*Sniffles* I just want to say… *teary eyed* I love you guys. You're such great readers. I'm really happy you like this story and I really hope you will continue with me when I write others. *crosse fingers*. I'm really trying to improve my writing. I felt I was never good at it but I always imagine these different story ideas. I usually want to pass them off to someone else because I left years ago, but I'm really trying.

Anyway on with the show.. er story!

Chapter 11: Things Get Strange

"An update would be excellent Jarvis," Phil said, looking toward the camera in the corner of the room with his usual calm smile.

"Agent Coulson," Jarvis greeted, sounding happy and relieved.

Those who didn't know Jarvis well enough, still stared at the ceiling in wonder. The AI was a marvel to them. Steve swore it had to be a man behind an intercom, there was no way a machine could sound so… human. On the other hand, Thor found great pleasure when Jarvis would speak to them now. He was a great adversary and must be magic.

"It is wonderful to see you in better health Sir," the AI began again. "I am sure you received Sirs… gifts while you were recovering."

Everyone looked to Phil as his smile turned honest to god beaming. He pulled out what looked to be a leather bound book which no one had noticed had been resting beside him on the chair.

"I did," Phil said happily. "Complete set. Mint condition."

"He found you a new set?" Pepper asked, looking over at the book seeing the card sleeves.

Tony had told her about Phil's cards and "complete fanboy-ism" as Tony described it.

"Indeed," Jarvis said. "Sir searched through his father's archives to find them,"

"Did you not interrupt us because you had an update?" Fury groused.

"Indeed," Jarvis replied tone a bit biting. "I have isolated the area where Sir was last detected. However there seems to be interference with the arc signals. The signal is not unlike Mr. Odinson's brothers,"

"Are you telling us that Loki has Tony?" Clint questioned, demeanor changing as he straightened himself up at the thought.

"That is impossible," Thor interjected. "Loki is currently being held in the prisons below The palace of Asgard."

"No, it is not him," Jarvis replied. "The signature, while similar, is still different from Loki's."

"Can you get to the point Jarvis?" Natasha asked cooly.

"I can endeavor to do so," Jarvis snipped back, almost with a sniff to his voice. "I can not pinpoint where sir is, nor will I be able to. From what I have found, Doctor Steven Vincent Strange was the last person that Sir was in contact with."

"Strange?" Fury asked, a sound of disbelief in his voice. "What was Stark doing with Strange?"

"Tony has many friends Director," Pepper said evenly. "He met Doctor Strange when he was younger and Tony, of course, made an impression."

"Pepper, do you know what Strange is capable of?" Natasha asked, turning calculating eyes to the red head.

"What do you mean?" Pepper questioned back, eyes narrowing in confusion.

Natasha nodded, it seemed mostly to herself. "I assume Stark made Jarvis somehow capable of detecting Loki's magic. Now, Jarvis can detect it in other beings like Doctor Strange."

"A mortal magician!" Thor exclaimed loudly with a large grin. "I wasn't aware those of Midguard we adepty in the arts!"

"It isn't a common skill," Natasha said evenly. "And I wouldn't exactly call Strange a mortal."

"Such harsh words," a new voice said, seeming to come from no where. "Jarvis if you would please."

The screen wavered for a moment before a man appeared. He didn't appear overly intimidating, leaning back in a plush chair, a gloved hand nursing a glass of wine. The crisp charcoal suit did nothing to hide his broad shoulders and muscular physique. He was a handsome man with cool blue eyes, salt and pepper hair, and sharply cut goatee. A smooth smile graced his lips as he looked over them.

"Speak of the devil," Natasha muttered, eyeing the man on the screen.

"Hello, Pepper," he said warmly, as though he hadn't heard Natasha's grumbling.

"Stephen, it's so good to see you," Pepper said with a kind smile.

"I do hate to interrupt," Strange started, regret lacing into his tone. "It seems I underestimated Jarvis once again. Sorry about that."

"You know I enjoy a challenge Doctor," Jarvis said cheekily.

"Yes and yet again you have won," Strange laughed lightly. "Yes, there isn't a need to worry. Tony is with me."

"Can we see him?" Steve asked.

"Unfortunately, Captain, I don't think that's a good idea at the moment," Strange replied.

"Why not?" Natasha questioned coldly.

Strange turned his cool gaze to her. "Tony is in a sort of sleep right now," he said slowly, as though talking to a child. Natasha bristled and almost snarled at the man, but bit the inside of her cheek as he continued. "I suppose I should explain. You are his team after all and I'm sure you are all very concerned for his wellbeing."

Steve seemed to shrink in his seat, shame coloring his face as he looked up at the screen with a kicked puppy look.

"Yes, Anthony agreed to allow me to perform the spell," Strange said evenly. "I came to him sometime after one of your more… difficult missions. I'm sure you all remember helping the Fantastic Four with their latest confrontation with Doom and his army of bots. There was a bit of a… spat afterward which I'm sure took SHIELD some work to keep out of the news."

