Fade Into You

Rated: R

Notes: Hey! Long time no update, I know! The lack of an update was brought to you by a few life things (we had a lot of people over visiting us this last month) and me just trying to figure out where exactly I want this story to go-especially after I saw Winter Solider. I have quite a few things figured out now and know exactly where I want to take this. I'm not going to lie, this chapter is completely filler basically but sometimes filler just has to happen. Before we get onto the story I want to make some notes:

a) Thank you to those that review/follow/favorite. It really does keep me posting. I plan on posting faster now that I have a few things figured out and now that I have a lot less "life stuff" going on.

b) Yet again (I feel like I've mentioned this somewhere). I do not have a beta reader. I write and edit my own stories. So yes, mistakes will happen. I'm well aware I don't have the strongest grammar sometimes.

c) This is important: There are going to be so many spoilers in this story it's not even funny. Obviously all of Sherlock will be spoiled since I am planning on writing this through the seasons, but I'm also going to be bringing in Iron Man 3 and Winter Solider. I haven't watched Agents of SHIELD yet, but I plan to-so when I do, spoilers might come up for that as well. Why? Because I am trying to force these two universes together as well as possible and sometimes that means I have to mention X sooner rather than later. This is still very much a Sherlock story...but if you remember there is going to be a period where Sherlock isn't around so Maddie is going to have to do something. I also figure if you're even bothering reading this you're not going to mind if we hop deeper into the Marvel universe sometimes.

and my last note: Moving forward I kind of want Maddie to get close to another Avenger. Meaning this Avenger might be featured more (kind of like how Natasha is). And guess what? I'm letting you have a say in it. Let me know who you'd like to see enter the story! *Note: I'm not shipping Maddie with anyone other than Sherlock*

And with that, enjoy!

Chapter 9: At Fault

It was irrational to be jealous of the way her father was holding her. Sherlock had to look away at the intensity of the moment. When he was younger his family was like that, sometimes they still tried to hold him close. Mycroft was what caused him to change, the older brother he looked up to. The older brother that scoffed at any instance of closeness. Now he was jealous (irrationally) over the closeness between Maddie and her father.

Tony Stark, Iron Man.

Sherlock spared a glance back towards them. Tony was holding her close, his eyes shut, one of his hands wrapped up in her hair as she buried her head into his neck. With them together Sherlock could see the similarities however slim they were. Her hair might have been red, but it had waves in it-the same wave pattern of her father's hair. He knew they shared the same eye color. Watching he could see they had similar ears, jaw lines…

When Tony's eyes popped open, they locked onto Sherlock. The man did not look happy. Sherlock was also wildly aware it was difficult to read the man at the moment, especially considering that the man himself was fairly transparent. Probably the one man with the ego large enough to announce that yes, he was in fact a super hero.

It only took Sherlock a few moments of a staring contest to stand up and leave the room. There was no sense in saying anything, therefore no sense to stay especially since it was clear Maddie was in good hands. He didn't see it as a 'not standing his ground', he saw it as not wanting to disturb Maddie more than she already was. She was trying her hardest to cry without making noise, but the longer she was holding herself against Tony, the louder she was starting to get.

In the chair next to Maddie's door was a woman he only recognized from photos. A tan overcoat was folded over her lap, her purse (designer) was sitting on the chair next to her. She had been staring ahead, but when she heard him walk out she moved her gaze.

"Tony how is...oh...hi, sorry." Her eyes were red. Sad. "Are you a friend of Maddie's?" She asked, moving to stand. She was nearly as tall as him, but most of her height was made up of heel. He didn't have to look down to know that, it showed by how she moved. Carefully. Even seasoned heel wearers couldn't move swiftly.

"I live in the flat above hers." He explained, not expecting much-wanting to get away from the newly awkward situation.

She smiled. The type of person whose smile lit up their entire face. She was pleased? Why?

"You must be Sherlock then. I know what John looks like from all of Maddie's pictures-but I only hear of you, never see you."

That was new. Interesting information.

"She says you like using her dining room table for a makeshift science lab."

"The light down there is much better for some projects." He explained, trying to wrap his head around it. Maddie, while having her secrets had been an open book, and as such it shouldn't have been a surprise that she told her family about him. The question was: Did that annoy him or please him? A little bit of both maybe.

