Missed Calls
Chapter 4
Tony Stark had two rules: He hated being handed things and he hated being treated like an idiot. So far, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who had invaded his Stark Tower apartment had managed to violate both of these repeatedly. Over the past God knows how long, no less than twelve different people had slid the same set of pages at him. He wrote the same story for each of them before having to sign the same documents over and over. If one more person asked him "Are you sure this is everything, Mr. Stark?" he wasn't sure he could be responsible for his actions. After the last interview, he walked back to the battle-scarred living room and sank onto the sofa.
Tony looked around the room. Thirty-six hours ago, his world was turned upside-down by one visit from Phil Coulson. He scrubbed a hand across his face. Stark Tower had been Pepper's baby, her pet project since the Expo. Coulson's visit interrupted what was to have been a celebration of the building's success. What would she think of her baby now? He checked his watch. Even if she had just left D.C. when he called, she should be there. "J.A.R.V.I.S., has Pepper called since I've been talking to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"No, sir. There has been no further communication from Miss Potts since your last call."
"That's too...something. Don't know exactly what, but very un-Pepper. Is she anywhere in the building?"
"Not that I can detect, sir. However, there are some parts that haven't been fully recalibrated since the damages."
Tony raked a hand through his hair. One possible solution passed through his mind. "What is the status of the Mark 7?"
"Very heavily damaged, sir. An estimated timetable is not a viable option at present."
"So much for going out to hunt her," he muttered. "Keep looking, J." Tony pushed himself off the couch and walked toward the wet bar. It was one of the few areas not cordoned off with yellow tape and teeming with unwanted guests. He didn't even want a drink; he just wanted to get somewhere reasonably quiet. Leaning against the counter and stared out the shattered window into the distance. "Where are you, Pepper?" he said aloud.
He wasn't sure how long he stood there when he heard a commotion over near the security elevator.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you in. This is a restricted area. Only authorized personnel are admitted."
Tony had heard the same spiel given to everyone from tv news reporters to the cleaning crew, so much so, he was beginning to block it out. People with clipboards, manilla folders, and microphones had been calling out "Mr. Stark" so much that he was immune to hearing it. But, something caught his attention, one word echoing over all the rest of the din.
"Tony!"
