Iron Daddy Does A Save.
Dawn looked up as Tony strolled into the office but he walked past her desk. "Hey. I'm going to go with the racing team to the Miami Grand Prix, Pep."
She blinked at him. "I really can't go right now, Tony."
"That's fine. I can go on my own. Am I taking the baby or do you want to keep her here? I mean, she'll end up in the hotel most of the time. She's too young to stare at the race cars but she can come with me."
Pepper considered it, then shrugged. "Take Dawn and the baby. Her mother said she wants her to have a weekend off soon." Dawn looked in from her desk outside the office. "Yes, you."
"Mom said I needed a weekend long date, Pepper, not a vacay."
"Yay." She grinned. "You can watch Hilda watch the baby if you want. Or hit a beach for a few hours so you don't have to watch Tony become the playboy he used to be to charm the press into thinking he's still an idiot savant." Dawn snickered at that, going back to her work. She looked at him. "It'll give me a weekend to spa without worrying about her. Bring a suit." She got up to kiss him, earning a smile. "Have fun. Don't create a second child yet."
"Not likely. You're the only other mother I'd accept for my spawns." He walked out. "Dawn, clothes. Good clothes. There'll be a press event at least once. A lot of people who you shouldn't insult but you'll want to."
"Formal?"
"I have no idea. I don't think so. Dinner, yes, but not formal. And that's for the team heads I think."
"I'll look that up."
"We go tonight."
"I'll tell Hilda too." He nodded, going to pack what he wanted and needed. She looked up the event. "Pepper, formal?"
"Bring the green dress. It packs easily and doesn't like to wrinkle, Dawn."
"Okay. It's a bit showy but I can do that." She went to her room in the compound to get a bag while talking to the nanny. They were in the compound right now due to fumigation stuff. Of course, that dress was back at the regular apartment. She had one though. It was still a goddess dress and not prone to wrinkling. She packed everything into a single suitcase and went to help Hilda with the baby. She did a lot of helping Hilda with Calia. "It's a four day weekend," she told the nanny when she saw only one bag.
"That should do for clothes for us."
"Did you pack her cute stuff? Tony swears we'll get caught by the press at least once. They're rabid to get pictures of Calia."
"Not yet." She went to grab a few other outfits to change out then worked on the diaper bag. That was a bigger bag than the clothing one. Calia woke up from her nap and fussed because she saw her aunt, getting cuddled while Hilda found a few specific toys to bring. Dawn fed her a bottle too, she liked her aunt feeding her. Hilda smiled at that but it was good for both of them.
Dawn looked at Calia. "We are going to be stared at and if you're lucky I'll bring you and Hilda to a beach to get some sun, kiddo. How about that?" The baby belched at that. "So you like the beach? I'm glad. You'll do fine. Just like last time I brought you but you won't eat the sand this time. I hope."
Hilda snickered. Dawn handed her back for the necessary cleaning up after her lunch bottle and went to make sure she looked nice enough to travel still. The baby did create messes on her jackets. She had to change the complete outfit to something a bit more serious looking but comfortable enough.
Tony spotted them coming out together. Calia was in her carrier, fussing at being caged in. She definitely preferred the stomach snuggler system. "Dawn, a bit too old yet again."
"She messed up my last one, Boss."
"Fine." He looked at his daughter. "Yes, you have to stay in there while we're in the car." He got her hitched in and Hilda into the back with her. Dawn got into the front passenger's seat once the suitcases were in the trunk and Tony got in to drive them to the airport. "Did you call the plane, Dawn? I forgot."
She pulled out her phone to do that. "It's Dawn for Tony," she said in greeting. "Yes, Mr. Stark, myself, the baby, and Hilda are going to the Miami Grand Prix tonight. On our way now, Homer. He forgot to give you more warning. Thanks. Probably about an hour."
She hung up and looked at Tony, who nodded as he drove off. It was only a half-hour drive but they could stop to get takeout on the way to the airport so they could have dinner on the plane. Pepper had made reservations for the hotel already; she had texted them to Dawn earlier. "All set. Hilda, what do you want for dinner?"
"Something with some sort of pork please. Not a sandwich. Calia has such fussiness at sandwiches."
"That Jamaican place is on the way," Tony decided. Dawn called in an order so they could swing by to pick it up.
***
Dawn looked at the man who had just sneered at her being behind Tony. "Yes, I'm the holder of his calendar and his reminder to not get too drunk," she said dryly. "It's a hard job being an assistant to someone as brilliant as Tony is." The man huffed. "I'm also only seventeen so quit leering please." She gave him a pointed look. He backed off at that. Tony looked at her. "I am."
"I know you are, Dawn." He patted her on the arm. "She's a fierce bitch sometimes." Dawn grinned and nodded. The other team owner huffed at that. "Just wait until you start dating, Dawn," he quipped, smirking at her. "We can overprotect you right back."
She took his water to sip then looked at the glass then at the guy staring at them. "I'd prefer one about my own age, Tony. I don't need a sugar daddy. I earn my money on my feet, not my back." She poured that glass of water out into a plant, staring at the guy who had drugged it. He slid off. She looked at Tony.
"I caught that dosing," he told her. "Rophies?"
"Yeah. Thankfully I spit it back into the glass." She handed it to the staring waiter, smiling at him. "Some people have less class than others." He tried not to smile at that and she followed Tony off. Someone pinched her and she stared. "I know I'm hot but I'm also seventeen." The man pouted. "Sorry! Try again next year!" She strolled off again. Tony was snickering at that. The next conversation started so she texted Hilda to check on the baby, getting back a picture of her staring at the lights outside. "Aww." Tony looked so she showed him the picture.
"That's sweet. Save that for me, Dawn." She nodded, saving it down. He went back to talking to the woman who ran another F-1 racing team in Europe. Dawn made a note on Tony's schedule when he mentioned he'd see her at the one in Monte Carlo in a few months. Tony spotted a problem and looked at Dawn. "Do not deck him," he warned quietly.
She snorted. "Not worth the new manicure, Tony." She smiled at the woman. "I'm Pepper's perky assistant, soon to be super assistant." She grinned. "I'm the keeper of the calendar to make sure he gets to Monaco this time." The woman snickered but shook her hand. Dawn winked at her. "You may want to get out of pinching range," she said quietly. "He does like that." The woman got out of Justin Hammer's path of pinching.
"Tony! And I see you brought Pepper's stand-in." He smirked at her. "Some day you can run the company."
"If I want to. Not sure if that's what I want yet." She smirked. "I might have to take it over between Tony and his daughter though." Justin grimaced at that reminder Tony had an heir and he didn't. She showed that picture off to the other woman, who cooed. "She likes twinkly things." The woman walked off snickering, safely away from Hammer. Dawn pushed her hair back over her shoulder, going to get them both a safe drink. She handed Tony his and sipped her own sparking water.
"Dawn, we can probably talk without you," Hammer said, looking smug.
She stared at him. "I'd never leave Tony without protection, Mr. Hammer. He can fight you or anyone off himself but why make him bend to that mediocre level today?" She took another sip. "Besides, if I wanted to go flirt with the team's driver, I'd have already done it. I don't need to pick up a sugar daddy. I *earn* my money." She gave him a pointed look. "How's Bethany doing anyway? No one's seen her in the press recently. I hope your wife's okay."
"She's decided she wants to go to Panama with her brother-in-law," he complained.
"That's a shame. I know she was most happy to marry you. The wedding pictures had her nearly in tears afterwards." She took another sip. Tony glanced at her. She smiled at him. "Did you see his last wedding pictures, Boss?"
"I did. It sucks that her dress got so wrinkled on the ride over."
"That sort of material wrinkles a lot," Dawn reminded him. "Pepper warned me many times not to wear that fabric because of that." Tony nodded he had gotten the same nagging. She smiled and waved at someone she didn't know, who smiled and waved back. "Tony, there's a SHIELD guy."
He looked and sighed. "Great, what now." He walked over there, Dawn strolling after him sipping her water. Tony drank half his glass of champagne. "Huge problems?" he demanded quietly.
