Chapter 8
After leaving the mansion, JC headed for Stark Industries to see Pepper. She had wanted to be the first to tell Pepper the good news, but that was not her only intention. If given the chance, she was going to march up to Rushman and shove her fist down her throat. Of course, that was only if she was provoked, which she doubted would take much. Everything about that woman upset her.
"Hey, Pepper," she greeted after shooing away the secretary for the millionth time. Was Pepper ever that annoying when it came to warding off unwanted guests? JC couldn't remember her being annoying. Direct, maybe, but never annoying.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Potts. She refuses to leave," the secretary announced.
Pepper looked up from the papers on her desk to see what was going on. "JC!" she exclaimed as she bolted up from the chair. "She's fine, Gloria," she said, motioning for the annoying woman to leave. JC gave a smirk before turning back to Pepper and embracing her.
"It's good to see you again, Pepper."
"You're telling me. We all thought you were gone for good. Tony went crazy while you were away. I didn't think the house would survive another day, but now that you're back, maybe you can talk some sense in to him."
"Don't worry. I plan to do just that. That's part of the reason that I came over here. I need to talk to you about something."
"Of course," Pepper said, motioning to one of the chairs across from her desk. "Please, sit."
"No, that's okay. I'd rather stand for this, but you might want to take a seat."
"Please, don't tell me you actually are leaving for good. You just got back. We need you," she pleaded.
"What? No, no, I'm not leaving, but you are going to be a bit surprised when I tell you the news. First, you remember that Rushman bi-"
"Ms. Potts, I brought the paperwork for you to sign," came an all too familiar voice. JC turned to see Natalie handing over a folder to Pepper.
"Oh, thank you, Natalie. What were you saying, JC?"
"Uh…" JC stumbled for words for a moment trying to decide whether or not continue where she was heading with her talk. "Never mind, it really wasn't that important. I can see that you're busy, so I'll get out of your hair. It was good seeing you again, Pep. I'll see you around," she said and walked out. As much as she wanted to tell her about Natalie and the proposal, she didn't feel like starting a fight right there in the office. She stepped outside the office and waited for Natalie to exit.
Checking to make sure the secretary was gone, JC grabbed Natalie as she exited and shoved her against the wall, her forearm pressed against her throat.
"You listen, and you listen real good," JC hissed. "I don't want to see anywhere near Tony, Pepper, or this company ever again after today. If I do, I will not hesitate to break your arms in two. I see you again after that, I'll break your legs. If I keep seeing you after that, I'm gonna break so many bones in your body you won't be able to crawl away. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"You wouldn't even stand a chance against me," she gasped. "The only reason you're not on the ground right now is because you've already caused enough embarrassment for yourself. No need to add more to it."
"I've taken on worse than you, bitch. I'm warning you. Stay away from my friends," she growled and let her go.
"You're nothing but a has-been Alwin. You're long past your prime, and you know it," Natalie said as JC began to walk away.
JC tensed up at that remark. She didn't care what the media said about her. They were always wrong half the time anyways, but to come from the duplicitous spy who had been around for less than a week was not something she was willing to stand for. In a swift movement, JC drew her camping knife from its sheath on her belt and hurled it at Natalie hitting centimeters from her face, a lock of her hair falling to the ground. JC smirked.
"I'd say you're wrong about that. And here I thought you S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were supposed to have good Intel."
She turned and began to walk away, a feeling of triumph at scaring the spy. Though she did her best to hide it, JC had seen her eyes dilate, the one sign of fear that was impossible to hide, and hers were the size of saucers.
She heard the distinct sound of the knife flying through the air again as the door to the office opened for Pepper to exit. What took moments to execute felt like minutes in JC's mind as she processed what was happening. She quickly turned knowing that the knife was meant for her, but it would undoubtedly hit the unsuspecting Pepper. With a quick shove she pushed Pepper out of the way and put up her hand to catch the knife between her fingers. In the next instant blood covered her hand while Pepper looked like she was going to scream or faint or both.
They both stared up at Natalie, daggers in their stares. JC removed the knife from between her fingers and wrapped her hand up in a bandanna as Pepper approached Natalie.
"I think it's time you left before I have security escort you out," she said in one of the most menacing tones JC had ever heard from Pepper.
Natalie looked from one to the other in disbelief at what had just happened. JC only hoped that she got in trouble with Fury for blowing her cover. With a humph she stormed off in defeat. JC gave a triumphant smirk as Pepper ushered her into the office.
"What the hell was that? She could have killed you? And you're bleeding all over the place," Pepper said in a flurry.
