There was a rhythmic beeping that caused me to start to wake. And as the beeping continued to speed up I was remembering everything that had happened. Where am I? What happened? Dad? There was a plump bed underneath me and for a moment I thought I was just waking up from a dream but I heard the humming of multiple machines. And as my eyes began to stir open I went to cover them immediately as the lights were blinding me. Everything was so fucking bright, I needed those lights off. The room was muted colors with a huge TV an sofa against the wall. A huge window had blinds that were closed only to keep out whatever type of day it was. If it wasn't for the machines that were showing my heart beat I would have thought this was a hotel. Dad must have been paying too much for this, looking across my body I saw so many tubes and wires. One of the tubes on my body had to be pumping drugs because I felt numb and on cloud nine. I saw dad sitting on the chair next to me, a jacket draped over the side of the chair. His hand holding onto mine, as he rested his head on the bed. I squeezed his hand comfortingly and he stirred awake, my hazel eyes meeting his dark ones. His head shot up and a smile crossed his lips instantly.

"Jaedyn," He took a deep breath, full of relief. "How are you doing Princess?" I opened my mouth to speak but I didn't hear anything come out of my mouth. "Here Princess." He pour me a cup of water from a jug of water that was sitting on the bed side table. He helped me sit up enough so my lips met the straw and I almost drank all the water, I only stopped because I started coughing "How do you feel?"

"I'm in pain," I managed to croak to him.

"I can get a doctor? I'll get a doctor," He stood but I grabbed his hand stopping him.

"No, what happened to me?" My mind started to race thinking about all that had happened. I couldn't remember it though, there were flashes but nothing concrete.

"Princess I can't explain it as best as someone else," Dad sighed rubbing his eyes.

"Tell. Me. Dad." I stated and gave him a sharp look.

"Ivan attacked the expo," He looked terrible to say the least. Dark circles under his eyes and he seemed to look like he aged ten years. He hadn't changed in a few days by the way he looked, and I knew that because of how he smelt. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath feeling the puzzle pieces slowly mend back into place.

"The uhh- The Drones," I closed my eyes before I gasped it hitting me like a train. My heart beat on the monitor started to pick up and my eyes were flicking across the room but in all reality I was back at the expo. "Fire, pain, explosions, Officer Walker, Jacob-"

"Jaedyn!" Dad's hands were placed on my shoulder and I stopped breathing so heavily. My eyes stopped frantically staring but I looked over and saw the sadness in his eyes. "You were near one of the drones and I was too late to save you."

"Y-you are not the one at fault," I croaked out to him, "I thought I could save Jacob, Dad is Jacob okay!?" I saw the tears forming in his eyes as I started to yell, the tears started to affect the two of us and I let mine fall. By the way dad was looking to me I could see that he wasn't okay.

"The officer you were with, Officer Walker is fine. He was with the boy..." I felt my heart start to grow heavy. "The boy-"

"Jacob!" I shouted.

"Jacob. One of the explosions, knocked the two of them-" He saw the tears falling down my cheeks and when I leaned back into the pillow staring up at the ceiling. "Jae, you saved a lot of other people Princess..."

"Daddy..." My voice started trembling and that's when dad lifted me in his arms and sat on the bed with me in his arms. That's when I noticed my right arm was in a cast, my whole arm. All the way up to my shoulder in a cast. "I couldn't just stand there, I had to do something," I knew he was going to be angry as he started to figure out what my night had in store. "He just wanted to see his mom..."

"I know baby," He started to soothe me by shushing me. "I would have done the same thing, I'm so proud of you Princess." It was when dad moved some hair from my face as I saw my arm. There was a cast that was from the tips of my fingers up to my shoulder. A heart in sharpie on it, had to be dad. I couldn't feel my arm, I couldn't even tell how much of the damage was done. I don't even think I wanted to know. Dad didn't say anything as I started to shake in shock. That's what scared me the most, the silence between us as I just stared at my arm. "I should get the doctor to explain it better, I don't know how to explain it."

"No I want you to explain it... Please."

"When the blast went off near you it," He paused taking a deep breath before he kissed the top of my head. "You landed badly on your arm. The cut that Ivan did on your palm, had severe internal damage," I started to take deep breaths listening to the damage done to me. "The lacerations on your arm had damaged tendons and the doctor stabilized them the best they could. There was pressure that the decompressed and also stopped internal bleeding. They've also fixed your pinkie. They have high hopes that your arm would heal, there's also the fact that you have a concussion that means your bedridden for a while. No more joyrides with Audi's for a while." I could tell that by the way he was speaking that he had memorized every word the doctor said. "Your body is in shock, there's not telling what is going on with your brain, and we have tow a couple of days to see what happens."

"My hand, my arm. Will I have full mobility? Because right now dad, I can't feel my fingers." I took a shaky breath staring at my arm.

