"Laura? Earth to Laura hello..." her mom asked again amused while staring at Laura smiling into space as she snapped out of and saw her mother and sister staring at her?

"Sorry what did you say" Laura asked casually while drinking from her glass trying to be smooth?

"I was saying you should invite T' Challa here for a weekend. He seemed like a nice guy when we met him, and I'd like to get to know him" her mom asked again?

"Yeah I'm sure we can work something out" Laura said shrugging her shoulders casually looking at Jessica who smiled.

"What's that" her brother asked pointing at the handle.

"Oh, another secret sorry" Laura said looking down at it as they heard a transmission on the tv and saw the Mandarin symbol as her brother got her nephew out of the room quickly as the others watched it. "Some people call me a terrorist, I consider myself a teacher. America, get ready for another lesson. In 1864 in Sand Creek Colorado the U.S. military waited till the friendly Cheyenne braves all gone hunting, waited to attack and slaughter their families left behind, and claim their land" The mandarin said as Laura gripped the couch catching her breath. "Thirty-nine hours ago, the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait was attacked. I...I... I did that" he said as the message showed the attack and Laura crushed the wine glass hearing the explosion causing everyone to look at her as wine spilled over her hand and onto the floor as the glass cut her hand dripping with blood as Laura ignored it watching the tv. "A quaint military church filled with wives and children, of course. The soldiers were out on maneuvers, the braves were away. President Ellis, you continue to resist my attempts to educate you, sir. And now, you've missed me again. You know who I am, you don't know where I am, and you'll never see me coming" The Mandarin said as the transmission ended and Laura yelled "Jarvis, Jarvis" while running towards her helmet putting it on with her family looking on silently concerned.

"What are my vitals Jarvis" Laura asked as they came on her screen?

"Everything is normal Ms." Jarvis answered.

"Normal no… it's the heart it's going a million miles an hour right now" Laura said putting her hand on it while trying to catch her breath.

"Honey…" her mom said slowly approaching her.

"My analysis suggests you're suffering from an anxiety attack" Jarvis concluded.

"What! No, I don't suffer from those I don't…" Laura said breathing heavy as she collapsed on the floor taking the helmet off throwing it across the room.

"Honey breath its ok…" her mom said as Laura looked up at her and around seeing everyone watching and then her cut and bloodied hand looking down with embarrassment. "C'mon let's get that hand cleaned up" her mom said getting her out of the room.

Later that night at the kitchen table with her mom Laura had a bandage around her right hand "So do you wanna finally tell me what's going on" her mom asked as Laura looked up?

"Don't give me that look you haven't been hiding it well at least in front of me and until tonight anyway again I know you" her mom told her as Laura sighed and got her tablet as she showed her mom the tally of all of the incidents.

"Ever since New York. I've been keeping track trying to figure it out" Laura said taking a deep breath. "Since the portal, the invasion I haven't slept, or I refuse to until I have to because the nightmares, the panic attacks I guess what they are I refuse to close my eyes because, I see… I can't even explain what I see because I can't tell you guys" Laura answered annoyed.

"Have you talked to Tony about it" her mom asked?

"Tony seems fine when we video message and are sending reports back and forth and we don't talk about these things anyway and I don't until you force me" Laura answered.

"He did the same thing you did if anything more he may be dealing with the same thing" her mom suggested.

"I doubt it mom" Laura replied quickly.

"And has he been working as long as you" her mom asked?

"We're workaholics mom that's how we've always been" Laura countered.

"And how many suits have you built" her mom asked knowing the possible answer? "Five plus one at Tony's house just in case because I went weeks without one and I never want to be that vulnerable again, plus the retraction tech and I have an idea for a heavy armor one, plus my normal work stuff and my consultant work with Tesla and…" Laura rambled but her mom stopped her putting her hand up.

"This isn't healthy Laura" her mom said firmly as Laura sighed. "Does T' Challa know" her mom asked with an eyebrow raised?