"No, Mr. Stark. I'm here because someone else got a death threat from her ex-husband, who is now working with an unconventional organization that's not really legal."
"So Hillary's husband is being a douchebag?" Dawn guessed.
The agent blinked then nodded. "Yes, he is, Miss Summers. Very good guess."
Tony looked at her then at him. "I dated Hillary once. Pepper warned her." Dawn nodded, finishing her water. "Reporters, Dawn."
"Going, Boss." She strolled over there, smiling at one. "He's busy so sent me to make sure you wouldn't interrupt for a bit. They're talking about one of his ex-girlfriends."
The reporter blinked. "Dawn."
"Yeah."
"Oh, Stark's here." She looked and sighed but nodded. "No, I can take pictures."
"That's an agent."
"I can totally cut him out, dear." She looked her over. "You look nice."
"Pepper would be ashamed if I didn't."
"True. How are things going?"
"Mom's on a new regimen of treatment. It's going okay. School still sucks on top of other things but I'm handling it okay since I'm now on the distance learning track to give me more time helping Mom." She shrugged. "I think I'm going to take a beach vacay for my graduation. There's some hotties down here." She smiled. "I could use some being admired time."
"You do look nice most of the time. You can probably do a bikini."
"I look fantastic in one," she agreed happily. "I do a lot of working out and it shows." The reporter laughed but nodded. "Are you covering the race?"
"Society page today. Is the baby here?"
"With Hilda." She showed her that picture, getting another 'awww'. "Calia's really loving twinkly things right now." She put her phone back into her bag then turned and punched someone. "Hand out of my purse, dude. It's trite to steal from someone here. So damn standard. Are you that unimaginative?" He moaned but shook his head. She rolled her eyes as she looked at the reporter again.
"At least he didn't pinch too." The reporter burst out laughing but nodded at that, going to take pictures of others. Dawn walked over the attempted thief, going to get another glass of sparkling water.
The bartender looked at her. "Ma'am, I'll have to card you," he said when she walked close enough.
"Sparkling water, please. I don't drink at events. It's stupid to make yourself that weak." He smiled and handed one over. "Thanks, sweetie. I only pick up alcohol for the boss." She waved a hand then looked. Tony had disappeared. She rolled her eyes. "He's outside." She went that way to check on him, making the girl trying to talk to him flee. "Sorry, did you want the wallet hunter, Boss?"
"No, I didn't," he admitted, taking her glass to sip from. "Sparkling water, nice."
"I don't drink at these things. I'll get kidnaped again. It's been three weeks, they're going to be salivating soon." She took her own drink. Tony was laughing so she leaned on the railing. "Going to flee?"
"Yeah, I'm done." She handed their glasses to a waiter inside then snuck out behind Tony. He got them into the rental car and sped off to get dinner from a burger place and then back to the hotel to play with the Stark spawn. She liked to gum on their fries.
***
Dawn and Tony were on the street to shop, looking at the stores. They didn't need anything but it was expected they'd do some shopping since it was Miami and nearly the local sport. "Armani?" Tony suggested.
"That's Prive, so only guy's stuff," she reminded him. "I can browse for a new pair of earrings, boss." She pointed at the jewelry store up the street. "I'll come find you in a bit if you don't get done first." He nodded, going to the store he picked. She strolled up the street, looking in the windows. She paused to get a drink at one cart but otherwise it was a pretty day. Not too hot. Bit too bright.
She was nearly at the store when she heard gunshots, wincing. She called that in to 911 then glanced. She reported there was someone on the ground and one standing there. Everything stopped and she looked in, spotting the badge on the guy on the ground. She blinked then rushed over to help him. "Hey, just relax. Let me put some pressure here and stop the bleeding, Officer." He blinked at her. "Hi. Come here often?"
He groaned. "Don't make me laugh," he moaned, trying to move.
"No, don't do that." She grabbed the bleeding spot, making him whine. "I know but it's a vein, dude. You're going to die if I don't hold it." She felt something against the back of her head. "You don't want to do that."
"The hell I don't," the guy sneered. "Hostages....." She flicked a hand and he screamed as his ribs tried to turn inside out.
"I told you not to do that." She grinned at him. "So, anyway.... I called 911 before I came in to help you." She looked at the staring guy. "What? Am I funny looking? You put pressure on wounds to make sure they don't die." The redheaded guy moaned as he sank down beside them to hold the guy she was keeping from bleeding out.
"Sirens," she noted calmly. She tapped her earpiece to activate her emergency number. "Boss, me. I'm in the jewelry store, had to help a guy who was shot, and I had to deal with the one who thought he was hot enough to take me hostage. Yeah, that one. Thanks. Could use some something actually. He's bleeding around my grip and the sirens are blocks away." She hung up and shifted.
"Okay. Let's see what we can do to make sure you don't die. The sirens are way too far away." Tony came rushing in and handed her his medical kit from his suit. "Oh, thank you. That sealant. Give!" He handed it over and she put it over the bleeding spot, watching it clot that area. She sighed. "Okay, good." She checked the rest of the wound. "Doc would be proud." She patted him on the cheek. "You'll live."
"Who are you?" the redheaded one demanded. Tony cleared his throat so he looked at him. "You're Tony Stark."
"That's my assistant She-Who-Gets-Kidnaped. Dawn?"
"He'll live," she said. "Bullet's still in there, bleeding's slowed to a trickle." She looked at the guy who had tried to take her. "He's going to be sorry for months as they fix that mess I made."
Tony helped her up, handing her his handkerchief to wipe her hands off with. "He could have shot you when the pain made his hand close."
"I blocked the barrel at the same time I hit the switch to remove the clip," she said with a point where it had landed. "And then immediately followed it by trying to turn his rib cage inside out." She blinked at him. "And it's Miller time, Boss."
"Yeah, it is." He got her out of the way of the first paramedic. "I let her have my clotting sealant for his shoulder."
"He was bleeding around my grip on the vein," Dawn said. "Bullet's still in there. The redheaded one froze in horror and I was outside."
The paramedic looked at the other guy then at her. "Who's he?"
"He tried to take me hostage so I got mad." She shrugged but grimaced. "Sometimes that happens around me." She flicked a hand in the air, making sparkles. They groaned at that. "Sorry! But he can't kidnap me or hurt them. That was the point."
"I'm going to take her to calm down and clean up," Tony told them, walking Dawn off. Once they were in the car he looked at her. "You good, kid?"
"Shaky as hell. I hate those things."
"They do happen around you a lot, Dawn." He took her back to the hotel. If they wanted more than they had given them they could find which hotel they were in. The press knew where they were by now. Unfortunately they were camped at the hotel when he parked in the valet area. "Guys, move," he ordered. "Dawn just had to stop to help someone who was shot at a hold up. She's a mess."
They got out of the way, letting Tony get her upstairs. "Thanks, people. Please don't print this. My mother will bitch *so* hard. I don't need that and she doesn't need the stress." Dawn let herself be led upstairs. Hilda looked with a grimace. "An officer got shot while I was outside the store."
"Poor man."
"He'll probably live," Tony told her. "Go shower, Dawn." She nodded, going to shower, puke, and calm down. He sighed, looking at Hilda. "I'm going to leave her here," he said quietly. Hilda nodded she could let Dawn cuddle the baby to stay calm. "Let me know if they do more than take a statement from her. Pepper's going to freak out." He kissed his sleeping daughter and cleaned his own hands then went back to being Tony Stark, visible playboy and super being who people liked to stalk in the press.
Dawn came out in a bathrobe, going to put on clothes. She came out to cuddle the baby, then looked at them. "Pool time," she decided. "That way I'm easily found and they won't be mean with the baby there. And I can do laps to wear out this adrenaline." Hilda nodded, getting Calia ready for pool time.
Dawn did indeed do laps until she was tired then took the baby to swim with. An officer showed up about an hour later. Once they were in the shade he stared at Dawn. "I'm making myself easily found and I needed to wear out the post-incident adrenaline," she said at his opening mouth. "It was this or sex and I'm single."
