The Iron Woman

Monsters Arent Born They're Created

I laid there waiting for EMS. Ned looked at me with worry in his eyes.

"I'll be alright Ned." He nods.

My eyes began to get heavy. I'd lost a lot of blood so I began to feel light-headed. I heard sirens coming and tried to stay awake. It was no use. I fell unconscious once again.

(Timeskip)
I woke up in a hospital room. I sat up and saw that Peter was asleep next to me. Before I got the chance to further observe my phone rang. It was from Darren. I answered.

"Maya?" He asked.

"Darren listen to me. What the hell is going on with you?!"

"Maya listen, you need to run. You need to take your family and run."

"What?"

"My father."

"I thought you said he was in prison."

"He is, but he won't be for long."

Then something in my head clicked. It all made sense now. The break-in, the business offer, the high security, the sketchy looking arc reactor, when the guard mentioned 'Mr. Hammer'. All of the puzzle pieces finally fit together perfectly.

"You're name isn't Darren Klark... it's Darren Hammer. Justin Hammer is your father."

"You have to go Maya."

"I'm not scared of him."

"But you should be. He's not like he was all those years ago. He's insane. Prison turned him into a monster. He will stop at nothing to destroy you."

"Why? Why me?"

"He's angry. Tony sent him to prison."

"Tony is dead! What does that have to do with me?"

"He figures if he can't get to Tony, he'll kill you instead."

Anger and fear boiled in my blood.

"Damn it!"

"I'm so sorry."

"No! You don't get to say sorry! I trusted you! I trusted you in my own home!"

He sighed.

"How long do I have?"

"He has a team, they're supposed to break him out. It's set for 3:00 today."

I looked up at the clock. 10:45.

"Alright. Let me ask you something."

"If this has been the plan all along, if you were in on it, why are you helping me?"

"Because I care about you Maya. I really do. You're a good person. You don't deserve this."

I sighed. "Neither do you."

"See you on the other side."

"See you on the other side."

I hung up and stood up. My feet burned and throbbed. I walked over to a drawer and fished around for a small bottle of lidocaine. I grabbed a needle and took off the cap. I drew a small amount of lidocaine, and stuck the needle in my foot. I winced in pain. After doing the same to the other foot, I took the IV out of my arm. I covered it in a bandage. I quickly changed my clothes. Peter woke up and yawned.

"Maya what are you doing?"

"I have to go."

"Are you insane?"

"A little bit."

"What is wrong with you?"

"A lot of things."

"Maya tell me what it is you need an I'll get it but you can't leave here."

"I need you to take Mom and Morgan and get them to safety."

"From what?"

"You don't want to know."

"If I didn't want to know I wouldn't have asked."

"Peter look at me."

He did. "In the ten years we've been together I have not asked you for a any favors, but now I'm asking you to go somewhere that's not here. Can you do that?"

He nodded.

"Good." I walked over and kissed him. He kissed back. May came in. Neither of us saw her.

"Maya! What are you doing out of bed?! You shouldn't be standing!"

I turned around a bit startled.

"Oh hey... May."

"Maya please don't tell me you're going to do something stupid."

"I'm not going to do something stupid."

"Stop being a smart ass."

"Can't do that sorry."

She rolled her eyes.

"In my defense it's hereditary."

"Oh really?"

"Umm.. have you met my dad?"

"Maya please."

"Look, saving people is more important than sitting in here on my ass watching Downton Abbey."

"Then promise me you'll come back."

"May you know I can't promise you that. Death is inevitable."

"And so are you. Promise me."

I just hugged her. "Goodbye May."

She hugged back tearing up. "Damn you, Maya."

Peter came over. I hugged him tightly.

"It seems like we're always saying goodbye." He said.

"But all those goodbyes are worth every hello."

"I love you, Maya."

"I love you too Spider-Boy."

I walked out of the room. Then down the hall to the stairwell. I went up to the roof. I held my arm out for a moment. I waited. I looked at my watch. 11:15.

"Damn it."

I held my arm out a little longer. After another sixty seconds, the gauntlet piece of my suit flew into the place, followed by the rest of the suit. I heard a sneeze and turned around. There was the war machine suit, but it wasn't Rhodey who donned the suit.

"Andy?"

"Damn, it took you that long to see me?"

"Yeah, I'm kinda busy right now."

"Well, allow me to help."

"No, I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm a big tough guy, I can peel my own oranges and everything."

I laughed. "Whatever, but if you die I have 'I told you so' rights."

He laughed. "Deal."

I smiled and powered up my suit.

"Friday."

"Yes, Ms.Stark?"

"Set course for the Metropolitan Correctional Center."

"Yes, Ms. Stark."