''Ding, ding, ding! Well done Pepper!" he laughed. ''Oh, for a minute there you scared me, but then how could you forget me?''
How could this be happening? He was supposed to be in jail. ''What the hell do you want?'' she asked angrily.
''Oh, straight to the point I see.'' his voice lowered. ''I thought you might have wanted to catch up a little bit seeing as a lot has happened since we last spoke. Bare with me, of course I'm only just catching up on the news and I'm afraid I have to rely on media websites to read what's going on. You and Tony and happily married now, congratulations, you two truly deserve each other.'' If Pepper didn't know his motives and his personality, she would have mistaken his words as genuine. ''Wow, looking at these photos Pepper you certainly have enhanced your figure. Oh hold on, is that a baby bump? Oh my, don't tell me there's a little Tony Stark running around.'' he chuckled. ''So, tell me, how is little Abigail doing?''
Pepper's heart almost stopped in her chest. She knew Justin Hammer was a threatening man, but she always said she wasn't afraid of him. He had no clue what he was doing half of the time, all of his plans fell apart and he never really knew what was going on, so Pepper never held much fear of the man, even when he threatened her, but as soon as he mentioned her daughter, things instantly changed. She immediately had this need to run upstairs and check on Abby, she needed to know that she was okay. As Pepper rushed up the stairs, Hammer couldn't resist playing with her mind.
''She must be cute, I mean, you yourself are a very stunning woman Pepper. And then there's Tony, who isn't short of good looks, so she must be gorgeous.'' he told her calmly. ''How old is she?''
Pepper made it to Abby's room and saw her sleeping peacefully. She had never been so relieved. She didn't know what she was expecting, but she felt so protective and worried, she had to make sure. ''What do you want Hammer?''
''Just keeping true to my word, Pepper. I told you I'd see you again very soon.'' he told her, taking her memory back to when she had his arrested at the Stark Expo. ''And I mean it.''
The line went dead as soon as his words left his mouth, and Pepper was in so much shock that she just stood there for a few moments in silence, staring at nothing in particular. She checked on Abby a few more times, settling for leaving the door open as she stood back against the wall to call Tony's cell. She didn't know what to say to him, but she needed him here with her and Abby right now. Hammer wasn't meant to be released anytime soon considering what he was arrested for, so she was a little concerned as to how he was out and how he was able to get her number to call.
Tony answered on the fifth ring, almost as Pepper was about to hang up.
''Pepper?''
''Tony, can you come home?'' she asked hurriedly, and Tony caught on to her panic.
''What's going on?'' he asked seriously, but Pepper was just breathing heavily, thinking of how to tell him. He was already rushing back to his car, his keys sliding into the ignition as he asked her again. ''Pepper? Talk to me, what's going on?''
''H-hammer,'' she told him. ''Justin Hammer called me.''
Tony was in disbelief. ''What?'' he drove off.
''He called me,'' she told him again in distress. ''He's got my number, he's out of jail, I think he escaped.''
Tony was already speeding down the road, trying to get home as fast as he could. ''When did he call?''
''Just then.''
''Okay, look, don't worry I'm coming home now, okay? I'm on my way.'' Tony told her calmly.
''Tony, h-he was talking about Abby.'' she told him worriedly. Tony floored his foot on the accelerated, racing home. There was no way he was letting Hammer get to his family. ''And he said he was going to see me very soon.''
Tony bit down on his lip in anger, but searched for words to assure her it would be okay. ''Pepper, listen, I'm not gonna let him do this. I'm on my way home now, have Jarvis lock everything down and turn on maximum security until I get there.''
Tony tried tracing the call on Pepper's phone, but it was no use. The number was deactivated by now, at least Hammer had the good sense to hide himself. He did manage to make a few changes Jarvis's system, making security better and running scans on the property to make sure nothing got in or anything was already in. He knew he would be getting no sleep tonight, he wasn't going to stop until he found Hammer.
