Chapter 8: Doing What's Best
Brigid held tight to her father on the overly long plane ride back to New York. She was in disbelief and glad that he was finally with her again. Yet she could not find words to say to him. All she could do was hold his hand as if he would disappear if she let go. Brigid was exhausted, she had not slept in days, her hair was stringy and greasy. She had dark circles under her eyes. She had lost weight since the journey. Yet she would not let go of Tony's hand. She was afraid he would disappear if she did. She had been to hell and back, and she would be damned if she would let go of her father again.
"You know, you've been squeezing my hand pretty hard and yet you haven't said a word this whole time," Tony commented, touched by her devotion . "Cat got your tongue, kid?"
Brigid let out a dry, low chuckle, at a loss for what to say. "I...I just thought about you so much and I thought I would have a million things to say, but now I'm lost."
"Well, we got time now," Tony replied. "Let's start with Pepper. You know she's gonna be pissed at you, right?"
"Well, Virginia Potts is not my mother and I am legally an adult," Brigid scoffed tiredly.
"Right and right, but you're still on my taxes, kid, and I handed over the reins to Happy and Pepper so they'll still be pissed at you, " Tony shot back instantly.
"Actually, she lost me so isn't that her fault?" Brigid questioned.
"Not when you're the little yutz who stole the BMW and ran away!" Tony quipped. "By the way, really, the BMW? Why the BMW?"
Brigid smiled mischievously. "I like the leg room."
"Okay, no luxury vehicles for you for a week. That's your penalty," Tony declared.
"You really suck," Brigid said sourly.
"Yeah, well, you may be eighteen, but I'm still your father," Tony laughed. "By the way, why are you even here? What were you thinking?"
Brigid thought a long moment before she spoke. "I know you don't give a damn, but I saw you disappear in my dreams. I don't know if it was real, but I wouldn't let it be. I already lost my parents because I know what I saw and did nothing. I couldn't let that happen again."
Tony held her close. "I don't believe in dreams, but I believe you. And if I could have done that for my parents, I would have done the same thing."
"You lost your parents?" Brigid asked.
"Yeah, they died in a car crash too," Tony replied sadly. "And if sucks because I didn't tell them what I should have. And if I had known what would happen, I would've done anything to stop it. I don't like you risking your life, but I understand why you did."
Brigid smiled and hugged her father, her smile widening. "I really missed you, Papa."
"Me too, Little Leprechaun. Me too," Tony replied, wearing a broader smile than hers.
As Brigid hugged her father, she noticed something shining in his chest. "Father, what is that? What happened?"
Tony briefly touched his chest, feeling the shrapnel inch closer to his heart and yet lucky to be alive. He was terrified of this piece of him, yet with his daughter by his side, he felt at peace after all the suffering he endured. "It's called an arc reactor. I took some shrapnel and this helps keep it away from my heart."
"How did you escape?" Brigid asked, growing more interested and fearful about her father's safety. "You were kidnapped."
Tony thought for a moment, considering what to tell his daughter. "Well, let's just say I made a bomb and absolutely scared the hell out of those guys."
Brigid smiled. "Never mess with a Stark."
"That is very true. Now you should get some sleep. We still got a long way of flight and you will get an earful from Pepper when we get back," Tony told her.
"Oh joy," Brigid sighed as she nodded off to sleep.
After a grueling three day journey and many detours, the jet landed in New York. Tony, wearing a crisp new suit and his arm was bound in a sling as he walked down the tarmac. Brigid was glued to his side and Rhodey gingerly helped him down the ramp. Waiting for them at the end of the tarmac was a red-eyed and smiling Pepper.
Brigid smiled cheekily at her. "I know what you're gonna say. I'm in trouble."
"Big trouble, missy! Are you out of your god d* mind?" Pepper snapped. "I was so worried about you and you just took off! You are not getting any car for a week! But I'm glad you're back."
