A/N: So I'm not totally sure about the end of this chapter - I suck at endings but I had to get it up and I couldn't think of any other way to end it so...

THANKS to EVERYONE who read this story from beginning to end. Thanks for all the positive reviews, I honestly wasn't even expecting many at all so it was a pleasant surprise to get all the follows and stuff... THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!

I DONT OWN THE AVENGERS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO MARVEL AND WHOEVER THE HECK GOES INTO THE MOVIES.

TONY STARK - IRON MAN

PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
All the Avengers feel its effects, some more than others, and while they might try their best to hide the triggers - they're always there and they're always going to show in the end.

Deep breaths, Stark...Tony chanted, over and over again in his head. He gripped onto the metal pole running along the side of the elevator for support, not trusting his own legs to keep him standing on their own.

What had he done? He couldn't describe the intense rage that had gripped him in the interrogation room; the rage that had driven him to attack the murderer like that. Perhaps Pepper's devastation upon learning that it had been her aunt who'd been killed had driven him to such fury. Pepper had been crying and Tony didn't like to see her cry like that.

He hated to watch as her body shuddered with uncontrollable sobs and the sniffles that accompanied the tears - especially since there wasn't much he could do to help her. So, Tony had taken his anger out on the one thing that had upset her - Jonathan Green, the drunken murderer.

Yes, Tony could call him a murderer, just as well as he could call him a target or a drunk – because he'd full well earned those titles.
The elevator dinged, the doors slid open and Tony had to drag himself along the length of the pole in order to get out before the doors closed on him. He staggered out, fully relieved at the discovery that, yes, his own legs would hold him up and he didn't have to flop onto the floor like a newborn baby.

He called for Pepper and was horrified at the hoarse, weak, tone of his own voice. He doubted anyone would be able to hear him from a metre away. In fact, he didn't even know where Pepper was - she could've been anywhere in the tower by now.

"Miss Potts is in the Interrogation Viewing Room, sir," JARVIS informed helpfully, his British accent echoing through the vast room.

"Thanks JARVIS," Tony muttered, hobbling toward a white leather couch and slumping down on it in exhaustion. As soon as he laid his head down on the armrest, his eyes flickered shut and he found himself drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

When Pepper got in half an hour later, she found Tony fast asleep on the couch in a rather uncomfortable position.

With his head lolling off the couch as well as his right arm and leg, she wondered how he hadn't woken up earlier. As she watched him, he let out a rather loud huff and mumbled something incoherent in his sleep causing a small smile to twitch at the corners of her lips.
She walked over to him and tried to lay down next to him, causing him to stir. "Hey Pep," he mumbled, shifting slightly to allow her some space on the couch.

"Hey Tony," she whispered, settling down in his arms. The billionaire fell asleep almost immediately, something Pepper suspected was probably because he was already half asleep.

She, however, took a lot longer. Sleep was blocked with terrifying thoughts of her aunt and stressful thoughts of her job as CEO of Stark Industries, and when she did manage to fall asleep, it was quite a fitful slumber and not at all relaxing.

Natasha emerged from the steel lift at ten o'clock that night, rubbing her eyes and yawning tiredly. It wasn't until she almost sat on top of them that she realised Pepper and Tony were even there.

A rare smile twitched at the corner's of the agent's mouth as she looked at them lying comfortably on the soft leather. Somehow during the night, Pepper had rolled onto Tony's stomach and had her face buried in his neck. His arms were wrapped around her waist tightly and as she slept, a small smile crept its way across her lips.

Natasha moved to sit down on a couch opposite with a barely audible sigh and it wasn't long after when the lift dinged again, Bruce, Steve and Clint all walking through the doors.

"I'm having a chat with him," Clint snapped loudly, his arms folded across his chest.

"I know," Steve said, a troubled frown spreading across his face. "That's no way to interrogate someone, even if he is a murderer."

Bruce ran a hand through his dark hair and bit his lip uncomfortably. "Don't be too harsh on him," he murmured. "He hasn't really been himself lately.

Clint opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when a black heel went flying at his face. He looked in the direction that it had come from and frowned as his gaze met Natasha's furious expression. What? He mouthed in irritation.

Natasha just pointed at Tony and Pepper on the couch and Clint bit his lip and had the decency to look slightly apologetic. Steve muttered a quick sorry while Bruce just smiled.

"I still want to chat to him," Clint said, quieter this time. "I don't care if he's with his girlfriend."

On the couch, Tony stirred slightly and yawned widely. "Don't worry Natashalie, I'm awake," he muttered opening his eyes and trying to move before finding out that he couldn't.

"What about Pepper?" Natasha asked. When receiving no answer, she shrugged and turned back to Clint, shooting him a warning glance which he ignored.

