a moment, but he quickly realized the seriousness of the situation. Prax's eyes showed that this was his final decision.

“I either die or I run,” Prax said coolly, keeping the gun pointed at Happy’s head.

"Prax, there's no need for this. You don't want to kill anyone. We can help, we won't leave you alone," Happy said, slowly raising his hands in the air, trying very hard to keep his voice from shaking.

Prax paused for a moment. He gripped the weapon a little tighter, but the mixture of anger and desperation in his eyes showed that he was undecided about what to do. “Everyone who brought me here, everyone who distrusted me, will one day experience this moment. I either run away now, or I stay here, and it’s all over,” he said, the determination still in his voice.

Happy heard the voice behind him. Peter and Harley were coming fast. They were running out of time, but Happy tried to calm Prax down, saying, “Prax, put the gun down. I won’t let you kill anyone.” “Trust us. Join us. We can survive, but only if you decide.”

Prax held the gun to his head for a few more seconds before taking a deep breath. His inner turmoil paused for a moment as he noticed Harley and Peter approaching.

Happy tried his best to get the gun away from his head, but Prax was still holding on uncertainly. At that moment, Peter and Harley quickly appeared in the alleyway. Both of them realized the seriousness of the situation and took stock of the situation.

Prax held the gun to his head, his eyes filled with indecision and anger. This moment was a major turning point for him. When Peter and Harley saw Prax, they immediately stood there trying to calm him down.

"Prax! Stop!" Peter said, his voice calm but firm. "You don't have to do this. No one wants to kill you. We'll protect you, we won't leave you."

Harley quickly stepped in and said, "Prax, this could end badly. Put down the gun and come with us. You can survive."

Prax lowered the weapon slightly. His eyes still flashed with uncertainty, but he realized now that he held the weapon as an ineffective threat. He took a deep breath and paused for another moment before dropping the weapon in his hands to the ground.

“It’s not that easy,” he said, his voice shaking and a little softer. “I’m not ready to go anywhere, but I also don’t want to stay here.”

Peter and Harley noticed a change in Prax's demeanor. The gun no longer pointed dangerously at his head gave them an opportunity. They quickly approached him, trying to get close to him.

"Come with us," Harley said. "There's no point in staying here. Tony wants you, he won't leave you alone. We can handle this together."

Prax paused for another moment. His eyes were fixed for another moment. “You have not understood this. I have come to the end of everything… but perhaps there is still a way.”

Prax put the gun down and bowed his head slightly, then took a deep breath with uncertainty in his eyes. Despite Harley and Peter's words, he still wasn't convinced. The anger and despair inside him prevented him from controlling his thoughts. He quickly and slowly stepped back, as if he would find a way out.

“Don’t expect me to do that,” Prax said, his voice harsher. “No one can make my decision. I don’t know how you plan to save me, but…”

Harley quickly took out her phone and started calling Tony, without taking her eyes off Prax. The phone rang for a few seconds before Tony's voice finally echoed through the phone.

“Harley, what happened?” Tony’s voice was more concerned than usual, and visibly angry. “Come on, tell me what’s going on?”

“Prax is here, Tony. But… he still won’t accept it,” Harley said, the desperation evident in her voice. “We’ve told him everything, but he’s still determined to run away. We can’t convince him. We need your help.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Tony's determined voice came. "Give him to me. He'll talk to me. There's only one reason Prax is so angry, if he hears me maybe he'll change his mind."

Harley handed the phone to Peter. “Leave Prax with me,” she said. “We need to do this.”

Peter paused for a moment, then nodded, picked up the phone, and spoke urgently but with determination. "Prax, Tony wants you. You need to talk to him. If you don't, life will be harder for all of us."

Prax was still resistant, but the conflict inside him was growing. When he heard Tony's name, he paused for a moment, there was a change in his eyes. However, he was still not willing to take action.

“Tony… what does he want from me?” Prax asked, not a shred of hope in his voice.

"Come on, Prax. Listen to him. Don't let this all end," Peter said, handing the phone to Tony.

Tony took a deep breath, picking up the phone. “Prax,” he said, his voice calm but strong, “listen to me. You don’t have to do this. I’m proud of you, but this isn’t the end for you. We can figure it out together, but going it alone will only make you suffer more. You’re my son, and I don’t want to lose you.”