He made a few calls to the prison where Hammer was being held, but he had indeed escaped from his cell the night before. Tony then made several complaints of their security, threatening with lawsuits, but it was just his anger going wild. This man was out to get Pepper, and there was no way he was ever going to let that happen. He called Rhodey and explained why he had to leave in such a hurry, and soon Rhodey was at the house as well.
''How did he get out?'' Rhodey asked Tony.
''The prison's corrupted, no questions about it. It was an inside job, he probably paid someone off to get him out. And he's probably with someone, he wouldn't get far on his own, he's an idiot.'' Tony explained, searching through the computer database. ''I managed to get my hands on some pretty...sensitive information on Hammer. If he used his credit card or accesses his account at all, I'll have a location within minutes. But if he does happen to have brain cells, he wouldn't touch his money.''
''Who else knows?''
''I'm guessing a lot of people, but they wouldn't want to media getting a hold of the story.'' Tony sighed. ''I'm betting no one's doing anything about it. Hammer's got a lot of people wrapped around his finger.''
Rhodey thought to himself for a moment. ''What can we do?''
Tony ran his hand through his hair in frustration. ''Nothing. Security tapes at the prison show nothing, I can't get a track on his cell until he calls again, I've got nothing.'' he told him in anger, slamming his fist against the table.
Then he heard footsteps on the stairs, turning to see Pepper walking down with Abby in her arms. Ever since Hammer called, Pepper didn't want her daughter out of her sight. She looked scared, but she wasn't going to admit that to Tony.
''Found anything?'' she asked, walking over to them. Abby had her blanket wrapped around her, holding it to her mouth.
Tony shook his head. ''There's gotta be a way to get some answers.'' It was only a few moments until Tony thought to himself, coming up with an idea. If he headed down to the prison, he could have a word with the guards. Either that or threaten them. ''I need to go to the prison. I gotta talk to those guards, one of them let Hammer out and I'm going to find out who.'' he stood up.
''Tony, no,'' Pepper shook her head. ''That's not going to solve anything, you'll just end up in one of the cells.''
''It is going to solve things. I can find the guard and find out where Hammer's going.''
''They're not going to tell you anything, Hammer's probably paid them off, it's useless.'' Pepper tried to reason with him.
''I don't care, I need to try.'' he walked over to get his keys.
''Tony, please don't leave.'' she called out.
''Pepper, I have to find him. Rhodey, stay here until I get back.''
Rhodey nodded, he wasn't going to leave Pepper and Abby here alone. ''I will, but you gotta be careful Tony. Going down there by yourself isn't the best idea.''
Tony jumped in his car. ''Trust me, it's better if I go alone.''
He looked over to Pepper again, giving her a light smile to stop her from worrying. The little girl in her arms looked back at him sadly, her arms clutching the pink blanket. He hated leaving them, at any time, but right now he had to go. He had to find Hammer and put him back in prison, he wasn't going to let him hurt his family, he couldn't take it. She continued staring at him with her big brown eyes, Pepper holding her closer and hugging her as he drove away. This was all for them, he was keeping them safe, and he would do whatever it took to make sure no one got anywhere near them.
Rhodey walked over and put his hand on Pepper's back. ''It's gonna be okay, Pepper.''
She nodded sadly. ''I hope so. I don't want him to get hurt.''
''Me either.'' Rhodey sighed. ''But there's no stopping him. He'll be careful, I know he will.''
Tony strode his way inside the prison gates, walking to the main entrance and heading straight for the desk. This prison was supposed to be maximum security since Justin Hammer was crafty when intimidating and persuading the guards, however not even these guards could resist whatever Hammer offered them, whether it be money or other luxuries.
''Sir, you can't access that area.'' One of the men walked up to him.
Tony pushed his hand aside. ''The hell I can't.'' The man walked in front of him, stopping him from getting any further into the corridors. ''You're seriously telling me that I can't walk down this corridor, but you'll let Justin Hammer walk out the main gates, no questions asked.''
The man looked down, ashamed that he was on duty when Hammer escaped. ''Believe me sir, no one let him walk out those gates.''
Tony scoffed. ''Pretty sure one of your guards did.''
