Deshy-Alpha (IronMan) [mature content 18+ Rated M]

Her eyes flicked up to him, seeing him buttoning up his shirt. She wanted to make everything better, but had no idea how to do so. she wanted to smile at him, but the motion still would not come to her. "So I guess we'll grab a bite to eat and then leave.." She sighed sitting down on the bed, slipping on another pair of heels. She glanced over to him briefly. "Sure" she said simply. Her eyes fell to the floor, but all the same she watched him out the cornor of her eye. This was going to be the most hardest meal and journey in her life, possibly even worse to her than her fathers death. It would be the death of her no doubt. How could she even make this better, he was pissed and a little stressey she could tell that much from just the way he packed his case. It really was going to be a mission to resolve this. At seeing him walk away she got up moving over to her case and zipped it up. She headed out into the seating area finding him standing at the door. her eye swept the room for one last check, makign sure it was all in place and they hadn't left anything behind. The memory still strong in her mind.
They headed down to the lobby in silence, but that didn't mean she wasn't talking to him, she wanted to so badly, but everytime she went to say something, a part of her mind stoped all connections with her mouth, making a lump rise in her throat and cutting of her words. standing back she left him to sort everything out, just hadning over her lugage and followed key. "Bring it around front in about a half hour" Half an hour and they'd be trapped in the car together again. Though for now they were in public and had to keep eveything on the low down, there was more than liekly someone around her undercover for the press and she didn't want to give them any scope into the happenings of last night, nor would they even find out about it.
She walked next to him as he'd motioned for her to follow him to the cafe, she followed meekly, still trying to say something to him, but still no words would form in her throat, at times like this word vomit was a bitch. She'd never been the one stumped for words, always having something to say, she was a very outpsoken person. Though Tony seemed to have changed that since last night. The place was pretty much dead at this early hour of the day, just the odd elderly couples here and there, the younger; like her and Tony for instincts, where more than likely sleeping of the booze from the partying they had acumilated the night before. Having the times of their lives, but not her and Tony, they'd had a little mishap, all on her part, and he'd taken to getting drunk; on an epmty stimache, which I might add, is possibly the worse thing to do in all of history. It just dragged you down that self pittiless hole of darkness, and Tony sure as hell had been swollowed up by it many a times. All because of her.
They were free to take any table this early in the morning, breakfast was pretty much the least busy of the day, practically next to no one showing up for it. But still they served it. They took a seclueded two person table, Tony, not matter how angry or stroppy he was, pulled her chair out for her. At that she flicked her gaze up to him, wanting to thnak him, say something do something, but her body was just not allowing for anything. Placing herself down in the chair she pulled the menu towards her, flicking it open to the page of food. Her eyes glanced over it lightly, being pulled into words that stuck out most to her. Mainly the pancakes stuck out, being one of her favourite foods. She picked the one glazed with blueberries and a light syrup, enjoying the sound of that, plus the added sugar might just help her settle a little. She looked up to him at feeling his eyes on her, at catching his gaze she couldn't help but drop hers to the floor. She still just didn't know how to act, she'd managed to cover the bruises upon her face, but still the memory stung, lingering like the stinger of a bee, leaving behind its mark. she was interupted by a pair of shoes coming into her perphical vision, looking up to him she still didn't even smile, not even out of politeness. She just set her order in and left Tony to do his own, sitting back in her chair, looking everywhere apart from at him, her figners played at the edge of the table, something she only did when she was thinking too much.
It hadn't taken them long to eat their breakfasts, the order had been quick and simple to make, having it come to them in a decent timely manour, the food still steaming when it reached them. She picked at the edge of them for a while before her hunger took over and she finaly managed to eat them, though not without them sitting heavily on her stomache, almost making her feel sick. She rested her knife and fork on the plate, leaning back into her chair feeling very relived ofthe food issue. Though the main one still lingered between them like a slap in the face. Not one really having said a word about it once.

Tony had placed his order when the waiter came around, letting Pepper go first. His order was similar to hers, only ordering a short stack of plain pancakes. Having a pit in his stomach the size of a coconut, he didn't feel like having his usual mash ups with every thing that he was craving. He just wanted something plain and light only to fill his stomach for the journey ahead. When their food came, he played with his edges of his food longer than Pepper, but like with her his hunger drove him and he ate about half of what was brought to him. Unable to eat much more after that. He looked over at the glass of ice water that sat untouched on his side of the table and began to drink it, even if it was tap water..he still craved the coolness. He was starting to get flushed by the heat rising in his body. His temper began to spike, ever so slightly. Enough for him to take his jacket off that he had put on in the elevator. He set it down over the railing that the table was next to, the hot leather being cooled by the cooler metal railing that surrounded the cafe, decorated with plants and vines.
He leaned to the side to get his wallet from his back pocket, in search of his credit card. Opening it up, it wasn't there, no cash either. His heart skipped a beat, thinking that someone had stolen it some time last night when he had gotten shitfaced. Probably leaving it somewhere and not even realizing it. He began to get a little flustered now, but keeping his movements slow and not so jerky. He checked each pocket in his jeans but came up empty. Not being able to find it until the waiter had come and Pepper slipped him hers. He looked up with wider eyes and glared at her. "What was that" He said more than asked. He still never took his glare from her. "Pepper, come on what are you not telling me?" He asked crossing his arms on the table. There wouldn't have been a time to answer since the waiter had come back so fast setting the bill down in front of her. Pepper signed it gave him a tip and held the card out to him. He gave her a questioning look then looked down at the card. There it was, his visa, Anthony E. Stark punched in the plastic along with his number. He reached up to take it but with his still hungover state he overreached for it and his fingers laid on hers, the card covered by his massive hand. The touch sent sparks from his fingertips and shot through his arm. His eyes softened but were still wide and his eyebrows angled out, relaxing his face and his eyes darted up to her for a brief moment before he gathered himself and realized that she took his card. His eyebrows furrowed again and he snatched the card from her and shoved it back in his wallet before getting up to grab his coat and head for the front doors to just get in the car and leave. it was a little over an half an hour and his car was nowhere out front, as usual, valets took their good old time with everything. But it did give him a chance for some fresh air. It was brisk and burned his nose when he breathed in, the sudden cold air drying it out. His jacket was draped over his arms and his hands were shoved in his pockets, not even hearing Pepper walk up behind him. He just stood there and waited for his car to get there as all the others were handed off to their owners and the lines moved.

She watched as he seemed to be getting warm, his cheeks had flushed a little, casuing him to take of his jacket, just making her worry over him more. she could see it in his eyes, the anger behind them. She had no idea how to take all this though, how to approach him. he seemed to have the same idea as her with the food, playing with it around him plate, soon deciding he needed it more than playing with it. she'd finished just before him, her eyes everyonce in a while flicked over to him. The waitor came over, at seeing them both finished asking them of they wanted more or to pay. Pepper, glanced at Tony as he asked for the bill, the guy wanted his card, but she had it. before she could even hand it oer Tony was already getting flustered, searching for his card and coming up empty. She sighed pulling it from her purse and handed it over. Though someone didn't like it all that much, little did he know that it wasn't her card, she'd taken his out and used it for him. "What was that" she could feel his eyes baring right on her. "Pepper, come on what are you not telling me?" Pepper sighed dropping her gaze to the table as she turned to face him. Just as the waitor came back handing her the card with the reciept wrapped around it, signing it of, she took the card and handed it over to Tony. The look on his face just told her that much more. He was pissed, big time. She hadn't told him about the card, not having remembered about it untill now. She sighed gently. "I had to take it from you, you kept trying to run out the hotel, so we locked you in the room and i took you kay and credit card" she spoke softly and factly not even looking at him, not untill he took the car, his hand landing in hers, the spark still indefinatly there. Her skin tingled with the graze of his fingers. Her eyes flickered up to his, she saw the most breifst of the kinder side of him flick across hos face, then iot was gone, and so was he, she sighed getting up from her chair and followed shortly behind him. she walked slowly watching the back of him as he practically marched over to the grand entrance way. she hated seeing him like this, but there sure as hell nothing she could think of that would help them here in this suituation. Pausing at the doors she watched him as he stood on the steps, with a sigh she pulled the keys from her pocket and made her way down to him. She stood on the step just above him, Her eye's flicked over to someone with a camera heading their way, with a sigh she stepped down to stand next to Tony. "Looks like we have company" she spoke softly, watching as the guy stopped just below them on the step. She knew what was about to coem their way, camera flashes and questions. she looked over to Tony seeing the furry plain on his face. knowing that this was going to be a hard time. She was either going to have to hold him back or just let him loose on the guy. The audi was soon coming around, but not quick enough for her liking. If they were going to escape this guy they needed the car much sooner. She stepped down a few steps interjecting the guy. They were used to this, but not right now, she wasn't ready for any press bothering them. "word has it, you too are finally together. do you have anything to say about that?" Pepper looked back at Tony, then to the guy infront of her. "No, I. I mean we have nothing to add, just happy to be together" she forced a smile, though it came weak and insignificant. She glanced over at Tony who was not impressed by this one bit. She turned back to the guy taking another step closer. "Of the records, how much do you want to get you off our backs, for good" She asked, trying to keep her voice low, though it held all the spite she wanted to throw at Tony for his behaviour. The guy seemed to suddenly get an idea, the smile on his face was a little scary, making her step back a little. "A kiss is what It'll take" She figured as much, of course he'd want to take a picture of the two kissing and publish it. They'd kept it on the low down for a while and now the press wanted their action. She walked back up to Tony, standing on the same step as him. she didn't even give him chance to reject her or anything just pulling him round and planted a kiss on him. As the flashes went of, she pulled away, glaring right at the guy, not wanting to see his face again. "You got what you wanted no leave" She said just as their car arrive, the door opened for them an she moved round to climb into the car. she could still feel the lingering sensation of his lips on hers. It hadn't held much emotion, only a light kiss, one that held no emotion really, only the slight feel of it lingered in the back of her mind, knowing then how much she'd messed up and how much she'd give to have that feeling back. She touched her lips lightly as she pressed her foot to the gas pedal speeding of one their bags had been loaded into their car and Tony was saftly inside, Though he'd practically jumped aboard the moment it had arrived, impatient and a little grumpy still. She looked over to himl, wondering if he was even there inside this robot.

Looks like we have company His gaze followed hers, still unchanging. The hard stare, almost robotic as he looked over at the guy. His eyes held nothing but irritation. His eyes flicked over at her for the briefest of seconds then right back to the guy with the camera he just rolled his eyes and looked away probably to look for his car to come around the corner so they could leave. Word has it, you two are finally together. Do you have anything to say about that? He looked back at Pepper then, curious of her answer. Getting a pit in his stomach he swallowed hard. No, I. I mean we have nothing to add, just happy to be together Tony's face softened and he looked away. He wanted to be happy with her again. So desperately. He didn't even have a chance to think before he felt himself being pulled around by her hand. The touch sending ice through his veins, slight nostalgia came over him too as well. Within moments her lips were pressed against his, he stood there in a bit of a shock, but his hand came up and laid flat on her back, wanting to pull her closer but he just froze with his eyes shut. His lips moving ever so slightly against hers. Before he could snap out of it or even kiss her back as the rush came over him she pulled away, and all of his senses with it. He felt numb again. You got what you wanted, now leave He heard the Audi pull up, the only thing his brain could register at the moment. Her kiss may not have held any emotion but the feeling hung on for dear life on his lips. He didn't want to let that go, if this was it for the two of them..he would take it to the grave. Every kiss they shared, every embrace that the two fell asleep in..he would keep everything with him for the rest of his life. When he got into the car again, his temper flared up, probably because of the last bits of alcohol that hadn't burned off from the night before. A large part of him still held some edge, and deep down he had no idea why..not even realizing it was from the night before. He didn't remember anything, and he wanted to..just to make it right. Settle his mind. But Pepper wasn't telling him a damn thing. Other than the fact that he had gotten drunk and was taken back to the room. That bit he did remember. But everything after that was a total blur.
As she pulled onto the highway he reached over and tapped on the navigation system that he had installed with Jarvis on it. He did miss not having someone to talk to that wouldn't completely judge him. Even if it was a computer..it would at least be someone who would let him ramble on sober or drunk. As it turned on and the graphics flashed across the screen, Jarvis spoke. "Welcome back Sir," Jarvis said in his usual pleasant tone. "Hey, Jarv, whats the time from here to Quantico, straight run" He said as the numbers began to calculate as the route drew itself out crossing through Missouri then down through Kentucky and West Virginia. Then finally pinged at Quantico. "Approximately twenty hours and sixteen minutes" The AI replied and Tony laid back in his seat. "Damn that long huh" he groaned and ran a hand through his hair, then he jumped when his phone vibrated and rang in his pocket. "Sir, it is the contractors from Quantico" Jarvis said and Tony nearly lost it. Wanting to rip his hair out as he sat there. He took in a deep shaky breath and calmed himself down enough to answer the phone, trying to not make it as scary or awkward with Pepper right next to him, but like before..his temper could get out of hand pretty quickly. He pulled out his phone to answer, his eyebrows knitting together. "Yeah," He growled into the phone. Tony. Where are you? We've been waiting two days now with nothing from you. We need to get this project done He felt his blood starting to rage through his veins. "I told you already, we are driving there now, we're in Oklahoma--" Oklahoma?! Mr. Stark. This is a serious project, there is no time for- "You listen to me and you listen good" He snapped into the phone. "We've been on the road for two days. We aren't messing around. So don't even go there. Only stopping twice to sleep. Doesn't anyone there understand the fact that we are driving not flying. So you knew this would take time. If you don't want to wait for my help then take me off of this goddamn project. But I don't know who else you're going to find that would want to work with the people you sent to Stark in the first place." The line was silent for a moment. Mr. Stark, I've had people get here a day ahead of your schedule, driving. I don't see why you--Mr. High and Mighty-- cant do the same. I mean you have the suit..suit up and get your ass over here and stop bullshitting around. "Don't you push my buttons Lieutenant. I'm sure your commander wouldn't be very happy about the way you are handling this. You keep this up and I'll have to share with him our little talk" He threatened his face turning red at his cheeks and over his nose. The line went silent for a little longer than before, "Exactly" Tony smiled menacingly and hung up the phone and put it down roughly in the cup holder and leaned against the window with his thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose. "I guess if you're tired we can stop in St. Louis, or Louisville if you can make it there, then we can switch shifts and I'll take over to Quantico. We just need to get there before I rip someone's head off. I hate to make you drive so much, but if you don't want to drive let me know, I can take over" He looked over at Pepper with a softer look but it still held a temper flared edge. His heart was pounding so hard to keep his temper under control that he could hear it in his ears. He even began to shake a little, his anxiety surfacing now too. This was the onset of a panic attack, and nothing right now was helping to stop it.