Prax paused for a moment when he heard Tony’s words. He sensed the sincerity and emotion in his voice. But he was still hesitant. “But… I’ve already lost everything,” he said, a hint of sadness in his voice. “What can I do to change that?”

Tony’s voice grew deeper, softer. “We will do this together, Prax. This is not the end. We just have to start. Be with me, and together we can get through this pain. I just need you.”

Prax remained silent for another moment, the uncertainty and anger slowly melting away as he finally let go of his weapon.

Prax considered Tony's words for a moment, but he was in such a state of confusion that he finally lifted his head and took a few steps when he suddenly lost his balance. His nose began to bleed and his body shook with sudden fatigue. He took a few more steps, but suddenly fell to the ground and passed out.

Peter and Harley rushed to his side. “Prax!” Peter shouted, but Prax didn’t react. Blood was streaming from his nose, running down his face, his eyes closed. The situation was critical.

“We need to get him to the hospital right away,” Harley said worriedly. “We can’t lose Prax.”

They quickly took action and put Prax in the car to take him back to the medical institute. Prax lay unconscious, his body shaking, and the entire hospital staff was alerted. Everything was prepared to get him into urgent treatment.

When they arrived at the hospital, Helen immediately took Prax to the emergency room. While the medical team was treating him, preparations for the transfer were also underway. But in the meantime, Pepper waited anxiously in the corridor. There was still uncertainty about her son's condition, but she had another concern: Should the transfer really be done in this condition?

Pepper approached Helen as she followed the medical bay and asked, "Helen, his condition is very serious. But is this transplant still right? Can a liver transplant really be done that quickly for someone's health?" she said, her voice filled with concern.

Helen thought, squeezing her eyes between her eyebrows. "Pepper, the situation is really critical. However, Prax's liver failure is very advanced. This transplant may be the only option for him to survive, but we must also question whether it is right for Tony to donate his liver."

Pepper took a deep breath and wondered how Tony had agreed to make such a huge sacrifice. "But Tony has heart and blood pressure problems, Helen. If he were to give his liver, his health would be at risk as well. Should Tony really take that risk?"

Helen nodded, understanding Pepper's concern. "Yes, you're right. But sometimes such risks must be taken for the sake of survival. But we must still be very careful in our final decision. Tony's health is as important as Prax's survival."

Pepper paused, her eyes uncertain. "Is it right for him to do this? It's a big risk for him and Prax. I'd rather give it a shot than lose Tony, but it's not an easy decision."

"This is a very difficult decision," Helen said, respecting Pepper's concerns. "But if there is no suitable time for a liver transplant, we can do it later. But we have to start treatment as soon as possible."

Despite the worried looks of Tony, Helen, and Pepper, Tony said with determination in his eyes, "Hurry up, continue with the preparations for the transplant. I am determined, I will donate my liver." The confidence and courage in his voice, although it worried those around him, was indisputable, the way he made this decision.

Pepper was still worried, despite Tony's certainty. "Tony, giving your liver... is it really right? You shouldn't take such a big risk. You don't need to do this much for Prax," she said, her voice shaky.

Tony replied, his eyes softening but his resolve unwavering: "He's my son. If my liver is the only thing that can help him, I'll do anything. If it saves his life, I have no other choice."

Pepper nodded, impressed by Tony's words, but there was still a great deal of conflict inside her. "But you're a very valuable person too, Tony. Think of Morgan. I don't want to leave him alone."

Tony closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “I will always think of Morgan, Pepper. But if I don’t, he will lose something too. Prax’s life should not end so soon.”

Pepper bowed her head silently, tears in her eyes. "I'm still thinking about whether you really need to do this, but I can't stop you," she said, and a tear slipped from her eye and slowly slid down her cheek.

"Then preparations for the procedure will be accelerated. But remember, this is a gamble. For both Prax and you. We must be careful," Helen said, breaking the silence, and immediately contacted the other medical personnel in the room to begin final preparations.

As Tony walked towards the preparation room with determined steps, despite the concerns of those around him, he thought only about one thing: saving his son's life. That was his sole purpose, and he would act accordingly.

