When You Saved Me

Chapter 26

Tony P.O.V

We didn't end up needing to continue our search for Callie; because a few minutes after I landed, naked Bruce waltzed out of the forest carrying a beaten-up, though happy, 5 year old. I also ended up having to forgive Thor, turns out that Callie did indeed ask him to throw her, not that that really excuses anything--she is 5 after all. But I suppose there is a bit of a cultural barrier, and he was incredibly remorseful.

As Bruce is bandaging up Callie, my phone rings and the caller display reveals that its Pepper. I step out of the room swiping to answer the call, "Hey Pepper, what's up?"

"Tony, I just got here, could you come out and help me with my bags?" She asks politely.

I tell her I'll be out in a second before hanging up the phone.

"Hey Bruce," I call, poking my head around the corner, "I'm just running outside to help Pepper with her luggage, can you hang out with the kid?"

"Uh huh, sure." He responds absentmindedly, obviously focused on the task of bandaging up said kid.

"Sweet, thanks!" I say, "be good for Uncle Bruce." I wink at Callie before making my way out to the front of the building, and I could have sworn she rolled her eyes at me but I choose to ignore it for now.

I see Pepper standing with her hand resting on her hip as the driver pulls her bags from the trunk of the car. I saunter over and give her a habitual peck on the cheek before realizing that I may have acted inappropriately.

"Ah sorry," I mutter, I can feel my face flushing so I quickly turn away and retrieve her luggage from the Cabby.

"It's alright," she says, shifting her weight to her other leg uncomfortably.

"Okay, shall we head inside?" I grin at her sheepishly and she nods smiling slightly.

"Where is the little girl?" She asks casually as we walk up the drive way.

It bothers me that she doesn't use Callie's name but I remind myself that this week needs to go well so I let it slide, "Callie's with Bruce," I say emphasizing her name, "we had a bit of an accident this morning playing football so she needed some first aid."

"You were playing football with a 5-year-old?" Pepper scoffs, I roll my eyes and keep walking in silence, I don't want to start off fighting or this will never work.

We continue in silence until we get indoors, "Okay, your room is right over here," I say, leading her into one of the spare rooms that I had prepared earlier that morning.

"And where is your room?" She asks softly.

"Right across the hall," I motion to my own door. "Why?" I ask, trying to conceal the hopeful anticipation in my voice.

"Oh, I don't know..." she pauses emphatically, "just in case I need you during the night." She breathes the last sentence into my ear causing my skin to tingle. She gently takes her bags from my grasp and slides into her room, closing the door behind herself.

I let out a breathe of air that I hadn't even realized I'd been holding. I better see if Cap was serious about taking over a night shift with Callie.
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Callie P.O.V

I sigh dramatically as Uncle Bruce finishes with the last set of stitches. I'm back in a number of casts causing me to be, once again, immobile.

Bruce chuckles, "you should've thought about this before you asked Thor to throw you." He winks at me.

I groan and lean my cheek into the palm of my uncasted arm.

"Hey, on the bright side you seem to heal remarkably fast." He says brightly, gaining him a quizzical look from me, "most kids would be in a cast for months Callie," he explains, "you will likely only be down for a few weeks judging from how quick you got out of your casts last time."

"It still blows," I shrug, rolling my eyes for added effect; something I'd witnessed my Dad do multiple times since being placed in his care.

"Don't sass me," laughs Bruce, "like I said, you did this to yourself."

"So... how long is Pepper here for?" I ask cautiously, I'm unsure how Uncle Bruce feels about her so I don't want to come off overly aggressive.

His hands pause from tidying up the medical supplies for just a moment as he seems to be weighing his response, "well... I'm not sure how long she plans to stay," he replies, placing down what he's working on and coming to sit directly across from me, "but Callie," he says, looking me straight in the eye and suddenly I'm feeling nervous, "if your Dad and Pepper can work out their issues I think you will all be going home... like back to Tony's mansion."

I'm hit with a sense of dread and I quickly break eye contact, "but I want to stay here." I whisper.

"I'd like you to stay here too," he admits, "but that might not happen and we need to be okay with that."

"Unless..." I start slowly, "unless it doesn't work out with Pepper." I bite on my bottom lip, an idea starting to form.

"Um, yeah I guess," Bruce says, "but you aren't going to be running any kind of interference, understand?" He pulls my face to look back at his and he is giving me his most serious face, but I can feel a tinge of amusement underneath it.

"Yeah, right of course." I say in the most convincing voice I can muster. It seems to be enough because he quickly finishes cleaning up and then lifts me up into his arms and carries me out of the room.

"If you make this injuring yourself thing a habit we're going to have to get you a  wheel chair, " he says jokingly. I just shrug, I have no idea what a wheel chair is but I don't plan to get hurt again.

Upon arriving at the living room I feel a shift in the atmosphere, Uncle Bruce has an extremely calm emotional presence--which is shocking considering the green beast that I witnessed this morning--so the uncomfortable energy in the lounge catches my attention instantly.

I look up to see everyone who I'd normally expect--Uncle Steve, Natasha, Thor and my Dad but beside him is none other than Pepper Potts.

Her and Daddy seem to be having an intense conversation that everyone else is pretending not to eavesdrop in on.

Bruce clears his throat loudly gaining the attention of Auntie Nat who skips over gracefully.

"Bruce," she greets with a nod, her eyes saying much more than her words. She then turns her attention to me, "Oh my God Callie, are you okay?"

"Yeah I guess so," I shrug.
'Okay' isn't exactly how I'd describe my current state but it could definitely be worse.

The interaction gains the attention of Uncle Thor who marches over to us and swings me into his arms with great gusto. "Hello little one! I must apologize for my earlier actions, so to make amends I will chauffer you about for the rest of the evening. What would you like to do first?"

Thor's smile is infectious and I find myself forgetting about whatever it is my Dad and the redheaded woman are talking about. "I'm hungry," I suggest.

"Ah then you must be fed! Let's go find something delicious and spoil our appetites for dinner." He says with a wink and brings me out of the room and to the kitchen.