She sat in the car for a little while, her eyes flicking out the windows, but never full over to him. when she felt him move her gaze droppe ever so slightly, seeing him play around with the small screen in the center display board. she watched him for a little, her gaze flicking back to the road as she drove the freeway. the feel of the car beneath her made her mind relax a little, helping her to think clearly for once. The kiss still lingered with her, it wasn't the best they had shared, heck it was possibly the most worse and awkward yet, but still it was one she'd shared with him in some time. Maybe even the last one. She had no idea, she just wanted him to clam down a little more before she brought it up, maybe she would tell him what had happened, just leaving out the part where he chucked her to the floor. "Welcome back Sir," the sound of Jarvis even made her relax a little, feeling like they were back in the safty of thier home. "Hey, Jarv, whats the time from here to Quantico, straight run" she listened carefully keeping her gaze on the road, sneaking a few glances over to Tony out the cornor of her eye. "Approximately twenty hours and sixteen minutes" she sunk a little in her seat. Dam that was still far to go, at that she pressed her foot down a little more, picking up a bit more speed. "Damn that long huh" Her lips twitched with the sign of a smile, created by the fact he had thought exactly the same as her, being reminded of their little bond they shared, though that bond was now wearing thin, bareing on its last thread, one more little hiccup and they'd both be done for. She glanced round to him at hearing his phone going off, intruiged by who it might be, Jarvis, settling her curiousness. "Sir, it is the contractors from Quantico" Ah so they were inpatient little bastards were they, she almost growled, her anger picking right back up again. If it weren't for them in the first place niether of them would be in this state, right now all she wanted to do was give them a piece of her mind. she pressed her foot on the gas, almost scaring herself with the reality of it, stepping of it a little as the car picked up more easy than what she was used to. Easing of the gas she ploped back into the seat sitting a little more comfortable. She was sat close enought to make out the whole conversation on both ends.
'Tony. Where are you? We've been waiting two days now with nothing from you. We need to get this project done.'
"I told you already, we are driving there now, we're in Oklahoma--"
'Oklahoma?! Mr. Stark. This is a serious project, there is no time for-
"You listen to me and you listen good. We've been on the road for two days. We aren't messing around. So don't even go there. Only stopping twice to sleep. Doesn't anyone there understand the fact that we are driving not flying. So you knew this would take time. If you don't want to wait for my help then take me off of this goddamn project. But I don't know who else you're going to find that would want to work with the people you sent to Stark in the first place."
....
'Mr. Stark, I've had people get here a day ahead of your schedule, driving. I don't see why you--Mr. High and Mighty-- cant do the same. I mean you have the suit..suit up and get your ass over here and stop bullshitting around.'
"Don't you push my buttons Lieutenant. I'm sure your commander wouldn't be very happy about the way you are handling this. You keep this up and I'll have to share with him our little talk"
....
"Exactly"
He had cut the line of then, Pepper felt incredibly bad for him right now, having to deal wiht that after last night, again, all her fault. If only she'd just stayed at home, he'd possibly have been there by now and not had any troubled along the way. Maybe it was best that she didn't come on these things again, she just seemed to mess everything up. She sighed, leaning on her elbow proped on the door, staring out the window as they got stuck in a little bit of trafiic. She had felt like snatching the phone from him and giving them a stern talking to, just to get them of his back. "I guess if you're tired we can stop in St. Louis, or Louisville if you can make it there, then we can switch shifts and I'll take over to Quantico. We just need to get there before I rip someone's head off. I hate to make you drive so much, but if you don't want to drive let me know, I can take over" she looked over to him. "I'll drive untill I can't pysically anymore. if you dont arrive there soon, they'll just harass you more. Its all my fault anyways" She added the last part quietly having turned to stare out the window again. She shifted the car into gear and rolled forward, sneaking through a little gap and got a little ahead of the others. Hopefully the traffic would die the further out of Tulsa they got, she didn't like being stuck in traffic, possibly just as much as him. "Jarvis, find us a route out of this damned traffic" she craned her neck looking for another gap, trying to see how far it went. "Sure thing Miss. Potts"
Not moving anywhere she turned to look at him, seeing that he was still fuming his cheeks still flushed a red colour. She felt awful, he had so much on his plate right now, he didn't need any of this. Her hand moved from ther gear stick and linked with his, his skin was cool, where hers was warm, possibly from gripping the wheel so tightly. "You got agressive last night" She spoke, but not at him, just staring out the side window. "You tore up the room a little and tryed to escape the Hotel. As you know i took your credit card to stop you from buying more alcohol. You threw things at me, but none hit me. The marks are becuase i fell up the steps trying to duck out the way of your hellishly good aim. Thats all that happened." she went silent for a while, pulling her hand back as the traffic began to move, she shifted and rolled along with the other cars. remebering another thing about last night. "Oh and you ripped out the reactor, said it was pointless and threw it down at me. You then marched into the bedroom and there you passed out." she glanced over to him then, wondering if it might just ease his pain, slightly worried it might make him freak out more so. "and before you say anything, i dont your pitty, dont even feel bad for it. I did this, i made all this happen and i wish i could take it all back. But its been said now and it'll always haunt me... And you" she placed her hand back in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry, for everything. when we get to Quantico, I think its best I leave, let you be alone, give you some space and thinking time" she almost jumped at the voice interjecting the silence, still not used to how it would just appear between them. "Sorry to say, but you'll be stuck here for a good while, there are no exits that lead of for another 2 miles or so. And at the rate this is moving you could be stuck her for 45 minutes" She sighed pulling her hand back and resting it on the wheel, her head leaned against the coolness of the glass of the side window. "Well I'll be damned. Guess the idiots will have to wait much longer then" her patetience was starting to wear thin. she just hoped that she didn't take it out on him.

Just as the attack began it stopped, hearing her voice, but it only felt like it paused for a moment. Hearing her voice. I'll drive until I cant physically anymore. If you don't arrive there soon, they'll just harass you more. It's all my fault anyway. The pit in his stomach deepened and he looked down at his hands in his lap. His mind couldn't find an argument, saying that it wasn't her fault. And it only made him feel worse about what ever was bugging him. Everything went blank around him, he couldn't hear a thing, except his ears ringing. His emotions were going crazy, he was still angry about the phone call, his hang over, and the way she spoke. He got that gut feeling that 'the talk' was coming up. The feeling was no different at 35 than it was at 19. Suddenly the world flashed back when her hand touched his, tangling her fingers in his. He looked up at her, his eyes a melting pot of emotions; sadness, hurt, anger..frustration and the like. But the hurt and sadness seemed to flood them the way she looked at him. You got aggressive last night…You tore up the room a little and tried to escape the Hotel. As you know I took your credit card to stop you from buying more alcohol… the more she spoke the more his heart sank. He'd gotten aggressive…something that sent fear right through him. The whole incident in court hearing all of the horrible things he did while he was blacked out drunk when his parents died began flashing through his mind. You threw things at me, but none hit me. The marks are because i fell up the steps trying to duck out of the way of your hellishly good aim. That's all that happened He swallowed hard, his throat closing up as her hand moved away from his and back to the wheel. He almost wanted to reach and take it back but he was frozen. Oh and you ripped out the reactor, said it was pointless and threw it down at me. You then marched into the bedroom and passed out…and before you say anything, I don't want your pity, don't even feel bad about it Too late. I did this, I made all this happen and I wish I could take it all back. But its been said now and it'll always haunt me…and you he watched as her hand came back to his he let out a small breath of the big one he was holding. Tears burning in his chest, choking him. I'm sorry, for everything. When we get to Quantico, I think its best I leave, let you be alone, give you some space and thinking time. He felt his whole world around him fade to white, everything went silent, he sucked back the breath and stared at her then down at his hands. Looking like he was lost in another world. Tears now burned his eyes, he turned to look out the window, in an attempt to distract his mind. He felt his heart twist and break in half. The hum of the reactor dyed down, the only thing he could hear, but was sure Pepper couldn't over all of the outside noise. He was left there, speechless and lost. He wanted to just crawl into a hole and never come out again at that point. Could he really argue with her though? Could he bring himself to argue with her after what he possibly could have said. A drunk mouth speaks a sober mind…But it was the stress that had to have spoken for this to be happening. This cant be happening right now…No. No this is just a nightmare. I Fell asleep after she left to eat dinner. Yeah. I had to… he failed at making himself believe his persuasions. He almost reached down to pinch himself but this was very real. Very..real.
He didn't say anything. He couldn't. He was in shock, I think its best I leave…I'm sorry for everything The breath finally escaped his lungs and he sank lower in his seat propping his elbow up on the door. Looking down at the handle almost seeing himself grabbing it and jumping out onto the highway. But his hands were frozen in his lap and against his face as he held his head up against the window. And he was like that for the majority of the drive. Up until they stopped for a bathroom break, pulling into the rest stop that was just past Springfield closing the distance between there and St. Louis. Where they would stop for food. This place didn't have much food, just vending machines and bathrooms. It looked to be an RV stop, long parking spaces, and even a few trailers were already parked in them. But that was it, no people. Tony looked over at the vending machines, finding all kinds of chocolate and candy ready to be chosen. Maybe he could just rot his teeth out and be done with it. Eat himself into a diabetic coma. He went to reach for a dollar and remembered, his wallet was empty, no cash, not even a penny. It was all on a credit card. He looked through his wallet again and saw his debit card that hadn't been used in years. Everything in there was either a dollar or a dollar and a quarter. Not that it mattered to him, he looked up and saw the green lights of the ATM. Then looked back to the car. Pepper must have gone to the bathroom, there was no one in or around the car. He sighed and went over to the ATM, swiping his card and he had to enter his pin. His mind locked up. What was his pin number? "Shit." He growled and looked over his shoulder seeing Pepper heading out back to the car. He went to call her then stopped, chickening out. Well not exactly chickening out but he was still hung up on her leaving him so soon. The thought breaking his heart even more, but he was hungry and needed to suck it up. Be a man. "Pepper" He didn't even realize he had called her until her head snapped up and looked at him. "Can..can you help me with something?" He asked his face was ridden with embarrassment, his cheeks flushing a bright pink. She came over and he looked down at the screen and back to her, "You know I'm bad at this. Shoulda thought of that before" He chuckled nervously and stepped aside when she typed the pin number in like it was her own. And ten ones came out of the machine, "Thanks..Uh you want anything?" He asked and handed her five dollars, splitting it evenly then walking away towards the bathroom where there was more choices at the vending machine outside. Suddenly his bladder got his attention and shoved the ones in his back pocket heading into the bathroom. It was empty, which made it a little awkward. When he was done he went back to the sink to wash up and caught his reflection, he could see the the pain in his own eyes. Only growing as the moments flew by. He sighed and dropped his head down looking down the drain. How he wished for someone with a grudge against him would come in and crack his head open on the countertop and just leave him there. He didn't want to be here at all, he just wanted to curl up and be dead to the world. When he walked out he spent the five ones on Twix bars and chips and walked back to the car where she was waiting for him. "Let me know when you get tired" He said not making eye contact with her as he slipped down into the car shutting the door and getting himself caught up in the bag of chips that he opened.

