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Morgan stared at the test in front of her. She felt like she was going to be sick but she needed to do this. She had promised her dad that she was going to complete the test. She had a problem with making herself sick in the face of a test. She couldn’t help it. She wasn’t a genius like her dad or brother. She wasn’t wildly successful like her mom. She was just normal and in her family that meant she didn’t quite measure up. No one quite understood why tests were so stressful.
Morgan raised her hand, “Mr. Cullen.”
“Morgan, we’re in the middle of a test.” He sighed.
“I know. It’s just that I think I’m going to be sick.” Morgan admitted.
“Again?” Mr. Cullen sighed, “Fine. You can go to the nurse.”
Morgan stood up. She could hear the whispers. She knew people thought she was faking it. She wasn’t. Stress induced illness was real and valid. She had googled it! She felt like every step was a lot of work. She reached for the handle but her hand never met the cold metal. Oh, this was bad. Morgan knew what was going to happen. Yeah, She was never going to hear the end of this.
~
“Passed out in class?” Rhodey asked on the phone, “Did you call her parents?”
“Right, I see. Okay. I’m coming.” Rhodey disconnected the call, “i’ve got to go.”
“Morgan or Peter?” Clint asked with a smile.
“Morgan.” Rhodey grabbed his keys and put a couple bills on the table for a tip for the waitress.
“Give her a hug or two from me.” Clint told him.
~
Rhodey walked into the nurse’s office and found his niece there looking embarrassed, “Mo. You okay?”
“I’m fine.” The 14 year old was wringing her hands though, “Sorry they called you.”
“Hey, none of that. You know I’ll always come.” Rhodey signed the document the nurse passed over so he could take Morgan home. When the made it to the car he settled in for the long ish drive back to the lake house, “Want to talk about it?”
“About what? The fact that I’m a loser who passes out in class over a test or the fact that in a family of geniuses I’m never going to be enough.” Morgan leaned her head against the seat closing her eyes.
“You know that’s not true. You are enough. A test in high school isn’t going to measure your worth.”
“Just drive. I can’t wait to see my family’s disappointment.” Morgan put her headphones over her ears.
~
Rhodey followed Morgan into the house and found Tony in the lab in the garage, “You might want to answer your phone when the school calls. You have two children.”
Tony glanced over, “I do? Since when?”
“Don’t joke. We need to talk.” Rhodey sat down, “I brought Morgan home.”
“Is she okay? She had that test and you know how she gets with tests but we talked this morning and I gave her the best pep talk I could think of and I reminded her she’s a Stark and Stark’s can do anything.”
“Yeah about that—I don’t think she took it as the pep talk that it was intended to be.” Rhodey frowned, “She thinks she isn’t enough.”
“Why would she think that?” Tony asked his friend.
“Listen, it doesn’t matter. I think we need to consider something else. I think Morgan has severe anxiety. I don’t think it’s just tests. She is always overwhelmed or worked up about something. I think she could benefit from some professional help and if her school got her some aid from disability resources. They could get her the option to take a test at home even.” Rhodey reasoned with his friend.
“Morgan doesn’t have anxiety. It’s just tests.” Tony insisted, “And she doesn’t have a disability.”
“It’s not a bad word, Tones.”
“SHE DOESN’T!” Tony stood up.
“Okay. Okay.” Rhodey held up his hands, “Sorry if I overstepped.”
“Yeah, so let’s just let it go.” Tony rolled his eyes, “You staying for dinner?”
“Sure.” Rhodey wasn’t leaving. Someone needed to see how Morgan was doing this evening. He knew his friend loved his kids but he was turning a blind eye to the fact that his daughter was struggling.
~
“I heard school was rough.” Peter pointed out to his sister, “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m surprised you heard that I had a tough day in your genius school.” Morgan mumbled never looking up.
“You could go there if you wanted.” Peter pointed out, “You said you didn’t want to.”
“No, I could not just go there. You have to pass placement tests.” Morgan pointed out.
“It’s all easy. I promise. You would not even sweat it.” Tony told his daughter.
“I passed out during a math test today.” Morgan reminded him.
“So we would just practice more.” Tony told her, “If you want to switch schools.”
“I don’t! Can we stop? MOM?” Morgan glanced at Pepper.
“Enough, guys. Morgan had a tough day.” Pepper reminded, “Let’s give her some space to breathe.”
“Thank you.” Morgan sighed.
~
Morgan heard her parents talking that night. They were discussing her. She heard her mom mention she would call the school about retaking the test. Morgan didn’t want to retake it. She wasn’t smart. She couldn’t do this.
Morgan hugged her stuffed animal close to her. She wanted to talk to someone who understood and that wasn’t going to be her family.
~
Morgan walked into the guidance counselor’s office the next morning.
“Morgan! Hello!” Taylor smiled her way. Taylor always had a bright smile that lit up her blue eyes. She was wearing jeans with rips in the knees and a flannel over a t-shirt. Morgan loved Taylor because Taylor was a normal human in her world of geniuses.
“Hey, can we talk?” Morgan sat down knowing Taylor would say yes.
“Absolutely, we can. What’s our topic today?” Taylor sat down behind her desk.
“I’m stupid and a freak.” Morgan pulled her knees up against her chest in her chair.
