Chapter 2

So, another chapter's on the way. I really hope you liked the last one and that you'll enjoy this one even more. Please leave a review, the more reviews I get, the faster the updates. Anyway, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Fantastic 4, If I did I wouldn't be writing a story here and there would be another character who would go out with Johnny

When all the papers were signed we all started to head towards the exit. When we were far enough so that they couldn't hear us I turned to Reed.

'Reed, He knew about NASA. Maybe he made the call to shut us down.' I said, panic creeping into my voice. If it was true then Victor knew that sooner or latter we'll come to him. Was it some kind of plan of his? Ben nodded.

'She's right Reed. What if Victor planned it all along.?' He asked, agreeing with me. Reed rolled his eyes at us.

'Guys, think about all the people we can help if this works.' Me and Ben looked at him sceptically, still not liking the way Victor has treated Reed. Reed sighed seeing that we weren't confident about his words. 'Look, we got what we wanted. That's enough.' Then he smiled at us, his eyes twinkling.

'A few days in space, it'll be great. What's the worst that can happen?' He asked, like always sure of his words. I just gulped, I had a few ideas of what might happen and none of them were in any way pleasant. As we made our way to the elevator, Sue joined us making me smile warmly at her and Reed stiffen once more. This guy still haven't learned a thing. I shook my head at his reaction slightly which didn't come unnoticed by Sue who looked at me with puzzlement in her deep brown eyes. I just shook my head again, signalling her that it was nothing. When we pilled to the elevator, Sue pushed a button and we began descending down. The uncomfortable atmosphere was practically visible as Reed and Sue stood on the opposite ends of the small room of the elevator, trying to get as far away from each other as possible. Ben caught my eye and smirked making me choke with laughter. After a moment of riding in silence, Sue decided to speak up.

'Reed, you should know that those solar winds have been picking up speed.' She said making Reed smile.

'I factored them into my coordinates.' He reassured looking at her, visibly happy to have something to talk to her about. Sue just snorted, making Reed's smile fade.

'Right, of course you did. In theory. It's a little different once you're out there.' She said looking away from him. Me and Ben listened to the conversation carefully, both of us hoping that there will come a day when these two will be back together. To tell you the truth I wasn't sure why they broke up. One day Sue just walked out on us, not explaining a thing. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like if they stayed together. Susan was like a mother to me when her and Reed where together, someone in my life I never had. My parents had me when Ben was a teenager so the difference between us was quite big. It wasn't long after my sixth birthday that they were killed in a car accident. After that I lived with Ben who was nineteen at the time. Don't get me wrong, Ben was great but I really wanted a mother. When he and Debbie started going out I thought that maybe my dream will come true but she wasn't what I expected. She didn't really like me and I rarely came to see her. I liked Sue way more and that's why I was really sad when she cut all connections to Reed, with me included.

Reed was taken aback by the venom in her voice, as if Sue wasn't talking only about this situation. I had a suspicion that she wasn't referring only to right now but also to the reason they broke up.

'I can assure you I…'

'When are we leaving?' Ben interrupted Reed before he could say something he would later regret. All of us looked at him and he winked at me. Sue looked back at me and Ben and smiled.

'I'll be scheduling the launch so you can call me in the morning for resources and crew.' Sue said giving Reed what I assumed was her business card with her phone number. Reed looked at it and then back up to Sue and smiled.

'I think I remember the number.' He said, trying really hard to be charming. To be truthful I think he was doing quite a good job but then Sue said with a small smile;

'It's been changed.' Reed's smile quickly disappeared from his face while Sue kept smiling. Reed, after a moment of hesitation took the card from her. Just then Ben cleared his throat and with a small nod in Sue's direction stared at Reed. I looked at the both of them confused while Reed seemed to perfectly understand what was going on in my brother's head. Reed looked at Sue.

'As far as the crew, I was hoping Ben could pilot the mission.' Said Reed and I understood what this was about. Ben really wanted to be the main pilot of the ship, and Reed was there to help convince Sue that he was a good choice. Sue smiled apologetically.

'We already have a pilot on our payroll, but you are welcome to ride shotgun.' She said and Ben's face visibly fell. I reached and squeezed his hand, but he didn't look at me. Sue looked at me with an unreadable expression on her face. She looked like she was worried about something. Maybe looked a bit disgusted at some idea that popped into her head. She looked at Reed and Ben.

