Tony hadn't eaten for almost ten hours, he hadn't slept for much longer.
He couldn't let Hammer hurt them like he had last time. He had to get to Hammer before he could hurt his family. Not again.
Tony ignored his phone the first time it rang, almost unconsciously. The second ring snapped him out of his trance, pulling his eyes away from the computer monitor.
"Sir," JARVIS began, "it's Justin Hammer."
"Answer it!" Tony shouted, scrambling across the lab to his other screen. He turned on everything to track the call.
"Hello Tony," Hammer said sweetly. "How's that family of yours?"
Tony grit his teeth. "Oh, you know, the usual," he replied as casually as possible. "Except for the fact that they spent two days recovering from minor concussions after somebody blew them up."
"Oh, poor children. Well, the redhead seems to be doing fine."
Tony's heart skipped a beat. He wanted to threaten Hammer, but the thought of him... If he had hurt Laynie...
Hammer laughed cruelly. "The red haired one is yours, yes? She's quite feisty. Puts up a fight, that one."
"Hammer!" Tony shouted.
"TTFN, Tony!"
The line went dead.
"Call location failed," Jarvis announced.
Tony threw the nearest thing, which happened to be a mug. It fell and shattered five feet away from him.
He sat heavily in the seat behind him, feeling so... so inadequate. For all he had tried, he had failed to locate Justin in time and he had failed to protect his daughter. He had failed Laynie. He had just become Walter as far as he was concerned.
No. Walter had sat back and surrendered control to the alcohol consuming his life, and he had abandoned Laynie twice, once when she needed him most.
Tony wasn't Walter. Not yet.
"I've got to get Laynie back," he breathed.
"Sir, may I suggest we call the school?" JARVIS asked.
"Call Carter."
When Steve, Bruce and Carter returned to the Tower, Tony was holding Pepper against him as she sobbed it out. Pepper was a strong woman. She rarely cried, and she never panicked. It was hard for all of them to see her do both.
Tony was barely able to contain himself. He felt so empty on the inside, but so angry. When Hammer took Laynie, he took a piece of all of them. Tony, Pepper, Clint, Natasha, Steve, Bruce, Thor... none of them went without feeling the bitter anger of having Laynie taken.
Hammer was really going to get it.
Tony opened his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. Carter excused herself to her room.
Tony patted Pepper on the shoulder, then joined Bruce and Steve in the kitchen with Natasha and Clint. Thor had been out with his girlfriend Jane, and nobody had the heart to tell him the news over the phone.
"I take you haven't heard anything?" Bruce asked gently.
"No, not a word. Not one word from Hammer," Tony spat. He yanked a beer out of the fridge and swore when he couldn't open it.
Steve grabbed it and popped the top off with his thumb. "He must want something," he said thoughtfully. He put a hand on Tony's shoulder. "Hammer wouldn't dare lay a finger on her, you know that."
Tony braced himself against the counter, clenching his teeth and trying to hold back tears. "He would. He's just crazy enough. He would."
"I'm sure it'll all be fine. We'll get her back." Steve said, though not quite believing it himself.
Pepper came in to ask about Carter.
Bruce sighed. "I don't think it's hit her just yet. She hasn't said much."
Pepper sighed. "I should go upstairs and check on her." She slowly made her way up the stairs, wiping at her eyes as she went.
And just when Tony thought he couldn't hold back his tears any longer, Hammer finally called.
Author's Notes:
Lartovio: Thanks for reading, and sorry the updates have been so erratic!
WayToDawn: Hey guys! Sorry about not updating sooner. Thanks for reading! :)