Thanks for reviewing the previous chapter: Angel Scones, VickiiMadd, 1upninja, HiddenBetweenTheLines, conventfirlvampire, fussyviolet, EAnIL, NZgleek91, djsmith10186, Nat, General Mac, fabmf, GypsySoul05, Gardenia2, faberryloving, beachbum2960, Gleelover47 and wkgreen.
Sorry this is a bit filler-y but I need just a little more build up.
Posted: 12/11/12
Growing Up
Mid December
A sighting over Lima last night had many people on edge, many people who most wouldn't want to mess with. Luckily not many people were aware of their existence.
Leroy got a phone call early that morning, before the sun had risen. He answered the phone on his bedside table quietly "Hello?"
"L, its R, we've got a situation" the voice on the other end of the line sounded sternly
"Hold on" Leroy murmured as he slipped out of bed. He looked back at his husband who continued to snore loudly, the ringing of the telephone hadn't even woken him. He crept downstairs, to go to the study. As he passed the basement he listened closely, he heard no sound of movement inside. Once he was in the study he shut the door firmly behind him and went and sat at the desk "Okay, what's the situation?" he asked, continuing to keep him voice low"
"3 hours ago there was a sighting over Lima"
"Sighting?" that could mean anything but Leroy getting called at all by 'R' meant this was something really important "What do you mean by sighting?"
"Good to hear you're asking questions. We thought we'd lost you L"
"You know why I distance myself" he hissed back
"And that's the reason I speak to you now" the voice informed him "We believe we sighted him"
"You're going to have to be a little less cryptic" he huffed, he knew since the last phone call back in early August then after Rachel's accident, that he'd be hearing from them again.
"Don't speak to me like that I am your superior, I always have been" The voice snapped, trying to remind him.
"I quit remember" Leroy said back, also trying to remind the other person.
"You can't quit this" The retaliation of memory and reminding quickly died with that sentence.
Leroy sighed, he knew his 'superior' was right, there was no leaving them, not really. "Who has been sighted?" he asked to encourage the original conversation.
"Is it a secure line?" the voice asked roughly
"You know it is" Leroy spat back. It really was a stupid question, when you're good at something you use it, and Leroy was good at security.
"Okay. Iron man, was spotted in the area" He said bluntly
"A-Are you sure?" The man hiding in his office could have slapped himself for sounding so weak
"Our radar picked up little information but from the information it did collect the craft seen flying is similar to his suit. Is he looking for her?"
"He couldn't be, he thinks she's dead" Leroy didn't mean for his voice to tremble but now he had new worry to add to one that was always very prominent in his mind
"And she, has she shown signs?" that was the other worry on his mind. He'd tried telling them before but they wouldn't accept his answer.
That didn't mean he wouldn't try again "I told you she hadn't before but you still went ahead and organised the attack" he growled defensively
"We can't be sure, can we Leroy?" Saying his actual name reminded him of his place "Can we trust your word? Can we trust that you haven't grown... attached?"
"You know you can" he said forcefully, and a little louder than he planned. He looked to the study door to make sure no one was there, it was still shut. "She is not a threat. I will keep you updated but until there is something to confirm I assure you she is not a threat"
"If there's been a leak" R started to warn Leroy "If Stark knows-"
"He doesn't, he can't know" Leroy cut the other person off
"Very well" R finished "We'll be in touch" and with that the phone line went dead.
Leroy let out an unsteady breath as he dropped the phone onto the desk in front of him and ran his hand through his hair. He'd broken into the basement a couple of days ago, there was nothing there. The room was basic again. It didn't make any sense and it didn't explain why she kept sneaking out.
...
Lima Post
Friday 17th December 2010
Iron Man sighted over town
Has Iron man visited the state of Ohio?
Several witnesses claim to have seen him flying above the town 2 nights ago. But we must ask ourselves, what would he be doing here in Lima Ohio?
Is there danger we don't know about and does this relate to the mysterious disappearances in the area. Although it is unlikely the disappearances of teenagers is unlikely to relate to the potential presence of Iron Man in the area...
See story on Page 3...
...