"Ma'am, thank you for the help."
"Not a problem. Things happen around and to me. This was the easiest getting away from a kidnaper in about six months." The officer blinked. "It happens," she told him.
Hilda nodded. "She's been kidnaped at least seven times since the baby was born." She took Calia back. "Come on. Your aunt doesn't need to be drooled on. She'll end up picking up some trashy rich boy who won't respect her."
Dawn shook her head. "I have standards, Hilda. Eww." She looked at the officer again. "I was going to the jewelry store to look at earrings when I heard the shots. I called it in. I spotted the badge on the guy on the ground and told the dispatcher that too. When the shooting stopped and I saw no one was taking care of him I went in to help him."
"His lieutenant froze. The lab's really tight, ma'am."
"That's fine. It happens to all of us. I've frozen. Tony's probably frozen at least once." She nodded a bit. "It happens when you're in horrified shock."
"It does. So you rendered aid?" She nodded. "What about that other guy?"
"I disabled his gun then tried to turn him inside out." She created a subtle fairy light. "I can't do much but that's damn handy. I hate what he'll go through with the surgeries to fix that but I'm not going to be taken hostage without fighting back." She let the fairy light go.
"How?"
"Strong in the Force am I," she quipped. "It's magic."
"I thought that was stage stuff."
Dawn smirked. "The world's a wide place, Officer. But I'm from near LA."
"Oh! Okay." He nodded. "Strange stuff happens out there." He made that note. "The officer will be fine." She smiled at that. "He said thank you. His boss is growling that you took over on him."
"He wasn't. Not even putting pressure. Someone had to."
"True. Thank you, ma'am. Are you in town for long?"
"My boss is here for the Grand Prix. I'm a super assistant sort."
"Okay." He made that note as well. "Your boss?"
"I'm Pepper Pott's super assistant sort. I'm here with both Starks." She waved a hand at the baby.
"Thank you, ma'am. Have a good calming down time. Don't let us catch you drinking."
"I'm seventeen, I don't hardly ever drink," she said dryly. "And never get drunk." The officer moaned but made that note as he walked off. She looked at Hilda, who grinned at her. "She probably wants fed."
"She's chewing on my finger so maybe." They went back to the room to handle that and let Dawn get back into more than a bathing suit. Hilda looked at Callia. "Some day you'll be just as perky as your aunt is. You'll drive your father nuts with it."
Dawn snickered. "Could be. Her mom's just as perky too." She took Calia to feed her some mushed up vegetables. "Just have more sense than your mother does. No heels on patrol, Callia." Hilda walked off snorting at that.
***
Dawn was beside the guy's bed when he woke up. "Hey. Want some water?"
He blinked at her. "You saved me."
"I did." She got up to pat him on the arm and let him sip some water. "You needed it so I did. Your boss is growling though." She let him sip some more. "I decided I'd check on you before we left town. I'm happy I was there to help you, dude. And Tony was up the street with the clotting kit."
She smoothed his hair off his forehead. "They said you'll be fine. But I wanted to make sure." She winked. "You get better. The world needs more smart, capable people." She left, going back to the hotel. She ran into a reporter outside who was giving her an odd look. "What?"
"This is a hospital."
"Yes. I was checking on the guy I helped save the other day." She smiled. "It seems like the thing to do when you save someone, to make sure they'll make it okay."
"That's nice of you, Dawn."
"I do try." She grinned. "Let me get back to the hotel. I'm watching Calia for a bit tonight so Hilda has a few free hours."
"How is the baby? We haven't seen her recently."
"She's good. Eating well, babbling small words, all that stuff." She grinned. "She's a cute little girl and it shows sometimes. She does like twinkly things."
"Do we think she'll take the suit?"
"No idea. She's not up to science yet. Books she loves but no idea otherwise." She got a cab and left. "Have a good night."
"You too." She blinked a few times, sending that in on her way up to see her brother in the orthopedic ward. She smiled at him. "I just ran into Pepper Potts' assistant Dawn. She's a very sweet girl. We'll have to see how she turns up after she hits eighteen."
"Thank you for not trying to fix me up with her," her brother said dryly. "That's a bit too young for my tastes."
"She's a busy girl anyway. Her mom's got brain cancer and she works and does school stuff." She settled in beside the bed, handing over the books and magazine from her purse. "So you're not totally bored in here."
"Thanks. The cable sucks." He put them on his lap, looking at his leg up in traction. Then at her. "Any other amusing things going on?"
"She saved an officer yesterday. She was going to look at jewelry and found him shot on a floor." He sighed, shaking his head. "Yes, she's not a squeamish girl either. But she does look adorable with her niece, Stark's daughter." She patted him on the hand. "They were in the Grand Prix. Which was another gala away from being a parody of itself again this year."
"That figures. Those sort can be that way." She nodded at that. He looked around then at her. "I get to go home soon."
"I heard. Your wife has cleaned out that wannabe office of yours to put a bed in there for you."
"The bathroom's upstairs."
"You need to talk to her. I pointed that out. She said you'd be using a pee bag anyway."
"No. Not really." He sighed. "I'll call her later to tell her a few things that I'll need." She grinned and nodded. "Any other good news?"
"You know she's cheating on you, right?"
"Yeah. Then again I'm not sleeping with her anyway. I don't want to share body cavities with anyone. My girlfriend is much more clean." She laughed but nodded.
***
Tony was there when Speedle woke up the next time. "I'm damn proud Dawn jumped in to save you," he said. "And happy I had the clotting stuff on me." He stared at him. "Your lieutenant hasn't been very nice. He growled at me for saving you."
"He's...possessive and protective."
"Apparently not enough." He stared at him. "I did a background check on you, Sergeant Speedle." The guy on the bed winced. "So I'm going to leave an offer to come work at the lab for a bit. You could use it while you heal and we do have medical people on staff to help you with the healing. Plus a few great PT's they can refer you to."
He tossed over a card. "Call and tell me you're on the way. You can be a lab helper for a bit while you heal." He stood up. "We're leaving tonight before Dawn bites your boss back for complaining that she saved your life. That man really does have his head up his ass."
He smirked a bit. "Call." He left, going back to gather the family to go home. Dawn was sulking but he patted her on the head. "Some people hate it when you take their job, Dawn. You just gotta deal with those sort and move on." She nodded, eating more of her ice cream. "We're going to the plane."
"We leave at ten tonight," she reminded him. "We have two hours before we have to leave but you need to get the stuff you sent to the laundry back, boss. I called and they blew me off. Called me your mistress." She ate another bite then let Calia have a bite too, making her happy. "Yes, we can share Auntie's ice cream," she promised with a smile. "That's good of you to let me have some too."
"Not too much sugar, Dawn. She'll be a monster on the plane tonight." He went to the desk to smirk at the man. "My *assistant* called about the laundry to see if it's ready yet?" he asked patiently.
"Mr. Stark. We had...."
He held up a hand. "Dawn's seventeen. I'm not into jailbait even if she wasn't mine and my girlfriend's assistant. And part-time babysitter." The man winced again but nodded. "We're leaving in about two hours. Will it be done by then?"
"Yes, sir, it should be done within an hour, Mr. Stark."
"Thank you." He smiled. "Has the baby given anyone problems?"
"No, your assistant is just fine."
"I meant Calia, my nineteen-month-old daughter? Who is often with her aunt or the nanny?"
"Someone huffed that she was happily swimming in the pool but otherwise no, sir."
"Thank you. Let me go back up there before Dawn feeds her too much ice cream." He went up to handle that daughter of his being happy and bouncy. She was toddling around the room trying to get the lights outside again. He sighed but it was cute.
Dawn was eating the rest of her ice cream while watching Calia stare at the lights. He took the ice cream to finish on her, getting huffed at but oh well. He smirked back. His daughter looked over at the sound of him eating and ran over to pounce him and steal the ice cream for herself to try to feed herself. It made a mess but that was what toddlers did.
