A/N: Ahh, gentle reader, please forgive me for taking so long to do this next update. :(

I've got a new obsession in writing for Grimm and the ideas for that show are crowding my head and pushing out all other thoughts. I tried to ignore it, but the muse wouldn't hear of it, refusing to be of any help with this fic until I at least put some thoughts down about the other.

The good news is, that the muse and I have reached an understanding where I'll write my Grimm stories and she'll lend me an occasional hand with this story. It's not perfect, but compromises rarely are. LOL

So, yes, the muse and I have struck up an uneasy truce, but the result of which, I managed to get this long-ass chapter done. . It's nearly 5000 words, perhaps my longest chapter so far, I'm not sure. But, even though I was tempted, I didn't want to break it up because it ruined the flow. So, you get it all in one go.

A few more things are finished off in this chapter, leaving me with just a few more to go. Sooo close to the end, peeps, can you feel it, can you see the end in sight? I can hardly believe it.

Okay, I've kept you waiting long enough. I'll let you get to the reading, but thank you all faithful readers for being so patient with me and an especially big thank you to all who comment and cheer me on. It's the reason this chapter even got done, truly. :D Thank you.

Chapter Seventy-Four

Tony's brain tried to desperately understand who, or rather, what he was looking at. Justin Hammer stepped out of the shadows and stood in all of his wretched glory in front of him. It was hard to even recognise him as Hammer, but there was enough left of his face to recognise the man who'd plotted to take everything for him. Hammer's body was a mangled melding of flesh and sinew, entwined with metal and glass. Half of his face was just exposed muscle and veins with bits of metal integrated into it. One leg was shorter than the other and he appeared to be missing a foot, while his other foot was turned at a sickening angle. Tony recognised part of his Mark VII suit mixed into the mess which was standing before him. What he did see was that the remnants of the suit's unibeam were embedded in his chest, wrapped around a partially exposed rib cage. Tony tried to calculate the likelihood that weapon was still functioning. It was hard to look away from the walking anathema Hammer had become. "You've gone wrong," said Tony slowly, taking in his deformed appearance, "on every possible level and in every possible way."

Hammer looked down at his monstrous self and gave a little shrug, exposed musculature accenting the simple movement, as sinews moved on the surface of his body. "I'll admit it's a work in progress," slurred Hammer. His voice was altered and had an odd tone to it, possibly because his voice box was actually semi-exposed. "But my little nano-bots are doing their best." Hammer gave a sickening smile, his teeth revealed behind metal lips and ragged flesh. "They're just doing what their daddy told them to do, to become one with him."

Tony arched an eyebrow, his initial shock passed. "Clearly you've not gotten any saner since we last talked." A cold rage was flooding his body. This was the man who'd threatened Pepper's life, put her in hospital and almost stolen her from him forever. Tony's fists curled unconsciously.

"The nano-bots are just a little confused," Hammer defended his progeny. "I was a bit of a mess after that bitch, Pepper, tried to kill me."

Tony's eyes flashed death and he took a threatening step towards the other man. "Don't you talk about Pepper, not ever again. You don't get to even think about her."

Hammer's good eye looked hopeful. "She's dead?"

"No," Tony bit out, "your insane plot failed."

"And the Avengers? I suppose they're still around as well?"

"Every single one of them," said Tony, gaining some grim satisfaction from passing on that news, "unlike your wannabes who have scattered to the wind."

Hammer made a clicking noise. "Ah well, what are you gonna do, right?"

"Did you really think your plan was going to work?" asked Tony in disbelief.

"I thought it had a shot, sure." Hammer took a step forward.

Tony could now see areas of his body rippling as the nano-bots raced to work out what went where in the mess of human body parts, Iron Man suit and arc reactor. It was clear they were making him more functional with each passing moment. That was a concern to Tony, because they were working to their own personal blue print and it was hard to know what the end result would be. He doubted it was going to be anything benign.

Hammer scratched his cheek with a metal finger and chunk of his face fell off in a puddle on the ground. He continued on without even glancing down. "Looking back, I realised my plan for revenge against you was probably overly complicated," he conceded. "But like you, I have the theatre in my heart."