Pepper tearfully eyed Tony and Brigid. The two people whom caused her so much anxiety were finally back. Yet while they were gone she suffered anxiety all the same. She was angry at Brigid for leaving and potentially getting into more trouble. Yet she was glad that Brigid and Rhodey managed to come back with Tony, safe. Most of all, she was glad Brigid had her father back. She welcomed back any chaos they could bring.
"Your eyes are red," Tony noticed. "A few tears for your long-lost boss?"
"Certainly ," Pepper laughed sardonically, her voice weary. "I hate job hunting and babysitting. We're gonna lock that kid in her room, right?"
"Already taken care of. She's grounded," Tony quipped.
"You're a pain in the a*. That's where she gets it," Pepper said with a grin. "But I can't imagine my life without pain."
"Good because I'm just getting started," Tony replied.
Tony, Brigid, and Pepper stepped into the car driven by Happy.
"Where to, Sir?" Happy asked.
"Take us to the hospital," Pepper and Brigid said together.
"No," Tony said firmly.
Brigid did a double take. "Papa, you've been wandering the desert, starved, dehydrated, tortured, and from the looks of it, put through some high speed trauma . You at least need some help. "
"No is a complete answer," Tony said firmly. "I don't need to do anything. I was in captivity for three months. There are two things I want to do. I want an American cheeseburger, and the other…"
Brigid's face crumpled in disgust as she realized her dad's words. "Papa!"
"That's enough of that," Pepper declared.
"It's not what you think. I want you to call for a press conference now," Tony ordered.
"Press conference? What on Earth for?" Pepper questioned.
Brigid was curious and fearful about her father's intentions, but she stood by him. She was not afraid to boss others around if it meant standing by her father. "You heard my father. Press conference."
"That's my daughter. She knows who she is," Tony said proudly. "Hogan, drive, cheeseburger first."
Before Brigid could think they were in a Burger King drive thru. So many thoughts raced through her mind. What prompted her father's sudden need for a press conference? Why now after he had been kidnapped and tortured? Brigid was curious and yet she was not about to undermine her father's request.
"Papa, are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "What are you doing?"
"Something that I have to do, sweetie," Tony replied.
"What happened to you over there?I know you were kidnapped but it sounds worse. Were you in a cult?" Brigid tried to jest, growing more interested and anxious.
Tony chuckled, exhausted but relieved. "My daughter, always looking out for me."
"What happened?" Brigid pressed him further.
Tony thought of what to tell his daughter before he spoke again. "I was so blind before. Now it's time to show the world what I see."
"Sounds like you were in a cult," Brigid responded.
"No cults involved. You know no one can tell your father anything and I don't play with others," Tony replied.
"That I did know," Brigid acknowledged. "But why this? Why now?"
"All you need to know is something happened over there and things need to change before they get worse," Tony answered.
Brigid kept those grim words from her father in her mind . What was it he saw over there? Why this sudden change of heart? Before she could further contemplate these thoughts they arrived at Stark Industries and were met by none other than Obediah Stane.
"Hello, Obie," Tony greeted.
"Tony, you had to stop for a cheeseburger," Obediah laughed. "Did you get me one of those?"
"No, there was only one left," Tony said quickly.
Obediah turned his attention to Brigid. "Look at this lovely young lady. This can't be the little girl you adopted? The Princess of Stark Industries?"
"Princess Brigid, yes. Hello, you Usurping A*hole!" Brigid greeted coldly. "I've heard a lot about you. I heard how you stole my father's place in his company. "
"And now your daddy's back to take care of it, sweet pea," Obediah replied.
"Don't call me sweet pea, Baldy," Brigid said coldly.
Sickened, Brigid rolled her eyes at the thought of being called sweet pea like a child. She was eighteen years old and people were still talking down to her. Worst of all it was a man who stole what her father built. Brigid disregarded these thoughts as she listened to her father speak.
