Chapter 12: Let us Out of Here

Chris:

Dad was furious when he found out what happened at the fair. We were lucky that not much was damaged. He wouldn't talk to either of us for two weeks. We had promised him that we would get along and we broke it. We let him down and I felt bad about it. Tony had to sleep in his office for those two weeks and dad slept in his old room down the hall. Both didn't sleep well without the either. Dad didn't come wake me from my nightmares anymore. Hawkeye or Jane would come to my room and wake me up. Even though he didn't wake me from mine I went and woke him up from his. All I could do was sit there and hug my dad, telling him everything was okay even though he wouldn't say a thing to me.

Pepper told me that Tony was having nightmares as well. I felt even worse. I wouldn't wish these nightmares on anyone. This was our day for two weeks. My friends at school even noticed how badly off I was. They could see the lack of sleep I was getting and how upset I was. They tried sending me to a counselor. But what was I going to tell them? Hey, my super hero dad and his fiancé are having fights and we all have nightmare caused by PTSD or unknown causes, please help? No I couldn't it was a family problem not an outside problem. But we didn't need outside help. Dad finally forgave us after weeks of begging. I about cried. I had ran up and gave him a huge hug when he finally talked to me. That night both Tony and Dad moved back into their room. I didn't sleep that night. I wanted to make sure both got a good night's sleep.

No nightmares for either of them. At least they were happy. Football season was now over and I was grateful for it. Too many of the guys on the team were trying to be more than just friends. I did not want that at all. But since my physical activities were gone I had to go back to Avengers training room. I have to admit I was getting pretty good at this Superhero stuff. I had completed the first forty levels and I was working also on some more gymnastics. I was getting more flexible and stronger than ever. I was also enjoying the saving the fake people thing.

It gave me something to be proud of. But they were just fake people nothing more nothing less. I was also getting super bored of it. Even if I did fail they weren't real I could just restart just like a game. Maybe I should try to do something more. Maybe I should ask dad to let me try out for the Avengers. Before I could finish my thought I heard the door open. I spun around quickly and shot an arrow at the unsuspecting Avenger. I looked back and realized I only hit the apple that Mr. Barton had brought me for a snack.

"Hey watch it, you are dangerous with pointy sticks." He joked.

I laughed.

"Sorry Mr. Barton thought I would just give someone a scare today."

He smiled.

"Well, you are doing better at shooting that thing I can say that much, and it's Clint."

"Sorry," I said grabbing my apple and took a bite from it.

"So can you take a break for a little bit?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes and laughed.

"Maybe I can miss five minutes of my workout."

We sat on the bench.

"So what's up?"

"Your dad he wants to see you in Tony's office."

"Really, well thanks for the message I will go see him."

I got up but was stopped when I felt him grab my arm.

"Chris, I….."
I looked him in the eyes. Is he drunk again?

"Clint are you drunk again?"

He blushed.

"Yes, but that's not the point just wanted to say…. Have fun."

I smiled.

"I will try and if you remember what you were really going to tell me come find me and we will talk okay?"

He nodded as I ran off to Tony's office. I went down the elevator. I rounded the corner and went into his room. I heard the door lock behind me. I looked around and found only Tony in here. What's going on?

"Hey, where's dad?"

He smirked.

"I think we've been tricked, here."

I cursed. How did I not see this coming?

Steve

I forgave them after a few weeks but not for the reason they think. They need to be able to get along with each other. They are not going to get along on their own so I need to do something about it.

"Jarvis, lock them both in as soon as they both get there."

"Sir are you sure this is a good idea?"
I nodded.

"It will be good for them to get along so do it and don't let them out."

He didn't fight back just did what I said. I watched the screen as Chris walked into the room. I heard the door lock and both of them talking.

"Hey, guys." I said over the overcome.

They looked around and tried to find where the noise was coming from. I turned on the screen. They both looked toward my face.

"Steve let us out of here."

"Dad please let us out."

I glared.

"Not until you guys start to get along."

They both looked at each other and then at me but I was already gone.

"Steve open the damn door." Tony yelled.

But I didn't respond. They needed to talk to each other. So I sat there watching. But all they did was sit in opposite corners. I needed to give them a reason to get along. I turned on the over com again.

"Remember Thanksgiving tomorrow, I will leave you guys in here."

"So we will miss dinner what's so bad about that?" Tony yelled out.

But I saw Chris's face. She was my daughter and the thought of missing out on food put a look of desperation on her face.

"Tony maybe we should try getting along, I don't want to miss Thanksgiving with the family."

He sneered.

"Oh come on there are frozen burritos in the fridge we can just have those."

But she didn't look up to frozen burritos.

"Also Tony I will leave you in for Black Friday."

I saw a spark of interest. He turned towards me.

"You wouldn't dare." He growled.

"I would."

