Oblivious

Tony snapped awake. He rolled over and glanced out the window of his room on the Helicarrier. The sun was rising, and it was 7:55, so he got up. He would usually be at his tower, but they were testing it, and disinfecting it, since Pepper had been there. Pepper. It had been 4 days since Pepper had been awake, maybe even longer since she was coherent. He promised himself he would visit her today, and he got dressed in a black suit, and walked to the detention cells.
The girl that he had taken from the sushi shop in Russia was in a cell, sprawled out on the floor. Now that Tony thought about it, it was kind of odd that she spoke Russian with a perfect Russian accent, and spoke English with a perfect English accent. While Tony pondered, the girl, Elisabeth, got up. Fury had told him that when she woke up from the chloroform, she had broke down, crying and screaming.
She saw him, and ran towards him. She smashed into the glass directly in front of him, and he instinctively stepped back. She started crying again, hitting the glass, and screaming. He studied her, and she noticed. She stopped crying, and spit her hair out of her mouth. Her eyes filled with anger and hate, and she screamed again.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had deemed her worthy of being held in the same vicinity as Hulk had, before he could control himself, and Loki. Only because she was working for Hydra, and, because all of the other, normal criminal cells were full.
Tony noticed that Elisabeth had stopped screaming. “So, are you going to stay calm enough to answer some questions for us?”
Elisabeth turned her back on him, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
“You want something to eat?”
No answer.
“I know you haven’t had anything for breakfast.”
She stayed sitting, but she turned around, and looked at him through her red hair.
“You interested?”
She nodded.
“Good. I’ll go get something.” Tony went to the cafeteria, and grabbed some food, fried eggs, and bacon. He took it to the detention cell, and he slid open the glass wall. She kept away from him, stepping away, when he stepped towards her. He just sighed, and placed the food tray on the floor, and then stepped out, shutting and locking it behind him.
Once he was gone, she ran to the food, and crouched on the floor, eating it hurriedly. She looked at him thoughtfully, as if to say thank you. “You’re welcome.”
He left the Helicarrier, and went down to the hospital, sitting with Pepper for the next few hours. He never even noticed how much time had passed, let alone that time was actually moving. Cap came for him later, gently pulling him up, and out of the hospital.

He woke up late the next day, at 9:30, to 5 missed calls from the hospital. Oh. His heart stopped and he dialed their number hurriedly.
“You have reached Oceanview Hospital. How may I help you?”
“Yes, this..this is Tony Stark. I’m calling to inquire after a patient.”
“Are you family?”
“Almost. She’s my girlfriend.”
“Alright then. I will hand you over to Doctor Stratenfield, then.” Tony didn’t really recognize the name, but then dimly remembered that he was Pepper’s doctor.
“Mr. Stark? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. I need you to come here immediately. And, does Ms. Potts have a history of seizures?” That word used in the same sentence with Pepper’s name struck fear in Tony’s heart.
“N-n-no. Why?”
“Ms. Potts’ health is suddenly declining drastically. We need you to be here right away.”
“I’ll be there.” Tony hung up, and got dressed hurriedly. He ran through the Helicarrier, causing raised eyebrows from many agents, and Bruce.
He got to the top, where he continued running, to a helicopter. “Good morning, Stark.” Cap said, but Tony didn’t hear. All he could hear was the alarm blaring through his head. PEPPER PEPPER PEPPER PEPPER PEPPER
He got in the helicopter, and he headed down as fast as he could.
He went to the hospital, and found Pepper in the emergency room, nurses and doctors swarming around her, all speaking in panicked tones. Pepper was paler than ever, and she was thrashing and screaming on the bed, adding to the chaos.
He tried to get in to see her, but a nurse wearing a mask stopped him. “Mr. Stark, you can’t be in here right now.”
“Pepper….” He said, ignoring her.
“Mr. Stark, you have to leave!”
Tony allowed himself to be shoved out of the room, and the door slammed in his face. His sat in the waiting room, and dark spots swirled around the edge of his vision, dizziness overwhelming him. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears. And he sobbed.

Steve could tell something was wrong with Tony that morning, so he followed him to the hospital. His heart broke for Tony when he saw all the nurses and doctors through the window, running back and forth, using loud and panicked voices. He saw a nurse shove Tony out into the hall, and he saw Tony walk dazedly to the waiting room, then Tony broke down.
He rushed to Tony, who was sobbing so hard, he couldn’t even breathe. “Tony..Tony, shhh…It’s okay...It’s going to be okay.”
He succeeded in calming Tony slightly, enough so that he could breathe, but he knew that Tony needed to cry. He had to.
He went to the phone, and called Rhodey. He’d know what to do.
“Hello?”
“Rhodey? It’s Steve.”
“Uh oh…..What happened?” Rhodey said jokingly.
“Pepper’s sick with this weird virus, and she got really bad today. He won’t stop crying, and I think he needs you.” Steve said.
Silence for a moment.
“I’ll be there right away.” Rhodey said, with an urgent tone to his voice.
They hung up, and Steve went back to Tony. “I shouldn’t be overreacting like this,” Tony said, between sobs. “It...it just hurts so much when she is dying, and I can’t do anything...and I just wish I could….I wish I could just make her wake up..” Tony turned away from Pepper’s room when she screamed in pain again.
“I know, Tony, it’s okay..” Steve said.
“No it’s not. If she dies…..I can’t live without her!” Tony sobbed, shoulders shaking.
Cap sat there, hugging Tony, for 30 minutes. Then Rhodey got there. He sat on the coffee table in front of Tony, and forced Tony to look at him.
“Tony.” He said softly. “It’s going to be okay.” Cap took a phone call a few feet away from them, and then came back over.
“Tony. We have to go up to the Helicarrier. Now.” Tony stood up, and turned away from Pepper’s room.
“What’s up?” He wiped the tears away, and stood up straighter.
“You know that virus? Elisabeth is sick with it.”