Phoenix (Sequel to "Insights")
DJ Dubois

May 2014

Pairings: Tony/Pepper; Bruce Banner/Betty Ross and Steve/Peggy (implied).

Notes Part 1: Story actually runs concurrent to my earlier piece "Insights" in addition to Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Iron Man 3. It is a bigger Avengers piece.

Notes Part 2: The characters from Marvel belong to Marvel Studios and Paramount. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Chapter 1 [About the end of the Winter Soldier—Stark Enterprises, Long Island, NY]

The sun rose in fire over the eastern sky lighting the waters of Long Island Sound and the adjacent facility. Clouds shimmered orange and pink. A few birds chirped in the branches. A breeze billowed across the landscape. All seemed ideallic.

If only what was going on in the complex would seem as much….

Maria Hill parked her beige Taurus at the closer end to the visitors' parking lot and set the brake. She leaned back in the driver's seat and exhaled in exasperation and annoyance. Until Hydra's infiltration of SHIELD, she'd served as a top analyst and Nick Fury's Number Two for years. She'd helped plan and spearhead some of the biggest endeavors that the agency had seen.

Too bad the agency was no more since she and her allies had to take it down.

Now I need a job. Talk about the place I don't want to be! She frowned at the memory of the complex's arrogant CEO. She could feel her stomach turning at Stark's self-centered arrogance. Granted he was a genius but did he need to lord it over everyone? Did he really need to treat everyone around him like ants?

Whatever Pepper Potts was doing for him, Hill wished that she'd do it faster…..

You need a job, Maria. It may not be up to your skill level but it'll pay the bills. She sighed heavily and got out of the car. She started walking toward the complex's door trying to psych herself into a positive frame of mind with each step. Her mind kept going back to the argument with former Director Fury over this chain of events. At least he pulled strings for you. Suck it up.

And with that, she pushed ahead….

Even as Hill strode toward her new opportunity, Bruce Banner crossed the parking lot from the other direction. As had been the case for much of the previous year and a half, he'd used the ride on the Long Island Railroad to compose himself for the day ahead. At his girlfriend's suggestion, he'd taken to listening to Mozart on an MP3 player and reflecting on his surroundings during these trips. Betty certainly knew what she was talking about. He managed a smile while pondering the rekindled relationship with Betty Ross. Glad she got that job at Southampton College. Having her around has been awesome. He nodded to himself while heading for the door. As he got there, he noticed Hill about two steps behind him. "Agent Hill?"

She jerked herself out of her reverie. "Hmmm?" She turned to see him and almost jumped in response. "Dr. Banner?"

"Yeah that's me. See you haven't forgotten about the other stuff," he admitted. "I haven't had a non-mission related episode since the whole Loki deal. Tony, Pepper and Betty keep a good eye on me."

She nodded while recalling the information about his rekindled feelings for the physicist. "Relationships work both ways. I'm sure you do the same for Dr. Ross too. I was glad to hear you and she had gotten back together."

"Thanks. I appreciate that," he expressed. "Kind of early for a SHIELD visit, isn't it?"

"It would be. SHIELD went under. Fury managed to pull some strings and get me something here. I have an appointment with Pepper Potts in ten minutes," she explained.

"Really?" He hadn't heard about the agency's demise. "Well, if you'd like, I'll show you where her office is. It's on the way to my lab."

"Thank you. I'd appreciate that, Dr. Banner," she accepted with appreciation.

"My pleasure," he concurred while swiping his keycard and holding the door for her.

[Pepper's Office—Four minutes later]

One floor above the entrance, Pepper scrolled through files on a laptop while trying to plan her day. She had two conference calls with the Board of Directors and the Joint Chiefs of Staff respectively. Rhodey would be in for a busman's lunch. In addition a benefits presentation loomed in an hour and a half upstairs. Stacks of hard files sat untouched on the desk despite her best efforts to deal with them….

…and then there was her ongoing assignment…

She smiled whimsically thinking of the management techniques she used on Tony Stark. Granted since their relationship had officially advanced beyond boss/underling status to a dating level, she'd found it somewhat easier to deal with him….

