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Chapter 10 – Salt and Pepper

Tony, Pepper and Exton visited a bank in Toronto, Canada, then a small town in a city in Luxembourg that Pepper didn't catch the name of. At each place, Tony walked in and spoke French to the bank official to explain what he needed. No one seemed to recognize him. Pepper never heard him, or anyone working at the banks, even say the name, 'Stark.' At each place, they found another framed picture with a key inside of it. Along with many photos and small mementos tucked away in the boxes. Pepper didn't ask what anything was, feeling it was something he would explain later if he wanted her to know. Each box, Tony sent back to his suite on the ship.

The last place they went was a small town in the United States. When they popped into the alley, Tony took a deep breath and told Exton. "Alright, this is the last one. How much time do we have?"

Exton seemed to listen, "Lewis says he's just heating the engines now. You are fine."

Tony smiled back at Pepper. "We can probably still have lunch, then. How's that?"

She smiled as she looked around. "This doesn't look like a place that would have a restaurant."

"Oh, we'll see." He told her as the trio walked around to the bank. It looked to be the largest and nicest building in the small town. Bricked and columned among the small shops that flanked it, they climbed the marble stairs together. When they walked in the building, they were met by a man with white hair and a nice suit. The building smelled old. The old man didn't seem to recognize them at all. In fact, he didn't appear he could really see well from his tiny glasses he wore on the end of his nose.

Tony put his hand on Pepper's back. "I'll handle this. You have the weekend off."

She nodded to him, "Right."

He smiled at the old man, "And good morning, sir."

The old banker smiled at him, "And good morning to you. May I help you?"

"Yes, sir. I'm here to get something out of a safe deposit box."

He nodded, "Yes, sir. Do you know the name?"

"Cecil. Cecil B. DeMille. Just like the actor."

The old man chuckled under his breath. "You are much too young to know who that is."

Tony looked at Pepper and smiled at the look of surprise on her face.

The old man pulled a card from a file. "There are instructions with this. It says you will know a code. How strange."

Tony thought and rolled his eyes as he looked back at Pepper, "Oranges and pears. Steps and stairs. I went around the world, to only find home was in the air."

Pepper smiled at him. "Really?"

Tony groaned, "And there should be a small, Zeppelin drew under that."

The man nodded his head and laughed. "I've never seen anything like it. Come this way. I'll take you to the vault. Your associates may-"

"They will join me. This is my assistant and my bodyguard."

The man nodded his head. "Indeed. This way then."

They followed him to the vault. Pepper was surprised he had made it all the way down the hallway. He turned and walked away as soon as he had opened the vault door for them.

Tony looked back at Exton. "Exton, I'll need a hand with this."

Exton nodded as Tony opened a large box on the bottom of the racks with his thumbprint. He looked inside and said, "Yep. This is it. Help me put it just on that table. Up there."

Exton grabbed the side of the trunk and helped Tony lift it to the table. Tony thanked him and Exton went back to stand in the doorway of the vault. Pepper watched as she replayed the scene she had just witnessed. "And that poem?"

Tony put the keys in the box. It had three separate locks. "My grandfather sold fruit for a living. That was pre-war days. It was part of a rhyme he would say."

"And home is in the air? Sounds like you." She smiled.

Tony stopped and smiled at her. "Does it?"

She smiled, "Yes. You and your suits. You in the air."

"Thank you, Pepper. No, that part is from Mom." He went back to work on opening the box. "She was a pilot during the war. One of the first women to fly the Zeppelin. She loved being the air and said it was the only place that felt like home after France was invaded by Hitler. It was a thing we sang all of the time when I was small. It ended by spelling my name. Toronto is for the T, Olm is the O, and then here. N – Y. Right outside Dad's hometown where his father had the fruit stand."

Pepper was amazed at all of this information. "N-Y?"

Tony turned the keys to unlock the box. "New York. We're outside of Richford. Dad and my Grandfather built this bank here so they would have a safe place to put their research. Over the years, most it was moved to the safe in California. There….under the offices at Stark Industries. This is rather…an odd situation though and had to remain here."

She smiled, "I really just had no idea about this. I thought I knew everything about you."

He shook his head, "I'm really not that interesting once you get to know me."

"On the contrary."

He groaned as he sorted out which key went to which lock. "See, Pepper? Completely normal guy."

She grinned at him. "Normal. Right."

