Chapter 39
Pepper had gotten up early that morning to attend a virtual meeting she had. After it ended, she stood up and stretched. She was lovely in a comfortable dress and bare feet. There had been no reason to put her shoes on.
She looked at the time just as it turned 8:00 am.
She picked up her empty coffee cup and walked in her bare feet to the kitchen.
She wasn't expecting to see him awake yet, let alone in the kitchen making himself a cup of coffee.
"Tony, I could have made that for you." She fussed at him.
He looked up at her, "What are you so dressed up for?"
She took his coffee from him and prepared it the way he liked. "It's Thursday. I had a meeting."
He watched as she prepared his cup. "You look nice."
She smiled, "Thank you, Tony."
He took her mug refilled it with coffee.
She glanced up at him and smiled.
He grinned as she handed his cup to him. "You're welcome, Pepper."
They stared at one another. Tony held his cup to his lips, frozen in her gaze.
Rhodey was wearing his dress uniform and carrying a stack of files that he slapped loudly, "There you are!"
Tony and Pepper both jumped and looked in different directions. Pepper opened the fridge to put the creamer away. "Who are you looking for?"
"Actually. Both of you." He sat his cap on top of the files on the bartop.
"What's with the uniform?" Tony asked.
"They just picked him up."
"Really?" Tony seemed impressed.
"Picked who up?" Pepper asked and stirred her coffee.
"Lewis wants me there to question him. I have no idea how long it will take."
Pepper spoke, "I'll be around all day."
"I don't need a babysitter." Tony insisted.
"You're right. You probably need two." Rhodey smiled, "Lewis needs to talk to you about something, too. So, he said he'll be by later."
"Yeah. He's already texted me." Tony said unenthusiastically and sipped his coffee.
Pepper stirred her coffee, "Lewis is?"
"Captain of where Tony was recovering."
She glanced over at him, "Speaking of which, where is your sling?"
"I don't have to wear it all of the time." He shrugged his shoulders and instantly regretted it. Something felt like it popped just as a sudden sharp plain caused him to grab his shoulder. "Ow!"
Pepper was already halfway out of the kitchen. "I'll go get it, Tony."
He groaned and rubbed his shoulder. "Well, this sucks."
Rhodey stepped to him and forced him to bend his arm. He lay the weight of it in Rhodey's hands.
"Have you heard from Soli?"
"No. I'm surprised Lewis didn't ask." Tony grumbled.
"I would hope they would have missed him by now."
"What have you said?"
"Nothing. No one has asked me."
Tony nodded just as Pepper walked back into the room carrying the sling. "I have it."
She handed it to Rhodey who helped Tony put it back on.
He grinned and pat Tony on his good shoulder before he grabbed his cap and files. "Call me. I'll have my phone on all day."
Rhodey left as Tony adjusted his sling. He sat down at the bar and rubbed his shoulder.
Pepper leaned against the cabinet drinking her coffee. "So, if you're up to it, I have about seven million things I need to catch you up on."
He rubbed his eyes and laughed to himself.
"What?" She asked.
He shook his head as he continued to smile. "I estimated the same number when Rhodey asked me how many questions you would have for me."
She smiled, "Do you need anything to eat?"
He didn't look up and shook his head. "Nah, not hungry."
Pepper made her way over to sit next to him at the bar.
"Well, Obie told me to let you know that he doesn't want you working at all until he has a chance to talk to you. In-person."
"And what did you say about that?"
"I brought your laptop anyway. It's in your room. I sync'ed it right before I left New York."
He continued to smile at her. "Thank you, Pepper. Truly."
"It's just a computer." She insisted and drank her coffee. "Have you spoken to Obie?"
"No. I have no idea what I would say to him."
"Start with, 'hi.' 'I'm alright.'"
"I really doubt that he wants to hear that at the moment."
"He thinks you're angry with him." She sighed, "And he's driving me crazy. He probably called me twenty times yesterday to see if you had arrived yet."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him that I had put it on your to-do list. Call Obie."
"But, you didn't tell him I was here, right?"
"No, I didn't say anything. He doesn't even know I'm here. He's arriving in New York this afternoon and thinks I'm there, too. As you requested. What's going on? Arcite was extremely….umm…"
"Arcite?"
"This new bodyguard I have. Have you ever seen Star Trek?"
"Yeah."
