Chapter 22

« Dane?! » Pepper cried out in anguish as she kneeled down in front of his small body.

"Jarvis, what the hell happened here?" Tony yelled impatiently at Jarvis as he leaned around Pepper and began check Dane's vital signs.

Jarvis started to explain the cause of Dane's current condition, his usual proper British voice quietly responding in a very factual manner "Mister Potts woke up and wanted to speak with his mother. I tried to ask your permission to allow Master Potts into the workshop but you muted me…"

Pepper quickly looked at Tony her blue eyes reflected the horror in her sudden, understanding of what the exact circumstances of the accident were as she felt the guilt slowly build inside of her

"… He started to walk in the hallway and asked me for directions to the workshop…" The AI continued.

All of a sudden Tony cut off Jarvis "OK, J, stop now! Please run a scan and give me medical report quickly!", "I don't want to move him, not knowing if it is safe or not." He added not only for Pepper but also for himself, his concern growing quickly. He looked over at her as the tears started to fall down onto Pepper's cheeks.

After few seconds of silence, Jarvis reported "It seems that Mister Potts has suffered a broken humerus in the right arm. Surgical intervention appears to be mandatory to correct this condition. Master Potts also appears to have suffered a right collar bone fracture along with some bruising all over his body. It is also highly probable that Master Potts suffers from a concussion, but more detailed scanning is needed in order to be certain."

Pepper slowly caressed the right arm of Dane who still lay unconscious on the steps. "Can we move him without further injuring him?" she asked tears in her voice, her gaze still locked on her son's still form.

"Calling EMS without moving him seems wiser, Miss Potts." Jarvis answered quickly.

"Not happening. We can't call anyone J," Tony said flatly "What can…"

Pepper cut him off quickly as anger started to flood her body, flashing dangerously in her eyes "Are you crazy? We are talking about his health here, Tony! He is still unconscious and I don't want to take any risks on further injuring him!" she said raising her voice at him.

"Pepper, calm down please/" Tony said as he tried to reach out and touch her arm.

She quickly slapped his hand away from her. "Calm down? Really? We are talking about my son here and it is your fault if we are in this situation now."

"My fault?" Tony repeated in disbelief, "Aren't you being a little unfair now because after all we were both ignoring Jarvis when we were down in the workshop you know." he defended "And I have to remind you that he is my son too so I am also very concerned about hurting him more than he already is!" he finished in a huff.

Pepper was taken a bit aback at the wording of his last sentence. She didn't expect him to claim his paternity like that and under such circumstances. She stayed quiet as Tony talked again to Jarvis "J, please tell me what to do to move him safely to a better location, either in the living room or the workshop." He said as he turned his gaze back to Dane who had started to move.

"Sweetheart? Can you hear me?" Pepper said as soon as she noticed Dane moving. Dane moaned slowly as an only answer "Oh my sweet baby, its OK, don't worry, you'll be OK." Pepper tried to comfort him as she leaned down to rest her cheek upon his.

"Jarvis! Waiting here!" Tony said firmly trying to urge his AI into an immediate answer.

"Sir, the best solution is to move him by placing him on a rigid flat surface after immobilizing him. I took the liberty to send Dummy to retrieve a shoring plank you have in your workshop." Jarvis explained.

"Good, J." Tony said as he started to run to the workshop in order to meet Dummy half way.

By the time that Tony came back with both the plank and some strapping, Edna had joined Pepper there at Dane's side, "I'm so sorry Virginia, I didn't feel him leaving the bed." Edna explained to Pepper.

"I know mom, don't worry, it is not your fault." Pepper said quietly trying to comfort her mother.

Tony laid the plank right next to Dane "Come on, buddy. We need to get you off these stairs so we can help get you fixed up." he said trying to sound cheerful as he motioned to Pepper and Edna and they helped to slowly slide the plank under Dane's body "You'll be OK," he quietly added as if to reassure himself.

Dane started to cry out in pain at the movement "Slowly!" Pepper yelled to Tony and Edna.

