Chapter 10

One and a half hours after running out of his workshop, Tony found himself and Pepper in an apartment complex making their way up to the 11th floor while Happy waited for them in the car.

It was a decent place considering the area and it seemed to be clean. Tony frowned at the lack of security in the lobby and the homeless which were strewn around the property outside but for once kept his comments to himself as he stepped into an elevator with Pepper.

The doors opened onto a brightly lit and clean hallway, no burnt out lights or funny smells. After briefly looking at a sign showing the layout of the floor, he turned a corner looking for apartment #1150 and bumped into a woman in lilac nurse's scrubs.

"Sorry I'm in a hurry, excuse me." She said brashly and without concern for him as she rushed toward the elevator that would take her down. He had taken a step closer to the apartment he'd been looking for when a strong grip on his arm stopped him and spun him around.

"Tony Stark, are you lost?"

It was the nurse in scrubs. The woman was taller than he first thought and she was obviously built. He had tried to brush off her grip but found that it was more difficult than he thought. Pepper was standing behind the woman, getting ready to call Happy for assistance when Tony spoke up.

"You look familiar, have we met before?" Tony studied the nurse's face and then noticed the name tag. Santos…. where had he seen that before?

"I was part of the rescue team that found you and Mia a few months back. My tour ended and Mia and I came back here together."

"Great, maybe you can point me to her apartment; I'd like to see her, it's been too long." Tony bounced on the balls of his feet and clapped his hands loudly before rubbing them in anticipation of finding apartment #1150. Tense and high strung as always since his return, he was anxious to get back to his workshop and finish his secret project.

Maria gave the billionaire a once over, narrowing her eyes at him. "I don't think that's a good idea Mr. Stark. Not after what you put her through."

Pepper raised an elegantly shaped brow at the other woman's brash manner, knowing that sometimes the things Tony did seemed insensitive and selfish but were not meant to be intentionally harmful. Feeling like she shouldn't leave her boss hanging she spoke up in his defense while pushing her way between them.

"Excuse me, I'm Pepper Potts, Mr. Stark's assistant." Pepper stuck out a hand and Nurse Santos shook it, wary of the red head. "We just drove 90 minutes to get here in rush hour and Tony only wants to reconnect with Ms. Solomon and make sure she's doing well. Tony was unaware of Miss Solomon's situation…."

Santos turned to Tony, her face suddenly hard. She turned to Pepper after giving Tony a stare she had saved only for the insurgents in Afghanistan, satisfied when the saw him still under her gaze.

"Well Miss Potts," Nurse Santos interrupted her. "Regardless of Mia's 'situation' it wasn't right that your boss here left her alone in an unfamiliar environment at the base back in Afghanistan with a bunch of strangers. He left a quickly scrawled letter with Colonel Rhodes and took off at the first opportunity, not looking back even once."

She turned back to Tony before continuing. "After everything you went through during your captivity with her you couldn't even take the time to say 'goodbye' in person. She's full of so much doubt about everything. She thought she wasn't good enough to be part of your upper society life and that letter only proved it to her even if it isn't how it was meant. On top of that you offered to give her money for medical bills! She knows you're well off Mr. Stark but she didn't need you to throw your money at her. She wouldn't have asked anything of you once you parted ways, not even your friendship if you didn't offer it first. I think she always had some confidence issues and let's face it, most people do but her time in captivity really did a number on her.

She cares so much about everyone that even after you were gone I know she wondered how you were holding up. She didn't watch the disastrous press conference you held while eating a burger on the floor of the podium or read about you in the magazines. If I didn't know better I'd say she was pretending you didn't exist, but I hear her at night when she talks in her sleep. She can't hide the fact that she worries about you, Mr. Ho and a ton of other people I've never even heard of. She has terrible nightmares that the people she loves are being hurt and she begs to take their place, to spare them the pain. I don't know exactly what horrors she saw and experienced back in Afghanistan, she's never talked about it with me but I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

In the end what broke her weren't the rapes the beatings or the torture she endured, it was you abandoning her without so much as a phone call to just chat a few moments." Santos' posture was rigid and her hands were balled into fists. She'd gotten in Tony's face while she spoke and Tony thought he might get sucker punched at any moment if he dared to speak in defense of himself.

