A/N: As promised, 24 hours later, enjoy and review but also spread the word my Deary's.
It Started With The Touch Of His Hands.
Later that day.
JFK Airport
12:45pm
Madison's P.O.V
I stare out the window as the plane or jet, one or the other, is escorted across the runway to a private hanger with a name hanging over it, one of which I'm not too pleased with. The Stewardess, Lorraine, chats avidly next to me, pointing out and heavily emphasizing all of 'Mr Starks' fine traits and good deeds, all of his accomplishments. Everything from his latest work with charities, to his work with the Avengers.
Basically labelling him out as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. I'm beginning to think that Liz has either told or let on that I'm not his number one fan in the world, still not if having me escorted out of the very busy Newcastle Airport by four men the size of brick shit houses, to a private jet pretty much painted in neon writing;
STARK
The crew had been fine so far, catering to my every whim, even though I just put my headphones and listened to music the entire trip, that is until I had a minor meltdown when the pilot/captain left the cockpit to say hello to me. The words that left my mouth were of sheer panic; 'The hell are you doing out here?! You're flying the fucking plane, how the fuck can you do that out here? Get your ass back in the son! I don't want to see you until we have landed and I am out that door on solid ground and in one piece mate.'
Not my finest moment I can assure but it was a shock and I'm not the best of flyers, sue me!
Anyways like I said, the Stewardess' were fine until the decent where all four women went back and forth from one another listing off all of Starks qualities, in the end, the decent was more of me keeping my temper more than me keeping my lunch in my stomach. So yes I'm reminded yet again of my sister's new employer. I think back to exactly 7 o'clock this morning when she rang, right on time as usual.
Earlier that day.
The sound of an engine rumbles through my dream, which is ridiculous considering I'm about to like whipped cream of a lovely set of bronzed 8 pack abs, not the mention the man attached to those 8 pack abs is even lovelier. He stares at me lustfully, eyes black as night, pupils blown so wide you can barely see the honey colour of his iris', he grabs my chin softly and pulls me closer and open his mouth. I expect to hear declarations of love or some form of dirty instead;
Hold up. No, you didn't bow, bow.
I aint the chick to walk behind you round town
Just 'cause you're packin', packin', whoop, down south
That don't mean I'm ever gonna take it lying down, baby oh
I stare a my bronzed God confused as he continues singing Little Mix's Power, my eyes widen as he leaps up off of the bed and begins to dance, strategically choreographed too. Eventually the pull of imminent reality hits me and I'm startled awake as my phone continues to blare out the music.
Finally it clicks and spring out of bed in search of the damn device as it continues to ring, my mind now catching up with me,reminds me that this is my sisters' personal ringtone.
"Where are you, you little bast- ah ha!"I exclaim as I finally find it under my pillow, the screen blinks at me almost angrily as I swipe the green answer button, almost dropping the phone in the process. "Hello?"
"Oh finally! Where the hell have you been? I've been calling for the last 12 minutes, you have 3 minutes to dress, grab your stuff and get downstairs otherwise the taxi is leaving without you. Call me when you get to the airport, oh and if the driver asks, tell him its already paid for!" And just like that, the she-devil is gone. I stare at my phone bemused before a car horn honks that has me throwing my phone across the room in fright.
"Shit!" I scrambled across my bed, pick up my phone, access the damage before waving at the taxi waiting for me. Signalling down that I'd be 2 minutes before dashing around my room. I was dressed, packed, door locked and downstairs in record time I might as well have been lightening.
"Morning Miss, Airport yeah" I nod as I catch my breathe, plugging in my seat belt and settling into the backseat.
"Yes please."
"Ne bother love, you in a hurry, I'll de it in 10 minutes?"
"No, no, love its alright, I don't even know what time my flight is leaving let alone what time check-in is." The words were not out of my mouth a second before a text buzzes my jacket pocket, the driver pulls away and onto the main road, singing along with the radio as I read the text from Liz.