Tony could actually see Hammer's heart beating through his ribs. "I think that's a piece of wood," he commented flatly, seeing the odd extrusion sticking out of the organ.

Hammer chuckled, or at least his version of the sound now. It sounded like a drowning cat. "You always did make me laugh, Tony."

"And you always made my skin crawl," said Tony harshly. He looked him over. "Now the whole world gets to see you for the monster you really are."

"If I'm the monster, then you're my Doctor Frankenstein," said Hammer bitterly. He waved a hand at his deformed, shifting body. "There wouldn't be this without you, Tony." He stretched his arms out wide. "Behold your creation, Tony Stark."

"Your jealousy and stupidity created all that," Tony shot back, expression hard. "Not me."

"You never were one to accept the consequences of your actions," tutted Hammer in an almost motherly fashion. "It's your biggest flaw."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "My biggest flaw was not killing you years ago." His expression hardened. "But don't worry, I intend to put you out of your misery now."

Hammer looked unfazed. "I don't think so, Tony. It's my time to shine now. You've had your turn in the spotlight and now I'm taking what is owed to me." His lips curled up in a hideous smile. "Today I am a man reborn, a new creation to be worshiped as a god. All will see me and bow before their lord and master."

Tony's face wrinkled in disgust. "You're kidding, right? You're nothing but a walking, sorry, excuse me, limping abomination."

"I'm the caterpillar waiting to emerge from its cocoon," shot back Hammer. "When my babies are done with me, I will be a thing of magnificence. My body will be stronger and better than any human on this planet. You have to put on your suit, Tony Stark, well, I am the Iron Man suit!" He sneered at him. "How does it feel to have your creation taken away from you and perfected?"

"I'll let you know when it happens." Tony kept his voice low and controlled, despite the rage seething inside of him.

"You always have to have the last word, don't you?" The unibeam in his chest started to glow. "Well, not this time."

A crackle of energy shot out from the unibeam and caught a chair next to Tony. He jumped out of the way deftly.

Hammer made a face. "It pulls a little to the left, good to know."

Tony could tell the weapon wasn't at full strength yet and was taking time to recharge. He charged at Hammer, knocking him off his feet. They rolled around on the ground until Tony ended up straddling Hammer. The rage which had been looking for an outlet ever since he'd heard how Pepper had been hurt had finally found a worthy target. Tony pummelled Hammer's face with his fist, not caring the pain it caused him as he connected with the newly installed bits of metal in the other man's face. This man had been working to take everything from him for a long time and not caring who he hurt to do it. "You son of a bitch!" he screamed at Hammer. "You're never going to hurt anyone again!" A particularly hard punch broke Hammer's cheek bone. Tony could feel the newly forming bone crumble under his fist. The nano-bots were instantly on the job and Tony looked down in horror as his hand was encased in a silver glow as millions of the little computers sort to fix the damage he'd created. Only, they now figured Tony was to be assimilated back into the hodgepodge which was Hammer. He could feel a warm feeling in his hand as they scurried about, trying to work out how Tony's fist should be fitted back into Hammer.

"Can you feel it, Tony?" gloated Hammer, spitting bits of blood and teeth at Tony. "They're making us one. It was how it was always meant to be. The two of us, together forever."

Tony's stomach turned over in revulsion.

oooOOOOooo

Steve was walking back to the ICU and thinking about his conversation with Tony. He grimaced, knowing how much pain Tony was in right now. He hoped something he'd said had gotten through to the other man, but ultimately, when it came to the people you loved, it was always going to be hard. Immediately his thoughts turned to Olivia. Steve hated the thought that she most likely would have seen him on TV, threatening so many people's lives. Despite the President himself having endorsed him, Steve didn't want to think what seeing him like that had done to Olivia. He wouldn't blame her if she told him she never wanted to see him again. A lead weight settled in Steve's stomach at that thought. He had an impulse to call Olivia but a glance at his watch told him it was already past one in the morning. What was he going to say anyway? Sorry to wake you, I promise I'm not some insane megalomaniac intent on killing millions of people… anymore? Or how about - good news, I'm no longer the mindless puppet of a lunatic, want to go and catch a movie? Steve pulled a face. It was hardly the stuff of every woman's fantasy he thought morosely.

