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Chapter 17 - Advice

Tony stood at the desk in his shop, looking at a map on a monitor. He heard a pop, and Jarvis spoke, "Welcome back, Samuel."

Sam walked over to Tony. "Thank you, Jarvis."

Tony didn't look away from the map. "This is actually looking better. Do you see this?"

Sam stood next to him with his hands in his pockets. "They are moving away from the line."

"Yeah." Tony agreed. "This might have been a false alarm."

Sam nodded and looked down at his phone to read a message he had just received. "Yeah. I can stay a bit and keep an eye on it if you want me to. Sometimes, they double back."

Tony agreed. "I'd give it ten minutes, but it looks like they are returning to the base."

Tony looked back at Sam, grinning and texting. "Who is that?"

Sam shook his head. "No one."

Tony laughed under his breath. "Miss no one who?"

Sam sighed and looked back at him. "Karen. Her name is Karen."

"Karen." Tony teased him by singing. "Sammy has a girlfriend…."

He smiled and put his phone back in his pocket. "It's not a big deal."

Tony rose his eyes in surprise. "Hell, you don't deny it?"

Sam ran his hand through his hair. "We've just met."

Tony turned to him and crossed his arms. "You sure are smiling a hell of a lot for someone who just met a girl. There's this….glow about you."

Sam rose his eyebrows at Tony.

Tony mirrored his expression. "Level with me, kid."

Sam bit his lip. "It's strange. She's….normal."

"Normal?"

"She is a student. Has a scholarship. Lives in a shit hole dorm."

"You've been in her dorm?"

"Drafty windows."

Tony pointed at him, "That gun shot in your ass is going to get chapped."

He rolled his eyes. "It was in my back. Not my ass."

Tony laughed, "Oh no. It will always be your ass to me."

Sam laughed under his breath. "Whatever-"

"You don't deny that either! You've already stayed at her dorm, with the drafty window on your naked, gun shot, ass cheeks?"

Sam grinned and looked back at him. "There was a blanket."

Tony crossed his arms. "Huh."

"What are you about to say?"

"I don't know. I'm torn. This entire thing of….being an uncle…..father…..husband…..it's new to me. In one hand, I'm really proud. Been here a week, met a girl, and got her in the sack. When did you meet her?"

"Last night."

Tony looked surprised and rubbed his chin. "And on the other hand, I want to do the responsible thing and ask you, 'What the hell are you thinking'?"

"She has no idea who I am!"

"How is that possible?"

"No one does! Think about it, Tony. My entire life, anytime I go anywhere, everyone knows who I am. People only want to be my friend, because of who I am-"

"Preaching to the choir here, man."

Sam closed his eyes and shook his head. "And she's beautiful. American."

Tony sat down at the desk and started to type on the computer. "What's her name?"

"You are stalking her?"

"Yeah. Name."

"Karen."

Tony was already typing. "That part I know. Karen what?"

"Karen Bennett." Sam sighed, crossing his arms.

Tony grinned. "And she's a student where?"

"I don't know. Somewhere in New -"

"Got her!" Tony celebrated as he pulled up her school records. "Damn, she's hot."

"Looking at my girl, man."

"I prefer a redhead. And she's smart as hell. 4.0 grades. Full ride there."

"I have no idea what that means."

Tony explained as he read down the file. "Perfect scores in all of her classes. She has so many scholarships, good grades are paying for everything she has."

Sam nodded. "Makes sense. And she's….."

Tony turned and looked at him. "She's what?"

Sam shook his head. "Well, something odd happened with her."

"You think she's…maybe…"

"Is that mad to think that?"

Tony turned around and continued to type on the computer. "Well, I can look here inside of Torchwood's files and see….."

Sam crossed his arms and watched Tony work.

Tony found what he was looking for. "Yep. Human. Completely. She's from here. Born overseas on a military base in….New Germany. Huh. I've been to that one."

Sam ran his hands through his hair. "Damn. I was sure there was something to that."

Tony turned back around to look at him. "Why? What happened?"

Sam shook his head. "I don't even really know how to describe it."

Tony went back to work on the computer. "Being the son of John and Rose, it wouldn't surprise me if it was you."

Sam nodded. "Yeah. I've always been able to make people smile. Feel better."

Tony looked back at him, "Yes. But at a price. You told Rose that is exhausting to you."

"I've learn to shield that over the years. Had to. Samuel as a baby, nah. He can't help it."

"But, you can't shield when people touch you-"

"They will feel something. It might not be the full effect, but….yeah. It's always there. Skin to skin contact."