CHECKED IN. LEAVE AT 8:30. GATE 44. HEAD TO SERVICE DESK 21. CHARLIE WILL SERVE YOU AND ESCORT YOU FROM THERE. GOTTA GO TO WORK. CALL WHEN I CAN. - LOVE LIZ X
"Huh, that solves that problem." I mutter to myself as I slip my phone back into my pocket, the driver looks at me in the mirror and says something but I can't quite grasp what he says, his Geordie accent overpowers any word that comes out his mouth, I take it as him thinking I said something to him.
"Oh nothing, my sister just text to say I leave at 8:30."
"Ya said ya weren't in a hurry pet, deent worry I'll get ya there on time, hald on love." And with that the backseat slalom began, he weaved in between cars and lanes so fast its a wonder I still have brain cells rattling around in my head. I could've made a mixed salad without even breaking a sweat. I close my eyes as motion sickness begins creeping up my throat and I concentrate on the music from the radio and my breathing, completely ignoring the driver as he said every swear word under the sun. I lose myself in my moment of zen and before I know it the car stops and the driver is shaking me thinking I've fallen asleep. "Hey love, love, we're here. Deent worry I'll grab ye bags just sort yaself out." Just like that his door opens and he's out before I can open my eyes.
What coffee does he drink and where can I find it because no-one should be this wide awake and chipper at this time in the morning.
Letting myself out of the car, a man approaches me in a black security suit.
"Doctor Russell?" He says ruefully as he looks me up and down.
"Yes?" I ask, standing tall and proud, jutting my chin out for emphasis.
"Passport please Ma'am." I grab my handbag out from the taxi in a huff and the driver puts my laptop bag, carry on and small duffle, by my feet and watches avidly. My carry on full with toiletries and medication where as my small duffel held my clothes. I pull my Passport out from my bag and hand it over as the security man, I'm slowly labelling as an arsehole compares the photo on paper to the real life version in front of him. He checks it with some paperwork he pulls from nowhere and eyes me for a moment. His head flicks back and forth in quick succession before he seems somewhat satisfied that I am who I say I am. He hands me my Passport back before bending down to grab my bags and mutters a 'follow me' before he quick walks to a set of mirrored security doors just off to the side of the main entrance.
"Thank you, I believe the taxi's paid for yeah?" I say as I grab a crisp five pound note, one of the new weird plastic ones and hand it to him.
"Aye miss, aye. Cheers though, little bit extra in ma pocket all helps." He walks around me and hops back into his car before the Security arsehole bloke shouts at me.
"Sometime today Doctor." I try not to let him get to me but I'm a woman, a Geordie woman might I add, so I walked up to him calmly.
"Tell mister - Dods, do you get paid for treating people like shit and acting like an arsehole or is that just one of you finer qualities?" I asked sweetly and he stares me down before moving my bags into one hand and I drop into a fighting stance just encase, he looks surprised as he uses his free hand to stretch and swipe his key card to open the doors where I'm met with three more men exactly like him and I internally groan.
"Finer qualities, now follow me. Steve, Adam, Si. Like we said lads." The three men move and I drop my handbag and wait for them to rush me but they don't, they merely surround me, boxing me in on four sides with Arsehole #1 on my left. I watch with interest as I'm handed my bag back and they proceed to march me through the airport, giving me no room to breathe, one of thme kept his hand on the centre of my back, more of a protective guiding hand rather than a case of getting a bit flirty.
"Is this really necessary?" I ask timidly as I stare at the back of Arsehole #1's head. He doesn't answer, merely continues through the airport, an airport that is already packed tight with families, even at this time in the morning, all ready for there holidays before they go back to school. All eyes however watch with keen interest and in some cases a little bit too keen as I'm escorted to desk 21 with presumably Charlie sitting and waiting patiently. He too is watching with keen eyes and stands to attention when the four men crowd me around his desk.
