Sorry this took so long, guys! I'll try and get the next chapter up sooner than later! I'm excited though. So I should be able to write it fairly quickly. :D Enjoy! As always, I do like those reviews. Seeing those little emails in my inbox make my heart go pitter-pat! 3

Chapter Four: Loose Ends

Tony didn't take the suit.

When an unexpected jet was spotted on radar at about five o'clock A.M. and a radio was sent out to inquire of its intentions, Jarvis' smooth words came in reply, "I believe Mr. Stark has a meeting with Mr. James Rhodes. We'd like clearance to land." He gave the correct pass code and a few minutes later, the plane came to a smooth landing on the base's own tarmac.

Rhodey was outside waiting for Tony to disembark, and nearly hugged the man when he stepped out. He was in a suit, yes, but it wasn't metal, nor was it red and gold. Ostentatious? Absolutely. Rhodey never saw Tony in anything that cost less than a car. But the custom tailored suit wasn't toting miniature rockets, and that is all that mattered to the Colonel's peace of mind. "Tony, good to see you."

Tony raised his eyebrows and tugged his sunglasses off his face, dark eyes searching his friend and landing immediately on the bandage around his right arm and shoulder. "And you too… Did you hurt yourself opening a pickle jar again?" He waved his sunglasses at the injury, which got a few chuckles from the surrounding men.

The injured man simply shook his head and gave a little laugh, "Dunno what I'd do without you, Tone." He rolled his eyes. "Caught a bullet to the shoulder in the scuffle. It'll be fine in a few days."

"Good to hear," Tony clapped him lightly on the injured shoulder and looked around the area, spotting a small complex not too far off. "That where they stashed everything?"

"Yeah," Rhodes replied, swallowing a yelp against the pain. "Come on, I'll get you in."

The building was small and simple. It used to be an old hangar until the US had taken over that small area in the middle of the desert. When they did, it had been refitted to be a sort of makeshift office space with a wide area at one end for storage. Tony and Rhodey entered through the main doorway and as they walked through, Rhodey recounted what had happened to him. Tony seemed mildly interested in what was being said, but it was obvious he was more focused on their destination than what had led him to the area in the first place. He was the sort to always look ahead, after all.

They arrived at the stack of weaponry and Rhodey waved his mobile hand at it. "There it is. We've looked at it, and it's familiar, but that's about all our techies could give us. Half the stuff probably doesn't even work. It's a mess of different parts all shoved together." He gave a shrug. "But they were pretty determined that we wouldn't get our hands on it. It doesn't make much sense. That's why I called you. Some of the stuff in there looked like yours."

"Nnnhnnnm." Tony said, shrugging out of his jacket and immediately rolled up his sleeves. He'd hardly heard anything his friend had said, and was already in his mind's eye disassembling the pieces in the crates, examining each part, looking for something he knew was made by his own hand. "I need some tools and somewhere to work," he said, turning his head enough for Rhodey to know he was being addressed. His eyes, however didn't leave the stack of crates in front of him. Tony Stark was focused, and there was going to be no breaking him out of it until he was certain he'd learned all there was to learn about the items in front of him.

Four hours later found Tony up to his elbows in oil and dirt. He'd taken a number of weapons out of the seized cache and broken them down to their individual pieces. It had been meticulous and grating on the nerves. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. His eyes danced over the bits of metal and screws and transistors and computer chips he'd lain out on the desk in front of him. "None of this is mine," he concluded. One of his hands drifted towards his chest, fingers tapping lightly on the arc reactor's casing just under his shirt. It had been a habit he'd formed almost immediately after getting it put in. "Some of the design is similar, but it's not mine."

He leaned back and craned his neck, looking for Rhodey. The man was talking to another soldier and had some paperwork in his hands. Tony pursed his lips for a moment, then brought a hand up to his lips, finger and thumb forming an aid to help him give a sharp whistle. The sound caught Jim's attention and he jogged over to where Tony was. "So, what's the word?"

"Not mine." Tony shrugged.

"Not yours?"

"That's what I said. They didn't shoot your ears too, did they?"

Rhodey wrinkled his nose, "Not mine anyway." He looked over the metal on the table, then at Tony. "Alright, well, I guess I called you out for nothing…" He bit at his bottom lip and gave a sigh.

"What is it?" Tony asked as he got to his feet. He waved down a private walking by and put a large bill in his hand. "A drink. I don't care what it is, just something with a kick to it." He patted the confused soldier on the back.

