Chapter 28

AN:Thank you so much for the support. hope you like this chapter.

Reading the letter Peter just finds himself becoming more and more confused, and as he reads the end, angry.

"What does that mean?" Peter asks himself, sounding confused. "FRIDAY, you there?" Peter asks curious.

"Always, Mr Peter," Friday answers.

"This letter makes no sense, what happened to my grandparents?" Peter asks. "And what does Captain Rogers have to do with anything?" Peter asks, and because she has been programmed to answer Peter FRIDAY has no choice but to answer, though she also has to tell Tony and Natasha when they are awake.

"While in Siberia Boss found out that your grandparents were killed by James Barnes when he was being mind controlled. Captain Rogers knew and he did not tell Boss, even though he told Nat that he did," FRIDAY explains, and as she does Peter feels anger rise up inside of him.

"Oh god, poor Dad," Peter says, sounding horrified, and feels angry on his father's behalf.

"Mr Peter, Colonel Rhodes has woken up and is asking where you are," FRIDAY reveals.

"Tell Uncle Rhodey I'll be right there," Peter says, and picking up both the letter and the phone he heads out of the kitchen.

As he ran it doesn't take Peter very long to get back to the medical area, and as he hurries in the first thing he sees is that Rhodey is sitting up in his bed.

"Peter, I need you to tell me if you're going somewhere, even if I'm asleep," Rhodey informs the young boy as when he woke up and couldn't see Peter he panicked.

"Look," Peter says as he hands the letter and phone over to Rhodey. "What is wrong with him? How can he think that he can hurt Dad as badly as he did and think everything will just be okay! It's ridiculous, he's ridiculous! Dad's been forcefully sedated because of how hurt he is, and he just thinks everything's okay? That's not okay!" Peter yells angrily.

"I'm not defending Rogers, I never would because honestly I may shoot him next time I see him, but I don't think he knows how badly hurt your Dad is," Rhodey explains, though he can't deny the fact that the letter makes him very furious, he also knows that letting Peter become extremely angry won't do any good.

"Then maybe he should know," Peter says, before heading out of the medical area.

"Pete! Peter!" Rhodey calls, but Peter keeps walking.

Due to Rhodey yelling Hope, who is curled up on one of the empty beds opens wakes up.

"What's going on?" Hope asks curious, as she sits up.

"You need to go after Peter. He's angry and hurt, and he's too much like his father to be rational when he is like this," Rhodey explains, hating the fact that he cannot go after Pete himself.

"On it," Hope says, hurrying out of the medical area despite the fact that she is half asleep.

Thanks to help from FRIDAY Hope manages to find where Peter is, but what is harder is to get to where he is; the roof. Managing to get up their Hope sits down next to Peter, and as Hope sits down next to Peter she sees how angry he is.

"Have I ever told you about my high school graduation?" Hope asks curious.

"No," Peter answers, wondering why she is telling him this.

"My Dad wasn't there. I have no idea why, and honestly I don't care," Hope admits. "But your Dad was, and Rhodey, Mary, Happy, Pepper, they were all there for me," Hope reveals. "I was hurt by my dad, and so beyond angry, and when I started to have fun everyone who was there I felt bad that I was still angry," Hope admits. "But your Dad told me something, he told me that there when people hurt you, you don't have feel guilty for how you feel. He said that my emotions are valid, and she I should feel everything that I was feeling," Hope explains. "And so should you," Hope says, as she bumps shoulders with Peter.

"I wanted to meet Captain Rogers, I thought he was soo cool, but now I kind of hate him," Peter admits. "He hurt Dad, and he hurt Mom, and then he sends a letter basically dismissing that and saying that if Dad needs anything he would be there, but you know what Dad did need something; he needs people he can trust!" Peter says angrily. "He needed real friends, and teammates that actually have his back!" Peter says angrily.

"Yeah, he does," Hope confirms.

"People should know what Rogers did, how much of a hypocrite he is," Peter says angrily, and as he does Hope recognizes the look on his face.

"Peter, what are you planning?" Hope asks concerned.

"People deserve to know what happened at the Airport, in Siberia, what's happened to Dad, and Mom, they deserve to know who Rogers really is and I think I should be the one to tell them," Peter explains to Hope. "I want to call a press conference," Peter explains, and once he does Hope very much wishes that Tony, or Natasha, were awake because they would be better at knowing how to handle this. "There's already news articles about Dad, and Mom, I want to set the story straight," Peter explains, as he feels like his parents deserve that.

"I get that, Pete, and I understand that right now you feel you need to do something, but to do that kind of press conference you will have to reveal your identity and that's not something you should do right now," Hope explains to Peter.

