Thank you for all of the reviews guys!

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers or Iron Man.

Summary: NEST contact Tony Stark, who comes to help them take down the Decepticons. He brings Pepper and Rhodey along with him. Set after Revenge of The Fallen, and after the first Iron Man film.

Warnings: There may be bad language and hints of slash in later chapters, though nothing explicit.

Co-operation

Chapter 11:

Tony's eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright. He checked the clock on the nightstand. The numbers read: 03:47. He was disappointed to find he had only been asleep an hour, but he needed to find someone now. He knew what the Decepticons were after in the Arctic. Someone had to be awake. He climbed out of bed and grabbed his jeans and a shirt, dressing as he left the room.

He headed down to the Autobot hangar – one of them would be able to help him. Tony walked into the hangar and walked over to the topkick that he recognised as Ironhide. He knew Ironhide better than he did the rest of the Autobots, and talking with Optimus Prime seemed a bit... daunting. Tony tapped on the hood and the topkick lights came on as it transformed.

"You better have a good reason about waking me from my recharge." Ironhide grumbled.

"Ironhide, I need to talk to you about the Decepticons." Tony hissed. "I think I know what they were after in the Arctic. In that file I was given to read – the one that I skimmed over – it said something about Megatron crashing in the Arctic, right? Where we went – was that near where Megatron crashed?"

"Yes, it was." Ironhide said. "And I can say that your Research Station was built almost directly on top of the site where Megatron crashed. Why?"

"We built the Research Station there because there was a raw element nearby that we had never seen before on Earth." Tony explained. "The element is used in arc-reactor technology. Without it, we would be unable to make the technology work. The Decepticons are looking for energy sources, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"What if they're looking for this element." Tony said. "What if they need it. They can access pretty much anything they want, as long it's on a computer mainframe, right?"

"Correct."

"Then it's likely they've hacked into the Stark network and discovered that we've used what they're looking for in our arc-reactor tech – which is an energy source. It stops the shrapnel getting to my heart and I used to have a giant one powering my factory, but that one exploded. Now I've got a more powerful one back home." Tony said. "That would mean that they're going to go to the States, to Stark Industries and they're going to take my tech."

"It seems possible." Ironhide agreed.

"Cybertonium." Optimus announced. Tony and Ironhide looked up at him. "Cybertonium is the element you are talking about, and I think you may be right. We need to talk to Morshower."

"Optimus, it's like... four in the morning." Tony said. "Morshower is probably in bed asleep. So is everyone else who works here. We're not going to be able to tell anyone until shift change – and God knows when that will be here. They don't exactly run like a normal military base."

"What are we going to do?" Optimus asked.

"We'll give it an hour and then we'll go to NEST High Command." Tony replied. "I need to take care of a few things anyway."

xXx

"Okay, Happy. If I'm right and they get there I need you to buy some time." Tony instructed, pacing up and down the small office. "I'm going to get there as soon as I can, but it's not going to be quick enough."

"Yes sir. What do you need me to do?" Happy asked down the phone.

"Remember that turret grid system we were setting up?"

"Which one?"

"The one that used arc-reactor technology, and was basically a giant uni-beam."

"Oh, that one." Happy said. "What about it?"

"Override Jarvis and set up the grid. Keep the turrets running and set them to fire at anything with this signature." Tony said. "I'm sending you the data now." He turned to Glen, who was sitting slumped in the chair in front of the computer, asleep. "GLEN!"

Maggie walked over to Glen and hit him over the back of the head with a rolled up newspaper.

"Huh? What?" Glen asked, sitting bolt upright. "What happened?"

"Send Happy the data." Tony said.

"Oh yeah, sorry." Glen said.

"Are you receiving?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, we're getting it." Happy replied.

"Good." Tony said and hung up the phone. He nodded at Glen. "By the way, can I have one of those doughnuts?" He pointed to the box on Glen's desk.

"NO!" Glen snapped and pulled the box away, stashing it in one of his desk drawers. "You woke me up at four in the morning... FOUR IN THE MORNING.You do not get any doughnuts for that. This time shouldn't even exist... EVER."

"I'll remember that for next time." Tony said bluntly. "Tell me if there are any problems. I have another stop to make."

"I'll look for Morshower for you." Maggie said.

xXx

"Damn it Rhodey..." Tony slammed his fist down on the railings of the hospital bed that Rhodey was in. The only other sounds in the room were the beeping of the various machines and the sound of Rhodey's gentle breathing. "I think I know what these things are after. They're going to my house Rhodey. They're going to destroy it, all because I have some element they want. I've used this element in all of my arc-reactor tech. It's even in my heart. I'm going to get them, Rhodey. I'm gonna take them down, for you. If you can hear me right now, I want you to know that I'm going to do everything I can to avenge you if you never wake up. I won't rest until all of their heads are hung up on the wall in my lab. If you never wake up, I'm going to fall apart. You've always been there, Rhodey. I need you to wake up."

"Tony..." Maggie barged into the room. "Morshower's in his office. You need to go and see him now."

"Okay." Tony said. "I'll be right outside." He turned back to Rhodey, and Maggie went to wait for him outside. "I'm going to get them Rhodey. I damn well hope you're awake when I get back."

xXx

"What do you mean?" Morshower asked.