***
Speed slammed the door in Horatio's face, walking off shaking his head. He was tired of this. Maybe a long vacation doing something else would be a good idea. He made that call while he packed. "It's Tim Speedle," he said. Dawn smiled and remembered him. "Your boss offered me a temporary lab assistant spot. Is it still open?" She called over and he agreed it was.
"I'll be there by this weekend. Thanks, Dawn." He hung up and finished packing then did what he had to do to lock up his house for a few months. Then he snuck off before Horatio could pounce him to snarl about his faulty gun maintenance again. It wasn't like he liked guns and he had kept it clean. He had no idea what had happened this time.
***
Dawn met him at the gate in a bathrobe. "Sorry, it's try on time for a few things. C'mon, Speedle."
"Call me Speed."
"Okay." She grinned. "I'm usually Dawn or that bitch that keeps Tony from being hit on by wallet hunters." He snorted but looked amused. "That is a lot of my job. That and distraction." She led him to the suite. "He's here, boss," she called as she walked in. She went to change into her new gown, letting the fitters have her. She looked in the mirror, whining. "Oh, that's so not good." She looked at the fitter, who grinned. "Pep, they made me look like I'm twelve again."
"I can see that." She looked and frowned. "That's so bad. Hi, Mr. Speedle. I'm Pepper Potts. We're doing a formal soon and I have to wear something designer. They picked mine for me this time."
"I've seen the Met Gala doing that," he admitted.
She nodded. "It is a charity event," she agreed. She looked at herself and winced. "What is that?" She played with the chest ruffle. "No!" She walked off shaking her head. "Oh my lord," she muttered. "Tony!"
He came out of the bedroom in his own suit and tie. He looked at her. "That is so wrong. Are you trying to look Calia's age?"
"No, they did that to Dawn." She flapped a hand.
Dawn nodded. "Yes he did. Do I have to wear the same designer since I'm not officially invited, just going to shadow and help guard you two? Or can't Happy do that?"
Pepper shook her head. "Sorry. Suck it up like I have to." She went to the bathroom and came out. "The dress is much too tight across my ribs," she told the fitter.
Tony grinned at Tim. "You have great timing. It's an irritated woman day apparently."
"Yes it is," Dawn quipped. "My boobs aren't droopy yet. Why are you pinning the cup all the way down there?" The fitter huffed. "I know I'm a C cup, but that's an H cup or something isn't it?"
"It'll be brought up later, miss."
She got down and went to get a gown, coming out in it. "This is how mine are supposed to fit." She waved a hand. "This fits appropriately since I'm seventeen and not on the prowl to get laid by something slimy with money. My mother would beat me to death if I showed that much cleavage. Can we fix that mess please?" She went to change back and he did fit the bra part closer to her chest. Still a bit loose and hanging.
Speedle looked at her then shook his head. "You look like you're going to charge for it," he noted quietly.
"I know! And I haven't even had a real boyfriend yet." She huffed again, pouting at that. "I'm too busy to date. Not that anyone around me is worthy of dating. Pep, Bradley wanted me to go with him this weekend. His date for his cousin's wedding backed out. Totally platonic, day trip on Saturday."
She frowned. "We're flying out that day."
"I should be back in time. We're due back by five."
"We'd be leaving at nine. As long as you can get back in time. Dress code?"
"Sundresses. Probably my yellow and blue one."
"That's a cute dress on you," Pepper decided. "But wear the navy shoes." Dawn nodded. "Fine." She waved a hand. "Have fun. Don't beat anyone you don't have to."
"Of course not. I do know how to behave in public," she sighed. The designer came in and she grimaced at him. "Am I supposed to look like a cheap whore who's getting jobs on her back?" she asked. The fitter choked at that. "Because my mother would beat me to death for this sort of cleavage."
He blinked at her. "Most women your age want to show off what's still firm and perky."
"Most seventeen-year-old young women want to be this booby? I don't even let people touch them yet. I require dating, a lot of dating, because I'm not that easy. And I'm too busy for a lot of dating at the moment. I'd hate to let me my mother get out of her oncology bed to come fix my attire that night when she sees it on the cameras."
"You're just her assistant, they won't cover you, dear. You should feel honored they're allowing you to go."
She smiled. "And I've already got society positioning," she said dryly. He frowned. She nodded. "Yeah. Mom had a tiny bit. I've grown that." She shrugged and the dress nearly ripped. She looked at the fitter. Who fixed that. She looked at Pepper. "Sorry, I'm a bit testy at the moment. It annoys me to be compared to a Hilton sister."
Tony snickered. "No, you wear panties, Dawn. Every single event. You go for tasteful and sultry. We appreciate that. In that dress, I'm having bad thoughts about having the security team guard you instead of us. Before you have to slug someone for trying to grope since you're nearly naked." He looked at Pepper's dress. "You know she's not my daughter's age, right? What is with the ruffles?" He pushed Speedle into a chair.
"It's fashionable right now and makes her chest look more full."
Pepper looked at herself then at him. "No, it looks like a floppy mass sitting in the middle of my torso. It's in the wrong spot to be boob enhancing. Can we please fix that positioning? And perhaps how it's tight all over in the wrong way?"
"You're at our top sizing. Sorry, we don't have patterns in your size."
Dawn snorted. "That went out of fashion a few years ago." She tried to reach up to run her hand through her hair. She couldn't move her arm. She looked at the sleeve then at the fitter, who moved to fix that. "That night, I may have to pull a gun and shoot someone who tries to attack the bosses," she said quietly. "I need full range of motion if possible. That's part of why they bring me." He shuddered but nodded and fixed that. Happy walked in. "Hey, Happy! How's your suit looking?"
"Paisley," he said dryly. "And velvet."
Tony looked at his own then at Happy. "Trade ya."
Happy looked and shook his head. "Nope. Sorry, boss. Hey, Speedle." He shook his hand. "Here's your lab pass." He handed it over. "I'll get you to a suite in a few minutes. Boss, that reporter chick you brushed off last week is claiming you're dating her."
"Eww," Dawn said snidely. "He doesn't need the clap, Happy." Tony spluttered but was laughing. "Want me to talk to her about that bit of reality?"
"Be more polite," Pepper ordered. "And tactful. I'll talk to her in a bit, Happy. I've got plenty of experience driving off his bimbos."
"Have him go outside with the kid in a carrier. Hoochie mamas never like the kids to be around," Speed offered.
Dawn grinned. "I like that idea!" He grinned back. "Simple, elegant, probably effective."
Tony nodded, going to find the baby and take her to talk to that reporter. Maybe the baby would throw up on the suit to ruin it.
The designer looked sick. "He carries the baby?"
"Yeah, that's what fathers do," Pepper said dryly. "That's the difference between a sperm donor and a father. Tony's very hands on with Calia. We all are." Dawn nodded. "Especially Dawn." Dawn nodded again with a grin. "Why was her stomach upset?"
"She was testing stuff and got my jalapenos on my fries."
"Oh." She nodded. "That wacky food thing again."
"At least we know I'm not pregnant," Dawn quipped.
"True. You can't be pregnant." She tipped her head to pop her neck. Tony came back with the baby babbling and petting the suit. "I think she likes velvet."
"She does, and lace," Dawn said. "She pets my green dress all the time to feel up the lace. Oohh, Pepper, found a dress for that upcoming thing that needed something higher necklined. It's got an Elizabeth the First sort of three-quarters collar and the front cuts at my neck. It's comfortable, silk, and dark green." She pointed at her phone. "Get me that please, Speed?" He did that. "Thanks." She found the picture, showing them off. "That one."
Pepper looked at it. "Bit weird and wicked looking but nice enough on you, Dawn. That collar's weird looking."
"I ordered it in a black lace," she said. "So it'll go better." She took the phone back to show Speedle. "It's a bit more classical than I'd normally wear but it fits well without a lot of tailoring. That's almost miraculous." She moved the pin from her hip. The fitter glared at her. "That's skin, dear. You can't pin my hip to the dress. I have to be able to take it off afterwards." She grinned and nodded. The designer huffed again. She looked at Pepper again. Then at Happy, who was shaking his head.