When they had finaly snaked their way out of the traffic the roads where clear and easy going, she drove at a delfty speed, not over doing it but defianlty over the limit. She didn't care to be honest and it wasn't like she couldn't drive. Tony finally seeing her skills as she neatly weaved between cars pulling out and speeding of. It wasn't too long before she felt lke taking a break, even if they were stopping for food in a few hours, she kind of needed the bathroom break. Pulling of and into the little stopping area, all but seating and bathrooms sat in the middle of the large parkinglot. The drive had been very quite after she had outright told him what had happened, leaving out the part where he threw her to the floor. She felt loads better though, but still like shit from the way she had treated him, his gaze flicked back across her mind at the thought, making her slip down in her seat. She had treated him like complete trash, possibly even messing it up, forever. How she was going to get him to come round was beyond her. But for now she just had to get him to Quantico. Her gaze flicked up as he stepped out of the car, she sat there for a little while, just watching him, seeing the set of his shoulders, the way he slumped over. This was not him, he was happy go lucky, confident and gerally an overall amazing person, and she was the destroyer, ruining that side of him. She bit down on her lip then slipped out of the car heading for the bathrooms, leaving him to find his own way around.
The place was too quite, she didn't like it, she picture herself and Tony just messing around like they used to, picturing him pulling her into the mens toilets, with her protests, but went anyways, kissing him with that burning passion, the one she missed so dearly. staring at herself in the mirror as she washed her hands, she looked at herself, really looked at herself, thinking how she could go and do something so.. so reckless, and still look like she did, she dersered anything her threw at her, her figners came up to her jaw bone, running along the; invisible, bruising, her mind having just controled her hand. with a sight she shook her hands dry and headed out, just wanting to get back to the road. She headed back to the car, though wasn't all to worried about not seeing him already waiting, for all she knew he'd taken of, left her, telling her to make her own way back home, he'd be back when he was ready. Just as she reached the car her heart skipped a beat and she turned to look at him in hearing her voice being called out. "Can..can you help me with something?" She didn't protest nor even roll her eyes, she just simply walked right on over to him. "What's wrong, forgotten something?" She joked, knowing him that well that it was hard not to joke about his lack of memory. She smile ever so slightly at seeing his cheeks flush bright pink, knowing there was still a small part of him in there. "You know I'm bad at this. Shoulda thought of that before" Her gaze dropped down to the machine, seeing what he was asking for, he'd forgotten his pin number, again. She looked at him then pushed him aside with her body, bumping her hips into him. She pressed the numbers for his pin then stepped aside. "Thanks..Uh you want anything?" "Its fine, it's why you hired me remember?" she smiled then, remembering that day, maybe the best day of her life. Even if she had gone up to his office and hammered him about his paper work and how he'd messed it up. She took the dollars from him and checked out the vending machines, not exactly finidng anything she wanted to eat, but found a coffee one. She paid for one and then made her way back towards the car, where she leaned against it, waiting for his return. Sipping absentmindly at the styrofoam cup, the coffee easing away some of her tension. Moving to slip into the car as he walked towards her, still looking sullorn and miserable, reminding her again of what she'd done to him. "Let me know when you get tired" She looked over to him as she poped in her seat belt. "I will, dont worry. I can drive for a good time. Just sleep." she pressed on the gas and drove steadily across the parkinglot towards the exit, joining back onto the freeway. "Thats if you can" she added then slipped onto the freeway. she joined the traffic with ease, the car picked up so easily and she was soon travling at the same speed as before, breezing by the rest of the odd cars travling upon the road. heading towards their next stop. St Louis.

As they pulled back onto the highway, His mind flashed back to just minutes before they left, her stab at the reason behind hiring her. Making him think of that day, he remembered it like it just happened, on the first day she came into his garage, not even aware of his rules with coming in like she did, just to scold him for not filling out papers right. The thought brought back a quick smile. The way she bumped him out of the way, brought back a very quiet chuckle, bringing back the way they were before all of this, just two kids. Even at 35 and what was she..32? He couldn't quite remember. Not at this moment, but either way those times brought back that genuine smile and he just looked out the window, not really wanting Pepper to notice just yet, in fear that she may snap at him for thinking that he was taking all of this like a joke. All of this went from being so amazing to not even wanting to live anymore. The thought of not living without her must have came through when he ripped his reactor out of his chest. What did he say to her that brought the two like this? The two that were irrevocably in love with each other one minute and the next second it was this. He tried digging into the back of his mind, trying to find the answer on his own. Going over what she had told him about what he did but she saved so many crucial details. He hated when things were sugar coated. He couldn't stand it. Maybe that was what pissed him off and made him act so cold to her. Who knows. As he got lost in his thoughts the onset of sleep took him over and his eyes drifted closed as he curled up on the seat. At some point in his heavy slumber he had shifted, resting his head down on the center console. His hair and the top of his head brushing against her arm. In his sleep he dreamed of her, her touch, all the moments they shared. So actually feeling her touch made him snuggle closer to her arm, nestling his head in the bend of her elbow. Her scent soon rushed into his nose, and into his dream, he inhaled slowly with a deep breath and a smile grew on his face. It was that genuine smile, one when he was truly happy. It soon faded as he slipped back into a deep sleep though a small smile still stayed on his lips.
A few more hours passed and Tony had woke up to darkness, it had to be at least midnight. He also woke to a stopped car, and lights from a parking lot. His guess was that they were at a rest stop. A more crowded one at that. He picked his head up and rubbed his eyes as they adjusted. He looked over at Pepper who looked like her eyes were ready to fall out of her head. The sight made him cringe, and feel bad for her. She needed sleep and he did. He got all of the sleep his little broken heart could desire. He didn't say anything to her, He climbed out of the car in silence and walked with her into the restaurant, it wasn't expensive like they were used to but it looked pricy nonetheless. He stepped ahead of her and opened the door before she got to it, a chivalrous move on his part as he held it open for her then followed her in. "Pepper, are you sure you're okay driving?" He asked her as they were led to a table, seeing her sluggish steps, many people would mistake it for a normal stride but he knew her. She was tired, extremely tired. But she was so good at hiding it. "I have no problem taking over" He offered again and pulled her chair out for her then sitting down on his side of the table. "You need sleep. I've had my sleep" He said gently and looked up at her with worried eyes. The first time he actually looked at her today. How he wished he could just reach across the table and lay one on her. But not with all these people around, or under these circumstances. He tried reasoning with her, but it wasn't long before the waitress came over to their table asking for their order letting Pepper place hers first. "I'll just have a glass of water and the spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer with the four cheese chicken Penne bowl" He said and gave the waitress a polite smile, but it disappeared once she left and he looked back at Pepper. Their eyes meeting for a split second before he averted his. But in that split second so much fired up in his mind, His whole world sat there in front of him. And it was ripped from his grasp. Taken from him and he could do nothing. He couldn't do anything but sit there and watch it all dwindle away, like a dying candle. the flame that once drove them was dying, and something needed to ignite it once again. He just needed that match to strike, that flame to be lit and never burn out. So much has happened to them in the past couple months, its been such a roller coaster. His mind drifting back to the day she was kidnapped, then New York how she practically threw herself at him and they played their little games…how close they had come to actually making their relationship take the next step. The fun they would have sneaking off during work into his office. And come out like nothing ever happened. He wanted to smile at those memories but that is what they were..just a memory.
He was snapped out of it when the food was set in front of him, the appetizer first, a bowl with the hot spinach and artichoke dip with cheese steamed in front of him rushing up his nostrils awakening his stomach. The chips that were surrounding it on the plate were fresh made and still warm. He reached out just as she did and the tips of their fingers collided and he almost wanted to tangle them up in hers but he froze and looked right up at her with a nervous smile. He pulled his hand back and grabbed a chip taking a generous amount of the hot cheesy dip and took it in with one bite. "So, are you gonna let me drive?" He asked a little bit of his old self able to come through.

The caffine coursing through ber viens kept her eyes pelled to the road, never once faultering, her reactions double tenfold. She was so out of it she almost peed her pants at feeling the tickle on her arm, with a gasp she looked down, finding Tony well out of it and having fallen down to her arm. She couldn't help but smile at him, the way he looked so peaceful, making her feel like a mother watching over her sleeping child. she left him there not wanting to wake him, kind of enjoying the closeness of him without the tension. She wanted it all back, him everything, this just a little reminder of what they once shared, the undying love. Though that had just gone up in flames. she sighed rubbing at her eyes a little. The darkness becoming a little too much for her now. She had no idea how long they had been on the road now, but if was rather dark outside. Just as she was about to pull of somewhere the sigh for St.Louis appeared, telling her she had arrive in that place. Practicaly waking her up like a slapp round her face. slowloing her speed as they neared the city and found the first decent resturant she liked the look of. Pulling up into the busy parking lot she shut out the engine, gently moving him back to the other side of the car, only to have him wake as she did so. she smiled ever so gently, watching him as he stretched waking up. At seeing him fully awake, or well a little more lively she slipped out of the car and made her way towards the restaurant. Just as she moved to open the door Tony was there before her opening it up like the gentleman he was. She missed that, big time. "Pepper, are you sure you're okay driving? She smiled gently, glad that they seemed to be oing better, though still not back on track they had a long haul before them "Yes I'm fine okays" She turned to him, her voice dropped a little trying not to speculate any peering eyes. "I have no problem taking over" "I know that Tony, you always take over!" She spat at him, suddenly feeling crap for doing so. Damn her and her stupid mouth. He pulled her chair out for her, just making her feel that much worse, how she even treated him like that in the first place was beyond her, she deserved an award for the best life ruiner. She'd have a many awards in that area. "You need sleep. I've had my sleep" "I'm still able to go longer. I'll drive as far as i can. I owe you that much" she shifted in her seat, leaning her elbows upon the table, she looked at him just as his eyes found hers, making her get lost inside of them, everything else went black, just seeing him there, but he slowly began to fade away from her, her mind alreay telling her she'd lost him. Pulling back just as the waitress came over. "I'll have the chicken ceaser salad and a glass of wine, make it small though, I'll be driving" she added in handing over the manu cards, then went back to facing him, this time her gaze was lower. Just sitting ther in silence, wishing that they could just get back to being Tony and Pepper, not this, not whatever they had come to now.
It wasn't too long before his starter was place infront of him, out of habbit she plucked of one of the chips, not even asking if he was sharing it, just knowing he wasn't the one to say no to her. As she picke up the chip Tony seemed to have the exact same idea, even going for the same one, His fingers brushed over hers, but she didn't respond to it, just dipped it in an muched on it. "So, are you gonna let me drive?" she looked up to him, noticing how his tone ha change, just lightening her spirits a little, perhaps there was hope after all. "Not yet, no. But you will have your time in your'baby'" she miniced the little air quotes with her hands and rolled her eyes. He was such a motor head at times. When they were about half way done with the satrte their main meals arrived, she smiled down at the food, tucking in straight away, feeling a little hungry for good food again. She crossed her legs, her foot just grazing the leg of his trouser, hoping that he wouldn't have felt that, or maybe she did. Her mind began to drift, slipping into other things, things that were appropiate for the dinner table. he cheeks flushed a bright pink, feeling flustered and hot under the collar, her mind having remembere that time they had had another argument, that one was just a small pinicle compared to this. But what she remembered was after that, when he'd placed her on his desk, his fingers working away inside of her. The pleasure so good it even made her feel a little weak at the knee right there in the restaurant. If people started Looking they'd might think he was doing unjustible things to her under the table. She ate her food, trying to hide her facial expressions behind it, though she knew that only one person would see beyond that. The memory so vivid she almost lost it.

