(A/N) I realized that there was a plot hole in the last chapter concerning Tony thinking he had a cracked rib from his fall into the quinjet. That mistake will be fixed at some point in the near future. Thanks to MarvelLuver for pointing it out to me.

The Avengers were all gathered as Tony explained to them in a way that didn't hide the fact that he thought Justin Hammer was indeed an idiot. If he had the time not a single one of them doubted that he would have created a powerpoint presentation to explain exactly how much of an idiot this man was. He also explained the events that took place a year ago and how Hammer was supposed to be locked away with sign of freedom. But instead he was apparently living it up in San Fransisco getting his revenge.

"Is Hammer the type of person that would go to these lengths just to get one over on you?" Clint asked.

"Ask our friendly neighborhood assassin she's the one who almost dislocated his shoulder." He smiled at her still happy at the fact that she completely took Hammer down. "But from someone who has been ten steps ahead of him his whole life; though he is an idiot he does have some dangerous skills. As much as I hate to say it he does have the capabilities to do this."

"Then it's settled." Said Steve. "Let's end this everyone in the quinjet." They all headed for the helipad when Steve put a hand on Tony's chest stopping him. "Everyone except you. I'm not taking an injured man into battle."

Tony was in outrage. "What? This is my fight I'm not going to let you end it without me."

"To bad." He replied simply. "You can't use any of the suits because any number of them could be tampered with, and if you even try getting on that jet I will take you down. Capiche?"

"Who still says capiche?" Tony asked laying back on the couch feeling defeated as he watched the quinjet take off. As much as he wanted to just throw on a suit and join them he knew he that Capsicle was right. Not even to mention that his temporary reactor is compatible with them. "Great they get to have all the fun while I'm stuck here waiting for them to return like some freaking romantic comedy."

"Sir your heart rate has severely elevated might I suggest you calm down." Jarvis had been keeping watch on Tony's vitals which had been normal until recently.

The fact that they had change so quickly wasn't what caught Tony off guard though. It was that he wasn't even that worked up about not going yet he could feel his heart beginning to speed up as he broke into a sweat. "Jarvis do a scan."

After the scan was quickly done Jarvis shared his results. "I believe you have been infected with a sort of poison Sir."

A string of curses flung through Tony's mind but none made it out his mouth. Whatever was in him had to have been from the bullet since all of his food gets checked by Jarvis before he eats it, or else Hammer had messed with Jarvis' settings as well.

Suddenly a burning pain erupted in his chest making him fall to his knees and clutch his chest tightly. It felt as though someone had thrown a hot coal in his chest. When he coughed he saw blood stain the floor.

"Call the quinjet." Tony managed to say between gasps of pain.

"I'm sorry Sir there is something blocking me from calling the Avengers." This time a few curses did manage to find their way through Tony's mouth.

Tony's vision started to fade dangerously fast. He had to do something, call someone or else wait for who knew how long it would take the others to return. Lucky for him Tony had planned ahead for a time where he would need to make a call out while his security was compromised. He had placed a satellite phone in his bar which was only a few yards away, but with the fire that slowly burned through him that distance seemed a whole lot farther away.

He felt as though he was carrying the weight of a thousand Iron Man suits as Tony stood up. Using anything he could to steady himself the short journey was made to reach the phone that was cleverly hidden away. Each step seemed to speed the rate of which the burning spread through him to the point of when he reached the bar it took all of the power he had to keep standing.

Jarvis tried to tell him something but Tony's mind was too focused on what he was doing to pay attention. His shaking hand ripped the drawer open revealing the satellite phone inside. When he picked it up another surge of pain that was enough to bring tears to his eyes made him drop it on the floor with a crash shattering the phone efficiently.

"Crap." Tony muttered painfully before promptly passing out.

The trip to San Francisco took less time than any of them thought, especially Clint who had been timing the trip and was quite proud with the result. Though he quickly forgot about the new victory when he took the time to notice the place they had landed.

"Seriously? This guy tries to build killer robots, escapes prison and ends up living in a beachside mansion?" Hawkeye took in every detail instantly memorizing the best exits and positions to hide in seconds. The places where hiding was possible was few and all poor quality like Hammer was expecting someone to attack him.

"He was almost as rich as Tony." Natasha pointed out. "S.H.I.E.L.D. tried we couldn't lock down all of it. Hammer probably had a few million hidden away just for a time like this."

Steve and Bruce looked around warily. "You know if he really was that paranoid shouldn't he have been alerted by us landing?" Steve asked.

"Correct." A voice came through speaker systems hidden throughout the yard. "I'm inviting you in." The door to the mansion swung open on it's own.

Clint notched an arrow keeping it ready for attack. "Call me crazy, but this feels like a trap." He muttered.

A laugh came through the speakers that was loud and irritating. "What is it with you super hero types and assuming everything is a trap?"

"Experience." Natasha called out as her hand gripped the gun on her thigh holster.

"Well hello." Hammer's voice drawled his greeting making anger flurry through the assassin. "You look very different from when I last saw you. I love the whole skin tight suit thing by the way. What was is," he hesitated trying to remember the name she had given him. "Natalie, right? Though I assume that isn't your real name."

The protective part of Clint was screaming at Hammer with all his might, but he also knew that Natasha could handle anything Hammer throw at her and more.

"Well please come and join me I was just getting ready to watch a movie." The intercom fell silent. Without turning back the Avengers headed inside.