"Yessir, Mr. Stark, sir." The young man saluted with the money still in hand and double-timed it away.

If only they'd react that fast to actual orders… Rhodey thought as he watched the private run off. He focused on Tony's question. "Nothin', man… It's just that there were a LOT of guys protecting this stuff. I was sure that was because it was worth keeping. We both know that Stark Tech weaponry is still the finest out there, and it's getting more and more rare, 'cause you're not making it anymore. Tony, something just doesn't feel right."

"I'll bet it's the food they serve here. There's only so long a guy can last on microwave dinners and instant coffee."

Rhodey gave him a look, "No, man. I mean it. They fought too hard for this stuff."

"Most of it's useless. Some of the guns would work. A few missiles. But I'll bet the majority of it's dead weight. They could maybe get a few thousand selling scrap, but that's it." Tony shrugged and brightened up as the soldier returned with a bottle in hand. He offered a nod of thanks and took a drink, much to the obvious distaste of his friend.

"It's a good thing you're not the one flying, Tone," Rhodey put in. "But seriously, this doesn't bother you?"

Tony shook his head. "They're not my weapons. Not my problem anymore." He grabbed his suit coat and hooking a finger in the collar, slung it over his shoulder. "I've got to get back. Pep's gonna kill me for leaving in the first place. I had a meeting with the Mayor today. I think." He dismissed the thought with a shrug. "Clear the runway for me, would ya Rhodey?"

Jim sighed. "You got it, boss."

"Good man." Tony once again clapped him on the shoulder and started back towards his plane. "Hey, I'll see you 'round." He flashed a grin and popped the sunglasses he'd been wearing when he arrived back over his eyes.

Rhodey didn't like the way he'd said that. He had a feeling he'd see some red and gold in the area sooner than he'd like. "See ya."

As soon as Tony was safely in the air once more, and out of military airspace, Jim took some time to look over the mess Tony had left. Taken apart, the weapons all looked like hunks of metal and screws. To Rhodey, it was a wonder Tony could tell what the pieces were, much less whether the way they were shaped or functioned were of his design. The man reached forward and plucked a particularly odd shaped computer chip off the table. He'd done it with his right hand before realizing that was probably a bad idea.

"Th'hell?" He muttered. The movement should have been at the very least uncomfortable. The man pressed lightly on the tightly bandaged wound and found no pain in response. In fact, it had dulled to a faint tingle, almost like an itch.

That voice that had insisted he was missing something important had grown to an ear-splitting shriek.

"It's just now ten o'clock P.M., Miss Potts. Your shift for the day ended an hour ago." Jarvis said quietly, the sudden sound making Pepper jump. "Although Mr. Stark told me that he had given you the day off today."

"Yeah, he did," She'd been sitting in Tony's living room for most of the day, re-arranging his schedule and trying to clean up the mess he'd made by not showing up for work for an effective three days in a row. "But we both know that wouldn't work out well for him in the end, don't we?" After she'd taken a break (at Jarvis' insistence) for dinner, she'd lost herself in phone calls and spreadsheets. If Pepper had taken a day off, there was no telling what she'd have to clean up when she did come back.

"The probability of Mr. Stark returning to a smooth-running company without your support is very low indeed, Miss Potts."

The television had long ago been turned off, and the only lights in the room were the fireplace and a small lamp beside the couch. Pepper's freckled face was a pale white against the glare of her laptop, but her mind wasn't on the lists in front of her. Until Jarvis had alerted her of the time, she'd been in her own little daydream, mind back on the previous day. Honestly, she felt a bit guilty about the whole thing. After all, Mark had only taken her out for some ice cream.

But he was just so nice. Pepper couldn't explain it, but he had been able to help her relax. She'd smiled, laughed, and even let him take her home. Tony had left her at the office without a car, as he'd had Happy take the day off. He'd helped her forget about the stress of working for Tony Stark, and let her remember that she was a woman – still young – who had a lot to offer.

The woman found that she was smiling despite herself. She quietly closed her laptop and sat it on the coffee table in front of her, only to be again startled by Jarvis' voice. This time though, he wasn't addressing her.

"Good evening, Mr. Stark. I see you've made it home in once piece."

"Can it, Jarvis. I'm beat. Did I miss anything while I was gone?" Tony's voice preceded his body as he came into the room. He was wearing a pair of jeans and his old MIT sweatshirt, and looking exhausted. Pepper realized that he probably hadn't slept. Again.

