The Half-Life of a Radioactive Spider

Tony

Tony awoke to the beeping of a heart rate monitor.

His head was throbbing and his ribs and chest screamed in pain, but he fought to stay awake.

Opening his eyes, he saw a hospital room full of machines.

Pepper and Happy were next to him.

"Hey." He said, hating how weak his voice sounded.

"Hi Tony. How do you feel?" Pepper smiled at him, but it seemed sad.

"Fine. What's wrong?"

"It's Peter."

Tony looked to the side and saw another bed.

Peter was in it.

He looked dead, with all of the bandages covering him and the machine making him breathe.

"He's in a coma." Pepper said.

"Is he going to wake up?"

"We hope so. If he doesn't wake up this week, we'll know something is seriously wrong."

"Okay. Did anything else happen to him?"

Pepper hesitated.

"What?"

No answer.

"TELL ME!"

"His leg was shattered in the explosion. It was... damaged beyond repair."

'No.' Tony thought with dread.

"They couldn't save it."

"No."

"I'm sor-"

"NO!" Tony screamed in frustration.

"Tony-" Pepper said, backing away.

"I WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HIM!"

"It's not your-"

"NOT MY FAULT?! IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY?!"

Pepper nodded.

"IT IS MY FAULT! I DIDN'T GET TO HIM, I SHOULD'VE THOUGHT MORE! I DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE A BOMB! I SHOULD'VE BEEN SMARTER!"

"Calm down, please." Happy said, trying to help.

"I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!"

Pepper injected something into his IV line.

He fell into deep sleep.