"Uh… I went back as soon as my cast was taken off because his family loves me and wanted to see me again and I wanted to test something on my way there anyway and woke up gasping and covered in sweat from a nightmare... sleeping next to him but he didn't press me on it" Laura told her looking down embarrassed. "C'mon it's time for bed and as your mom I'm ordering you to bed" her mom said firmly as Laura sighed and got up.


The next day at a restaurant back in California sitting down at a table "I am Iron Patriot" Tony mocked as Rhodey stared at him annoyed.

"I swear to God… first Laura and you look it tested well in focus groups ok…" Rhodey answered but Tony interrupted

"So what's really goin' on? With the Mandarin seriously, can we talk about this guy" Tony asked?

"It's classified information, Tony" Rhodey answered looking around but sighed.

"Ok, there have been nine bombings" Rhodey whispered.

"Nine" Tony asked?

"The public only knows about three. Here's the thing, nobody can ID a device. There's no bomb casings" Rhodey told him.

"You know I can help, just ask. Laura and I have been working triple overtime we got a ton of new tech, I got a prehensile, I got a... I got a new bomb disposal. Catches explosions mid-air" Tony said making a motion with his hand looking exhausted.

"When's the last time you got a good night's sleep" Rhodey asked with worry?

"Einstein slept three hours a year" Tony replied.

"Tony… I just had this discussion with Laura she looks as bad as you do…" Rhodey told him seriously but was interrupted.

"Hence why we get along so long she can keep up with me" Tony said annoyed.

"Tony… people are concerned about you I am concerned about you" Rhodey tried again.

"You're gonna come at me like that" Tony said quickly?

"Look I'll tell you what I told her… I'm not trying to be a dic…tator" Rhodey finished quickly as he saw kids approach them with drawings.

"Do you mind signing my drawing" the kid asked them holding it?

"If Richard doesn't mind. You alright with this, Dick" Tony joked at Rhodey?

"Fine with me. What's your name" Rhodey asked signing it?

"I loved you in A Christmas Story, by the way" Tony joked looking at the boy.

"Listen, the Pentagon is scared. After what happened in New York... aliens, come on. They need to look strong. Stopping the Mandarin is priority, but it's not... It's not superhero business" Rhodey explained.

"I get it. No, it's not, quite frankly it's American business" Tony repeated.

"That's what I said" Rhodey said with an eyebrow raised as Tony broke the crayon?

"I broke the crayon" Tony said while trying to catch his breath.

"Are you ok Mr. Stark" the kid asked?

"Take it easy, Tony…" Rhodey asked looking at him confused.

"How did you get out of the wormhole" the kid whispered at Tony who stumbled towards his suit.

"Wait a minute Tony" Rhodey rushed after him.

"What'd he say" Tony asked?

"Tony" Rhodey said trying to get his attention as they left the restaurant towards where Tony suit was.

"Sorry have to check my suit make sure its ok" Tony managed to say he went inside it attracting a crowd. "Check the heart, check the...check the...is it the brain" Tony asked Jarvis as the vitals came on the screen?

"No sign of cardiac anatomy or unusual brain activity" Jarvis answered.

"Ok, so I was poisoned" Tony asked confused?

"My diagnosis is that you've experienced a severe anxiety attack. Shall I alert Ms. Watson she recently suffered from a similar episode less than 24 hours ago" Jarvis replied.

"What" Tony asked confused as Rhodey knocked on his helmet?

"Tony? Come on, man. This isn't a good look, open up" "Bye" Tony said taking off leaving Rhodey.


The next evening after Pepper met with Killian Happy called Laura who was with her family as she heard her Stark phone ring and walked into the other room answering it "Hey Happy what's up" Laura asked?

"Hey, can you run plates for me I'm sending them to you now" Happy asked sending the picture as Laura saw a picture of a Range Rover.

"I'm not at the tower why is it important" Laura asked hoping to not have to go there?

"Yeah… just a gut feeling have you heard of Aldrich Killian" Happy asked?

"He's with A.I.M. right why" Laura asked with an eyebrow raised?

"Because he was here with Pepper presenting his big brain thing with a sketchy looking bodyguard and Tony won't do anything about it just please Laura for me Tony is acting weird ever since you guys ran off with the super friends…" Happy rambled but Laura spoke up.