He smiled back at her as he opened the box. "And jackpot. Here it is. Damn, Dad. You didn't make anything easy, did you?"

Pepper looked in the box and saw a lot of notebooks, albums, files and film reels.

Tony leaned back and looked at the door, "Exton. Come here."

Exton walked in the room. "Yes?"

"I need this transported up to the ship and put in my suite. The entire chest here."

Exton nodded, "Sure." He seemed to be listening to something in his head. "Legate is there. He says to mark it and he'll transport it immediately."

Tony took out the transport trigger and pulled out one of the small round markers. He sat it on the box. Within seconds, it had disappeared. Tony turned and closed the door in the vault where the trunk had been taken from.

When Tony stood up, he looked at Pepper and dusted his hands. "I'm thinking….Coquilles Saint-Jacques. What do you think?"

Pepper looked confused, "What?"

"Lunch. Maybe, Sole Meuniere? Do you like that?"

She shook her head. "I really don't mind. You pick. I just would like a tall glass of wine."

"That, I can do. Let's go, Exton." He said as they walked out of the vault.

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Pepper, Tony and Exton popped in the middle of a busy city. It was midday and the weather was cold as the wind blew against Pepper's skin. She stood facing Tony, who immediately took off his jacket and put it on her.

"Do not, turn around. Trust me." He told her.

Exton stood beside of Tony and whistled as he looked up at something. "That is tall."

Tony tapped his finger to his lips. "Thank you, Captain Oblivious."

Exton laughed under his breath, "Sorry."

Tony told her, "Now. Close your eyes and let me walk you in. Alright?"

She closed her eyes and smiled, "In these heels?"

Tony looked down at her feet. "Huh. Exton, spot me here."

She hugged his arm as he led her into some unknown place. She heard sounds of people walking around her and more than once heard Exton mumble, "Excuse me" as they made their way through where ever he had taken them.

They stopped walking and she heard him say, "Okay. You can open your eyes now."

Pepper opened her eyes and looked around. She found herself in a lift. It smelt like some sort of gourmet food that made her stomach immediately remind her that she had only had coffee for breakfast that morning. She grabbed Tony's hand as the lift took them up. He turned to look at her and smiled, raising her hand to his mouth to kiss it.

"Where are we?" She asked him.

"In an elevator." He told her and laughed.

"You're really not going to tell me-"

He laughed, "I'm really not." He held her hand in his and turned behind him to ask Exton, "Have you been here before?"

Exton shook his head. "I believe this is where Summus and Lewis landed when they first arrived. I remember something about it."

Tony rose his eyebrows. "Huh. Didn't know that. I wonder where John first landed?"

The lift doors opened and Tony snapped his fingers, "Exton, don't ask him. I bet $1,000 it was London. That's the reason he talks like that."

Exton laughed, "I'll take that. Let me give it a think and decide."

Pepper shook her head and laughed. "You guys would bet on anything."

Tony laughed with her.

They walked to a woman standing at a podium wearing a nice skirt suit. She smiled at them. "And may I help you?" She asked with a French accent.

Tony continued to hold Pepper's hand. "We have reservations." He told her.

She looked at the list. "Oh yes, sir. What is the name?"

"Logan. I'm Logan." He laid his hand in his chest.

She nodded her head. "Yes, sir."

Tony pointed at Exton, and began to speak to the woman in French. She suddenly smiled and laughed at him. Pepper couldn't help but think she had become way more friendly toward Tony as soon as he started speaking her native language. She smiled and waved them to a table in the back of the restaurant, away from everyone. The bar sat just feet away. Tony pointed at the bar, "Exton. You are there. Only Salt and Pepper at this table."

Exton chuckled. "Right."

Tony held the chair out for Pepper, and she took a seat. The waitress poured them both a glass of water and walked away.

Tony continued, "Exton. Keep an eye on the time for me. We don't need to go back home. Do we?"

Pepper thought for a bit, "No. We can leave from here."

Tony pat Exton's shoulder. "Thank you for everything today, man. Whatever you want, on me."

Exton took a seat at the bar and thanked Tony.

Tony sat down across the table from Pepper. He sighed as he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his oxford. He stuck his tongue out like he was being strangled to make Pepper smile.

"Logan?"

He nodded his head. "I found out that he has always wanted to go out with you. So, I'm giving him the opportunity."

She giggled and shook her head.

"So. Where are we?" He sat back and looked at her.

