A/N: One of my shorter chapter this time round, and I must confess, nothing happens. LOL Sorry about that.

I'm toying with doing one or two chapters for NaCl explaining what happened in Budapest... does that sound interesting to people? It's another flashback, but I had some fun thoughts about it.

Later gators... :)

Chapter Forty-Two

Tony looked out the large window of the floating SHIELD base at the clean up going on in the damaged cityscape of Wtashington. He was looking but not really seeing, his thoughts on Justin Hammer and what the man was up to. There was no way this was just as simple as hero envy on the other man's behalf. There was more to it and Tony's head was crowded with all the different angles Hammer might be intending to play on this and none of them were good. His cell phone rang and he answered it without looking at who it was. "Stark."

"Tony, it's me."

The sound of Pepper's voice instantly made Tony relax a little bit. "Hey, Pep, sorry I didn't come home last night. Duty called."

"As did our lawyers," she noted, without any real censure in her voice. "I'm watching the news right now." She hesitated. "What am I seeing?"

"It seems like Hammer has made his own little club seeing as we wouldn't let him join ours," said Tony grimly. "Are Martin and his men there with you?"

"Yes." -

"I want them to stay extra close to you from now on, Pepper," he instructed her. "Hammer is making his move and I don't know where this is going."

"Tony, if they trailed me any closer we'd all be arrested for public indecency," she commented wryly. "I don't think I'm on Hammer's mind right now. I can't believe what I'm seeing on TV, these other superheroes, what does it mean?"

Tony could hear the concern in Pepper's voice and hated that she was worried. He was concerned enough for the two of them, she didn't need to. "I don't know," he said honestly, "but it's nothing for you to worry about."

"If I'm not supposed to be worrying, why are you pacing?"

Tony looked down and discovered that he had started to pace up and down, his body tight with nervous anxiety of just wanting to sort this Hammer problem once and for all. The sound of Pepper's voice, while initially reassuring had quickly reminded Tony of Hammer's threats to take everything from him, his power, position and most frighteningly, Pepper. "I'm not," he lied without hesitation.

Pepper knew him too well to get away with that. "That was your pacing voice."

"There is no way that is a thing."

"It's a thing."

Tony couldn't help but smile. "I hate that you know me so well."

"Is that right?" Pepper didn't sound bothered by that fact.

"No," said Tony huskily, "I love it."

Tony could hear the smile in her voice. "Just as well, because I've been working on it for twelve years now." Her voice became more serious. "Tony, listen to me, you can't worry about my safety, you have more important things to think about, like working out what Hammer is up to. I've got a security detail plus Happy and Jarvis looking out for me and live in a fortress. I couldn't be any more safe." When Tony didn't answer straight away Pepper made a frustrated noise. "You're thinking about that stupid hamster ball again, aren't you?"

Damn she was good. "No," said Tony indignantly and then relented, "yes, maybe. I mean, remind me again why you're so against it?"

"Because I'm not a hamster," she said flatly.

"That seems like a pretty random reason to me."

"I'm not having this conversation with you again, Tony Stark," said Pepper firmly. "I've gotten a security detail, I didn't remove that tracking gizmo you put in me without my consent and I think I've been pretty reasonable about the whole thing."

"Okay, but let me just say this one thing," said Tony, pausing for effect as he tried one last ditch attempt to win Pepper over to his hamster ball idea, "cappuccino machine."

"How are you going to put a cappuccino machine in a hamster ball?" Pepper asked in exasperation.

"I'm a genius, I'll figure something out," Tony wheedled, "and I know how you love your cappuccinos in the morning."

"I'm giving up coffee for awhile," she informed him. "I'm trying to cut back on caffeine. It's not good for you." Pepper gave a dry laugh. "Although I don't think today was the right day to start attempting to ween out caffeine from my diet. I woke up to multiple calls from our lawyers and the media from your little shin ding last night and then all this Hammer business. I can't see an orange juice having the same calming effect, somehow."

"Okay, I'll put a juicer in the ball instead, how does that sound?"

"Delusional."

Tony's lips twitch. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

Pepper laughed. "Idiot."

"Now you're just trying to drive me mad with desire," he complained teasingly.

"I don't think I can take the credit for your crazy, Tony," Pepper sassed him. "Oh."

"Oh, what?" asked Tony, instantly concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Of course I'm alright," she said in exasperation. "It's just that Justin Hammer is on TV and it looks like his press conference he was going to give this afternoon in New York is happening now in Washington, on the steps of the White House, no less."

Tony jaw hardened at all the validation this dangerous idiot was getting. He knew Hammer would be eating it up with a spoon.