The operating room was full of medical staff and equipment. Tony and Prax were in separate beds, ready to be taken into the liver transplant operation. Doctors and nurses were moving around them quickly, doing their best to make sure everything went smoothly. Tony's heart was beating a little heavy, even though he had made up his mind. There was fear inside him, but also his determination to save his son was above all else.

Peter, Harley, and Pepper were waiting outside the operating room, each looking at each other nervously.

Peter turned around, worried. “Are we doing this right? I mean… is it really right for Tony to give his liver? It’s that risky.”

Harley nodded briefly at Peter's question. "That's a big deal, Peter. But Tony's made his decision, and if you know him, he won't back down. Now all we have to do is wait."

Pepper tried to hide the concern in her eyes. "But no matter what, this is too dangerous. Both Tony's and Prax's lives are hanging by a thread. Did he have to do this?" she said, her voice still trembling.

Peter was at a loss for words despite all this uncertainty and fear, and there was a momentary silence in the room. After a while, the sounds coming from the operating room increased the tension even more.

Inside, while the doctors and medical team continued to do everything, an emergency alarm suddenly rang. The heartbeat on the screen suddenly stopped. Everyone tried to understand what had happened at once.

“Prax’s heart has stopped!” a nurse shouted.

In the operating room, while Helen was performing CPR, Prax's consciousness was slowly fading away, and in the unconsciousness that surrounded his body, he did not notice how time passed. But suddenly, from a dark void, he found himself in another world. He was sitting on a bench in a peaceful, green area. There was only silence and the peaceful sounds of nature around him. It was as if the entire universe had stopped here.

After a moment of silence, a silhouette appeared. As he got closer, he realized that it was Tony. Tony stepped towards him and began to speak with a deep sigh.

“Prax…” Tony said, his voice echoing with emotion. “Give me a chance. A chance where we can be father and son together… I really want to be a family with you. Above all else, I will always support you. But will you give me a chance?”

Prax thought silently for a while as he looked at Tony with mixed emotions in his eyes. His heart was still beating with mixed emotions despite the peaceful atmosphere of the dream. The sincerity in Tony's eyes finally made him feel something. Something was starting to stir inside him.

After a moment's pause, he nodded slowly and walked over to Tony, wrapping his arms around him. "Dad..." he said, his voice fragile but with genuine confidence. "I'm giving you a chance."

Tony smiled with happiness in his eyes, and hugged her tightly. This was the moment when their bond became stronger, when his heart started beating again. Tony's heart was now at ease, and hope was born.

And at that moment, the dream ended. Prax suddenly realized on the operating table that his heart was beating again. He had regained consciousness. But that peace, the trust and love that the dream gave him, had come to life in the real world as well.

When Helen heard Prax's heartbeat, she opened her eyes and shouted with joy, "We did it!"

Tony's surgery had been completed successfully and there was no risk to his life. Helen rose from the table after finishing the operation and took a deep breath. There was relief on her face, but she had to turn her attention to Prax immediately.

When the operating room door opened, Pepper walked in, concern still evident on her face. Helen quickly went over to tell her about Tony.

“Tony’s stable,” Helen said, a slightly strained smile on her face. “His liver is doing fine, we got all the parts and the procedure was done successfully. Everything is fine now, but we need to be careful. He should wake up soon.”

Pepper took a deep breath, but she was still uneasy. “Tony’s liver, but Prax… How is he doing?”

Helen turned serious and her eyes followed the procedures in the background. “Prax’s heart stopped,” she said. “During the operation, his heart stopped, and we are currently working to revive him. His condition is very critical. We have restarted his heart and are making every effort to operate, but for now we must be patient for the results.”

Pepper froze at the words. “But what if… we lose Prax?”

"It's too early to tell. For now, we can only wait," said Helen, shaking her head.

Peter and Harley waited impatiently in the waiting room for the medical team to arrive. They were eager to hear about Prax's condition. Peter sat in the corner of the room, his eyes fixed on the door in concern.

Harley stood almost silently, but the tense expression on her face showed how difficult everything was. “We must not lose Prax,” she said, her voice a mixture of anger and fear.

Pepper took her place with the team that would wake Tony, and her eyes were still filled with concern as she carefully guided him into the room. "No matter what, we need to be careful about Tony's health," she said, but Prax was still on her mind.