Rachel Berry walked down the school hallway with a new found confidence that morning. A spring in her step thanks to the thrusters in her boots she'd worn the night before. Lima had never looked better than tiny and insignificant beneath her, like an ant to be squished under her silver boot. Those who had attacked her were there, she just knew it as she flew over enjoying the freedom and liberation from inside her armour, she'd find them soon.
She hadn't even let it bring her down when she found out she may have been spotted, because she heard them talking about her in the hallways.
She shook her head and smiled to herself every time she heard 'Iron Man'. She just thought it was typical for them to assume it was a man so automatically.
She'd let it slide though. Inside she was jumping, the suit worked, Fairchild was compatible with it, and so was she.
After receiving the base from NF she'd made a few changes. The computer with the voice; she'd upgraded her and given her, her name, she'd then changed security, there was no way of getting in or out of there without her and Fairchild.
That morning Rachel had asked herself why she bothered to continue at school, now that the suit was finished surely the world was her oyster. She looked up from her feet as she strolled down the hallway and her eyes met the reason: her new best friend. Quinn stood at her locker sorting through her books for the morning.
It was simple, Quinn made her stay, not that she asked her to, why would she? She didn't know Rachel had thought about leaving, using the suit in many ways to make a living. Or finding a simple job on the outskirts of a city and becoming a hero... after she destroyed her attackers of course, but she didn't need to stay at school for that.
But yes, Quinn was the reason. She worried for the young single mother, she wanted to be here to support her in any way she could. She didn't care about the past and Quinn tormenting her, it was in the juvenile past. Events had changed them, making them grow up and out of that behaviour.
...
So far the day had been quiet, both Quinn and Rachel had avoided getting attacked by a slushy for the past few days. It wasn't until lunch something weird happened, although it wasn't as strange as some other things going on in Rachel's life, lately.
The two girls were at their usual table, distance between them and other students as they sat next to each other. When their conversation died down Rachel tried to ask Quinn something "Um, Quinn I was wondering-"
She was cut off by another recognisable voice from the other side of the table "Is it okay if I sit here?" The both looked over to the Mohawked boy standing there with his tray
"Sure" Quinn shrugged, she went to look back to Rachel as Puck sat down when he started talking again
"Quinn? I wanted to say sorry" he kept his head low, almost submissive as he leant across the table slightly and spoke to her
The blonde looked back at him in surprise; because he was apologising and because she wasn't sure why "What?"
"I heard I got you fired, cause' I was late pickin' up Beth" he kept his voice low so no one would over hear, for Quinn's sake. He didn't want to accidentally embarrass her. Rachel just watched the pair silently. She'd have to build up the courage to ask her question again later.
"It happened over 2 weeks ago" she waved dismissively, too tired to care and not wanting to talk about it anyway "It doesn't matter"
"No it does" Quinn wasn't sure she liked this sincere version of Puck. Rachel wasn't sure she liked the way he was looking at Quinn "that's why I packed in my pool cleaning business"
"You what?"
"I got my job back at 'Sheets N Things'" and the surprises just kept coming
"But you hated it there" Quinn reminded him, even though it wasn't necessary "... and you told us all there was no way you could go back after the way you left"
"Well don't tell anyone but I was bluffing" he smiled mischievously before turning more serious again "Anyway I get more hours at the weekend there and the pays better" he shrugged "That way I can support you- I mean Beth a little better" they already had that discussion, Quinn wanted nothing from Puck, but Beth did.
"Really, you did that for Beth?" Quinn asked, almost unbelieving
"I now work Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons so I can still take Beth, if that's okay?" he checked, Quinn nodded happily, it was their verbal contract already, she didn't plan on changing it "Thanks... I know I've been a jerk lately but I already told you I'm not a dead beat dad" he assured her
Quinn just smiled softly at his thoughtfulness "I know" she reached over and placed her hand over his "I'm sure Beth will appreciate it"
Rachel watched as Quinn retracted her hand again. She felt protective of her friend; after all she'd been through. She sometimes almost forgot when she'd been through herself.