…let the boy have his toys. If anyone fit that profile, it was Tony….

There's more to that, Pepper, than him playing around. Tony does a lot of good for the world. At least he's turned his father's legacy from destruction to creation. She knew he was proud of the clean energy initiatives he'd launched over the past few years. Granted it took some prodding to get him to go from toy to patent status…

…but there was nobody better at it than her….

Tony, as much as I wish you'd grow up, there's something endearing about that boyishness too. At least with his health improved and apparent retirement from the super hero business, she'd seen more stability from him than the previous four years. Iron Man had his time. It's good though that he's gone. I don't have to worry my nights away anymore.

The phone rang interrupting her thoughts. "Pepper Potts," she answered.

"Miss Potts, it's Irving Botchley in Archives. Sorry to disturb you, Ma 'am."

She reassured him, "It's all right, Irving." She recalled that she'd assigned him to start going through Howard's old papers and materials. "Did you find something?"

"It's a SHIELD box, Miss Potts. It's marked 'Open upon Captain Rogers' Return. You don't think that means Captain America?" Botchley wondered.

"I'd assume so," she replied. "I have an interview in a couple of minutes. As soon as I'm done, I'll be down there. Give me about fifteen minutes?"

"Sure. Thank you, Miss Potts. Much appreciated," he concluded.

She hung up the phone and quirked an anxious eyebrow. What did Irving find? Howard, what did you leave behind for Captain Rogers? How will Tony react? She exhaled in exasperation not needing any other surprises on her plate at the moment. She saw Banner rapping at the door and motioned for him to enter. "Good morning, Bruce. Everything all right?"

"Everything's great, Pepper. Maria Hill's with me. She has an interview apparently?" he queried.

"Yes she does. Thank you, Bruce. Say would you mind waiting outside? I'll need both of you when I'm done with Agent Hill," Pepper requested.

He glanced nervously at her. What did I do? Did the other guy do something that I don't know about? He nodded and turned to Hill. "Guess that's your cue. Good luck."

"Thank you," Hill accepted as she entered the office. "Good morning, Miss Potts. Thanks for seeing me."

"Good morning, Agent Hill. It's a pleasure. Please call me Pepper by the way. I have some materials for you and then we'll get to work," Pepper replied pleasantly. Seeing Hill's surprise, she added, "I already decided to give you the job. You're definitely overqualified for it but I could use someone of your talents around here."

Hill nodded. "I appreciate that. Thank you. What does Mr. Stark think?"

"I convinced Tony of the same thing. Maybe we'll just ease into that facet of the job." Pepper produced a job description. "You're going to be my assistant. It's mostly arranging travel and some data entry. I'll need you to take calls once in a while outside. Once we get you more familiar with things, I'll draw into other assignments in line with your abilities and experience. Sound good?"

"That works, Pepper. Thank you," Hill expressed seriously and professionally.

Pepper could almost read the moodiness in the other woman—not that she could blame her. She understood how hard Hill had worked to get to where she'd gotten in SHIELD. "Maria, I understand. This isn't just a dead end secretary job. I value your expertise. That's why you're here. The title is just a way to get you on the payroll. Just trust me. I do want you here."

"I appreciate that," Hill replied. How did Stark get a woman like this for a girlfriend? "And I'll do my best."

"I know you will." Pepper held up an envelope. "These are some forms I need filled out. We'll have Happy generate a security card for you. Unless you have any questions, our first issue is waiting in archives. Dr. Banner's coming with us." She set them down on the desk. "We'll get them when we return."

"I'm fine. Let's see what it is," Hill wondered. "Pardon me but I'd rather not let Dr. Banner fret too long if you get my meaning."

"Absolutely," Pepper agreed while already appreciating her insight. "Follow me." She led them out of the office before shutting the door. "Ready, Bruce? I need your input in the archives."

"Archives?" He suppressed a questioning look for the administrator. "Sure. I don't know what I can do down there for you. Happy to help though."

"That will be fine. Bruce and Maria, follow me," Pepper assured them both while heading for the elevator.

The two subordinates glanced confusedly at each other while following. They had no idea what to expect down there….