"Mom and Dad are barely alive; I didn't do enough to help them. I need to do something!" Peter exclaims.

"Revealing your identity won't help, it might even make things worse. Your Parents will want you protected, they best way to do that is to keep your identity hidden," Hope explains, as she pulls her phone out of her pocket. "But you revealing your identity isn't the only way for the information to get out," Hope says, as she starts to type on her phone.

"What are you doing?" Peter asks curious.

"I'm pretty good when it comes to dealing with the press, but for something like this we need the best; and thankfully I have her on speed dial," Hope reveals, as she sends a message. "And she'll be here in a couple of hours," Hope reveals as she gets a response back immediately.

"Who?" Peter asks curious.

"Pepper,"

A while later Peter, Hope, and Rhodey are all sitting together in the medical area. While Tony and Natasha are both still unconscious Peter is sitting on Rhodey's bed, while Hope is sitting in the chair that is between Tony and Rhodey.

"Miss Potts has arrived at the compound," FRIDAY says.

"Thanks Friday. Tell Pepper where we are," Rhodey requests, as Hope and Peter have filled him in on what they have been thinking, and he is all for it; as long as it doesn't put Peter in danger. "You sure about this?" Rhodey asks Peter, as this affects all of them, but it effects Peter the most.

"I'm sure," Peter confirms, and not long after he does so Pepper walks into the room.

"How are they?" Pepper asks, as she looks between Tony and Natasha. Even with all the complicated history between the three of them she is clearly worried as she cares about both of them.

"Stable, but critical," Rhodey answers. "Helen has them both sedated because they both need time to heal from their various injuries, and considering Nat ignored her injuries to go save Tony, and we all know Tony would do the same, we know neither will rest even though they need it," Rhodey explains.

"This was Rogers?" Pepper asks.

"Barnes too in Tony's case," Hope explains, thanks to FRIDAY they know exactly what happened to hurt Natasha.

"So, there are two questions that we need to figure out; what want to say, and in what way we want to say it," Pepper explains.

"I want everyone to know what Rogers did to Mom and Dad," Peter says, and Pepper isn't surprised by what Peter called Natasha as Hope gave her the heads up. "I don't want anyone to think he was the hero in this," Peter explains.

"I think we can do that," Pepper assures him. "But I agree with your Aunt Hope. Revealing your identity isn't the best way to do this," Pepper explains.

"Then what is the best way?" Peter asks.

"That's what we've got to figure out, and we all need to agree," Pepper says, as she knows it is the best way to handle it.

"Agreed," Rhodey says, as Pepper pulls a chair over and sits down. Once Pepper is sitting down Rhodey, Pepper, Hope, and Peter start to discuss how they are going to achieve what they want to achieve, and exactly what will be revealed.

A couple of hours after Pepper arrived at the compound press from all of the major media outlets, as well as bloggers, have been assembled in a room of the lobby of the compound, which was designed for press conferences.

While Vision is making his way around the room, looking for anyone dangerous Pepper, Hope, Peter, and Rhodey who is in a wheelchair are all in a separate room together.

"Are you sure about this?" Pepper asks Rhodey concerned.

"Yep," Rhodey confirms, with a nod. "Pete, I know you want to be close, but you need to stay with Aunt Hope. It's beyond important that absolutely no reporters see you," Rhodey explains to his godson.

"I know," Peter says, though he doesn't look very happy.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't go anywhere," Hope says, putting an arm around Peter's shoulder, because he knows what Peter is capable of now, but still has a hell of a lot of questions, Rhodey doubts that anyone will be able to keep Peter in one place, he just hopes Peter respects him, Hope, and Pepper, enough to do what they said and stay with Hope.

"It's time," Pepper says, looking at Rhodey. "It will be okay, Pete," Pepper says, looking between Peter and Hope, before heading to the other room, while Rhodey does the same, but for him he has to wheel in the chair.

After leaving the others, Rhodey, who does his best not to notice the whispers, follows Pepper out onto to the podium. While Pepper stands at the microphones Rhodey is next to her, and after a few moments of Pepper standing before them the press quiet down and put their full attention on her.

"As you know there have been a lot of reports and speculations about the events that occurred between the Avengers," Pepper says. "I am here to clean up some of those details," Pepper explains.

"Why isn't Tony Stark clearing this up?" One of the reporters asks.

"Tony Stark is currently unconscious because of injuries inflected by Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes after the battle at the Leipzig airport," Pepper explains. "Significant injuries were inflicted on Mr Stark, and he is currently medically sedated to give his injuries a chance to heal," Pepper reveals. "Natasha Romanoff is also medically sedated due to injuries she received when attempting to prevent Steve Rogers from leaving the airport," Pepper explains. "Any questions?" Pepper asks.