"I'm fine Pepper," JC said as she started wiping the blood off her hands with the bandanna.
"What do you mean you're fine? You are not fine. Your hands are covered in blood."
JC finished wiping off her hand and held it up to the distraught woman. Pepper stared at it for a moment before realizing there was no cut.
"I don't understand? I saw the knife cut you," she mused.
"What you saw was a Halloween chemistry prank. Darren pretended to cut himself last year. He scared the crap out of me before he started laughing," she explained.
"You mean you planned this?"
"Not exactly like that. I had planned to show you the security tape, but you walking out at that time worked just as well. I wasn't sure she'd throw the knife, but I came prepared just in case. I'm surprised it worked as well as it did."
"And what if it hadn't? What if you had actually gotten hurt?" Pepper huffed.
"Pepper, this is me we're talking about. When have you ever known me to do something wrong with my knives?"
Pepper still didn't look pleased about the whole fiasco, but she let it go.
"Is that what you came to tell me about?" she finally asked.
"Well, that and to tell you the real reason Tony was acting so recklessly. I know he'll never tell you what happened, but you deserve to know. The arc reactors were causing blood poisoning. Tony was about to die, so he acted out," she explained.
"Dying? Oh my gosh, is he okay? What's going to happen to him? What about you? You're not going to die too are you?"
"No, Pepper, calm down. No one is going to die. Tony figured it out just after his birthday party."
"You mean the party from hell?"
"Yes, that party. Don't worry. I saw the damage and gave Tony an earful."
"Good. He needed that. So, are you two okay now? I mean everything. You're not going to step out on to another race track and start shooting at him again are you?"
JC gave a small laugh before saying, "I promise I'm not going to try doing that again. We've settled everything between us. Everything is fine, Pepper."
"Good," she said with a smile. "Tony called a few minutes ago and said he was going out tonight. You're going with him right?"
"Yeah, I will. We-"
"Great, because I have too much to do tonight before going back to work tomorrow, and I don't have time to babysit him," Pepper quickly said.
"Tomorrow? You're coming back that soon? I would have thought you earned to have a day or two off before coming back."
"This is Tony we're talking about. You honestly think he could last one day without someone to remind him to put on his pants?"
JC nodded and had to admit she had a point. All the videos on YouTube were evidence enough of that.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Bright and early at eight," Pepper said with a smile.
JC smiled back and left the building. When she was back in the car she took the soiled bandanna and tossed it to the back with the rest of the camping gear.
"I take it you saw Natalie then?" Darren asked.
"Oh yeah," JC answered as she buckled up.
"Now aren't you glad I showed you how to use that stuff?"
"Yes, except now my knife and sheath are covered in that stuff. That stuff does wash out right? I was getting kinda fond of that bandanna."
"I'm not exactly sure. I never had to wash out of clothes or anything before."
"Are you serious?" JC asked, giving him and incredulous stare.
"It should," he defended, "I mean, I think it will…This isn't my fault. You're the one who did it."
"I didn't think it was going to get that messy. Whatever was on the knife got on both hands and everything changed color."
"I told you not to cover both hands with the stuff."
"Yeah, well, I didn't know what hand I was going to catch it with."
"Mom, you always throw right and catch left. I don't know why you think you catch with your right hand."
"Well, you never know. One day I'm gonna surprise you and catch one in my right hand, and you are going to eat your words, Mister. Now, let's get you home," she said as she put the car in gear.
"Uh, Mom," Darren said, pointing out her window.
JC looked over to see a fuming Natalie waiting for her.
"'Can I help you?" JC asked as she rolled down her window.
"This isn't over by a long shot," she growled.
"Actually, it is. You're leaving, and I'm going back to work. There isn't much more for us to discuss, so, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."
As JC was about to pull away, Natalie drew a pistol and aimed it at her chest. JC looked down at it and back to Natalie.
"You won't do it," she taunted.
"Give me one reason not to. You've already blown my cover. You're just a loose end now."
"If you shoot me, you'll have to shoot him too, and I doubt General Fury will look too kindly on the unnecessary killing of a civilian."
Natalie gritted her teeth before lowering the weapon.
"Go back to spy school, Natalie. You still have a lot to learn before you can even think of taking me on," JC said and drove off leaving Natalie to sulk in the parking lot.
AN: Okay, so this wasn't the best update in the world. I had wanted to add alot more but knew it would take me longer to write and would be more than twice as long as this one, not that anyone ever minds anyway. Anyways, i promised an update by the end of the month for at least one stoey, so here it is. I hope you guys like it and leave a review. They honestly do make my day :)