"Yes, you could. Jaedyn... You've permanently wounded your arm. When your shock fades we'll know what's happened."

"So if when my shock wears off and I still can't move my arm, what then? Will I never be able to use my arm?" Again the machine started to beep quicker and I felt dad's grip on me tighten calming me the best he could.

"Yes." I couldn't accept that, I wouldn't. I couldn't accept the fact that I might never be able to use my right arm again, I wouldn't be able to use my right hand again. I would never write, draw, work on the cars, kick dad's butt at video-games. I could hardly breathe at that fact, I was Seventeen. I had spent time in crutches after Obadiah's attack, and that time was hell. I would have to relearn how to do everything again, I would never be normal again. I couldn't accept it. Was I ever normal? Not until I knew for sure, this shock would pass. I would get the feeling back, I would get the movement back in my hand and arm. I had to. "I'm so sorry Jae," I felt dad lean back against the wall and look up to the ceiling, he was crying. "This is my fault..." Slowly he moved off the bed and stood above me once more. I just rested my eyes closed hoping I was dreaming, having another dream- Nightmare. "I should have saved yo-"

"Stop!" I yelled at him, pounding my left hand into the bed. "Stop feeling like you are responsible for every person in the world. Just because you are Iron Man doesn't mean you get to save everyone in the world. You can't stop everything! You can't! This isn't your fault! It's not Grandpa's fault, it's not your fault, it's not my fault. It's Ivan Vanko's fault. He was crazy, he wanted revenge. He is the one responsible for this. Him, not you!" I saw the shock once again registering on his face from my outburst. "I'm sick and tired of watching you do that to yourself, blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong. You're carrying the weight of the world, and you don't have to. If you keep feeling like you will dive straight down into the ground. Soon, it will be you in this bed. Please I just need you... stop it." He would still blame himself but I wanted to do my best to tell him what I knew for a fact. I sighed again and felt my eyes slowly shut, and I felt sleep overtake me once again. In my dreams none of this happened. In my reality, my world was crumbling all around me.

"I'm sorry," I felt hand's brush my hair again and that's when dad whispered to me kissing my head soon after.

The humming noise once again woke me, my eyes moving around the room. The room empty, I wonder where dad went. Hopefully a shower and something to eat. He looked famished to say the least and all I really wanted to do was to sleep. It wasn't his fault, but I was still angry towards him. At least I thought it was to him, I felt so many emotions inside of me. I was angry at the world, and myself I think. I was angry how I wasn't able to save Jacob, even if I had saved others. I looked down to my hand then looked away, I couldn't describe the feeling. It was like I felt my hand but I couldn't move it. I wanted to, I wanted to be able to wiggle my fingers and move my arm. But I wasn't able to. I yelled out in frustration and threw my head back against the pillow, this had to be temporary. I would not accept this, I couldn't. This was just shock, until I knew for sure I would have a small thread of hope.

"Knock knock," Pepper knocked on the door and smiled to me, her arms held a small bouquet of colorful flowers. "Hi Jae," I quickly rubbed my eyes and saw that she was safe, unharmed. "How are you feeling?"

"Hi Pepper, I'm alright..." I saw she was looking to my arm, and the cast that held it motionless, I wasn't sure how she would react. I saw the same look my father had, pity and sympathy. If this did turn into a permanent thing I would need those looks to stop, I would need everyone to stop looking at me with that. "I'm fine Pepper. You don't have to tiptoe around this. I might not have use of my arm, it's that simple."

"Jaedyn," She placed the flowers on the table then grabbed my hand gently. "You know that whatever happens, I'm here right?"

"I know Pepper. It's okay," I squeezed her had reassuring both her and I. "One day at a time right?" She smiled and agreed with me.

"Thanks Pepper," She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, I had held my breath and did not allow the tears that I felt to overwhelm me. I was glad that when the doctors knocked on the door my attention was diverted there. The doctor walked over, holding a clipboard in hand. Mature, light hair starting to grey, no doubt the best doctor in the city. Possibly the city, hell, he could have flew in the best doctor on this earth.

"Miss Stark?" I smiled looking over to them, hoping they had the best possible answer to the question that loomed over my head. "I'm Dr. Silvers, I'd like to talk to you, would you give us a minute please?" The doctor motioned to Pepper but I gripped her hand when she went to leave.

"No," I saw the look that Pepper gave me before I continued. "She's raised for as long as I can remember. She's known me since I was a little girl. She stays."

"Miss Stark," The doctor began and I felt Pepper's hand snake into mine to comfort me. As the doctor spoke I started to tune out, I had been told all of it before. My brain was in shock, I had to wait and see. Preform some tests after that, then physical therapy. Nothing New. All I wanted to hear was that I would be able to move my arm again, I wanted to be able to wiggle my fingers again. I didn't want to hear anything other than that. The room soon went silent after the doctor left. I was worried about Pepper and I couldn't help but look to her. Wondering when she would bring up the topic of what the doctor said.

