"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," Jennifer smiled, shaking General Ross' hand firmly, the smile she forced not making it to her eyes, which she kept hard and searching. "I think that if we can maybe speak face to face for a moment, we can actively avoid having a very public mess."
The General looked Jennifer over with an equally stony gaze, and he snorted before speaking.
"Yes, that would be preferable. I do wish I could honestly say it was nice to see you again, Miss Walters, but alas, it is not." Ross growled back.
"Agreed." Jennifer smiled, this time her face lighting up, happy to return the insult.
"So, as I am sure you are aware, I am very busy and do not have much time, so if you could go ahead and issue your idle treats and begging for your brother's release..."
"I have no 'idle threats', General. I have promises from Mr. Stark, but I'll keep those to myself unless he wants to deliver them. No, I came with simple legal fact. You found a young, inexperienced judge looking to make a name, and you convinced him that he would make history by somehow 'exposing the terror' behind an Avenger, a man who assisted in the salvation of not only this city, but of the world. I can't imagine that you thought this through very well." Jennifer grinned, sitting back in her chair. Ross squinted at her and scoffed.
"What?" He questioned. "What are you on about?"
"Bruce. He's been working with the president." Jennifer replied.
"WHAT?" Ross bellowed- Shock ringing in his choked voice.
"Oh, yeah... Yeah..." Jennifer snorted. "We weren't going to play that card at first, you know, given the magnitude. But Bruce has been working with the President on the new satellite system for defense, now that we know there are extra terrestrial threats out there-"
"I-"
"Yes, I know. Above your clearance level. However, I believe it is a phone call Mr. Stark may make, if you don't release my brother this afternoon. Could be a bit... damaging? A call like that. You are welcome to call him yourself and ask, but that could be damning itself, I should think..." Jennifer suggested. "I mean, I don't work for the military, so I of course, wouldn't assume what sort of impact it would have on such a... distinguished... career."
"That feels like a threat, Ms. Walters." Ross replied.
"Except I'm not threatening you. No actions against your job by my power, no bodily harm..." Jennifer smiled again, tilting her head, her eyes narrowed. Ross couldn't help but note the resemblance between Banner and her. "I am only speculating how a call that is upsetting to the 'Commander in Chief' might be..."
"Enough." Ross barked, cutting off her words. "I can't do today- but I can guarantee that by 1800 hours on Friday evening, I will have Dr. Banner free to go." He paused and searched the lawyer's face. "Is this acceptable?"
"Mr. Stark and I will be waiting outside at 6 PM, as you said. Friday. I will be in a car to pick Bruce up. Tony... Won't be traveling with us by car..."
Ross did not need the brunette to elaborate on what she meant, and he knew the last thing he needed was for Iron Man and the Hulk to team up to destroy his newest research and development building. His eyes fell to the table between them, and he gave a small nod of defeat.
"Deal." Ross conceded.
"But I have to ask, and I expect an answer... Why Friday?"
Ross huffed, thinking. It was obvious that he did not want to give the attorney an answer.
"Because... We'll have enough information by then." Ross answered finally. "It's all voluntary."
"It literally isn't. That's why we're talking right now." Jennifer spat. "You stole my brother from his home, in front of his young child. Nothing about this is voluntary."
"I mean he's allowing his blood to be taken, we aren't holding him down." Ross tried to explain.
"As if you could."
"So the good doctor keeps reminding us. But I want you both to remember I have a fair few rights as well, and the serum that gave Banner his Avenger-worthy power... It is government property." Ross smiled in a mean, twisted way. "I think you'll find the law in my favor on that."
"There are protocols you neglected, and you know it." Jennifer barked back, standing from the table so quickly and harshly that it skidded against the cement floor. "Friday."
"See you then, Ms. Walters." The General called after her. Jennifer didn't even glance over her shoulder as she left, taking her cellphone out as she exited the building to shoot a quick text to Tony with the new information.
Back at the Avenger's Tower, Tony sighed with relief upon reading the message come through.
Belle had been difficult, to say the least, all day. From the time Tony woke her up with breakfast, which she did not eat, to his constant attempts to joke, to the lunch which she again, would not eat... He could tell she was feeling some large emotions that hardly fit into her tiny body.
Tony knew this burden well, being too smart for the age. It hurt, to try to make the emotions fit the facts. Belle was also refusing to talk to anyone other than Natasha again, but unfortunately and unavoidably, Natasha was called in to work on a SHIELD case and could not stay. What happened after was not exactly a fit, per say, the child had, but it was a rather heartbreaking sight.
