Tony was hiding. He had gotten out of the damn hospital a week ago, and promptly ran into the lab, locking it down completely so no one could come in after him. He hadn't slept, and he hadn't eaten at all, because no matter what he wasn't leaving the damn lab, and he just honestly didn't care about his health. He knew it wasn't right to do this to everyone, but he couldn't face them anymore. He had seen the pity in their eyes from the second he woke up, and it burned.

Tony HATED pity, but he feared the hatred that would surely come after a while. Every secret he had, every private thought, feeling, or anything in his mind, had been laid out for the people he cared most about to see. Sure now they felt bad for him…but soon they'd remember all the horrible things they saw him do and say, and they'd hate him. How could they not when they saw that he was a monster? That he was weak? His mask was all he had to protect him, and now FUCKIN LOKI destroyed that. Destroyed him.

Tony felt his gaze drifting to the rather sharp piece of medal in his hands. It was jagged, and the edges would get the job done if he cut deep enough and cut more than once. Tony had said he wouldn't ever try it again, for Pepper. Except now Pepper would be gone. They all would be, because finally they all saw how pathetic and worthless he truly was. Now everyone knows the snarky badass he pretended to be didn't exist, and they would all leave him. Sure, they'd been trying like hell to get in the last week, but that was guilt acting, not love. They'd get over it, right? They'd give up. Fury would kick him off the team for sure; Pepper would probably pack her bags the second she knew he was still breathing and could leave without guilt. Everyone he loved would be gone and he couldn't take that, couldn't take being alone, not again. So he took a deep breath and positioned the sharp medal shard right over his wrist. He could do this, he knew he could, and there would be no one here to save him this time.

"Don't you dare. " Suddenly a strong hand grabbed his wrist, forcing him to drop the medal and Tony looked up to see Clint glaring at him angrily and pleadingly. "How'd you get in here?" Tony spat, trying to get him to leave. Why did people keep saving him? They would all be safer with him dead. They'd probably be happier. Clint just glared and still didn't take his hand off Tony's, as if he was going to run. "Air vents. Now everyone is outside that lab door, and if I don't bring you out in 5 minutes then Thor is smashing in with the hammer."

Tony looked at him helplessly. "Why, why won't you just leave me alone huh?" Clint's gazed softened and he quickly pulled Tony into a tight hug. "Because we care about you and we aren't going to let you hurt yourself. I can't believe you think….God Tony if I hadn't been here…..do you have any idea what that would do to us?" Tony pulled away but Clint didn't miss the disbelief on his face. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in irritation. "You don't believe us. Dammit Tony, I just wish…."

Tony looked up and saw the lost look on Clint's face and hated it. He freaking admired Clint, he didn't want Clint to think he was weak. Except now, thanks to Loki, he knew. They all knew everything and he had no secrets. "Tony, we won't give up on you. No matter what." Clint clenched his jaw in determination and grabbed Tony's arm, gently pulling him towards the doors where everyone was waiting outside. Tony sighed ruefully giving in. "Fine, let's go before Thor breaks my lab." Clint shot him a stern and caring look as he towed Tony to the doors. "You're going to eat, and sleep, and until further notice, you ARE NOT leaving my sight. I won't lose you."

…

"Tony Stark, I'm going to kill you, I swear to god." Pepper growled as Tony exited the lab with Clint. Clint smiled and Tony huffed before the small woman suddenly tackled him, knocking him out of Clint's grip and onto the floor.

"Don't you EVER, I mean EVER, Lock yourself away from me again, or so help me…." The threat was made less effective by the tears running down her face, and guilt rose up in Tony's chest. He hated to see Pepper cry, she looked so scared when she cried, and he loved his Pepper the way she was supposed to be, brave strong, understanding. "I'm sorry Pep, it was just…a lot." Understanding immediately dawned in Pepper's eyes and she kissed him gently on the lips, and stood pulling him with her.

He quickly took in the sight of his friends squashed into the small white hallway outside the lab. Clint and Natasha were on either side of him in their usual defensive/protective positions, ready to pounce. Steve and Thor were positioned behind Pepper, Steve with those damn doe eyes practically melting a hole in his skull, Thor just smiling a kind of sad/relived smile at him, and Bruce and Rhodey were further down the hallway watching his every move.

He sighed dropping his eyes to the ground to avoid their looks and felt Clint put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Alright, shower, food, and then sleep, got it Tony?" Tony nodded weakly and Pepper pushed him down the hallway towards the elevator.

….

"Where's Pepper?" Steve said sitting on the couch of the lavish living room in Tony and Pepper's personal floors, surrounded by the other Avengers, all who were waiting on Tony to get out of the shower.

Clint sighed and Steve could see the bags built up under the young archer's eyes. "With Tony, We can't leave him alone, even for a minute. When I got into the lab he was about to slit his wrist, If we leave him alone with himself he could be in danger." Natasha squeezed Clint's hand tight and took a deep breath. Steve felt tears spring to his eyes and let his head fall backward into the couch. Bruce took a few deep breaths and sat down in the big recliner, rubbing his temples and Thor just leaned against the wall, clenching his hammer tightly.

"Alright, so we don't leave him alone." Bruce said trying to stay calm. Natasha instinctively reached out from the edge of the couch to rub comforting circles on Bruce's back as he took deep breaths. "We can't crowd him though; it might cause a panic attack." Natasha whispered and Clint nodded in agreement. "I already told him he won't be out of my sight, but even I can't be there all the time. We'll just have to take turns. I'm sure we all want to talk to him anyway, you just have to be very careful about it."

"What are we going to do about the debriefing tomorrow? Fury said he doesn't need our reports, because he's not going to put anything we saw in Tony's mind into a file; but Tony will have to tell exactly what happened with Loki." Thor flinched at Loki's name and sighed quietly. "Brother Tony will surely tell Fury. I imagine it wouldn't be a good idea to try and keep him out of the loop. He needs to be assured we still value him as a team member; that we do not see him weak."

Clint clenched his jaw. "You're right Thor. He has to go tomorrow; at least Rhodey will be there too, even if Pepper can't come. It will help put him at ease." Natasha's eyebrows furrowed. "Where is Rhodey?" Bruce's head popped up and he answered quickly. "Rhodey went to talk to his boss; he's taking the next month or so off for Tony and need to fill out some forms or something."

Natasha nodded and kissed Clint's cheek. "Pepper is taking Tony to bed after he gets out, she isn't going to fight him on eating until morning, everyone is tired, and I doubt he'll submit that easy tonight anyway. I'll take the first shift, you go get some sleep." Clint shot her a look and she sighed. "Fine, you can crash on the couch in here, but you're sleeping. I'll stay up for a few hours then we can switch. The rest of you aren't arguing with me, you're sleeping."

So Here it is! The sequal to What'd Hidden Inside! I am going to try and make the chapters longer this time, I swear. It's always hard to come close to the original, but I will try my best. I hope you enjoy, I love you all! Review please!