Up ahead of him a blonde woman walked into the corridor and briskly headed towards the large swinging doors which led to the ICU. Steve stopped abruptly, not sure if his tired eyes were playing tricks on him. The woman was disappearing behind the doors before he reacted. "Olivia!" he called out her name, knowing it was impossibility. That didn't stop Steve from racing to catch up after her though. "Olivia!" He was just about to push open the swinging door when it abruptly swung back on him, catching him in the face. Steve made a squawking noise and grabbed at his nose, instantly feeling blood coming out.

"Oh no!" gasped a woman's voice.

Through the spots before his eyes, Steve saw the horrified face of Olivia. A huge grin split his face. "Olivia!" he exclaimed, ridiculously happy that his eyes hadn't been deceiving him.

"Oh my God," she said in distress, "I've made your nose bleed!"

Steve waved a casual hand at his nose. "What, this? No, I got it in the fight at Los Alamos."

Olivia gave him a sceptical look. "Really?"

"Absolutely," lied Steve, still grinning like a loon and ignoring the way blood was dripping from his nose. "What are you doing here?" A horrible thought suddenly occurred to him. Steve grabbed her arm. "You're not sick, are you?" She looked utterly perfect to him. "Are you hurt?"

"No," she said quickly, "I'm fine."

Steve blew out a relieved breath. "That's good."

Olivia dug around in her bag and pulled out a few tissues. "Here," she offered them to him.

Steve accepted the tissues and wiped at his nose. "Thanks."

Olivia made a pained face. "I'm so sorry, Steve. I always seem to be causing you pain."

"I don't see how that can be, when I'm always so happy around you." Steve's words hung between them and he was suddenly worried he'd said too much. "I mean-ahh, that's to say, I don't want you to feel like you have to say anything back to that-"

Olivia gave him a tremulous smile. "I'm happy when I'm with you too," she confessed shyly. "I wanted to come and check if you were okay after everything that happened today. I hope I'm not being a bother."

"No," said Steve hastily, "you're not. I'm really glad you're here, Olivia."

Her face lit up. "You are?"

"Today's been tough," he confessed roughly. "Being with you makes it seem not so bad."

Olivia surprised him by wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. It didn't take Steve but a split second to respond though, wrapping his arms around her as well and holding her close. It felt like he'd just come home. It was the first time he'd felt that way since waking up seventy years after going to sleep.

"I'm so sorry about all the horrible things that have happened to you today," she whispered, cheek against his chest. "Is Natasha going to be alright?"

Steve rested his cheek against the top of her head and breathed in the soft scent of her shampoo. "We hope so," he said solemnly. "If people on her side count for anything, then she is going to have this beat."

Steve felt Olivia tighten her hold around his waist. "I feel really awful saying this," she said unevenly, "but I'm so glad you weren't the one hurt, Steve." She looked up at him with worried eyes. "I mean, I didn't want anyone to get hurt," said Olivia quickly. "That didn't come out right."

Steve pushed a stray strand of blonde hair back from her face. "It's alright, I know what you mean." His face clouded over. "I don't know what you thought today when you saw me say those things on TV," he began gravely.

"I thought it wasn't you," Olivia interrupted him, no trace of doubt in her voice. "I thought you'd never do or say anything to hurt innocent people and that this had to be some kind of trick."

"I wasn't myself," agreed Steve. "I was taken over by microscopic robots. I know that sounds crazy-"

"Do you mean nano-bots?"

Steve looked at her in surprise. "You've heard of them?"

"I'm a big Science Fiction fan."

"Okay," said Steve slowly, "so I guess it isn't as weird as I thought." His face darkened. "I don't like fighting an enemy you can't see."

She smiled up at him, both of them ignoring the looks of passer-bys as they remained in each other's embrace. "You seemed to do okay."

"I had help," said Steve, feeling a surge of pride over how the Avengers had worked so well together today. He looked down at her, a tinge of amazement in his voice. "You know, this whole Avenger thing might actually have some legs."