"I'm Pepper Potts." She stuck out her hand, well manicured nails. Cared deeply about outward appearances.

He grasped her hand, it was cold. He wondered if it was just her being in the hospital, or perhaps she was simply underweight. Before he even had a chance to say anything, she was talking again, nervous talker.

"How is she?" Nervous over the state of her boyfriends daughter.

He wanted to sigh, roll his eyes, and simply walk out. He was ready to be done with the hospital for awhile. He needed to get away, to think. Yet, if he were to simply walk away without a word it would be something that would probably get back to Maddie. While she knew he was rude to most people he knew she wouldn't appreciate him mistreating the blonde. Perhaps it would be useful, you never knew what kind of information you could get until you truly tried.

"Physically it looks worse than it truly is, I don't make light of what happen-but with the broken ribs and internal bleeding it could have been much worse. Emotionally she is clinging to her father with all she has, yet in the moments before he arrived she was doing...well."

Pepper nodded, a hand pulled up to her mouth-watery eyes. Trying her hardest not to cry. "Feels like the first time all over again. Except worse since she's been with us for awhile now."

"Yes well, the more you care the harder it hurts. Excuse me, I must be off."

And with that he left, fleeing the hospital and all discomfort in favor for returning to Baker street.

Maddie had no concept as time as she cried into her Dad's chest. It hurt to cry, but it also hurt to try and avoid it. Everything hurt and she was completely unsure of what the future held. She felt as if she had no control left, her step-father found and hurt her, Moriarty wanted to have her in his game with Sherlock, and her dad? Well he just nearly died in New York City saving the planet from aliens unleashed by a Norse Legend. What could she even control now? She didn't know what to do.

When her crying stopped she stayed pressed into her Dad's chest, her eyes open and staring at the arc reactor. He was holding her close, and she wondered what was going through his head too. Hell, he went from almost dying to finding out his daughter yet again was in the hospital...yet again he wasn't able to save her. She knew one of his biggest fears was being a shitty dad, like his own. Howard Stark had never been there for Tony and Tony had tried his best to be there for her. At first he had over did it, when she first lived with him everything was in overdrive and also overbuy, she must have had thousands of dollars worth of new toys and gadgets in that first week alone.

She wanted to break down even more, yet she couldn't. She was never very good about breaking down completely around people. Even that day she cried on Sherlock, that wasn't a complete breakdown. That wasn't a scream, cry, and break things meltdown. Now instead of crying more, or breaking down she was thinking. What was she to do now? Her dad shifted his weight, keeping her head buried (did he realize she was done crying?), and moved onto the hospital bed with her. She could hear heels clicking on the tile floor, coming close and then stopping (Had to be Pepper coming in and sitting down-which meant at some point Sherlock left, which was probably for the best). If she was truly honest with herself there was nothing more she wanted than to go home with her Dad.

Yet, it would be the easy way out-the cowards way. Made worse considering Moriarty's threat against those at Baker Street. If she left, refused to play the game...things would happen to her new friends. She thought about how weak she was as well. Too weak to fight back, too scared when it really mattered. It was disappointing really. Here she was incredibly intelligent, the daughter of Iron Man and she couldn't even get out of handcuffs, couldn't save herself from torture. How pathetic was that? She sobbed again, she couldn't help it.

She felt another hand on her, placed on her back between her shoulders. Cold. Pepper. Pepper was always cold. "Hey Pepper." She muffled out a greeting into her Dad's chest.

"Hey Madeline."

Pepper's voice was soft and sounded tired. Maddie wondered how hard the past few days must have been for her. First with her Dad going off fighting aliens and now with having to rush over to London.

"How's it going?" She asked, once again into her Dad's chest. She needed this to move on, she needed life to get to normal. Step one, figure things out and what she was going to do. Step two, breakdown once it was all said and done. Step three, make sure this was never going to happen again to her.

"Oh you know, same as ever. Your Dad keeps me busy. How are you?"

Pepper was good at playing the game. The 'let's pretend for a moment this bad thing didn't happen' game. It was a game they played when she first came to live with her Dad and something they seemed to continue ever since. Pepper was not good if the game was related to a bad thing with her Dad though.