She smiled at him and shook her head, "I need a hint."

He pointed out of the window as the sun shone over Paris. She could see the iron columns going across the window. He picked up a menu and flipped it around to show her the cover, The Jules Verne Restaurant.

"Is this the Eiffel Tower?" She asked.

He looked seriously at her, "You are taking a few days off. The only way I can make sure you do that, is to take you someplace you can't speak the language, can't read the menus, and have to depend on me for a change. I'm taking care of this."

She teased, "We might be in deep trouble."

"Over our heads for sure." He opened a menu.

She smiled at him.

A waitress came over and poured them both some wine. Tony spoke to her after he sat down the menu. She listened to Tony explain something. The waitress agreed and walked away.

Tony groaned as he leaned on the table and rubbed his hands together. "This isn't lunch menu. This is dinner. A very heavy dinner."

"What's going on?"

A chef walked out and the waitress introduced him to Tony. Tony shook his hand and explained something to him. The chef smiled and nodded his head before walking back into the kitchen.

Tony sipped the water and pushed his wine away from him. "And I might have done it now. You don't have anything you can't eat. Except strawberries, right?"

"What have you ordered us?"

"Real food. Food I grew up eating. You might like it."

"I'll try anything once."

He grinned at her. "Anything?"

"Don't get any ideas."

"Too late." He laughed and rubbed his hands together. She rolled her eyes as she sipped her wine and looked out of the window. She could see the beautiful Paris skyline. She felt eyes on her and looked back to see Tony, resting his face on his palm and watching her. She smiled and sat down her wine glass. "I'll be honest. I knew you spoke French-"

He smiled, "But?"

"I've never heard you speak it as much as you have today."

He nodded, "It probably the most I've spoken French in a long time."

"How do you remember it if you don't speak it often?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's just there. Rose and I spoke French together, and I found it seemed to just…wake up that part of my brain."

She teased him. "A brain awakening."

"Explains why you say I've gone crazy-"

"I never said that."

He pointed at her. "You're right. You didn't. You said, 'I had completely lost my mind.' And you were agreeing with the question I had ask, if I had."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you remember everything?"

He leaned on the table and propped his head up on his fist. "If I say 'yes.' Is that 'normal'?"

She thought, "No."

He smiled, "Then, we need to talk about something else."

"Let's talk about the beard."

"The beard? It has its own….'The'?"

She sipped her wine, "I have to admit, I like it. But-"

"But?"

"I also like you without it. It's, not so rough on my face."

He grinned, "Maybe, I'll just…wear it a bit…thinner. Smaller lines. More narrow."

She nodded, "We'll try it. Sure."

"Or, I can keep it like this-"

"Logan, it's your face. Do what you like."

He laughed and ran his hand across his shaven face.

She sipped her wine, "I'm surprised everyone isn't going crazy that you are here."

He waved his hand to excuse it, "Yeah, the woman at the front thought it was me. I told her I get that a lot. I'm Logan at the moment. That Tony guy has 'the' beard that I'm missing."

"Logan, isn't that the guy-"

He laughed, "John's guy. Yeah. He's back on Andromeda with the Queen. You know, he told me some stuff about you."

She looked at him suspiciously, "Like what?"

"He told me your name isn't really Pepper."

She smiled, "Your name isn't really Logan."

He smiled, "That you, umm. Damn. What else was it?"

She sipped her drink, "See, I didn't realize you thought that was really my name."

He held out his hands, "I never thought about it."

She laughed, "What would you think it is? If you really know it, you can't use that."

He sat back and crossed his arms. "Huh. You look like a... Catherine. Mary Catherine."

She covered her mouth and laughed, "What?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "It's the hair. Irish, right?"

"That's what I was told."

He nodded his head, "Explains a lot. Where does 'Pepper' come from?"

She held her empty glass out to him, "I might tell you one day."

"Not today?" He asked as he refilled her glass with wine.

"No. Not today."

He finished his water and refilled his glass, "Okay. Not today. You always say you have a million and seven things to talk to me about. Let's chisel at that."

"It's all work stuff-"

"Never mind. You are not working." He insisted.

"And you're not drinking. Something up?"

He drank his water and shook his head. "Nope. I just want water."

She looked suspiciously at him. "That's not like you."

He looked back at her and sat down his glass of water. "Did you see this view?"

She looked out the window and back at him. "This is beautiful. I've never been here."