Puck started poking at his food with the fork when he looked at the brunette "So Rachel... haven't seen you at temple lately"
"No" she agreed quietly "Just haven't felt like it" she shrugged. Now it was Quinn's turn to feel left out
"Your dads still go" he told her
"Yeah?" it was more of a question, because she wasn't really aware of anything her dads did lately, she was always away, with Quinn and sometimes Beth, or Fairchild and the suit.
...
Leroy sat at his desk in his office when the phone rang. That wasn't unusual so he answered it like he would any time his desk phone rang. He picked up phone and introduced the company name and his job title before finishing with his name
"L" he almost jumped in his seat at hearing the voice, he didn't think he'd be hearing from them so soon "you sound so professional" there person on the other end of the line said mockingly "We didn't think you'd fit in anywhere else so easily"
"I should warn you R" he sat up in his seat to peer over the walls of his cubical to make sure no one was listening in "These calls are recorded"
"Their primitive technology was easy for us to block this call. But you'd know all about that L, you always were the most in tune with that tech"
"Skip the personal history lesson. Why are you calling?" he kept his voice low as he sunk into his chair, now relying on the cubical walls as a shield.
"We need you to go to New York. Go to the city and check on Stark. Make sure he's there"
"I don't work for you anymore"
"You can't leave Leroy, remember?"
He sighed defeated already "How will I know he's there?"
"Stark is a show man, he likes to show off. He flies over that city all the time to get to Stark Tower. You will monitor his movements while you're there for the next 2 weeks"
"2 weeks?" he exclaimed in a harsh whisper "I can't up and leave for 2 weeks"
"Take your husband, call it a vacation, or call it a business trip. I don't care, just go, we need to know what he knows. You leave tomorrow"
"But tomorrow is- I can't, not tomorrow, not when I won't be here for Christmas either"
"Leroy, you've left us in the dark for too long, we don't know if we can trust what you've already told us. Maybe it would be wise for you to help us here, maybe it will make your word more credible"
"...Okay. I'll do it"
"Good choice. You'll find two plane tickets and hotel details in your mail box when you get home" the line cut out before Leroy could respond. He sighed and dropped his head down onto his desk. He always knew the past would come back to haunt him.
...
The next day
Rachel would be lying if she said she wasn't a little angry. Her dads had taken her to dinner the night before, and broken the news that they were going to New York for two weeks. What kind of parents did that?
Then surprisingly guilt had hit her, maybe the kind of parents she'd been distancing herself from would do that. She enjoyed the dinner and the early triple celebration. They gave her a $200 gift card. She thanked them and couldn't wait for them to leave the restaurant.
She snuck out later after they got home and went to the base, she worked on her suit all night. She put another cot bed near her desk in the warehouse for when she wanted to take a nap, so she did get some sleep, maybe an hour or two, before she continued on the suit. She was forever modifying and testing.
She only decided enough was enough for now when she realised she was hungry. She read the wall clock and saw it was approaching lunch time... and it was her birthday.
She decided she felt like being round friends on her birthday so she went for a shower, got dressed and then went to visit her best friend. She knew it was ridiculous but she felt almost giddy every time she remembered Quinn was her friend. Was it wrong to be excited to remember she had a friend she could actually spend time with, and that friend had an adorable daughter who didn't cry every time she got to hold her.
She was about to hit the buzzer for Quinn's apartment when the door to the building opened. Rachel flinched back and out of the way. It took her a second to register it was Puck, with Beth
"Oh hey" Rachel greeted getting the boys attention before he walked straight past her
"Oh, hey Rachel" he caught the door with his foot before it could close. Rachel grabbed the door too, allowing Puck to take his foot back. "You here to see Quinn?" he re-adjusted the bag on his shoulder full of Beth's over night things. He held Beth in the other hand in her baby carrier that also doubled up as a car seat
"Yeah, I was going to see if she wanted to go to lunch. You can join us if you want?"
"Thanks but no, my mom and sister kinda want to see Beth too" he then realised how soft that sounded and ducked his head "They've grown kinda attached" he shrugged slightly like it was nothing
Rachel was still surprised by the guy that stood in front of her, he wasn't really a boy anymore "You've really grown up" she told him suddenly, making him look up at her again "... it's kind of nice. If a bit weird"
"You've changed too Berry, and its freaky" he laughed lightly "punching Karofsky that time was... kinda cool, but it wasn't you"
"That's probably why it backfired"
"I could teach you some moves" he smirked
"I'm sure you could Puckerman" she emphasised that she hadn't used his first name as she teased him.