Not yet, no. But you will have time in your 'baby' A huge grin swept across his face, she set herself up for that one. "Mm" He shook his head, "Miss Potts, I haven't had any time in my baby" His conscience kicked him in the head then beat him with a bat. What in gods name did he just say to her?! He began to shovel the pasta in his mouth his stomach taking over now. Feeling her leg brush against his he stopped for a moment, the shiver running up his spine. Every touch he felt from her, whether it be on purpose or by accident it was like striking a flint stone, sparks and nothing more. But not the right spark to start the fire. This fire wasn't even in embers, it was dying out, sparks only igniting it for moments. But damn he loved those legs, and everything attached to them. He chewed on a piece of chicken thinking about it, shoveling more pasta into his mouth. His mind suddenly tricking him into thinking that he was kissing Pepper, her lips, her skin, his tastebuds didn't even register the pasta any more. He paused again and gathered himself, tasting pasta and chicken once again with the creamy sauce. The sauce was warm, and sweet--he stopped himself there nearly choking at what he was caught up thinking about. He brought his napkin up to his lips in case any slipped out of his mouth at the sudden realization of what he was thinking about. He cleared his throat and expected Pepper to be looking at him when he looked up, but instead she seemed to be having some kind of issue. She was hiding it the best she could but he could see right past it after knowing her so well for fifteen years and got to know her even more in the past few. He knew those faces that she was trying to hide. The way she hurriedly ate her food, he began to worry that she might choke. "Pepper," he said quietly in respect of the atmosphere around them. What she was trying to hide was coming more and more to the surface, she was about to lose it. Even some very quiet moans escaped her lips, quiet enough for him to pick up on. "Pepper" he spoke a little more sharply now and placed his hand over hers stopping the next forkful of salad from being shoved in her mouth. She snapped out of it either from his touch or her name but her knee smacked the bottom side of the table, luckily the busboy cleaning up was able to cover it. "Take it easy" he said with a half smile, "My fingers are too big to be reaching down your throat to pluck a crouton out of your windpipe" He joked and went back to eating.
This time he covered the bill before Pepper got the chance, "If i'm not driving, I'm paying." He said with a smile and signed the bill stowing his card away and stood to wait for Pepper to get up. As much tension as there was between them that still didn't keep him from treating a woman right. He may mouth off to her, give her the cold shoulder at times, but she was still the most important woman in his life and his mother taught him better. When she walked out with him he didn't have the chance to get to the door first and he didn't feel the need to knock her out of the way so instead his long arm reached out and pushed the door open from behind her and held it there as she walked through, the quick closeness made Tony's fragments of his heart flutter all together. By now his arms would be wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her into him. Enveloping her within the heated embrace on a night as cold as this. Hearing her laugh, only for him to join in and laugh too, hearing her protest about being so clingy, and being a fool, and how much…how much she loved him…Tears tightened his chest and he took in a deep shaky breath. He could see his breath now, it had to be at least in the high thirties. She hugged herself, not able to see if she was shivering since her back was turned, he guessed that she must have been cold. Would she even take the coat if he offered it? He stopped out front of the restaurant, just before the parking lot, not quite ready to sit back down yet in a car. Pepper noticed that he stopped following and came back, wondering why he wasn't going to the car. "I just wanna stretch my legs a bit longer, not ready to get in the car yet" He said softly and heard the familiar sound of teeth chattering. He looked back at her and found where it was coming from. Her usual business attire had never been the best choice to wear on nights like these, the fabric usually thin, and breathable, to prevent sweat spots. His heavy leather jacket trapped in his heat, and held it. She needed it. Even with the feelings between them right now, Tony wasn't about to let her freeze. Even if he was in short sleeves, he'd give it up for her. He took it from his shoulders and with a sweep of his arms in front of her he draped it over her shoulders and made sure she had a good grasp on it in the front, "You need it more than me." He smiled softly before she could protest any more. She slipped her arms in, the jacket about three sizes too big for her, the arms longer than hers. She protested against it still but he stood firm, even with her protests she still held it close trapping the heat inside, "I wont get sick" He said tapping the reactor. "I should be alright until we get to the car." He felt the cool air chill him, the metal in the reactor making it seem colder. "I'm not letting you freeze" He said with a smile looking down at her, even if his eyes held opposite emotions; hurt and longing. Longing to just lean in and kiss her again, and never stop. The thought of what that would feel like send a chill through his body that wasn't from the cold, making his chest hurt. Knowing that the last real kiss they shared, which was at least three and a half days ago the night before they left his house would have been the last. One that held the love for him in it. No matter what, his kisses held more love than the last, even if she didn't accept it or even notice it.
As she drove down the highway again, now back on the road he tried getting as much sleep as he could, preparing himself for the long drive ahead, something that Pepper didn't get a chance to do. All because of his drunken rampage. He didn't like the idea of her driving for the day let alone almost two. The worry kept waking him up after about forty five minutes of sleep. She had taken his jacket off, not needing it and it was over the center consul gathered up in a ball. At one point Tony even used it as a pillow, providing some sort of comfort. A couple hours had passed and Tony's sleep grew lighter and lighter until it was just closing his eyes going nowhere. But what startled him was the sudden vibration that shook the car and the sound of tires running over the treads dug into the asphalt of the shoulder. He sat bolt upright seeing the car drifting off the shoulder then looked at Pepper who was struggling to keep her eyes open. "Shit" He said and nearly jumped in her lap taking the wheel. Shifting the car down to neutral to let it roll to a stop and once it was slow enough he pushed it into park making the car jerk to a stop. He pushed her leg to the side taking her foot off the gas pedal. "Welp, You're done driving" He said and got out of the car getting to the driver side and opening her door. He reached over and pressed the button releasing her seatbelt as she fell limp against him. He paused for a moment, this was going to bring back a world of pain for him. He locked his jaw and prepared himself for the flashbacks. He knew how she got when she was sleepy, she got clingy, like a child would. He moved back a little, "Come on" He said quietly as the cars whipped by them but they were far on the shoulder, as not to be clipped by a side mirror. But the rush of ice cold air was right on his back. Her arms slowly came up and around his neck as her head fell on his shoulder. Boom. The flashbacks hit, all the moments being this close to her, and they began doing their damage to his heart. Tearing it apart into pieces then tearing the pieces apart. He slid his arm behind her knees and lifted her out of the driver seat, as the cold air hit her she clung more to him;closer than before. His heart twisted, knowing that this was far from what it used to be. And it would never be the same. He felt goosebumps rise on her exposed legs and put a quicker more brisk pace in his step and he set her back in on the other side. Tears burning his eyes, wishing the reason for it was the icy wind that swept over the road. Wishing that was the reason more than anything in this world. But it wasn't. Setting her down in the seat, he went to pull away only to have her hand locked around her wrist behind his neck. It took just about everything in him to reach up and peel her fingers away from her wrist and from behind his neck. How much more could his heart break in one day? Was this only the beginning? The thought nearly made him sick. He reached over her again as she curled up on the seat and picked up the jacket, warm from the heater that it was near and he draped it over her exposed arms and the top half of her body that had the light breathable button up covering it. Looking down and seeing her heels were still on, they were the strappy stilettos that were one of his favorites, upon a closer look her feet looked red, probably from walking on them and it didn't look like it was very comfortable for her, he reached down and even with his larger fingers, he could undo the small buckle around her ankle and gently slide the shoes off her feet placing them on the floor in front of the seat. What he did next, he couldn't help..his hand came up and stroked the side of her head, over her red hair and his thumb trailed the side of her face. He wouldn't forget her, she would stay with him forever. Even if it was only in the memories they created. Thankfully at four thirty in the morning, the roads weren't alive with cars, barely any cars were out there, but the occasional trucker whizzed by. Or he wouldn't be standing there right now. The only thing he hated at this moment was the fact that this was all creating one painful memory..the cause of it he couldn't even remember completely, only going off of what she told him. He prayed to god that the next person who would be lucky to have her would treat her better than he did. Make her happy again, treat her like a queen. The realization that he was standing on the side of a major highway just a half hour before rush hour was the only thing that could pull him away from her to get back in the car to drive. His steps around the front of the car were slow, he drug his feet and slumped down into the driver seat shutting the door trapping the heat inside once more. He looked down at the dash and saw that he was low on gas, Pepper probably didn't realize it because of how tired she was. He looked ahead and saw a sign for gas a few miles up the highway at the top of an off ramp. He put the car back in drive and pulled back onto the road heading straight for the gas station. By the time he got there the sun began to rise, peaking over buildings and trees. The orange sun shown down on his face as he leaned against the driver side of the car waiting for the tank to be full. He was caught up in the memories, playing the past few months all over again. He sniffled back tears but they still fell. Sliding down his cheeks and falling to the dark shirt he wore reaching his jaw and the overgrown stubble. The memories getting too painful for him, making him frustrated, he pushed off the car and slammed the side of his fist into the concrete pillar supporting the roof over the pumps, the lights were out now that the sun was starting to rise, but not offering nearly enough light to consider it morning. More tears fell down his cheeks as he pressed his forehead against the jagged concrete. He jumped when the pump clicked and shut off, his tank was full and now began the long haul from here. He pulled the nozzle out and put it back on the pump and prepared to leave. Starting the car back up he drove off all fueled up and ready to go. Crossing the road to get back to the onramp to jump back into traffic he picked up the speed and got over to the fast lane, following the route on the GPS screen. His driving arm rested on the door against the window with his hand on the wheel while the other hand was on the stick shift but his wrist was just resting on it, able to maneuver the gears that way with more ease than having his hand around the knob. He stared out at the road, the tears drying his lashes together and giving the skin around his eyes that sparkle as the sun hit his face in front of him. He slipped his aviators on after finding them in the holder above his head and remained silent the whole drive until she woke up.