"Oh the same I suppose, joined a book club though. Been busy so I'm not sure what we're supposed to be reading this week."

"I'm sure they'll give you a pass sweetie."

A deep breath and Maddie moved to pull away from her Dad. His eyes were red, he had been crying right along with her. "I hope you packed more shirts, this one is soaked." Maddie said. Humor, deflect.

"Iron Man by night, human Kleenex by day." He said, but she could tell his heart just wasn't into it. The banter, he was always so good at it. She was tired. He looked tired. When she saw Pepper, the blonde looked tired too. It was like their worlds had come crashing down. It was bad enough that aliens tried to invade (aliens, seriously?), but dealing with this too…

"You make a good Kleenex." She told him, trying to get in a more comfortable position. She was small but with all the tubes and wires, and now her Dad in bed with her, it made for a hard fit-but she wasn't going to say anything-having him close was nice.

"You know I could get you into a better room, or even better we can set up the jet to accommodate you and we can fly back…"

"This room is fine Dad, I'm really not that injured so there would be no need to set up accommodations."

"Not that injured? You have broken ribs, you're a walking bruise!"

"It could have been worse." She pointed out. At her statement it was like the air in the room was suddenly sucked out, everything was quiet. Probably not the best thing to point out-because it HAD been worse.

It was a few minutes before her Dad spoke. "Regardless, we're gonna get you packed up and home as soon as possible."

And that gave her a jolt, he thought she was going to go home with him? No questions asked? Yes, a part of her wanted to. She wanted to just give up and go home. Yet, there was a part of her, a part that was growing away from the fear-a part of her that wanted to stay. Moriarty's threat just made her want to stay that much more. She could figure something out, a way to feel safe, something...she could not leave London yet.

"No, I need to stay here Dad." She said, quietly.

He let himself up out of her bed. "The hell if you do! Leave you here to get hurt again-what are you thinking?"

"That I want to live my life. There is no guarantee that moving back with you will keep me from being hurt. If you haven't realized yet the world is in deep shit and you're one of it's protectors now."

Her dad pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, it was not the best time to have this conversation-but there was no putting it off. If she did she would end up leaving the hospital to find her apartment had been packed and she was going home no questions asked. "You sound like Fury."

She liked Fury, sure he was intimidating and usually angry-but it wasn't a diss if that's what her Dad meant it as.

Pepper had her arms crossed, and Maddie wasn't sure which side Pepper would back. If any. Sometimes she didn't get in the middle of it, but other times if she felt Tony was being out of line she would chime in.

"When are you going to realize you cannot protect me? It's not just you! It's everyone, I know I was being watched-and even with that some big world event happens they turn their eyes and I'm taken."

His face was getting redder and redder. She knew what was going to happen, he was going to blow up at her. He was going to blow up because she was putting her foot down and he was scared for her. "You can't protect yourself! So what am I supposed to do! We had a superspy training you and you still let yourself get hurt!"

There it was.

His face crumbled, he realized what he said...too late. He had never been one to think before he spoke. He walked out, not looking at her.

"Honey he's just…" Pepper tried to start apologizing.

"You should go after him, I'm fine. Please."

And then Pepper followed.

And then Maddie crumbled. She knew it was going to happen, knew her Dad was going to blow up. Its what he did. The understanding part of her knew, he didn't mean it. Yet, it hurt. Did she let herself get hurt?

As understanding as she was, she couldn't help the fact she started to cry.

Pepper slid into the car after he did. The moment he said that Maddie let herself get hurt he had to leave, to flee. He didn't mean it, he really didn't. He was stressed, he was emotional, he just...said it.

God he was a bad father. Might as well be Howard at the rate he was going. His own dad would say stuff like that, and now here Tony was saying that kind of stuff to his own daughter.

"You don't need to say it, I already know." He mumbled into his hands, not bothering to look up at Pepper. He knew she would have her disappointed face on, he didn't want to see that.

"What you said was cruel."

"I know. I know."

"You can't treat her like that for wanting to stay here, she's building a life here!"

Tony finally looked up. Pepper looked...stern. She had her boss face on. The face she used to make him see reason when no one else was able to. No one could make him see reason quite like Pepper.

"But she got hurt, if she stays with him still lurking she could get hurt again."

