Passionate Dreams

Summary: Pepper is heartbroken when Tony reverts back to his old ways not long after announcing that he is Iron Man. She decides to leave Stark Industries and Tony before she loses herself completely. Pepper/Tony. Romance. Movie-verse.

Authors Note: I do not own Iron Man.

Chapter 4: Grasping

"Miss. Potts has been apprehended, sir. SI-SRT are meeting with LAX Airport Police as we speak." Jarvis informed via the car's computer system.

Happy had driven them in the Rolls Royce Phantom and now they were looking towards the LAX security entrance.

Jeff turned, "Tony, what are we doing here?"

"We have every right to make her sign it. It's company policy."

"It's company policy to track an ex-employee down with a special response team and force her to sign a non-disclosure agreement?" Jeff shook his head and continued, "A non-disclosure agreement that technically is invalid because she is signing it after learning SI military secrets?"

"That is very easily trumped in court." Tony bit back.

Jeff sighed and put his hand on his friend's back, "Tony, you gotta let her go. This is harassment."

Tony did not say anything in response as he leaned back into the cornsilk leather upholstery and glared out the window. Jeff could tell that the man was fighting some kind of inner battle between pride and rationality.

He had known that Tony was going to be upset when he found out that Pepper quit, but the past two hours were completely unexpected. Tony was such a cool, rational person and for him to be acting this way was very uncharacteristic. Tony was acting like a spoiled toddler who wanted a new toy.

Apparently there was more than just mild attraction between them, Jeff thought.

No matter his bad reaction; it meant that Tony actually wanted a real relationship weather he knew it or not.

Jeff smiled to himself. He was going to have to figure out how to keep Tony from completely screwing it up and it was not going to be an easy task.

"You're telling me that that playboy billionaire can just track people down when he feels like it? And the government gives him the authority?" Sam McFarland asked incredulously.

"That super soldier suit thing on the news..." He continued. "Now a private militia?"

Pepper was extremely relieved that the chief was siding with her. Hopefully he could help her get out of this mess and get on a flight to New York. Her mother was going to wonder what happened to her when she doesn't get off the plane at JFK. Pepper did not like it when her mother worried and it really irritated her that there was not much she could do about it.

Pepper Potts was boiling down to her last nerve. Holding her here all day was one thing, but making her mother worry? That was another thing entirely.

Pepper looked up to where the SRT commander was standing. He must have realized that the chief was not siding with him.

"It is company policy that all employees sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement upon hire. Miss. Potts' hire was not the norm and she never signed one. It is not only bad for the company for Miss. Potts to leave the company without signing but also this country. As I said before, Miss. Potts is aware of a great deal of military secrets that would be very dangerous if they landed into enemy hands. Terrorists for example." He stopped and gave Pepper a meaningful glance. "I think you can understand why this was necessary."

It was too much.

"Necessary! Tracking me down like a criminal? Accusing me of wanting to sell military secrets to terrorists?" Pepper blew out some of the the air she had been holding, trying to keep from physically smacking the man.

"So where are these papers for me to sign?"

"We are waiting for the arrival of the corporate attorney," He replied.

Pepper rolled her eyes. "Naturally."

The chief leaned back against the table on the far wall and muttered, "Utterly ridiculous."

Pepper felt sorry for the guy. Tony shouldn't have wasted this man's time with their nonsense.

"I'm sorry, Chief McFarland. They shouldn't have involved you or any of the airport staff in this."

The leader of the SRT scowled at her. "We have--"

Pepper didn't give the guy a chance and cut him off.

"No, you don't have any right. You actually think this is warranted? That Ton--Stark Industries has a reason to believe I would sell data to terrorists?"

Pepper knew she should shut up. She knew that she was angry and would say things that she would later regret. She needed to get away from him and what does he do? Have her tracked down in the middle of the airport and embarrass the hell out of her? Then have his stupid SRT accuse her of selling out to terrorists?

She was fed up.

Standing up she confronted the commander, "Tony just did this to piss me off. NDA my ass...He cocked up some corporate bullshit so he could catch me in time to have a fit like a five year old." Pepper continued to rant, "I bet he's outside waiting, right? I bet that damn lawyer is out there right now trying to talk some sense into him."