"Miss Potts, I haven't had any time in my baby" she looked at him from under her lashes, picking up on his tone all to easily. hse would have grabbed hold of him right there and dragged him out the restaurant, taking him to a place with more privacy. Though with their little issues right now she wasn't sure it was the best idea in the world, no matter how much she so desperatly wanted to. her eyes lingered upon him for a little while, untill her minds eye got too much, making her drop her gaze into her food. she smiled down to it, tyring not to let everyone in on what her minds had conjured up, trust it to be at a time like this, not when she was in bed next to him, but now, when they were sitting in a; quite busy, resturant. The only part of him having been insie her had been his fingers and his tongue. she twitched a little shuffling her position in her seet, uncrossing and crossing her legs, her thighs twitched with anticipation. she'd brought her arm up to rest her head upon it, also an attempt at trying to hide her face better, especially now she was feeling her cheeks get warm with the passion flowing through her, raising heat to the top of her skin. "Pepper," The name an voice just mae her feel like she was actually there, him calling out her name as he got a little aroused with her. Little did she know that Tony wasn't in her daydream and they weren't in his office, they were still at the resturant and with the way she was shoveling down her food, it didn't look nice nor right, she'd surely choke if she weren't careful. "Pepper" there it came again a silent wisper in the back of her mind. Then the sudden joly brought her round, feeling like she had been electrocuted she jumped out of her skin, causing her knee to slam into the table, making things on it woble. She looked up finding him looking right at her. Shit, he'd noticed, well ofcourse he would,he wasn't totaly oblivious of everything. She smiled sheepishly, dropping her gaze back to the table, feeling a little embarassed, enjoying just having his hand on hers, wishing it would have laste so much longer than it did. "Take it easy" she chuckled nervously. "Ha I'm fine" she smiled to herself looking down at her salad, picking through it, her hand resting upon the table, just asking for him to take it. To her dismay, she got left with it there, sitting bare and cold, just wanting to feel his warmth again. "My fingers are too big to be reaching down your throat to pluck a crouton out of your windpipe" That almost made her choke, she coughed a little trying not to swollow before the food was chewed up correctly. She swollowed hard, trying not to think of that again, him mentering how his fingers where too big just brough it all flooding back to her. In actual fact, they were too big, just perfect really. Her legs twitched with the memory, an she couldn't help but smile. "They arn't too big" she spoke her tone low and a little seuctive, not being able to help herself, not after a memory like that. She excused herself and headed tot he bathroom, splashing cool water on her face, just trying to bring her witts ends back down, thinking completely the opposite of which she had just before. It didn't take her much to think of something, the one thing that was hanging heavily between then was easy enough to bring her back down to the level of earth, not might high in the sky.
When she got back to the table Tony was ready to go, more than likely eager to get back onto the road. following him as he stood to pay, moving to take the bill only to have him do the same,with a careful smile she dropped her hand letting him do the honours. "If i'm not driving, I'm paying." she sighed gently, and she sure as hell wasn't going to srgue him that fact, no matter how much her conscience scream at her to do so, she held back, though struggled a little. Once he'd signed it off she made her way out and towards the door, only to have his ar interject and push the door open for her, his arm brushed along her bare skin, sending that same electrical pulsing through her skin. She move through the door not looking at him, worried she might just implode in his face. Or just full out kiss him and then some. As she walked out of the resturant the cold air hit her, making her hug herself, her skin prickled at the sudden coldness, now wishing she had grabbed a jacket. She moved quickly right over to the car, Only pausing just meters away, noticing that the steps behind her had stopped, turning she noticed he had stood still. She moved back to him worried he might be habing second thoughts. "You okay?" She asked softly, her hand coming up to touch his arm though she paused just a little away from him, dropping her hand back to herside, he'd perked up, but that didn't mean he'd want her touching him an d she didn't want to bring it all right back to the beginning again. If anything she wanted to keep it like this, even if it was awkward and they bare spoke, she'd rather have it this way than not have him at all. "I just wanna stretch my legs a bit longer, not ready to get in the car yet" She smiled ever so gently "Okay's then we just wait a little then" She turned around, looking back at the car, then to him, just wanting to be warm, her teeth began chattering together, once it started she couldn't stop it, within time she knew he'd here it, just hoping he wouldn't freak out, complaining at her that she never dressed apropiatly. The sudden feel of his heavy jacket on her shoulders made her turn round, the smell of him hit her like a tidal wave, so many emotions flooded her mind. She held it close to her, but still made a protest about it. "But you'll get cold" She moaned, wanting to give it back to him, but he just held it on her, trapping her arms against her. She just wanted to lean in an kiss him at the closeness of him, wanting to feel his warmth against her, not the second hand warmth inside his jacket. "You need it more than me." She sighed, she wasn't going to win, but she was going to protest it was just who she was. "But what about you then" she spoke as her arms slipped through, pulling it closer to her, just taking in the heat and his scent that lingered so strongly in the leather. practically snuggling it to her like a blanket, never wanting to let it go. "I wont get sick" "You sure as hell wont" she joked, smiling a little, remembering how he'd gotten sick. "I should be alright until we get to the car." "Then lets head to the car" she smiled, backing up towars the car, just wishing she could pull him along like old times. "I'm not letting you freeze" "And I'm not so lets not let you freeze" she nodded her head his way, almost leaning in to kiss him at the motion, their bodys where close, but niether touched. She wanted to feel his arms around her, pulling her into him with a force, feel that fire that burned inside of her when ever things got passionate. Desperatly wanting to feel his sweet plump lips against hers.
She was on the road for sometime, every once in a while her gaze drifted over to the sleeping Tony, it was nice to see him so peacfull and getting so much sleep. Though she knew that was not going to last, he'd slept way longer than he was used to. He was making her feel a little drowsey and it wasn't long before her eyes began to flutter closed, the car drifted over a lane. Her body woke up up suddenly, and she moved back over a lane, her foot went a little heavy on the gas though the car slowly gaining speed and she slipped of again in a sleep. To scared to wake him up and get him to take over, her eyes were to heavy and before she knew it she fell asleep at the wheel. Little did she know that she had drifted to the hard shoulder, causing Tony to wake up, her mind still picked up on the sounds around her, even feeling it when he touched her, just making her smile, her mind filled with the sence of her laid in bed next to him. "Welp, You're done driving" she jumped back a little, waking up ever so slightly "Noo.. nope i'mmm awake!" she tried to protest but her eyelids had other ideas, her speech slured by sleep and she nodded of again, his touch on her leg didn't even pull her round this time, feeling the car coming to a stop she just let herself go, head flopping forward. Just missing the steering wheel. her breathing slowed and deepened almost like she was snoring, but silently. She was just so exhausted. Though that didn't stop her when she felt his arms around her, lifting her up and the cold, suddenly cold, she shivered pulling at his shirt, curling into his chest, snuggling her head into his shoulder and neck. She was so tired that all that had happened between them was all washed away, just the happy memories of her and him in her mind. "Come on" His voice lulled her to sleep, or rather kept her that way, a smile lingered over her lips, just reveling in the sheer happyness of her thoughts, so glad to be this close to him again. She curled up into the chair, still warm from him being laid in it for some time, his smell lingured in the frabic, but not enough for her, she could smell him much closer on the other side, twisting round to him, locking her hands around his neck, curling up as best she could against him, she spoke out of droswey, drunkeness, still holding on to the real world just that much longer. "I love you" she whispered so very quietly as her hands fell from his neck, she pulled them into her chest, her head rolled over to the opposite side. she felt it when his hand ran over her face through her hair and she just let go, falling into the best sleep and dream world, where everything was all dandy and fine. her dream was filled of the two having fun, laughing together, his arms wrapped around her, then something else, the pictures zoomed out as if someone was filming them, his arms wrapped around her from behind and rested on her, rather large round stomache, the golden ring upon their fingers gleamed brightly in teh orange of the sun, beaming through into their large house, his large house, now filled with more belongings, baby things dotted here and there. the pictures of their wedding dotted around the place, some on canvas' hanging large upon the white washed walls. The dream suddenly went from amazing to morbid and dreadful. she was now in a car driving at top speed down a motor way, suddenly everything went black, she panicked, twitching in her sleep, she could feel the outside world again, the car had come to a stop, and thus she went into overdrive, her mind making things up, thinking they'd crashed, but wasn't your life supposed to flash before your eyes? if so then why had she seen them married and happy, thats not what had happened. She was confused and worried. The cool air rushing into the car made her curl up closer, knee's pulled to her chest and she directed her dream away from the horrible place, thinking of the good times with him again, soon she fell back asleep again, dreaming of him once more, her mind slipping down into a peacful state.
Pepper soon stired, coming round after sleeping for a little while, the orange of the rising sun burned the back of her eyelids, making her stretch out a little, suddenly she remembered that she was in a car, driving.. wait, she had been driving. She woke startled, sitting bolt upright almost smashing her head on the front window. "HOLY CRAP!" She exclaimed as the reality suddenly hit her. Looking over she saw that Tony had somehow gotten in the driving seat. "Did... did i fall asleep?" she asked a little groggy, rubbing at her face with her hands. "dam it!" She twisted to the window clipping her head on it, feeling like crap. "I'm such an idiot!" she spoke softly, her hand balled up into a fist as she got a little pissed with herself again. She really was just the most idiotic person she'd ever met, how could she let herself get so tired she'd fallen asleep!? she pulled her knee's up to her chest, burrying her face as she hugged them to her. Feeling like a complete and utter twat.

It wasn't long before she started to stir, but it took Tony time to notice it. His eyes were glued to the road and his thoughts elsewhere. He heard the leather squeak as she moved but didn't react, not until she sat bolt upright did he jump sending his heart palpating Holy crap! He nearly jumped out of his skin, but the car never stopped, his foot only fell heavier for a moment kicking up the RPM then letting it drop back down as he set the cruise control again to a steady 85mph. Did…did I fall asleep?…Dammit!….I'm such an idiot He didn't say a word, he was scared shitless by her sudden jerk back to earth. His eyes were wide and unmoving as they looked to the road. He let out a breath that he had caught when she woke and fell back in the seat. Snapping out of it. "Jesus christ don't scare me like that!" He breathed and both of his hands came up and rubbed his face his knee holding the wheel steady for the brief moment. "Yes, you did fall asleep, like I said would happen. So I guess..I told ya so" He said and looked over at her who gave him a very stern look throwing the appropriate response at him and he only grinned. She was just setting herself up every time she opened her mouth. Even his broken heart that struggled to even take looking at her wouldn't let his old self be damaged. In all honesty, if he didn't go on like nothing was happening..he would slip down that cliffside into depression, if he didn't laugh he would cry. "Mmm, where, when and how hard?" He grinned and prepared himself for a slap or a punch in the arm. He was just trying to make this memory have some smiles. He didn't want to end this with her with all of this hurt, he wanted a little bit of laughs when he looked back on it. He put his arm out blocking her swatting hand. "Hey! I'm driving!" He laughed, first time he laughed like that in a while.
"Anyway, you go back to sleep. And I forbid you to wake up if it isn't for a bathroom break or you're starving to death." He looked over to her from the road, she still looked exhausted, her eyes were sunken in and dark, her face drooped. "Don't worry about me, you need your beauty sleep. Not that you're not beautiful right now, but--just go to sleep" He said with a sheepish smile, almost getting lost in his thoughts again. Knowing what he would have said would have just been slightly wrong, she wouldn't want to hear any of that from him, not at this point. She said so herself, not in the exact words but they were pretty much over. He looked back to the road and kicked the pedal down more, shifting the gears and going faster. Going silent once more. A few more hours passed and it was around noon now the sun high in the sky and bright, he was able to turn the heat off since the rays beat through the windows and heated the inside of the car. Which in turn burned less gas. Neither of them were really hungry since their late dinner hadn't burned off yet. But come their usual late lunch both of them would be hungry. He felt his head starting to get stuffy, and his sinuses began to clog up. The onset of a sinus headache came on now. Maybe he would get sick after all, but if it kept Pepper from getting sick it would be worth it. As a couple more hours passed it had moved down to his chest, making him cough up the mucus. The wet cough able to be heard deep in his chest. But it sounded more like allergies now than a chest and head cold. It had been a while since he was sick like this, so his body was caught off guard. He tried keeping his coughing down to a minimum, to keep her from waking up. But his stomach started growling, he felt bad for waking her up but they both needed the food if they were going to face the people at Quantico. And with Tony being sick, it would be that much harder. Looking down at the GPS, they would arrive in Quantico in another six hours. Getting them there at eight. Probably going for dinner then, if he was feeling up for it. He reached over and tapped Pepper's knee coming up to the next town where restaurants advertised their services on large signs on the highway. "Pepper" He said his voice congested. "We're stopping off to eat, the last stop before Quantico." He said when she woke up. He pulled into the parking lot of the only decent restaurant he had found, Outback Steakhouse. It was definitely the higher end of the chain restaurants.

"Jesus christ don't scare me like that!" She breathed heavy, with a sigh she pulled back sharply to look at him. "Then dont move me! or wake me up, jeeze!" she sighed, her head dropping back to her knee's with a thump. She was not feeling good at all, possibly having been woken before her full sleep cycle was over. "Yes, you did fall asleep, like I said would happen. So I guess..I told ya so" She peered over to him from her legs. "Fuck you!" she spoke with no emotion, just stating it at him. "Mmm, where, when and how hard?" She looked at him snapping back upright, her feet dropping to the floor. her face in the expression of 'excuse me?!' But that didn't last all to long, she burst out laughing and swatted at him, she couldn't help it when he was like that. "Hey! I'm driving!" "she laughed at hearing him laugh, enjoying that melodic sound instead of the driery silence, though not as much as him, just a little left over giggles. "You started it" she spoke with a smile, shaking her head at him.He was being rediculous, but in a funny way. her mind compeltely forgetting about the little ordeal before them, she leaned on his shoulder. "what would you have said if i said, right here, right now?" She teased, pulling back and looking at him twisting round in her seat. "Just kidding!" she laughed then leaned back in her seat still chuckling away to herself. if he was playing those games she sure as hell would join in, so desperatly missing that between them. "Anyway, you go back to sleep. And I forbid you to wake up if it isn't for a bathroom break or you're starving to death." She saluted him "Sir yes sir!" She smiled then settled back down, finding it a little hard now her mind was a little more at peace. "Don't worry about me, you need your beauty sleep. Not that you're not beautiful right now, but--just go to sleep" She riased an eyebrow look at him, "And whats that supposed to mean?" she said just messing with him again. She laughed gently "You dont have to tell me twice" she spoke with a more softer tone. she settled down soon drifting of the sleep, the sound of his chuckles stuck in her mind as she drifted of, smiling ever so gently as she fell back into that amzing sleep., where everything was jolly and good, Tony was happy, she was over the moon, and they were married, like she had dreamt peacfully before, untill she was suddenly pulled out of it. so glad to be back there now, she leaned upon the window, though the coolness of it effected her soon falling back over to the warmth, leaning upon Tony, her head, pretty much face planting his shoulder, not even stirring her awake. Smiling into his shoulder, her hand slipping over his chest, pulling at the front of his shirt, trying to pull him closer, completely forgetting about them being in the car, her dreams just felt so real, maybe it was because she wanted him back so badly, that she made herself believe they were real.
They soon faded, and she'd moved back to curl up against the door, him having gently pushed her away, without her even realizing this, just curling right back up again. Though now she was coming round already, not in as much a deep sleep, she felt the warmth upon her knee, the sparks shooting up her leg, let her know it was just Tony, at that she stirred and slowly came too. "Pepper" she stretched, curling back up again, not wanting those dreams to be over. "We're stopping off to eat, the last stop before Quantico." At the sound of food she opened her eyes, suddenly feeling the pang in her stomache. She turned opening her eyes to him, smiling gently. Her hand reached out and ran lightly over his cheek. "I'm awake, food sounds good" she yawned and stretched arching her back of the seat, her eyes dropping seeing that her shoes were no longer on her feet. "hey, did you take my shoes of? if not, thats skillful" she laughed gently, wondering how she would have taken them off when she was sleeping. But knew he would have done it for her.
Leaning down she pulled them back on, doing up the tiny buckles. As she looked at the window she cringed, the place was quite posh looking and she didn't match that at all, well atleast she didn't think so. "I can't go in there, not like this, i feel grimy" she sulked slouching down in her chair. "I want a shower" she complain pouting like a child. folding her arms over her chest. "If i could change my clothes i might, Might being the big word here, go inside. But if not dont count on it" yet again she was being difficult, possibly just pissing him of, or the opposite, amusing him.