"You look like a kid playing dress up hooker," Happy said. "You and Pepper both." Tony snickered but nodded. "Sorry, that was tactless."
Dawn nodded. "And the boobs are hanging way too low and too open still," she said dryly. "But I have a broach I can close it with I guess." She looked at Pepper. "That medallion broach?"
"That would work with that dress. Without the ruffle. And with it fitting your chest properly. I can see her nipples. Please fix that." The designer huffed off again. The fitters went with him. "Fine. Thanks." She waved and smiled. "If I wasn't obligated to wear his stuff, I would've worn the red dress." She went to change out of that one. Dawn did the same thing and came out wearing a stretch knit dress that bared her shoulders. "Oh, better. I can breathe again."
Dawn nodded. "Definitely. This is going to be so horrible." They shared a look. "Does he have anything standard on his site?"
"No," Pepper sighed. "Everything was *fantastic*."
Speed snorted. "There's a lot in Miami." He got up, looking Dawn over. "Why are you wearing that?"
"It's comfortable and not rubbing on my stitches on my side. And I need a few more I think thanks to that pin on my hip." She grinned. "I'll get you to the silver suite. It's near the caf so easy food." She walked him off, taking his arm to walk him. "This is the main level with the admin stuff, Tony's lab," she said with a point. "Two other labs, and the infirmary." He nodded. She paused in there.
"Hey, Docs?" she called. A female doctor leaned out of the office area. "This is Tim Speedle, new lab assistant and healing a gunshot to his shoulder." The doctor came out to look at it and talk to him about his physical therapy needs. He agreed he could use some and she promised to set him up with the one that came in weekly for a few of the chemists that had been exploded.
He agreed he'd try so Dawn took him to his suite then to the caf to introduce him. Then to the corporate library for researching ideas and reading the journals. He sighed in pleasure so she left him in there for a bit while she got the new stab wound on her thigh fixed. When she came back, Speed had a few journals to read. She helped him check them out on the automated system then led him on the rest of the tour.
***
"No, Alexx, I'm fine. Within an hour of getting here I had been set up with the PT, shown the library, the caf, and my suite. They take good care of their people here. They're used to interns and new scientists. No, the caf is great. It's open twenty-two hours a day. There's nine set stations, including a vegetarian station.
"There's a rotating station for pizza and other Italian foods that rotates out to Greek sometimes and sometimes Middle Eastern food. The interns' bulletin board has menus for nineteen places that deliver here. If I want to use it, there's a small kitchen in the suite. No, I'm in an intern suite. It's on campus and provided for.
"If I wanted to move off campus I could apply for a housing grant to help me afford it. Malibu is more expensive than Miami is." He listened to her complain. "I'm fine, Alexx. Quit fussing please?" He hung up when she fussed some more and went to lie down. He was tired.
His first day on the new job wasn't that hard but it was tiring getting to know everyone. Getting to know his new duties. Talking a chemist out of mixing something that would've created a toxic gas. He had to defend his training with that and thankfully Dawn had heard somehow and come in to tell the chemist off for his stupid idea. The head chemist had more sense than his minions thankfully.
***
Speed looked out the doorway of the lab he was working in today at the squeal, frowning as he walked off to find it. He hoped it was a squealing intern. Nope, it was the kid. "Calia, you shouldn't be near the lab. You need your daddy or auntie to be near the lab." She scowled at him. "It's not safe for you, little Stark." He squatted down. "You need to go find your daddy or auntie to help you be in the labs. That way you don't get booboos."
"No!" she told him. "Nope!" She grinned and shook her head, then went back to trying to get into a lab.
"Let me call your aunt."
"No!" she complained loudly.
Someone cleared his voice. "I've alerted her father and aunt but they're outside on the back lot for a new suit test. It'll be about ten minutes, Mr. Speedle. Can you make sure she can't get hurt for that long?"
"Sure, I guess," he said, looking around. "Are you a security guard?"
"No, I'm JARVIS, the virtual butler and artificial intelligence that does look over Sir's shoulder for problems. And his young clone's shoulder at times. No, Calia, you may not get into the laser lab today. Not without your father please."
"Mean!" she called, looking up. "Big mean!"
"Yes but you don't need to be in there by yourself. Thank you for listening."
"Hey!"
"I do not rightly care, young lady. Remember, there are rules." She pouted. "Please go with Mr. Speedle for now. Your aunt's on the way to gather you so you can go outside." She squealed and ran that way. "She's heading for the lunch garden area."
"I can follow. Pleasure to meet you," he said with a slight wave at the ceiling. He followed the kid outside, watching her pout about there being no one out there. "I hear your aunt." Calia listened then ran off to find her by pouncing her legs.
Dawn smiled and picked her up. "Were you that bored that you ran from Hilda? Again?" She smiled at him. "Thanks, Speed."
"Welcome. Does the AI go everywhere?"
"Nearly. If you call out for him he should be able to answer but he doesn't pay attention to people things unless he has to."
"That's good to know." He nodded slightly. "She wanted into the laser lab?"
"It makes pretty colors." She walked off nodding. "We've seen that before. She likes twinkly things and bright things. Lasers fit that."
"I guess they would." He went back to the lab. "Calia was trying to get into the laser lab," he said at the odd looks he was getting.
The other assistant in there shook her head. "That kid is going to get hurt."
"The AI JARVIS kept the door closed so she couldn't get in." She gave him an odd look. "He said he was."
"I thought that was a security named position."
"He said he was an AI." Speed shrugged a bit.
"I need to look into that. AI's aren't that good yet."
"Ask Dawn."
"True, I can do that. She's off doing something for Pepper probably though."
"They're doing a suit test out back. She came back to pick up the kid."
She grimaced. "It's nice her sister getting knocked up by Stark got her a job."
"Dawn's job predates the baby," the main chemist told her, looking at her instead of the article he was proofreading. "She had her job almost a year before the baby came into being thanks to the NID knocking her up with Stark's sperm." Speed looked at him oddly.
"Huge problem but yeah. The parents had nothing to do with it." He nodded a bit. "It sucks but he's a pretty good dad. Very attentive. The baby gets to go to a lot of events most wouldn't ever see." He went back to his proofreading. "Speedle, are you good at english?"
"Yeah. I had to do many reports over the years." He got handed the article. "Sure, I can proofread." He settled in to do that with a pen.
The chemist smiled at her. "Dawn's got her job because agents found her thanks to a hell goddess trying to kill her as a sacrifice. The agent asked Potts to mentor her when he found out her mother was in the hospital for brain cancer." The lesser one grimaced at that. "Stark defeated the hell goddess to save her sister some work by scuttlebutt around here."
"Why would he?"
"An agent asked. Someone like Iron Man would handle a hell goddess."
"I guess. Still weird." She grimaced. "Then again, so is Dawn. I have no idea how she does all she does."
"She's always tired," Speedle said. "I had that a lot of the time at the lab. You're never not busy and it's just enough to wear you out daily but not enough to make you want to quit from the stress." He looked over as the door opened, nodding at the guard. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Checking where the baby is this time."
"Her aunt."
"Oh, good. The lab she was trying to get into?"
"Around the corner and down the short ramp." He pointed.
"That figures." He went to check that lab then on the nanny. She was apparently sick and hadn't told anyone.
***
Speed went back to the lab after a lunch time call from Eric and Alexx to nag him about going back to Miami immediately. He was kinda happy out here. It was interesting work. It wasn't draining him like working crime scenes had been for over a year. Someone's fate wasn't in his hands here. He got to snark and tell jokes. He was having actual *fun* out here in this job, something he hadn't expected.
Now if only the nagging would stop.
He walked into the usual chemistry lab and everyone stared at him oddly. "What? I just took lunch." He checked himself. "I didn't spill it on myself."
"Some woman said you're quitting," the head chemist said.
"No. I'm not quitting. I'm actually enjoying this a lot more than lab work for crime scenes." He gloved and put on his jacket before going back to work. "Did the woman sound very southern?"