She grabbed his hands, despite her fingers being so cold they still felt good. "She's as stubborn as you Tony, if she wants to stay it's her choice. Instead of being cruel you could help, maybe there are other things you can be doing to make her safe without having her under your watch and care twenty four hours a day?"

Tony thought about that, his mind was exceptional compared to most-yet sometimes the obvious didn't hit him until someone else mentioned it. Maddie didn't have to come back to live with him-she was right, it could be just as dangerous there as it was here in London. The reason he felt it would be safer for her was Jarvis. If she lived at home with him, his AI would watch her twenty four hours a day. Jarvis would tell Tony when and if something was wrong, if her heart rate was erratic, if someone broke into the house…

"I know what I need to do, we need to go shopping."

Because he was going to build Maddie her own personal Jarvis system inside her apartment.

"Shopping? What?" Pepper was confused. He didn't blame her, the moment his mind went full speed she normally wouldn't catch up for a few minutes-but honestly she did catch up eventually and that to him was impressive.

"No, wait-first we need to go to her apartment, I need to see what I'm working with."

And off they went, to Baker street.

It had been three hours since Sherlock left the hospital. Those three hours were spent going over his conversation with Maddie followed by his interaction with the blonde woman, Pepper. He sat alone in his chair, the front door to his and John's flat open (he usually left it open, no sense closing it all the time considering the very front door to Baker street was usually closed and locked). His mind was running circles and he couldn't seem to get away from her.

Away from Maddie that was. When he closed his eyes, when he retreated to his mind palace to think, she was there. Every single room, opening doors and popping out, asking him questions. Infecting him.

He cared! Dammit, he cared! He cared, he enjoyed her company, and she was hurt laying in a hospital bed and it upset him! Oh how it upset him. He wanted to break things, he wanted to scream at someone until he was red in the face. Sherlock wanted others to know how unfair it was that Maddie was hurt.

He rubbed his face. Is this what he had become? First John, then Maddie. He was collecting strays it would seem. Like a crazy cat lady. Was he becoming the crazy cat lady of the friendship world? Collecting broken people and caring for them to the point where they wouldn't leave even if he went completely off his rocker?

He took a deep breath, ran his hands through his hair, and stood. Enough! Just because Mycroft drilled it into his head not to care about others didn't mean he had to adhere to that line of thinking.

When he stood and calmed for a moment he realized that Mrs. Hudson was making a fuss downstairs. The noise fluttered up the stairs and into his flat. Her tone of voice didn't alert him to worry, it was more on the side of happiness. She was happy over whoever was there. He had a feeling he knew exactly who it was.

"So you don't have the spare keys yet?"

"No, not yet-poor girl, she was going to make spare sets but...well, it happened before she could."

Mrs. Hudson was speaking as Sherlock walked down the stairs only to find the elder woman explaining her lack of keys to Maddie's father, Tony Stark and the blonde, Pepper.

"Oh, Sherlock. Sherlock dear, do you think you could open her locks for us? Maddie's father want's to have a look around." Mrs. Hudson asked as she noticed he was walking down the stairs (kind of hard not to notice considering how they creaked under his weight).

"Actually, John found her purse at the pool-I believe her keys are in there." He didn't mention anything else before he turned around and headed back up the stairs to grab her purse that had been sitting on John's side table for the past few days. It was as he was carrying it down he became unsure, why did he go off and fetch it like an errand boy? Play nice?

As approached the group who was now by Maddie's door, Tony reached out and snagged the purse out of his hands. "Thanks Moptop."

Mop top?

"Is that your way of being insulting?"

"No, that's my way of saying thanks...Moptop." Tony was going through her purse now, handing over things to Pepper as he dug through it.

"Mr. Stark, what exactly are you planning on doing?" Mrs. Hudson asked, ever the busybody.

He found the keys with a triumphant flourish, "Well, one you can call me Tony-Mads absolutely adores you. Two, I plan on outfitting her apartment with my AI system-to do that I need to see what I'm working with...she intends to stay here, no matter how unsafe certain people are making it for her."

The comment was directed at him, he was aware of that. He was also aware that Maddie WAS unsafe because of him. Had it not been for Moriarty getting involved with Sherlock, Maddie would have continued her life unknown in the basement flat.