"I know, I know, baby," Tony said to Dane as he continued to slide the plank "Steady there now. Here we go." He finished as Dane's body was loaded fully on it. "Jarvis, first things first. What do we have for a painkiller that's available for Dane right now?" Tony asked as he stood up frowning to himself as he tried to figure out the best way to secure Dane to the plank as well as move him down to his workshop.

"Well, sir, thanks to your numerous injuries, there is currently no shortage of painkillers here in the mansion," Jarvis stated simply

"Thank you Jarvis for the kind reminder." Tony said sarcastically "What do you recommend for this type of injury based on his age and weight?" Tony asked Jarvis "Pepper, can you just come to this side to support the plank?" Tony asked while he was quickly positioning himself on the other side of the improvised stretcher.

"Sure," Pepper answered as she moved to where Tony had indicated.

"Dummy is securing the proper medications from the storage locker that you will need to prepare for him," Jarvis explained "I would advise you to transport the young Potts rapidly to the workshop, where we have the proper equipment to better evaluate his condition and help him." Jarvis proposed quietly.

"Yep J., that sounds exactly like my plan," Tony said as he showed Pepper where to place her hands.

"Please, tell me if I can do anything to help," Edna asked feeling completely useless and helpless at the moment.

"No Mom, its OK. I know you want to help right now, but I just don't think you can." Pepper said sharply, too focused on Dane to notice the distress and sadness in her mother.

"You know what Edna?" Tony said suddenly, as Edna turned to look at him right away "Dane will probably need something on his stomach when he takes the medication."

A faint smile appeared on Edna lips at Tony's suggestion. "Yes, you are right" she replied her voice becoming strong and confident, "I can go to prepare some soup for Dane because you know that taking medication on an empty stomach isn't a good idea." She concluded proudly.

"Yes," Tony said smiling warmly at her "You'll find everything you need in the kitchen and if you need any help at all, you can just ask Jarvis." Tony told her.

"Yes, I remember Tony. You know that I have cooked many times in this house" she replied smiling back at him "But thank you for the reminder," she added as she turned to walk up the stairs to the kitchen.

Tony with his proud smile still attached upon his face, turned back to Pepper and Dane again. He found Pepper looking at him in disbelief "What?" he asked wondering what was hiding behind her look.

"Nothing," Pepper replied as she turned her gaze back to Dane who was dazed with the pain on the makeshift stretcher "Let's take care of Dane, please." She added trying quickly to change the subject. But nevertheless, deep down, her heart was now beating faster knowing that what Tony had just done for her mom meant a lot to her. It was yet another way of showing her just how much he cared for all of them. He was definitely not the selfish guy that she had persuaded herself he was during the past 5 long years. Just how could she have blinded herself for so long? And as she watched him strap Dane to the plank in such a gentle way, she could now feel all of his love for their son in every movement that he made. Her mom was right when she told her that Tony loved them with all of his heart. But her mom was also right when she said that nothing had ever come easy for her and Tony. The situation they were in right now was just another proof of that.

"Ok, I'm done," Tony said quietly waking Pepper up from her daydream "Let's try to move him slowly to the workshop now." he requested. Pepper shook her head in agreement. "Well Buddy, you'll have to be strong" Tony whispered to Dane "We're going to move you from here to the workshop so we will be able to fix you up." He explained quickly leaning down to kiss Dane softly on the forehead.

Dane moaned slowly as if to say he understood but the pain was making it difficult to say anything. As Tony and Pepper began to raise up the plank, Dane suddenly cried out in pain.

"Stop!" Pepper cried out knowing that she couldn't bear to hear her son cry anymore like that. "We have to find a better way to move him Tony." she added "This is too painful for him."

"I know," Tony said dejectedly as they lowered Dane back down to the stair landing, "but right now I can't think of a better way to move him." he said in defeat "This is the best option we have here." He concluded staring at her, his eyes full of sadness and distress.

"Maybe this is not your only option here." a deep bass voice suddenly echoed down to them from the top of the stairs "Perhaps you should let us help you…"