''This is a maximum-''
''-security prison, yeah, yeah. Maybe I would take you seriously about your prison's priorities if I didn't know that you let one of the craziest men walk.'' Tony yelled. ''I want to know who was on duty last night. I want names, and I want background information on all of them.''
''You can't have that information.''
''I think I have rights to know who's fault it is that Justin Hammer isn't in one of these cells anymore.''
The man stared back at Tony angrily, knowing he wasn't going to give up, but he wasn't allowed to that information and even though one of their prisoners had escaped, they still maintained their security as best they could. However, Tony wasn't taking no for an answer, and he wasn't leaving anytime soon.
Pepper sat on the couch in the living room, Abby asleep in her arms. Rhodey walked in with a cup of tea for Pepper, sitting it down on the table and sipping at his coffee. He hadn't left her all afternoon since Tony left, and he didn't plan on leaving until he came home. He wanted to help, but there was nothing any of them could do without the proper evidence they needed. Pepper was a mess, but she didn't let Rhodey see that, and she wasn't about to break down in front of Abby, she had to stay strong.
''Do you want anything to eat?'' Rhodey asked, offering to cook. ''I'm no gourmet chef, but I can make the simple stuff.''
Pepper smiled at his troubles. ''Thanks, but I'm fine.''
''You sure?''
''Yeah, it's fine.''
A few moments later, Jarvis informed them that Tony had arrived home and was in the workshop. Maximum security prevented anything coming near the house without being notified or , depending on what it was, calling authorities. Rhodey looked over to Pepper who was still looking down at Abby adoringly as she slept in her mother's arms, and he made his way down to the workshop to see what happened at the prison.
The workshop was almost soundproof these days, and it took Rhodey walking down to the door to realize that Tony's visit to the prison did not go well. He ws throwing tools off his desk all over the room, smashing glass on the other side and almost tipping over the desks. He looked like a child throwing a tantrum, but Rhodey knew he was far from being childish right now. He was angry, furious, and this was his only way to let out the frustration that had been building inside of him ever since he learnt about Hammer escaping.
''Tony,'' Rhodey called out when he walked into the room. ''Tony!''
Tony stopped what he was doing, but he didn't look over to Rhodey. Instead, he sat down at his desk and took a few deep breaths. ''They had nothing.'' Rhodey hung his head in disappointment, walking over to stand beside him. ''Security tapes were overridden and wiped, whoever let him out isn't there anymore, probably didn't even work there. I should sue that prison, their security is about as advanced as a school girl's diary.''
''You think that's gonna help right now?''
''Nothing's helping right now, we've got nothing.'' Tony snapped. ''Hammer's out there running loose like a mad man, and all we can do is wait.'' he stood up, looking for things to break. ''I need to find him! I need to find him and...and...''
Rhodey knew what he was about to say, and he didn't want his friend living with that sort of consequence. He was angry, this behavior was expected, but he hated seeing him like this, and there was nothing either of them could do.
''You need to go upstairs and be with your family.''
Tony sighed. ''I can't go up there and tell Pepper that I can't do anything to find him.''
''That doesn't matter to her, you know that. She just wants you there with her.'' Rhodey told him honestly. ''Do you need me to do anything else?''
Tony shook his head. ''No, it's fine, nothing we can do. Thanks for staying with Pepper.''
''Anytime.''
Tony didn't bother cleaning up the workshop when Rhodey left, instead he took his advice and headed upstairs to be with his family. Pepper was on the couch with Abby, who looked like she just woke up, her sleepy eyes looking over to her dad. He sat down next to Pepper, and Abby held her hands out to him. Tony pulled her into his arms, her face snuggling against his chest.
''Are you okay?'' he held Pepper's hand.
She nodded. ''I am now.''
''I promise I'll find him, Pepper. I promise he will never hurt you or Abby, I'd die before I let him.'' Pepper winced at the words. ''Please don't worry, I'm going to fix this, I promise.''
Pepper shook her head. ''I don't want you to. I want you to stay here with us, I can't lose you.''
''You won't lose me Pepper, never.'' he assured her as he held Abby close and kissed the top of her head. ''But I will find him.''
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