"You intend on outfitting her flat with an AI system?" He couldn't help but ask. It sounded ridiculous, but considering the man had an arc reactor in his chest and could fly around in a suit of armor Sherlock supposed building an AI system in her flat wouldn't be that hard.

Tony had unlocked her door, but pocketed her keys leaving Pepper to stuff everything else back into Maddie's purse. "Yes, because for some reason she likes it here. From where I'm standing, this guy that caused this to happen, got Connor out of jail and this guy has beef with you, and because of that my little girl got put in the middle of it. So yeah, I've got to make this safe for her since clearly you're not. She told me you're the greatest detective in the world, said you could figure out anything-yet you couldn't figure out that your enemy would be gunning for her...or did you and you just ignored it?"

It had been on his mind that Moriarty would use those he cared for against him, he just didn't realize how dangerous he would be towards Maddie, or how dangerous her own past was.

"Had I known he was aware of the nature of our relationship I would have made sure she was safe." He explained heatedly. He didn't want anyone else to blame him for what happened to her-he blamed himself enough as it was.

"Oh the nature of your relationship? You better start explaining now buddy, I'm friends with a green rage monster." Tony was in his face now. The man was shorter than he was, yet a few inches taller than John.

"We're friends, I don't have very many close friends. Apparently Moriarty has been spying on us, had I known that he was aware of how much time we spent together I would have been more careful." There, a nice and neat explanation. Tony was on the verge of tearing something apart and Sherlock didn't need a black eye. Didn't need to have to explain to Maddie that her Dad went off on him.

"And of course Maddie sees that you don't have many friends and decides to play nice...right? She really is too nice for her own good."

"I'm aware."

It was a good long minute with the men staring at each other. Pepper and Mrs. Hudson apparently had already went down into Maddie's flat, neither wanting to get into the middle of the conversation the men were having. By looking at him Sherlock could tell that Tony had the beginnings of PTSD, he still had a few wounds from his battle in New York (he was also favoring one side of his body a little more than the other). Tony also had no issue going toe to toe with Sherlock, and Sherlock was fairly sure any argument would end with Tony winning.

And honestly, Sherlock didn't want to go head to head with Tony. "Really, no biting comment or remark back? Guess your brother was lying about you."

"I am not the man my brother seems to think I am."

"Good, than get down here and help me-you've spent time here with my girl, I need to figure some stuff out for the AI. I want it set up before she's released from the hospital."

And so Sherlock helped Tony for the rest of the evening. Maddie's father was a man with a mission. He would move things, mumble stuff, write down notes, he checked wires, light fixtures, and eventually he had nearly half a notebook filled with notes. Sherlock had spent the time helping Tony move things, or helping him measure and take down notes. The ladies, Pepper and Mrs. Hudson had excused themselves only minutes after the two men got started. Sherlock was certain that Mrs. Hudson was keeping Pepper filled with tea, biscuits, and gossip.

Sherlock found working with Tony to be just as calm as working with Maddie. Tony had a drive to get the task done, and eventually once the notes were taken and he had a clear idea of what he wanted to do-he was off to pick up parts that would be needed. It left Sherlock with the time to sit down on Maddie's sofa, and wonder what in the world he was doing. Actually he knew what he was doing, he was working like a maniac to help Tony keep Maddie safe, so that she could stay at Baker Street and not feel scared. The thought of Maddie leaving had kept Sherlock's heart thudding painfully against his chest. He was going to have to give it up and just admit that he cared. He cared for his friends.

His hands found his hair again, he leaned forward, taking in a deep breath.

Which of course was how John found him. John curious as to why Maddie's door was open had let himself in, and found Sherlock in the middle of the sofa which was moved slightly out into the center of the living room.

"What in the hell is going on?"

Yeah, what in the hell indeed.

Notes:

So we have some Tony and Sherlock up in here now! It's hard because yes Sherlock is changing, but I also still want/need him to be himself. I think we'll have more snark in upcoming chapters when the two men aren't dealing with so much emotional stress. I do like how everyone is blaming themselves a little bit. Next chapter I hope to be longer and have more happening.

Also, don't forget to let me know which Avenger you'd like to see more of! *Note: I'm not shipping Maddie with anyone other than Sherlock*