Taylor pursed her lips in thought, “Nope. That’s just not true.”
“I passed out during my test yesterday.” Morgan pointed out.
“I heard.”
“Oh great.” Morgan rolled her eyes, “So you think I’m dumb too?”
“No. I don’t. Do you remember what I brought up last time we talked?” Taylor asked.
“Yeah. I asked my dad about it one night and he said it’s not possible. He said it’s just stress.”
“Morgan—Anxiety is stress. I just think your anxiety may not go away. I think you have generalized anxiety disorder.” Taylor told her.
Morgan felt a tear roll down her cheek, “Does that mean I’m crazy?”
“Oh, honey. No.” Taylor passed her a box of tissues, “It means you may need some help in some areas but otherwise you’re just perfectly you.”
“What do I do then? I can’t keep living this way? I’m drowning.” Morgan was openly crying.
“I think we need to call your parents in to talk.” Taylor told the teenager.
“No!” Morgan said loudly, “They won’t get it.”
“We need to talk to them to get you help. I wish I could do that without going to them but you’re a minor.”
Morgan got an idea, “I want my uncle to be there. He’ll get it.”
“I think we can arrange that.”
~
“Why are we getting called in to talk to your guidance counselor again? Is this about colleges?” Tony asked his daughter as they walked into the school one morning together.
“Um. No. It’s not about colleges.” Morgan told the truth, “But I’d rather just discuss it with Taylor.”
Rhodey walked over to the group as they headed toward the school, “Funny meeting you all here.”
“What are you doing here?” Tony asked his best friend.
“Morgan asked me to come.” He gave her a kind smile. Morgan had told him everything already and he had listened intently and agreed to support her in telling her parents she needed help and resources.
“Oh, that’s nice.” Pepper smiled, “Let’s hurry though. We don’t want to be late.”
~
“So I’m sure everyone is wondering why we’re all here on a Monday morning.” Taylor smiled, “And I’d love to get into that but first does anyone need coffee?”
All of the adults declined the offer and Morgan sighed. She was hoping to procrastinate this longer.
“Morgan?” Taylor nodded her way, “You’re running this show, Kid. But I’m here to support you.”
Tony glanced at his daughter, “What’s going on, Mo? Is this about the test the other day?”
“Sort of.” Morgan looked at her uncle who nodded in encouragement.
“You know what this is about, don’t you?” Tony asked his friend.
“Tones, this is about Morgan.” Rhodey reminded him, “Don’t make it a thing.”
“How about we all just listen to Morgan.” Pepper told the men in the room.
“I think I have generalized anxiety disorder.” Morgan told her family, “And I think I need help.”
Tony shook his head standing up, “You don’t. You just get a little nervous.”
“Tony.” Pepper warned, “Our daughter is trying to talk to us about something important to her. I think something we need to pay attention to.”
“It’s crazy. She’s fine. She gets a little nervous about tests. But she’s happy. You’re happy, right?” Tony insisted looking at his daughter.
Morgan might as well rip the band-aid off, “I am happy—“
“—See!” Tony told Pepper, “She’s happy.”
“Tony.” Pepper said again, “Sit down. She isn’t finished.”
“I’m happy but I’m anxious all the time. It makes it hard to focus in class. I never feel like I’m good enough. I always feel like something is about to go horribly wrong. I don’t sleep. I’m having trouble eating. I don’t want to hang out with friends.” Morgan shrugged, “I’m happy but I’m also sad.”
Rhodey squeezed his niece’s hand, “I’ve been observing this for weeks. I know it’s hard to hear as parents because you’re not doing anything wrong but Morgan needs are not being met.”
Tony made a noise, “She has food, clothes, a home.”
“Tony.” Taylor interrupted, “Why are you so against this being a thing?”
“Because—“ Tony ran a hand through his hair, “If she’s anxious then I’m worried she got it from me. I never wanted to give that demon to my daughter—My beautiful baby girl.”
“Dad—“ Morgan stood up and hugged him, “It’s not your fault but I do need help, please.”
Tony’s face softened. This was his baby and his baby was in pain. He ran a hand through her hair, “Then we’ll get you help. I promise. We’re going to figure it out together.”
~
A few weeks later,
“Morgan!” Pepper called to her daughter, “You’re going to be late.”
“I’m coming!” Morgan ran down the stairs and grabbed the lunch her mom passed her.
“Wait.” Pepper paused her.
“Mom? Happy’s waiting.” Morgan reminded.
“Your meds.” Pepper pointed at the bottle.
“Right. Sorry.” Morgan shook her head, “I’ve been doing so good I almost forgot I need them.”
“You’re going to be great today, Baby. But if you need us. Call.” Pepper told her daughter.
“Love you!” Morgan told her mom before running out the door.
~
Morgan stared at the test in front of her. She took a deep breath and looked at Taylor, “No time limit?”
“All the time in the world for you.” Taylor promised. I have paperwork to do so you take your time.”
Morgan nodded and put her name at the top of her test. She didn’t feel sick or like she couldn’t do this today. She had resources and services in place now. She was medicated, going to therapy, and had the ability to take all tests in the guidance counselors office with extended time frames. For the first time in a long time—Morgan felt hopeful.