"Not totally," the head chemist said.
"So probably Alexx. I'll have a word with her later. She's like a pseudo mother who nags me to eat more often." They smiled at that. "Which is okay but not right now. I'm too far away for her tastes."
The head chemist nodded. "I moved to Thailand for two years because my mother didn't understand that chemistry was really a science."
Speed grinned. "I've met women like that. Though most of them have been suspects." The others grinned at that. Tony leaned in. "Did Alexx call you too?"
"Your former boss did and threatened us for keeping you out here illegally."
"No, I'm here of my own free will." He pulled out his phone to call the lab. "Eric, get Horatio and Alexx and yourself and Calleigh in to listen to this," he said dryly. He groaned but put it on speaker. "People, I'm actually having a great time out here doing the work that I like. I'm finding it a lot more fun than I do lab work out there.
"There will be no more threats, no more guilt tripping, no more conniving, no more shit put on my shoulders for doing something while I heal. If you do not like that, I'm moving out here permanently. Am I clear?" He heard the protests starting and hung up then put his phone into his pocket once it was off. He grinned at Tony. "Pseudo family."
"Many people make a second family, Speedle. I sure did." He smirked. "Have some fun and I'll let Pepper know they'll quit."
"If they sent real threats, turn them in. The FBI may hate to deal with Horatio but they'll be happy to go threaten him back."
"Yeah, we're doing that anyway, but we work with SHIELD." He smirked as he strolled off. "Weekly reports are due tomorrow. Don't make Dawn nag."
"Sure," the main chemist called back. He looked at him. "You're having fun?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that but I am. And I'm not worrying about someone retaliating for finding out they did something stupid and wrong." He stared at him. "It's nice not to have people's lives in my hands."
"Good point." He went back to work. Then he looked at him. "Why did Stark hire you if you're a criminalist?"
"Dawn saved my life," he said. "I had been shot during a questioning and my boss froze but Dawn was outside, heard and called it in, and then rushed in to help me. She turned the guy who was still there partially inside-out because he threatened her," he said dryly. "But she kept me from bleeding out. Tony said I could come here when I woke up." He looked at him. "It was really nice of him."
"Sometimes the boss is a really nice guy. Sometimes though he's running from Pepper. If you can't stay out of the way, side with Pepper."
Speed grinned but nodded. "I can see why. I showed up while they were trying some designer's horrible outfits for some charity event." They all grimaced. "Yeah, totally horrible dresses." He got back to his proofreading. "Did you mean to switch topics in here?" The chemist came over to look and moaned, going to make that the two papers it actually was, and make the other corrections too. Speed got to work on the neutralizing solution they'd need to safely test the new concoction.
***
Dawn walked into the caf the next afternoon during the usual lunch rush. "People, we have press people and generals, and possibly a few members of congress showing up in two days," she announced. She got booed for it. She smirked at a few of the booers. "Yay. Suck it up!" She grinned around.
"Tony said it's not our choice, it's their choice and we can't duck out of it. Pepper warned you guys to wear clothes that wouldn't look bad on camera. Because they're going to be taping it for others and it may be shown around the world thanks to some news person somewhere."
One woman winced and one guy ducked down. "We know, you two. You two may duck the press but not the rest. Tony said he'll have the security team brief them to not film you. Or to cover you up. He'll try to protect you two from being shown so we don't have to shoot your ex's."
"They officially can't do that without a release from everyone," Speed called. "That's the law."
"They're coming with the congressional whores," Dawn said dryly, shrugging and grinning. "Supposedly it's only going to the other members of congress. We've tried that in the past. They tried to get people arrested for not talking to them and tried to have their security clearances canceled for it. Though yes, the press cameras may go down suddenly and without warning."
She beamed around at everyone. "If you don't have something suitable, let us know so Pepper and I can help you find something later. Remember, last time some talentless fashion reporter mocked people for wearing clothes that were appropriate. And got sued for it if I remember what I did."
She grinned at a few. "I think she got fired for it too since she's fallen down below the TMZ level." She looked around again. "It's the same congress members as last time too. The snide, nosy ones who can't even spell science. This time *please* do not set off the contamination alarm on purpose, people? Pepper was so amused she had mai tai's with me that night but *still*.
"It'll be obvious that you're doing it on purpose this time since it's happened the other two times." She looked around again. "Just let us know if you need some shopping help tonight or early tomorrow. Pep's got meetings tomorrow afternoon. So I've got meetings all afternoon tomorrow." She grimaced.
"With people I'd rather not have to take notes from as they're also snide at times about my age and being pretty. So many of them think I'm a future trophy wife and then offer for my future services until I point out I'm worth more than a few of them. Okay, any notes?"
"Can we be sick?" someone asked.
"Did that work last time?" Dawn asked.
"No," she admitted. "But I can sure try again since I can't be pleasant to morons."
"Hey, last time I nearly stabbed one," Dawn quipped, getting an apple before walking off. "Tony had to take the knife from my hand subtly so they didn't realize."
Speed looked at the others at his table. "That's still against the law."
"They're congress members. They don't care. If we fight back it looks bad on the company."
"Yeah, that doesn't play with me." He grinned a bit. "I can pull up Horatio manners." He finished up and went to spread that news to the other labs.
***
Speed looked at the reporters coming in. "I'm sorry but you do not have my permission to film me," he noted. "Legally if you try I can sue you."
The reporter in the lead snorted. "That's not legal, sir."
"It is legal and I'm a cop from Miami. You wanna bet I don't know the law better than you do?" She flinched back, looking horrified. "Thank you for visiting our lab today but you and your camera crew have no permission or clearance to be in this lab, miss.
"You are breaking federal lab regulations. If you don't like it, go make those you're sucking up to change the rules for you but it won't be today. Now, please take your reporter STD's and go!" He pointed. She flounced off to complain. The others in there were giving him an awed look.
"I don't know who you are," a man snorted from the doorway. Speed turned to stare at him. "Oh, you're one of Caine's boys."
"Yes, this is what I'm doing on my injury leave." He smirked. "You're also violating federal lab protocol, which you should realize as you're on that board, Congressman Devan. I'd scurry off to put on proper shoes and protective gear before I write you up again and they give you another fine. They're probably tired of doing that to you with the way you've interfered with lab work in multiple CSI departments.
"Aren't you up to about thirty now?" He stepped closer. "Have a great day, Congressman Devan. Really." The man tried to get past him but Speed wasn't moving. "No. I'm sorry but I'm more stubborn than Horatio ever was. But I'll let him know you said hi." The man stomped off again.
Speed leaned out to wiggle his fingers at his back. "Have a great day and please quit violating federal lab rules and protocol with your hygiene problems! I hate paperwork but I'll damn sure fill out the protocol report here." He saw Tony looking amused.
"Congressman Devan has about thirty reports and fines for breaking lab protocol like he is today, Mr. Stark. Including his stench of perfume to cover up his lack of bathing. Plus he's wearing inappropriate shoes as they're very open. His clothes are too loose and a fire hazard. He's dropping his hair everywhere. That's about another thirty grand of fines for him doing that."
"That's good to know. I'm sure your other lab had a lot of that down pat."
"Hell yes. We had to do federal inspections. And camera people, it is against the law to film people without their express *written* permission. That is the law and I am an officer of the law." He smirked at one, who put his camera down. "If I show on anything, I'm suing you." He leaned back into the lab. "They're two labs up the hall." He pointed. He looked at one. "Gloves." She put some on but was grinning.
The chemist covered his smirk with a cough. "Thank you for reminding me of federal lab protocols, Speed." Speed smirked back. "We follow most of them here but not the ones for investigative labs."
"He did that in our CSI unit. We mailed the oversight board over our labs all the hairs he shed. He had to pay over two hundred grand just for that and then another ten violations we caught on stills from the security cameras." He grinned. "Horatio was rather pleasant that day." The others snickered more quietly since they could hear huffing. "He got told to not bring a camera crew with him then too and why." Tony leaned in. "We're good in here, boss."