"Don't sound so surprised," she chastised him gently. "You're all amazing individuals. Why wouldn't you be an even more amazing team?"

Steve gave a lop-sided smile. "I can see your logic there."

"Captain America, Cap, Cap!" The sound of a man shouting behind him had Steve turning around. There were a group of about six people, men and women stepping off the elevator. It was obvious they were reporters, particularly when one man hoisted a TV camera onto his shoulder. Two security guards were running towards the group but the reporters were all yelling questions at him as they barrelled down the hallway.

"Cap, any word on the injured Avenger?!"

"Who was it? What happened?"

"Was Justin Hammer behind what happened at Los Alamos?"

"Is it true that you and Iron Man don't get on?"

"Who's that with you, is there a new girl in your life? America wants to know, Cap?!"

Steve felt Olivia tense behind him as he turned around to face them and protectively covered her from their intrusive cameras. The two security guards didn't have much of a chance to stop the reporters, seeing as they were outnumbered three to one. Steve looked back at Olivia and saw she was looking overwhelmed and even a little scared by the attention. He grabbed her hand and pulled Olivia along down the corridor in the opposite direction. "Come on," Steve instructed her quickly, "this way."

oooOOOOooo

Tony jerked his hand away, shaking off bits of Hammer's flesh, which the nano-bots had started trying to insert into his own. The idea of having even a molecule of Hammer merged with his own was a sickening one. Hammer took his moment of distraction and used it to his advantage. He grabbed Tony and flung him across the room with his Mark VII augmented strength. Tony bounced off the wall and landed face down on the floor. He could hear the creaks and squelching sounds of Hammer getting to his feet. Tony leapt up, and got to Hammer before he was fully upright, sweeping at his feet.

Hammer went down again but this time he managed to roll to his feet just as quickly. "Give it up, Tony, as of today, I'm the better man and I'm getting more so every second."

"There are not enough nano-bots in the world to make you anything more than what you are at your core, Hammer," Tony shot back derisively, "and that's a loser. Everything you touch will always crumble into dust."

"I think you're projecting, Tony," shot back Hammer sweetly. "I do believe that is your biggest fear. That no matter what you do, it's going to amount to nothing because deep down, you know that's what you are. That's why you cling to the people who make you feel like something so desperately. People like Pepper, but one day, Pepper is going to get bored with you and walk away. I don't have to take her from you, you're going to do that yourself." Hammer levelled his unibeam at Tony and fired.

Once again, Tony leapt out of the way and missed being killed by the deadly blast. Hammer talking about Pepper infuriated Tony, but he was done having his head played with by this nut case. "You'll never understand what Pepper and I have," bit out Tony coldly, "because you've never been loved by anyone your entire life. You're a shell, Hammer, with nothing but hot air and delusions of grandeur inside."

Hammer made a guttural growl of anger, Tony's barb obviously striking a nerve. He went to fire the unibeam at Tony again, but the weapon hadn't recharged yet. Tony went to make his move again when suddenly the door to the apartment opened, interrupting the tense standoff between the two of them. A short woman with long dark hair and glasses was in the door way. She had a back pack over her shoulder and a bottle of water in her hand. Tony recognised her immediately from reading Thor's background files.

Darcy Lewis' eyes went wide in shock as she took in the mangled mess of what was left of Justin Hammer. She made a strangled noise. "Kill it!" she yelled involuntarily. "Kill it with fire!"

Tony tensed, trying to get to Darcy first, but Hammer was closer. He grabbed her by the throat and spun Darcy around, deformed fingers cutting into her pale flesh. Darcy was forced to go up onto her tip toes to avoid being choked completely.

"Oh hey," she said weakly, a forced smile on her lips, "I hope I wasn't out of line with that fire crack."

Hammer clearly wasn't interested in her. What was left of his face smirked at Tony. "Looks like the game just changed again, Tony."

Tony's face hardened. "What is it with you and putting women between us all the time?" he ground out. "Be a man, or what's left of one anyway, and let's settle this between us."