"There is just something about him that reminds me of Spock."
Tony quickly hid his smile behind his cup of coffee. She wasn't looking at him and shook her head. "That's something else completely I need to talk to you about. I don't know what is going on with Happy."
Tony grinned, "Happy just needed a little time off."
Pepper turned to look at him. "Yeah, that's what he said. He's been…..just…..angry about everything. I think it was how he was coping."
"Coping with what?"
"Losing you."
He sipped his coffee as her words sank in.
She sighed. "Well, that's some of it. Happy and I went out on a date before you left."
"Happy? You and Happy? Was it like a Make a Wish, thing?"
She groaned and covered her face. "I don't know why I'm telling you this."
After a bit, Tony began to speak. "You should be going out on dates, Pepper. You're a beautiful woman."
It was out of his mouth before he knew what he had said. His stomach dropped. Had he just said that?
"Thank you, Tony. But, I just….don't know what I was thinking to say 'yes' to that."
"Just, not what you're looking for, huh?"
"I don't even know if I'm looking."
He thought about what she said for a bit, "What do you think Obie wants to talk about?"
"I don't know." She sat her coffee down and turned to face him.
He watched her cross her long legs. He couldn't help allowing his eyes to wander up to her skirt and imagine what she had to look like naked. For a brief moment, he was able to picture it clearly in his head. Beautiful, round perky breasts and just a small amount of dark red hair between her legs. Neatly trimmed, but a woman.
She hadn't noticed him. "Tony, why didn't you go back to New York?"
"You are here." He sat his cup down and leaned on the bar with his good arm, cradling his sore shoulder.
"You sent me here."
"Yeah. To be here with me."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "What's going on?"
"I missed you."
"Don't change the subject." She complained.
"No, I mean." He rubbed his lip as he thought of what he wanted to say.
Pepper didn't help him. She watched him try to form his words. After a few seconds, he smiled and turned back to meet her eyes with his own. "I missed you. I thought about you a lot."
What the hell was he thinking? It was as if his mouth and his brain were completely out of sync. "I mean-"
She gently smiled and put her hand on top of his.
His heart began to beat so fast that he was sure it would have drowned out anything else he would have said.
She nervously laughed and looked away. "You look so different without your beard."
He hid his smile behind his cup as he sipped it again.
"I did miss you, Tony. I'm glad you are back."
They met one another's gaze again.
He became lost looking at her. How had he never noticed the perfect way her hair always seemed to be styled? Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue that he had only just noticed. They reminded him of the beautiful clear blue sea in Hawaii. His eyes followed the small braid of hair that hung in front of her ear down, and across her beautiful lips. He took a deep breath and licked his lips as he imagined kissing her.
She whispered, "Tony, are you really okay?"
He sat his coffee down and looked at the steam that was still slowly rising. He took his time to gather his thoughts.
Pepper watched until he met her eyes again. The look she saw forced the fright she had been feeling since he had disappeared, to return to her.
He shook his head to answer her question. "Not even close."
"I'm here if you need to talk about it."
He groaned, "Why does everyone want me to do that?"
Stunned he would ask her such a question. "Umm. Well-"
"I mean. Am I missing something?"
"Sometimes it helps you process what you've been through."
He looked into his cup of coffee and sighed. "I don't think I want to think about it long enough to have an actual conversation. Does that make sense?"
She took his cup and smiled as she walked around the bar to get him some more coffee. "That does. I can accept that answer."
The relief in his voice was real. She always understood what he was trying to say. How had he only just noticed that?
She turned around and sat his coffee in front of him. "But, if you do."
He nodded.
She closed her eyes. "Tony. I want to talk to you about something. And I just, don't know how to."
"Well, I'm not accepting any resignations."
She groaned, "It's not about that!"
"That?!" He realized what she had said. "That? There's a that?!"
"No." She put her hands together. "I just, don't want to overstep my place-"
"Hey, no." He looked up at her. "I mean. You don't have a place."
She looked at him in confusion. "What?"
"I mean. There's….just no way you could do that. I know you. I mean. What I'm trying to say is. Um. I trust you." He seemed as surprised to hear these words come out of his mouth as she was.
"You trust me?"
"Yeah." He sounded as shocked as he felt. Had he just said that? What was he thinking?
