Bitch slap
Tony began to doze off, but sat up quickly as soon his head bumped the table in Watson’s office.
“You still with us Stark?” Watson asked leaning back in his chair.
“Yeah, sorry,” Tony said and shook his head a little to wake himself back up. Today was the first time in two days that his head didn’t hurt, and he wanted nothing more then to sleep.
“As I was saying I really don’t see how we can get you back to the time you should be in,” Watson said unhappily.
“What about the robots?” Sherlock asked.
“What about them?” Watson asked tilting his head. Tony sat up a little straighter if Holmes was thinking the same thing he was then they might be onto something.
“I mean they obviously are from the future, and they didn’t come at the same time as Stark, or the first robot--”
“Which means someone keeps sending shit back here,” Tony interrupted Holmes.
“Exactly.”
Watson leaned back in his chair.
“But we still have no way of tracking when a portal or whatever is going to open,” Watson pointed out. All three men sat in silence thinking over this. Tony needed to get back. If his calculations were correct the baby was do in little over a week.
A knock on the study door broke the silence.
“John there is a man here to see you and Holmes,” Mary said poking her head into the room.
“Alright send him in,” Watson said. Mary opened the door wider and a tall thin blond man walked in the room. The man made eye contact with Tony, and Tony instantly recognized him. As soon as the man was all the way through the door, he pulled out a long hunting knife and leapt at Tony. Before Tony could even move Holmes slid over the table, and collided with the technopath who was responsible for all this. Sherlock landed on top of him, and pinned him to the ground. The man wriggled and kicked in an attempt to get free, but Sherlock held him down tight.
“Watson get rope. You quit squirming,” Holmes growled, grabbed a handful of the man’s hair, and slammed his face into the floor. Watson pulled a coil of rope out of his desk and tossed it to Sherlock. Tony was still sitting completely still. He had been taken completely by surprise.
“You don’t understand! I need to kill him or I’ll die!” The man screamed as Sherlock tied his hands.
“John what just happened?” Mary was still standing in the doorway. She looked as shocked as Tony felt. Watson got up and went to his wife.
“You two handle this,” Was all he said before leading her out of the room.
“I have to kill Stark!”
“No you don’t,” Holmes said angrily and slammed the man’s face into the ground a second time. This the man cried out in pain, “Let's tie him to that chair. Help me get him up.”
Together Tony and Sherlock shoved the man into a chair. And tied him up.
“What's your name?” Tony demanded.
“Niko,” The man spat angrily, he had blood dripping from his nose.
“Why do want Stark dead?” Sherlock asked calmly.
“Cause if I don’t kill him Loki’s gonna do me in good!” Niko said angrily.
Tony’s heart missed a beat.
“Loki? What do you mean Loki?!” Tony could hear his voice crack in panic.
“Ha! Your afraid of him!” Niko said gleefully.
“Shut up!” Sherlock said slapped Niko across the face, “Stark?”
Tony slumped down in the closest chair. Blood rushed past his ears, his breath caught in throat. It had been over ten years since New York, why was he still so panicked? His heart hammered in his chest, and he couldn’t focus… or breath. The edges of his vision went blurry.
“Stark?” Sherlock’s voice was like a distant muffled shout. Loki was back, why was he back? What about Pepper? Was he going to hurt her? Tony tried to pull in breath, but he just choked, “Watson!”
Sherlock’s distant voice sound panicked. Someone was laughing maniacally. Niko, it must be Niko laughing.
“Stark!” that was Watson’s voice, Tony couldn’t focus his eyes on anything, “Stark snap out of it! You’re fine.”
A hand slapped across Tony's cheek and his vision went clear, and he could hear something other then the blood rushing past his ears again.
“Snap out of it!”
“Holmes!” Watson almost shouted indignantly.
Tony shook his head a few times.
“Do not slap people who are having anxiety attacks!” Watson scolded.
“No, it worked…” Tony panted, his breath returning to normal.
“See it worked!” Sherlock said triumphantly.
“Are you good now?” Watson asked putting a reassuring hand on Tony’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m good now,” Tony said nodding.
“Not for long! If I don’t kill you Loki will!” Niko crowed from across the room, “Then he’ll probably do unspeakable things to your wife!”
Sherlock could see Tony shrink in fear. Not fear of Niko, only an idiot would be afraid of Niko, but Sherlock sensed there was truth behind the man’s words.
“You won’t be able to save her! Or the baby!” A visible shiver ran through Stark’s body, and he buried his face in his hands, probably about to have another panic attack, “You won’t be able to do anything!”
That did it. Sherlock was done listening to this idiot, and he was done watching his new friend be torn apart. Sherlock rose slowly and menacingly to his feet.
“Holmes?” Watson questioned. Sherlock ignored him, stode over to the table and picked up Watson’s dictionary. Niko was laughing maniacally to himself. He sounded crazy.
“They are all--!” Sherlock slapped the book full force into the side of Niko’s head so hard it knocked the chair over. Watson stared at him speechless, mouth gaping; Stark looked up, and cracked a slight smile at the sight of Niko laying on the floor gasping in shock.
“Not so tough now huh?” Tony teased weakly.
“Are you okay?” Sherlock asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine now. I think you just won the award for best bitch slap,” Tony said still sounding a little shaky.
“The best what?” Sherlock squinted at Tony in confusion. He wasn’t entirely sure what a female dog had to do with slapping people.
“Damn it. You guys are more clueless the Rogers and Thor,” Stark said with a tinge of disappointment.
“Who?”
“Just two people back home,” Stark said shaking his head a little.
“How does this guy know you?” Sherlock asked and gave Niko a small kick.
“He’s the asshole who sent me here.”
“Bull shit!” Niko spat, “This wasn’t the plan! I was going to impale you and bring your cold dead body to Loki! But that stupid little shit of kid decided save you by shoving you through a portal! Don’t worry i whipped her good for that!”
Sherlock could see Stark stiffen.
“What did you just say?!” Stark rose to his feet. A dangerous light shone in his eyes.
“You heard me!” Niko laughed. Sherlock glared at Niko in disgust. This man was despicable.
“Can you stand the chair up?” Stark asked. Sherlock gladly complied, “Can I see that book please?”
Sherlock handed him the book. Tony lifted it to strike Niko, but Watson stepped in the way.
“Look this guy is horrible and disturbed, but we kind of need his brains intacted so we can get what need from him,” Watson said and took the book from Stark.
“Fine,” Stark grumbled angrily and sat down folding his arms. Sherlock was impressed with his glare. It looked as though it could melt an iceberg.