Author's Notes: I'm on a roll here, two chapters up in the same day and a third being written! I dunno if this will go up tonight or tomorrow, but even still! This story is literally writing itself. When I write, I dunno if it's the same for you writers out there, I picture it happening in my head, and write what I see, like a film. Music helps me too – it gives me a soundtrack to the pictures in my head. And these few chapters are coming from a line I dreamt, of Tony saying, "I promised them you, Pepper". Odd, huh? Also, did anyone else know that Robert Downey Jr has an album out? Called "The Futurist". I was listening to the songs, and I'd heard them before, and not realised it was him! Then again, I didn't recognise him in Tropic Thunder at first. Anyway, enough from me!


Chapter Ten

When Tony came around, he was aware of his back against a hard, probably wooden, chair. His hands were tied and his vision dark, so he assumed he was blindfolded. He was immediately reminded of a similar situation that he'd experienced. Only in his mind it was hot; unbearably hot. The cascade of memories that followed practically winded him.

Afghanistan – the events leading up to and after that, the suit, the Fireman's benefit when Pepper had worn that dress, getting knocked in the suit when going to save her. Kidnapped again.

He couldn't help the sarcastic thought of: wonderful. What is it with me that just screams "kidnap!"?

He could hear voices around him, but he didn't focus on them. He focused on his new-found memories, finding there were still gaps. He couldn't remember much more of his second kidnap; just that it happened.

"You didn't do as you were told, Anthony me-boy," a voice drawled in a British accent, and Tony realised he recognised it. "But then again, it was to be expected. That amnesia shot worked a little better than we'd hoped. We only wanted you to forget getting kidnapped, but forgetting your whole life? Bonus."

Tony refrained from commenting more than asking; "What was I supposed to do?"

The man chuckled. "Think, boy. On your last day here with us; we were being particularly cruel. It was the pear that got you in the end, wasn't it?"

Pear? An image of a large plastic object in the shape of a pear came to mind, and he slowly remembered its properties. It opened, slowly, in whatever crevice it was put into. Tony vividly remembered the use of it in his mouth – the slow torture of not knowing when it was going to start ripping flesh, and the agonising pain when it started.

"Do it, boy," the man ordered.

Tony vehemently shook his head no, despite the pear looming near his mouth.

"I'll do anything but that. I'll give you anything other than that," Tony begged.

"I can think of a certain someone who would convince you to do what we want. If she were here, in out control, I think you'd do what we want. You've heard what we do to the women here with your own ears, haven't you boy?"

Tony didn't answer, because he had heard. The screams and the begging. Whatever happened to them, and his imagination was very fruitful there, was not enjoyable, and Tony believed that any amount of torture placed upon him was better than whatever they'd do to her if she were here.

"You can't have her," he told them. "She's got no part in this, leave her out."

"Oh so you know who we're talking about then? But I'm pretty sure you just said you'd give us anything other than what we want. So I think we're entitled to her. You just promised her to us. What will she make of that?"

"Ah, remembering I see?" the British voice was so cold, Tony couldn't decide whether it was worse in his head or out loud, but he didn't really fancy comparing variables right now. "And now we have her. We let you go on the promise that you'd either make what we want, or we'd come get you, and her. You didn't deliver, boy. And now we have her. The big hand of the man pulled Tony up brutally, and began dragging him in a direction. Tony knew he should try and remember where he was being taken, but he couldn't, he was in too much shock.

Pepper.


"They want you, Pepper."

Pepper froze at that. Her? What could they want with her? "Why?" she found herself asking.

"Because I didn't do what they wanted."

"What did they want? Tony come over to the beds and tell me everything. And I mean everything." Tony meekly nodded and followed her.

She sat on the bed she'd claimed as hers, and Tony sat on the other, refusing ot meet her eyes.

"It was at the Expo. The drones started exploding and I knew you were there and I wanted – needed – to come save you. I was on my way to – I nearly made it, and then something knocked me out of the sky, and I couldn't move. I've never felt so helpless ever. I just kept thinking about how you were going to die, and I couldn't help you. They started removing just enough armour to remove me, then they put it back together and dropped it. I passed out then. Then I was here; this exact place. They wanted me to develop a virus to put into the FBI mainframe and release data of all their undercover cops. But I wouldn't do it. They tried torture and I still wouldn't do it. I told them I'd give them anything other than that. They used that against me when they said they were going to use you as bargaining against me. They were going to keep you here to make me do it, threaten you to make me develop a virus. God Pepper I can't let them take you. You have no idea what they do to women here and it's all my fault!" Tony lashed out and hit the wall next to him, startling Pepper.

Timidly, she leant forward and touched a hand on his shoulder. "Tony; I'm only your assistant, why do they think I'd be such an asset to you – you can train another one of me in no time." It hurt Pepper to say that, but she felt confused that Tony would care so much about his assistant. True, he'd been different since Afghanistan, but that was all.

Tony looked at her incredulously. "You're serious? You haven't figured it out by now?" at her negative shake, Tony spoke again. "Pepper, I -"

The door opened again to reveal the same big British man. "You," he said, pointing to Pepper. "With me."