April 2:

Well like Pepper commanded I went to the S.H.I.E.L.D base today to look over a few weapons for Fury. God he's a worst slave driver then Pepper could ever be. Its not easy working when you have a pirate wannabe breathing down your neck. However, I was at least able to find a few flaws in his weapons to hassle him about. He just wanted me to look for malfunctions, but I couldn't resist the urge to nit pick. I thought his eye patch was about to turn a flip, he looked so, pardon the pun, furious.

Today wasn't completely good though…That strange pain came back again. I'm not sure how to explain it. Its like a sharp sting…But I know its not heart trouble. Aside from the shrapnel I check out with a clean bill of health, so I'm not sure what it could be. It lasted just a bit longer this time, but luckily Fury didn't notice or else he'd be hassling me about it. The last thing I need is for people to start getting worried. I can handle this just fine on my own. I'll start looking into it more tomorrow. For now, I suppose I should finally get some rest on my bed since Pepper left early tonight. No more couch for me~

-T. Stark

Finishing up yet another log, Tony's dark eyes closed as he leaned back against the computer chair, stretching his rather sore back. Sleeping on the couch for the past few days hadn't been doing anything good for him, save for maybe scoring some points with Pepper about him not complaining. Out loud, at least. Pushing himself away from the desk, he gained his feet and moved to slip into his bed for the first time in a few days, when the light glow of his arc reactor caught his eye beneath his shirt. Frowning, he thought back to earlier that day, more specifically to when it yet again malfunctioned…

"Stark stop complaining and fussing and just do what I called you here for." The billionaire had to suppress a chuckle as he heard the agitation in the Director's voice. He knew all the right buttons to press to activate that temper, that was for sure. Not like it was that hard to begin with.

The weapon before him was laid open, wires and inner mechanisms all exposed to his keen eye. He pointed out a few things here and there, a nick in the wire, or a possible shortage. Not to mention mocked what he saw as faulty craftsmanship. He supposed it wasn't fair though. Anything compared to his own tech was primitive. He grinned at the thought, reaching to correct a mismatched circuit when it hit him.

That pain again. It was sharp, and it knocked the wind out of him briefly. He placed a hand over the arc reactor quickly, a pained look crossing his features. Luckily for him, Fury only noticed after the pain had subsided that his hand was on his chest. "Something wrong, Stark?" If he didn't know the man better, he would have thought he heard concern in the voice. Forcing the worry back from his own mind, he took his hand away, replacing it on the tool he'd been picking up before hand.

"Its nothing. Just got a jolt here from your shoddy wiring." His snide tone seemed to get the Director's mind off that subject, for he gave him a stern glare-not easy, Tony reminded himself, when he was lacking an eye-and moved away to leave him to his work. And also to his newfound worries…

Shaking the thoughts from his head, the billionaire let out a quiet sigh as he turned back to his laptop. He wasn't going to be getting any sleep now, not with that worry nagging at him. He needed to go ahead attempt to establish a cause for the arc reactors strange behavior. Maybe that would fix this newfound worry he had.

Settling in for what he knew would be a rather long night, he thought back to the original arc reactor, and when it began to malfunction as well. He didn't let anyone see it, but his fear of death…It had haunted him that entire time. He hid the true fear well, and even came to the point of accepting the idea of dying, considering he thought he couldn't change it. But that didn't mean he wanted it…And now, considering how much he had going for him, he definitely didn't now.

With that in mind, he started working away at the keyboard, determined to find a cause. He just hoped it was something he could fix…