Second Chances

E I G H T

I slowly regain consciousness to see I'm surrounded by the house, I look around. It's mostly dark, I look down to see a glowing light fading. I squint to see it's actually Stark, he must be caught on something. I quickly shapeshifter into a small Orca. I swim down beside him, I hear him groaning. I change back as I start to speak, hoping him can understand me.

"Stark stop, if you keep it up then your going to start hyperventilating. I need you to calm down, I got you. Just try to keep your breathing controlled."

I get the wire off of his wrist and try to pull the copper from around his neck. I see water starting to slip through the suit. I look around for anything to help. The skin on my hands slowly start to turn blue as it freezes, it breaks just in time. I try to move but we get rubble piled onto us. I feel the rubble starting to crush me, it won't kill me but it'll keep me down here.

"Stark..."

I look at him as my vision blurs, I go to grab his armor but my eyes close completely. Being surrounded by nothing but the cold and darkness.
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I wake up and see that I'm in a hospital room, I look around and it's empty. I pull the tubes off my arms and slowly stand up. I slowly open the door and look around, someone must have found me and brought me here. My vision starts to blur as I lean on the wall. I go to keep moving when I hear a voice.

"Alicia..."

I turn around and see pepper standing there, she rushes over and hugs me. I do the same before stepping back and looking behind her.

"Where is he."

"Alicia, you need to know something."

"I'm serious pepper, is he alright."

"Listen to me...."

"WHERE IS HE."

She looks at me with a shocked expression, I quickly realized what I done. I calm down and look at her, she lightly frowns.

"After you and Tony went into the water, we were worried. After 30 minutes of looking, you were on the pier and he disappeared. We can't find him and we don't know how to trace the suit."

I start to hyperventilate while my knees give out. I was suppose to save him, I couldn't. I put my hands on my head and feel someones arms wrap around me as I cry, I couldn't control it anymore.

"Shhhh..."

I continue to cry as I try to think of anything to help him. I would need to go back to New York, the tower still has his other suit and the data to help track him. After a few minutes of sitting there, I finally calm down enough to stand up. I look at her, I grab her hand and smile.

"I need you to call happy and let him know I'm going to New York. Tell him that I need him to contact my family."

"How will he do that."

"When he goes into my office, their is a blue button underneath your desk. When he clicks it, it will bring up a holographic video of how too."

"Go back to the rubble, you may be able to find something. It could help us and lead you to him."

"I know, I'm going to go back and try to see if I can find anything. I need to find him."

I go to walk away but she grabs my hand. I look back at her, she's smiling at me.

"Tell him how you feel, we all see how you two are. It'll help when you tell each other."

I nod my head and quickly go back to my room. I change into a pair of clothes and grab everything I had. I walk out of the hospital to see my car, I quickly get in as I start to race in and out of the traffic. After driving past the neighbors I see lots of people surrounding the destroyed house. I slowly get out and look around, multiple reporters and civilians are looking around taking pictures and videos. I keep walking until a few people start to surround me, I ignore them and head to the rubble. After moving a couple broken pillars, I see his helmet sitting on the ground, a large cut through the middle of it. I pick it up, I run my hand down the opening.

"I'll find you."

I close my eyes and focus, I hear a small beeping noise. I quickly open my eyes and look into it, I see a small red flash. I put the helmet on and look around, I see a bunch of data and then hear his voice.

"Hey Princess, it's me."

I start to slowly cry as I listen to him.

"I've got a lot of apologies to make and not a lot of time. So first off, I'm so sorry I put you in harm's way. That was selfish and stupid and it won't happen again."

I try to control my breathing as he continues to talk about his apology.

"Also, it's Christmas time, the rabbit's too big. Done. Sorry. And I'm sorry in advance because...I can't come home yet."

I look to the side, I see a small stamp. It's the New York tower.

"I need to find this guy. You and pepper gotta stay safe. That's all I know. I just stole a poncho from a wooden Indian."

I can't help but laugh, I listen to the ending of the message.

"I know that we haven't really talked since you've woken up. I'm sorry that I drove you away, I should have fought for you. I should have made you stay, I can only hope you feel the same as I do."

The helmet comes off, I wipe my tears and try to calm down. I see Maya standing there, she seems just as worried.