"I never got to say goodbye to my father," Tony began. "I would have asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted, if he ever had any doubts. Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels. I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend and protect them. And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability."
"Mr Stark, what happened over there?" asked a reporter.
"I had my eyes opened," Tony answered. "I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just making things blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company will be."
At that moment all of the press and photographers clamored as Obediah stepped up to the podium to answer more questions.
Brigid smiled at her father as they walked back to the car. "Tony Stark, changing the world. I guess you're a hero now."
"No, just a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist," Tony answered.
"You forgot 'father' and father is more than enough," Brigid said proudly.
Tony smiled. "I got some things to take care of with Obie. I'll meet you back at home. And don't go anywhere. You're grounded, princess. "
Brigid yawned and then she dryly chuckled,dark circles rimmed her eyes yet a broad smile decorated her face. "You really know how to kill the mood," she groaned, laughing in spite of herself. "You know, other kids would hate their dad for grounding them, but I guess that's on me."
For Brigid, finding her father was worth the consequences. If she had to walk through Hell to find him she would have done so. She would have done it again to have him by her side again.
"Ah, you're catching on," Tony laughed.
"You didn't let me finish," Brigid snapped, before her voice became soft and wistful. "Other kids would hate you, but I just spent three months without you. I can't be too mad. Just promise you'll come back."
Tony offered his pinky finger and Brigid linked hers in his. "Promise, kid. If you promise not to do anything foolish."
"Deal," Brigid promised. Brigid could finally breathe again. After months of torment and uncertainty, there was only peace.
After a tediously grueling week, Brigid spent another long night in her room when she heard a commotion.
This could be interesting, she thought.
Brigid crept out of her room and down to the labs where she heard Tony and Pepper in a fierce argument.
"You nearly died and now you want to party?" Pepper demanded, her voice cracking with exasperation and concern for Tony's mental state.
Tony was as cool as a cucumber as he lounged in his seat. "I spent 3 months as a prisoner, so I intend to enjoy myself."
Pepper shook her head as her eyes bulged. "You're gonna get yourself killed."
Before they could argue any further, Jarvis interrupted them. "Sir, if I may interrupt-"
Tony sighed before Jarvis could say another word. "You know, you shouldn't spy on people."
Brigid smirked. "Then I should have been adopted by a different family."
Brigid's eye fell on a preserved arc reactor inscribed with the words Proof That Tony Stark Has a Heart. This was her father's gift after three months of imprisonment. If he was going to risk his life, she would protect him.
"So you're gonna go to a party? Where's my dress?" Brigid asked. She wasn't about to let her father go anywhere without her after three months without him.
"You are grounded," Tony reminded her. "Why are you so interested?"
Brigid wore dark circles under her eyes and tried to catch her breath. She still had not slept well and now her father would be the death of her or himself due to his recklessness. She gave herself permission to be angry with him.
"In case you forgot, I am the Princess of Stark Industries, and I'm not gonna sit here while you risk your life while there's people who want to kill you!" Brigid shouted, her voice firm yet she was shaking. "You may think this is all games, but I don't." So like it or not, I'm going."
Tony thought for a long moment before he spoke. He looked at the two women before him, and realized he was outnumbered two to one. "Why don't you and Pepper go and get a pretty dress to wear tonight?" Tony asked.
"You know, I would prefer a car," Brigid replied.
"I know," Tony answered "But either this or you can be locked up with Jarvis all day".
"I love you, Papa," Brigid said, feigning a grin, tone immediately dropping into 'good girl' tone. "This is gonna be awesome!"
The following afternoon, Tony and Brigid arrived at a gallery in a limo. Brigid wore a navy blue satin backless cocktail dress with matching sapphire drop earrings and a heart shaped necklace. She felt like a true princess as she and her father stepped out of their limo. Tony could not believe the sight of his daughter in her satin dress and heels. He had forgotten in the three months that she was a woman now. Looking at his daughter now, he knew she was not the little girl he adopted and his breath caught in his throat.
