READY AIM FIRE *A Captain America Fanfic*

Chapter 30: I Love You Daddy

(Addison's P.O.V.)

There's a tranquility in my body, but also an aching pain. As if the tornado had passed but it still did the damage. Pain throbs all over my body, mainly my head. My throat is sore as well. I hear a distant sound, almost a beeping sound. I've heard it somewhere. My eyes flutter open lazily, the room is blurry at first as I blink. Then I realize where I am. I'm in the hospital. I wait for the quaking in my veins to start, for the scream to form, but they never do. I turn my head over to see a sleeping Tony. He looks so at peace. I call out his name but nothing comes out, only a groan.
Pepper suddenly walks in with a nurse, their eyes going wide. I smile weakly at them, looking at Tony. Pepper hurriedly walk over and shakes him awake, which he is immediately awake. He looks up at Pepper in confusion, eyes wide. The billionaire playboy turns to me. A sad smile appears on his tan face.
Tony stands up and leans over me, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. The nurse walks over and refills one of those bags of clear liquid.
"Hi, sweetheart." Tony's voice is shaky, uneven.
I try to talk but the nurse puts her hand on my shoulder.
"Rest your voice, deary." the woman has a British accent "You strained your throat real bad. Ain't seen anything like it."
I look into Tony's brown eyes, trying to read them. What did happened? The last thing I remember was Tony's voice before I blacked out. I try to ask Tony through facial expression but he and Pepper have turned their attention to the doctor who had walked in.
"She'll be able to talk in a few days, but she needs plenty of water and rest. She'll need to stay on a liquid diet for a few days as well, just to be safe." The Doctor warns, "But I'm glad to see you're alright kid."
The Doctor pats my foot gently, comfortingly. He looks back Pepper and Tony.
"Can anyone see her? The team is anxious to see her." When Pepper looks at me, I know she really means Steve. "They've been standing by everyday."
Tony adds. "She's become an important part in not just in my life, but theirs too."
"Well, I'm afraid that I have to advise against that." The Doctor says sadly, looking at me. "Maybe she can when she goes home in another week."
I look at Tony and Pepper questionably. Another week? I've been here a week? Damn it, if I could only talk I would never shut up. The nurse walks over to me, a pencil and notepad in her hands. Wow. Is this place heaven, where the angels read minds?
"I know it can be a struggle to tell people what you need to say when you're in a situation like this." She smiles at me, her teeth are crooked and stained. "So here you do sweetheart."
I immediately start writing down every question that pops into my mind. How long have I been in here? What happened? Do I still have my powers? Do I have more? Is everyone else okay? What about Stark Tower? The last time I saw it, I had partly destroyed the biggest part of it. Am I going to get put into solitary confinement after I get out? That scares me more than any other question on the notepad, so I don't write it down.
The doctor leaves with the nurse. Pepper lightly touches Tony's back, nodding to him. She kisses his forehead and looks at me with a sad smile.
"I'm going to go make some calls." Pepper nods her head to me, "I'll bring Tony back some pudding."
Pepper walks out of the room, leaving me and Tony alone. He looks at me, his eyes diverting down to the notepad with my questions on it.
"Whatcha got there? Another getaway plan you don't want to tell me about?" He says lightly, smiling. But I know there's pain behind his words.
Tony grabs the chair and pulls it up to the bed, I hand him the notepad. He reads what's on the paper. I look up at the ceiling, waiting for him to answer.
"You've been in the hospital here in Britain. It's the closest place we could get." Tony doesn't look at me, "The Avengers? The team's fine. Just worried about you like us. I've already started rebuilding Stark Tower. Trust me, I'll have your room ready in the matter of days. Purple walls and butterflies."
I point to the question about my powers.
"I don't know." Tony says in a small voice, "They said that during surgery, they had to drug you since you kept sonic screaming and vibrat-Could you do that this entire time?!"
Smiling, shaking my head no. I had surgery? I must have been in bad shape then. I point to the question he's avoided. Which I know won't be easy to explain or hear. Steve appears in my thoughts. How is he dealing with all of this?
Tony stands up, as if he were going to leave but he stops at the door. Gripping the door. "Addison, I know we basically just met. I know I've been a terrible father to you and a shitty person since the first moment I said anything to you. But I want you to know that I've never been more proud in my life. I finally have a family. A real family. When I thought you were dea-" he stops himself, turning to look at me with tears in his eyes. "I knew all of this was payback for all I've ever done to people. I should have been there for you and your mom. I should have been there when she died, but I wasn't. But I can sure you, sweetheart, I am, here for you now."
I grab the notepad form Tony's hands, tearing up at his little speech. His heartfelt speech. I write down the very words I never thought I would ever say to this man. This genius, billionaire, and a playboy philanthropist that I now truly consider my father. I show Tony what I wrote, my heart swelling as his eyes scan the 4 words on the notepad. I watch him as tears fall down his face as he reads the words over and over. Can you guess what I said? Maybe you'll figure it out, maybe you won't.