How can you still be this strong, Tony?
Chapter 11
How can you still be this strong, Tony?
Steve parked his car in the employees parking lot. He hoped that Obadiah was either in a meeting or hopefully dead, but a person could only wish.
He walked into the building as if nothing were amiss, Steve smiled as he flashed his work badge toward the security, even though he knew that every individual knew him and his place in the company he did it anyway and made his way towards the elevators where he pressed the button that lead straight to Tony's office.
As the elevator doors opened up Steve knew that for his specific mission, he only had a few minutes to get all the information that Tony had required from him.
He made his way to the doors that lead to Tony's office, he opened the door, sneaked in and closed the door as if he were a spy whilst he tried to also keep a lookout. Steve walked towards the colossal object that Tony had called his office desk. He walked around the desk and sat in the chair, Steve reached into his blazer’s inside pocket to retrieve the lock chip and ‘woke’ Tonys computer as he inserted the drive.
For a second Steve panicked when he saw ‘security breach’ however took in a deep breath as knew that Tony always knew what he was doing.
Once Steve had access to the computer, he began to transfer all the files he could until he came across something that looked eerie similar to Tony's suit called “sector 16”, he whispered to himself, “ What the hell are you up to, Obadiah?”
Steve thought that things could not get worse until the next document opened. At first, all he heard was Arabic, he saw in the video one man sitting down with a sack on his head while he was surrounded by 7 men all armed but the one who was speaking.
The man who was sitting had the sack on his head ripped off and for a split second, Steve could not breathe as he barely whispered the man's name, "Tony".
There, Tony sat… he looked confused, affected by the bright light, “Shit,” Steve voice softly as he spoke to himself, “ this must have taken place during Tony's kidnapping.”
Steve pressed on the language button and typed in, ‘translate’ and all the Arabic changed to English.
“You did not tell us that the target you wanted us to kill was Tony Stark,” Steve heard just as Tony's eyes found the camera in the video, “As you can see Obadiah Stane that your deception and lies cost you dear to kill Tony Star has just gone up.”
Steve strutted to breath as he copied the file onto the hard drive, Steve could feel a sting in his eyes as he forced himself not to cry, “ How can you still be this strong, Tony?” Steve whispered in wonder.
As he sat there staring at the computer screen, watching all the files be moved to the lock chip, he had not noticed the door move.
“So!” Steve’s head shot up and his eyes widened, as he was startled by a booming voice that was unmistakably Obadiah Stane, “what are we going to do about this?”
Steve kept quiet as his eyes followed Obadiah who walked to the small table that had a few of Tonys favourite alcoholic drinks.
“ Trust me, I know what you going through, Steve,” came Obadiah's voice as he poured whiskey into his glass and another glass, “Ah Tony,” he said as he looked at Steve and back down to the glass decanter in his hand, “ he always knew how to get the good stuff.”
Steve tried to manoeuvre a newspaper that sat next to the computer to be placed over the lock chip and gently moved the computer mouse to press the ‘screensaver’ button, as he noticed Obadiah grab the second glass and made his way to Steve.
Steve, turned in the chair to face Obadiah who stood next to him, his eyes focusing on the computer screen, “ I was so happy... still am,” he began, “when he came home… it was like he came back from the dead,” he said as he began to walk around Steve, “however now that I am over the whole hype of him returning I realize that well Tony, he never really did come home… did he?” he said sighing, “ He lost a part of himself in that cave and that truly brakes my heart.”
Trying to compose himself, Steve gently replied, “Well”, he said as he took in a deep breath, “he’s a complicated person… he’s been through a lot, even before he went to Afghanistan, but if I'm truly being honest I think that he will be alright.”
Obadiah turned in a position that would allow him to sit on the table as he looked into Steve's eyes and stated, “You are a very rear man, Tony doesn’t know how lucky he is”
Internally rolling his eyes, Steve gave out a soft chuckle, “thank you… thanks” as he dropped his head slightly and turned the chair around, in an attempt to escape, he got up from the chair as he spoke quietly, “I got to go back there,” he went in to reach the newspaper as he began to skillfully navigate the lock chip out of the device.
Steve made his way toward the open door as but stilled in his tracks when Obadiah asked, “ Hey Steve, is that today's paper?”
Replying softly, “ Yes…, yes, it is.”
Obadiah walked quickly towards him, hand-stretched out, “ Do you mind?”
With a tight smile, he answered, “ No... not at all, here” he said as he handed the newspaper over to Obadiah.
As he walked out of the office Steve could not help but to walk with a moderately fast pace and he began to descend the stairs he could not help but to sigh in relief as he heard the familiar voice of Agent Coulson, "Mr Rogers, we had an appointment… did you forget about our appointment?”
“Nope!,” Steve rushed out," as a matter of fact, we can have it right now… come with me.”
“Now?” Came to the startled reply from Agent Coulson
“Yip, right now.” Steve said as he turned his head slightly to look up see if Obadiah or someone else was following them, then turned back to Phil, “you want a meeting… I’m going to give you the meeting of your life. Your office, now.”
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As Steve sat in Phil’s office he could not help but ask for a drink… a fucken strong one at that. He handed over the lock chip device and saw the mixed emotion that was displayed on Agent Coulson’s face as Phil watched the evidence play in front of him.
As he swirled the whiskey that Coulson gave him, he asked, “So? What happens next?” Steve brought the glass to his mouth and drank it like a shot before sighing, “ Phil, please tell me… when it involves Tony, I need to know... and please don't bullshit me”
Agent Coulson stared at him as he grabbed the phone that was next to him and reached over to give it to Steve, “ You know what you have to do… call him and tell him everything while I contact other S.H.I.E.L.D agents to go and arrest Mr Stane.”
Steve took the phone and dialled Tony's home number, not even a few seconds later he heard the phone being answered, “ Tony,” he began, “Tony are you there?… Hello, Tony ?”
Steve looked at Phil, “He just hung up on me… no something is wrong, Tony never hangs up… he never ever hangs up on me! He has a tendency to love putting people on hold but not this… never this.” his eyes widened as he realized, “ Shit! Phil, how fast can you get us to Stark industries?”
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As they drove Steve knew he had to phone Rhodey
“Rhodey, don’t hang up. This is an emergency, I am in desperate need of your help!” Steve cried.
“What did Tony do?” Came Rhodes response.
“Nothing, Rhodes, absolutely nothing,” he took in a deep breathe, “Obadiah was the cause of everything Rhodes... everything! He was the cause of the kidnapping… he paid the fucken Ten Rings to kidnap and murder Tony!” Steve screamed as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.
“What do you mean that he tried to kill Tony?!” Rhodey nearly screeched as he replied.
“He… he tried to kill him, Rhodey! What don’t you understand about that?!” Steve shouted.
“Steve… Steve calm down, do you know where Tony is? Where was the last place that you either saw him or heard from him?
“Uh, I called the house 5 minutes ago and he answered but not ever a few seconds the phone hung up on me. Rhodey if you on your way there drive faster, please? His life might be at risk, Thank you Rhodey”
Steve ended the call as he wiped the light stray of tears that rolled down his eyes as he made his way to his Audi with Phil next to him. He looked at Phil and said, “ I know a short cut, we’ll be there in 10 minutes.”