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innitmarvelous_ogRhodey was running, the sound of his boots slammed loudly against the concrete floor of the sterile hallway. This dream was a nightly visitor so he knew where it ended and how. Despite that he kept running even as his lungs burned and his legs were heavy iron.
When he finally burst into the chamber, the world went eerily quiet except for the steady beat of the heart monitor.
Tony was already strapped down to the gurney with his sleeves rolled up. In the dream, the prison uniform was a bright orange instead of the blue Rhodey knew he had worn in reality. The orange one looked like wild fire against the white tiles of the execution chamber.
"Stop it! Don't do this!" Rhodey yelled as he tried to get to Tony. But he couldn't move as an invisible force held him in place. In the next room he saw a masked man work to insert the IV line into Tony's arm.
Tony turned his head to look at Rhodey, their eyes locking. There was no sarcastic quip or any sort of bravado from his brother. The only thing he saw where was resignation.
Then the warden gave a nod, and the plunger was pushed down.
"Tony!" His voice cracked on his name while the poison rushed into his veins.
Tony's began to falter, and then stopped altogether.
"Nooooooo! Please, noooooo!"
A monotone beep was heard, declaring Tony's heart had stopped.
Rhodey jolted awake. He sat up, drenched in sweat, gulping in air. Around him the room, his bedroom, was dark, still, and safe. His hands shook as pressed them hard to his face, trying to force the memory out of his mind. But the awful image of seeing Tony pale and lifeless on that gurney remained.
Monica stirred beside her husband and she touche his shoulder gently, concern in his voice as she asked, "Another one, James?"
He couldn't trust himself to speak, so Rhodey nodded.
Monica said, "That's the twelfth time this month."
"Yeah."
"You can't keep acting like everything's okay. Call him, James."
Rhodey looked at the clock, "It's three in the morning, Moni. Do I really need to wake Tony up at this hour?"
"Yes," she said firmly, "Because otherwise, you won't be able to go back to sleep."
With a sigh, Rhodey grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He found Tony's name and hit the dial button. The other side of the line rang twice before the expected groggy but unmistakable voice was heard.
".... Got a clue what time it is, Platypus?" Tony rasped, his tone only halfway irritated but mostly joking.
Rhodey exhaled slowly then rubbed his face as he answered, "Yeah, I know. I just.... needed to hear your voice, man. Had another one of those... horrible dreams again."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
When Tony spoke again, his voice was softer and gentler than Rhodey expected.
"I"m still here, Rhodey. I'm alive, able to draw deep breathes and my heart's pumping away in my chest cavity. Why ever your brains is torturing you with thee dreams, it's not reality. It didn't happen."
Rhodey felt Monica's hand on his shoulder.
His voice is thick as he replied, "Yeah, I just needed to... be reminded."
"I know. I'm on speed dial for that reason. Now, go back to sleep before Pepper wakes to find out that I am doing bedtime reassurance calls at ridiculous hours."
Rhodey laughed, "Yeah, thanks, Tones. Goodnight."
"Night, sourpatch."
Rhodey put his phone back on the nightstand.
"Feel better?" Monica asked.
He settled back down and pulled her to him, "Yeah, I do."
"Good. Now try to go back to sleep."
Rhodey nodded, and closed his eyes.
Tony's safe and he's not going anywhere.