"I did take you're shoes off. I don't know how you do it with the little buckle things. They're a bitch. But experience speaks for itself" He said with a grin and pulled into the parking spot and killing the engine. I cant go in there. Not like this, I feel grimy…I want a shower Oh boy here we go again. He looked over and saw her fold her arms over her chest. "Oh boy." he groaned quietly and fell back in the seat. If I could change my clothes I might, Might being the big word here, go inside. But if not dont count on it He chuckled, remembering this side of her all too well. "You haven't changed a bit" he teased and put the keys in the cup holder. "But you do smell" He teased and began to unbutton his shirt, "I'm changing too so get moving, I'm hungry" he teased with a wink and unlocked the doors letting them both out. The chill hitting him and he sucked in a breath, the sun's heat now gone even if it still beat down on him. His lungs wheezed with the sudden intake of air in his lungs. He popped the trunk and pulled both of their bags to him. Pushing hers her way before turning to cough a little harder than before. His lungs hacking up the congestion, stinging from it. This wasn't going to be fun, he always got cranky when he felt like shit. And well..now he was starting to feel like shit.
He grabbed a new set of clothes, this time getting a long sleeved jet black button up and pair of darker dress jeans. When Pepper had gotten her things he closed the trunk and headed back to the front of the car to change. Sliding his seat all the way back he closed the door and began to unbutton his shirt and shimmying it off. All of course after Pepper got in and shut her door. Where they were parked faced the woods, so no wandering eyes could see through the windshield, but the side windows were tinted black preventing anyone driving by from seeing them. He pushed his hips up to take his jeans off undoing the zipper and pulling them down off his waist and pulling them off completely and stuck them next to him between his side and the center console. Pulling on the other pair, not really even looking at Pepper's slim figure but he could definitely see it out of the corner of his eye. Gawd did he love that body, every curve she threw at him. And dammit she had skinnies on. He wanted to just jump on her then, and kiss her until they both passed out from the lack of air. He looked away cutting off his vision completely as he pulled on his shirt and he felt a weight on his lap and his head snapped around seeing Pepper laying over him her jeans down by the middle of her thighs. Memories flooding back to him, deja vu all over again. He let go of his shirt and laid his arm over her midsection just like before but it meant nothing more now. "Need help again?" He asked with a chuckle, normally his thumb would be tracing small patterns on her side but now it didn't even touch her, and stayed still.

"You haven't changed a bit" She glared at him. "You say it like a bad thing" she spoke though not directly at him. "But you do smell" she sat upright then "well way to make a girl feel better" "I'm changing too so get moving, I'm hungry" She looked at him with a wondering glance as he started unbuttoning his shirt. "what if i said no" her tone now gone a little lighter. "Well guess i have no choice huh?" she asked and moved to push her door open. She looked around herself, wondering where she'd get changed, then glanced back down to the car, she was going to have to change in that again, with a sigh she moved to take her suitcase from him as he pushed it her way. She unziped it with ease, her messy case made her sigh, the memory hitting her like a fresh slap in the face. She grabbed out a clean pair of jeans and a blouse, moving back to the car at pretty much the same time as him. She looked at him when he began coughing, worried that he was getting sick, maybe it was his reactor, her min jumped to a thousand things at once, too much of it flooding her mind made her feel a little dizzy, she hid it well though, just making it look like she scuffed her heels on the ground. Just as they were getting into the car, she paused looking over the top of the roof, tapping her free hand on the top of it. "You okay?" she asked with an expression like a curious dogs. Slipping into the cr just as he did. She closed the door and slipped her dress of, feeling a little exposed, she placed it over herself, covering her over a little, watching out the windows in case anyone came by. they were pretty lucky in the spot they had gotten, pretty much secluded, a little more satisfied she dropped her dress at her feet, pulling her blouse on first, long enough to cover her, but not so to be a dress. when she went to pull on her jeans, she got a little stumped, not able to stretch out enough to pull them on, causing her to fall into Tony's lap, she smiled up to him, remembering this all to well, they'd been here once before. "Need help again?" she chuckled just like him. "haha yeah i guess so" She moved a little more, pushing herslef so her head was at an awkward angle against his door, if she moved a little more to the left she'd be able to bite his side. It crossed her mind, but the way he'd moved his arm over to her jeans, stopped it. No usual games of tickling her sides, her running his hands over her stomache. Nothing, he really was distraught, killing her mood just that little bit. "How about i button your shirt then" she smiled, her fingers tracing up his side and moved over to his shirt. she'd lifted her ass up pushing her feet against the door, just leaning on her shoulder blades almost, she did his buttons as best she could at this angle, finding it a little hard, especially at how she was sat, she couldn't exactly bend round to the right angle to get the buttons done, it took her a while to do one, eventually holding his shirt down with her teeth, untill he'd zipped her up, she plonked her ass back down onto her seat, then shifted round, pulling herself up sitting almost on the gear stick as she carried on with doing up his shirt, fighting him of as he tried to take over. "Nope I've got it!" she expclaimed at every protest he made towards her. So used to having to do this sort of thing for him anywyas, it made no difference to her. she pulled back into her seat and slipped back on her heels, feeling a little better now she had changed. "I think im good, lets go eat" she looked at herself in the small mirror first, running her hands through her hair, to just neaten it up a little, wiping away the little bit of black smudged under her eyes. she wasn't all that bothered about make up, just if she felt grimy she felt self concious. "lets go" she said with a smile and slipped out of the car. Moving straight round to him, and just made sure his shirt was correct brushing it over his shoulders. "All good" She gave him her work smile, then stepped aside, walking with him towards the resturant,only to notice he had his shirt sticking out the back. Jumping forward she tucked it in, thinking nothing of it, snapping his band back with a laugh. "wasn't quite ready actually" She laughed moving ahead of him a little.

He stared down at her for a moment, their eyes meeting briefly. This was all just bringing back so much, he wanted it all back so desperately. He wanted to just yell at the top of his lungs to get it all back. The way she scooted up on him sent the same feelings pushed against the wall he put up ever since the incident less than a day before. His clogged chest ached, but it wasn't the ache you got from a chest cold; it was from heartbreak. He may have been smiling but his eyes showed the pain. How about I button your shirt then, his smile grew, she was all about having deals and incentives. His eyes softened but still held that hurt, "Sure" He said with a smile and a nod, his voice a little rough from the coughing and mucus. When she lifted her waist up his hands found the waistbands of her pants, his movements were slow. But not like they were the first time they had been through this ordeal of getting her pants on. He spaced out, still trying to pull her pants up to her hips. He began to daydream, feeling her hand come right up around the back of his neck and pulling him right back down to her lips, getting lost in a kiss. Her hands wandering just as his would be. The feeling of her ivory skin under his palms as his hand found hers while his other arm under her back and holding her hand at her chest as he pulled her up to him locking his lips with hers once more as she laid in the crook of his arm. He slowly came back to the real world, not wanting to leave that dream behind. He buttoned up her jeans and pulled the zipper up, his hands almost wandering, but only laying flat on her pockets. Her waist dropped out from under them and his smile had faded but his face stayed soft, even with the overgrown itchy stubble that he hadn't shaved for a few days, it even reached under his chin and down his neck a little, his face was softer than a puppy's. His hands reached back up and he tried to button his shirt but she just swatted him away, bringing the smile right back to his face. "Gimme." He said with a chuckle but she protested. "Give me my shirt back you crazy lady" He joked and gave up after she was already on the last couple. Nope I've got it! He shook his head and laid his arm over her side again letting her finish the buttons and letting her sit back up again as she slipped her heels back on. I think I'm good, lets go eat "Finally" He said with a dramatic sigh and a softer smile but it still was playful. Lets go he grinned and got out of the car when she did locking the doors as they rounded to the front, only he was cut off by her popping up right in front of him smoothing out his shirt, he stared at her again. Her touch closing that circuit on the switchboard in his brain flooding his mind with memories and his body sparked. All good She gave him that fake smile and he sighed pursing his lips. He didn't like that smile. It wasn't hers. He didn't like it. He walked in with her only to have his waist pulled back a little by her tucking the back of his shirt in his pants Wasn't quite ready actually the snap of his band made him pause but his feet kept moving. If this wasn't happening between them right now..the awkward pre-breakup feelings…he would snatch her up and find somewhere to sneak off to, probably reliving the day they snuck into the office and then some. Making each other sweat in the icy air, not even caring about anything but each other and the pleasure raging through their veins.
"Your waitress will be right with you" He didn't even realize he sat down let alone walked across the restaurant following someone and Pepper, letting her go ahead and being the gentleman he brought up the rear. He snapped out of it when he heard the hostess's voice and the waitress was soon to follow up on the table. Giving her scripted welcome and asking them for any drinks, he didn't really register much, his mind elsewhere and clogged with mucus. He heard Pepper speak and he looked up at the waitress, "I'll take hot tea if you have it" He said his voice still effaced by his sinuses, sounding even more congested than last time. Tony never was a tea drinker, but he needed the sweet steam to rush up his nose to make it easier for him to breathe again and take the pressure from his head. He looked over the menu choosing a nice hearty meal to hold him off for the rest of the drive, mentally choosing the biggest steak plate there was on the menu, of course costing about thirty five dollars, but he could care less, his stomach protested and announced its need for something other than mucus. The steaming cup of green tea was slid in front of him and the steam rushed up his nose, feeling incredibly good. He began adding sugar to it and fixing it up for himself and stirred it keeping his nose over the steam. "Eat up, we got a long six hour haul after this then we can relax finally" he said with a chuckle and a sniffle feeling the mucus in his sinuses move.

She'd half expected him to react when she had pingged his waist band agianst him, but nothing. At that she sighed, her stance lowering a little and she walked ahead of him, leaving him to follow in his rather irritating moping state. It was starting to piss her of somewhat. She already had a table set up and waiting when he joined her, finaly. They walked to the table though he just seemed so out of it, not even there with her, if they weren't in public right now, she'd give him a nice wake up call, slapping or punching him, whichever her heart most desired. right now, she just wanted to eat an get the hell out of here. "Your waitress will be right with you" Good, she thought, maybe this will be a quick dining. If not, she make sure it was. before she even had chance to look over their drink selection they were interjected by the pushey waitress, she rolled her eyes when they were asked what drinks they would like, she spoke not even looking at her, giving her a cold stance. "I would like to look over the menu first thank you very much" her tone was bitter and a way of saying 'piss off' without the rudeness of it. She looked over to Tony as he ordered the tea, knowing that he was not fine and dandy like he always tried to make out, she knew that when he drunk tea, he was sick. "You are not going to get any betetr if you keep up this attitude mister" She paused "Oh and dont give any of that bullshit, I know when your sick" she used the same tone with him as she did in the work place when she was pissed of with him, which I might add was pretty much all the time.
Her eyes scaned over the menu, searching for what her stomache most desired, not coming up on anything that caught her minds atttention, not even one single dish, just displeasing her so much more. She placed the menu down a little bit too hard making it snap as it hit the table, the sound ricohetting around the place. She was feeling grouded, like a lion trapped in a cage, so many eyes upon him with no hiding places to turn to, shut out of your own comfort home just to please the eyes of others. She began to fidget, trying to get confortable, but no matter what position she sat it was just not good enough for her. "Eat up, we got a long six hour haul after this then we can relax finally" Yes another long journey with mister grumpy pants, just make her that little bit more pissed. If he was going to be like this the whole week she sure as hell wasn't staying to witness it.
"I need some air" She placed her napkin on the table, taking her clutch and headed outside. The cool air felt like a relief to her clammy skin. It wasn't dark yet to her dismay, but the air just help her mind to clear, feeling like she was finaly free of all those staring eyes, even if there were a few dotted around the parking lot, the fresh feeling of being outdoors didn't allow that trapped feeling to resurface.
Pepper walked around a little aimlessly, soon coming upon a bench where she sat, pondering what to happen next. should she go back in feeling better, to face those peering eyes, to face him? Or stay out here in the open, the cool air keeping her temper to a minium. She really hated it when he emotions where so allover the place, she never knew what to do. Being away from her usual, the working patterns, it messed her up even more, she liked routine, like organisation and this was just manic maddness.
Sitting there for a while she finaly deceided to head back, to face those people, pulling out her work ethics and mind, heading back in with her head held high and the forced smile across her face. She joined him at the table, having expected him to be bored and finding some nice woman to chat up, just like the old ways. She finaly sat down just as his meal was brought out to him, having not ordered anything herself she just sat there, sipping at the cool glass of water, not once even looking at him. "So no woman come to chat you up, none take a liking to your eye?" she spat at him, feeling tired of his moping around. If he wanted to be like this she wasn't going to show anymore sympathy, nor anything towards him. Maybe making him feel lost and alone might bring him round, If not, then well, she had no idea what to do.

