~:~

"How's your uncle doing?"

"I'm not sure, Marcos," I said keeping my voice low. "How's school?"

"Okay, I guess. But I do have one complaint."

I snorted, "What's that?"

"Logan is a terrible babysitter." Oh no….

"What happened?"

"He helped me with some homework and I missed every question."

"History?"

"What do you think?"

I sighed, "I'll talk with him, okay? Just hang in there, buddy."

"Alright….Talk with you later?"

"Yeah, talk with you later. Bye." Click.

"Who's that?" Clint asked as he pushed the cart down the aisle.

"Later, okay."

He nodded and we continued on our way.

~:~

Once we got back from shopping, I went down to the workshop. There was a model of the Expo leaning on the wall, and Tony had a digital rendering of it.

"Am I to include the Belgium waffle stands?"

"Waffles?" I asked, looking around the room. "Whatcha doing'?"

"Watch and learn, kiddo." He turned back to the hologram. "And, JARV, that was rhetorical. Just show me." He clicked his fingers and the model spins and lifts upright. "What does that look like to you, Angie? Not unlike an atom. In which case the nucleus would be here. JARVIS, highlight the uni-sphere. Lose the footpaths. Get rid of them."

"What is it you're trying to achieve, sir?"

"I'm discovering… Correction. I'm rediscovering a new element, I believe. Lose the landscaping, the shrubbery, the trees." He begins flicking the things away. "Parking lots, exits, entrances. Structure the protons and the neutrons using the pavilions as a framework. " The model reassembled into a nucleus and Tony zoomed in on it.

"Whoa..." I gaped.

"You're darn right, whoa." Tony smiled, "Dad. Dead for almost 20 years, and still taking me to school." The model shrunk in his hand.

"The proposed element should serve as a viable replacement for palladium."

Tony turned to me, "Thank Dad."

"Unfortunately, it is impossible to synthesize."

"Get ready for a major remodel, fellas. We're back in hardware mode." Dummy and the other bots whirled in excitement.

~:~

THE NEXT DAY

Coulson walked into my library. "I guess this is goodbye, Miss."

"Wait, what?"I said, popping my head up from my desk.

"I've been reassigned. Director Fury wants me in New Mexico."

"Secret stuff?"

"Something like that." We shook hands. "Pleasure seeing you again," he said and headed towards the door. When he smiled, I could tell he was hiding something. He's not the only one leaving….

"Right," I frowned. "See you around, Coulson."

"Goodbye, miss."

~:~

Ring. Ring.

"Hello?"

"Angie? Where've you been? I've been trying to call you."

"Sorry, Logan. What's up?"

"Nothing. I was trying to make sure you were alive."

I laughed. "I got a bodyguard on me 24/7. Didn't want to compromise the school."

"Understandable."

Wait a minute. "Logan, is there something else going on that you want to tell me about?"

"Um…"

"Logan," I warned.

He sighed, "Fine. He's back. Again."

Warren. Nothing good ever came of that, well, for me.

The familiar memory flooded back into my mind.

"-the Warren you know is gone-"

"-Wait!-"

I shook my head. "What did he want?"

"Nothing. Just came to visit. Again."

"But?"

"He did ask about you."

I scoffed. "He always does. Let's please change the subject."

"You need to talk to him, Ange. And I mean talk to him."

"Whatever."

"You coming back anytime soon?"

"I'm not sure yet. I found some stuff about my past. I kinda want to figure it out."

"The dreams?"

"Still there, but they're helping me. That's what's important."

"All you can ask, right?"

"Yeah." I heard a crash over the phone. "What was that?"

"Uh, I gotta go."

"That better not be my kid." Click.

Pepper walked in the room, "You going to the Expo?"

I shrugged. "I don't know if I want to watch Hammer rip-off Tony."

"What if he fails miserably?"

That's not a terrible idea. "Now that I would pay to see."

Pepper laughed. "Well, if you're interested, we'll pick you up around 6."

"Sounds good."

"I'll see you then."

"Okay, Pep." I waived.

She turned back around. "Oh, and you have a visitor."