“Watch Tony, his liver is doing quite well,” Helen tried to reassure the people waiting outside. But her eyes quickly went back to Prax. “They’re still working on Prax. If we can finish the operation, he might be doing better,” she added.

Peter and Harley remained in the waiting room, unwavering in their purpose. They would not move unless there was some kind of outcome for Prax's condition.

Peter and Harley stood silently in the waiting room, both lost in thought, feeling the weight of the moment. But Harley suddenly broke the silence and turned her head toward Peter.

“You know,” Harley said after a moment of thought, “Prax really does look a lot like Tony. Physically, and in the way he moves. His eyes, the shape of his jaw… Maybe it’s all genetics, who knows?” she said, thinking about the similarities between Tony and Prax.

Peter accepted Harley’s words with a brief silence, but after a moment, his voice became a little harsher. “Yeah, I noticed that too. But you know, they’re so similar, it scares me,” he said, lowering his eyes. “I don’t want Prax to be lost. He’s so young… so young in his prime, but I don’t want to lose him. My aunt, my uncle, my mother, my father… I’ve lost so much. Losing them, now… any more loss is too much to bear.”

Harley nodded meaningfully as she listened to Peter's words. She could see the pain in his eyes from the loss he had carried over the years. "I understand, Pete. We've all suffered losses, but Prax… He still has a chance. We can't lose this time," she said, and she put her hands in her pockets and took a deep breath.

Peter shook his head, pushing aside the dark thoughts he was currently in. "Yes, we must not lose. Tony has so much…he must have Prax, he has a chance," he said, with determination in his voice.

They remained silent in that room for a few more minutes, but at one point, looking at each other, they shared the same determination: Losing Prax meant the end of all hope, and neither of them wanted to let that happen.

Tony slowly opened his eyes and looked around the dark room. The pain and tiredness around his head were the effects of the surgery. But something was missing. Something important. As he lay still, his eyes slowly searched for Pepper.

“Pepper… Prax… how?” he asked, his voice hoarse and weak, but still filled with curiosity.

Pepper rushed over as soon as she realized Tony was awake. The look of concern quickly disappeared from her face, but there was still concern in her eyes. "Tony, I'm here to see to your well-being," she said, her voice soft but the fear within her immediately obvious.

“We didn’t lose him, did we?” Tony asked, his voice breaking. “What happened to Prax?”

Pepper hesitated for a moment, a moment of uncertainty clear in her eyes. Then she said quickly, a little evasively, "His surgery is still in progress, Tony. He's still in critical condition," but didn't want to give too much detail. "Just relax, everything's fine," she added.

Tony nodded slightly when he heard Pepper's words, but he knew something was missing. His eyes were starting to get heavy. The tiredness and pain inside him were dragging him back to sleep. After a few seconds, he closed his eyes again, with one last tremor in his voice.

Pepper clasped her hands together and bowed her head as Tony fell back asleep. There was something uneasy inside her, but for now all she had to do was keep Tony relaxed and prevent him from expressing his inner worries.

Outside, Peter and Harley continued to wait anxiously. While everything was still uncertain for Prax, Tony's stabilization gave them some hope.

After Prax was taken to the intensive care unit, he entered to call Helen, Peter, and Harley into the waiting room. His face was calm, the calmness he always displayed as a medical professional, but the weariness and concern in his eyes was immediately apparent. He took a deep breath, then looked seriously at Peter and Harley, speaking in a tone that was calm but clear enough to be heard.

"Prax's condition is still very critical," Helen said. "The first 48 hours in intensive care are crucial for us. Anything can happen during that time. Any complications could mean we lose him." Helen continued, every word carrying meaning and seriousness. "We are doing everything we can to give Prax the best, but... we also have to consider death. It's really sad that such a young man is facing such a difficult situation. You should be prepared for this news too."

When Peter and Harley heard these words, they both fell into a deep silence. Peter's face suddenly turned white, his eyes staring emotionlessly into space. Harley clutched her hands tightly in her pockets, trying to find what to say, but the words seemed to be stuck in her mouth. Dozens of questions were running through their minds, but nothing could comfort them.