He kept his head down, fearing that if he looked up at her he would lose it at her attitude. What in gods name was up with this woman, one minute she was poking fun with him, making him smile. And now he just really wanted to take a fork to her neck after sticking icepicks in his ears. Hearing her huffs and puffs and her fidgeting. I need some air He didn't say a word, just stared into the white mug of tea in front of him. You're not going to get better if you keep up this attitude mister….don't give any of that bullshit, I know when you're sick He growled remembering her words, yeah no shit she knew when he was sick. He wasn't going to give her any bullshit. Why did she always expect him to give her shit about everything that happened to him? She always jumped the gun. And that pissed him off. He sat in silence for a long while, the waitress only coming over when Pepper had left, and even some time after that. Probably due to her attitude towards the help. He shook his head and held it in his hands pushing the mug away from him.
"Mr. Stark, are you ready to order or would you like to wait for--"
"I am, she can order when she gets back if she chooses to..Sorry about her, we're not feeling so good" He offered a half smile, just trying to make her feel a little better. "I'll just have the New York strip platter thing" He said not really concentrating right now, but she knew what he meant just as he pointed at it, leaving a menu behind in the holder at the other end of the table in case Pepper wanted to look through it again and trotted off. He folded his hands together on the table, his knuckles turning white with the grip he had. Why did she have to and try to push his buttons like this. After all he's done for her, And to her his conscience interjected and he pulled a face wishing it would just stay out of it. About twenty minutes passed and Pepper still wasn't back yet, but like clockwork, his meal came out and Pepper scooted back in her seat. He managed to get a few bites in, not really tasting anything because of his stuffy nose, but the food filled him, and that was all that mattered. Not really caring if she looked at him or not, but it would have been nice of her to try and make him feel better, he was already feeling like shit, why did she always make it worse. It was like he was her punching bag. Physically he could be, for a while but not emotionally nor mentally. He may looked like and carried himself like he was made of steel but he was just a teddy bear. At times like these, things affected him more than usual.
So no woman came to chat you up, none take a liking to your eye? He dropped his fork at that, clanking on the dish. His jaw set when he swallowed his food, and his eyes picked right up to her with his eyebrows knitting together. "I cant believe this." He grumbled and balled up the cloth napkin in his fist and tossed it on his plate pushing the whole dish to the end of the table, no longer hungry. Losing his appetite at her statement, and losing his temper as well. At the gas station just a few hours ago, he took out some money, remembering the pin from before, but only in a lucky guess. He tossed forty dollars on the table, leaving the waitress a nice tip and got up from his seat. "You. Outside. Now" He spat right back at her pointing at her then to the door throwing his thumb over his shoulder, turning his back in her direction and marching out the front door of the place. Knowing she wouldn't immediately follow, but the awkwardness of sitting at a table by herself with no food in front of her would drive her out sooner or later. Either way he waited for her, leaning on the back of the car with one foot crossed over the other. His arms folded over his chest a deadly glare locked on where he would expect her to round the building from. After a while he saw her marching towards him, her knuckles white from the grip she had on her clutch. He pushed off the car making the tires creaked from the force and he marched right to her. No one outside now, and they were away from the windows. "You got a problem Pepper? What the hell was that?" He hissed and his hand shot out next to her motioning to the building. "What is your goddamn problem?" He snipped at her, colder than the air that froze the tops of his ears. "Why do you always feel like you have to take shots at me?" He said a little loudly. She walked past him but he turned right back to her grabbing hold of her arm. "Talk to me. Stop running off." He demanded and walked in front of her. "Stop just jumping the gun about everything. Why is it that you always think I'm looking for some girl to get in bed with. Get in someone's pants." He let go of her after his fingers dug into her muscle there. "You know, I cant even wait to get to Quantico, so can we leave?" He growled, and be rid of your sorry ass his temper added on in his mind, he turned back to walk towards the car, "Get in. Don't argue just Get. In" He spoke through his teeth. She didn't move, right now he may not admit it, but he needed her, even if he didn't show it. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Please. Just get in the car." he spoke a little more softly now but it still held that tempered edge.

"You. Outside. Now" so this was what it had come too, people began looking and she just sat there, smiling with her press smile. Just letting them know nothing was going on, she was good at hiding those real feelings, feelings that made her feel so open so vunerable, which she hated dearly, she liked to be in control, to know what was going on.
she soon stood, feeling ever so awkward sitting there alone, feeling like she'd been stood up, though he'd meerly left her there, pissed of with her. She just didn't unerstand why she was doing this, everytime she thought she had a hold on it, it just came back worse.
her anger flared up and she stood making the chair legs grate across the floor, making a rather ear spillting sound, but that didn't even touchher, she didn't even notice it in her haze of hatred. She walked, no marhced out of the buildingm her heels clicking on the ground, showing a more confident in her stride, where as she was actually crapping herself. What was he going to do next, run her over with the car? shot her with the suit, leave her here stranded. The last part made her heart ache more than any. The thought of him leaving her would bring her to her knees.
As soon as he saw he he made a line right towards her and she simple held her head high, walking right up to him, though inside she was dying, crumbling down. [i["You got a problem Pepper? What the hell was that?"[/i] No actually she didn't have a problem, she was just... just, heck she didn't even understand it herself, what the heck was she doing?
when his hand shot out she flinched, big time, even seeing it in her own shadow on the ground. If he picked up on that she had no iea how she would expain it. would she finally tell him the truth? "What is your goddamn problem?.... Why do you always feel like you have to take shots at me?" she had no idea why, she didn't even want to talk about it, but his tone, it sent chills through her, numbing that already cold case around her heart. she'd never opeend it to anyone before, and to behonest she was scared, shitless. she wanted to let him in, just letgo of everything and have that life with him, but everytime she wanted to, something stopped her, wether it be her conscience or herself; from fear, she wouldn't be able to tell you, for she had no idea, still trying to figure that much out.
Pepper tried to move past him and just get into the car, but as she move his hadn snapped out grabbing her back, brining back all the pain to the surface, the way he'd just knocked her down without even a sturggle or a tension in his muscles, maybe she was acting this way through fear of him. "Talk to me. Stop running off." her eyes closed, or well they looked to be so, her gaze so low, her eyelashes almost kissed her cheeks. "Stop just jumping the gun about everything. Why is it that you always think I'm looking for some girl to get in bed with. Get in someone's pants." she looked up to him finally. "Beacuse thats who you are Tony thats who you've always been, and that's all i remember of you. It bothers me. everytime i kiss you, i think of all those other woman who've been here before me, all those woman that've been with you before me. yes we have others, but not like you, i dont even know how many you've been with" Actually she did and it was shocking a large number. "I. dont like it" she jerked her arm away as he let go, turning her back to him taking a deep breath, hateing how she'd just laid it all on him in a sudden gush of words. "You know, I cant even wait to get to Quantico, so can we leave?" why was he so eager, oh yeah, so he could get rid of her just like all those other woman. Her heart practically melted, her chest went all tingled in the most left side,her heart broke. One reason why she never had a relationship in the first place too weak to cope with the heart break, and now it hit, taking her over like some alien, coming to invade. "Get in. Don't argue just Get. In" she wasn't even going to argue, she'd happily get in the car, the only way out of here for her. It was either get ditched or get in the car with him. At the moment niether seemed goo to her, but the odds weighed better towards the car. "Please. Just get in the car." She sighed and moved forward after a while, climing into the car and leaned against the door, her back turned to him. Now was the question. Woul she leave when they got there, or was she going to stick it out?

..thats who you are Tony thats who you've always been, and thats all I remember of you….every time i kiss you, I think of all those other women who've been there before me, All those women that've been with you before me. Yes we have others…but not like you, I don't even know how many you've been with. I don't like it that entire statement played through his head for hours of silent driving. She was so right. Stumping him for words for at least three hours. And way after the sun had set in the sky. But he couldn't sit in this silent any longer, even if they were three hours outside of Quantico and would be sucked back into working, he wanted to get his true feelings out of the way too. He looked over at her, her face illuminated by the passing streetlights. His mind and head went back and forth deciding whether or not to talk to her. Looking to her then the road, then back at her. "Pepper.." He said gently and when she looked at him from the corner of her eye he looked back to the road but his eyes fell to the hood of the car then back. "I'm sorry…I told you before that I am under a lot of stress, and being sick doesn't help…but its still no excuse for all I've done to you since we left LA." he said pausing for a moment, deciding if he should keep talking or not, but he needed to get it off his chest even if she didn't listen. "And I know you've seen me with so many others, I see that now…now it was just the biggest mistake of my life because now no one can take me seriously. Even when I do find the--" he stopped, not even sure if that mattered anymore. "Pepper, if this doesn't work out..I just want you to know, that when I'm with you..none of those girls matter anymore. And everything felt like it was happening for the first time…In the past few months, I felt like my life had purpose again, and that I really don't like one night stands as much as I thought" He said with an extremely nervous chuckle but it held no humor. "If you do decide to leave…" He said slowly and looked out the side window angling his head away from her, "Just know that I wont forget you." He said his voice tight. It took everything in him to admit that openly, it took anyone extreme courage to openly admit something like that.
The car slowed as they reached more city like streets, and neighborhood streets as well. Signs began to pop up for Quantico and he knew how close they were. He hadn't taken his Aviators from his eyes since they left the restaurant, and he was glad that he didn't, the cold able to cover up the real reason that his nose clogged up just then. He drove with his right hand, able to stay at a good speed without shifting much, his shoulder hiding the tears that fell down his cheek, as the distance to Quantico got smaller, more tears fell. And he tried keeping the shudders to a minimum. Trying not to full out cry or sob with her in the car. He just intently stared at the road ahead and they fell as they pleased. When he did shift the stick it was quick and his hand came right back to where it sat on the wheel. But he had to straighten up before they got there, she couldn't see him like this, could she? Should she? Maybe she would realize how much he cared about her.

Pepper stared out the window, not once even bothering to look at him, just watching as the outside world went by, everyone just going by like nothing was going on, she envied them. wishing that she could just go back to being happy, even if that meant never being with Tony, she had been happy before, but not has happy as when she'd finally gotten together with him. She didn't feel like talking, not at all. Her mind slipping back to when she'd just pratically poured her heart out, or well part of the things that bothered her so much. Having no idea where she'd suddenly got the strength to say it. which you might say was not her, she always had something to say, always spoke her mind, but that was in the work place, she knew what she was doing there. when it came to relationships, she was at a loss, not used to being with someone else, having to think about the other person. Even being his PA she never really thought of him as himself, she was always doing it for the work, always for work, never anything for herself, just on the ocasional, birthdays. Everything she did was for the benifits of others, making sure Tony's buisness was on the ball, fixing all the paperwork, sorting out the press conference calls, making sure he was dressed appropiatly. She did this all for him. She did enjoy it, but did it really make her happy? all the photo's of her looking happy, smiling and enjoying herself, none of those moments was she once ever actually happy, all forced for the image, pictures might show smiles and happy faces, but you can never know the full emotions going through ones head at the time.
Pepper slowly drifted of the sleep, finding it easy as the cars went by, the sun setting in the sky. Her mind was already at ease, having released some of the tension, lifting a slight weight of her shoulders. watching the cars just lulled her into a light sleep, the sounds of the outer world coul be heard at the fientest of sounds in the back of her mind. she didn't dream of much, just colours and shapes and a darkness, pretty much how she felt, dull, dark and empty. She could here his voice softly in the back of her mind, casuing her to stir ever so slightly, but not quite enough to bring her fully round. Having no idea if she'd dreamt him saying her name, or that it was infact him trying to speak to her. His voice lingered int he back of her mind again, slowly pulling her from her sleep, but her eyes didn't open just yet, she sat in silence and listened as he seemed to have been speaking catching the middle or so, she wasn't sure ...you've seen me with so many others, I see that now…now it was just the biggest mistake of my life because now no one can take me seriously. Even when I do find the--" She sighed gently, more like a deep intake of breath. "Pepper, if this doesn't work out..I just want you to know, that when I'm with you..none of those girls matter anymore. And everything felt like it was happening for the first time…In the past few months, I felt like my life had purpose again, and that I really don't like one night stands as much as I thought" No they never do afterwards, but it was too late, he'd done it all, done practically every woman he liked the look of, just satisfiying his needs, was she just another one of those disposable woman. No she wasn't, she wouldn't let that be. He'd said he wanted to take it slow, or was it just an excuse to get rid of her before they even did anything more. "If you do decide to leave…Just know that I wont forget you." Did he really think that she was going to just leave him that easily. No, she wasn't giving up on him, she just thought that needed space and time to sort themselves out.
The flash of lights behind her eyelids made her open her eyes, stratching out a little, feeling stiff from sitting in the same position for so long. She shifted her wieght over and pulled herself to sit properly in the chari, her eyes carefully flicked over to him, without moving her head, just cathcing him out the cornor of her eye. she looked up out the window, wondering where abouts they were,her eyes caught the flash of a sigh going by, they were just a few miles from qunatico, possibly another 2 hours. She sighed, another 2 hours of silence. She was looking forward to being out of the car and finally at the base, wishing they had just gotten there much quicker. Staring out her side window she rested her eyes, just falling into a peaceful state of mind.

