There was nothing for Laynie to do. She couldn't help her friend, no matter how hard she pulled at the shackle. Her shirt and pants were splotched red from her bloodied wrist, but she was still as trapped as ever. She couldn't even feel most of her arm anymore.
As footsteps came around the corner, Laynie stopped pulling. No matter what, she couldn't let Hammer see how desperate she was.
"Miss Stark, I've spoken to your father. I believe he needs some motivation."
Laynie smirked. She was beginning to feel as crazy as Hammer looked. "You'll have to shoot me before I'll say anything."
Hammer sat down on the floor, just out of Laynie's reach. It came to her attention that he wore a suit, finally. Other than that, he still looked pretty crazy. "Oh Laynie, don't play games with me. We both know I would end up shooting you, and that just wouldn't help my situation any."
"See, that's the thing. I don't care anymore. You could kill me right now. I don't care."
Hammer drew his gun from his jacket and pressed it to her temple. "Do you care now?"
"No."
Hammer sat back. "You're stubborn, you know that?"
"Like father like daughter."
"Laynie, are you the gambling type?"
She was silent, wondering what he could possibly be thinking.
"Your friend is on an operation table, at the mercy of a man who is at my mercy," he said lowly. "I will have her killed if you do not comply."
She shook her head. "You're bluffing."
"She means absolutely nothing to me. Whether she lives or dies is no concern of mine." Hammer sneered. "Don't tempt me. I'll go in there and shoot her myself. At least I'd be rid of her big mouth."
Laynie bit her lip. "What do you want to know?"
Hammer smiled slowly, exhaling and sitting back. "Everything. I want everything your father knows."
"You always have," she commented, disgusted. "You're a jealous toddler."
"Watch your mouth, dear."
Laynie sighed. "You have to be more specific."
"Oh, we'll start with the armor. Where does he keep them?"
"Avengers Tower, he probably still has some in Malibu."
"Where in the tower?" Hammer ground out.
Laynie frowned like she was thinking very hard. "I can't remember exactly. Somewhere in his lab. I'm not very interested in his work, you know."
"I will shoot your friend."
Laynie didn't skip a beat before replying. "As soon as you do I will have nothing to lose. Use your bartering chip carefully and remember I'm just as intelligent as you."
Hammer snarled and raised his fist. "You insufferable..."
Laynie flinched, but a blow never came. When she pried her eyes open, Parks was standing off to the side of Hammer.
"The girl is taking the transfusion surprisingly well," he mumbled. "The adaptability of an adolescent's cells are just what the serum needs to properly bond to the nervous system."
Laynie let out a relieved huff.
"Good, good." Hammer nodded. "Carry on." He waved Parks away.
With a few long strides Hammer was kneeling in front of Laynie once more. "Where were we now?"
"I think you were hitting me."
Hammer smiled. "Right." He backhanded her across the cheek.
Laynie grit her teeth, remembering that her friend's very life hung on her actions. But sometimes logic just can't win. She grabbed Hammer on the shoulders and gave a solid hit to his temple with her own, just like Natasha had shown her. It was executed flawlessly for how tired she was, and he crumpled to the floor in a very satisfactory way.
Laynie lurched forward and ripped his jacket open, grabbing both the gun and his phone. She debated with herself momentarily on what she was going to do, then threw caution to the wind for the millionth time.
"Dad?"
"Laynie? Oh my god, are you okay? Where's Hammer?"
"He's unconscious," she whispered. "Tell Nat I was paying attention that day she-"
"We're all here!" Natasha cried out on the other end.
Laynie let out a sob. It felt like it had been years that she had been away from her family. "I miss you guys so much." Her heart stopped as Hammer stirred a little. "Listen, I have about three seconds." She busied herself unloading the gun as she spoke, stuffing bullets in her pockets. He would know if she kept the gun, but he wouldn't notice missing ammo. She just couldn't bring herself to shoot him. And besides, Parks would still be around. She wouldn't be any better off.
"Hurry then," Tony urged. He sounded a little teary too.
"I'm in a warehouse of some kind. Parks is running experiments on Carter. It took about thirty minutes to get to this place from the meeting place... And I can hear seagulls. I-I'm scared," she choked out."
"We're going to get you," someone said quietly. She knew the voice was male, but she couldn't distinguish between them over the sound of her own sobs.
"I have to go before Hammer gets up. Please. Please come soon."
"I love you," Tony rushed.
Laynie smiled sadly as she hung up and shoved the phone and handgun back in their respective pockets. She sat back against the wall and poked Hammer's side with her foot.
He groaned dramatically as he pulled himself upright, rubbing at the knot on his forehead. "You're... You're going to pay for that." After waving a finger in her face, he stumbled out of the room.