Before it could go any further Beth started making little moaning sounds and squirming in her carrier. Rachel was surprised she could squirm at all with how sufficiently Quinn must have wrapped her up in all those layers.
Rachel crouched down to the little girl and slipped a black glove off so she could tickle the side of Beth's face "Hey cutie. Sorry I'll let you and your daddy get going now" she joked. She then stood up again. Puck had caught the door when she'd let go so she took it back from him "You take care Noah, and of Beth"
"Duh" and an eye roll was the response she got. She wasn't sure why she said it anyway. She must have just been feeling protective of the people in her life "See you later Rachel
.
She took her other glove off and tucked one of each onto her black jacket pocket as she jogged up the stairs. She must have been getting used to the stairs, she wasn't as tired after climbing them this time. She knocked on the door and waited. She bounced on her heels when she heard movement on the other side
The door was yanked open swiftly "What did you forget-" The question was cut short "Oh, hi Rach" Quinn smiled as soon as she saw the girl "What's up?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to get some lunch with me?" the brunette asked hopeful
"Um" she looked at what Rachel was wearing then checked her own appearance, they were both dressed casually and she didn't have food down her for once "sure, come in while I get my coat" she left the door open for Rachel to follow her in an close the door behind them "What's the occasion?" she heard Quinn yell from her bedroom while Rachel waited in the living area.
"Nothing" she said innocently "Can't I just take a friend out to lunch?"
"I guess" Quinn shrugged as she slipped her sneakers on "It's just that we normally hang out here" she crouched down to tie up her laces
"I know, I just felt like a change-"
Her sentence was cut short when Quinn stood up suddenly with a slight gasp "It's your birthday"
"What?" Rachel asked, just as surprised as Quinn sounded at realising so late
"It's your birthday" Quinn said again "It is isn't it?" Rachel ducking her head gave her the answer she was looking for "Rachel, I'm sorry I forgot-"
"No" Rachel looked up wide eyed that she was getting an apology "No, it's not like I was reminding anyone this year"
"Still I'm sorry, can I make it up to you?" Quinn asked hopeful
"Let me buy you lunch" Rachel tried to bargain, which meant nothing at all, she planned on paying anyway.
"No I couldn't let you do that" Quinn didn't want to be thought of as needy, she had coped this long without charity and the money Puck gave Beth paid for things for only Beth. Quinn then got an idea "Wait, I could give you your Christmas present now, I'll just have replace it with something else to give you for next week" She disappeared again as Rachel called after her
"Quinn, it's okay you don't have to..." she trailed of realising her attempts were futile. As she dropped her head and sighed her eyes skimmed across a pile of envelopes. They looked like bills. A red urgent stamp was on the front on one. Another piece of paper lay unfolded next to the stack.
Before Rachel could read anymore Quinn walked back into the room, startling Rachel into tearing her eyes away from the papers.
"Here" Quinn breathed as she held out a small box, neatly wrapped in wrapping paper with a Christmas themed pattern printed on it "I'm sorry its so Christmassy, I know you celebrate Hanukah too, but I'm not too familiar with the customs" she bit her lip hoping she hadn't offended her friend
"That was a couple of weeks ago, but my dads weren't really in the mood" With all that had happened and the distance she'd carved between them, no wonder they took off to New York so care free. She took the box tentatively "thank you" she nodded to the box she held in her hand
"You don't have to open in now" Quinn told her as she slipped her coat on and zipped it up
Staring at the paper of the gift she already considered precious reminded her of what she'd wanted to ask Quinn yesterday before Puck sat down with them "No, I will, but I want to ask you something before I forget"
"Oh sure" Quinn glanced back to the sofa "Shall we sit"
Rachel just nodded, Quinn sat on the sofa and Rachel sat in the arm chair perpendicular. "It's no big deal, I just wanted to invite you over for Christmas day" she said shyly as she fiddled with the red shiny plastic ribbon Quinn had wrapped round the box "I know for Thanksgiving you went to Noah's with Beth, but I just wanted to ask if you and Beth would like to join me. My dads are out of town but I was going to invite you over if they were still here anyway. I meant to ask you yesterday, but then Puck was talking to you and I forgot to ask... not that you're forgettable"
"I'd love to Rachel" Quinn said softly stopping the girl form the nervous ramble. She didn't like that Rachel was still nervous to ask her things or invite her places, but she had been a bitch, a really big bitch to the brunette for the two years before, so was it really a surprise Rachel would get nervous.