'Remember my brother, Johnny?' She asked and I frowned. Sue had a brother. I never knew that. I looked at Ben hoping that he could explain but his looked blank. I wondered what was this Johnny like…

After we left the building of Von Doom Industries, we headed home. Ben went to see Debbie while Reed and I came back to the Baxter Building. I decided to make myself something to eat and asked Reed if he wanted something. He only murmured something under his breath that I didn't catch and went to the lab. I sighed. It was like I was living alone sometimes. Nowadays, Ben spent all his time at Debby's when he wasn't working and Reed practically lived in his lab. I was alone all the time, and I sometimes wondered what would it be like to have someone to spend my time with. I have never had a boyfriend because Ben scared everyone away, and most of the time I didn't have time for anything except for school. So, here I was, alone on the couch in the living room in front of the TV with a pack of barely done popcorn on my lap and a bottle of sparkling water beside me. I turned on some stupid film about vampires and fell asleep in front of it, thinking about next week's mission.

That's how most of the next week was like, Reed sitting in his lab all the time, forcing me to bring him food so he wouldn't starve and Ben spending all his time with Debby. When I woke up the following Monday, I was in my bedroom under the light blue covers of my bed that looked brighter with the sun shining through the window. I rubbed my eyes and then remembered what day was today. I jumped off the bed, stumbling a little and rushed into the bathroom. I took a shower and plated my long hair, then got dressed in shinny jeans, a blue T-shirt and my favourite jacket. I packed my art drawing kit into a backpack and headed to the kitchen. Reed and Ben were already there, talking about today. They both looked at me and smiled.

'I was about to wake you up.' Said Ben with a smile. He looked at the backpack. 'All ready I see?' He asked and I nodded. I was kind of nervous about today, the idea of me being in the space making me shiver. What have I gotten myself into. Reed must have guessed my thoughts because he looked at me sympathetically, came up to me and folded my small frame in a hug.

'I'll be ok, you don't have to worry about anything ok? There is nothing going to happen to you, me and Ben are going to make sure of that.' He said and I looked at Ben. He nodded at me and smiled. I weakly smiled back. I had a bad feeling about this.

Once we got to the station, I was so nervous I was shaking. Ben and Reed tried to tell me that everything was going to be ok but I couldn't get the sick feeling out of the pit of my stomach that told me not to go onto that mission. But In didn't have a choice now. So I forced a smile on my lips and pretended that I was ok. At some point Ben and Reed disappeared to, as they have said it; 'Take a closer look at our Capitan.' I didn't really care so I ignored them, telling them to go ahead. I needed to relax so I decided to draw. When Ben and Reed came back, they started to fiddle with their stuff, Ben checking his suitcase and looking at the photo of himself and Debbie for the thousandth time since we left, before zipping it up while Reed was looking at a laptop and some papers. I sat in the corner out of everyone's sight, finishing my drawing when I heard someone shout in a deep, male voice;

'Capitan on the bridge!' Ben, being himself stood up quickly and straightened, looking like a solider waiting for a next order. There was a flash and then a handsome guy in a tight, blue and black jumpsuit that showed off his muscled back and nicely toned shoulders, arms and legs came in to view. He had short chopped light brown hair. I pushed my hair out of my face and checked the guy out. Wow, he was hot! I noticed how the suit showed off his ass and I blushed madly and looked away. What was happening to me?

'Digital camera: $254. Memory stick: $59.' He said and came nearer Ben who's face looked like he was about to kill the kid. I shook my head a bit, poor guy. He had no idea who he was dealing with. 'the look on your hard-ass former CO's face when he finds out he's your junior officer: Priceless.' He said and sat on the edge of a chair. Ben made his way up to the mysterious guy with a murderous look on his face and for a second I became worried that he'll hurt the kid. The gut leaned back a bit as if preparing for the blow but thankfully, at the last minute Ben zipped up his suit, probably hoping he could choke him.

'Thank you. That's so sweet.' The guy chuckled, while Ben's face remained like a stone mask of fury.

'I can handle the ship.' He walked away and towards the wardrobe. 'I can even handle Mr. Blonde Ambition. But I don't know whether I should be flying or doing Swan lake in these suits.' He complained to Reed completely ignoring the guy and took out a suit that looked a lot like the one the mysterious guy was wearing.

'I mean who the hell came up with these?' He asked, a little disgusted.

'Victor did.' We all turned to the new voice to find Sue in a similar one with a bunch of material in hand. 'The synthetics act as a second skin, adopting to your body's individual needs.' She said and I looked at her, not understanding a thing she said.

'What does that even mean?'