"Miss Russell?" He asks as I automatically hand over my passport whilst Arsehole #1 puts my belongings on the scale and personally checks them on the X-ray machine too, like lightening he's back and tapping his foot impatiently as he waits for Charlie to complete his checks.
"Dr Russell actually." I say, I hear a snigger behind me and I tell myself not to drop kick anyone in the balls. Unprofessional Madison, very unprofessional. However, my rage bubbles a bit more as Charlie looks away from his computer to raise an eyebrow at me and suddenly all the training for my black belts in Mixed Martial Arts as a teen, come flooding back to me and my muscles, a little rusty yes, ripple with memory. Thank you Liz for bugging Mam and Dad into teaching me. "Miss Russell is my sister who said I should already be checked in." I say, eyes a blaze and he blanches as he goes back to work, quickly nodding, prints out my pass and hands back my passport as well as a swipe card.
"All done Miss - er Doctor Russell, Derek and the others will escort you to the Espire Lounge where there will be a private suit waiting for you." I smile, it must've looked predatory because his eyes widened. However before I can look anymore like a crazy lady, there's a hand on my back again, a little more insistant and I'm all but pushed in the direction that Arsehole #1 aka Derek; apparently that's his name, has started off in with the guy that was on my right. Charlie's words don't register as I stare the two men behind me down, swivelling my body on my heels I look at them, jaw clenched and finally one drops his head so I stare at the one cocky enough to meet my gaze and assume that he is the little shit that pushed me.
"Push me again sunshine. And you'll find out just how good of a Doctor I am as I tell you each scientific name and purpose of the bones I break." I say deadly, why, tell me why is the male population testing my patience today when I haven't even had a coffee this morning. The perputrator in question looks at me, calling my bluff, I didnt budge when he moves forward and he seems to realise I'm not bluffing. He and the other guard back off a little and he gestures with his head a little towards Derek.
"After you Dr Russell." I nod in response and walk towards the leader of the arseholes, with a bit more breathing space and he looks to me and then at the others questionly, they were some feet away behind me and I catch the end of what one of them mutters into his Mic as Derek's left ear moves as he receives the message through his ear piece. "Don't think her sister was kidding about the self defence training she's got, she's got balls of steel. Leave her be."
I tried not to swagger as I walked on, the men evidently lightened up a little as the realised I can do just as much as they can in a fight and became more of a mutual party rather than a prison sentence. But hey, I just put the shits up four security guards. Someone give me my props. Derek continues his quick walk once he's happy his bandwagon is close enough and we head to an escalator where I played piggy in the middle.
If I had a camera this would've been a You've been framed moment. Single file on the escalator barely big enough for a pushchair and here I am standing happily as four guards stand a good 6 foot away from me. Rousing from my thoughts, I step off the escalator and I feel more than see my two new shadows as we all walk merrily along a corridor. Where several signs direct you to certain restaurants and bars.
I spy the sign for the Aspire Lounge, along with its queue to get in but rather than wait in line, they divert me through another door with the swipe card I was given. We walk through and head up a flight of stairs before then head towards a private suite. It isn't until I'm closer do I see the name above the door and come to the conclusion who my sister got to fund my impulsive short notice holiday from.
Mr Stark. Derek swipes my key card again and the lads filter around me, two on each side of the door stand watch and one behind me as Derek puts my things into the suite and walks back. Waving an arm in front of him, a signal for me to enter, once I'm in he shuts the door and my temper boils over as my phone rings.
Hold up, no, you didnt-
I answer. "ELISABETH ANNE RUSSELL."
Present.
They are still babbling back and forth and I have to end this before I lose my temper.
"Look ladies I understand that from your point of view Tony Stark is a Godsend. However I don't. So don't try and change my mind, if anything it needs to come from the horses mouth. Did he put you up to this?" I ask as we finally stop and a knock emits against the exit door and one of them, Lorraine, hurries to open it as I unbuckle my belt and move to grab my stuff. Silence follows as no-one bothers to answer my question.