Pepper cursed under her breath. She had to chill out. Sitting back down, she crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair and glared at the commander and his team.

The commander and the chief looked taken aback by what she had said about Tony. She had slipped up. Now they knew it was personal.

Her outburst had felt good though.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Pepper looked up and was shocked to see that it was Jeff.

Jeff walked into the security office at LAX and immediately spotted Pepper Potts. The attractive and stylish strawberry blonde was sitting at the table surrounded by the special response team. She was arguing with the men around her with her usual firm resolve but he could see that she was wore out and very, very pissed. Pepper Potts was used to long work days, hectic schedules, and dealing with Tony's crazy moods and habits but this was too much for her. She was tired and she was not hiding it anymore.

Jeff could not help to be sad that someone so strong was finally trying to give up.

He was going to kick Tony's ass.

"Jeff!" Pepper popped up out of her chair behind the table. She looked happy to see him.

"Are you alright, Pepper?" He asked concerned.

She rolled her eyes sheepishly. "Oh you know...embarrassed. I'll live. Are you here to bail me out?"

The chief had stood up also. "I'm Assistant Chief MacFarland. Are you here for her or Stark Industries?"

Jeff laughed, "Both actually."

The chief stared at them confused.

Pepper stepped forward, "Chief, this is Jeff Erickson, chair of the board at Stark Industries."

"I'm here with the NDA for Miss. Potts to sign." Jeff added as he placed his briefcase on the table. He found the necessary papers and handed them over to Pepper.

Pepper thanked him and began reading them throughly.

Jeff smiled. "It's okay, Pepper. I drew them up myself."

She looked up at him and nodded. He could tell that she was having a hard time. She signed them quickly and handed his copies back over to him.

"Thank you for coming, Jeff, and not sending some pesky lawyer." Pepper said as she got up.

"Of course, Pepper."

Jeff watched as Pepper turned to the airport security officers and thanked them as well.

"She's a good girl," he thought.

He really was going to kick Tony's ass.

As the room emptied out, the chief offered to go find Pepper a flight while they said their goodbyes.

Jeff spoke up first. "Are you going to be alright, Pepper?"

"I'm fine. I'm going home for a few weeks. Spend time with my mom. Relax. You know?"

Jeff could tell that Pepper was trying to down play the situation. Now he was sure that something was going on.

"I'm glad to hear that. You deserve it," Jeff started. "Um, Pepper, I don't mean to pry...uh...but all this just now...It's not his--"

"It's okay, Jeff. You don't have to apologize for him. He's a big boy." Her comment was light hearted but could still see the sadness in her eyes.

"Yes, well maybe not right now, men tend to go a little overboard when their ego has been bruised."

"An especially large one in this case." Pepper added wryly.

Jeff laughed at her honest statement.

"Pepper, I know you are a capable young lady and I know you need some time away, but don't think that he's a lost cause."

Pepper crossed her arms and shifted as if she was uncomfortable. "I had to get out."

Jeff nodded. "Yes, it's for the best...for now. Besides, he can't know what he's got until it's gone."

Pepper blushed slightly at his comment.

"He reacted a little...um...stronger than I thought."

"Yea, he made quite a scene at the office. Amelia dropped a whole box of doughnuts, Betty left for the day, and Ellen told him like it is and I had to separate the two."

"Good grief, Tony." Pepper muttered. "And the culture shock hasn't really set in yet. You might want to help him get a replacement a.s.a.p."

"I'll make it a top priority, but I'm hoping she'll just be a temp."

Pepper sighed, "Jeff, I really don't know what's going to happen. I've been through the ringer and I just want to get refocused. I mean, I never wanted to be a personal assistant. I'm a dancer. I want to dance."

Jeff smiled knowingly, "And you've only been with us for five years because of Tony...because for all that he has...he has nothing."

Pepper nodded sadly. "I didn't want to leave, Jeff, but he gave me no choice. Besides, as much as I hate the fact that he's alone, he does it to himself."