He cleared his throat. "I mean. Pepper. Pepper, you've always taken such good care of me. I know I've been a jerk, but…I appreciate it. And, I trust you."
She continued to look at him in surprise. "How strong of medication are you on?"
He realized she may have a point. "That actually could explain a great deal."
She giggled, "Thank you, Tony. I guess I should…just come out with it then."
He sat up and rubbed his sore shoulder. "Yes, just tell me."
"How much do you trust Obie?"
"That's so interesting that you ask me that."
"I mean. I know he's family-"
"Not really-"
"Well, all you have as family-"
"I've always rather thought of you and me, as a family."
She turned around to hide her smile.
He opened his eyes wide as he screamed internally at his words. He sipped his coffee to give himself time to think.
"Tony, that's sweet."
He rubbed his forehead at the disaster this was turning into, "What about Obie?"
She shook her head and laughed under her breath. "This is how it ends, this is how I finally get fired."
Tony rolled his eyes, "Drink some more coffee if it will help."
She boldly turned around and focused her thoughts completely towards him. Her hands followed as she finally worked up her nerve. "Okay, this is going to sound like the absolute craziest thing ever, and I know you don't want to talk about it, but Tony. I'm sorry, I have to tell you something."
He was certain she had lost her nerve, again. She stood there, dumbfounded as she stared at him. He cleared his throat. "What's on your mind, Pepper?"
She sighed and closed her eyes. "I don't think you were some random prisoner they selected. I have no idea how you got away, or if they let you go-"
"What do you know about it?"
"Rhodey didn't tell me much." She sighed. "And Tony. I know you don't want to talk about it, but there are-"
"Well. You can talk about it."
She stopped and looked at him in surprise.
"What?"
"Well, you said you were there for me when I needed to talk about it. I'm here for you. You can talk about it."
He closed his eyes and willed his brain to engage.
"But, that didn't happen to me-"
"But, something did. Something you are rattled to tell me about."
She covered her mouth and looked away. "That morning, everyone knew. Except me."
"Knew what?"
"That you had been killed." She leaned against the cabinet and closed her eyes. "Tony, it was so strange."
"You probably wrote me a great obituary." He grinned.
"Did your Mom tutor you until you went to college?"
"Yeah." He smiled, "She did."
She smiled with him. "What I've read about her, she was amazing."
"Did you write her obituary, too?" He teased.
She shook her head. "That's not the point. Stop changing the subject. So, all of us were preparing for your funeral and such, except Obie. He was just…"
"Well, he had a lot to do."
"No, it was more than that, Tony. A few days later, he came into my office to tell me that you had lived long enough for them to take you. He was so….matter of fact about it. It was odd. I just figured that he didn't want to talk about it, but…it's just, Tony, there are so many things that don't add up."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Rhodey called me personally when he found you."
He grinned, "I remember. He helped me over to the chopper. Actually, hang on. It didn't make any sound. There were two guys."
"Well, it couldn't have been a chopper." She insisted. "I wouldn't have been able to hear the call."
"No." Tony sat up straighter as he began to remember. "He wasn't on a chopper. He was on a ship. It was small. Like a little bit larger than a van. They lay me down and there was this really bright light on my face. Soli took my hand and told me I was safe."
"Soli?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "Soler. It's short for-"
He stopped talking at the look on her face.
She smiled and mouthed, "It's okay. We are talking about it."
"You are talking about it. Sorry. You were saying that you think Obie is emotionally challenged?"
"Maybe emotionally disconnected. Tony, for someone as close as you two, are, why haven't you called him?"
"What has he said?"
"That you haven't called him."
"Oh. Keeps it simple, huh?"
"Okay. Well. Tony, it's just strange. I think there is just no way they didn't know who you are. I mean. You are you!"
"And you are you." He agreed in confusion. "I think it may be the medicine, Pepper."
"And." She sat down beside him. "There's just a lot of transactions at work that are "Eyes Only"."
"There's always some-"
"No, Tony. I'm trying to tell you that I've done an audit."
"An audit? What the hell for? Do you know what that will do to stocks-"
"Relax. I'm not an idiot. I'm having it done by an outside firm. Only four people have access to it."
"Who are the four?"
"Tony. They've already found an entire department that was being run under Stark Industries that had phony offices and employees."
"Did they work cheap?"