"We were given strict instructions to make you feel welcome."
"That wasn't the question I asked, I will give my thanks to him for his hospitality and staff; some of them anyways, and for getting me here faster than most airline firms so I can see my sister but that will be it, I don't care how many charities he donates to, how many care plans he offers or holiday time he gives you, two wrongs cant make a right, so for he's counted up to many wrongs. And evidently he cant learn from his mistakes."
"Hello Happy." The name Happy rings a bell in my mind and warning bells sound off and I prepare myself for a possible not so welcoming, welcome party. Happy is Tony Starks Head of Security and personal friend. I freeze when I hear more male voices, which gives Helen, Rachel and Lauren there chance to grab my belongings and scuttle off of the plane.
I follow them as it seems no one will be boarding the plane anytime soon and figure I best bite the bullet, not only does New York's mid day heat greet me like a wrecking ball, I meet Happy Hogan in a stare off.
I look behind him to find several men, in black suits and two cars.
Happy gives me a once over as I descend the stairs, already somewhat thankful for the last minute change of clothing before the flight made its finally decent, my Sapphire Blue wrap dress hugged the little curves I have and accents them, the wrap giving me a waist and the built in nude belt makes the dress pop even more. The fabric rises where a modest cut to the bust area gives a tasteful amount of cleverage as the fabric ends at the tips of my shoulders, the hem differs, longer in the back that touches the back of my knees and shortens at the front with an overlapping skirt that makes a small slit that sits just over the top of my knees.
I'd been given a range of support over my change of clothes as I slipped on a pair of nude court shoes and sorted the junk out of my handbag, also nude and a single over the shoulder strap, so it didn't look like I'm carrying everything but the kitchen sink in it. It was a far better choice than my wripped high waist jeans, guns 'n' roses cut out top and well worn hoody from before but as I cowardly told the Stewardess' they where my travelling clothes, my hopes is that I felt both professional, feminine, mature and ready to take on New York with my sister.
However the look on Happy's face as he makes his appraisal, makes me feel like a 50 pence pole dancer. I almost stumble on the last step when the car door nearest to the front of the plane opens did I take a deep intake of breathe. Happy made to ask me something but the blonde head of hair that emerged from the backseat was a certain shade that I would recognise a mile away, I shoved my passport and handbag into his hands, almost making him drop his tablet as I started walking to towards the person.
She stands there smiling, a beacon of hope, my guardian angel. I stop a few feet or so in front of her and she smiles a tearful smile, the men in the suits raise a few eyebrows but don't utter a word, I don't care if they witness my sister showing emotion, we haven't spoken, or physically seen each other in 4 years. This has been a long time coming.
"Dr Russell!" She croaks and I chuckle, she opens her arms and I lunge the last few feet.
I'm completely unaware as the other occupants of the cars step out because this, this is home. I latch onto her so tight I fear I may break both mine and her bones, but she crushes me to her with such vigour and ferocity that I don't worry. I breathe in her scent, I take in her warmth and bathe in her love. Its soothes me. We stay like this for what is only minutes but feels like hours to us, before a voice interrupts our moment.
"Well what do you know, the stone statue does show emotion after all, camera! I need camera's!" I'd recognise that voice from anywhere and I pull back abruptly, Liz closes her eyes in disbelief and mutters to herself that he's an idiot.
"Mr Stark! How nice to finally meet you." I say sweetly, the sound making Liz's eyes ping back open in worry and she grasps my elbows in a desperate attempt to ground me but the look in my eyes tells hers to stop begging. Which one of us is the older sibling again?
"Pleasures all mine Doc, say you're pretty young to be a Doctor though right?" I turn and smile at him.
"Guess we have something in common Mr Stark, we both made great aspirations when we were young and we've both made out to accomplish those, my being a Doctor is one of those." I move forward but Liz's hand shoots out to grab my elbow again.