Tony grinned at him. "And the more skin you touch….?"

Sam pointed at Tony. "That's a good question."

Tony went back to looking on the computer. "Well…..I'm not….saying anything else about that."

Sam nodded, "For the moment."

Tony chuckled as he continuing to look at the file. "Father is….military. High ranked in Jacksonville."

Sam looked surprised. "Really?"

"Means he not only knows how to shoot you, but he's been properly trained how to do it. Something to keep in mind, man."

"Brilliant." Sam groaned.

"From Florida. Why would anyone move to New York from there?"

"She said to start over. I don't know."

"Sounds like my Pepper. Smart as hell. Starting over a new life. What does she want to do? If she's a math wiz, I'm going to insist on a DNA test to make sure she's not Pepper's long lost sister or something."

Sam grinned. "History. She wants to be an archaeologist."

Tony laughed, "That would piss John off, completely."

Sam looked confused as Tony spun around in the chair. "Why?"

"You've never heard him talk about archaeologists?"

"No."

"Bring it up. It's entertaining." He looked back at the screen. "What are you doing today? I mean, before you go see this girl you are keeping secret from everyone but me?"

Sam crossed his arms. "Mum asked me to escort her to the White House. Howie is asking to see me and Arles."

He looked back at him. "Not Genie?"

"Genie is busy with the school."

He nodded his head. "Genie is busy with something else, too."

Sam grinned. "Not getting into that with you."

Tony pointed at him, "Fucker, you know! Fucking, tell me!"

Sam laughed and shook his head. "I didn't say anything, man."

Pepper walked into the room. "And you are supposed to be in London in ten minutes for Top Gear."

Samuel smiled at her. "Hey."

"Hello, Sam. I didn't know you were here."

Tony clapped his hands together, spun around, and stood up. "Yep! Pepper, you'd know."

She stood between them. "I know a lot of stuff."

"Imagine, you are back in California. First, maybe second year in college. And you met a boy."

She crossed her arms. "Is this is a cute boy?"

"So handsome, that you can't even….keep your hands off of him."

She grinned. "You've been reading my memoirs."

He was shocked. "Wait…what?"

She laughed, "Continue. I like this."

He shook his head. "That conversation isn't over. Anyway. So, you meet this boy. And….hey! It's me! But you don't know it's me."

"Why don't you know it's you?"

"Because….I'm not famous. I'm normal. Not a Stark. Never been in a magazine. No True Hollywood Story, just a guy. Somehow, no one has never even heard of me."

"But, you're still you?"

"Yes." He rocked on his feet and looked back at Sam. "And this is all hypothetical, by the way."

She nodded. "I see. Well, what are you asking? If I would be interested?"

He crossed his arms and thought. "I don't know if I want to know that or not."

She grinned. "I would. Relax."

"Me. Not….Tony Stark."

She put her hands on her hips. "Why are you worried about this?"

Tony looked back at Sam. "And she's all yours."

Sam smiled. "Well, what if he asked you out on a date? Where would you like to go?"

"Hmm…. Probably for pizza? Hamburger? Something simple. Nothing where you have more than one fork."

Tony nodded. "Makes sense. Simple. Okay."

"And don't go crazy with flowers. That's just….strange. In fact, no flowers."

"No flowers?" They both asked at once.

She counted on her hands. "No jewelry, no flowers, no big things."

Tony was confused. "Why?"

"Because she can't give them back to you. If she's in college, she doesn't have a lot of money. Don't give her anything she couldn't, or probably wouldn't buy for herself. It will make her feel awkward."

Sam nodded. "This is good advice."

Tony shook his head. "Hang on. I buy you stuff like that."

She smiled, "But, it's you. I know you are crazy and just want to show me that you are thinking about me."

Tony grinned, "Always."

"Don't get me wrong. I love that you do that. But, I'm no longer in college. If you decide to buy me flowers-"

He pointed upstairs, "Just delivered for you. Everyday, they will be there."

She smiled, "Exactly. Something like that would be strange for a college student. You have to stay on her level."

Tony shook his head, "But, what if….this boy…..was to send you flowers, maybe once? To say he had a nice time on a date the night before."

"Well, how involved was this date?" Pepper asked as she crossed her arms and looked back at Sam.

Tony turned to Samuel, "I've got this. New line of questioning. Imagine, you were…..intimate with this boy. Had no idea who he is. Could he send you flowers?"

"You mean you, and I-"

"Yes. And you don't know who I am. I'm just, a normal guy."