I turned off the intercom as soon as he was about to yell at me. I left the room. I needed to leave them alone for a little bit. But I thought on what Jarvis said. Was it a good idea? Both were known to have bad nightmares. I didn't even comfort Chris when she had her nightmares. I was caught up in my silent treatment. I would run to her room but stop right in front of the door. I would think on opening the door and hug her. Tell the frightened girl that everything would be okay. But I would just move to the side and let Clint or Jane take care of her. A bad father was all I was during that period. To make it worst she would come to me during my nightmare and I wouldn't say a single word to her.

Not even to mention what Tony probably went through. His nightmares were just as bad as mine, maybe even worse. The first few months I moved into his room he would yell out in the night, three maybe even four times a night. But we would always be together to calm the other down, to make sure that we were okay, and to show that we loved each other and would desert the other. Maybe I was wrong. Did I go about this all wrong? What am I thinking? There are many other solutions to something like this. Maybe counseling, therapy, but locking them in a room together, isn't that a little brutal. I kept walking thinking in my head and found myself right in front of Tony's office.

Looking down at the door handle a sudden urge welled up inside. It was strong and powerful. Guilt and shame washed over me as my hand reached for the door handle. My hand was on the knob when I heard yelling and a chair hit the bullet proof glass. My hand receded and I walked away. All thoughts of opening that door flew out the window. Maybe I was right this time, just maybe.

Tony

"Ugh, Steve let us out of here now; Jarvis open the freaking door now!"

"I'm sorry sir, I can't do that, Mr. Rogers has told me not to open the door for anyone at this moment and time, only he can set you free."

I slammed my fist into the wall and immediately regretted doing so. Chris smirked and let out a short chuckle.

"Oh shut up, we all know this is all your fault."

That stuck her face in a frown.

"No it isn't you were the one who pranked me first at the fair grounds."

"Well, you're the one who took my suit and took it on a joy ride!"

"Yah, well you pulled countless pranks on me as soon as I got here!"

"Well, you were the one who set the mood for our relationship by being rude at the hospital!"

"YAH WELL YOU WOULDN'T EVEN LET ME SEE MY DAD IN THE FIRST PLACE!" she screamed picking up a chair and slinging it at me.

I ducked and the chair hit the bullet proof glass.

"Dammit," she muttered under her breath.

She grabbed another and sat down in it. I sat on the couch. We stayed silent before she got up and wandered towards the garage.

"Hey do you think he left it open?"

I shrugged my shoulders. She grabbed the door and a clicking noise echoed through the room. She opened the door and disappeared in the room. I heard the sound of an engine and she drove her motorcycle into the work shop. She parked the vehicle and opened her seat up. Inside was a tool box. She closed the secret seat compartment and got to work on the vehicle. She seemed pretty good with tools. But I couldn't figure out what she was doing. I walked over and sat behind her looking at her work. She paid no mind to me as she continued to work. When it seemed like she was finished she packed everything back up.

She sat back on and turned on the engine. It was a beautiful engine. Probably put good time into the beauty.

"You're very good with tools."

In shock she turned to me.

"Thanks, I learned from my fake dad, he's really good with tools."

I looked down at the motorcycle again. It looked like it hadn't had a good paint job in few years, it was all faded.

"Hey, do you want to repaint her?"

She looked back and then down at her baby. She nodded. I walked over to a cabinet and pulled out some paint. I handed her a can and we got to work spraying her down, making sure she didn't get any on the leather seat. As I looked at her bike I realized it looked a lot like Steve's. I didn't realize till now how truly alike they are.

"So why did you really want to find your dad anyways?"

She looked a little ashamed.

"At first I just wanted him to give the army proof that he was my true father so I would be eligible to join the army, I was wanted to join since I was little, ya know saving people."

"My other parents thought I would be too thin and weak to ever do it, but were proud when I met the requirements, but back on track as I searched I became more and more curious about who I really belonged too, so when I found you guys I was thrilled."

I nodded.

"But?"

"But when I saw how loving he was and how much he cherished me and everyone here, I lost the courage to ask, so I stayed here despite obvious reasons, and I have felt more at home here than anywhere else."

I could tell she was telling the truth. The sincerity in her eyes made me feel bad for her.

"Now that you asked that what about you, why did you try so hard to keep me away?"

I laughed.

"You can tell I love your father right?"

She nodded.

"Well, I thought you were some prankster at first, but then I got to thinking what if you were telling the truth, if you were alive I thought maybe Peggy was too and that he would leave me for her."

She burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" I growled.

She stopped just long enough to tell me.

"My dad loves you too much, you gave him something that my mom could never give him, the way he looks at you is more intense than he ever looked at my mother."

I was shocked.

"In old pictures, in the way he talks about her, even when she was on her death bed he looks at you every day with more passion and love than he ever did with my mother."

I paused for a moment.

"You really think so?"

"Think so, I know so, just don't screw it up." She chuckled and winked at me.

I smiled and chuckled with her.

"I'll try not to do that."

We sat on the floor, talking and laughing. Sharing stories with each other, she's smarter than she looks, one thing she didn't get from her dad. But her passion and her laughter was Steve's. We finished painting and she set the motorcycle somewhere to dry. She looked me in the eyes and held out her hand.

"Truce?"

I smiled and shook her hand.

"Truce."