He laid his hand across the table and she took his hand.

"Tony, what are you not telling me?"

He smiled at her and kissed her hand, "I really hope that secret admirer of yours knows what an amazing person you are."

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Pete walked into the football pitch on the ship to hear laughter. The Doctor was standing in the goal with Lewis, chatting. Tony Tyler, Genie and Velt were kicking footballs towards him. Tony seemed to be giving Velt a full lesson on how it was done.

Genie kicked the ball into the goal behind her Daddy. "GOAL!" She shouted and threw her arms up.

The Doctor turned and pointed at her. "I wasn't ready."

"You were talking to Lewis. It was fair."

He picked up the ball and kicked it out of the goal. "You won't get it in again."

Genie laughed, "Right, Daddy." She ran off to kick the ball.

Pete smiled and walked over to the Doctor and Lewis. Velt kicked the ball just as Lewis moved to stand in the goal with the Doctor. Lewis kicked it back out. "Ha! Try again!"

Velt laughed and ran after the ball.

Pete smiled, "How's the leg, Lewis?"

Lewis smiled, "It's fine. Needs a good work-out like this."

Just as he said that, the Doctor blocked a kick from Genie and threw the ball back out. "Nice try! Ha!"

"Phooey!" Genie exclaimed.

The Doctor asked, "And how was Torchwood?"

Pete put his hands in his pockets. "I'm so damn behind on stuff. I probably need to just camp out there all weekend. Jake keeps telling me to just let him handle it, but…."

Lewis groaned and kicked the ball back towards Tony. "As soon as we return, I want a full debriefing between Lance and Jake. I want to get this sorted before it gets out of hand."

Pete nodded his head. "Well, with Lance going to oversee that base being constructed."

Lewis kicked another ball out, "Nope. Gobbo is going to do that. Lance is staying put."

Pete put his hands in his pockets. "Oh."

The Doctor nodded as he looked back at the children. "I should have asked Lewis about that first. He needs Lance for some stuff."

Lewis glanced back at Pete and waved his hand. "Yeah. It's alright. I hadn't informed John about it."

Pete looked back at the children and nodded. "It's fine with me. I don't mind who goes as long as it's not you." He pointed at the Doctor.

"We've covered it. Rose agrees with you."

Pete smiled, "See. I knew she had a good head on her shoulders."

Lewis pointed at the Doctor. "Based on her choice in men, I've questioned it several times."

The Doctor kicked another ball out. "Nice try!"

Pete looked back over to the children and smiled. "This is great for them. Running around. No fear. Just them, being children."

Lewis smiled. "There's nothing for them to fear onboard. They are quite safe."

Pete nodded his head. "Where is Rose?"

The Doctor held the side of the goal and leaned against it as he looked back at Pete. "Rose has had to go to bed. She had a bit too much to drink."

Lewis laughed, "A full bottle and a half."

Pete rolled his eyes. "Sadly, I think she probably gets that from Pete Tyler."

They both laughed at his remark. The Doctor continued to lean against the goal. "Ah. She can get legless if she wants. It's been a while for her." He kicked the ball back out and pointed at the children. "Not getting in here! Nope!"

Pete nodded, "So, she sent you to look after the children?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nah. I sent myself. She told me to go play football. I haven't in a while."

Lewis smiled and kicked another ball out. "Helps calm his nerves."

The Doctor nodded. "Hell, I'm fine. How's Malcolm?"

Pete nodded his head. "Awake finally."

A ball sailed right between Lewis and the Doctor's heads and hit the back of the net. They looked at one another in surprise.

Lewis pointed at him, "You were supposed to stop that one."

The Doctor smiled, "No. That was yours."

Velt danced around in excitement. "That was me! Yes!"

The Doctor shook his head and leaned back on the goal holding the metal side. Lewis kicked the ball back out. "Good shot!"

Pete put his hands in his pockets and asked, "So, Lewis? Are you going back with-"

Suddenly, the Doctor fell unconscious next to where Lewis stood. He hit the ground. Lewis looked up and saw Velt standing looking at him in complete shock. His hands were glowing. "Sorry! Sorry!" He ran off the pitch.

Genie was kicking the ball to Tony. Pete didn't stop to think as Lewis quickly said, "Get them out of here, Pete. Now!"

Pete ran and scooped up Genie and Tony in his arms and took them into the hallway.

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