As the minutes passed, Tony began to reflect on his actions. All the actions against Pepper that he could remember, his mind seemed like it let the dam release and they all hit him at once. Mentally he shook his head, but physically he blinked hard, seeming to wipe the slate clean and focus on recent events. Like the restaurant, how he kinda just flipped on her, not giving her a chance to even explain herself until her heart poured out in front of him. And he just was too busy being caught up in himself to even notice how scared she was of him at the time. How badly she flinched with his movements; movements that resembled the motions of an impending strike. Not his intentions at all but he could easily see how someone in that state of mind that she was in could mistake it for being hit. His heart sank into this stomach. He never even thought about how she had felt, seeing how scared she was but his temper just controlled him. What the poor girl has been through, the kidnapping, the rape and the close call of the second one that he was able to stop only because he decided to stay until she was okay. Then it was what happened less than twenty four hours before…it seemed so long ago but at the same time it was like it just happened. If she reacted to him swatting his hand like he did…that only meant that he had done something more to her that night, his greatest fear seemed to encase his mind, digging in spikes to hold it in place. Did he lay hands on her? If he did…what on earth did he inflict on her…? Never would he dream of laying hands on a woman out of anger, especially Pepper. The only time he laid hands on her was with love, or worry; trying to snap her out of a dangerous daydream and deadly thoughts when she had her moments of PTSD from the kidnapping. He only laid hands on her to help her and love her, never to hurt her.
He felt her eyes on him but he was so caught up in driving and in his thoughts his eyes glued to the road and even if she wasn't looking directly in them, anyone could tell that he was just lost in his mind; distant from the world. The intensifying rumble of the engine as his foot weighed down on the pedal was a sign that he was still somewhat conscience and he desperately needed out of the car, he felt trapped, like he couldn't breathe for much longer. His eyes drifted over to her, then his head soon followed seeing her staring out the window, kinda wishing she was looking at him, he sighed and reluctantly tore his gaze away and looked back to the road. Staying silent for a while until a coughing fit took over. The coughing had gotten worse since their first stop. He coughed into this sleeve that was away from Pepper, the crackle was sickening and he coughed hard once and the goose cough came out and it was practically over, but his lungs wheezed and his throat burned from the scratchiness. He just wanted to crawl into a bed and sleep with a good menthol rub to clear all of this up. But he had neither of those things, and as the time flew by the sicker he felt. The cold finally affecting his head and making him feel sick and nauseous, his stomach filled with nothing but the mucus he coughed up made his whole body feel heavy and his stomach churned at the thought of it sitting in there. His eyes drooped and blurred, only making the gates of Quantico that much harder to read when they pulled up to it. Knowing who it was the almost didn't stop him but remembered their usual military protocol. Tony rolled his window down and flashed his ID and the usual credentials and they let him in closing the metal gates behind them. "Jarv, where did they put us?" He asked the AI and the Navigation minimized and information about their stay came up, they already had a schedule planned out which made Tony groan in distaste. "You're lodging is 321 2nd Avenue." Jarvis responded highlighting the new route there. Tony followed it all the way back into the woods, even turning onto a dirt driveway leading back to the couple higher end townhouses back there. Tucked away in the woods far off the main action of the base. It was a larger two story townhouse. His headlights hit two figures standing outside, the two planners from a few weeks ago, the ones that drove him up the wall. He grimaced, glaring right at them but the darkness covering the action. He wanted to just plow them down where they stood. Instead he pulled into the concrete driveway in front of a garage door. Tony wasn't even out of the car for two seconds before they were already hounding him about the schedule of meetings that he had to attend and where they would be. "Boys, just leave it. I already have the schedules and I can find my way around" He said quietly holding his hand up as he stood at the trunk to get his things. "We've had a long day and we'd appreciate it if you just left us alone" He said but their attitudes were getting worse by the second. Being very pushy and cocky with him. Almost like now Tony was on their turf and what they said was what it would be.

Pepper had slept for some time waking up just as he pulled up to the base. with a stretch, she yawned leaning forward and taking her pass from her clutch flashing it at the same time a Tony did. They rolled forward, though when he asked Jarvis where they were situated, she sighed, He pratcial worked an lived on bases, but he had no idea about them. He didn't even know about the sign in, going to reception ectera. But as they rolled up to the house it seemed they pretty much knew him, two guys were standing outsie the palce. She knew them, she'd seen them that day in Stark industries. She got out of the car before he even cut the engine. Taking her clutch purse and mae her way back own the road.
The place was so quite, no one around in their little street and it was a long walk back to the reception, wishing that Tony had just gone there in the first place, or maybe she should have just said soemthing. Her tire mind didn't really respond that well though, only having just woken up. she was glad to be out of the car, stretching her legs, being out in the fresh air. It just made her feel that much better. It helped her mind to clear. He'd tried saying sorry, but she hadn't registered it, what could she do? she sighed gently, walking past all these empty houses just made her feel that much more alone. atleast she was feeling more wide eyed and awake, the fresh cold air doing her some good. Not even feeling it on her warm skin for once, it actually felt nice and refreshing to her. Her head pricked up at hearing footsteps coming towards her, feeling a little skitish she almost jumped onto the grass, trying to hid in the shadows. The light though still caught her, she just looked forward and kept walking, ignoring the soilder, walking on the opposite side, he didn't even bother to stop and say hello or ask her where she was going, possibly thinking she was someone living on the base. Maybe he didn't even notice it was her, or he did and thats why he wasn't asking anything. She carried on walking possibly taking her around twenty minutes before she reached close to the reception. It wasn't even hard work for her to walk that far, having been used to waliking around Stark Industries alot, she was use to being on her feet.
Eye's flicked up when she walked into the reception, some shot her smiles some glared at her and left the room. She didn't care, let them do as they please. Possibly they didn't like a strong minded woman. Or the fact she was working with Tony just made them hate her. She walked over to the desk. "I'd like to sign in, well for me and Mr.Stark" she only ever called him Tony to his face, but normaly calling him Mr. Stark still, it was just so routine it stuck. she handed over her pass, just letting them know she was the real thing, not having stolen someone elses. She never really came on the bases with him, so to them it was odd. But surely they should be used to it. she just ignored the way they were tense around her, She hated that. People giving her the cold shoulder, tensing up when she walked over, Like she was going to bite their heads of. well she could do that, but that wasn't really why, they disliked her, many people did. She signed them both in, taking around five minutes; since she was not the kind to just sign things, she always read it over first, plus she'd never been on a base before and she wanted to read the rules an regulations first.
It took her the same amount of time to walk back to the place, Tony was still outside with the two guys, she could see that much the nearer she got, then the voices drifted through the wind to her. She sighed rolling her eyes. Alreay they were torturing him. She kind of felt bad for him. She marched right on up standing in front of Tony in a protective way. "I suggest you two get the fuck out of here, I ont want to here another word, I couls here you arguing down the road. We just got here, go annoy someone else cause I'm not in the mood for this" Her voice came stern and she stepped towards them with almost each wor poking a finger at them. she turned not even waiting to see if they would go, grabbing Tony by the arm and pulled him into the house. she pushed him through the door. "You need to go to bed, you're not helping yourself. You're sick and you need to rest" She spoke as she grabbed their suitcases, easily carrying them up the stairs and into the beroom, leaving the rest down stairs. She didn't know why but she just felt a little stronger than she had before, maybe it was the place, making her working face come out. Feeling more at work also brought out her stronger side.

As the two bombarded him and blamed him for them falling behind schedule Tony's head began to pound, and it showed. He leaned over the roof of the car, putting it between him and the two guys. His head was in his hands with his face flat on the roof of the car. "Will you two just shut up" He growled over and over, Pepper was long gone, taking off before he could even have a chance to ask her for her help with these two. But a familiar clicking of heels brought his attention back to something other than the two hammering him. "You say one more word--" I suggest you two get the fuck out of here, I don't want to hear another word, I could hear you arguing down the road. We just got here, go annoy someone else, cause I'm not in the mood for this "Thank yooou Pepper" Tony grumbled into the steel roof of the car. He jumped feeling her hand grip his arm and pulling him towards the front door. Normally if neither of them were so grumpy, she would have her fingers looped in the belt loops of his jeans and be luring him into the house with her seductive ways. Not even getting over the threshold without locking lips or his hands wandering over places not made for PDA. But this was…this wasn't what he wanted so desperately in this world. His eyes fell and he was pushed through the door into the foyer of the house. Not used to all the walls and things that came with a townhouse, he always liked his mansion and hotel villas. It almost felt like he was back in his childhood home. You need to go to bed. "I'm not tired" He said simply but she kept at it. You're not helping yourself. "What do you know" he growled, if he kept this up he surely wasn't helping either of their situations but he complied with her either way. You're sick and you need rest He was done arguing, he just trotted up the stairs, not having to climb a flight of stairs like that in decades. He remembered his mother always playing short games with him and he'd run up the stairs with her hot on his heels. Pepper was hot on his heels but with a far different mindset.
Shortly after, younger guys, probably just joining the force pulled up with the supply order that Tony had put in before getting out here. Food and supplies to stock the house. Dropping them off without a word they all put things in their respectful places, stocking the cabinets and the fridge along with the freezer. Tony didn't forget to stock up on her favorite things either, like her favorite foods, fruits and the like. But he didn't even think to stock up on Vicks vapor rubs or anything for his cold. Looks like he was going to have to suffer until monday, tomorrow being sunday, many places were closed. He moved to the side, getting out of her way and getting tired of her pushiness. She passed right by him shooting a glare in his direction. "Don't. Start. Please, my head feels like its going to explode" He said and took his bag to the bedroom..the only bedroom. As large as it was, there still wasn't enough space to keep it less awkward. Enough space would be another room. But he had to live with it, and not complain or she would tear him a new one. He unzipped his bag and took out a set of clothes to sleep in. Not completely listening to Pepper even if she did speak, his hearing was starting to get effected by the cold, clogging his ears too. If the selective hearing wasn't enough to piss Pepper off this surely would.
He looked to the two french doors that opened up to a large wooden deck, wanting to go out and get some fresh air but he would get an earful and headache from Pepper's protest of allowing him out there. So he just left it alone, the headache wasn't worth it. He began to unpack his suitcase instead, putting all of his things on one side of the dresser, leaving the other side open for her things as well. And while she unpacked her things he went back outside, quickly getting out of range to hear her protests he ran out and got the suits he had laying flat in the back along with the mark 5 brief case. Hiding it between the suits in his hand he headed back upstairs and stowed them and his bag away in the closet. He didn't say much, his voice was tired from the argument he had when he got here. He finally could sit down on the edge of the bed only to be lapsed into another coughing fit. Wheezing too. Every time he breathed in he could feel the congestion in his chest and it annoyed him. He leaned over and began to undo the laces only to have a pain shoot through his chest which brought him back up with his hands on either side of the bed and a sharp groan.

Pepper peered over his shouler at the top of the stairs as the guys entered the house, seeing the food she just shook her head. Turning to look at Tony. "Is it always like this round here?" she asked a little confused, Pulling the bags along behind her, following him into the bedroom. She paused in the door way, her eyes shot a little wie at seeing the bed. It was small, and she had no idea how they'd sleep in it together. Heck it was like a double bed for one person. she placed the cases down on the bed. Pulling out her toiletries bag. "Here use this" she tossed the vapour rub at him. Then searched round for some sinus relief pills. Never coming out to unfamiliar places without pretty much everything. She couldn't find the sinus relief pills, instead she found some pian killers. She left them on the bed, catching a drift of him unpacking his stuff, she couldn't help but smile. Even when he was sick he always demanded to do everything, just making himself worse off. It amused her and she moved to put some of her dresses in teh closet, pasuing to stop an look at him. "You know you should rest, but whats the point in me telling you so. You always insist on doing everything yourself" she spoke with a light tone, actually smiling for once, leaning on the pole that held the hangers. she moved away after a little while. Putting away the rest of ber things. suddenly she remembered that they hadn't had anything for dinner and she was kind of hungry, having had a random outburst at the restaurant, not even feeling like eating. She was done just as he came back into the room, Turning to see him rubbing at his head. "Pain killers on the bed" she spoke softly then moved to help him in taking of his shoes. She undid the laces, placeing a hand at the heel and one on the toes and gently pulled them of his feet. "You really need to rest" she spoke, but butted in just before he could react, placing one finger infront of his mouth. "Shush you, I didn't say sleep, just rest, please?" she smiled gently, running her hand through his tousled hair absentmindedly. She pulled away, suddenly remembering the tension that had been there between them. She stood there a little stiff and ridged, wondering what he might do. "Well, er, I'm feeling hungry. do you want any soup or anything?" she asked a little awkwardly. when he groaned the yes, she smiled gently with a slight tilt to her head, then vanished from the room.
she camed back a few mintues later, a steaming bowl in her hands, resting on a tray with small legs, so that he could lay back in bed with it. "Chicken broth, It'll help" she placed it down infront of him. perching herself on the edge of the bed. Placing the back of her hand to her forehead, feeling for his temperature, pulling back from him at the sudden heat of his skin. "You're hot, like actually burning up hot. You really need to take it easy this week. I'm not having you work your self into the ground, i wont allow it" she spoke with a slight smile, just watching him. Her eyes caught at the small tub of vapour rub, she moved forward leaning over to pluck it up in her hand. "here" she placed it on his tray. "need any help?" she asked, her smile turning a littlemore cheeky, though the action felt strange to her and it faltered all too soon, dropping to a weaker smile.