Most of the team paused and seemed to shuffle a bit. Thor, Clint, and Steve looked sheepish while Natasha retained her blank face. Coulson's features morphed into a disappointed frown as Pepper looked around at all of them confused. That had been the night Tony came back to the tower alone and more closed off than she had seen in a long time. She looked to Bruce and became a bit more worried at the stink eye he was throwing around.

"I met with him that night and gave my proposal, but he refused me. I came to him again after your last mission. I didn't even have to say anything to him. He asked me to perform the spell," Strange offered his own sheepish smile. "However, he thought only he would see it. He thought he would watch to find out where he went wrong. I… left out that I would be making you watch it as well,"

"Steven!" Pepper exclaimed, turning sharp eyes toward the screen.

Strange raised his hands hastily in a gesture of surrender. "This is necessary Pepper," he defended himself. "This team never would have realized what they had until they destroyed it."

"You seem to think Stark offers something other than the obvious," Natasha said.

"Depends on what you think is obvious," Strange returned, leveling cool blue eyes on her.

"Tech support,"

Pepper turned burning eyes to the woman she had considered a friend for some time. What was making her act so hostile now? Bruce clutched his coffee cup a bit firmer. He felt Hulk stir under his skin, brushing against his mind strong and raging.

Strange's lips pulled into an almost pitying smile. "I do hope you learn something," he said. "You won't be seeing Tony until you have. Good bye, Pepper,"

He nodded to her before the screen returned to where it had been paused. There was silence for a moment before Pepper turned slowly toward Natasha.

"Tech Support?" the redhead asked slowly, almost with a growl. "That's what you think?"

"We all bring talents to the table. Some of us bring many. The only things Stark offers this team that we don't already have is funding and tech support," Natasha replied.

"Friend Stark brings more then this," Thor protested.

"And what's that?" Widow questioned, eyeing the blond.

"He offers me a home and family away from Asgard," Thor said passionately.

There was a moment of silence after his proclamation.

And Steve had to wonder… It was true. Tony had offered his home to them. Invited them into his space and gave them their own rooms. Their own floors! He gave them somewhere to go other then a SHIELD headquarter. If they wanted or needed something they would have it before the day was over. If they were hurt he tried his best to help (even if he didn't). But somehow they didn't see this. They didn't see what the man was doing for them. They still didn't. But they would learn because they didn't have a choice in the matter now. They would be learning hard truths and a man's secrets would be laid out before them and they would have to decide how they felt. They couldn't look through fogged glasses anymore.

Natasha crossed her arms across her chest. An even look still on her face. They didn't know Stark like she did. The time she spent undercover as his assistant had been awful. She would rather be in a situation like Budapest again. She knew people. She could read them easily. Stark had been exactly what she thought he would be. A shallow, narcissistic, careless man who got through life pretend. Stark didn't offer family. Sure he offered them rooms (personalized floors) but definitely not family. Family was built and effort was needed. Stark only put effort into his machines. The team would see what she had seen in time. They would know then why she thought the way she did.

Thor nodded to himself slightly as he said those words. Friend Stark did offer him a home away from home. And a second family. He also said he could have his Lady Jane over anytime! And he would let Thor into his shop to sit on the beat up leather couch to talk about his brother, father and mother. No one he knew in this realm other then Tony would be so at ease when talking about Loki. Everyone always looked uncomfortable when he spoke about him except Tony so he stopped trying with anyone else. And Tony seemed just as excited to talk about Asgard (especially when Thor told him about their technology and magic) as Thor was to talk about Midgurd and their strange customs. Thor had told tales of his life to Tony and Tony listened, but he didn't usually share his own. So Thor was excited to learn about his 'family', but a smaller part also felt a bit guilty. If Tony had wanted to share with him he would have.

Clint was nervous. He and Tony had built an awkward, weak bromance over time and he was concerned that this would change everything. If it did change he hoped with everything he had that it would be for the better. He didn't understand Nat's attitude. Sure she had never been Stark's number one supporter. They usually seemed to avoid each other majority of the time which was pretty easy seeing as Stark spent most of his time in his workshop. He had assumed by the way she had talked about him, he would make slides at her (or any of them honestly with what she said… but he was married and very faithful to his wife…). However, he remained noticeably distant with her compared to everyone else. He knew the man didn't deserve the tech support shot and had to agree with Thor. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so comfortable and free when he had settled into his room at the tower. He himself thought Stark brought the glue that kept them together.

Bruce's smile was still slightly tight when he directed it at Thor. He didn't understand what Natasha held against Tony to make her act like this, though he supposed they would learn at some point. He did appreciate Steve's turn around. It seemed the man was trying to keep his mind open now and was trying to learn about Tony. For what reason Bruce couldn't say, but he hoped. He wasn't sure they all knew what Tony had done for them. Honestly, Bruce wasn't sure he knew everything just yet…