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Chapter 5 – A Call to Pepper

The Doctor, Logan and Tony Tyler were on the football pitch on the ship. Lance had came in to joined the guys playing. "Icky Thump" by the White Stripes blasted through the speakers. They had turned the goals to the sides of the field to shorten it for the game they were playing.

Sam bounced in a small chair made for a baby next to where Stark sat on the sidelines. He crossed his arms and propped his feet up on the wall. Sam coo'ed at him. He looked down at him. "What are you saying to me? I can't understand that baby talk crap. Grow up and speak like a normal person."

Sam laughed and kicked his legs making the chair bounce.

Stark rolled his eyes, "Your Dad has limited tastes in music. I really need to take this over before it warps your brain, Sam."

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Tony Tyler was paired up with Logan and the Doctor was with Lance. He ran and kicked the ball as hard as he could towards the goal.

"Yeah! Did you see that?" Tony shouted.

Covered in sweat, the Doctor jogged over to where Stark sat. He took the seat next to him and smiled down at Sam. "Are you bouncing?"

Sam coo'ed at him.

"Reduce the volume to 25%, Friday."

The song's volume got lower.

"That's way too loud for Sam in here." He looked back at the baby and smiled. "Is that better?"

Sam laughed and kicked his legs.

He looked back at Tony, "You're telling my son that he needs to grow up?"

Stark looked surprised and pointed to himself. "Me? What? Who told you that?"

The Doctor opened a water bottle and shook his head as he started to drink. "Ah, anyway."

"I believe you guys could play this for days without stopping. It's incredible."

The scoreboard buzzed.

The Doctor looked surprised, "Already 90 minutes? Huh. That doesn't seem that long. That clock is too fast. It's off by…. 7 minutes and 12 seconds."

Stark rolled his eyes at the remark. "Freak."

Tony yelled at him, "John! Forget the clock! We're going to keep going!"

He smiled back at him, "Go on. Play until you drop!"

Tony laughed and kicked the ball to Logan.

The Doctor smiled. "This was a great idea. Cheers."

Stark rubbed his face. "He needs to give his anger an outlet."

The Doctor looked back at Stark. "Come give it a go. You might like it. I never played before I came here. It's my favorite thing now."

Stark chuckled, "Your most favorite thing?"

"Well….. it's in my top five." He laughed.

Stark laughed with him. "Good. Just making sure you were enjoying all life has to offer."

He leaned back and sighed. "Oh, I am. Don't worry about me."

He nodded his head as they watched the game, "Good."

"Thank you for talking to Tony."

"Ah, he's going to be alright. He's a tough kid. I'll make that bracelet for him as soon as we return home. I don't have some parts I need for it here."

"No rush. He has mine-"

"But, you need yours. I haven't forgotten you have a target pointed at your head back home."

"Ah. I have lived for centuries without it. I'll be alright. I've still got the watch so I can pop with that. I've locked out everything he doesn't need to get into."

Stark nodded his head. "Right. Well, just don't go picking any fights until I get it all sorted out."

"I'll be good." He told him as he finished drinking his water. "You didn't have to stay up here with us."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't have anything else to do."

"Ress busy?"

"Went to work for a while. She'll be back later this evening."

He nodded his head. They sat for a bit and watched the guys play. After a while, the Doctor spoke, "You are oddly quiet. What's on your mind?"

He rubbed his forehead. "I don't know if I want to admit it to you or not."

"Alright. It's cool-"

"Nah. I've just been sitting here thinking. About when I went through that. Tony has all of you guys to talk to about it. Hell of a support system. Large family and extended family. Give him a few days, and he'll be fine. He's a hell of a lot better than I thought he would be today."

The Doctor nodded his head. "Who did you have?"

"Pepper. That's it. And I'm all she has. That's what she has told me for years."

"You need to talk to her and just get this sorted out."

"Ah… I don't even know where to start."

"Has she rang you?"

"Several times. I just….haven't answered. She's going to be pissed when I finally do talk to her. We were supposed to be home today."

"I'll talk to her. Explain what has happened."

He looked back at him in surprise. "And how the hell are you going to do that? 'Hi Pepper. Tony Tyler was abducted by aliens and now we're legally bound to remain here, on an alien planet, while the court system decides on a punishment'."

"Something like that. Why can't we tell her the truth?"

"That would be something we probably need to do in person. You realize that as much as I do."

The Doctor sighed. "Yeah. It's true." He held out his hand, "Hand me your phone."

Stark handed him his phone. "Seriously, man-"

"I've got this. Relax." He told him as the phone made the connection. Pepper's angry face appeared on the screen.

"Well, imagine the pair of you calling me to explain yourselves." Pepper said.

Tony pointed out, "Actually, there are three of us. Sam is right here, too."

