Scott attempted to understand more about Darren but got very little as the man immediately ended any conversation that leaned towards his past or Pym. Unsure of what to do next, Scott discussed it with Maggie. Cassie was asleep in the hospital room with Paxton near her if she woke up. She was going to get to go home soon though the regular appointments of chemotherapy would certainly keep her from many activities. Scott missed the times when all he had to worry about was a broken ankle.

Now he sat with Maggie at the hospital's cafeteria. It was difficult distinguishing patients from families and friends. Everybody held some wait on their shoulders, didn't matter if it was physical or mental.

"He never hurt you though, right? He didn't aim anything at you?"

"Huh-no. He never did anything like that," sighed Scott as he was brought back to the present. "He wasn't angry at me anyways. I'm pretty sure it was Hank Pym, or at least their conversation, that riled him up so badly."

"That doesn't mean he can't refocus that anger on you. You should have left when you had the chance."

"But he needed somebody," stressed Scott. "Yeah we didn't talk but he shouldn't have been alone."

"You think he's self-destructive?"

Scott wearily rubbed his eyes. Maggie never did like to say suicidal. She'd used the same choice of words when she'd been worried about him and uncertain of some of his motives. Now it seemed to fit though, not the suicidal implication but the simple meaning of the word. "I can totally see him screwing everything he's worked for simply because of one person but he's not going to off himself."

"Alright, but do you think he's ever been abusive? You would be honest with me if he was, right?"

"Maggie, you have been with me through some of the worst moments of my life," Scott replied as he squeezed her hand. "I would never be so rude as to exclude you from the future ones."

"Not funny Scott. I know you like to joke but this is not a time for humor," Maggie muttered.

He shrugged. "Maybe not but it's the best way I know how to cope with things. Darren appreciates it at least."

"The only thing that man appreciates is your situation."

"You know, I can't agree with you on that," replied Scott. "I mean, maybe when I first met him but he's not keeping me as some puppet now. I'm still free, haven't sold my soul to the devil yet. Besides, I feel like he…wants something from me."

"You mean sex?" Maggie asked sarcastically.

"Technically yes but he could honestly get anyone for that. No I'm talking about something…deep, personal. I sometimes get a glimpse of it when I look into his eyes. Sometimes I think I even succeeded in cracking into that surface, past the CEO and the asshole to something…else."

Scott frowned, something which only became deeper as he realized Maggie looked utterly terrified. He took the time to glance behind him to see if she was focusing on something else but she was very clearly looking at him.

"What? You can't just give me that look and then say nothing."

"You aren't-oh god Scott are you actually falling for the man?"

"What! No!" he cried out, slouching back as he crossed his arms. "What the hell could have made you think that?"

"Well most fuck buddies don't try to find a deeper meaning in each other."

"We're not fuck buddies we're—" Scott stopped himself as he tried figure out what the hell he was going to continue with. Maggie waited with an expecting look, clearly feeling like she was winning the battle. "Alright, I don't know what we are but we sure as hell aren't fuck buddies."

"Oh yes, you certainly haven't fallen for this man."

"I haven't Maggie! Honest! If anything I just feel…I connected alright? In some weird way. He doesn't have anyone to rely on and I honestly feel like he may be using me for that."

"And if you're wrong Scott?"

"Then I'm wrong. There's nothing else I can do. But something is up with him and Pym and I'm going to figure that out."

She sighed and reluctantly moved with the change of topic. "Have you thought about asking the daughter?"

"Yeah but she's not exactly the friendliest person in the world. Besides, I barely see her alone and I sure as hell not going to ask her in the middle of a busy hallway or at a meeting or, god forbid, in front of Darren."

"Well I think you should stop poking your nose into this. Or at least hurry up and get your snooping over with. Otherwise, just try and stay as far away from Darren cross as possible."

"I don't really think that's an option," he replied.

"Scott…"

"Hey! It's not my fault, okay? And anyways, just talking about all of this is exhausting."

"You were the one who wanted to talk to me remember?"

"True but now I just need to take all this in. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do."

"Well just remember that I'm always here if you need more advice or a helping hand."

"How could I forget that," chuckled Scott. "Don't worry. I'll always remember that."

They then went back up to Cassie's room and a few days later she was able to go home. Scott spent as much time as he could with her. Darren even allowed him a day off where he spent it all with her. Because of this though, he wasn't at his office to receive the letter that was dropped off for him. He read it a day late and the contents confused him to say the least. At the end of it all was an address with a time and date. That date being that day, Scott immediately stopped by his apartment after work to try and get some more privacy as he tried to decide on whether or not to go.

As it was typed and with no name, he had no idea who it was from, though presumably not Darren as the contents discussed him and his actions. Rereading the words, Scott didn't exactly doubt that what it claimed was true but he also didn't know if he could trust the intents of the sender.

The idea that Darren was creating something dark, had a project that could "send the world into turmoil" (as the letter put it) was not shocking. But it was disappointing. Scott didn't want to believe that Darren Cross was some evil mastermind as the letter seemed to claim, at least not without a reason. Darren had fame, was CEO of a powerful and possibly revolutionary company. He had plenty of money. The idea that it was simply world domination that was driving him was stupid and extremely childish.

In the end, it was this curiosity and confusion that drove Scott to the designated location. Hopefully he would get his answers, possibly even understand more of Darren.

He went tensed and wary. Scott had no way of knowing if the person who had written him was friend or foe.

