Disclaimer: Don't own, don't care, don't sue.
(Switzerland, June 3rd 2008, 9:27am)
"He looks different." Isaac announced as he stared at the unconscious billionaire.
Anastasia and Mia gave each other exasperated glances. Zane right beside them simply snorted in amusement at the rather obvious statement.
"Of course he looks different." Naomi said, giving Isaac a disbelieving look. "He was held captive for three months. Probably tortured and starved. Who wouldn't look different?"
Isaac sulked as Naomi continued to give him a 'really?' look. Isaac turned his head away from them and continued to stare at their 'guest'. Anastasia had to agree with Isaac though, Stark really did look different.
His hair was longer than she had ever seen it on T.V and magazines, his skin was a sickly pale color and he had some sort of battery in his chest. They had all elected not to touch it, lest they blow themselves up.
Mia had already called their doctor friend who Anastasia had picked up. Amelia 'Amy' Fuentes, a twenty seven year old former army doctor, had met Isaac while in Italy when she found him in an alley after he got shot in the thigh by a gangbanger. After meeting the rest of the team and realizing that they wouldn't go back to their families or foster care she told them to call her whenever they needed medical attention. She'd been their 'official' doctor since.
Right now, she was bent over Stark's chest checking his vitals.
"How is he?" Zane asked, leaning against the wall.
"He's alive, for now." Amy sighed, moving back from her patient. "He needs real medical attention soon though."
Naomi gained a concerned look. "How soon?"
"In the next couple hours, or he might not make it. I still can't tell what thing in his chest is or what it's supposed to do but it's helping his body keep him alive." The doctor informed them grimly.
Zane clenched his jaw and nodded. "Alright, Hatter, go get Rhodes. Bring him here. I want Stark to have a familiar face if he wakes up."
Anastasia gave a thumbs up and threw a quick portal. Naomi stepped up next her, making it clear she was coming as well. The two girls lept through the glowing purple hole, their feet landing on pavement.
Anastasia looked around and was surprised to see the person she was supposed to pick up was pacing up and down the alley they were in frantically.
"Colonel Rhodes?" Naomi called out to him.
He whipped around to them and Anastasia flinched slightly when she saw how wide and desperate they looked. He sprinted over to them, nearly running them over in his panic.
"I got your message. It said you have Tony!?" the words spilled out of him almost as if he couldn't control it.
"Yes, we do. He's in bad shape though. We have a doctor looking him over now." Anastasia said, hoping to sooth some of his worry.
His muscles relaxed slightly the moment she confirmed that they had him. "Where is he now?" the colonel questioned them.
"Switzerland," Naomi supplied him. "We have a safe house there."
"Take me to him." Rhodes demanded, looking ready to go to war if they said no.
Anastasia nodded in acceptance of the demand. "Of course, just follow us."
She turned and flicked her wrist, a portal instantly opening up. Naomi stepped through first to show Rhodes that it was safe. Anastasia stared at him, patiently waiting for him to step through. He stared at the portal for a few seconds before swallowing roughly, stepping through it. Anastasia followed a second later.
OoOoOoOo
Stark, it seemed, had returned to the land of the living while Anastasia had been picking up Rhodes. Rhodes had quickly ran to his best friends side and hugged him gently, Stark returning it the best he could.
Afterwards they explained what happened after he passed out and about how they got him from Afghanistan to Switzerland without anybody knowing. He was as impressed as a concussed genus could be.
"Thank you, Blondie" Stark rasped out. "I would be unconscious in a desert if it weren't for you and Ghost Boy."
Anastasia rolled her eyes at the nickname while Isaac snickered in approval. "We were just doing what Colonel Rhodes asked of us." Anastasia said firmly.
"Still, I want to thank you for getting me out of that godforsaken place." Stark insisted.
"Technically, you're the one who'll be paying us, Mr. Stark." Zane said, eyeing him curiously. "That'll be thanks enough."
Stark hummed in thought for a moment. "How much am I paying you for saving my life exactly?" He asked.
"Half a million." Mia answered.
Stark raised a surprised eyebrow. "Half a million? Really? I'm worth billions and that's all you asked for?"