"You'd better go and listen to it, where are the others?"

"We're all on the SHIELD base waiting on Fury to debrief us about this Hammer mess. Clint is in sick bay, he got a bit banged up and they're patching him up."

Pepper made a concerned noise. "Is he going to be okay?"

Tony grimaced, remembering the sight of the beat up Hawkeye. "That's what they tell us."

"Is everyone else alright?"

"They're fine, I think they're all in the conference room, at least that is where I saw Bruce heading with about ten boxes of donuts."

"Oh, donuts," said Pepper thoughtfully, "that's what I feel like."

"You never eat donuts," he reminded her.

"I know, but I've got to use something to help with the caffeine withdrawals."

Tony pursed his lips. "You know how B is about sharing food after he's been the other guy. Will you still love me if I come back with only one arm?"

"If that arm is holding donuts I will," she said impishly.

Tony had to laugh. "Alright, my life for your donut craving, your wish is my command."

"In that case I wish you'd stop worrying about me," she said simply.

"Wish for something simpler, like world peace," Tony instructed her, his throat tightening a little with emotion, "because me not worrying is never going to happen."

"Go be Iron Man," she instructed him softly, "and then have Tony Stark come home to me."

"I love you."

"I know."

Tony hung up and headed towards the conference room and met Clint coming out of the elevator. He looked the other man up and down, taking in the crutches. "How's the leg?"

"Still attached, so I'm taking it as a win," said Clint casually. He hobbled out of the elevator.

"At least this is going to make the peeing blood thing a bit less of a big deal," said Tony brightly.

Clint gave him an unimpressed look. "It really doesn't. I don't know who I ended up taking a bigger beating from, those insect things or your idea of a fun night out."

"You had fun," said Tony dismissively.

"I caught fire," Clint reminded him as they walked together to the conference room.

"Your shirt caught fire," Tony corrected him, "and that's how you know a good party has started."

"How are you still alive?" asked Clint in disbelief.

"I have no real idea," Tony admitted freely.

"I'm thinking Pepper and Happy have more of an idea."

Tony gave a little shrug. "Possibly. So, have you decided to move into the Avenger Tower yet?"

"Have you told Pepper about it?"

"Sure, she's excited."

"You're lying, you haven't told her yet."

Tony made an offended face. "Why does everyone assume I'm lying all the time?"

Clint's sideways look didn't need words.

"Alright, fine," Tony huffed, "we haven't technically discussed it, but I told you, she'll be happy to have you there."

"Is this you feeling guilty?"

"What do I have to feel guilty about?"

"How about the fact that I went into that last mission hung over because of those strawberries and got hurt."

Tony stopped walking and looked at him, a little surprised at the other man's perception. He really hadn't expected there to be a mission on the heels of their night out and Clint had definitely been the most worse for wear out of the group. The thought had flickered through Tony's head and he had been feeling guilty about it. "No, of course not, you made your own choices," he lied.

"You're lying again." Clint turned to face him. "Look, like you said, I made my own choices and I can look after myself in the field." He pointed a finger at Tony. "That being said, that's not an open invitation to drug me again."

Tony admired the other man's attitude of independence and defiance. "Not even if it's your birthday?"

"I want to keep having birthdays, Stark, so no, not even then."

They continued onto the conference room. "Christmas?" Tony pushed.

"No."

"Fourth of July?"

"No."

"Columbus Day?"

Clint paused briefly. "I'll think about it. Fury just buzzed me to say Hammer is giving his press conference now."

"I know."

"He's going to play the hero, isn't he?"

"Yup," said Tony grimly.

They walked into the conference room together to find the rest of the Avengers already seated around the table at which Nick Fury stood at the head. "Hammer's press conference is starting," he advised them as they settled into their seats.

Tony looked over at Bruce who was munching his way through a mountain of donuts. "Those hitting the spot, B?"

"Can't talk, eating," Bruce grunted in response.

"It's not worth it," Steve advised him. "Just let him eat. Apparently he can eat and talk at the same time, he just doesn't want to."

Tony just shrugged acceptingly while eyeing off the box of donuts closest to him but then Justin Hammer appeared on the screen in front of them and had all of Tony's attention.

Just Hammer smiled into the camera, clearing his throat and adjusting his tie as every media outlet in the country literally waited with bated breath. He was indeed standing on the steps of the White House at a podium and behind him stood his four undoubtedly bought and paid for super heroes.

Tony made an annoyed noise at Hammer's preening. "Let's see what General Camel Toe has got to say for himself." Tony had a deep suspicion he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.