"You look so...grown up," Tony breathed, looking once more at his grown daughter. It was much for Tony to take that his daughter had grown so much. He was floored. "Did Pepper pick out that dress?"
"I did," Brigid said. "And I feel fabulous. She and I knew blue was your favorite."
"Did you now?" Tony said. "I think you made an excellent choice. You do look fabulous because you're my daughter, but any guy who looks at you has to go through me. "
Brigid was in no mood to be protected when it was her father being reckless. She was frustrated but she kept it lighthearted. "Pepper told me to protect you tonight," Brigid said.
"She did?" Tony asked. "From what?"
"She said the press would eat you alive," Brigid replied.
Tony chuckled. "Well, with you, I think I'm very safe."
Tony and Brigid headed for the bar and he helped Brigid onto a stool. "A coke for the little lady and gimme a Scotch. I'm starving."
A man with light brown hair in a black suit and tie approached Tony. "Mr. Stark. Agent Coulson."
"Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, the guy from the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division. Whew! You gotta get a new name for that!" Tony said, sipping his Scotch.
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Coulson said.
Brigid loudly sipped her Cola and gave Coulson a sideways glance. "Are you a spy?"
"You must be Brigid Stark, Princess of Stark Industries," Coulson said wisely.
"You look like a spy," Brigid commented. "And I don't like when people stick their noses here it doesn't belong. So, what do you want with my father?"
"Brigid, I think that's enough Cola. Why don't you go raid the dessert table, sweetie?" Tony said before turning back to Coulson. "I couldn't get a sitter."
Brigid, Cola in hand, swerved and twirled her way to the dessert table. The table was filled with shooters and cakes as well as chocolate strawberries. Brigid never took her eyes off Tony as she sat at the table, delicately chewing on chocolate strawberries. She intently watched him go from talking to Definitely-A-Spy Coulson to a blonde reporter, and her gaze hardened. From across the table she knew something was wrong.Her father's face changed from his "Press, Must Feed the Paps" to "I'm Not Going to HIde How Pissed Off You Made Me" smile and she was ready to jump up and insert herself into the situation. . She glided closer, holding her glass of soda like it was high priced wine, and nonchalantly idled up closer to better hear the conversation. What she discerned was "Gulmira" and "destruction." Before she knew it, Tony stormed off from the woman, visibly angry and distressed.
"Brigid, we're leaving," Tony said, tone and body language exhibiting stress and tension and anger.
"Papa, what did that lady want? Why was she throwing pictures at you?" Brigid asked, knowing something was not right. "What was she talking about Gulmira? What happened?"
"Brigid, it's not your business," Tony argued.
"Bull, it's not my business," Brigid countered, her voice cracking in near outrage . "You disappear for three months and now some damn journalist is making claims against you. And you reacted as if she was suing you for control of SI. I'll be damned if anyone tries to hurt you again." Her voice broke with how upset and stressed she was. She just got him back. She was allowed to be protective.
Tony rolled his eyes tiredly, glancing over his daughter and watching how emotionally escalated she got in mere seconds.. "Why do you want to know so bad?"
"Because you're my father and the only person I have left. So anyone who goes after you has to go after me," Brigid declared, her voice firm and resolute.
Tony was touched yet troubled. "You're a kid. My kid. What do you plan to do about anyone threatening me?"
"Easy. Stop them. I'm the Princess of Stark Industries. Anyone who deals with me has to deal with you, but I can take care of myself. I have been for the last three months and you taught me well. Also it is handy to have an annoying ball of wires to guide me," Brigid snarked, her eyes flashing with a confident smile. "So, do you have any idea who it is?"
Just then, Obediah came rushing after Tony. "Tony! Tony, where are you going? The party just started and the main feature can't just leave after only an hour! You're the guest of honor!"
