A chorus of raised voices slowly roused Pepper from her deep sleep. Blinking her eyes open, she sat up and looked across the room, where Rhodey and several medical personnel where arguing.

"I don't understand," Rhodey scoffed. "How can you lose a grown man who has been under watch all night?" he stressed the words 'under watch,' punctuating his annoyance by placing his hands on his hips.

"He must've slipped out during a shift change," one of the doctors was saying, pointing exasperated towards the exit. "We're not superhuman, you know."

Pepper stifled a laugh at the irony, however, Rhodey did not find the remark funny. Drawing a deep breath, he pulled himself up to his full height and looked angrily down at the doctor.

"I suggest you find Mr. Stark," he narrowed his dark eyes, "Now."

The group quickly scurried out, calling out "Mr. Stark?" as they split up in the hall. Rhodey turned and sighed, glancing over at the grinning Pepper.

"What are you smiling about? This isn't funny, Pep." Despite his stern tone, a small smile began perking his lips up. Shaking his head, he shuffled to her bedside and offered an amused laugh. "Ah, that man will be the d-" he cut himself short and gave an apologetic look to the redhead. "Sorry. If I've learned one thing from Tony, it's how to put my foot in it."

Pepper patted his arm. "Don't worry."

Nodding, he pulled a chair over and nearly threw himself in it. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, and offered a weak smile. "How ya feeling? Any better?"

"Much," she replied. "I might need to have the staff supply me with a lifelong supply of this pain medication they're giving me," she joked, pulling at the IV line in her arm.

"Yeah, that stuff is pretty good." Rhodey rolled his eyes, and leaned back further in his seat.

Allowing him the moment to relax, she suddenly thought to ask, "What was that about?" To his raised eyebrow, she continued with, "Just now. I take it Tony has decided to roam off?"

"With a skull fracture, no less. For a genius, Tony is pretty dumb." They shared a soft laugh over their mutual friend, before Rhodey turned somber. "I really do wish he'd just be a good patient and follow the rules though. He gives me such a headache, I'm seriously considering checking myself in here too."

"My ears are burning," a voice called out, before Tony appeared in the doorway. He was pale, and swaying slightly, but his trademark smirk was firmly in place. "You two talking about me again?"

Before either could respond, an out of breath orderly barged in and placed his hands on his knees. "Mr. Stark! There you are!"

Tony looked around, before glancing back. "Uh, yeah. Here I am." He studied the panting man with an amused expression. "Don't tell me you're all out of breath for me!"

Glaring, the orderly grabbed the older man's elbow and led him to his bed. "No more running off, Mr. Stark."

Perplexed, Tony looked over at the half-amused, half-annoyed couple on the other side of the room before back at the other man. Squinting as he looked at the name tag, Tony replied, "Tim, is it? Well Timmy, I'll have you know that I did not 'run off.' I walked at a leisurely pace."

Pepper groaned, and covered her face with her hands. She still couldn't help a smile.

Rhodey stood up and shook his head. "Tony, Tony, enough. Thanks, Tim." He waited till the younger man nodded reluctantly, and left. As soon as Tim was out of sight, he whirled around and growled, "What were you thinking?"

"That I could use some fresh air, and a good stretch of my legs. Why? Were you worried or something?" Tony glanced over at Pepper as his friend began a tirade of what he should and shouldn't being doing in a hospital. With a small wave and a mouthed, "Hi," he proceeded to struggle with a serious face as he nodded at everything Rhodey said.

Pepper's smile widened as she watched Tony pretend to be serious, his brown eyes twinkling in the fluorescent lights. When Rhodey demanded, "Do you understand?" Tony gave a firm nod, and mock salute, which made her giggle behind her hand. Rhodey glared at her, before turning back to his smirking friend. Throwing his hands up in the air, he shook his head and muttered something about needing a drink.

"Grab me one too, will ya?" Tony called out at his friend's retreating back. When Rhodey left, he turned to face his red-headed assistant. "Pepper," he drawled.

"Mr. Stark," she quipped, placing her hands in her lap primly.

"Tony," he corrected. Quirking a brow, he added, "I thought we went over that?"

"We did, I just prefer to remain professional." It was a lie, for years it had been, but she couldn't help herself. It was easy, this flirtatious bantering back and forth. Until he screwed it up.

"I'm glad you're okay," he claimed. It was odd, coming from his lips, while his eyes became hooded and dark. But he said it so quietly, so quickly, that Pepper wasn't sure she heard it. But she did, and that was another thing she couldn't do. Couldn't deny that Tony cared for her somewhat.

Braving herself, in case she had misheard him, she responded, "I'm glad you're okay too...Tony."

She really wished he would say something, anything. Instead he sat, rubbing his temple with a curious expression on his face. Feeling uncomfortable, and with nothing to occupy her attention, she sat motionless and waited.

"Well, Pep," he faltered uncharacteristically. Rubbing the back of his bandaged head, he grimaced.

"Wow," she decided to try for levity, "Tony Stark at a loss for words? That's a first."

He laughed. "Don't get used to it."

"Why not? You don't think I can render you speechless ever again?" she meant it as a joke, but his eyes twinkled with mischief. Thinking of several things, many illegal in several countries, no doubt.

A doctor chose that moment to enter and check up on Tony. Feeling his forehead, he frowned and decided to take a temperature. Tony and Pepper never broke their steady gaze.

"Mr. Stark, how are you feeling?" the doctor asked, concerned.

"Peachy, Doc. Why?" as he spoke, Tony didn't look away.

"You're running a pretty high fever, which could mean an infection. And if we don't lower the temperature, you could begin convulsing."

"Is he alright?" Pepper asked, worry in her voice.

"He will be if I can get his temperature, and find the source of the infec-aha!" he pulled the blankets down further and tenderly touched each of Tony's legs. "These lacerations on your legs are red and puffy. We can take care of these easy," he sighed with relief. "Some antibiotics, and you should be fine." He absently patted his legs, wincing when Tony flinched. "Sorry."

"Yahuh," Tony remarked offhandedly. Closing his eyes, and effectively ending his gazing session with Pepper, he placed his head back onto the pillow and yawned. "I'm wiped, Doc. Care to give us some privacy?"

"No problem, Mr. Stark. Those antibiotics should kick right in."

Pepper sighed too, with relief. That man could make her feel so many emotions.

"Worried, Pepper?" he called out tiredly.

"For Iron Man? Always," she joked.

There was a long pause before he asked, "How about Tony?"

She stumbled over several different words that didn't get past her mouth, before nodding. "Forever."

The End.