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Returning to You

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Pepper's stomach had stopped grumbling hours ago, but now she could feel the uncharacteristic weakness as the minutes dragged by. Hunger won out and her slim fingers opened the cabinet door to reveal the jar of peanuts. Conveniently placed near the liquor, she reminded herself. His hand rarely seemed to be free of a glass these days and it was not a trend she admired.

The woman sighed, taking the jar back to the living room, eyes catching the empty cuffs that now decorated the center glass table. She opened the lid and absently nibbled on the contents. There was no telling if it would settle her stomach, but logic told her it had been too long. Her hands were already shaking. At least that was the culprit she chose to blame.

The shrill notes of the ring tone caused the woman to jump where she stood and Pepper struggled to put the snack down without spilling anything further. Reality always seemed to have a way of creeping back in.

It took a minute before she remembered where it had been left, half fallen into the folds of the couch. Pepper had never been so clumsy. Still, her heart raced. It was his tune.

She fumbled with the cool object in her hand, struggling in that brief second to hold her thoughts together enough to answer, "Tony?"

'Are you all right?'

Was she all right? That was certainly the question of the evening. But there was urgency in his voice and Pepper closed her eyes with a breath to contain her own.

"I'm fine," she answered, opening them back up and giving the briefest smile of relief to the empty room. "Fury told you then?"

'I shouldn't have left you…' Tony apologized.

"I'm fine," Pepper quickly assured before turning away from the familiar landscape of furniture and solid walls. Outside, looking through those large glass frames, did nothing to help. She could have struggled for a glimpse of something…anything out across the bay, but from where she stood there was only blackness. "Where are you?"

'On my way.'

She breathed easier at that, the grip on the Blackberry loosened. Tony was okay. The renewed adrenaline seemed to wane and her legs suddenly felt weaker than they should have.

"Did you find them?" Pepper sat back down, hardly on the edge of the sofa. The leather was smooth, and she felt her palm stick to the surface.

'No,' was Tony's curt reply. 'Fury set me up.'

Of course, she realized, more games and trials. Had she even passed this round? Her voice went through the line in a hushed manner, "I'm not all that surprised."

'He's trying to manipulate me…'

"Which is exactly the same thing you would probably try to do if you were in his position," the woman replied quickly, fighting to contain the amused laughter in her comparison. It was a strange feeling, recognizing that fact herself.

There was a pause.

'Yeah, I would,' he finally admitted. Pepper wished she could have seen the expression. 'But that's really not the point. I thought you were on my side here, Ms. Potts.'

Leave it to Tony Stark to miss the larger picture of the events taking place. His pride had been injured, his employed had been put in the line of fire…

"I didn't know we were resorting to sides, Mr. Stark. We're all grownups and when it comes down to it they only are trying to lookout for the welfare of the public and your personal interests of all things…"

Her eyes widened at the unexpected rampage and she pushed off the edge as she once again rose to her feet. "Although it does sound like I'm defending them aren't I? I can't believe I am actually defending them, but really they are just like any other branch of the government, granted with a slightly more upfront approach…"

'Upfront?' Tony yelled into the phone loud enough for Pepper to pull the speaker from her ear, putting it back in time to catch, '…I'd consider the Mafia a more straightforward camaraderie.'

"You're just saying that because you don't feel in control."

'I don't need to be in control,' he went on and her eyes rolled humorously, an act he quickly confronted. '…and don't give me that look.'

Instantly Pepper straightened her posture where she stood. It wouldn't do her any good to ask how he knew she had given him a look of any sort and her lips dropped into a pout of concern.

"Could you be any less convincing?" Pepper tried to recover her dignity, gaze searching around the seemingly vacant room. "Besides, you're on the phone."

'That doesn't stop you from trying to give me that look.'

They both grew silent, Pepper taking a moment to smile at the lighthearted banter. The simple sound of his voice had been amazingly sweet to her ears, for all of the annoyances. She looked down, absently fascinated with the bareness of her toes. The pale coloring was oddly captivating and she wished there were more to say.

'Are you really alright?' his voice spoke again, softer this time.

"Really, I am," Pepper answered truthfully. She smiled the quiet sort of smile that was reserved for her own benefit.

'Really?' Tony pressed again.

He could be so trying! "If you would just hurry up you could see for yourself."

'I already can.'

Pepper's eyes flew to the large windows, twisting until she could see the image of the Iron Man hovering outside. His eyes glowed in a way that any one else would have taken for anger or reprimand, but Pepper Potts knew better. She had always seen past the many costumes, hadn't she?

Her hand dropped just enough to let the open phone rest against her chest, pressing into the thin fabric. Pepper didn't know how long she stood in simple awe that he was truly there, safe. Until she heard the voice persisting on the other end of the phone.

'Potts?!'

She scrambled to place the mobile back to her ear, "Tony?"

'Mind letting me in? The garage seems to be stuck.'

For a moment Pepper thought she had heard wrong, "What?"

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"Sir, she let him go."

Tania stood in the quiet room, updated information on the desk before her. Fury flipped the surveillance off. There was no more news to be found and he already had people handling what could be arranged for the night.

"I know," he stated, taking a seat with a relaxing sigh as he settled into the leather. "Get me all the information you can on the Blue Sun's finances."

"And Ms. Potts?" Tania ventured.

"I'm starting to think maybe I was wrong," the Director admitted. There was a distinct cringe in his words at the confession. But it was there, a shred of admiration even, "She might fit in just fine."

The woman's eye rose at Fury's abrupt change of opinion.

She hadn't been witness to the whole of the events, only the finale in which the assistant kept her word to the prisoner. Tania had been right in her assessment so far and she expected the trend to continue, despite Fury's initial reservations.

He caught her moment of revel, "Don't say a word."

She was careful not to let the smile grow any wider, "Of course not, Sir."

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A.N.- I know it's been a while and I'd like to apologize to the many people who have been reading. There's really not much of an excuse for not updating except the age-old of writer's block. I lost my job shortly after the last posting and unfortunately that doesn't do much to keep one's attention focused.

Not much has changed with my job situation, but this story is far from forgotten. I've had a little closure with another story I was working on, and had some more original work that I've been trying to keep priority.

Reviews keep me encouraged, and I hope you all still enjoy what's coming out. I will try to update again soon!

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