Pepper had her hand to her mouth in shock and Tony, pale faced and tight lipped stood there while nurse Santos continue to glare at him.

An apartment door down the way opened up and a wall of a man stepped out, looking at the three figures in the hallway.

"Is there a problem here Maria?" He stood in the hall just to Tony's left, arms crossed and looking intimidating.

Maria turned her head to the new person as she spoke to him, still in Tony's way to keep him where she wanted him. "No Charlie, no problem here. It's just that an inconsiderate jerk has come to visit Mia and I was telling him why it wouldn't be a good idea."

Charlie looked at the now teary eyed Pepper and the pale faced Tony, recognizing both of them instantly. Their faces were on the TV, the tabloids displayed at the newsstands, the newspapers and even the occasional billboard. After years as a cop on the streets he'd seen way too many crime victims. Although he didn't know the full story behind Maria's introverted roommate he recognized a victim when he saw one. The apartment doors weren't very thick and he'd heard every word Maria had shouted at 'the jerk' saddened that he wasn't wrong about Miss Solomon. She was a good kid and from what he'd observed and from what he'd overheard before stepping into the hallway, was an innocent who'd somehow been taken by terrorists in Afghanistan.

Tony finally stepped up and raised his voice slightly, sounding a bit frantic but sincere, the playboy persona absent on his face and in his body language. "Listen, we don't want any trouble here" He looked back and forth between Maria and Charlie wary before he continued. "I know I've been a jerk but I'm here to try to make it better. If I don't get a hold of her here I'll find her somewhere else. I'm just trying to make things right and I can't do that if I don't see her."

Maria looked closely at Tony and then at Pepper. She felt a bit bad about making the poor woman whom she didn't even know tear up but she needed her to hear, firsthand how badly her boss had treated Mia. His actions shouldn't be defended by anyone and they especially shouldn't be defended by his personal assistant who wasn't even involved or fully aware of what had transpired back in Afghanistan.

Maria watched Tony's discomfort a moment longer before deciding to give in. Tony wasn't the only one who needed closure and she wasn't doing Mia any favors keeping him away from her. "Fine, she's just down the hall behind you. The door bell's broken so knock loudly on the door." She wasn't happy about it but Mia was a big girl and could handle herself. She turned to Charlie and the retired cop turned his attention to her, his protective side on full throttle. Maria placed an open palm on his muscular upper arm.

"Don't worry Charlie, Mia will be fine. I'll check in on her during my break." Charlie nodded and returned to his apartment, but not before giving Tony a look that said he'd better not mess up.

Tony and Pepper were just a few feet away from the apartment when Maria's voice stopped them a final time, causing them to turn around. Her back was turned to the elevator and she didn't shout but her steady voice could be easily heard by them.

"Mr. Stark, just so you know. It isn't Mia that doesn't deserve to be a part of your life; it's you who doesn't deserve to be a part of hers. Don't forget it and if you hurt her again…." She let the sentence trail off and Tony swallowed the lump in his throat before turning back to continue down the hall.

The few moments it took to reach the door, Pepper had composed herself and Tony had his playboy mask on again, well versed in hiding his emotions. He knocked on the door confidently and loudly three times and waited.

They weren't waiting long before someone could be heard shuffling around behind the door. The peep hole went dark indicating someone was looking through it before the door was slowly unlocked and then opened a crack.

A woman stood in the partially opened door, her body behind it with only her head peeking out. Her eyes brightened when she saw who her visitor was and she opened the door just a bit wider. "Tony, is that you?" Her eyes were wide in surprise and shock.