'Please!' Belle begged, 'Natasha, please! Don't leave me, too! Not you too!' She had screamed and sobbed, clinging to the spy's waist tightly as she could without hurting her, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. 'Please.'
Natasha had taken Belle's hands in her own as gently as she could, and she pressed a kiss into her fore head.
'It is only a moment, little one. Work is work, and I have to do it. I'm afraid there are not many who do what I do. But I will hurry back.' The maneuver to get away and have Tony intercept the crying girl wasn't one Natasha was proud of, but needed to be done, and she closed the door swearing she'd be back as soon as possible.
According to a text from Barton, the mission at hand would be a minimum of three days.
It had been nineteen hours since Natasha's departure, and since then, Isabelle had refused to talk to anyone.
Other than Pixel, of course, but if she heard anyone getting too close to her room, she would immediately scoop the kitten up and close the door or get away and be quiet. Tony was more worried than normal, up until the message came through.
"Hey Princess?" Tony called, knocking on the door to Belle's room. There was no answer, but Tony was still cautious opening the door. "Yell if I can't come in, otherwise, I'm coming in."
No answer came, so Tony went ahead and pushed the door open; he had to struggled to contain a gasp at the sight inside.
Isabelle was sitting cross legged on the foot of her bed, large chunks of the posts of her bed and foot board missing. It looked almost like something had been eating on it. Belle was ribbing her fingers together, sawdust falling from her fingers as she did. She did not look up to Tony, but rather simply reached out, snapped another piece of the solid hard wood from her bed frame, and she began to crush and shred the wood fibers with her bare hands.
Tony rushed over and quickly took the wood from her hands, dusting it off with his own, wince slightly as some of the sharper pieces jabbed into his skin.
"Isabelle?" Tony called softly, and the small girl brought her eyes up to meet his. She blinked equally slowly, but allowed Tony to keep a hold of her hands. "Hey, hey..." Tony whispered, keeping his voice low and gentle. "Talk to me, sweetie."
"I don't want to." She replied, her voice flat.
Tony closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I need you to." Tony replied, a bit more firmly. "This-" He gestured around at the wooden shards of her bed frame, "This is ah... a little concerning."
"I didn't mean to break it." She replied, looking around at it. "I- I just-" She stopped, her lower lip quivering as she realized what she had done. Tony pulled her to his chest and held her tight, scooping her up and moving to sit on the side of the bed with her held close.
"I'm not worried about the bed. You'll have a new one by bedtime." Tony assured her, kissing the top of her hair. "I'm worried about you."
Soft crying drifted up from where Isabelle had buried her face next to Tony's arc reactor.
"I don't wanna, Uncle Tony." She whimpered.
"What to what?" He pressed.
"Be left anymore." She croaked. Tony pulled her away enough to look into her eyes. He felt a little bit of anger rising in his chest, that he knew he shouldn't have, but could not help, directed at Bruce.
"Tell me more about that?" Tony ask, keeping his voice quiet and soft so she did not sense his mood change.
"My mom. My dad, over and over. Aunt Jennifer. Then Nat left and she said she wouldn't." Belle cried. "I try really hard. I do all the work and learn all these things, so people know I'm smart and worth the time and-"
"Woah." Tony snapped. "Hold it right there. You are always worth the time. You're the best, kiddo. Your dad..." Tony sighed heavily again and shook his head. "I'm not making excuses, because it just isn't my place. And I have just a small idea of what all you've both been through. I do believe he is trying his best. I really do. You guys- your situation is unique. It hasn't been easy. It has been a lot on someone so little." He tilted his head and looked her over, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and continued. "Your dad is one of the best friends I have ever had- and we bonded in a short time but it is because we have a lot more than careers in common. We talk- and he mostly talks about you. How proud he is, how bad he feels about things you had to go through. He never wants to leave- some of the times it was because it was for the best. Others, it wasn't his choice. Like now."
"Really?" Belle peeped. Tony smiled.
"Would I lie to you?" He replied. "And I know it hurts that you don't have your mom. But when you think about it, what your dad told me- she loved you so much. She was so excited to have you, to bring you to this world." Tony kissed her head and large tears began to roll down her cheeks again. "Your aunt, I think, is just a workaholic. And Natasha..." Tony hesitated. "Nobody has ever seen her cry, but she teared up leaving you here. She didn't want to. And I am never going to. Pepper is never going to. Not for forever."
"Okay." Belle nodded, still crying. "I really sorry about my bed."
