Say it Back - [ironstrange]

5: An unfortunate penalty point

April 19th

"Did you ever see the perpetrator?" asked one of the nurses that brought Tony in. She was also the one that told him Tony was now in surgery.

Stephen shook his head. "No. I just heard Tony yell and found him like that."

"You said it could've been a burglary?" This time he slowly nodded. It was obviously a lie since it seemed like the person who attacked Tony came from inside the hidden sanctum. He hadn't even thought about the fact that Tony would now ask him what that hidden room was. Would he have to be honest, or would he have to lie? Tony did deserve to hear the truth.

"You should call the police to your home, Mr. Strange," said the nurse.

"I can't leave my friend. Not now."

"Very well. I'll come find you when Mr. Stark can be visited."

"Thank you." Stephen's tone was gloomy and he plopped down on one of the rock hard IKEA armchairs, wondering if he should somehow contact Tony's friends. He also remembered the nurse telling him to call Tony's parents if he had the ability. That's what he did next. Tony's parents were out of town but they had to know.

Stephen felt more comfortable talking to Maria, so that's who he called. Only a few signals sounded before she picked up the phone. Her voice was light but he could still hear the worry in it.

"Stephen, hi," she greeted.

"Hi, Maria," he answered solemnly.

"Is everything okay?" she asked worriedly.

"There was a burglary at my place... the burglar stabbed Tony and he's in surgery right now."

"Oh my goodness..." the shock was apparent, soon the tone switched. "Is he okay? Is my son okay?" Now she was panicked. Understandable.

"I don't know... I think so."

"And are you okay?"

"Yes. I was upstairs while it happened." Saying this made Stephen feel guilty. He was in the house, he lived in the house and someone who had nothing to do with magic or with the sanctum had to fall victim to a nearly fatal stabbing. Tears got harder and harder to conceal. If he were to reveal that to Maria then she would freak even worse. He heard how Tony's mother started talking to his father Howard, he heard words such as "in surgery", "go back" and "he's your son" and sounded all the more furious at her husband.

"Thank you so much for telling me, Stephen."

"Of course, Maria... I'll stay with him 'til he wakes up."

She thanked him once more before they hung up and Stephen immediately put his hands together and pressed his indexes to his lips. He sat like that, staring at his own feet for god knows how long before anyone spoke to him again.

Not the same nurse but still a nurse.

She said Tony was stable and that he'd survived the surgery, paired with the information that nothing vital was hit. She also informed him that Tony wouldn't be able to partake in any activities such as sports for about two weeks.

"You may wait until Mr. Stark wakes up or you can return tomorrow," she said lastly.

"I'll wait here," Stephen replied sternly, not even considering going back home and leaving Tony alone in a hospital.

"Very well. I'll find you when he wakes." She smiled at him and he weakly smiled back before she left and he slouched in his seat again and closed his eyes as quickly as he could. He was tired. He'd been there for nearly five hours. But he wouldn't get to fall asleep until his phone buzzed in his pocket.