Chapter 14
When The Team arrived in San Francisco, Tony was immediately wheeled to Helen, who later decided to place him under strong sedative so he could regain his strength in peace.
That was 2 days ago.
Fury also returned, congratulating them.
The mission was 100% successful. Hydra is no more.
It felt great, but nobody found it in themselves to feel any type of joy or desire to celebrate their victory.
They were all gathered in Tony’s room where he was quietly sleeping inside his own bed, hooked up to the IV.
His injuries completely healed on their flight to San Francisco, but even now… Tony is still very pale.
Helen decided that it would be safe to remove the drugs from Tony and wake him up.
So they did.
They removed the IV and in less then half a hour… Tony Stark woke up.
They all tried to ask him how he felt, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t even say a word, he just kept staring at the ceiling and his eyes kept glowing electric blue.
Nobody knew what was happening with him so Helen suggested that maybe he is just overwhelmed.
So they all left, leaving only Rhodey and Friday inside with him.
Rhodey kneeled down next to Tony’s bed.
He found it difficult to look at Tony but also couldn’t look away. Ever since they met in MIT, Rhodey was overprotective of Tony.
He hated when something bad happened to Tony.
Tony already lived through so much and life just keeps throwing more and more at him.
It isn’t fair…
Friday stayed closer to the doors.
She, like Rhodey, hated seeing him like this.
She would lie if she said that she didn’t enjoy killing that bitch Viper for this…
She is still blaming herself, for not following after him when he went to that destroy convoy, to look for survivors…
She watches as Rhodey tries to make Tony respond to anything but to na avail.
Rhodey eventually stood up and gave her sad little smile, before he left the room, leaving them alone.
Friday hesitantly made her way toward him.
She took his pale hand into her own, hoping for any sort of reaction, but received nothing.
She stayed with him like that for hours, every single person present in their house came to check up on them at least twice. Even Fury.
It was slowly going dark when Friday finally broke down and started to cry.
“Boss…. Dad. I’m so sorry… Please just… say something…” She begged, lowering her head towards his arm.
Then she felt a hand, gently patting her on the head. She looked up and saw Tony, finally looking up at her.
He gave her sad smile and wiped away her tears with his thumb. That did it and she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
Tony returned her hug and silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Baby Girl”
Friday cried for some more and eventually fell asleep, snuggled into his side.
Tony didn’t mind.
Her presence helped him keep calm. He would sleep if he was alone, but in the end… it didn’t keep the nightmares away.
On the next day, Tony managed to not wake Friday up after his nightmares and quietly went downstairs.
That was apparently a mistake, since Friday didn’t inform anyone that he was…
Well… walking, talking and reacting again.
Tony was denied Coffee from Helen “Doctors Orders” and was given a tea instead.
He knew that Carol was there, he remembers waking up in her arms and then passing out.
What he didn’t know was that his cousin Hope Van Dyne and former teammate Clint Barton were also here.
Barton immediately started to apologizing for everything that happened during “Civil War” and Tony just nodded. Accepting his apology.
Hope then talked, she also apologized for Bangs or Langs or whatever his name wad… for his involvement in “Civil War”
Tony didn’t really care.
He was glad that “Nadi” was there and so he quickly hugged her and went back upstairs, so Friday wouldn’t freak out when she didn’t find him there.
That was the main reason he went, but also because he was feeling overwhelmed.
He knows that the questions about what happened will come eventually, but he will like to avoid them for as long as possible.
He had a great plan.
Stay inside of his room and avoid everyone present. That way… you will avoid talking.
That plan went to hell the moment people, for some started gathering inside of his room.
Dammit…
It didn’t take long for them to finally ask the questions.
So Tony answered.
Hydra wanted a new Winter Solider and Tony himself was supposed to be it.
He didn’t tell them all the details…
He didn’t tell them how they water boarded him. Or how they cut him open, only for him to heal so they could do it again.
He didn’t tell them about how they finally broke him and he gave up.
And he never will…