The next day was hectic. Tensions were high, and so were the stakes.
Tony and Bruce frantically scrambled to get the things Hammer demanded before the three day deadline, while Steve, Natasha and Clint did everything in their power to find where he was hiding. Thor took up Happy's job, guarding Pepper and Carter the entire day.
Pepper did work from her laptop in the living room of Laynie and Carter's suite, and Carter spent most of her time either eating or mindlessly playing on the Internet.
"Thor, have you put eyes on Carter recently?" Pepper asked.
Thor frowned and stood from the recliner he formerly sat in. "Not for a while. I will make sure she's alright."
Thor checked the kitchen first, and then her room. He started to get a little distressed when she wasn't there... Until he heard clanking in the bathroom.
He knocked gently on the door, and Carter invited him in.
Thor had to hold back laughter as he saw Carter.
She was reclined in the bathtub with a bowl in her lap. She was scraping the bottom to get out what seemed to have been ice cream.
"Do you come here often to think?" Thor asked.
Carter just shrugged.
He came forward and sat beside the tub, resting his arm on the side and his head on the wall.
They were silent until Carter ran out of ice cream.
"Laynie likes to sit in the tub when she's sad..." she quietly said.
Thor nodded. "Laynie is a strange one, but her coping methods are effective, no?"
Carter smiled a little, nodding. "They are."
Thor broke another long silence. "You know, I once extended an offer to lend an ear to your troubles. I know what it is you're feeling."
Carter sighed, "I miss her. I'm worried. And I want her back home."
"We will get her back." Thor said firmly, "Do not give up hope yet."
She gave him a small smile, "I hope you're right."
Thor returned the smile. They sat in relatively comfortable silence for a while until he decided to make a comment on her lack of ice cream.
She frowned at the bowl as if it were the source of all her troubles.
Thor laughed, "Come, we can feast on ice cream together." He stood and offered a hand to the girl.
Carter grinned and let Thor pull her up out of the tub.
Laynie wasn't sure exactly how long she had slept after the phone call, but she knew she never wanted to sleep again. Her entire body ached from sleeping on the hard floor and her wrist was bleeding from all the chaffing against the shackle.
Laynie stiffly sat up, leaning against the pole she was chained to. She finally took the opportunity to look around the room. It looked like a warehouse, with the plastic roof and the boxes all around. There was black paint painted on most of the boxes, and the rest were completely blank. There were spaces between the sky-high boxes and the ceiling where the only light came in, making it almost impossible to tell what time of day it was.
Laynie held tightly to the shackle and tugged on her caught wrist. It stung and cut, but she was desperate. She wanted out so badly.
She heard voices, and instantly feigned sleep. She laid down again, and tried to keep her breathing calmer than she felt.
"There's a problem," a familiar voice stuttered. "Captain Rogers and Agent Clint Barton have both come very close to the warehouse."
"Shhh!" Hammer hissed. "The little Stark might be awake."
"Sorry, Sir."
"Don't worry, Parks."
Arthur Parks. Traitor. Laynie chided herself for not recognizing his voice.
"Our plan is working flawlessly at this juncture, and we have obviously remained hidden. Only two more days until you get your tech, and then we can get to the real work."
Laynie tried to peek up at her captors, only to find them staring back at her.
"Look, the little hostage is awake," Hammer cooed. "How did you sleep?"
Laynie blinked. She was too scared to move. Too scared to respond.
"You're really no fun, you know that? At least Potts would have had the guts to talk back. Oh well. I hear you and Mr. Parks here have already met. He told me that you'd be a little more entertaining," Hammer sneered.
"She's only confident around Stark. I don't think she'll talk for anyone else," Parks said quietly.
"Pity. Alright, well if I can't get information out of you indirectly, we'll have to do this another way." Hammer crouched down beside Laynie and pulled the chain on her wrist, making her sit up. "I want to know everything you know," he said happily.
Laynie took a moment to ask herself what Tony would have her do. Then she settled for what Natasha or Carter would do. She spit in his face.
Hammer chuckled sardonically as he wiped the spit off with the back of his hand. Looking back at Laynie, he stared at her for a moment before slapping her across the face. "Little brat," he muttered.
Laynie felt her teeth pierce her cheek and blood filled her mouth. She took a moment to recover from the pain, and then spit at him again.
Hammer quickly coiled one of his hands around her neck. "I'd think twice about doing that again if I were you." He slammed her head back against the wall, "Now... I think you should tell me what you know."
Laynie gasped as he let go of her neck. "I know my dad kicked your butt once and he can do it again," she said shakily.
He banged her head against the wall again. "I'm sorry, let's try that again. What do you know?"
"I won't tell you anything," Laynie said, leaning against the wall. She felt faint.
Hammer growled slightly, but released her. "It doesn't matter anyway."
Laynie lifted her head off the wall and watched Hammer walk off. "Hey, if you double cross my dad..." She took a deep breath. "You won't live long to regret it."
Hammer turned and smiled. "And neither will you."