Hammer tilted his head and appeared to be thinking about that offer. "You know, I don't think so. I like seeing you deal with the consequences of your actions and the way they affect people around you, Tony." He tightened his hold on Darcy's neck. "And this is an important moment of growth for you, I wouldn't want to cheat you of it. That's just the kind of friend I am."

Darcy winced at the tightened hold but tried to bluff her way out of the situation. "Clearly I'm interrupting whatever the hell this is. I feel like you two should be alone to work out your issues."

"It's too late for that," Hammer hissed into her ear, spitting flecks of flesh and mucous at her.

"It's going to be alright, Darcy," said Tony quickly. "Don't panic. I'll get us out of this."

"Good to know," she said shakily, looking at him with stressed eyes. "Any chance you're going to make your move soon?" Darcy blinked. "Wait, how did you know who I am?"

Tony's mind was working at a mile a minute as he slowly circled around Hammer. He wanted the other man to get use to him moving and drop his guard. Tony knew that all the newly-augmented Hammer had to do was tighten his hold on the young woman and her neck would be snapped. He wasn't going to let that happen. "I read your bio in Thor's file."

"Oh," said Darcy, seeming to forget her predicament for a moment, "that's cool in a 'Big Brother is watching you' kinda way."

"I hope I'm not interrupting," said Hammer sarcastically, "but I'm planning on killing you now."

"Are you talking to me or him?" asked Darcy fearfully.

Hammer gave a serpent-like smile. "Him."

"Oh good," said Darcy in relief and gave Tony an apologetic look. "No offence."

Tony's eyes were still on Hammer, sizing up the situation. "None taken."

Oozing fluid dripped from Hammer's face onto Darcy's. She screwed up her face in disgust. "Oh God, oh God, oh God!" she yelled and then threw a desperate look to Tony. "Don't ever tell me what that was!" Darcy shouted at him. She squirmed in Hammer's hold. "Look, I'm just doing a favour for a friend. I'm just here for a toothbrush, cell phone recharger and underwear. You totally don't need me to do this."

"Darcy is right," agreed Tony readily. "You want to kill me, Hammer, well, just do it."

"I will," spat out Hammer, "but first you get to watch the girl die."

Tony knew he couldn't get Darcy away from Hammer fast enough, his brain clicked into overdrive. "Darcy!" he said urgently. "Your water! Throw your water!"

"I don't think this situation is going to be solved by a refreshing spritz!" she yelled back at him, looking like she was about to panic.

"Not you, him!" Tony didn't know if this was going to work, but he had a hunch and his hunches were rarely wrong.

Darcy fumbled with the lid of her water bottle which she was still holding and reached back behind her and emptied the contents all over Hammer.

Hammer shook his head and blinked the water out of his one eye. "Is that it?" he asked sarcastically. "That's the best the great and brilliant Tony Stark can come up with when the chips are down? You try and drown me in a bottle of water?"

"I'm not trying to drown you," threw back Tony, his eyes fixed on Hammer's face, hoping against hope this gamble was going to pay off.

Suddenly, Hammer's face began to shift, his features sliding down his face as everything started to liquefy. He made a strangled noise. "What is it?" he gurgled. "What's happening to me?" Hammer loosened his grip on Darcy and Tony lunged forward, dragging her out of his grasp. He pulled Darcy to his side and they both watch Hammer stagger back. He put his hands to his face and his skin and hair melted over the top of them. Hammer's form started to waver, more of his body losing its shape and he began to dissolve before their very eyes. It was just as Tony had surmised. The nano-bots were about integrating whatever they could find into Hammer's reforming body, and that included the water. Hammer was literally melting before their eyes.

"What have you done?!" howled Hammer as he fell back against the wall behind him. "No, no, this can't be happening! I'm a god, I can't die, no one can stoppp-" his last words trailed off as his voice box melted and speech became impossible. Hammer continued to dissolve down into mass of writhing muscle, bone and metal.

Tony held onto Darcy tightly as they watched the gruesome sight. The poor girl would not have been expecting to witness something like this when all she was doing was a favour for a friend. She must be completely freaked out. They both looked down at the growing, red pulpy stain on the carpet.