"Fine fine for you Happy I'll fly over and run the plates…" she said while taking a deep breath regaining her composure. "…And I'll send you what I got" Laura finished.

"Thanks Laura". "And be careful Happy" Laura added quickly as Happy hanged up as she put on her blue Giants hoodie and entered the living room.

"Sorry guys I gotta handle something at the tower" Laura told them grabbing her case and making sure the handle is secure.

"Laura..." her mom said approaching her with concern.

"Mom its important I'm sorry I'm ok I promise I'll be back tomorrow morning I'm fine ok" Laura tried reassuring her.

"Ok" her mom answered still unconvinced.

"By guys" Laura waved her hand as she closed the door while putting the handle in a secure spot inside her suit while suiting up as she took off for the tower. "Jarvis you up" Laura asked as she walked into her floor as the lights came on from the balcony?

"For you Ms. always".

"Sorry about this Happy want me to run these plates" Laura said sitting at her desk and running the plates through the database and sending the report to Happy. She got up and began working on the retraction tech.

Meanwhile on Hollywood Blvd Happy is tailing Savin as he checked his phone seeing the report from Laura while waking to a stall putting on sunglasses while looking at Savin in a mirror meet a man at the Chinese theater. He sees them leave and walks towards Taggert knocking the suitcase out of his hand "Hey Sorry pal my bad" Happy said getting the pieces while keeping one as he noticed Taggart's face glow orange. Walking back, he bumped into Savin "what are you doin', buddy? You out by yourself? A little date night? Watching your favorite chick flick maybe" Savin joked?

"Yeah, a little movie called "The Party's Over", starring you and your junkie girlfriend, and here's the ticket" Happy said holding the pieces.

"That doesn't belong to you" Savin said while walking towards Happy as Taggert glows red and both look at him as he explodes blowing up the theater with Happy getting caught in the crossfire lying down on the ground as Savin walks away casually.

Meanwhile back in her office Laura hears her phone ring seeing Tony calling her

"Hey Tony what…" Laura greeted but was interrupted quickly?

"Laura its Happy" Tony said quickly.

"What about Happy" Laura asked with worry?

"He's in the hospital" Tony answered.

"Shit. Sinai, right…" Laura asked feeling guilty while running towards her case and suiting up? "I'm on my way" Laura said hanging up and checking to make sure the handle was still there as she flew towards the sky going supersonic towards Los Angeles.


Laura landed and walked in Happy's room carrying her case seeing Happy on the bed and sees Tony on a chair next to it "Hey Tony how is he" Laura asked him who didn't respond as Laura sat down and they sat in silence.

"Hi" Tony greeted the nurse the next morning as Laura looked up at the nurse who looked at them in shock.

"Oh, uh mind leaving that on" Tony told her as they looked at the TV.

"Downton Abbey it's his favorite show" Laura told her getting up.

"He thinks its elegant" Tony added. "One more thing...make sure everyone wears their badges. He's a stickler for that sort of thing, plus my guys won't let anyone in without them" he said as they walked out. At the entrance there's a mob of press expecting Tony to walk out surrounding his car

"We're awaiting the arrival of Tony Stark. We're hoping he'll give us the reaction...his reaction to the latest attack" as the press went crazy not expecting Laura as they are bombarded with flashes as they try to make their way towards the Audi R8 e-tron. "Ms. Watson Ms. Watson"! "Mr. Stark Mr. Stark". "Hey, Mr. Stark! When is somebody gonna kill this guy? Just saying" A pap asks Tony shoving his phone into his face as Laura gets in the passenger seat.

"Is that what you want? Here's a little holiday greeting I've been wanting to send to the Mandarin. I just didn't know how to phrase it until now. My name is Tony Stark and I'm not afraid of you. I know you're a coward, so I've decided" Tony said while taking off his sunglasses. "That you just died, pal. I'm gonna come get the body. There's no politics here, it's just good old-fashioned revenge. There's no Pentagon, it's just you and me. And on the off chance you're a man, here's my home address 10880, Malibu Point, 90265. I'll leave the door unlocked. That's what you wanted right" Tony asked him as he threw his phone against the wall over the heads of reporters who ducked? "Bill me" he told the pap getting into the car as they sped away.