"The Decepticons are after my tech." Tony replied. "I used some sort of element they need... it must've been brought to Earth when Megatron crashed. I've never seen anything like it. It helps to power all of my arc-reactor technology. I think the Decepticons are heading to Stark Industries. They must've found out about it from the internet or something."

"So what's your plan, Tony?"

"I want to take a small unit of NEST troops to Stark Industries." Tony explained. "I've already called back home and I've got Jarvis and Happy – one of my bodyguards – setting up a gun turret system. It operates in the same way as my repulsors and I'm hoping if the Decepticons do show up early the turrets will be able to hold them off until we can get there. Come on, Morshower! Give me permission to take some troops and some Autobots! I know I'm right!"

"I have no doubt that you are, Tony." Morshower said. "But you were meant to be returning to the States because of all the problems you've caused in the field and here."

"And I will be going home." Tony said. "... I'll just be accompanied by a bunch of soldiers and homicidal robots."

"I guess so..." Morshower sighed. "Alright, Tony. But Lennox will be taking charge of this operation. You will follow his orders and co-operate with him."

"Of course." Tony said. "But... I have a better idea."

"What?" Morshower asked, dreading the answer he was going to get.

"Why don't you let me take joint-command of this operation?"

xXx

"Be careful." Pepper said, brushing some invisible dirt off Tony's combat gear. "Make sure you don't do anything stupid – stick with Lennox and don't get too hot-headed. You're meant to have joint-command. You should still listen to him."

"I know, mom." Tony grinned.

"And make sure that everyone at Stark Industries is safe." Pepper said. "Make sure Happy doesn't get hurt doing something completely stupid to protect you."

"Pepper." Tony gripped her shoulders. "I'll be fine. I won't let anyone get hurt. Afterwards, I'll be straight back here to bring you home, and hopefully Rhodey too."

"Do you promise?" Pepper asked.

"I promise." Tony replied. "We'll all go home after this – me, you and Rhodey."

"Okay." She said. "Be careful."

"I will." Tony reassured her. "You be careful too. Even though I threatened him and blew up his car, Galloway still might come back to bother you."

"I still can't believe you did that." Pepper shook her head. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"See you soon." Tony stepped away from her and blew her a kiss. Pepper blushed and looked at the ground. Tony headed towards the parked C-17. "Hey Lennox! Let's get out of here!"

xXx

Pepper walked into the medical suite and walked over to the desk. One of the nurses was on the phone, and she pointed to the room that Rhodey was in, showing that there was a doctor in there. Pepper nodded and sat down to wait for the doctor to come out. She noticed Maggie and Glen walking past her, both of them looking delighted and holding hands.

"Maggie? Glen?" Pepper asked. She stood up and walked over to them. "What are you two doing here?"

"Pepper!" Maggie squealed and walked over to her. "Oh my gosh! We have to tell you the good news!"

"What is it?" Pepper asked.

"Maggie's pregnant!" Glen announced. "We just went to get her checked out because she hasn't been feeling too great recently! Pepper – I'm gonna be a daddy!"

"You... and Maggie? Oh! Oh! Oh my gosh congratulations!" Pepper said, hugging them both in turn. "I didn't realise that you two were together!"

"It's not really something we broadcast..." Maggie said, glancing at Glen, who was rummaging in his pocket. "Even though we are together, we're just like good mates really. We always have been."

"But that's gonna all change now!" Glen said. He went down on one knee and pulled a small blue box out of his pocket. "Maggie Madsen, I love you. I always have loved you. And I am not gonna let you have this baby without doing it properly. Maggie, will you marry me?"

"I... I..." Maggie just stood and gaped at him for a few minutes. "... Yes!" Glen slid the ring onto her finger, then jumped to his feet and pulled her into his arms. Maggie kissed his forcefully, and broke away gasping for air. Pepper cheered and grinned at them both, hugging them both in turn again. She noticed the doctor had left Rhodey's room.

"Could you two excuse me?" Pepper asked.

"Of course." Maggie smiled. "Join us at the bar if you feel like it. We're going to celebrate!"

Pepper watched them both walk away with a smile on her face. She walked into Rhodey's room, and sat down by his bedside. Pepper wiped the tears away from her eyes and held one of his hands in both of her trembling ones.

"Rhodey... I know that this is probably going to be lost on you, seeing as you're in a coma." Pepper sniffled. "But people always say that when someone's in a coma they can hear what's going on around them. I just want to tell you that you need to wake up. If you don't, Tony's going to be lost. He needs you, Rhodey. He needs both of us. When it comes down to it, me and you are all he has. We're all he's ever going to have. Sure, he's usually surrounded by beautiful women who all want him, but deep down he's lonely. Please... just... wake up. For him. If you don't wake up, he'll destroy himself. And I can't bear to watch that."

She stayed with Rhodey for around an hour, sobbing on the hospital bed sheets. Pepper looked up at the clock and saw that she had been there for an hour. She kissed Rhodey on the cheek, stood up and left. Maggie and Glen were likely to still be at the bar. She would go and see them – they always made her feel happier. It was impossible to be depressed when they were around.

Two more chapters left. I'll be sad to see this go, but if I don't find an ending it could go on forever.

Maggie and Glen! They're so good together damn it, and I wanted to see them happy with each other.

Tell me what you think guys! I'd love to hear your comments :D

I Caught Myself