Red Hand Annie

After Hours

Setting: Avengers Tower; Tony just return from the diner...

(Tony's p.o.v.)

"Pepper!" I call as the elevator opens, "I'll be..." I trail off when I enter the door way to the living room and see everyone surrounding her near the couch, "what's a...what's going on here?"

Wanda, Pietro, Rhoadey, Vision, Happy, Nat, Clint, even Banner are all surrounding the couch where Howard and Pepper are sitting. I notice a tiny bundle in Pepper's arms....but Pepper's not due till October, and it's only almost August. Lucas has been staying with Clint and his family till Annie gets home...Howard gets off the couch and comes running over to me with the biggest smile on his little face.

"See baby," he says as grabs my hand and pulls me over

"Who's kid is this?" I ask looking at it

"Tony," Pepper breaths out, "this..." holding the kid up for me to see better, "is Zima; Zima Schnee Barnes."

"I'm sorry," I say, "what?"

"Your granddaughter," Pepper finishes

"..." I stare at the kid, a smile growing on my face, "where's Annie?" I ask, unable to wait any longer to see my little girl, "where is she?" I ask confused after looking around and not seeing her

"She didn't come back with us," comes a voice from behind me

"You," I snarl

"Tony," Pepper says with a warning voice at the same time Capsicale say

"Pardon my interruption sir," JARVIS says stopping from speaking, "but Agent Coulson is on the line; he says it's urgent."

"Not now JARVIS," I growl

"It's about Annie," he says

With that said, everyone goes quiet and I feel my heart stop...what about my little girl? Aside from the fact that she's not here with me, what could be so urgent?

"Put him through," I say holding my breath, "what's going on Phil?"

"Agent Stark..." he starts

"We're loosing her!" A voice in the background comes

"Keep trying!" Comes another background voice

"Phil..." I say cautiously as I look around the quiet room to find everyone staring, "what's going on?"

"Annie keeps fluctuating between life and death," he says, "and has been for a couple hours now."

"How did this happen?" I ask as we all go stiff

"She tried to kill herself with a nail file," he says

I hear multiple gasps from around me as I feel an anxiety attack-the first in a long time-start coming on and the room starts to spin. My baby girl tried to kill herself...why? She has a little girl and Lucas to take care of...why would she do that? Was she really that depressed? I sit myself down on the floor as my breathing becomes rapid and Howard tries to talk to me, but I can't hear what he's saying. Before long Pepper's on the floor next to me, trying to help me to breath...it's not helping though. I see people trying to talk to me, but I can't hear what there saying; Howard's crying cause how I'm acting is scarring him and Pepper's becoming frantic.

Just as I start to see black, I feel someone put something in my arms, I feel a calming sensation sweep over me and feel myself start to calm down. My heart slows and my vision becomes clear again as I look down and see the same baby blues as Annie and Mena starring back at me out of my tiny granddaughter's face. Her eyes are full of wonder and curiosity as she stares at me. Breaking the trance the kid has me in, I look around at everyone staring at the two of us and land on Howard, still crying. I open one arm and he comes running; he buries his little face in my chest and continues to cry...