The five kids glanced around each other and shrugged, Mia answering the question once again. "That's our usual price for rescuing people. Besides the Feds would flag any transaction bigger than that."
"Huh," Stark said, looking surprised. "What if I had been dead when you got to me?"
A somber mood flowed over the room at that question.
"We would have returned your body and walked away. We don't accept money for jobs we don't complete." Zane said tightly.
"Why?" Stark prodded further. "It would be easy to just take the money, especially with your youngest's hacking abilities."
"Because," Naomi said. "if we don't have rules and honor, than we're no better than the people who kidnapped you."
Stark studied them all for a minute before slowly nodding his head. "Right, that's a good reason."
Amy abruptly cleared her throat. "Mr. Stark, as nice as it is to see you talking, we really need to get you to a hospital. Now."
"Exactly," Rhodes agreed eagerly. "Let's go, Tony."
Stark gave a put upon sigh. "Fine," He agreed begrudgingly before pointing his finger at Zane. "But I want your team's number. Give it."
Zane gave an amused smirk before inclining his head towards Rhodes. "The colonel has our number. Just, please don't get kidnapped again."
Stark huffed in annoyance. "Smartass," He grumbled.
Zane simply smiled at the teasing insult before turning to Anastasia. "Take them to our usual hospital."
Anastasia gave a sloppy salute and carelessly flicked her wrist again, a portal opening up behind Stark's bed/gurney. She skipped over to the head of the gurney and began releasing the locks on the wheels.
"Amy, can you go with them?" Zane asked their medical professional next.
"Where else am I going to go?" She raised her eyebrow at him.
Zane shook his head, not taking the bait. "Be gone with you, all four of you." He gave Rhodes a reassuring look when he looked panicked at the idea of being separated from his best friend.
"Are you sure you're only twelve?" Stark inquired with a mystified look on his face.
"Positive," Zane answered, hiding a smile.
"Let's go," Amy interrupted with a slight glare. "We don't have all day."
"We're going!" Anastasia exclaimed from her position at the foot of Stark's gurney. "We're waiting on you!"
"Yeah, Doc," Stark instantly joined with a mischievous look. "Just waiting on you."
She gave them a look before grabbing hold of the railing on the gurney, pulling it into the portal. Anastasia and Rhodes following behind.
OoOoOo
(Time skip - Two Hours - )
Anastasia hopped through the portal after dropping Amy back at her house. She popped her back and started walking to the dining room.
Stark was getting looked at by professionals at Berlin Medical with his best friend hovering over him like mother hen. Suffice to say, her and her teams job was done.
Mia lifted her head when she heard Anastasia enter the room.
"Hey, how'd it go?" the small brunette asked.
"He'll be for about two days getting MRI's and various X-Rays but preliminary report shows he's gonna be fine."
Mia gave a relived sigh. "That's good news at least."
"Yup." Anastasia said, popping the P. "What's for breakfast?" She abruptly changed the subject.
Mia didn't even blink. "Pancakes."
Anastasia stopped and slowly turned. "Naomi's the one cooking, right?"
"You really think she'll let anyone else do it?" Mia said amusedly.
Anastasia tilted her head in thought and conceded. "Fair point. Do you know when it's supposed to be?"
Mia shrugged. "Naomi said she'd make it soon."
"Okay," Anastasia said, rubbing her eyes. "Wake me up when it's time to eat, please?"
"You got it." Mia said, returning to her laptop.
Anastasia stumbled into her room and collapsed on her bed, passing out instantly.
-END CHAPTER-
My OC's appearances.
(1) Anastasia O'Conner-
Hair: Honey Blonde, Mid back, Curly
Eyes: Violet
Skin: Pale
Height: 4'5
(2) Isaac Jackson-
Hair: Black, Short, Straight
Eyes: Hazel
Skin: Tan
Height: 5'1
(3) Mia Ford-
Hair: Light Brown, Shoulder, Wavy
Eyes: Green
Skin: Ivory
Height: 4'2
(4) Zane Sheppard-
Hair: Black, Short, Straight
Eyes: Blue
Skin: Tan
Height: 5'5
(5) Naomi Donovan-
Hair: Dirty Blonde, Chin, Straight
Eyes: Brown
Skin: Pale
Height: 5'5