Chapter One

Morning sunlight spread though Tony Stark's bedroom. He squinted. He hated the sun.

"Pep?" he murmured as he sat up and looked at the empty spot besides him on the bed. "Pep?" he croaked.

Why did his throat sound all scratchy? His head didn't feel any better, he felt like someone had dropped a bowling ball on his head, and at some point everything started spinning.

He had to close his eyes for one moment so that the dizziness would disappear. One. Two. Three.

Tony opened his eyes again and looked at Pepper's spot which was mysteriously empty. There was a little card on the pillow. He picked it up and groaned when he read it.

TONY, HAD TO LEAVE FOR LONDON EARLY THIS MORNING, I'D KNEW YOU'D FORGET! BE BACK IN A WEEK!

XOX, PEPPER

"Why did you have to leave now, Pep?" he grumbled to himself. Even him, the stubbornness person on the planet had to admit that he didn't feel like his sarcastic, cheerful self. "Jarvis?" he croaked.

"Yes, sir?" Jarvis said.

"Do a check up on me," Tony ordered as he got out of bed and stood so that Jarvis could do a scan on him.

"Certainly sir," Jarvis said as a red light went over Tony's body. "You seem to be suffering from the common cold, sir. Something that is common in December. You have a temperature of 100 degrees and you are experiencing chills and a headache. I suggest you stay home today."

"Great." Tony complained. "Pepper's gone and I have this stupid cold. What else?"

As if mocking him his cell phone rang with a text message from Fury.

Fury-Stark, meeting at the helicarrier in five minutes.

Tony- I don't think so

Fury-I didn't ask for your permission, Stark. I ORDERED it.

Tony-Can't we postpone in?

Fury-Does Mr. Stark have something better to do?

Tony-Well. . .no. Not exactly.

Fury-Then shut the fuck up. Meet me at the helicarrier in THREE minutes or I'm sending Banner. His green friend.

Tony groaned as he forced himself into the hot shower. He was convince that the hot shower would cure his nerves or at the very least make him feel a little bit better. Ironically, it seemed to make him feel worse.

His nose was stuffed and he could barely walk without feeling dizzy. He dressed quickly in jeans and about ten sweaters before he went to the helicarrier which was currently stationed at the dock.

"You're late," Nick Fury snapped when Tony entered the room an hour later.

Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, and Bruce Banner looked up. Thor was currently in Asgard and hadn't been able to attend so they just decided to have the meeting without him.

Tony sneezed once. Then twice. "Sorry," he sniffled without another sarcastic remark as he slipped into the chair next to him.

"What's up with you?" Natasha raised an eyebrow. "No inappropriate remarks today?" she sneered.

Tony glared at her, but he was feeling too lousy too formulate a response.

"Seriously, Stark," Clint looked both puzzled and amused. "You're shaking like a leaf."

"Are you sick?" Bruce asked concerned and he looked ready to slip out of his chair to come check on him. "You look flushed."

Tony blushed making him look even redder. He didn't like his friends worrying about him, more than they fussing over him. He kind of preferred it when they hated his guts.

"Are you ill Stark?" Fury asked with a raised eyebrow looking towards Tony suspiciously. "Do you need Dr. Banner's assistance?"

Tony shook his head quickly making him feel even dizzier. "I'm fine. Just start with the meeting, that is why we're here, right?"

Fury looked like he didn't believe him, but kept babbling for a good hour before thankfully the meeting was over.

He says his quick goodbyes and was prepared to dash out of that place as soon as he could and crawl into bed with a Supernanny marathon, but Steve, of all people stopped him.

"Are you sure, you're all right Stark?" he asked suspiciously as if Tony was a criminal.

"Of course I'm sure," he replied sarcastically. "I don't need a babysitter, Cap."

"Admitting you have problems, doesn't make you weak, Stark," Steve said tightly. He could tell that Stark was downright ill. Flushed cheeks, shivering, sweat dripped down his forehead. All signs of a bad cold. He just wanted for Tony to admit it himself. Like that would even happen.

Tony shook his head. "I'm fine, Rogers," he said dryly. "Lighten up a little, I don't need your help." He smirked. "Later."

Steve looked like he wanted to say something else but Tony left the place before he could even say a word out. Rain started pouring out as soon as he slipped out of the helicarrier and he wished that he would have brought his car instead of using the Iron Man suit, which he didn't feel like using at that particular moment.

"Taxi!" he yelled trying to cover his aching head with an old newspaper, but doing it unsuccessfully. "Taxi!" he yelled. But everyone ignored him. He snorted, he saved the world, but he couldn't even get a taxi cab to stop. "Taxi!"

It was like he was invisible.

Tony, frustrated just opted to walk home instead of wasting his time trying to ignore the cold, pouring rain that splashed all over him and his clothes. He was glad when he finally reached Stark Tower.

His teeth chattered as he took off his wet clothes and threw them on the floor. "Jarvis!" he yelled his voice sounding weaker than before. "Lights off and turn the heater back on."

"As you wish sir," Jarvis said. "Sir, you have someone calling you."

"Who?" Tony put on a pair of sweatpants. "Is it, Pep?"

"No, it's Mr. Steve Rogers-"

"Deny, the call," Tony ordered as he slipped into the bed. "In fact deny all of the calls unless they are Pepper." And then he shifted into a long sleep.

-End of Chapter One-

Sorry for the short first chapter, I promise that the next one will be longer, please review!