"Of course it's me, how many men can look this good?" He ran his hand through his thick, dark hair as he finished the sentence and doing his best to keep the encounter light.

Decked out in jeans and a sports coat Tony looked every bit the good looking playboy that was always splashed around in the magazines and Mia felt self-conscious about her current getup of leggings and a stained and shapeless baggy sweater.

"What are you doing here? I didn't think I'd ever see you again after…." She looked down and a sniffle was heard as her breathing picked up pace.

Tony interrupted quickly to keep Mia from getting emotional. "Just checking up on you. Pepper here told me about your…family situation." There was a slight pause and in a more subdued voice he asked "May we come in?"

Pepper did a double take. Since when does Tony ask permission for anything?

Mia paused a moment to think. What did Tony mean by her family situation? Was he here because he felt sorry for her? If her family had still been around would he still have visited or would she just be an afterthought of a time he'd rather forget about?

How did Tony and his assistant know about her family anyways? Was he spying on her?

She had a lot of questions and she felt her anger flaring up but if she wanted answers she'd need to hear him out so she squashed her anger and spoke quietly and a bit unsure.

"Umm….sure but it's a bit crowded, just watch your step. I'm sorry about the mess." Mia stepped aside and pulled the door wider to let Tony and Pepper enter.

Tony and Pepper stepped in and stared at the menagerie of items which littered the apartment with wide eyes. Mia wasn't kidding when she said it was crowded.

Knowing that Tony wouldn't bother, Pepper introduced herself to the reluctant host so as to not be rude. "Hi, we haven't been introduced but I'm Virginia Potts or Pepper if you prefer." She held out her hand for the customary shake, but it didn't come.

Mia kept her distance and nodded her head to acknowledge the introduction. Pepper took back her hand awkwardly and returned the reserved greeting. She gave the woman she'd heard about a quick once over.

She was petite at about 5'5 with her wispy black hair pulled into a messy bun. She was wearing leggings and a very oversized sweatshirt which were hanging off her frame. Black 'librarian' type glasses sat on a sharp nose framing dark, soulful eyes with dark circles under them looking wide with nerves and jitters. While Tony and Pepper were exuding confidence and an air of presence, Mia looked like she just wanted to take up as little space as possible and just be invisible.

"I'm Mia Solomon, call me Mia. It's nice to meet you." Mia gave a quick wave a bit awkwardly and Pepper gave Tony a reprising look. She wasn't offended since she could tell Mia wasn't snubbing her, but the poor woman looked so uncertain and Pepper felt badly for dropping in as they had.

"You can hang your coats on the hooks behind the door there" She said, pointing to a row of hooks behind the door. "but you can leave your shoes on, the living room is just this way. May I offer you anything to drink? Tea, coffee, soda, water?" The question was aimed at both of them but it was Tony who spoke up.

"A water for me and a coffee for Pepper please. She missed her afternoon java trip today."

Mia looked over to Pepper to confirm and at her nod made her way to the kitchen area. "Feel free to look around. I've had a bit of free time lately and I'm trying to figure out what to do with all this stuff." She was puttering around in the kitchen, opening cupboards and boiling water, placing things here and there.

Pepper walked around and looked at some of the items strewn around while Tony went over to flip through paintings done on canvas piled up against a wall. After a few seconds Pepper realized that the items she was looking at weren't just junk, they were sculptures and something about them was familiar to her.

Mia returned with a serving tray containing a glass of water, a presser full of hot coffee with a full service set and some delicious looking cookies.

Pepper and Tony were still looking around so Mia went back to the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water for herself as well. She was just returning to the living room when Pepper's voice rang out, the woman turning to face Mia.

"Excuse me Mia but is this sculpture an original Sulla?" She was pointing to a modern art sculpture of a mother embracing her child.

Surprised the piece was recognized at all, Mia strode over to Pepper keeping quite a distance between them and looked at the item in question. "It is, are you a fan of modern art sculptures?" Mia raised a brow in question, not letting on about why she had the piece in her living room.