"Obediah, we need to talk. Have you seen these photos? What's going on in Gulmira?" Tony questioned, taking him aside to speak in a hushed voice.
"Tony, I don't know what you're talking about," Obediah said, taking a glance of the pictures and fumbling slightly as he saw the SI logo on crates of weapons. .
Brigid's blood boiled as she stared, she wanted to take her dad and run. She didn't trust anyone with him right now and it was pissing her off to see him so utterly distraught. "Answer the question, Baldy. Do you know what's going on here?" Brigid asked, accusingly.
"Brigid!" Tony scolded, his face turning red.
Obediah eyed Brigid. "No, I'm trying to protect your daddy. Just like you are, sweet pea."
"Don't call me sweet pea," Brigid snarled.
Brigid glared at Obediah as Tony ushered her away to the limo, visibly shaken and trying to separate his daughter before she started a fight.
After the party, Tony was deeply disturbed by the betrayal Obediah had dealt him and he was worried what that meant for Brigid. Pepper came down to his workshop.
"Is Brigid asleep?" Tony asked.
Pepper sighed. "After much arguing, finally. Why, what's going on?"
"You busy? You mind if I send you on an errand?" Tony asked. "Go into my office, hack into the mainframe and retrieve all the recent shipping manifests."
Tony handed her what looked like a drive. "This is a lock chip. This'll get you in. It's probably under Executive Files. If not, they put it on a ghost drive. In which case, you'll need to look for the lowest numeric heading."
"And what do you plan to do with this information if I bring it to you?" Pepper asked.
"I'm going to find my weapons and destroy them," Tony said, resolute.
"Tony, you know I would help you with anything but I cannot help you if you're going to start all of this again," Pepper said.
Tony shook his head. "There is nothing but this. There is no benefit. There is nothing to sign. There is the next mission and nothing else."
Pepper stood there, knowing what she had to do next. "Oh, well then I quit."
Tony was stunned. "You stood by my side all these years while I reaped the benefits of destruction. And now that I'm trying to protect the people in harm's way you walk away?"
"You're gonna kill yourself, Tony, and I won't be a part of it," Pepper said firmly, planting her feet. "I won't because of Brigid. You're all she has. She suffered while you were gone. I love her and I won't watch you break her heart again."
"You think I want to hurt my own daughter?" Tony asked, running his hands through his hair and touching his arc reactor. "That kid has seen enough already."
Tony sank to his chair. "I shouldn't be alive unless it's for a reason. Brigid is that reason. I'm not crazy, Pepper. I just finally know what I have to do, and I know in my heart it's right."
Pepper nodded and took the chip. "You're all I have, too, you know."
Brigid wearily came downstairs to the workshop, alerted by the raised voices. "What are you guys fighting about?"
"Brigid, we weren't fighting," Tony said. "Go back to sleep, honey."
"Papa, what did Obeidah do to you?" Brigid demanded. She had seen her father was visibly distressed by the events at the gala and shaken by Obediah's dealings. She was upset to see her father so disturbed and wanted to put an end to it.
"I'm not sure, yet, sweetie, but I wouldn't worry," Tony said. "It's not for you to worry about. Leave it to me."
"You better," Brigid whispered.
Despite her father's reassurance, Brigid was not convinced. She was determined to protect her father like he did for her.
By the next afternoon, a determined Brigid snuck down to the garage and found her father's preserved arc reactor. She did not know what was happening, but she knew her father would need it . She smashed open the case and put the reactor in her pocket.
"Miss Brigid, where do you think you're going?" Jarvis questioned.
"Jarvis, you annoying bucket of bolts, do you not realize the point of sneaking out?" Brigid asked, visibly annoyed. "I don't have time to argue with you, Jarvis. If you wanna tattle on me, go ahead. But Obediah is behind something and I know it involves my father. Make yourself useful and get the police on the line and tell them to go after Obediah Stane at Stark Industries."
"And what are you going to do?" Jarvis questioned.