Jeff could tell that the truth pained Pepper to mention out loud.

"I...I thought he had changed." She bit her lip, "But I was wrong."

"Pepper, I think he has changed. I really do. He's just going through a difficult process right now. I promise you that he'll realize his mistake."

"If pride doesn't get in his way." Pepper remarked bitterly.

"He'll have to be completely dimwitted to not realize it. And we both know that he's anything but stupid. He's lucky to have someone so dedicated and yet so beautiful."

Pepper's eyes had teared up and she looked to the floor to hide them. "Thank you, but I do not think he feels the same way."

"Oh, he does." Jeff opened his arms to indicate the airport, "This little stunt right here proves it."

Peppers eyes lit up for a few moments but quickly masked whatever she had been thinking. "Thank you again for helping me." Pepper stepped forward and hugged him. Jeff knew that it meant a lot since Pepper was the most professional person he knew. He gave her a fatherly pat on the back.

"You'll be fine, kiddo. Have fun in the Big Apple. Go shopping with mom like you girls do when you are upset at men." Jeff smiled when Pepper began smiling herself. "Buy some shoes...Better yet, use Tony's black American Express that I know you have."

She laughed at that. "I should, but I won't."

They walked outside into the main terminal and saw that the Chief was making his way through the crowd back towards them.

"Bye, Jeff." Pepper said. "I'll be back in a few weeks. I promised Ellen that we would do some retail therapy together on Rodeo Drive."

"Take care, Pepper. Have a safe flight. Don't worry about Tony, we'll be looking after him for you."

Jeff waved as he turned around to head back out the airport.

It would be a rough week or so until Tony finally ignored his pride and ran after her. Remembering Pepper's advice, Jeff pulled out his cell phone to dial the P.A. agency. He needed to make sure to emphasize strong willed and temporary when he gave the agent the job requirements.

Turning around, Pepper saw that the chief had almost reached her and was in a hurry.

"Miss. Potts, the next Delta flight to JFK is already taxiing to the runway. I got it stopped for you to board, but we need to hurry. Your checked luggage was already placed on your original flight, so it should be there when you arrive. Delta has already made the necessary calls to transport it to the baggage office once it arrives."

Pepper mentally sighed in relief.

"Oh, great. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your help." Pepper told him honestly. "It would have been a great hassle to get another flight otherwise."

After calling her mother to give her a brief explanation of things, Pepper followed the Chief out of the terminal onto the taxiway where the plane was waiting. Pepper could see in the distance that a group of airport staff had deployed the airstairs and were waiting for her to board. Pepper started hurrying across the tarmac knowing that they were doing her a great favor.

Maybe she would survive today after all.

And then a glint caught her eye from the side. Turning her head to look see where it had come from, Pepper saw a single man standing next to a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Tony.

She stopped in her tracks. He stood there solemnly gazing back at her in his usual impeccable designer suit. He was to far away for her to know what kind of expression he wore, but Pepper liked to imagine he felt some sort of regret or loss.

Pepper felt an awful pang in her chest at the sight of him standing in the distance. It took everything she had to keep herself from running back towards the terminal, hopping the security fences and telling him that is was just a big joke.

"Miss. Potts?" The Chief tapped her on the shoulder, "We really need to board now. The plane is being held up."

Pepper jumped to attention. She had completely forgotten about the plane waiting on her once she caught sight of Tony. She ran towards the stairs and boarded quickly before her heart had a chance to overrule her brain.

The flight attendants showed her to a seat and helped her with her designer carry-on. Pepper noticed that her fellow passengers were unabashedly staring at her and then out the window at Tony. No doubt trying to figure out who she must be to be able to stop a 500 passenger commercial flight on the taxiway.

As the plane began to lurch forward towards the runway, Pepper looked out of the window for a last look back where Tony had been standing. He was still there, watching the plane taxi to the runway, but was joined by Jeff it seemed.

Pepper leaned back into her seat and closed her eyes. She hoped that the a la carte menu included chocolate because she was going to need it in spades.

I'm sorry that this chapter took so long. I had a small family emergency and it caused things to be pushed back. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!

-Kristina Leigh