"Good" she breathed away the nervous and stopped fiddling with the box "... you can stay over too, I'll set the guest bedroom up"
"How about you come here instead" Quinn quickly suggested "Just that way Beth's got everything she needs" she added to explain she wasn't declining Rachel's offer "You can stay over too... the ah, couch is a sofa bed" she muttered the last part
"Okay, but I'm in charge of the food" they quickly came to an agreement they were both satisfied with
...
In the following week Rachel felt she had perfected the suit and was now at a loss, she had no starting point for her investigation. She had no leads, just a short clip of her collision that night in august. She was sure she remembered it too, and that she wasn't just believing that she remembered it because she was able to watch it over and over again, seeing every detail of the actual hit. Unfortunately the clip cut out as soon as a forth car pulled up.
Fairchild had searched for her but the clip had supposedly been deleted, that piece was all that they could recover
That didn't matter right now; Rachel was on a different mission. It was Beth's first Christmas and Quinn's first Christmas living independently. Rachel hoped after today Quinn might accept help happily, but at the same time she doubted it.
She was at home, the Berry household, when she organised all the things she needed to take to Quinn's, including an overnight bag. She felt responsible, more adult because she was in control of today, she just really hoped she didn't mess it up
.
"Rachel, you've really bought too much food" Quinn said worried as Rachel put several shopping bags onto the kitchen side
"One of these bags is presents for you and Beth" Rachel explained quickly as she found the bag that held the gifts "Do you want to open them now?" The brunette was sure she sounded more excited than Quinn and Beth put together
"Well Beth will need a nap later" she looked back over her shoulder to check on the little girl in the high chair "so it might be better now, while she's likely to stay awake" she told Rachel
"Well you take her to the living area, I'll bring her presents over" Rachel said animatedly as she slipped her jacket back off her shoulders and down her arms. Once her hands were free Quinn saw something on the shorter girls wrist
Quinn subtly smiled to herself when she saw it was the bracelet she'd got Rachel for Christmas that she'd ended up giving her for her birthday anyway. She was glad Rachel really had liked the silver chain bracelet with the few stars hanging from it.
Once they'd settled with Beth, Quinn swapped her daughter for the two immaculately wrapped parcels. Rachel sat with Beth on her lap facing her mother so she could watch Quinn as she opened Rachel's gifts. The first, the bigger one was a bear. Quinn laughed at how much bigger it was than Beth, it was double her size. Rachel explained that Beth would grow and 'Mr Huggles' would later become a more appropriate size. The name she'd already given the bear made Quinn laugh even more as she held the brown bear in front of her baby
The delightful sound of Beth's laughter and approval stopped Rachel pouting and let her know she'd got it right.
The other gift was a set of oversized keys, that were perfect for teething. But Beth wasn't interested, she was too happy falling asleep against the soft fluff of Mr Huggles
.
Rachel had started preparing food while Quinn settled Beth for a nap. When she came back out of Beth's room quietly she asked if she could help, Rachel dismissed her, reminding the blonde that she was taking responsibility for the food. That had fallen into a discussion about why they were having untraditional chicken and then to why Rachel wasn't vegan anymore. After that Rachel realised she hadn't given Quinn her gift yet
"Oh you're present" she perked up suddenly. She stopped peeling whatever vegetable she had been murdering.
She went to the corner of the room where she'd left her overnight bag and Quinn's gift. It was bigger than Mr Huggles, but not by much. As she passed it to Quinn the blonde looked worried, really worried
"Rachel what did you do?"
