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Waking Up

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Harold Hogan sat in a plush chair. It was not as comfortable as it looked and his large frame assisted in his opinion. The sky had long gone dark and the staff had offered him a bed, but the chauffeur didn't feel it appropriate. He couldn't ignore the anxiety that had built over the hours. The first shift of security had already come and gone from the doors outside and his boss had failed to call. Not that it was all that surprising.

Happy shifted his legs, crossing them in the other direction. The view was nice…before…when the sun was out and he was able to see more clearly. Now it was nothing but a mix of colored lights from the remaining cars below and the streets that held them. His hands were folded casually in his lap. For a while he had watched the news, but the screen had since died down to little else but a flicker of illumination in the room.

So when the lights flipped on it took him by surprise.

Hogan stood when a nurse entered, although she was not adorned in the earlier attire of the staff. She wore a skirt, black and to the knee, with heels much higher than ever seen on a typical nurse. If she hadn't shown her I.D. as she continued into the room, Hogan would have been quicker to voice his concern.

"Tania Rosenbaum, of S.H.I.E.L.D." She let the I.D. fall back from around her neck, lifting her case's strap from her shoulder to let the container rest on the still bed sheets that covered the patient. The heart monitor continued its pulsing with modest interest in the newcomer.

Hogan had heard their name briefly on one or more occasions, but he wasn't much more than the driver. He was rarely told details on purpose. "I wasn't told…"

"Mr. Stark has been kept otherwise occupied," Tania responded quickly, although her voice was warmer than her posture.

The woman was young enough, but the faint lines were just starting to form at the corner of her eyes. Her hands moved smoothly as she opened the contents and took out a long, blank envelope and placed it on the stand by the bed. Aside from a brief glance, she had yet looked Hogan in the eye. "I've been instructed to provide Ms. Potts with the antidote."

He watched curiously, thoughts immediately to the poison used, "You know what it is?"

"Quite well," Tania paused. The emotion passed and she took out a capped needle. "And several variations besides."

"So she'll be alright?" he asked, never questioning that he might come across slightly too eager.

"A little weak for the first few days," she continued, readying the dosage as she explained. "This poison follows the trail of similarly high dosage venom, affecting the nervous system first. It will take the longest to repair itself, but yes, Ms. Potts will have a full recovery."

It seemed like such a small act, as she inserted the needle into the I.V. but within moments Pepper's heart slowed to a much more acceptable rate. The agent smiled to herself, even knowing what the result was going to be.

"Thank you," Hogan offered sheepishly. It was enough to make her turn and regard him. This time he was the one to avoid her eyes.

"She's lucky, to have people who care about her so much."

Hogan looked to her with confusion, "I'm just…" What was there to say? I'm just the driver? It was better just to keep it simple, "Yes."

Tania nodded, closing the case and pulling the strap back to her shoulder with skilled ease.

"She should wake before too long," she informed Hogan as she took the envelope from the table, handing it out to him. "Give this to her. It will explain a little, at least."

He didn't reply as he took the paper from her obediently. Tania gave one more smile, weakly, before turning and walking out of the room to leave the pair alone once more.

Hogan shifted the envelope in his hand, eyes lingering over the empty doorway. It was still quiet in the halls, quiet in the room, quiet as his jaw tensed uneasily over the thought of Stark. He was a good boss, a friendly guy even, but he shouldn't have gotten Pepper involved in the first place. She was too good a girl for that.

"Happy?" a soft voice interrupted and he turned with surprise. Pepper's eyes were open, but her head still remained on the white pillow. Hogan hadn't expected the solution to act so soon, but he would be the last to complain.

"Hey,"he greeted gently. A little too gently, he reminded himself, and his lips fell back into their characteristic flat line. "I'm glad you're awake, Ms. Potts." A little too formal, and he knew she'd correct it.

"Pepper," she confirmed with the expected reply. This time she did try to sit up, "There was a…"

It failed miserably and Hogan moved forward, hand on her shoulder as he motioned her back down. Still, her eyes looked up with panic, "Where's Tony?"

"Mr. Stark should be fine," Hogan replied professionally, removing his hand and taking a step back. She decided to compromise, finding the button and pulling the back to more of a sitting position. "He had some things to take care of, he said."

The bed's movement stopped and the expression on her face encouraged him to explain further, "Wasn't too keen on leaving you alone though, so I've been trying to keep you company. Not much of a talker though."

Pepper visibly relaxed and even gave a smile of appreciation to the bodyguard. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," Hogan smiled back. "You had us all worried."

Like that, her smile fell as she tried to put together the pieces, "What happened?"

"You were poisoned," he answered quickly, realizing that she wanted a little more information than that. "But someone from S.H.I.E.L.D. came by earlier with the antidote."

The second the words rolled off his tongue, Hogan cursed at the simple-minded account. He had never been smart with words, but this was on the verge of ridiculousness.

"Did they say anything?" she pressed further.

"She left this," Hogan continued, remembering the envelope in his hand. He held it out for her and she took it, staring at the white material curiously.

"I can go," he offered, almost hoping for a chance to end the embarrassment. "You know, if you want to read it in private."

"No," Pepper said quickly, looking back up to the man. "If you don't mind, I'd like you to stay."

He hadn't expected her answer, but said nothing, only nodded as he moved back to the familiar chair to take a seat. Pepper seemed anxious as she carefully pried the seal apart and removed the letter from its place. She leaned back into the bed as she read; eyes narrow and lips tight with concern.

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The stranger turned away again after confirming Tony's presence in the quiet room. There was something calming about watching the movement below as the black waves crashed against shadow.

"I am Iron Man," he snickered, repeating the famous words from Stark's very public speech.

"You think you're the only superhero in the world?" Every time, it seemed easier to ask that question. Still, the billionaire on the other side of the room remained quiet. The dark figure turned and began to walk forward. "Mr. Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet."

Tony's shoulders tensed, "Who the hell are you?" It seemed lately that his home had become far too open to visitors, and it did not settle well.

"Nick Fury," the stranger introduced, finally coming into the single, dim light of the room. It was unusual how it made his naturally dark skin glow with almost a shade of red, but the prominent patch over his eye still remained strikingly black. "Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

That announcement had been Tony's last guess, in fact, it hadn't been a guess at all, and he remained still, taking in the information a little slower than an average day. Eventually, his lips formed an: "Oh."

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A.N.- Minor Edits, that whole 'repeating' I warned myself about last chapter. Thank you to everyone who is reviewing! I lovem very much!