Chapter 12

Feeling rather peckish, Tony left his sister buried in the resumes he'd given her and headed towards the kitchen. Rummaging through the kitchen cabinetry, Jarvis alerted him that an unexpected visitor that was heading to meet him.

"Rhodey! What brings you to London?" Tony greeted when his best friend arrived in the kitchen behind him.

"You keep dodging my calls," Rhodey answered, before throwing down the newspaper he carried in his hands onto the kitchen island. "I've been trying to get a hold of you, which I'm positive you know."

"I've been a bit busy, wasn't trying to ignore you."

"I'm sure," Rhodey answered, "Now tell me, are you out of your mind?!"

"I'm getting tired of being asked that question," Tony muttered, turning around and seeing the front page photo of him and Hermione looking up.

"So what am I being accused of this time?"

"Don't bullshit me Tony. I'm not in the mood for games. A random girl shows up claiming to be your sister and you don't bother picking up the phone? Did you even bother to have a DNA test completed? Did you vet her at all?"

"I didn't need to run a test," Tony answered as Rhodey sighed. "Besides she didn't reach out to me. I tracked her down."

"Exactly how did you come to the conclusion she was your half sister then?" Rhodey demanded. "Better yet why did she just believe you?"

"Fury sent me the results of a blood test that was run in order to confirm her identity after she had a run in with Romanov and Barton. Showed that she's my half sister. I did the rest of the leg work," Tony answered.

"Let me get this straight," Rhodey said, "SHIELD, a group you've described as, 'willing to sell out their own grandmothers,' shows up with this DNA test and you just believe them?"

"I found the transactions in my parent's financial history," Tony said. "Her mother was paid off and was at the same hotel as her mother nine months beforehand."

Rhodey whistled in surprise, "Howard was many things, but to abandon one of his kids?"

"Which is why it was my mother's signature next to each payment," Tony answered. "You remember dear old mom, she vetted everyone and everything. She wouldn't have handed over a dime if she wasn't positive Hermione was my sister."

"Tony, you have to realize that any half decent lawyer will be able to use those payments and your public declaration of her being a Stark to secure half of your inheritance, including part of the company," Rhodey said.

"She can have it," Tony said, shrugging. "In fact, I'm in the process of convincing her to join the company in a new division I'm creating."

"How do you know she's not another Obediah?" Rhodey demanded. "Have you already forgotten what he did to you and the company?!"

"Hermione is nothing like Obediah," Tony snapped. "Don't even go there."

"Tony," Hermione called as she walked into the room, the heavy resume file in her hands, "I'm going to head over to Harry's so I can reach out to a few potential individuals. I need to access his fireplace…oh I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you had a guest."

"Glinda! Meet Rhodey, Rhodey this is my sister Hermione," Tony said, taking advantage of the distraction.

"Miss Stark," Rhodey greeted the younger girl.

"Hermione please," the witch answered with a smile. "I suppose Rhodey is a nickname?"

"Of course, James Rhodes," the soldier answered.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Rhodes," Hermione said. "Tony you didn't tell me you were expecting a guest."

"That's my fault," Rhodey said. "I didn't exactly tell Tony I was coming by. We have an open door policy, always since we were kids. So what is it that you do for work?"

"Oh I'm just a boring paper pusher," Hermione said as Tony snorted.

"Don't let her lie to you. She's the new liaison between her government and SHIELD."

"Tony!" Hermione hissed, before glancing between the two men. "You cannot tell him that information. He doesn't have high enough security clearance."

"Exactly how do you know I have security clearance at all?" Rhodey asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"You had him followed too?!" Tony asked, his voice sounding delighted even as Hermione groaned in frustration. "Welcome to the club."

"Explain now," Rhodey demanded. "Did you infiltrate the United States military? That's a violation of international law?"

"That's classified," Hermione answered. "Tonly only knows because he was read in after learning we are blood related."

"Security clearance does not work that way."

"It does this time."

"Yeah, well I'm sure the Joint Chiefs will accept that answer," Rhodey snapped, pulling his phone out and dialing. It fried the moment he hit the call button. "What the hell?"

"You stole one of Tony's suits and gave it to the United States Military!" Hermione exploded. "Did you really think that there would be no consequences? As though no other government would react after the US military acquired unique technology they intended to weaponize? Of course you were given a tail."

"That's not even addressing the Hammer Industries debacle, which was encouraged because of your ridiculous military contracts!"

"Professional or personal? Which part of my privacy did your people violate?"

Hermione smirked, "All of it. You betrayed your childhood best friend. Did you really think we wouldn't follow up?"

"Who? Who is it that's been spying on me?"

"As if I'd actually give you the name of my coworker," Hermione said shaking her head. "You're out of your mind. Now if you don't mind, I have to go inform Fury and my boss that Tony's big mouth has already shared my new job."

Rhodey waited until Hermione stalked out of the kitchen before turning back to Tony, "You cannot be serious."

"Serious about what?"

"You both just admitted that she's a spook, and not only that, the government she works for has been following us around! Who knows what information they've stolen and who they've given it to! This is a massive breach in security. How are you not examining how they have managed to do it? What if they're selling these secrets?"

"I already know how they did it," Tony answered. "They're not interested in selling secrets. Only to ensure that we're not a danger to their government and people."

Rhodey scoffed and looked away, "You're being incredibly naive Tony. There's no possible way she's trustworthy. Besides, how do you know her government didn't fake the DNA results, and manipulate Fury. They could have falsified the bank records to convince you that she's your sister."

"Why would they bother?" Tony asked, frustration leaking into his voice. "What possible reason would they want to fake a familial relationship?"

"To gain your trust!" Rhodey exploded, "To manipulate you. There could be dozens of reasons to do it. It's what you've always craved Tony. Your parents back, and now Howard's back in the form of a long lost daughter, and that isn't at all suspicious to you?"

"I trust her," Tony answered. "Hermione is family and has only been honest with me. Rhodey, I know you're just trying to look out for me, but she's not an enemy."

Rhodey sighed, "You know I have to report her to the Joint Chiefs."

"I know."