"Yes you are," he said with a smirk. "I looked that up and they're very mad at him."
"He's had over thirty write-ups. I'm not shocked." He looked at him. "I do not consent to being filmed."
"I don't blame you. He'll try to force it anyway but the press people are going to the main area to sit and behave. Thank you for pulling a Dawn."
"Great minds think alike."
"True." He glanced up the hall, then checked them over. "They're coming."
"Yay," a few of them said flatly.
Tony laughed but nodded. "It's ten minutes, people. They want to do this because we accept one grant from the government."
"They can only audit that one grant's particulars then," Speed said, sitting on a stool. "Like having a search warrant, unless it's sitting in plain sight you can only look at what you have the warrant for."
"Point but if we balk they come back with warrants and annoy us for weeks instead."
"Which you can sue them for. Playing ball is sometimes good but not that great."
"True but if we don't, they get more cranky. Then I get annoyed, Dawn gets annoyed, people hit on Dawn or try to snatch her again, then things go nasty until she does something mean." He got out of the way of the poke from Pepper. She was the only one that would've poked him.
Speed looked over. "Ms. Potts, hair back please. We can't have you shedding hair in chemicals."
"Oh, I didn't remember." She pulled her hair back into a quick pony tail. "Better, Speedle?"
"Thank you. Federal lab protocols are important, even if they are annoying at times."
She nodded. "They are important for safety reasons. I'd hate to have my hair set on fire."
"I'd hate your hair to be flicked into the solution there and have it explode all over the room," the main chemist said. "Any organic material in it would do that."
She stood nearer to the door. "Just in case, I'll be over here." They all smiled at her. She looked at the female person.
"Oh, no, ma'am, it's a wig. Not organic hair at all."
"Oh, I didn't realize that. It looks very natural." Pepper smiled at her, getting one back. The two congress members came in together. "No organic materials near their solution or it could explode."
"It shouldn't be out then," the female said, sneering at them.
"It should be out. It's in mixing," Speed told her. "You're also violating federal lab protocols, ma'am, and we do have to follow them for safety reasons." She glared at him. He stared back. "I've seen worse when I arrested crack hos who shoved someone into traffic," he said dryly. "Are you supposed to be scary?"
She huffed. "Who are you? I'm going to write you up!"
"CSI Speedle, usually out of the Miami-Dade Felony lab." He smirked a bit at her. "Do I need to spell it for you?" She went pale and backed away. "That's chemicals!" he snapped. She quit moving and Pepper nicely pulled her out of the way. Congress member Devan sneered but stomped off. Speedle smiled and wiggled his fingers at his back. He went to get a piece of tape to pick up his shed hair.
"Well, only four today. We'll have to see if he shed more around the lab to send it to the lab oversight board again." She let out a shudder and ran from the building completely. "Have a great day," he called after her, sounding happy. He grinned at Pepper, who shivered. "We believe in full compliance and very strict standards. Horatio nearly made her want a butt plug the last time she tried something to us."
"We adore you," Pepper said, giving him a quick hug before going to find that congress member and make sure he wasn't stealing anything this time. Tony walked off giggling. Speed looked at the others, who got back to work happier than they had been.
***
In Miami a few days later, Horatio got a nice report from someone on the lab oversight board. He read it and smiled. "Good job, Speed," he said quietly. "I'm sure you had fun again." He went to share that with the others. "People, we've heard that the lab out at Stark had a visit from that one house member."
Eric snorted, shaking his head. "Speed did enforce lab protocol," Horatio said. He let them see it and share it. Eric laughed before passing it on to Calleigh, who giggled too. The others all got have a good chuckle too. It was happier news, even if they did want Speed back as soon as he could fly back.
Alexx went to call him but only got his voicemail. She should pout about that but he was probably busy doing something boring out there instead of having fun down here in Miami.
***
Alexx went to complain to Horatio a few days later, looking pissed off. "He's never called me back." He looked at her. "He obviously can't. Something's probably happened. Or they're keeping him from calling."
"I'll try in a few minutes. I've got a meeting in about a half-hour so I can call on my way there, but you know no one can make Speed do anything he doesn't want to do. We've all butted heads with that a few times, Alexx."
"I know that but he still hasn't called back so something must be wrong."
"I'll make sure. Let me head to my meeting and I'll call in the hummer." She nodded, going back to the morgue to fret. Her poor baby was out there all by himself and clearly *something* was going on.
Horatio picked up his phone before heading down to his hummer so he go in for the meeting with the mayor about spring break staffing. He tried Speed's phone, no answer. So he left a voicemail warning him that Alexx was worried he hadn't called her back. Then he called the head of the building, getting her assistant.
"Miss Summers, Horatio Caine, Timothy Speedle's boss. Has something happened to him? Some people down here haven't heard from him in a bit, even after calling, and they're worried." He listened to her tell him how he had been off-site for a testing event he had wanted to participate in but she'd get a message to him. Though, cell phones weren't allowed there by protocol he could probably find a way to email him later.
"That'd be wonderful. Thank you, Miss Summers." He hung up. He called Alexx, growling a bit when traffic got nasty in front of him, so he'd be late. "Alexx, I just talked to the head person's assistant. He's been off-site at a testing event where phones aren't allowed for the last week. She'll get a message to him to find some way to contact us.
"Yes, she said he was just fine. He wanted to see that so he had volunteered. Yes, I'm sure he's fine and it's not radiation related. So just relax." He hung up when he had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting someone who had to stop because of the wreck in front of them. He called that in.
"Dispatch, it's Lieutenant Caine. There's a wreck by the second exit for downtown. Two gray cars, one's a bondo heap and the other's a gray camero, both crashed into the same red pickup truck. No, I don't see any injuries. There's a lot of yelling however. Traffic is stalled in all lanes heading south. Please also inform the mayor's office I'll be late." He flipped on his siren for a second and the yelling people all flinched and ran for their cars.
"Ah, the wreck is less than expected thanks to a siren. I see a cruiser crossing the median so I'll let him handle it. Thank you, Dispatch." He hung up and relaxed again, waving a hand when the officer looked his way. He opened the window. "Both gray cars ran into the red truck. This is making me late for a meeting about spring break staffing," he said dryly. "Have fun with them, Officer.... Dougs."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Hit the median and go around if you need to."
"Thank you. Happy paperwork break." He rolled up his window and did go into the median to get around the mess so he could go to that meeting he didn't want to go to. They had it every year and it was never realistic for what usually happened.
***
Dawn got up and leaned into the office. "Is Tony at the testing range today?" She nodded with a grimace. "Great. Speedle's boss is worried something's happened." Pepper laughed so Dawn sat back down to call him. "Hey, bossman. Tell Speed that Miami's called up worrying he's been kidnaped or something since he never called them back. No, his lab boss. Thanks, and Calia's found the finger paints again. Sorry about your couch." She hung up on his groan.
At the testing grounds, Tony hung up and looked around. "Speedle, contact your boss down there. He called Dawn saying he was worried no one's contacted him."
"Oh, great. So Alexx is probably worrying I've been kidnaped or shot again," he said sarcastically with a grimace. "I'll do that tonight, Tony. Thanks for the warning."
"Have fun with that. Sounds like they at least tried to care."
He nodded. "They do. Alexx says she adopted me as an extra pale son."
"Ah." He nodded. "Dawn's that sort too. She'll fuss you to death if you get sick. I got the flu so bad she had to fuss at me. She all but put me into pampers and tucked me into bed with a bedtime story after I had drank my broth." Speed smirked at that. "Though she was dressed down instead of in office gear. My mother wasn't that sort so it was rather odd but I did get better faster than I had expected to. She even taught Calia to fuss at me."
"That kid is a great kid. We had a talk last night about cheetos being orange and why orange tasted like that but not like regular oranges." Tony sighed but nodded. "I explained about orange cheese not being made from oranges. They named the fruit after the color." He walked off happier at least. "She thought it should be red cheese instead since they could dye it any color. Though she hates green cheese."
