Out Of Time

eighteen

After scanning the old device and sending it to Coulson, Y/N had an easy time the next few days. She stood guard in the workshop, carefully watching, as Tony worked on a project. While eating breakfast one morning, Tony surprisingly joined her.

"I need to go talk to Rhodes," Tony stated as he poured himself some coffee. "I assume that you have to come with me."

"You assume correct. When do we leave?"

"Once you're finished with breakfast. I'll drive."

Once they arrived at the Air Force base, Y/N silently promised herself that she would never get in a car when Tony was behind the wheel again. She's had near death experiences before, and being in a car while Tony drives is close to her top. They entered the hanger to see James Rhodes giving a tour.

"The future of air combat. Is it manned or unmanned?" Rhodes spoke as Y/N and Tony walked closer to the group. "I'll tell you, in my experience, no unmanned aerial vehicle will ever trump a pilot's instinct, his insight, that ability to look into a situation beyond the obvious and discern its outcome, or a pilot's judgment."

"Colonel?" Tony spoke up, continuing on towards the group as Y/N stopped a few feet away. "Why not a pilot without the plane?"

"Look who fell out of the sky. Mr. Tony Stark," Rhodes greeted.

"Hello, sir," a man greeted as Tony walked up and shook his hand.

"Speaking of manned or unmanned," Tony began, "you gotta get him to tell you about the time he guessed wrong at spring break. Just remember that, spring break, 1987. That lovely lady you woke up with."

"Don't do that!" Rhodes exclaimed.

"What was his name?" Tony continued.

"Don't do that."

"Was it Ivan?"

"Don't do that. They'll believe it."

"Okay."

"Don't do that."

"Pleasure meeting you," Tony spoke to the group.

"Give us a couple minutes, you guys." The group quickly walked off and Y/N moved to stand aways behind the men. "I'm surprised," Rhodes said.

"Why?" Tony questioned.

"I swear, I didn't expect to see you walking around so soon."

"I'm doing a little better than walking."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Rhodey, I'm working on something big." This immediately caught Y/N's attention. "I came to talk to you. I want you to be a part of it."

"You're about to make a whole lot of people around here real happy, 'cause that little stunt at the press conference, that was a doozy."

"This is not for the military. I'm not... It's different."

"What? You're a humanitarian now or something?"

"I need you to listen to me."

Y/N read a lot about Tony Stark since she was given the assignment. And he wasn't one for begging- pleading. He really wanted Rhodes to listen.

"No. What you need is time to get your mind right. I'm serious."

"Okay."

"It's nice seeing you, Tony." Rhodes turned around and noticed Y/N. "It's nice seeing you too, Ms. Barnes."

"Colonel," Y/N greeted with a slight nod as he walked off.

"Let's go," Tony ordered, quickly heading out.

"Sir," Y/N said as she caught up to him, "may I ask what you're wanting the Colonel's help with?"

"Only if you tell me what happened with your hand."

Y/N's breathing hitched. "What? I- Um... It-"

"I noticed it when you took the reactor out. What's the story?"

"Mr. Stark, I don't-"

"You know what?" Tony spun around and stopped when they reached the car. "You can know, maybe even help, when I can know more about you. I had JARVIS look you up, Ms. Barnes. There's not enough about you at there, and maybe it's because of your job, but still. It's a little concerning. So, you may know or ask questions on what I'm working on when you tell me what happened to your hand. The whole truth. Understood?"

Y/N was shocked. She was not expecting that reaction from Tony. Was he scared? Scared that she could hurt him like he was hurt in the cave? When she didn't give her answer quick enough, Tony rolled his eyes and got into the car. He slammed the door as Y/N started looking at her hand. She tried her best to never think about the haunting fall.

"You gettin' in?" Tony called from the window he had rolled down. "Or are you walking?"

Y/N nodded, not making eye contact as hurried into the passenger seat. The ride was silent the whole way back to the mansion. Tony went straight to his workshop upon arriving and Y/N stayed outside to walk around the property. Once she felt that she was far enough away, she called Coulson.

"Any news?" Coulson asked when he answered.

"I need to be pulled from this case," Y/N quickly stated.

"What? Why-"

"He's asking questions. And I can't give him the answers to them."

"Y/N, you need to lie. You've done it before, it's apart of the job."

"None of the other missions have had to do with my past. Whether or not you and Fury want to believe it, Tony Stark has to do with my past. His father and I- I just can't be here anymore."

"He asked about your hand, didn't he?" Y/N couldn't answer. "Y/N, you can do this. Make up a story about your hand or ignore the question."

"I'm scared, Phil," Y/N whispered. "The last time anyone asked me, I had nightmares for weeks. What if... What if I have a nightmare and he finds me?"

"If he finds you in the middle of a nightmare, you call me and I'll be there to pick you up as soon as I can. But, Y/N, it's been almost a year since the last time you've had one. Don't stress yourself over this."

"Okay." She let out a deep breath. "Okay. Thanks, Phil."

"Anytime. And thanks for the specs on the chest piece, the engineers are still looking over it."

"I don't know that they'll figure it out. It is Stark tech after all. Even if it was made in a cave."

"Let me know if you find anything else."

"Sure."