Thanks for the reviews guys! Just before this chapter, I have to explain that in order to lengthen my story and make it different from the movie, I have to change the amount of time between certain scenes in the movie. So where things would happen in the same day during the movie or at night, I'll be changing it to maybe another day later or a different time. Just thought I'd warn you guys so there was no confusion, thanks!


Rebecca had managed to find a reasonably isolated motel outside of town. It looked like a quiet place, complete with internet access, which was exactly what hse had been hoping for. Everything in the house was gone now, all of the technology and the computers, but the information was still out there. With Ben's help, Rebecca could hack into her dad's computer system and files, looking for any information as to where he could be. Rebecca was probably the only person other than Tony himself who would be able to hack into such an advanced system, but she had all night to do it.

The virus she had wasn't much of an issue while she had been on her own. Her body wasn't heating up and she wasn't getting worked up anymore, but she knew that it would be very easy to do so and hurt someone accidentally. Her number one priority was finding her dad and making sure he wasn't taking on the Mandarin alone, but she was also desperate to know what was going on with her body. She only knew the basics about Extremis, she needed to know more.

Rebecca picked up the cheap cell phone she purchased at the gas station and dialed a memorized number, holding the phone to her ear as she looked around the little food and drinks bar in the room.

''Ben, it's me, I'm at a motel now,'' she told him as she crouched down, looking through the scattered treats the room had to offer. ''Listen, how good are you at hacking into things?''

''You mean how good am I at doing my job? Not bad, why?''

''I need a big favor, but it's pretty difficult,''

''What is it?''

''Hacking into my dad's computer system,''

''Are you kidding? No one can hack that thing!''

''Which is why I said it's going to be a little difficult. I can tell you all of the necessary codes and stuff, I just don't have access to a computer,'' she told him calmly. ''It'll probably be easy...I think.''

Rebecca could hear Ben let out a sigh and think to himself for a moment. Hacking into Tony Stark's system wasn't exactly something he thought he would ever have to do, but then again, a lot of things had happened that day he never thought would.

''I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything,''

''That's all I'm asking,'' she smiled to herself, glad he was going to try. ''I just need to get this done quickly, as soon as I know where he is I'm leaving,''

Ben was sitting at his computer as he listened to Rebecca, wondering how he could help her more. He didn't like her doing this alone but she just wouldn't let him go with her, but there was no way he was going to sleep well or even function properly until he knew she was okay and not alone. Then, he thought of an idea. He had all sorts of technology now thanks to Tony giving him all sorts of applications and gadgets, and he knew how to trace a cell phone now thanks to Rebecca showing him how in case of emergencies at any time. He knew Rebecca was worried Ben would get hurt if he went with her, but he didn't care, he knew how to take care of himself and right now, Rebecca needed someone with her no matter how much she denied it.

''I'll let you know when I find something,'' he told her, immediately beginning to scan for the location of her cell since he knew she wouldn't tell him where she was. ''Just give me the codes and I'll see what I can do.''

''Thank you,''

It had been an hour since Rebecca had heard from Ben and she didn't know what to do in order to pass the time. There was nothing she could do without a location to focus on, and therefor all her thoughts came down to Extremis. She had been infected with the virus for a while now, but she still didn't understand it. She didn't know what it was doing to her inside and how it affected her outside, but the more she worried, the more she skin burned.

She put her hands on the bed and singed through the sheets accidentally, causing her to find a spot on the ground where she wouldn't cause a fire. Rebecca knew how to control it, but it wasn't working as well as she had hoped. Beside her was the mini-fridge and she reached over to open it up, reveling numerous bottles of alcohol. She knew she shouldn't drink, especially after what happened when she took her last drink, but she needed to calm down, and she was desperate.


There was a constant banging noise, and it was getting louder each time. It felt as if the room was spinning and she was surrounded by fire. With each bang there was a vision of the Chitauri chasing her around New York, following her around the buildings and shooting at her. Each bang was the sight of the team getting hit, knocked down, and every bang make her shake with fear until her eyes flew open to an empty motel room, the lights off, but the banging noise still going.

It took a moment for Rebecca to register the fact that someone was hitting on the door to her room repeatedly, and she didn't know what to do. She wasn't careful enough, she wasn't safe, they had found her and now she had nowhere to run. Killian was going to kill her and if it wasn't him on the other side of the door, it was bound to be one of his henchman.

Rebecca walked over to the door to look outside, but there was no way she could see without them seeing her. She walked over to beside the bed and picked up the lamp on the bedside table, although she knew it wouldn't do much damage, it was better than nothing and she had nothing else to count on. There was no other choice but to open the door and get it over with. Rebecca slowly walked over and grasped the door handle, swinging the door open quickly to reveal someone she wasn't expecting at all.

''Bec!'' Ben shouted, stepping back in fear.

She wasn't expecting Ben to show up at all and with the fear of Killian and his henchmen finding her, she was worked herself up to the point where was glowing and her eyes were fiery red. All of her skin was a bright orange hue and she could fear the lamp in her hands melting beneath her fingertips.