Peter finally took a deep, quiet breath and then slowly sat down in a chair. His eyes were moist, but he still tried to remain calm. “This is… so hard to hear,” he said, his voice trembling. “Losing Prax… so young… when he hasn’t even experienced everything yet. We are trying to save his life, but… how do we deal with all this uncertainty?”

Harley took a step back, too, her hands on her knees and her head bowed. “It’s not fair,” she said, almost a whisper. “When Prax is so young… When he has so much in his life, so much loss… Another loss…”

At that moment, they both remained silent for a while longer. Slowly looking at each other, they felt the helplessness and emotional burden they were in. Losing Prax, losing this man who they saw and felt like a family member at such a young age, would be a great blow for them.

Helen, knowing how difficult this news was, simply nodded and turned to leave the room. "You still wait with hope," she said, but even her voice was somewhat tired. "There's still a chance things could turn around."

Peter and Harley felt too overwhelmed to speak out, with these last minute developments. They looked at each other and decided to wait a while longer, but now there was a huge void inside them, with the pain of a lost friend, a family member.

Tony slowly opened his eyes, becoming aware of his surroundings. The effects of the surgery were still on him, his body was tired and his head ached. But something was missing, the emptiness and anxiety inside him were immediately apparent. He quickly searched for Helen's face.

“Helen…” he said, his voice weak but clear. “Prax… Where am I? How?”

When Helen saw that Tony was awake, a momentary look of relief flashed across her eyes, but she quickly calmed down. She slowly approached Tony and waited in silence for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, she said with medical professionalism and the concern of a friend, "Tony, the surgery was a success, but Prax's condition is still very critical. He's in intensive care. Everything is very difficult for him."

When Tony heard Helen's words, his eyes immediately widened. The fear and anxiety inside him became immediately apparent. "What happened to Prax? I want to see him. Now… I want to see him," he said, the determination and urgency in his voice immediately evident.

Helen was saddened and worried to see Tony so determined. But she paused for a moment, shaking her head. “Tony, you’re so new,” she said softly but seriously. “The surgery is still wearing on you. Seeing Prax… it’s too soon for him and too soon for you. I don’t want you to go just yet.”

Tony knew what Helen was saying, but his eyes were filled with desperation. “But Helen, he’s young… He’s my son. Please, I want to see him. Just once… I want to give him a real chance.” The sadness in his voice was a father’s concern.

Helen responded to Tony's words with a deep breath and, slightly closing her eyes, said, "Tony, I understand you. But everything has its time now. You need to recover from the operation. I don't want to hurt Prax or you. You just have to be patient. There's still time for you to see him in good health."

When Tony heard Helen's words, there was rebellion in his eyes, but he finally bowed his head slightly. "I know," he said, but there was still uncertainty in his voice. "But I can't wait. I want to see her alive."

Helen looked at Tony, this time with a soft smile. “Patience… everything must happen in time, Tony,” she said, and then she continued, patting his shoulder. “Your recovery is the priority right now. When Prax’s condition begins to improve, everything will be done to get you to him.”

Tony remained silent for a moment longer, but Helen's words calmed him down a bit. He thanked her with his eyes one last time before he turned back to the room. "Thank you, Helen. I'll do my best to give him a chance," he said, taking a deep breath.

Pepper walked down the hospital corridor, tired but determined, after Tony's condition had stabilized a bit. Although she was concerned about Tony's recovery, she knew that she needed to focus on Morgan now. Morgan had always been the apple of Tony's eye, and right now there was a child he needed more attention from. After what happened to Tony, she felt that Morgan shouldn't be alone either.

When he found Happy, he walked over to her and gently touched her shoulder. "Happy, I need to ask you something," he said, his voice serious but soft. "I need to leave Morgan with you. I want you to take care of him. You know, he needs emotional support too, and I have to take care of everything right now."

Happy nodded and smiled at Pepper, but he also took the matter seriously. “Of course, Pepper. I’ll be there for her, rest assured. It’s my job to protect her,” he said. “And you continue to take care of Tony and Prax. Morgan will be safe here.”

Pepper nodded, trusting what Happy was saying. "Thank you, Happy. It's important that you don't neglect Morgan. He's dealing with a lot right now." There was a glimmer of hope in his face, though his eyes filled with fatigue for a brief moment. "I'm asking you to take care of him."

Happy made a gentle gesture to Pepper. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

All that remained was to wait.