"Okay…." I got up and headed towards the living room. When I got there, I was greeted by tall man with dark hair. "Who are you?"

"I'm the new agent being assigned to you, Miss Jarvis."

"Since when?"

"Effectively immediately this morning."

"And why should I trust you?" I started combing through his mind. "I mean you could be one of Hammer's goons here to kill me."

"I could get-"

"I know you're SHIELD, dude." I crossed my arms and jutted my hip out. "You can cut the spy crap." He was caught off-guard. "I get that reaction a lot." I offered my hand, "The name's Angie. Who might you be?"

He shook it. "Grant Ward." My eyes flashed-

Different people, different places, different events….All jumbled together….

Family….Betrayal….And….

Love? "Pleasure to meet you." I grinned. "Now, can you excuse me for one sec." I pulled out my phone and dialed.

Ring. Ring. "Director Fury speaking."

"Hi, Angie Jarvis. Um, thanks for the heads up."

"Ah, the new agent. I'm sorry, but Agent Barton has been reassigned. Deal with it."

I scoffed, "You still could have warned me." Click. How rude….I gave the new arrival a once-over. Now, it took me five seconds to break Barton. Let's see how long you take.

~:~

Three hours later….

"So…." I began. "You play video games or anything?"

"Not really," he replied, almost robotically. "Training doesn't give me much free-time for that."

I looked him over, scanning for something he liked. "I have an idea….Be right back." I ran off towards my room and pulled out the item I was looking for. Smiling, I ran back towards the living room and brandished the item.

"A true test of strategic naval warfare…..Battleship." He raised a brow in reply. "It's either this or I will force you to play Mario Kart."

Agent Ward huffed in defeat. "Battleship it is…."

~:~

THAT NIGHT-STARK EXPO

"…Justin Hammer. His presentation will begin shortly in the main pavilion."

We sat down in our seats as the presentation started.

"Oh, God-" i said as I watched Justin Hammer dance across the stage. He was trying way to freaking hard.

He introduced his drones. Typical Hammer. Until, "Ladies and gentlemen, today I am proud to present to you the very first prototype in the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit and its pilot, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes."

Oh, no.

Ring. Ring. "Angie, where are you?"

"The Expo. Watching Hammer."

"Has he shown what he's been working on?"

"The suit? Yeah, he is right now." I replied. Click.

I saw the Iron man suit land on the platform.

Pepper turned to me. "What's going on?"

"I'm trying to find out," I whispered, reaching for Tony's mind. Come on, come on….

I murmured into her ear "I can't, he's too far. There's too many people."

"Can you get closer?"

"I don't think that will help."

A gun came out of Rhodey's suit. Aiming right at Tony.

"Something's not right." I dialed my phone.

"You think!" Pepper yelled.

Ring. Ring. "Mr. Stark is unavailable at the moment. How can I help you, miss?"

"JARVIS, patch me through!"

"I cannot, miss. Mr. Stark's orders."

"Then, tell me what is going on!"

"It seems like Colonel Rhodes' suit is compromised."

"Can you break into it?"

"Already on it, miss."

"Thanks. " Click.

Suddenly, a flood of images filled my head. Vanko. Vanko was doing this.

We headed towards the stage entrance. Hammer was yelling at the technician.

"What's going on? What's happening?"

"Your drones and suit have been overridden Mr. Hammer." I crossed my arms.

He turned around. "What? What do you mean it's been overridden? Jack, call the guards."

"Tried. The phones are down, so are their cells."

The tech turned to us. "He locked us out of the mainframe."

"Who locked you out?" Pepper asked.

"Please, leave," Hammer said. "I got this handled. In fact, if your guy hadn't showed up, this wouldn't be happening. So, please, now go away…."

I scoffed. "Like heck you do. Ward, you know how to hack?" When he shook his head, I turned to the tech.

"Move over and help me, I got something that might work."

Natasha grabbed Hammer and held him to the desk. "Who's behind this?"

"Vanko," I said as I entered the mainframe.

She turned back to Hammer. "Where is he?"

"At my faculty, " he stammered.