"You're probably going to need to replace that carpet," Darcy commented unevenly. "I once dropped a PBJ sandwich on my bedroom carpet and accidentally stepped on it. This looks kinda the same and that stuff did not want to come out."

The fact that Darcy wasn't screaming her head off right now was impressive to Tony, as was her matter of fact pragmatism. "Duly noted." He managed to tear his eyes off the disgusting mess on the ground and smiled approvingly at the spunky woman by his side. "Nice going, Dorothy."

She smiled back, a little pale, but obviously none the worse for wear. "You weren't too shabby either, Scarecrow."

Tony paused. "You know I'm Iron Man, right? If we're going with Wizard of Oz analogies, wouldn't I more likely be the Tin Man?"

"But you used your brains to outsmart him," she argued. "That makes you the Scarecrow."

"Tin Man still makes more sense."

Darcy gave a short shake of her head. "It's my call and you're the Scarecrow."

Tony pouted. "In that case, I'm downgrading you to Toto."

"Too late, no take backs."

"Since when?"

"Since I walked into your building, got manhandled by the blob and decided not to sue your ass," said Darcy unapologetically. "No take backs." She wrinkled her nose, looking back at the meaty mass staining Tony's carpet. "Does this kind of stuff happen often around here?"

"Kind of," admitted Tony honestly.

Darcy nodded and looked thoughtful. "In that case, I'm going to have to start wearing enclosed shoes more often."

"It probably isn't going to hurt," conceded Tony.

"So," said Darcy slowly, "the Wicked Witch is dead, right? He's not coming back from that?"

Tony walked over to the edge of bloody mess and crouched down, his face serious. "No, he's not coming back from this. Justin Hammer is dead." It gave Tony a grim sense of satisfaction to say those words, as dark as it was.

"Pretty bad way to go."

"He deserved worse," said Tony unsympathetically, thinking of Pepper and what Hammer had done to the Avengers, all those lives he'd endangered.

"Remind me to stay on your good side."

Tony looked up at Darcy and half-smiled. "Somehow, I don't think that's going to be a problem, Dorothy."

oooOOOOooo

Steve pulled Olivia to one side on the internal staircase, as they both listened for the sounds of people giving chase.

"I think we lost them," said Olivia a little breathlessly, her face flushed an appealing shade pink from their quick dash.

"We should stay here for a little while, just to make sure," Steve concluded. He looked down at her in concern. "I'm sorry."

She looked up at him innocently. "For what?"

"For all that craziness." He made a regretful face. "I know it's not fun."

Olivia gave a soft smile. "There are things which make up for it."

Steve brightened, caught up in how beautiful Olivia looked when she smiled at him like that. "There are?"

She nodded, looking a little shy again, but putting her hands on his chest. "Yes," she whispered, looking infinitely kissable.

Steve knew Olivia must be able to feel the way his heart was thundering underneath her hand. "You know," he said unevenly, "we should probably stay here for a bit."

Olivia nodded. "Make sure we've given them the slip."

Steve wanted to kiss her so badly. He slipped his arms around her waist and drew her close. Olivia moved into him, clearly expecting to be kissed but he drew back. Steve made a worried face. "Olivia, I'm infected with those nano-bots, I don't know if we should-". He trailed off, really wishing he didn't have to stop this. "I don't want to infect you too."

"But they're inactive now, aren't they?"

"Yes," fretted Steve, "but I haven't really been checked out and I don't want to put you at risk."

Olivia gave a little smile. "I'm getting used to taking risks." Her hands went around his neck. "I'm starting to like it."

Steve felt the way Olivia's compliant body fitted against him so well and his last bit of self-restraint. "You can't know how happy that makes me."

Olivia bit her bottom lip, an almost coquettish look in her eye. "Then perhaps you'd better show me, Captain Rogers," she teased him impishly.

Steve was undone as he dragged her into a passionate kiss. It was even better than their first kiss and he hadn't believed that was possible. They lost themselves in each other, completely oblivious to the rest of the world and Steve couldn't remember the last time he'd been this happy.