"It's just a little something, open it" she encouraged as she put it on the coffee table
There was much hesitance; she knew Rachel had gone overboard. She'd soon find out this was the tip of the elaborate iceberg. Obviously the real Rachel Berry wasn't completely lost to this world; she was still there, showing off.
"You got me a hamper" this was too much, it was also really awkward. She wasn't looking forward to giving Rachel the present she'd got Rachel
"Think of it as a survival kit" Rachel said casually "There's a few gift certificates, some home spa stuff... just a mix you know" Quinn wasn't saying anything and it was making her nervous "And this" she was about to put her foot in it as she passed her best friend an envelope.
Quinn reluctantly took it and opened it, she eyed Rachel suspiciously for a moment as she took the slip of paper out and read it "Th-this is a check" Quinn stated as she held the slip of paper out in front of her, her hazel eyes scanning over the numbers again and again, then Rachel's signature that confirmed it really was from her.
"Yeah" Rachel cringed, feeling like this wasn't going to go too well
"For 10 thousand dollars" she sounded a little more panicked, like she felt vulnerable holding that amount of money.
"Yeah" She said again, still cringing
"Are you crazy?" she didn't think to keep her voice down for Beth's sake; she was just too thrown from the normal to keep calm.
Rachel stopped to think, before she just said 'yeah' again "... Maybe" she decided that was a safer answer.
Quinn shook her head in denial that this sort of money was currently in her hand "I can't take this" she waved the check back to Rachel, trying to get her to take it
"No its for you" Rachel gently pushed Quinn's hand with the check away "I want to help you Quinn"
"I'm not a charity" she snapped, scaring Rachel just a little bit at the tiny blaze of fire she saw in the blonde's eyes when she said that. It reminded her of the old days, if just for a second
"I know you're not" she managed to keep calm though "you're my friend and I care about you. I just want to help"
The mother eyed her friend suspiciously "Where did you even get this kind of money?" she asked, her tone accusing
"I just had it lying around" she told the blonde nonchalantly
"Rachel!" Quinn scolded
"Fine it was some of my college funds, okay?" she shrugged like it was nothing
"No that's not okay, you can't go giving this kind of money to me!" Quinn exclaimed, her eyes growing watery "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve anything from you, not even your friendship"
"Hey!" Rachel finally snapped "Don't start all that" she took Quinn's free hand and made her sit down so they could try and talk like sensible adults "you deserve a lot of good things Quinn, don't let anything make you think otherwise" she told her with soft sincerity.
"I'm sorry" Quinn breathed "I-I just can't accept this" she tore the check up in front of Rachel
"That's okay... I wasn't sure you would, so I got you something else" she got up and went back over to her bag; she pulled another envelope out and gave it to Quinn. She sat back down next to Quinn as she handed the envelope over "Just like a replacement gift"
"It's not another check is it" Quinn chuckled nervously
"No" Rachel chuckled back, nudging the envelope toward Quinn's hand when she was too hesitant to take it
With a deep breath Quinn opened it and pulled out a red slip of craft paper "What's this?"
"What does it say?" Rachel waited patiently with a mischievous glint in her eye
"Its a coupon for free service from the Rachel Berry taxi" she slowly looked up at the brunette and raised an eye brow "I don't understand"
"Okay, first, don't yell at me" Rachel said first, as she held up her hands defensively "I know you might be having money troubles" she saw the way Quinn's eyebrows threatened to disappear into her hair line, but she kept talking before she could get slapped or something "and as you won't accept my check, so I thought maybe you could still be independent, but sell your car and I could be your voluntary chauffeur"
Now Quinn's eyebrows dropped and furrowed at Rachel's 'plan' "That doesn't make me independent... it makes me very dependent on you"
"Look, just don't say anything yet" Rachel stopped her "I don't want to know I've ruined Christmas-"
"You didn't... it's just... all I got you was this" she had the box already on the coffee table in the shadow of Rachel's... present.
It was wrapped just like the bracelet had been. She eagerly opened it, ripping the paper off roughly and opening the box inside. "I love it" she said without a second of hesitation. She really did love it too, it was a necklace to match the bracelet, and it was from Quinn... her friend
Okay, I know, it's a bit slow. I promise I'm kicking it into gear from now on... kinda
Let me know what you think...