"Nobody works that cheap, Tony. And if you think about it….Of course, if you are a bad guy…who else would you want to have in your corner of caves?"
He nodded, "Your understanding of the criminal mind is a bit frightening."
"It's business, Tony. And that's exactly what I'm looking at it as. Did you know Obie bought up stock the day you went missing? Well, he tried to. Someone beat him to it."
"Who was that?"
"I still don't know. It was an international thing. They are looking into it, but that just shows it was planned. He anticipated that happening."
"It was a warzone-"
"Which I told him you had no business going to-"
"It was to make a big impression-"
"At what cost?!" She shouted.
He sat back and rubbed his shoulder. "Let me get this straight, you're angry with me?"
She sighed and covered her face. "This is getting us off the point."
"No, I'd like to talk about that-"
"Tony! I'm trying to tell you that Obie gave them weapons as payment to kill you."
Tony looked at her in surprise. "Are you on any medication?"
"Tony. Please don't think I'm crazy. I can prove this. Not to mention I copied his hard drive off of his personal computer before I left."
"Why in the world would you do that?"
"Something just isn't right about how he's behaved through this entire thing."
"Maybe he cries at home-"
"Tony, I know it sounds crazy-"
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
Pepper and Tony both stood up at the same time.
"Tony, I'll get it-"
"Nah, it's fine. Drink your coffee."
She sat back down and watched Tony walk over to answer the stone arched door. He clearly knew whoever it was because he shook his hand and asked him to follow him into the room.
"Pepper Potts, meet Doctor Samuel Bennett."
Doctor Bennett carried a small, black leather bag with him. His smile could have lit up the entire room. "It is my pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Potts."
She giggled as he brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss. "Well, it's nice to meet you, too."
Tony pointed with his thumb. "Pepper you said that laptop was in my room?"
"Yes," she started to get up again, "I'll go get it-"
"No, the Doc' has some questions for you."
Pepper sat back down and looked over at the man she had just been introduced to. He was busy making himself some coffee. He had sat his black bag on the cabinet. "So, Pepper. How do you think Tony is doing?"
"Well, he's not wearing his sling and his shoulder was hurting this morning."
He grinned and stirred his coffee, "Sounds like him. Has he told you that I want him to talk to someone about what happened?"
"I'm glad you feel that is important, too. But, he said that he doesn't want to think about it long enough to have a conversation."
Samuel sipped his coffee, "That makes sense. Well, I've extended an olive branch if he decides to take it."
"Thank you." She said. "Tell me, how strong of a medication is he on?"
"What? Now?" He asked.
"Yes. He was having some…trouble organizing his thoughts earlier."
"Oh, that's normal." Samuel nodded and glanced up at her. "And it's a good sign."
"Of what?"
He met her eyes, "He feels safe."
Pepper closed her eyes as his words washed over her. "I'm sorry. You're…"
Blowing his coffee, he smiled again. "Call me Samuel. I'm the doctor who patched Tony up."
"You look so young."
"Twenty-six, seven. If anyone asks."
"Oh."
Tony appeared in the kitchen again and handed Sam the laptop. "So, she's telling on me?"
"Yep." Samuel nodded, "Wear your sling."
Tony sat back down at the bar next to Pepper. Samuel leaned against the cabinet and sipped his coffee. He opened the laptop and looked back at them while it booted up. "Have you seen Soli? He's down here with you isn't he?"
"No." Tony answered honestly.
"Hmm." Samuel said and looked back at Tony. "So, how is your shoulder?"
"Still stiff. Achy. It popped this morning."
"That's a good thing. It is settling in."
Tony looked at Pepper and rolled his eyes. She giggled at him.
Samuel didn't look up from the computer and continued his questions, "Pepper has explained to me why you don't want to talk about everything that happened right now. It's normal. But, you may also find a time when it becomes such a heavy thing to carry around that you will suddenly want to drop it. And I'll warn you, it will be a very emotional thing."
Pepper glanced at Tony's face just in time to see him grumble under his breath. "I've told him that he can talk to me about it. But, for now….he just needs some time to decompress."
Tony sat up straight and pointed at Pepper. "Yes. That."
Samuel smiled, "I understand that. So, moving on. How are you sleeping?"
Tony shook his head. "Like shit."
Samuel nodded as his attention returned to the laptop. "Well, you were unconscious for a while. It may take some time to get back on track. So, for now. Sleep when you are tired. Even if it's in the middle of the day. Pepper, schedule Tony in a kip."