'See now that means it keeps the hot stuff hot and it keeps the cool stuff cool.' The guy said at the same time and then, dumb folded looked at me. He had the most amazing blue eyes I have ever seen, with a mischievous twinkle in them. We stared at each other, and after a moment I looked away embarrassed. I let my hair fall around me, hiding my face behind a dark brown, thick curtain.

'Wow, Fantastic.' I heard Reed said and when I looked in their direction I saw that he has moved from his spot in the chair and was looking amazed at Sue. Well, I certainly could see why. The tight jumpsuit was like a real second skin showing off all her curves and making her look really sexy. No wonder Reed couldn't take his eyes off her. Just then Reed took the suit she had in hand and looked at it in awe.

'Material made from self-regulating unstable molecules.' He said and I saw Sue's expression fall. I just shook my head. Reed was a real idiot sometimes. I stood up, trying to ignore the guy still staring at me and came up to Reed and the rest. Ben and Sue looked at each other and then I caught Ben's eye. He too was shaking his head at his best friend and his stupidity. 'I've been working on a formula for this.' Said Reed, not aware of the tension he has created. From the corner of my eye I saw the guy look from Reed to Sue and back with a slight smirk in his face. Ben looked down and shook his head again while I had the urge to hit Reed across the head and make him see that he finally had a chance to patch up things with Sue and he was ruining it.

Sue, who was visibly put down by Reed not noticing her, murmured;

'Great minds think alike.' And then her gaze landed on me. She smiled and looked between me and the guy.

'Oh… you two don't know each other, do you? Tori, that's my younger brother Johnny. Johnny, that's Victoria Grimm, Ben's younger sister I've been telling you about.' She said and I looked at the… Johnny. His eyes were wide, while he looked in between me and Ben probably looking for resemblance. I smiled a bit knowing that he won't find any. I looked like our mum while Ben like our dad. We looked nothing alike. I saw Ben looking at me and Johnny from the corner of his eye, and I rolled my eyes at him. He hated me being around boys. Sue was looking in our direction as well, but she was glaring at her brother. I looked away from them and taking my art things into one hand, I reached the other out to Johnny.

'Hi, I'm Victoria, but you can call me Tori.' I said and smiled shyly. He gave me a charming smile and instead of shaking my hand he kissed it. I blushed madly, not used to that kind of attention from boys and when he winked at me, I giggled quietly.

'I'm Johnny Storm. And it's very nice to meet you.' He said, emphasizing the word 'very'. Ben stepped in between us, slightly shielding me from the other man, probably glaring at him. Sue also glared at Johnny but I wasn't paying much attention. I was still looking at Johnny who was winking in my direction. Sue, trying to break the tension, pushed Johnny away and gave Ben and me a smile.

'Here you go Ben, Tori.' She said giving me and Ben similar suits that looked a bit like the ones you see on films when someone goes into space.

'Thanks sweetie.' Said Ben to her.

'Ye, thanks Sue.' I said, and sneaked a glance at Johnny. He was still looking at me and I blushed. Maybe this space trip wasn't going to be so bad after all. Sue threw a suit at Reed who was just unbuttoning his shirt. He looked startled for a moment, then looked at me. I had to fight the urge to laugh at him. He really had no idea what he was doing wrong. I just shook my head. I went to the dressing room to get changed, and when I was trying to zip up the annoying piece of clothing, Sue came in with one of the suits she have out to us. I smiled, thanking God that there was someone who could help me with this thing.

'Sue, can you help me? I have no idea how that weird plastic zipper works.' I said, and exhaled relieved when she smiled and came up to help me. I watched her expression for a while, she still seemed sad. She finished with the suit and smiled at me.

'Here you go sweetie.' She said and I looked down. The suit clung to my body, making me feel like I had nothing on. It hugged my small waist and legs in such a way that my small body looked more womanly and sexy. I smiled at Sue.

'Thanks, I had no idea that zipping something like that could be so hard.' I said and she laughed.

'Ye, I had problems with it at first too.' She said and was about to star to get changed when I stopped her.

'Sue…' I called and she looked over her shoulder. 'Reed may be an egghead but he means well.' I said and her expression changed. It became somewhat sad yet angry. She never answered.

When we were all ready, we went into the huge machine that was supposed to take us up into space. I looked at it horrified, the nerves from before catching up to me. I stopped dead in my tracks, and gazed at the enormous spaceship and imagined it falling. I automatically took a step back, afraid to get into it and collided with someone. I looked up over my shoulder to see Johnny grinning down at me.