Later down the road Laura was trying to come up with words on what happened "Uh... Tony there is something you should know" Laura told him who looked at her. "Happy asked me to run plates about a guy named Aldrich Killian do you know about him" Laura asked softly.

"I don't and…" Tony said taking a breath. "I didn't know Happy asked you to do that. I don't blame you for what happened he would've done it himself if you didn't help him anyway. Now let's go find out who did this" Tony said as they pulled up to the house surrounded by a mob of press and helicopters as she grabbed her case as they walked towards the workshop.


Later Tony and Laura were in the shop as Jarvis was talking to them "I've compiled a Mandarin database for you, sir. Drawn from Shield, Fbi, and Cia. intercepts. Initiating virtual crime scene reconstruction" Jarvis said as the graphic of the crime scene appeared in front of them. "Ok, what do we got here" Tony asked looking at it? "His name is an ancient Chinese war mantle, meaning "adviser to the King". South American insurgency tactics talks like a Baptist preacher" Jarvis told them as Laura studied the scene with eyebrows furrowed.

"There's lots of pageantry going on here...lots of theater" Tony commented.

"That reminds me of someone" Laura murmured thinking about Loki.

"The heat from the blast was in excess of 3000 degrees Celsius. Any subjects within 12.5 yards were vaporized instantly" Jarvis told them.

"No bomb parts found in a three mile radius of the Chinese theater" Tony asked?

"No, sir" Jarvis answered.

"That's strange" Laura commented looking at the scene next to Tony.

"Talk to me, Happy" Tony said as he zoomed in on the image and Laura pointed at the dog tags getting Tony's attention. "Any military victims" Tony asked Jarvis.

"Not according to public records, sir" Jarvis told them.

"Ring up the thermogenic signatures again, factor in three thousand degrees" Tony asked as the graphic changed?

"The oracle cloud has completed analysis. Accessing satellites and plotting the last twelve months of thermogenic occurrence now" Jarvis told them as the graphic changed again.

"Jarvis take away everywhere that there's been a Mandarin attack" Laura asked?

"Yes Ms." as Jarvis did so.

"You sure that's not one of his" Tony asked pointing at the scene?

"It predates any known Mandarin attack. The incident was the use of a bomb to assist a suicide" Jarvis replied.

"Quiet the suicide there" Laura commented with eyebrows furrowed staring at it.

"The heat signature is remarkably similar. Three thousand degrees Celsius" Tony said as Laura pointed at the dog tags getting Tony's attention.

"That's two military guys. Ever been to Tennessee, Jarvis" Tony asked him? "Creating a flight plan for Tennessee" Jarvis told them as the doorbell rang getting their attention.


"Are we still at ding-dong? We're supposed to be on total security lock down. Come on, I threatened a terrorist. Who is that" Tony yelled as they walked towards the door?

"There's only so much I can do, sir, when you give the world's press your home address" Jarvis told him.

"My thoughts exactly Jarvis" Laura said while giving Tony a look as he opened the door and Laura sees a woman walk in and slowly backed her way towards her suitcase.

"You're not the Mandarin, are you" Tony asked as Laura got her handle from the case and attached it to the loop casually?

"You don't remember. Why am I not surprised" the woman asked annoyed?

"Don't take it personally, I don't remember what I had for breakfast" Tony told her.

"Gluten free waffles sir" Jarvis answered and Laura snorted not expecting him to respond.

"Ok, look, I need to be alone with you" the woman said while looking at Laura. "Someplace not here, it's urgent".

"Normally, I'd go for that sort of thing, but now I'm in a committed relationship. It's with her" Tony said while pointing at Pepper walking in.

"Tony is somebody there" Pepper asked closing the door.

"Hey Pepper" Laura said waving her hand.

"Laura what are you…" Pepper asked not expecting her?