She released him and left, Pepper calling the police, "Okay. Right away. Right away." She ignored Justin's objections and turned to the tech and me, "Tell me everything y'all know. Go."

He said, "Each set of drone is communicating in its own unique language."

"Well, choose one and focus on that."

I shook my head, "It's not that easy."

Justin muttered, "Have you tried Russian? Why don't you try Russian?"

I turned to him and smiled. "Mr. Hammer, would you kindly stand over there and, please, shut up."

~:~

(Nat: italics; Tony: italics)

Natasha came over the line. "Reboot complete. You got your best friend back."

Tony replied,"Thank you very much, Agent Romanoff."

"Well done on the new chest piece. I am reading significant higher output and your vitals all look promising."

"Yes, for the moment, I'm not dying. Thank you."

Pepper's eyes widened. "What do you mean you're not dying? Did you just say you're dying?

Tony exclaimed,"Is that you? No, I'm not. Not anymore."

"What's going on?"

"I was going to tell you. I didn't want to alarm you."

She scoffed, "You were gonna tell me? You really were dying?"

He said, "I was gonna make you an omelette and tell you."

Natasha called over the comm, "Hey, hey. Save it for the honeymoon. You got incoming Tony. Looks like the fight's coming to you."

"Great. Pepper?"

She replied,"Are you okay now?"

"I am fine. Don't be mad. I will formally apologize…"

I called out, "Tony, she's already mad."

" …when I'm not fending off a Hammeroid attack."

"Fine." she sighed.

"We could have been in Venice."

"Tony, shut up! You got bots on your 20!"

~:~

Police came and arrested Hammer.

"I'm trying to help here." He growled, "I get it. I see what you're doing. You're trying to pin this on me, huh? Making a problem for me?" The officers started leading him away, Pepper following them outside. "I'm gonna make a problem for you. I'm gonna be seeing you again real soon."

The tech turned to me, "How did you already know about all this stuff? I mean like Vanko?"

"Besides being on the comms with Iron Man," I shrugged. "I had some informants already on it."

If he only knew….

~:~

(Rhodey: italics; Tony: italics)

As Tony and Rhodey fought off the Hammer drones, me and Natasha kept watch on the drones.

"Heads up. You got one more drone incoming. This one looks different." she said, "The repulsor signature is significantly higher."

Vanko landed with his own suit.

"This ain't gonna be good," Rhodey said as Ivan's whips turned on. "I got something special for this guy. I'm gonna bust his bunker with the Ex-Wife."

I said, "With the what?"

Rhodey shoots Ivan and it fizzles off as he hits the water.

I laughed, "Hammer tech?"

"Yeah…."

They put their targets on Vanko. The three continue to fight and shoot at each other until Tony and Rhodey are grabbed by Vanko's whips

Tony said, "Rhodes. I got an idea. You want to be a hero? I could really use a sidekick. Put your hand up."

"This is your idea?" he asked. They turn their repulsors at each other and shoot, the blasts hit causing them to explode, Vanko caught in the middle. The reactor on his suit and all the drones glow red.

Rhodey said,"All these drones are rigged to blow. We gotta get out of here man."

Tony panicked, "Pepper!", and took off.

Come on, Tony, hurry….

Tony grabbed Pepper just as a drone explodes, landing on a roof when they were safe.

I turned to Ward, "So, how'd you like your first day?"

~:~

"Wonderful job, Ms. Jarvis." Fury said as we sat in his office. "I hope this can become a regular occurrence."

"Tony almost killing himself and I save his ass?" I laughed. "I think I'll pass."

"Maybe you can reconsider."

I crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair. "Okay, shoot."

"That bodyguard of your's. Agent Ward," he began. "From the very beginning of his career here, his loyalties have been...shaky." He threw a file on the desk. "Keep an eye on him."

"What are you thinking he's up to?" I said, flipping through the file.

He raised a brow. "I think you already know what I mean."

"You're not considering that….How?"

"I don't know. I need you to find that out."

I nodded in reply. "Alright, but once my family is put at risk, I'm out."

"Deal. Just find me some answers…..before it's too late."

~:~

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