"You said significant injuries. What kind of injuries?" a Reporter asks.

"I cannot go into details at the moment, but the injuries are significant to require both Natasha and Tony to be sedated," Pepper explains and she proceeds to answer, and in some case avoid, questions about what happened, purposely not saying a whole lot, but at the same time also saying a lot, and Rhodey also answers a few questions.

After more than fifteen minutes of Pepper, and Rhodey answering, or in some cases avoiding, questions, the two of them head backstage where Hope and Peter are still waiting.

"Thank you," Peter says, before hugging Pepper, feeling thankful for what she has done.

"You never have to thank me," Pepper assures him, as she hugs him.

"I want to get back to Mom, and Dad," Peter explains, once he and Pepper have broken apart.

"Good idea," Rhodey says, also knowing that Helen wants him back soon, and so they all head back to the medical area.

Many hours after Pepper and Rhodey gave their press conference Peter, and Hope are still in the medical area with Rhodey, Tony and Natasha, while Pepper had to get back to the city. It's late at night and as he was weened of the anaesthetic Tony is starting to wake up.

When Tony first opens his eyes he feels extremely confused, as he tries to figure out where he is, then he realises that he is in the medical area of the Compound. Looking around he is glad to see Peter on the chair next to him, but then he is worried when he sees Natasha on another one of the medical beds.

"Nat?" Tony asks worried. "Nat, can you hear me?" Tony asks, and he gets no response, and he goes to move but he still feels a little weak, but he falls back onto the bed. "FRIDAY? Is Nat okay?" Tony asks worried.

"Nat was suffering from internal bleeding and two broken ribs. Doctor Cho had to perform surgery to stabilize the broken ribs which had punctured her lung, and fix the internal bleeding," FRIDAY explains. "Like you Nat has been sedated, and the sedation should ware off over the next five hours," FRIDAY explains.

"Thanks Fri," Tony responds, feeling extremely worried about Natasha as she was clearly more hurt than she let on, even after the blood transfusion. "Fri, is Peter okay?" Tony asks concerned as he needs to know for sure.

"Mr Peter is completely healthy," FRIDAY answers.

"And Rhodey? How is he?" Tony asks worried.

"Colonel Rhodes is currently stable," FRIDAY answers.

"Good, that's good," Tony says, before falling back asleep as he can no longer keep his eyes open.

The next morning Tony once more opens his eyes, but this time he feels a lot more awake than he did. Looking around he sees that Peter is no longer sitting next to him, but rather is sitting on Natasha's bed. Looking over Tony is beyond thrilled to realises that Natasha is also awake.

"Hey Sleepy Beauty," Natasha says, with a smirk.

"Nat, are you okay?" Tony asks worried.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Natasha answers.

"I asked Helen to double check," Peter reveals, as he clearly didn't trust Natasha to make sure she was okay herself.

"Good," Tony says relieved.

"Pete, do you want to go get Helen so that we can make sure your Dad's okay," Natasha requests.

"Sure," Peter says, as he climbs down from Natasha's bed, and heads towards where Helen is.

"How you feeling?" Natasha asks Tony, looking over at him without moving.

"I'm good, better now that I know you're okay," Tony admits. "You should have stayed in the hospital," Tony informs Natasha.

"I wasn't going to do that, not when you needed me," Natasha tells him. "I meant everything I said in that bunker, and on the jet," Natasha says, needing Tony to know that.

"Me too," Tony responds, and as he does Peter and Helen walk over.

"Tony, I'm really glad to see you awake," Helen says.

"I'm glad to be awake," Tony admits. "What's the verdict?" Tony asks curious.

"A lot of damage, both you and Nat have to take it easy over the next few days," Helen explains. "Even though it's okay for both of you to no longer be sedated, you are still hurt, and need to be careful," Helen explains.

"I'll make sure they are," Peter comments.

"I'm sure you will," Helen says amused as she has seen how protective Peter is of his parents.

"You know we can look out for ourselves, right?" Natasha asks.

"All the experience I have had treating both of you after injuries tells me a very different story," Helen explains. "I'll be in my office if you two need anything," Helen reveals, before heading to her office.

"I swear she thinks we're children," Tony says, sounding amused. "So, Pete, what's been going on since Nat and I have been unconscious?" Tony asks curious.

"A lot," Peter reveals, before sitting on the end of his father's bed, and once he is sitting there he starts to explain everything that has been going on, including about the press conference.