The Shadow (Book 1)

Chapter 15

Press Conference

Scarlet groaned pain, shot through her system, she cried out. Within seconds someone was by her side; a man dressed in camouflage gear knelt down beside her, his hand moving to her leg.

''You were shot, doctor. Just let me check the wound,'' Scarlet nodded, squeezing her eyes shut, feeling a jolt of pain with every touch of her leg. She tried to focus on thinking about something else, but all she could think of was that she had no idea when she'd shot.

Everything had been such a blur; it always was when The Shadow took over. However, she had never been in as much pain as she was at that moment, ''I've just got to stop the bleeding ok,'' Scarlet didn't respond this time. Instead, she bit her tongue, feeling the pressure build in her leg as he wrapped it up.

''Tony, where's Tony?'' Scarlet managed to speak once the wound was, wrapped she sat up to take in her surroundings. They'd been picked up in a helicopter; that was the first thing she remembered seeing after waking up in the middle of the desert next to Tony. Now, however, she was sat inside more of a jet than a plane.

''Right here, Scar?'' He nudged her shoulder, craning his neck to get a look at her eyes.

''Their blue Tony's it's me,'' Scarlet mumbled, turning her head to look at him, ''I didn't want you to find out the way you did about her, but I couldn't stop her I...''

''It's ok, I get it. You're a real-life Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Pretty damn awesome if you ask me,'' she stared at him in disbelief, the grin never leaving his face.

''You really are one of a kind, Stark,'' a laugh bubbled up inside her, and before long, the pair found themselves in hysterics. Whether it was a mixture of relief, pain killers or just pure insanity. Nobody knew, but they were happy.

⫸⫸⫸

Pepper and Happy stood waiting at the end of the runway. Scarlet spotted them as soon as the back of the jet opened up. With help from Rhodes, Tony was on his feet, arm in a sling, hobbling down the ramp towards Pepper and Happy. Scarlet wasn't far behind but constrained to a wheelchair because of her leg, taking a little longer to reach them.

''Your eyes are red, A few tears for your long-lost boss?'' Tony asked Pepper. Scarlet looked up from the wheelchair to see Peppers eyes were indeed red, her cheeks still stained with a few stray tears too.

''Tears of joy, I hate job hunting,'' she replied, a smile falling across her face, ''Oh Scarlet,'' Pepper knelt down, laying a comforting hand on Scarlet's knee.

''I'm fine, it'll be ok,'' Scarlet whispered, placing her own hand on top of her friends, ''we're safe now it's over,'' she added. Pepper nodded, removing her hand to stand, grabbing the back of the wheelchair.

''Let's get out of here, shall we,'' Pepper directed the comment towards all three of them.

Happy nodded helping, Tony into the car first. Scarlet's entrance into the car was far from graceful. Pepper had attempted to lift the doctor but unfortunately struggled. Scarlet reassured that it was the muscle that caused her to be heavier than Pepper had expected. It was down to Happy in the end to lift her, placing her gently in the car. Tony shuffled into the middle to allow Pepper to sit on his right side, Scarlet on his left.

''Where to, sir?'' Happy asked as soon as he was situated in the front behind the wheel.

''Take us to the hospital, please, Happy,'' Pepper replied instantly, without giving Tony so much as a chance to let out of breath.

"No,'' To Peppers baffled expression, Scarlet and Tony shouted out at the same time.

''No? Tony, Scar, you have to. I mean, look at your leg,'' Pepper gestured towards the brunette's leg, that was wrapped in nothing more than a bandage to stop the bleeding."You are both going to the hospital," she pointed a finger between the pair, who continued to disagree shaking their heads.