"I am. In fact I've been trying to acquire a sculpture by Sulla for Tony's private collection these last five years but haven't had any luck. Apparently she only offers to make commission pieces for certain people but I have no idea what the criteria is." Pepper was clearly frustrated at not being able to acquire a Sulla sculpture for the private collection.

"There aren't a lot of pieces around. Where did you first see one?" Asked Mia, curious about when Pepper might have spied another piece form Sulla.

"I saw it at a gallery in New York, the owner had loaned it out for a week to display. I inquired at the time about the cost of it but was told that it wasn't for sale. I've seen photos of a few others but that's all."

"Why do you like her pieces?" Mia took a sip of her water, some tension leaving her but she was still very aware of how small the living room was with three people in it.

"What do you mean by 'her pieces? No one knows for sure who Sulla is. It seems to be quite the mystery and no one who knows Sulla is saying anything." Pepper studied the other woman more closely but all she received was a shrug in response while Mia's question remained unanswered. Pepper continued with a sigh.

"Oh I don't know exactly what draws me in, but the sculptures just seem so emotional. Like this one you have here reminds me of home. Just looking at this I feel like a child again being held by my mother. The figures are pretty abstract and they don't have much in the way of faces but you can just tell what it's supposed to be and you can see the protective way the mother is embracing the child, wrapping herself around it. It's really very breathtaking how the lines curve and wrap around."

"I always liked the embrace series too but since coming back I don't think it suits me anymore. You can have this piece if you want. I only ask that you don't stick it in some vault where it won't be enjoyed."

Pepper's eyes grew huge at the prospect of owning a coveted Sulla art piece. "You can't be serious! This piece must have cost thousands!" At Mia's shrug she tried to call Tony over while continuing to stare at the sculpture but there was no response.

"Tony! Come look at this piece. Mia said we can have it for our collection!" Her voice squeaked a bit in excitement as she turned to see what her boss was up to.

Mia's heart sped up when she realized what had caught Tony's attention. She was frozen to the spot as Pepper left the sculpture and made her way over to where Tony was standing holding a painted canvas.

Pepper gasped as she fully saw the painting that had caught Tony's attention. It was an oil painting of Tony in exquisite detail, professionally created. The setting was a dark cave and Tony was standing at what looked like a blacksmithing shop. His clothes were smudged and dirty, his feet wrapped in rags and ash on his face. He was standing at an anvil, anger evident in his features, the glow from the nearby forge and the arc reactor in his chest casting their glow on him as he held a piece down on the anvil with one arm and had the other risen holding a hammer, ready to strike.

There was no artist signature on the painting, only a date. Pepper glanced down at the other paintings, seeing more of the same cave but with an older man as its subject. He was dirty and wiry thin; sitting on a ratty cot while sipping from a steaming cup.

There were more pictures of Tony and the older man, but none seemed to be a match for the one Tony had singled out. She was going to look at the next painting in the stack when Tony's hand on hers stopped her.

"No more Pep, that's enough." His voice was suddenly hoarse and he sounded tired. Tony was still holding the picture of himself, his lips were pressed into a tight line and wrinkles were forming around his eyes. Mia had put down her glass and was wringing her hands; standing on Tony's other side from Pepper.

"I didn't make those for anyone, so you know. I wasn't going to let some paparazzi or tabloid get a hold of them either. I was just trying to forget. I thought that if I put the images on canvas, I would stop seeing them behind my eyelids every time I closed my eyes. My therapist said it would be good to get it out of my system but I'm not so sure." She laughed nervously and motioned around the room.

"All I have now is an apartment full of pieces I don't know what to do with, but put too much of myself into to get rid of. Lot of good it did me." Mia moved to the sofa and had a seat on the smaller love seat in the room. Tony and Pepper were having a hushed conversation while Mia tried to disappear into the cushions of the couch, seemingly being ignored by her guests.