The Doctor sat the phone on the wall Tony had his feet propped on. It sat up perfectly so they could see Pepper, and she could see both of them. He smiled back at Stark. "If at first you succeed…."

Stark finished the sentence, "…try not to look surprised."

The Doctor laughed at him. "Good one."

Pepper narrowed her eyes at him, "Did you shave?"

He rubbed his face and groaned. "Nothing escapes this woman, John."

The Doctor chuckled. "It was a hell of a New Year's Eve party here, Pepper. He claims he woke up without it."

Pepper smiled, "That's funny. I imagine he tried to trim it when he was drinking and it got out of control."

The men looked at one another and smiled.

Tony nodded. "Let's go with that explanation."

The Doctor ran his hand through his sweaty hair.

"Why are you so wet?" Pepper asked.

"I've been playing football for the past 83 minutes-"

Tony grabbed his arm. "No. Just say for the past hour and a half. Round it. It's normal."

"Oh. Then that's 80 minutes."

Tony groaned, "Freak."

Pepper shook her head, "So, ignoring my calls and now calling to give me a sad story? Is that what this is?"

Tony shook his head. "I wasn't ignoring your calls, I was busy. Doing. Stuff."

The Doctor smiled. "He's been extremely busy with some engineers here. He has made some business deals you wouldn't believe."

Pepper looked impressed. "Really?"

Tony nodded his head. "Surprisingly, I can negotiate a pretty good deal. Well, I think it's a good deal."

The Doctor nodded, "I believe it is, too."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "So, what is the deal?"

Tony looked back at his friend. "Let me get into that when we get home. It's involved."

Pepper nodded her head. "Okay, we'll talk about that then. When are you planning on getting home?"

The Doctor took over the conversation. "Pepper. I'm so sorry, but I'm not going to have Tony home to you for a bit more. We've. Ran into some problems where we are. It might need a few days attention to get it sorted out."

She looked cross. "That really doesn't surprise me at all with you two."

Tony rubbed his face and groaned. "Really, Pepper. It's … ummmm…."

The Doctor thought, "Complex." He finally decided.

She groaned. "You two are ridiculous. What is that I'm hearing?"

Tony looked up. "The guys are playing soccer with Tony Tyler. He needed to run around and burn off some energy."

She smiled, "What did Genie say about your beard missing?"

He smiled and looked back at the Doctor. "Oh, she didn't like it. Not at all."

Pepper smiled. "Well. I'm sure she's giving you hell about it."

Tony Tyler shouted. "John! Are you coming back?"

The Doctor looked at the screen, "I'm sorry, Pepper. My brother needs me. Excuse me." He looked at Stark. "You good?"

He nodded his head. "I'm good. Pepper, do you have a minute?"

She sat down on the sofa where she was. "Why? What's wrong?"

He rubbed his face and looked at her. "Nothing is wrong. I just need some…. Clarification."

She looked surprised. "Clarification? On what?"

"Us. Me and you. We're dating. Yes?"

"When you are in town. Yes." She smiled.

"But, are we….ummm….exclusive? Just us?"

"This is interesting. Why are you asking me this?"

He rubbed his face and glanced down at Sam. "I'm just curious. Someone asked me and I didn't know. I don't want to screw this up, so…. I wanted to ask."

She sat back and smiled, "This is really sweet that you are asking."

He rolled his eyes. "Well, be really sweet back and answer."

"We've never talked about this. So, I suppose we aren't.

Sam started to cry.

Stark groaned, "Hang on a bit. John! Your baby is pissed about something."

"Pick him up and hold him." The Doctor called back.

"Damn it." He mumbled as he leaned over and picked up Sam. He sat him on his lap and pointed at the screen. He stopped crying immediately. "Say hi to Pepper, Sam."

Pepper smiled, "Hi there, Sam! Are you keeping Tony out of trouble?"

Sam smiled at her and coo'ed. He grabbed Stark's finger on the hand that held him on his lap, and put it in his mouth. "And right in the mouth goes my thumb."

Pepper laughed. "He seems to like you."

"Yeah, all of these kids like Uncle Tony. I'm the fun one out of this bunch." He teased. "So, about what we were talking about."

"Well. I'm not sure. Is it something we can talk about when you get home? Give me a chance to think it over?"

He nodded his head. "Yeah. There's some other things I need to talk to you about. I'm not sure how you are going to ….. react to it."

She sighed, "What have you done?"

"Nothing! It's not that. Awe!" He yelled. He snatched his thumb out of Sam's mouth.

"What is it?" Pepper asked.

"Hang on a bit. John!"

The Doctor ran back over to him. Tony lay Sam in his arm and rubbed his gum with his finger.

"Yeah?" The Doctor asked as he sat down next to him again.