'Afraid?' He teased and I narrowed my eyes. Just like Ben, I hated it when someone made fun of me, undermined my abilities or pointed out my flaws. I was too proud to accept any help from anybody and absolutely hated it when someone saw me at my weakest. Even my brother wasn't allowed to see me when I was on my period and I was in horrible pain, and I told my brother everything. My pride was my worst flaw.

I shook my head and he smirked.

'You have nothing to be afraid of, I'll take care of the ship and everyone aboard.' He said and I rolled my eyes at him. As cute as he was, he was too sure of himself. I glanced at the spaceship and after taking a deep breath, I marched forward, ignoring the panic bubbling inside me.

Let me tell you that if you don't like to fly on a plane, DON'T try to go into space. It was possibly the worst and the most scary thing that ever happened to me. Thank God the flight took only ten minutes or I would have died then and there. I don't think I was ever so happy to get out of a machine. As we were making our way from the spaceship to the Von Doom space station, I heard Johnny say to Ben;

'If you're good, maybe next time Daddy'll let you drive.' He said jokingly, and I swear I heard Ben growl.

'You keep talking and there won't be a next time.' Said Ben and I smiled and shook my head. Johnny really liked to get on Ben's nerves, he had a talent for it too. As we walked, we passed a huge glass window with the view of the actual Earth. Me and Reed stopped dead in our tracks and stared in awe and the planet before us. It looked so different from the photos I saw on the internet. Just then Sue stopped and looked at Reed smiling a little.

'Long way from the projection booth at the Hayden Planetarium, isn't it?' She asked, looking at the view herself before walking away. I walked after her, wondering what this was about.

'Yes. Yes it is.' Reed stood there for a while looking out the window before following us. When we got to the control center, Sue pointed to different monitors and what looked like computer screens scattered around the large room.

'We can monitor the cloud's approach and observe the tests from here.' Sue said and walked towards one of them to check something. I looked around.

'Is it safe?' I asked, looking around. Reed and Ben stood next to me, both of them looking around.

'The shields on the station should protect us.' Reed said, and both me and Ben turned to look at him.

'Should?' said Ben skeptically, as the uneasy feeling was back into the pit of my stomach. Why did I have a feeling that we shouldn't be here?

'What's the matter, Ben? Getting paranoid in your old age?' I looked to my left to see Victor with a smirk on his face walking towards us. I frowned. I really didn't like that guy, he was getting on my nerves. Ben looked like he was about to say something back to him when Reed, the peacemaker he was stepped in.

'Let's start loading those samples. Get your suit ready, Ben.' He said and I was about to protest but Reed turned to me and shook his head a bit. 'Tori, why don't you go and sketch for a while?' He said, wanting me away from them while they talked to Victor. Reed knew that I would stand up for Ben and say some nasty things to Victor if he tried to insult my brother. He wanted me away from the conversation. I looked at Ben and he nodded. I sighed and glared at Victor who just smiled. I took my backpack with me and headed to wander around the station. I didn't hear the conversation that followed but I was pretty sure that Victor would try to put Reed down. I really hated his guts. As I was walking around looking for a good place to start sketching I bumped into someone. I stumbled and would have fallen on my butt if it wasn't for two strong hands that caught me and stabled me. I looked up to see a grinning Johnny.

'We keep meeting like this don't we?' he asked smiling. I smiled and nodded shyly. I became aware of how close we were and took a step back, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I looked down, not meeting his intensive gaze, feeling self-conscious.

'I guess.' I responded, and sneaked a look at him. He was looking at me intensively, like he was trying to figure me out. After a minute or so of an uncomfortable silence Johnny cleared his throat.

'So, where are you heading too?' He asked and I shrugged.

'I don't know, Reed didn't want me to hear his conversation with Victor so now I don't really have anywhere to go. I thought I might find a window like the one we passed earlier so I could draw but I didn't see any so…' I trailed off, wondering why I was telling him this. Sure he was cute and extremely handsome but he seemed like he was a hothead and a child at heart. He always said the thing on his mind and liked to pull pranks, especially on my older brother. I didn't know him for long but that was the impression I got from spending a few minutes with him. Johnny smiled at me.

'What about you go with me? I'm going to get Ben ready and there is a massive window there with the view of the Earth. You're going to love it.' He gave me his charming smile and I blushed madly, looking down.

'Ok, I guess it'll be ok.' I said after a moment of hesitation. If there was a window, I had to check out the view. And Ben will be there. What could be the worst thing that could happen?

So, that's chapter 2. I really hope you liked it. Please leave a review. It means a lot to me. And the more you review the faster the updates.

Anyway, see you next chapter.

-Avalongirl55