She spoke quietly from her seat. "I'm sorry I didn't ask you if it would be OK to be painted but I didn't want to inconvenience you since you were probably busy. If you'd like I can have them destroyed. It doesn't matter."

Hearing the woman's words, Pepper turned around to look at Mia and left Tony to stare at the painting he seemed so transfixed on. "Don't even joke about destroying the paintings!" She said passionately. "They're gorgeous. Did you paint all of them? Where did you find the time?"

Still seated but now watching Tony, Mia responded quietly, without sparing Pepper a glance. "Well….I can't really sleep and I don't go out much….when I'm not working out or going to therapy, I'm creating stuff." She looked over the room and finally turned to meet Pepper's eyes with her own, her arm motioning all the pieces scattered around.

Pepper was amazed but then it clicked. "You made everything in here? Even the sculptures?" Mia nodded and looked at the floor, her shoulders tense.

"You're Sulla! That's why all these sculpted pieces looked familiar; they're all done in the same style, in Sulla's style."

Mia nodded meekly to confirm what Pepper had said. "You found me out. The great Sulla is a pathetic shut in who is well on her way to crazy cat lady town." She gave a bitter chuckle and stood up to point at the door.

"I think you two should leave now. Pepper, you can take the sculpture you liked with you, I have a trolley you can use, Tony I'll get rid of the paintings with your image on them." Her tone was despondent as she spoke and neither Tony nor Pepper made for the door as indicated.

Tony finally put down the painting and turned to face the two ladies.

"Pepper, go and tell Happy he'll need to come up for the sculpture and take your time. Mia and I need to have a few words in private."

At Mia's wide eyed look at the change in Tony's stance Pepper was about to argue but Tony shushed her every time she tried. Defeated she thanked Mia for the visit and left the apartment to find Happy.

*0*0*0*0*

Tony strode over to Mia where she was still standing near the sofa hugging herself as if she wished to be swallowed up.

He sat on the opposite edge of the loveseat while she sat then turned to face her direction and cleared his throat before speaking, not comfortable with what he was feeling in that moment. "I don't want you to destroy the paintings." Mia looked up at him surprised and he continued, afraid that if he stopped, he would walk out of her apartment and never return.

"I was just shocked to see them, they looked so real and there were more scenes depicted than what I saw during my time there. How long did they have you for?" It was the first time he asked directly about her capture and Mia's eyes widened at his direct approach, not sure where he was going with this.

Silent tears trailed down her cheeks as Mia reminded herself to breathe as to loosen the knot in her chest. "It was April when they got me. I was there two months and a few weeks longer than you, about a month longer than Yinsen but he doesn't know." She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Tony shifted in his seat, still uncomfortable with the emotions he was feeling. "Well it's no wonder you're so messed up. I was in there for less time than you and you should see the mess I made since getting back." He grinned knowing she'd look up from the floor after that comment.

"I am pretty screwed up aren't I?" She sniffled and blew her nose on a tissue. Tony's eyes went wide at how his joking mannerisms seemed to be backfiring on him but Mia called him out easily.

"I don't think your jokes are going to cheer me up this time Tony. I thought that if I could get back home, I could be happy again, but instead I'm alone, starting a new life with no direction. I'm an emotional wreck and nothing is how it's supposed to be. How do you talk to everyone and do everything you do without breaking down?" Mia looked so devastated that for once Tony decided he'd give her an honest answer. He was about to speak but out of the blue Mia started chuckling and then it turned into full out laughing.

"Oh my goodness! If only you could see your face right now! " Her tears wiped away, Mia's laughter just kept bubbling up every time she looked at Tony's face. Soon she was laughing so hard new tears leaked from her eyes. After a few minutes she managed to calm herself down and took a deep breath to steady herself. She was smiling and felt better than she had in a very long time.