She grinned at Tony, "You have been reading my memoirs."

He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Don't change the subject, Pepper-"

She laughed. "Well, then yes. In that case. Roses. One or two dozen…."

Tony looked at Sam and held up two fingers.

"White. Not red." Pepper told them.

"Why?" Tony and Sam asked at the same time.

"Red means love. White….just means that you are thinking of me. Red would frighten me off. Especially, if we've just met."

Samuel nodded, "This is good advice."

Tony crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. "So, what would you get for me?"

"You? Now? Probably a car."

He grinned, "Yeah? What kind?"

"But, we're not talking about that, we're talking about this fictional boy who I knew back in college."

"Who may or may not have been fiction."

She grinned. "I knew that would make you crazy."

He smiled at her. "Oh, what a chat we will have later. You have memoirs?"

Sam rubbed his lip. "What if….he….the boy, wanted to take her someplace?"

"On a date?"

"Like….on a trip. Overnight? New York City?"

"Without drafty windows breathing on his ass." Tony added.

Sam rolled his eyes.

She looked from one of them to the other. "What is this really about?"

Tony shook his head. "Just a fun conversation. Isn't this fun?"

She rose her eyebrows at Tony.

He knew she wasn't falling for that.

She glared at Tony, "I want the full story, later. I don't have the time right now."

He nodded energetically. "Yes, ma'am. The entire thing. Promise."

She laughed. "Without drafty windows. Well, a nice hotel. The sort they have conferences in. Does he have any sort of job?"

Tony pointed at Sam as both of them seemed to have the same idea at once.

Sam grinned. "I've got it. Thank you, Pepper."

She smiled. "I have no idea how I helped, but alright."

Sam turned to Tony, "Go on to Top Gear. I'll give this another hour, and then I'll meet up with Mum."

Pepper looked surprised. "What are you doing?"

Sam looked at the monitors. "An experiment I'm running. Tony's computers are faster than the ones on the ship."

"That's a map."

"Yeah, I have a sensor measuring the weather there." Sam told her.

Pepper looked back at Tony. He shrugged his shoulders. "Knowledge is power."

She sighed. "Are you wearing that?"

He looked at himself. He was wearing a pair of black trousers and a long sleeved shirt. "What's wrong with it?"

"Ugh." She exclaimed and left the room. "Bye, Sam."

He sat back at the desk. "See you, Pepper."

Tony looked back at the door close. He watched her legs as she walked up the steps and rubbed his face. "You know, kid. I find that I'm envious of your situation."

Sam leaned back at looked at him. "Yeah?"

"It's one I always dreamed of having. Being with someone who really knows you. Someone who takes that time to really get to know you."

He smiled, "That's Pepper."

Tony grinned. "Yeah, it is. And the thing is, I knew that. But….didn't realize it."

The monitor beeped. Sam pointed at it. "And they are completely back in the green safety area."

Tony sat on the top of the desk and crossed his arms. "This is the problem with this, kid. At some point, she's going to find out. Maybe not that you are John and Rose's son, but that you know them. That you know me. You can live in this entire land of fantasy for a little bit, but how is she going to react once she finds out?"

Sam turned around and looked at him. "That's what I keep going back to."

"You're a smart guy. You've known her for a matter of hours. I recommend, slowing down. WAAAAY down."

"That's your advice?"

"I can't even believe I'm saying it." Tony admitted. "But, yeah."

"What do you think Pepper would say?"

"This how you can tell you are about to mess up."

He looked confused at him.

"If you ask for the opinion of a lot of people about something, you are really looking for someone to tell you to do something you know isn't right. That way when it goes wrong, you can blame them. You are a smart guy, and you know I'm right about this. So, I'm going to say, that I'm sticking to the 'slow down' plan. In the meantime, I'll talk to Pepper and see what she says."

Sam chuckled. "So, 'Slow Down' and 'Stand by.'

Tony snapped his fingers at Sam. "Exactly. That's the plan."

"Alright. Thank you, Tony."

"You bet." He turned to walk out of the shop. "I've got to get my ass to London, take a suit out and blow off some stream if you need to."

Sam crossed his arms and sighed. "I really don't have time to. I'm going to watch this a bit longer. I'm not completely 100% sure."

Tony leaned on the desk and looked at him. "Where are you then?"

"About 92% sure. But, until it's 100%, I'm not going."

Tony smiled proudly. "That's my guy. Thanks." He started to walk out of the shop, "And don't get shot in the ass, again."

"It was my back!" Sam insisted.

Tony laughed and closed the door behind him.

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