"Go big or go home right?" He says, removing his tinted glasses for a moment as he gazes at Liz holding me back, he twirls them for a moment before putting them back on. "So how was the flight? I don't do much flying these days in my private jet. You know, I have others means of that method." He moves forward, I'm still unware of the tall red headed woman who has approached Happy and collected my bag and passport from him nor the tall, strongly built man with blonde hair who looks over the plane in wonder. No my eyes are focused on another person.
"Actually yes, I'm not the best of flyers but some of your staff were very helpful, tell from the minute I got to the airport on my end, every staff member I received were they all yours?" I ask, wrestling my arm away from Liz and move and meet Mr Stark.
"Why yes, only the best you know, wouldn't expect anything less out of the Stark Company." He winks at someone, assumedly Liz, unaware of the volcano about to erupt in front of him.
"Well, I must say they are something else, I don't know how to thank you, or wait I do." He looks back to just in time to receive a well powered right hook from me.
"Oh my god Tony." The red head exclaims and I realise its Pepper Potts.
Tony sways for a moment, his eyes narrowing on me for a split second before slumping back into the arms of his trusted Head of Security. Happy gestures to me and suddenly I'm surrounded by several men. I don't bother moving, I've already proven I can do much by doing little and the men in suits keep there distance as I stare Happy down.
"He'll be out for a few more seconds, a bruised eye, busted lip and possible broken nose along with a slight swelling around his eye. He'll be dazed for a moment before he'll be back to his usual self. Do me a favour and let him know, some members of his staff are complete and utter judgemental arseholes whilst the others are gullible suck ups. I won't be needing Mr Starks assistance anymore I can find my way from here, thank you." I move towards Miss Potts, the men in suits make to move but a figure in front of them stops them as he steps in front of me.
"You missed something Dr Russell." A large hand lifts up my punching one for inspection and I'm awarded with the handsome face of Captain Steve Rogers, his blue eyes survey my hand, he turns my it this way and that and I let him, somewhat entranced by him and the feel of his hand and somewhat fangirling over the fact he's Captain Freaking America.
"And tell me Mr Rogers, what medical issue have I overlooked?" Holy hell was that my voice? Since when did my lips move on their own accord.
"Broken knuckles, bruised skin and muscles damage, you punched to hard to quick, your muscles clenched around your knuckles, the impact teared through the muscles and broke these two knuckles here." He points to the severely bruised area around my middle and forefinger knuckles. They were beginning to swell and I couldn't understand how I couldn't register the pain but could register the softness of his hand and yet detect the slight roughness in areas, obviously made from holding his shield through all the years. "This needs medical attention, not that I'm critizing your area of expertise but this needs a clinical and clean environment, there's a perfectly good one I know of, the facility is only a half hour drive upstate, think you can hold out until then?"
"But sir, I haven't given her clearance and not to mention she knocked out Mr Stark." Happy huffs as he continues to hold up an immobile Tony.
"Exactly, if a woman can hold her own she gets an okay in my books, plus she knocked Tony out in one punch, I've seen bigger and stronger men have to break a sweat to do that." He chuckles, dropping my hand gently and it falls uselessly back to my side, Pepper finally moves and hands me my bag, looking between me and Steve as if she were watching a tennis match.
"You heard him Happy, lets go. Liz, you and Dr Russell can ride with me, I want to get to know you better. Er Steve you don't mind?" She nods her towards Happy, as he reddens in the face as he struggles to hold Tony's weight.
"You gals are fine on your own, I'll support Happy the best I can once Tony awakens, can't say I be much of help, he's had this coming." Steve says winking at me before moving to pick Tony up with ease as the other men in suits filter from out of site as Pepper links her arm through mine.
"He's had it coming alright, just lucky it wasn't me." She grins and we enter the car, the door shuts firmly behind us and barely tweo seconds pass before;
"Did you have to knock him though?" Liz whines and I laugh.
Well there you go, review, review and I shall love you!