"For what it's worth, you don't need to tell me how you keep from breaking down, I can tell from your immense discomfort that you were about to share your deep, deep, very deeply hidden feelings with me and I appreciate the effort you went to for that. I had no idea you were so emotionally crippled. You looked like you had swallowed a toad! I thought you were going to barf on the carpet! Thanks for the laugh, I don't remember the last time I felt so light." She continued to dab at the tears in her eyes as she smiled at Tony.

Tony looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time and a grin slowly broke out on his face. "I'm glad my misery brought you joy. At least one of us got a kick out of it."

"Yeah, it was great. Maybe I'll paint the look on your face and give it to you so you can have a laugh too; I don't think I'll have trouble recalling the look. It was priceless." Mia had a wide smile on her face and Tony couldn't help but notice that she looked years younger than she had a few moments ago. Her eyes were sparkling with mischief and her smile was so big it was contagious. Before he knew it he found himself genuinely returning her smile.

"So…Tony, why are you really here? You left the base in such a hurry….I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Her smile was fading fast and Tony was disappointed it didn't last longer.

"Well, Yinsen is visiting me in Malibu soon and I thought maybe you'd like to come over too. Maybe look at a project I'm working on, see if you can help me out with it."

"So you just want me to help you when you need it, then when you're done with me I leave, is that it? I'm not here for your convenience." She got up and walked away to the kitchen. Tony got up and followed her.

She was facing the sink and Tony stood behind her a few feet away. "That's not it, you didn't hear me. I want you to come over. Not to work or help or anything. Just come over, stay at my place and relax. You can even set up a studio for your paintings and other projects. I'll give you a room for it, two if you want, just come visit for a while, my treat."

Mia turned around to face him, arms crossed. "That's it? Just pack up and go? What about my therapies and exercises and my place here? What about Maria?"

"Yes, pick up and go. We'll find you new therapists if you want them and your nurse Ratchet roommate can take care of herself. If you need help covering your rent I can take care of it. If she's worried about you she can come and visit, but no staying over. That's only for special guests." He waggled his eyebrows at her, eliciting a small laugh.

"First off, I bought this place, I'm not renting, she is. Secondly I set up a joint account with Maria solely for the purpose of our shared expenses while we lived together and there's more than enough in the account to cover my half for this year and next. I don't need or want your money." She was getting flustered and embarrassed that he thought she needed help from him. She was in a bit of a slump but that didn't mean she couldn't take care of herself.

Tony paused for a moment before continuing on about how she should come over and be his special guest.

"Special huh? What makes you think I'm special enough to deserve a visit to the great Tony Starks mansion?"

"What? Are you kidding? Look around you! Your paintings are awesome, if somewhat gruesome. You're apparently a famous sculptor, you can write code and I want to see you smile more often. Plus, if I have you around I won't have to feel nearly as messed up since you are so obviously worse off than me."

"You are incorrigible Mr. Stark but you've got a deal on one condition." Tony studied her face, surprised and curious about what the condition could be.

"You have it. If it's in my power to give you've got it, whatever you want."

Tony strained his ears, not sure what he heard. "Sorry but what was that? I can't give you what you want if I can't hear you."

"A hug." Mia sighed as the tightness in her chest built up. "I want a hug."

Tony's eyes widened at her confession and his heart felt like it would burst when he heard the pain behind her simple request. He remembered how she couldn't stand to be touched when he last saw her but she had allowed him to hold her, carry her and support her.

Of all people, he could understand the need to be touched. All the women he had slept with in an attempt to ease the empty feeling in his heart.

"You have a strange look on your face again." Mia's confidence wavered and her anxiety level went up a notch. "I'm sorry I asked you something so stupid, you don't have to hug me, I'll visit you anyways." She turned away and was about to stand but before she could, Tony's arms were wrapped around her shoulders and she was pulled into his embrace. After a brief moment of panic she in turn, wrapped her arms around his waist. Her head was spinning from the sudden contact but she was grateful for the feeling of safety she seemed to find when she was in his arms. She felt safe, warm and cared for. This was how Happy and Pepper found the two of them when they came in to check up on their boss.