"No, you didn't. I made sure everything was taken care of, like I said I would," Pepper said. She had gotten to her feet and was packing her things. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt guilty for being in his house. She hadn't expected him back as soon as he was, and seeing him in that state made her feel bad for the thought of feeling happy at all. She might have been the one to run the logistical aspect of Stark's business, but he really did have a lot to worry about too.

"Pepper!" Tony immediately brightened up when he spotted her. "I thought I told you to take the day off. I'd say that you did and actually took up my offer to stay here, but the laptop in your hand gives me the feeling you were working." He waggled a finger at her, "That's off-the-clock work. The rules say I should fire you for that."

Pepper gave her boss a smile as she felt her stomach fall. He looked so happy to see her, and it only made the guilt worse. "Mr. Stark, I don't think you would have the guts to fire me. I'd come back to your office to gather my things and find you half-buried under paperwork, curled up in a little ball." She started packing her laptop and other bits of electronics into their carrying cases.

"You're probably right," Tony chuckled, rubbing the back of his hand against his bearded chin. His goatee was getting a bit shaggy… He'd have to trim it. "I guess I'm stuck with you for a while. But I still owe you a day off."

"Then I'll take one tomorrow," Pepper said, feeling that her response was a bit too quick. She winced inwardly.

Tony looked at her warily. He'd caught just how fast she'd said that. "Oh? Do you have plans?"

Pepper cleared her throat, "Actually, yes. I do."

"It's not your birthday, is it? Jarvis, when's Pepper's birthday?"

"Sir, Miss Potts has informed me that I'm not allowed to tell you that. You're supposed to remember."

Tony groaned, "My own creation likes my PA better than me. Just don't turn on me like Frankenstein's monster."

"Wouldn't dream of it, sir," Jarvis quipped.

"It's not my birthday." Pepper paused and bit at her bottom lip. "In fact I made sure that everything was in order for you tomorrow because I have a date." As soon as the words escaped her, she wished she could take them back.

Tony remained quiet for a split second longer than either of them was comfortable with. Then he nodded and let himself drop onto his couch. He put his feet up on the table beside Pepper's things. "Alright, Miss Potts, if you have a date, then you'd best get home and make sure you sleep well. We wouldn't want my working you too hard to interfere, would we?"

"No, we wouldn't want that," Pepper said quietly, watching her hands finish packing her things away. She wouldn't meet Tony's gaze. He didn't try to catch hers.

"Jarvis, find something worth watching on TV."

"Of course sir. What are you in the mood for?"

Pepper didn't hear Tony's answer though. She had hurried out of the room, digging her keys out of her bag as her heels made their muffled sound against the plush carpet of Tony Stark's living room floor. The dismissive tone her boss had used still rang in her ears as she slipped outside into the cool night and found her car.

She sat behind the wheel and jammed the key into the ignition, but didn't start it. Her hands gripped the steering wheel and her green eyes stared ahead, at Tony's mansion. Pepper pursed her lips and shook her head. There was no need to be upset. In fact, there was no need to feel guilty. No rules had been set that said Pepper couldn't date, and even company policy allowed it – she and Mark were from different branches, so there wasn't a conflict of interest. Not technically.

So, the redhead nodded firmly, started the car, and drove home.

When she pulled into the driveway of her small, but lovely little home, she was surprised to see another car there. It was even more surprising that it was running, and just so happened to be the vehicle that Mark had offered as her transport the day before. Puzzled, she put her little Audi in park and hopped out of the car, heels click-clicking on the concrete until she made it over by the car.

Pepper cupped her hands around her face and peered into the driver's side window, where she spotted Mark dozing in the seat. With a bit of a laugh, Pepper knocked on the window and startled Mark into wakefulness. "What're you doing here?" She asked.

Mark rubbed at his eyes and flailed about until he found the door handle. Pepper stepped away as he too got out of his car and gave a yawn. "Well, I hadn't heard back from you on whether you'd be able to make it tomorrow, so I thought I'd wait here for you to get home to find out in person." He smiled. "So, I guess now's the moment."

"Believe it or not, I managed to get the day off tomorrow. I'm all yours." Pepper let the corners of her mouth curl upwards, and she saw Mark's face light up, much like Tony's had. Though his was almost brighter. He was really excited to see her, wasn't he?

"Excellent! Believe me, you'll have the time of your life, Pep. I promise."

Pepper gave a laugh and nodded, "I'm willing to shoot for that."

"See you tomorrow then, bright and early," Mark said with a wide grin.

"You bet," Pepper replied.

End chapter four! Next one up soooon. I promise. 3