''Ben?'' she gasped, her breathing out of control as her heart rate was trying to settle. ''W-what the...what the hell are you doing here? How did you...what are you doing!''

Ben put his hands up and walked toward her, doing his best to stay calm around her. Seeing his girlfriend glowing orange and melting things in her hands was never an image he would get used to, but she was still Rebecca, and she was terrified.

''It's okay,'' he told her in a soothing voice. ''Just...put the lamp down Bec, it's okay,''

Rebecca backed away from Ben, worrying she was going to hurt him by just being near him. She didn't want him to be here with her for this reason. She didn't want him getting hurt because people were after her, but she especially didn't want to hurt him herself because she couldn't control what was happening. Extremis was turning into something she didn't want to be, and she didn't know when her body would burn up or something would happen, hurting whoever was near her.

''You can't be here,'' she shook her head, dropping the melted lamp to the ground with a thud. ''You...no, Ben you're going to get hurt,''

''I won't,'' he shook his head. ''I promise I can take care of myself, no one's going to hurt me,''

''But I could,'' she told him seriously. ''I have no idea what I'm doing, I don't want you to get hurt because of me,''

''I want to help you Bec, there's no stopping me from that. You won't hurt me, I know it, but I'm not letting you do this alone,''

Rebecca looked away from him as she ran her fingers through her hair, her skin settling down as she calmed herself. There were so many things running through her head, she didn't know where to start.

''How did you even find me?''

''That one's on you actually, for teaching me how to trace a phone call,''

Rebecca looked over to him and seeing his playful grin on her face made her just forget about everything she was worrying about in that moment. She loved him for everything he was doing for her and she didn't know how she had found someone like him. Ben walked over to her when he saw her face settle down and soften, and although Rebecca was cautious, he didn't care about the risks when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead lovingly.

''I'm here,'' he told her with a gentle voice. ''I'm not leaving you,''

''You're crazy, you know that right?'' she told him, pulling away to look at him. ''You have no idea what you're getting into,''

''I have an idea,'' he shrugged.

Rebecca smiled before remembering something important, her mind only just reminding her.

''Did you...did you find him?'' she asked with a shaky voice. ''I mean, did you find anything?''

''Yeah,'' Ben nodded his head, looking at her more seriously. ''I know where he is,''


Pepper and Maya had found a hotel out of town, sure they were going to be safe for the night until they worked out what they were going to do. They knew they couldn't stay there for too long, but they needed a place to stay for the night.

''So Tony's daughter's safe?'' Maya asked when they walked into their room.

''Yeah, she's out of town,'' Pepper nodded.

Pepper had been worrying over Rebecca the whole night since she hadn't been in contact, but hearing from her made her feel a whole lot better. She didn't like the idea of her being out there on her own, but she was alive and okay, and that's all that mattered after the evening they had had.

''It's hard to believe a man like Tony is a father,'' Maya commented.

''He's actually a wonderful father,'' Pepper told her defensively. ''Considering he raised her by himself,''

''I'm not doubting his capabilities,'' Maya told her as she sat down on the bed. ''It's just hard to believe, considering I met him with a lot of alcohol in Switzerland all those years ago,''

Pepper and Maya were talking about small things as they both rested on the bed. They were avoiding the subject as hard as they could, but it was bound to come up sooner or later. Maya thought her boss was working for the Mandarin, and it happened to be Aldrich Killian who Pepper used to work with. Maya explained her work to Pepper and her involvement in Extremis, how she developed the idea to help people, but Killian took it to a whole other level.

''What happened?'' Maya repeated Pepper's question, sitting back against the bed's headboard. ''Fun fact; before he built rockets for the Nazis, the idealistic Werner von Braun dreamed of space travel, he star gazed. Do you know what he said when the first V2 hit London? The rocket performed perfectly, it just landed on the wrong planet.'' Maya's eyes glisten as she spoke to Pepper, thinking of all that had happened to her idea. ''See we all begin wide-eyed, pure science. And then the ego steps in, the obsession. And you look up, you're a long way from shore.''

Pepper knew she was referring to Killian, but she could see the regret in Maya's eyes for having involved him in the first place. Pepper knew Maya didn't have the intention of hurting anyone or creating what Killian was trying to.

''You can't be too hard on yourself, Maya. I mean you gave your research to a think tank,'' Pepper told her gently.

Maya shook her head. ''Yeah, but Killian built that think tank on military contracts,''

Pepper almost chuckled at the irony.

''That's exactly what we used to do,'' she told her. ''...so don't judge yourself,''

Maya looked up at the woman in front of her.

''Thank you Pepper, I really appreciate that,''

Before they continued their conversation, there was a knocking at the door for the room service they had ordered. Pepper got up and checked the peep hole, opening the door when she saw the staff member with a tray of coffee and food.

''Come on in-''

Pepper gasped when she heard the sound of the waiters neck snapping, her eyes going wide as another man stepped out in front of him with a smirk on his lips, straightening his suit.

''Maya, run!''


I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, although there was no Tony (sorry) but I had to include some things and there'll be more of him in the next chapter, I think. Anyway, please review!