"Hammer faked Ivan's death because he was desperate enough to compete with Stark Industries. Right?" I quickly said changing the subject, Pepper pulled a seat over next to me and nodded.

"Yes, he will be in jail, and thankfully your father got video of the events that transpired at the warehouse..." I took a deep breath, my mind flashing back to the memories. "I knew he would end up there some how. He would step too far, and this was it," Pepper gave me a small smile but I knew her mind was somewhere else. "You know I'm sorry Jaedyn." I gave her a questioning glance. "I should have known something was up. I should have ordered Happy to take you around the city. He could protect you. I should have realized something was wrong when you didn't answer when I called you."

"No Pepper, stop," My eyes narrowed to her telling her to be quiet. "I'm just really tired of everyone blaming themselves for things that are not their fault. I was kidnapped, tortured, and the only people I blame for this," I gestured to my arm. "Is Hammer and Ivan. They did this."

"I'm suppose to know these things. I'm suppose to watc-" A knock on the door interrupted her. I was glad when that had happened and everyone showing me pity I did not need. The door opened slightly and I saw a man in a deep blue uniform.

"Miss Stark?" I suddenly felt the need to hide myself in my covers, knowing that voice. Followed by the familiar face. "Oh I'm sorry, I'm interrupting. If you would like, I can come back later."

"No, no. It's fine," Pepper said retrieving her bag. Quickly she kissed my cheek and gave me a quick smile before she slipped out of the room. "I have to go take care of some business, and make sure her father is alright." I tried to smooth out my hair to look presentable but I was far from it overall.

"I would ask how you are feeling but," He paused seeing how I looked and the taking the seat that Pepper was before. "You look as good as it can be."

"So help me, if you say I'm Sorry, I will throw something at you." He let out a small chuckle and moved some of his hair out of his face.

"Well at least you still have your personality," I looked from my hand over to his face seeing that look in his eyes. It wasn't pity, thank god. He was young but he seemed to have experience with not letting people see his expression. In all reality I wasn't sure what he could say at this time. I wish I could know what he was thinking, I wish that this all could just be a dream. The explosion, the expo, Jacob...

"What happened to Jacob?" I asked leaning back onto the bed, looking up to the ceiling.

"We were thrown against a car, shrapnel hit the two of us from a different blast. Jacob had faced the front of the blast, I was wearing my ballistic vest," Suddenly he stopped and shook his head. "You don't need to know that Jaedyn... You did what you thought was best." I felt a few tears fall down my cheeks but I wiped my eyes quickly before I spoke.

"I messed up, you two were suppose to be okay. Jacobs mother? What happened to her?"

"You saved a lot of lives you know that, not just mine. But I met a little girl who said you helped her dad and brother. You were still asleep but when I saw a woman with Jacob's body, I knew it was his mother. I had stayed with Jacob until that point so when she asked who I was. I told her what happened, then she insisted on meeting you. Your father spoke and calmed her down the best of his ability, you know she was grateful for what you did." A genuine smile crossed my lips but if faded when I realized that I really hadn't saved him.

"Thanks," I muttered softly. For that moment I forgot about everything, the accident, kidnapping, my arm, dad, Ivan, Hammer, the pain he caused both me and my family. I glanced into his green eyes and it all came rushing back to me, I just wanted it to be some sick nightmare. "You're really brave you know that?" I scoffed but stopped when I realized he had actual awe and respect when he said that. "Your dad and I talked for a bit when you were in surgery. He told me how even after being kidnapped and tortured, not once but twice. You still continue to follow your instinct and go to the expo to help. Some people contacted your dad telling him that his daughter was a hero for saving them."

"Oh really?" I rolled my eyes looking over to my arm, motioning to the cast. "Look what being a so called hero got me," Although it would be easy to just say I regretted my decisions, I didn't. I hate that my choices led me to this point but I wasn't going to change them. Not if it meant that the people I had saved would have died. "So why are you here?"

"I uhh-" He paused running a hand through his dark hair.

"Go on," I said tilting my head to the side, now I was worried about what he planned to say.

"I know that this is horrible and all... I was wondering," He was for sure nervous about this. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"

"What?" A chuckle escaped my lips and I pushed the button on the remote to sit the bed up. "A date? You realize that I might end up being crippled because of that explosion-"

"Miss Stark, you are a strong woman and I know that you will make it passed this. You're arm will heal in due time. So Miss Stark," He said in a playful tone with a smile on his lips, taking my hand. "Would you like to go get a coffee some time?"

"I... I would love to."

The Author

Hi again! Seems Jaedyn has a new friend...

I wanted to try and make this a bit happier but still had part in that angst.

Feedback is welcome and appreciated as always.

Thank you!