"A kip?" She asked.
"A nap." Tony explained.
Pepper pointed at Samuel. "And he's alright to be looking on that?"
Tony said, "Yep. Oh, and Doc'. Pepper was just telling me about some more stuff you may need to look at."
Samuel nodded and continued to look over the computer.
Pepper asked him, "What are you looking for?"
"Got it." Samuel celebrated. "Wow. Everything we need. Hell of a job, Pepper."
Pepper, still confused at who Samuel was simply said, "Thanks, I guess."
He turned the screen around and placed a little square box on the top of the speaker. "This is a universal translator. Keep it. I meant to give it to you earlier."
The screen of the computer was filled up with a random video that Tony didn't remember being made. He was there, sitting in a chair, blood all over his clothing and dried in his hair. He didn't know how much was his, and how much was from the carnage he had managed to live through.
Pepper gasp and covered her mouth. "I haven't seen this."
A familiar man that Tony recognized immediately as one of the leaders spoke. The universal translator spoke, "You did not tell us the person you paid us to kill was the great Tony Stark. The price is doubled!"
Samuel stopped the video. "Copied from Obie's work computer. Yeah, looks like everything we'll need is here. Good job, Pepper."
Tony rose his coffee to her before having another sip. "She's always saving my ass."
Pepper was still processing what she had seen. "Hang on. I was right?"
Tony looked back at her and rolled his eyes. "You're always right. Why is that a surprise?"
"And you let me struggle to tell you… UGH! Damn it, Tony."
He laughed under his breath. "Why in the world would you ever think I would fire you over….anything?"
She closed her eyes and shook her head to steady herself.
Samuel and Tony watched her as she made tight fists and stepped away from where she had sat.
Samuel couldn't help but laugh. "Wow. This is really early for you, isn't it?"
"Why? What's different?"
Samuel chuckled what he said he watched Pepper, "Real early. Wow. She has she put you on a leash."
Tony rose his eyebrows, "There's something to look forward to."
Samuel closed the laptop and laughed. "I can't believe I'm going to be here to see this."
Pepper pulled her red hair back in a ponytail. "Okay. We have to call the police."
"Oh, we've handled it," Samuel said as he tucked the laptop under his arm. Then he spoke to Tony again, "And you haven't seen Soli? Lewis said he was with you?"
"No, he's not with me. Well, -"
"Hang on." Pepper interrupted. "What do you mean you have handled it?"
Samuel looked back at her. "You're right. I need to get this sorted first. Then everything should be handled. I'll get this to Rhodey. Umm. Do you mind if I pop from here?"
"Pop?" Pepper asked.
Tony shook his head. "Nah, go ahead. I'm going to take her upstairs and let her see the view."
"She'll like that." Samuel smiled at her. "You may want to try to sleep there."
Pepper hated being treated like she was invisible. She put her hands on her hips and complained. "Hello. I'm right here."
Samuel smiled and turned to her. "I'm sorry, Pepper. I've got to step out. But, I'm sure we'll see one another soon."
Pepper watched as he tapped a lit panel that had appeared on his arm. He looked up and winked at her just before she jumped from the loud pop. She blinked and he was gone.
"What in the-?" She began.
Tony sat his coffee cup in the sink and had pulled something out of his pocket. "I'd like to show you something, Pepper. How are your nerves?"
She laughed under her breath. "Well, I can tell you're back. That's where they are."
He walked over to her with a proud smile on his face. "Been a little bored while I was gone, huh?"
Standing in front of her, he took her hand.
She smiled at him. "You seriously don't have to make up for all of that time just for me."
He laughed at her. "I'll be good."
Even though his hand was in a sling, he was able to operate the small box with his fingers.
"What's that?" She asked as he twisted a small dial with his thumb.
He looked up at her, meeting her eyes again with his own. He held her hand tightly. "Pepper. I'd like to show you something."
She stood staring at him in shock. "Tony?"
He rose her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I promise I'll never let anything happen to you."
"That doesn't help my nerves." She continued to look surprised, "Tony. I think your medicine may be…."
He laughed, "Just hold onto me."
She gripped his hand tighter just as the room faded away. Tony felt her jump and wrap both of her arms around him just as the room disappeared from his view.
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