"What the heck were you thinking?" Clint whispered, his eyes flashing dangerously. "That has got to be the single most stupid thing I've ever seen in my life!"

"Well it got the information out of him," Tony retaliated, eyes narrowed angrily. "Personally, I don't see the problem with what I did – he murdered someone so I gave him a heck of a scare in return." The billionaire tried to sound certain but Clint could tell he was more so trying to reassure himself rather than anyone else.

"I don't care," Clint snapped in a low tone, his jaw clenched in anger.

Tony's eyes darkened and he clenched his fists, causing his knuckles to turn white. He was about to say something... not very nice, when Pepper stirred on top of him. "What's going on?" she mumbled, her eyes flickering open. Her gaze shifted around the room, first to Tony underneath her, then to Natasha sitting lazily on a couch opposite before sweeping over Bruce, Steve and Clint. She was shocked at the fury flashing in Clint's dark eyes, the resignation in Bruce's and the unease flickering in Steve's. "I think you all need to calm down." She said, slightly more forcefully before rolling off of Tony's stomach and standing beside the couch with her hands firmly planted on her hips.

"Tell that to him," Clint pointed at Tony, determination set in his gaze. "He's a freaking drama queen who thinks his problems are that much more important than everyone else's."

"Whoa, hold up," Tony held his hands up and raised his eyebrows. "When did all my problems come into this?"

"Right about now," Clint said coolly. "Because I'm sorry – you aren't more important than us, you have less to worry about than us and you don't suffer from PTSD." Pepper winced, her anger at the archer flaring dangerously.

"PTSD?" Tony spluttered. "When did that come into all this? What are you even talking about?" He sighed heavily. "You know what? I don't care. I'm leaving."

He marched up to the elevator, the doors opening almost straight away, and told JARVIS to take him down to the pools.

The team (minus Thor and Tony) and Pepper walked into the pools around ten minutes later. Tony was sitting on a seat beside the crystal clear water with his knees brought up to his chest and a look of terror on his pale face. Clearly he hadn't gone swimming because he was still completely dry – not a drop of water on him at all.

Pepper was immediately aware of the situation and marched right up to his side. "You're getting out of here now,"she ordered firmly, grasping his right arm and attempting to haul him to his feat.

The team shot each other awkward looks and Natasha was about to ask Pepper what was going on when Tony mumbled something barely audible. Yinsen.

"Too late," Pepper muttered, more to herself than anything else. "Tony, you have to snap out of it. Get up, come on."

The billionaire seemed to realise for the first time that they were all there and looked up, his eyes glassy and unfocussed. "My fault..." he murmured. "I was too slow..."

"It wasn't your fault," Pepper said soothingly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "He chose to save you."

Tony looked like he was about to reply when a shudder passed through his body and his eyes flickered shut.

"We need more time..." Yinsen murmured softly and Tony prayed it was only his imagination. Yinsen wouldn't sacrifice himself – not if he could help it. "Hey," he turned back to Tony, an almost apologetic look on his face. "I'm gonna go buy you some time."

Tony's eyes widened and he wanted to help, he really did but he was stuck in the suit.

"Stick to the plan!" Tony yelled. He twitched on the chair, his breaths fast and ragged as though he was running a marathon.

Clint and Natasha exchanged looks and Bruce ran to Natasha's side muttering a quick; "What's wrong with him?"

The scene changed, that man asking him to build a Jericho missile. "I refuse," Tony said fiercely, knowing full well that if they got what they wanted, millions of people would die.

Again, the scene changed and they were forcing his head into the water. Water boarding... Tony had heard of this sort of torture before and never had he fully realised the extent of the pain – unless that was just mostly his arc reactor shocking him constantly.

Tony cried out in pain, shaking in terror as the memories hit him. So cold... So much pain...

"Tony, wake up," Pepper's voice was no longer soft, but demanding and strong. "Don't let it get to you. It's all over."

Tony shuddered, more memories threaten to take over him when Natasha marched up to him and slapped him across the face. "Stark! Wake up!"

The billionaire jumped and his eyes snapped open, a hand flying to his sore cheek. "I'm awake," he mumbled, swallowing hard. His throat felt like it was on fire and he felt like there was a shard of glass stuck in the flesh.

Clint coughed to gain some attention and looked down at the floor in shame. "I was wrong to say you didn't have as much to worry about as the rest of us, so I'm sorry."

Tony looked up at him and a smile twitched at the corners of his lips. "Apology accepted," he said, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

Clint looked up and grinned at him. "This whole PTSD thing is giving me the shits." He said bluntly. "But at least now we know what sets each other off. At least we know the triggers."

A/N: Wow... Its all over... Well anyway, now I'm off to think of more story ideas (for Avengers, PJO or Harry Potter :)