"Yeah its Maya Hansen old botanist pal. that I used to know, barely" Tony said while giving her a look.

"Please don't tell me that there is a twelve year old kid waiting in the car that I've never met" Tony asked?

"He's thirteen. and no, I need your help" Maya asked him?

"What...what for? Why now" Tony asked?

"Because I read the papers, and, frankly, I don't think you'll last the week" Maya told him.

"Weird time to drop by" Laura told her gesturing towards the press outside as everyone looked at her.

"I'll be fine" Tony added.

"I was with Happy in the hospital, I didn't know we were expecting guests" Pepper told Tony.

"We weren't. No, I…" Tony fumbled over his words.

"And old girlfriends" Pepper said unamused.

"Oh, this outta be good" Laura said while crossing her arms.

"He's not really" Maya tried explaining.

"No, not really. It...it was just one night" Tony added.

"Yep… awkward" Laura murmured but Tony still heard her giving her a look.

"That's how you did it, isn't it" Pepper asked unimpressed?

"Yep it was a great night" Tony said confidently.

"Well, you know... yeah" Maya said awkwardly.

"You have saved yourself a world of pain" Pepper told her.

"I'm sure" Maya replied as Pepper gave Tony a look.

"What" Tony asked confused?

"Trust me we're going out of town. Ok, we've been through this" Pepper told him.

"Nope" Tony yelled!

"Yep" Pepper countered!

"The man says no" Tony yelled, and Laura smacked her forehead dramatically.

"Immediately and indefinitely" Pepper continued!

"Great idea let's go" Maya said trying to get them to leave.

"I'm assuming Pepper means just the two of them" Laura spoke up as everyone looked at her gesturing her fingers between them as Tony smacked them away.

"I'm sorry. That's a terrible idea. Please don't touch her bags. I can't protect you out there. I challenged" Tony rambled but Maya looked up.

"Is that... normal" Maya asked pointing the giant bunny as Laura looked at it blinking several times not seeing it before. "I'm not seeing things right that's there" Laura asked Pepper pointing at it in shock?

"Yes, it is" Pepper told Laura. "And no, it's not normal" Pepper said looking back at Maya.

"It's a big bunny, relax about it" Tony yelled!

"Calm down" Pepper told him.

"I got this for you" Tony justified!

"I'm aware of that" Pepper replied annoyed.

"You still haven't even told me that you liked it" Tony yelled back!

"Why am I here I feel like a 3rd wheel" Laura told nobody in particular throwing her hands up.

"I don't like it" Pepper yelled!

"I asked you three..." Tony replied as Laura crossed her arms looking bored watching the fight.

"Guys can we um…" Maya spoke up pointing at the tv trying to get the three's attention.

"Tony, we are leaving the house" Pepper said while trying to get him to leave.

"That's not even up for discussion" Tony told her.

"Do we need to worry about that" Maya yelled as Laura looked at the tv!

"Holy…" Laura yelled in shock seeing the rocket approach them from the helicopter as she gestured her arms as the pieces of her suit began flying towards her attaching themselves to her as the house was hit by a rocket causing Tony and Pepper to be flung back and Laura flung to the side of the wall by the edge of the cliff by the ocean as she still had pieces getting attached to her as she tried to regain her senses. Laura noticed Pepper with one of the suits on saving Tony "I got you first" Pepper told him standing over him.

"Like I said, we can't stay here" Tony yelled but before Laura tried to get up she heard Tony yell "Move" as the house was hit with more rockets as Laura was knocked into the water and being dragged by debris with pieces still being attached to her.

"Jarvis full power to thrusters now" Laura yelled while panicking under the water!

"But Ms. the suit is only 82% attached doing so would greatly damage…" Jarvis answered but went offline immediately after he brought full power to the thrusters as Laura shot out of the ocean full speed going supersonic without a Hud as Tony watched her leaving not knowing she was pulled under.

"And that's two" Tony said shooting at a helicopter but the other one shot at him dragging him down into the water by the debris. "Tony" Pepper yelled but Tony shot out of the water as well as Savin flew away as Tony went supersonic behind him.