"My little girl is one hell of a hellion," Tony complained but he was smiling. He wondered if he had that sort of talk with someone but the butler had never mentioned it or the nanny.
***
They got back that night to find Dawn on the front doorstep of the lab building yelling at someone. "Get your ass down now please," she bellowed. "Before I have to come up there and pull your ass down! Right the fuck now!"
"Dawn, if they're suicidal call it in so they can get gear," Tony called as he got out of his car.
"He's not, he's being a drunken idiot who stole a flight belt from the boys and wants to be you," she called.
"Everyone wants to be me, Dawn," Tony quipped. "Henners, get the hell down before you set a bad example for my daughter!"
"Let me push him, boss," Speed called. "He shouldn't be drunk in the lab anyway." Tony and Dawn both stared at him. "Not the first time this month." He walked closer. "Last time I locked him in a closet before he went back to naked chemistry."
Dawn heard the belt light up. "Shit. It's active." She called up something and put a shield around him, making him scream as he fell off the roof. "At least it's only a story, you didn't die from it," she complained. "You even bounced. So quit sobbing and get some damn sense!" She put her hands on her hips and the guy flinched, trying to crawl away from her.
Tony got the belt from him and turned it off. "You're making Dawn have PMS, Henners. Is that really a good idea for the rest of us?"
"Just for that, you get to take the baby clothes shopping while Pepper and I are in Singapore," she quipped with a smirk. Tony moaned at that, shaking his head. "Speed, your boss down there sounded smooth but irritated."
"Yeah, he's like that often. He probably had to go talk to some higher up again." He went down to his suite to grab his phone and called. "Sorry, I just got back, H. Had to stop for a few to get someone drunk off the roof with his flying belt he stole from another lab." He listened.
"No, I'm great. No, no radiation. Actually a new formula for explosives to hopefully get at people like the people who had been trapped in that mine last year." He sat down, listening. "Yeah, I'm fine, H. My PT is going great for my shoulder. Yes, I get plenty to eat. You can assure her of that. The caf here is fantastic. I've put on three pounds."
He rolled his eyes then sighed at the ranting he could hear. "Tell Calleigh about the miracles of chocolate ice cream, H. She sounds like she needs to find her new deity." He rolled his eyes. "Put it in speaker, H. Calleigh, chocolate ice cream has become an all important deity in your life again. Please go pray to that altar.
"Yes, I'm fine, Alexx. I've put on three pounds. The PT is going good. No, I had a moment where I had to pause to help laugh at the drunken chemist who stole a flight belt from someone and was on the roof. Yes, I'm fine. The last week actually. New explosives. No, not weapons. Stark's come up with a few minute applications to help things like trapped miners, Alexx.
"That's what we were testing. Yes, but we had to test it, see the damage, put up measuring devices, do it again at least five times to average it, have a talk about the effectiveness, then how to reformat it. Then do it all over again. That's testing protocols here." He listened, nodding along at her complaining.
"No, I'm fine. We're all good out here and having fun. Last night I got to explain to Stark's daughter why cheetos were orange but not made from oranges." She snorted at that. "She's a brilliant little toddler. She told me how lasers made pretty wall rainbows. Yeah, she's a great kid that's always trying to learn something, usually in song form. Yup, she's fun to talk to.
"She told me books are hard and so are numbers but she's got to learn them to do what everyone else does. She's a great kid. Just about a year-and-three-quarters I think. She'll still baby babble now and then but she's also been able to climb the bookshelves to get picture books. Yes, I'm fine, Alexx. Yes, the caf is great and if I want to cook I can," he reminded her.
"I've put on three pounds. Dawn's the sort to come around every day to make sure we all eat at least one meal. Because that's apparently an epidemic level problem in some labs." Stark himself forgets a lot. She had to nag him three times in an hour that it had been over twenty-hours since his last infusion of anything but coffee."
Alexx moaned and said something that was nearly a swear. "So yeah, I'm perfectly normal compared to some of us out here. And I have sense. Which is sometimes rare in the design labs." He looked out his window. "Oops, kid. Hold on." He opened the window. "Calia, get your butt down! You cannot climb the cars. You're not a drunken chemist yet!"
She pouted but did slide down. "Your dad's home." She ran squealing to find him to get hugs and a story. He shut the window again with a sigh then sat back down. "Sorry, toddler genius was going to try what the drunk chemist did. Last week she tipped a small bookcase on herself because she was trying to get the picture books on the top shelf.
"No, she's well behaved in the library and her nanny's always around if someone else isn't. No, she huffed a bit at her scrapes and then went to paw through the mess for the books she wanted. Then she pouted at them while looking at the pictures and watching her knee and arm bleed a bit.
"Until someone told Dawn, who came in to fuss. No, that's her aunt. Her mom's a short blonde by the pictures, Alexx. No, the infirmary got the scrapes fixed, Dawn made Calia help her clean up her mess to teach her responsibility, and Tony came in to remind his little girl not to climb the shelves. If she had asked they would've gotten it for her."
He smiled outside. "Great, the senior evil trio from lasers is outside screwing around. Have a good night, guys. I have to call that in. They're going to test something on the building." He hung up. "JARVIS, the senior idiot geeks from lasers are going to fire on the building. Or the cars."
"I've alerted Sir," the virtual butler said. "Sometimes I wish I had a body so I could teach some people sense."
"You can always ask Stark to make you a robotic body."
"Yes, but I'm afraid I'll use it, Master Timothy. That would probably not be good for many people, including Sir when I nagged him in person." He sighed.
"If you fire on my cars or my building I'm going to beat you!" Tony yelled outside. "You know better than that." They scattered with their laser. "We have a testing protocol, use it! That's what it's there for!" He stomped back inside. "Don't make me put on the suit, I'll have Pepper help me when I'm done kicking you around." He slammed the outer door.
Speed got comfortable, listening to the drama going on. The lab was just nuts but fun nuts.
***
Story notes:
Lora Gent via groups.io
How about crossover of your IronDad with CSI MIAMI. The family is down in Miami for something and they happen to be outside of the jewelry store when the shooting of Speed happens. And since Tony has his suit with him saves his life. And while Speed is recovering he does some work at SI. And H comes up pouting at Tony for stealing his Speed.
Lora
vo's notes:
Let's see how this timeline works out.
Graduation was 1999. Dawn appeared in 2002 at 14ish. So Glory was 2003 ish. Iron Man 1 takes place in 2008 but I obviously moved that back in Old Ones to the kidnaping/making of Iron Man being 2004 because Dawn joined the team at sixteen and he was already Iron man then. (I'm ignoring the 2012 date for Avengers 1). Speed died September 20, 2004. Calia came to be in 2004 (she tells Captain Marvel that she's sixteen and it's nearly 2020 noted in another part of that story to the same character by Phil or Xander). So either Speed gets to live an extra year or so or I have to find a way to send them back in time somehow. I'm probably shifting the CSI:M timeline up by two years. It's 2006, y'all.
How about crossover of your IronDad with CSI MIAMI. The family is down in Miami for something and they happen to be outside of the jewelry store when the shooting of Speed happens. And since Tony has his suit with him saves his life. And while Speed is recovering he does some work at SI. And H comes up pouting at Tony for stealing his Speed.
Lora
vo's notes:
Let's see how this timeline works out.
Graduation was 1999. Dawn appeared in 2002 at 14ish. So Glory was 2003 ish. Iron Man 1 takes place in 2008 but I obviously moved that back in Old Ones to the kidnaping/making of Iron Man being 2004 because Dawn joined the team at sixteen and he was already Iron man then. (I'm ignoring the 2012 date for Avengers 1). Speed died September 20, 2004. Calia came to be in 2004 (she tells Captain Marvel that she's sixteen and it's nearly 2020 noted in another part of that story to the same character by Phil or Xander). So either Speed gets to live an extra year or so or I have to find a way to send them back in time somehow. I'm probably shifting the CSI:M timeline up by two years. It's 2006, y'all.
Chapter notes:
Some people could really use the pick-me-up this week so I'll put this out here for them to have a few happy hours reading.