Panic
Tony woke up with chills still coursing through him, and he found that he was handcuffed to the bed. How was he in a bed? Where was he? Tony tried to sit up, but pian blistered through his abdomen, he flopped back uselessly gasping a little. He used his free hand to peel back the blankets and peek under his shirt. There was a fresh bandage wrapped around his abdomen where the debris had sliced him. Tony put his shirt back down, and pulled the blankets back over him. He decided he would attempt his escape later, maybe once his side was healed better. The door to the room creaked open, Tony looked over, a tall man dressed in what looked like some kind of police uniform walked into the room. Tony forced himself to sit up a little.
“Oh you're awake. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to wake up,” The man said, not exactly sounding friendly. If anything he sounded threatening, this made Tony nervous. He twisted his hand around in the handcuff in some fruitless attempt to get his wrist out.
“Where am I?” Tony said shifting himself into a slightly more defensive position.
“I am asking the questions here. You have been asleep for the past three days, it's my turn,” The man said pulling up a chair. Tony wasn’t sure if he had heard him right, time was wasting away. He needed to be home right now.
“Three days?! I have to get home!” Tony could hear the panic in his own voice.
“Let’s talk about that. Where is your home? Is it in America?”
Tony was not about to disclose that information, he didn’t know who this guy was, and anything he told him could potentially put Pepper and their unborn child in danger.
“I am not answering that.”
The man skowled angrily, and folded his arms.
“You’d be best off to answer the question.”
Tony wondered at what point this situation would lead to torture. Surely the people who saved him, and patched him up wouldn’t resort to that to get information out of him.
“I am not going to start torturing you, but what i will do is toss you in prison,” The man continued, “and you look an whole lot like my good friend Sherlock Holmes, and there are a lot people in prison who don’t like him, so i’d wager you won’t make it long. Especially given your poor condition.”
Did he seriously just say Sherlock Holmes? It was then that things started to maybe make sense, all of it: the candle lit room, the fireplace heating the room, and the way this guy was dressed. That son of a bitch sent him back in time, he was almost sure of it. Tony closed his eyes and put his one free hand over his face.
“What year is it?” Tony asked, he dreaded the answer.
“How hard did Holmes hit you?” The man asked sounding slightly surprised and also sneering.
“Please just answer the question.”
“1893.”
Tony’s heart skipped a beat, somehow even though he had suspected it, it still didn’t prepare him.
“What!?” Tony choked. He felt panic looming over him like a dark wave getting ready to engulf him. His heart was pounding in his chest, blood rushed past his head He had to get back home! Pepper needed him.
“What is so hard to understand about that?” the man asked, he sounded more concerned now than anything else. Tony tried to reply, but he could barely breathe nonetheless focus on talking.
“Uh… I um… can’t….”He gasped, trying to talk anyway. Cold beads of sweat ran down his face, he suddenly felt very clammy. He had to get up and move. He had to get out of here. Tony tried to get out of the bed, but the handcuff stopped him. He looked at it confusedly, and then yanked at it. It hurt his wrist. He felt like he was suffocating. The only thing he could hear was the sound of his heart pounding in his chest. A hand rested gently on his shoulder and made him flinch. He turned and was face to face with a different man.
“Hey, you're okay,” A voice reassured him calmly, “This will pass, you’ll get through it. Here just focus on my voice.”
Tony found the calmness in the man's voice reassuring.
“That’s right, breath.”
The man gently made Tony lay back down.
“Your safe.”
Tony focused on breathing, and managed to get control of himself.
“See, your fine. I am John. Do you want tell me your name,” The man said quietly.
“Uh… yeah… I um…”
“Hey it's fine. Take your time. Collect yourself.”
Tony took a deep breath.
“Tony Stark,” He managed to say it without his voice cracking.
“Nice to meet you,” John said “Now I would like to ask you some questions, but if you think it’ll make you freak out again, i will wait. I am a doctor. I only have your best interest in mind here.”
“I’m good.”