"I'm going to to investigating of my own," Brigid declared, a broad smile on her face, knowing what she was ready to do. "Do as I said. Get the police, get the damn CIA. Tell them to investigate Obediah."
Brigid rushed out the door and sped off to Stark Industries. She remembered her father telling Pepper to hack into a computer in his office.
Brigid showed up to the front desk. "Could you let me in to my father's office? I'm just picking up some papers for him"
Brigid flashed her father's i.d. card and the guard led her to Stane's office. Once inside, Brigid hid in a closet when she heard Pepper coming. Brigid listened and watched as Pepper played a grainy video showing Tony tied to a chair surrounded by men armed with guns. Then she heard the name "Obediah Stane."
That deceitful b, she gasped, boiling over with rage at the man who betrayed her father. I knew it.
Just then, Stane entered the room Pepper froze for a moment. Her hands were shaking. She could barely keep them from clacking against the keyboard. She could feel her eyes turning red and burning. She could feel her her breath racing as Stane casually entered the room and casually leaned against her desk.
"So what are we gonna do about this?" Stane asked.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean," Pepper replied, desperately trying to catch her breath to hide her fear.
"I know what you're going through, Pepper," Stane continued as he turned away from Pepper to help himself to a drink. Pepper's heart was racing like the ice in Obediah's glass as he prepared his drink. Obediah's smile was as cold as the bourbon he poured himself. "Tony, always going after the good stuff. I was so happy when he came home. It was like he came back from the dead. Now I realize Tony never really came back, did he? Breaks my heart."
Pepper smiled, hiding her fear. "Well, he's a complicated person. He's been through a lot, but I think he'll be alright."
Obediah sipped his drink, keeping a casual appearance. "You are a very rare woman. Tony doesn't know how lucky he is to have you and that little Princess Brigid."
"Thank you, Thanks," Pepper replied, keeping a cool exterior before she excused herself and left the room as fast as she could.
Brigid peeked through the closet and saw Stane slam the laptop in fury. When she was certain he was gone, she crept through the door.
Oh s*. I gotta warn my papa, she thought.
Brigid hastily dialed Tony's number on her phone and sent him a text. Alas, reception was dead. In great haste, Brigid raced through the office, her heart racing a mile a minute. Before she could make it any further, she was grabbed by Stane. Brigid broke out in a cold sweat and her heart jumped in her throat. Yet she was furious to see the man who took her father away from her.
"Where do you think you're going, little lady?" Stane asked unctuously.
"Away from you, d*head!" Brigid shrieked, furious at the man who had betrayed and took her father from her.
Brigid kicked Stane in the shin and then the groin before running for the elevator. Brigid raced to the elevator, thinking she had evaded her foe. She let out a sigh of relief, believing she was safe. Alas, Stane had the upper hand. Emerging from the elevator, Stane's men grabbed her and though Brigid fought with all her might, kicking and biting, she was bound and gagged with duct tape.
Obediah approached her and held her chin in his sweaty, meaty hand and said in a cool but strangled voice, his throat almost closing on his words ."You really are Tony's daughter, a true Princess of Stark Industries."
Brigid shook him off and kicked at him."Eat s*!" she cried, except with the tape muffling her speech it sounded more like, "Mmm mmm!"
"You know, I bet your daddy really loves you," Obediah said silkily. "I bet he loves you so much he'll do anything."
Brigid took a swipe at Obediah with her bound hands, fighting like a caged beast against her captor.
"You need a lesson in manners. You and your daddy," Obediah scolded "Let's go discuss him. Shall we, sweet pea?"
Obediah lifted a struggling Brigid over his shoulder. Before Brigid could blink, she was tossed in a trunk and then everything was dark.
A/N: Uh-oh! Obediah has Brigid! Can Tony rescue her? I hope you're enjoying the revamp. Please review! This is for you and would be nothing without you! Thank you!