Stark smiled back at him. "I felt a tooth. It just took a bite out of me."

"Yeah?" He smiled as he put his finger in Sam's mouth and felt his gums. "I think you're right." He picked Sam up and kissed his face. "Are you biting your Uncle Tony over here?"

Sam put his own fingers in his mouth and sucked them. The Doctor picked him up and took him back out on the football pitch.

Tony rolled his eyes and looked back at Pepper. He took his phone in his hand and sat back. "Sorry about that. Now he has him on the soccer field. I'm not sure that's the best place for a baby."

Pepper smiled. "Let's talk about this once you return. It's something that needs your full attention. I know how you are, and how everyone has always known you to be. I need to think about this before I decide."

He nodded his head. "Okay."

"How long do you think you'll be?"

He shook his head. "I have no idea. I don't know how these things work here."

"That's something I never dreamed I would hear you say." She smiled.

He laughed, "Yeah. Me either."

She smiled at him.

He looked up and saw the guys were completely engrossed in their game. He looked back at her. "I never told you. But. Thank you, Pepper."

"For what?"

"Being there for me. For everything. I've been reminded a lot about when I first came home today. I didn't have anyone but you to talk to."

She shook her head. "We have never talked about that-"

"Yeah, but we talked about stuff to keep it off of my mind. You kept telling me I could talk to you about it if I wanted. I know I could. I just….didn't want to. I still don't want to."

She looked concerned. "What has happened? Are you alright?"

He took a deep breath and thought for a bit. "I am. And I might be realizing it for the first time. Huh."

She smiled. "Call me tomorrow. Stop ignoring my calls, and just answer the phone."

"I could tell you the same thing. Have a good night. I'll see you soon."

"Good night." She smiled and ended the call.

He looked up and saw them before anyone else did. He covered his mouth and laughed. "Oh fucking shit."

Pete Tyler stood next to Howie Shepherd on the other side of the football pitch. Howie put his hands on his hips and looked around the room. "Now, this is some shit here."

The men stopped playing at the sound of his voice. Tony Tyler saw his father and ran to him. Pete picked him up and kissed his cheek several times, holding him tightly. He looked at him, "Are you alright?"

Tony smiled at him. "Daddy, I'm fine. We're playing football!" Tony wiggled and Pete let him go. The Doctor walked over and shook his hand.

"Good trip out?"

"Fast trip out. Poltious is ….." Pete started.

"Like a bat out of Hell with both wings on fire!" Howie said impressively as he shook the Doctor's hand and smiled. "I loved it. Good for the ticker!"

Pete saw Sam in the Doctor's arms. He held out his arms to take him. "He's grown so much!"

The Doctor smiled proudly. "He really has. Tony just found a tooth."

Pete kissed the small baby.

"I told Rose you wouldn't recognize him. He's rolling over and holding his head up."

Pete smiled proudly down at him. "Remarkable. Where is Rose?"

"She's with Genie and Jack. They went to some …. Well….. it's like a concert. Opera-ish thing."

Howie chuckled, "Hell, I'd be playing soccer, too."

Pete stood and watched Tony play. "So, how is he? Really?"

The Doctor turned around and looked at him. "He had a tough night. I pushed him into a sleep and did as much as I could. He's slept most of the day. He doesn't feel safe on the planet, so Tony suggested we bring him up here. I can move some guys around and have someone with him up here tonight so he can stay."

Pete shook his head. "I'm here. I'll stay with him."

The Doctor nodded. "Quite right. Expect nightmares for a while. The Andromedaens have the Jeclaonides in custody that took him. Queen Ashena wanted me to take you to her as soon as you arrived and saw that he was alright."

Pete nodded his head.

The Doctor smiled at Howie. "I can't believe you are here, Howie."

Howie chuckled, "No one knows. Pete looked like he had suffered a heart attack when he got the call, so I insisted on coming with him. Besides. I needed to get away. If it's only for a day."

"A day?" The Doctor asked.

Pete continued to watch Tony play. "Yeah. Poltious offered to take him back tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh. This entire thing might be over before then. I'm not sure what to expect."

Tony Stark joined them. "Well, they just let anyone onboard now." He teased.

Pete shook his hand, "Thank you for your help with Tony."

Stark smiled, "It's no problem. I'm happy to help. Nice to see you, Mr. President."

Howie shook his hand. "Tony! Nice to see you! John's wheel horse! And please, call me Howie."

Stark looked back to the Doctor. "Wheel horse? Good thing?"

He smiled. "Yes."

Stark laughed. "Of course. John. Go grab a shower and I'll stay here with Mr. Tyler. You and Pete have to attend that meeting."

"Sure?" he asked.

"Yeah. Hell I might even kick this damn ball around a bit." He laughed.

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