"Don't worry about it. I have gone into the desert and blew up rocks when I've been frustrated before. I get it." Tony laughed briefly, but his face fell when Belle's did not brighten up at his joke. "Listen- you're hurting, and people deal with that in many ways. I'd rather you do this than hurt yourself. Okay?"
Isabelle looked up for a second, and she nodded.
"Okay." She agreed. "Okay."
"I almost forgot to tell you the thing I came in here for!" Tony said excitedly, straightening Belle up to sit upright on her own.
"What?" She ask, furrowing her brow tight together. Tony had to stifle a snort at how much she looked like Bruce in the moment.
"Your dad is coming home Friday!" Tony blurted, finally getting what he had wanted all along in their conversation- a genuine smile.
"For real?" She demanded.
"For real." Tony nodded. Isabelle squealed and clapped excitedly. "Sorry we couldn't swing sooner- but hey! At least we avoided court."
"So Aunt Jennifer is leaving again, huh?" Isabelle ask, not seeming to Tony to be too upset about that face. Tony shrugged.
"That is up to her, she is welcome to stay. But hey- Dad, huh? That is the win!"
"Yeah!" She agreed, hugging Tony tight. "Thanks, Uncle Tony."
Bruce laid with his eyes closed. He was trying to lie to himself as he felt the draining of his blood from his arm, remembering back to the days when he would regularly donate blood at the University, trying to imagine himself anywhere other than prisoner of the government. The phlebotomists never wanted to make small talk, or stay closer than they had to; to a degree, Bruce understood this. He was who he was, and many people did not try to know anything past the Hulk they saw on the news.
He tried to focus on compliance, as always, but the Hulk's constant focus on the implied threat on Isabelle was not easy to ignore. He would roar, and Bruce would shake his head, trying to clear his thoughts and focus. They wanted what he had- wanted to make it work properly; What that would look like, Bruce wasn't sure. He was quite worried about that, truth be told- But to keep Belle safe, he was prepared to do whatever they ask.
He also tried to fight back the thoughts about how Alice would feel if she were there; What she would say about how he had done with their daughter. Bruce always felt nauseated when he thought of his late fiancee, how little time he'd had with her- and the guilt of getting a life, however complicated, with their daughter when she never even got to meet her. A low rumble erupted forth from his chest before he even knew what had happened. Bruce sat up and opened his eyes to see Ross standing before the cell window.
"Your sister-" Ross started, clearing his throat, "Is a huge pain in the ass."
"I mean..." Bruce couldn't help but give a small laugh, "You're not entirely wrong."
"Friday, Dr. Banner. I need your cooperation until Friday."
"Why?" Bruce demanded, moving to be just inches from the general, the only thing between them were the inches of bullet proof glass.
"I just do." Ross shook his head. "That is a need to know basis, and that is all you need to know."
"It's my fucking blood, asshole." Hulk's deep voice growled out Bruce's mouth, his fists slamming into the glass above Bruce's head.
"They're my chemicals." Ross replied calmly. "You're running around with a weapon designed for the United States Government. State Property, Doctor Banner. Does your friend in the White House know that?"
"Ah", Bruce's voice was back to his own, and he smirked at the General. "Jen told you about that, huh?"
"I'm not surprised. You climbed in the academic world by placing yourself up people in power's asses." Ross reminded him.
"Well, being the smartest man alive is all good and well, but if there is no money to use to prove it..." Bruce admitted with a shrug. "A single father isn't going to pay off student loans from ONE doctorate degree- much less seven. I did what I needed to get my career where it was before you ruined it."
"I never forced you to experiment on yourself." Ross reminded Bruce, crossing his arms over his chest. "You did that yourself."
"Well, you already admitted you know what happened last time I allowed someone else to be the guinea pig..." Bruce growled.
"Mmm." Ross hummed. "Yes. Well. The pieces all fell into place to get us here, didn't they, doctor? Be glad I was willing to give them Friday, and not longer. I was prepared to fight that fight."
"I bet you were." Bruce spat. "You're obsessed."
"As were you." Ross shot back. "If you cooperate and let me get what I need- I will leave you alone. Well, at least in this aspect. The Avengers, however, I see coming up on my radar again in the future."
"Pray we don't." Bruce said, pushing off from the glass and turning his back on the General, who stood by for a few more moments before marching off.
'Rip him open' Hulk rumbled in the back of Bruce's mind.
Bruce simply laughed and shook his head.
"Friday, big guy. We get Belle back on Friday."
Sorry its been so long. I'm back now.
Follow and review please!
Thanks for reading!