Following the directions he'd gotten, he arrived at a large house. It either was there to give the illusion of money or the owner actually did come from money. Either way, Scott remained on guard as he approached the door and finally rang the doorbell. Needless to say, the last person he expected to see was Hope van Dyne.

"Good, you came." She moved aside, expecting Scott to come in.

He had to take a moment though to simply take in the information he'd just received. So Hope, Darren's right hand, was going against his back. Christ this was going to get complicated. Scott just knew it.

Finally moving forward, Scott walked through the doorway. Hope closed the door behind him and added, "Watch out for the ants."

"What?"

She didn't answer his question as she took the lead and they moved to what looked like the kitchen. Scott noticed the little trails of ants that moved in organized patterns towards the kitchen. However, he also noticed the decorum, the designs and organization of everything. Just as Scott was thinking that the house couldn't possibly be Hope's (just didn't fit her character) he was proved right as Hank Pym sat at the table.

"Oh god why?"

Pym looked at him curiously. "Are you surprised to see me?"

"No but I wish I wasn't," groaned Scott. He rubbed his eyes for good measure, hoping the scene in front of him would disappear but it stayed right where it was. "Oh this can't be happening."

"I assure you it is. Take a seat."

It was a command that Scott reluctantly followed. Nothing good could come out of this conversation. He could feel it.

"Since you are here, I'm assuming you read the letter," Pym said as his daughter took a seat as well.

Scott nodded. "I don't understand why you sent it to me though."

"We'll come to that. What do you know of the Pym Particle?"

"Uh…nothing?"

"It's a subatomic particle that I discovered some time ago. Capable of shunting or adding mass and reducing or increasing scale of any form of matter, it compresses physical forces around such objects or organisms that they are applied to, as well as increasing density and strength of the subject."

"So it can make you really big or really tiny and really strong."

"In laymen terms, yes," Pym sighed. There was an odd mix of pleasure that Scott had understood yet also abhorrence for using such simple and mundane terms for something so great. "Darren has been trying to recreate its effects within a suit known as the Yellowjacket."

"Haven't heard of it," Scott interjected. "But I'm not exactly high up on the food chain which begs the question: why the hell am I here?"

"Darren has plans to mass produce the suit. He believes that an army like this could bring about world peace and stop wars before they began," Hope responded, her tone showing that she clearly didn't agree.

She paused, maybe for effect or so the information could sink in. Scott replied immediately though. "Well that sounds great but I know there's going to be a kicker so please, don't stop on my account," he muttered.

"Such a suit could cause a dictatorship over the entire world. Every movement of every person under surveillance from an advisory they wouldn't even be able to see. Their entire lives analyzed and dictated," Pym replied. "It also appears that he plans to sell it to Hydra."

Once again, a pause, but Scott barreled on through. "Well thank you for giving me this end of the world information but I'd really like to know what the hell this has to do with me!"

Pym said, "You're a good man."

"Thanks for noticing but that doesn't really give me an answer."

"You also have extensive knowledge of breaking into places. Your time at Pym Technologies has also proven that you are a quick learner and extremely intelligent despite your circumstances."

"Okay, so my resume leaves something to be desired," muttered Scott as he wondered how they'd gotten a look at his criminal record. "You're still not answering my question!"

"You also have recently left prostitution, taking the job at the company as Darren promised to pay for your daughter's medical treatment," Hope added. "You're also sleeping with him."

"Woah!" Scott shoved his chair back and stood up. "I don't know what you're exactly doing but this is getting extremely creepy and vaguely threatening!"

"Sit down Scott," replied Hope.

"No, not until you explain exactly what the hell you want from me and why you've basically educated yourselves with my entire history!"

Scott was quite literally on the edge of running away. The only reason he kept still was that burning curiosity and the confusion over the entire situation.

"You're close to Darren. You're beginning to understand how he works. You also are about to be given a promotion," Hope said.

"Wait, what? Why?" How did she even know this?

"You've proven yourself far more intelligent than Darren initially expected. You've rapidly advanced your knowledge and what you lack in book smarts you make up for in common sense. Something that Darren has ironically noticed that is needed in certain fields," Hope responded. "You'll soon be seeing more of Pym Technologies. You'll have a feel and constant examination of the security within the building. The areas you don't have access to I can give you blueprints and visuals."

"But why?" stressed Scott.

"You wish to be better for your daughter as well as to keep her safe and healthy," Pym put in. "If you continue to work for Darren blindly you will only be doing one of those things. If the Yellowjacket suit becomes a reality, your daughter's future will be gone along with the rest of the world's and safety will be a thing of the past."

Scott tentatively swallowed. "So why me?"

"You have an incentive to do this, more so than some. Your skills also make you an ideal candidate."

"For what exactly?"

"For stealing the Yellowjacket suit."

He had known the words were coming but he really wished they hadn't. "I…well that is…if this is such a big deal then why can't you just call the Avengers!?"

"Because this requires a level of tactility and secrecy they lack. We need this done with as little publicity as possible. Hence why a thief would be perfect for it."

"I'd be going behind Darren's back," interjected Scott.

"Does that matter to you?" Hope asked, her eyes seeming to drill into Scott's head.

"No but…I mean this is…" Scott trailed off and kept from saying the word dangerous. Of course it was going to be dangerous. It was stupid to voice it when everyone in the room already knew it.

"The plan is already in place," Hank responded. "We just need a man."

"Presumably everything you've done has been for your daughter," added Hope. "If you don't help us now, there is a possibility that all that would be in vain."


AN: And now things are getting interesting. Hope you're still enjoy it :)