Officer Walker, Alec. We talked until Dr. Silvers eventually kicked him insisting I needed to rest more. And I hadn't even realized but soon after Alec had left I was passed out. The sun was set by the time I woke up and dad had returned to my room. The lights were turned on and I instantly wanted to go back to sleep. When I looked over to the door, dad had showered, changed and shaved. Thank goodness for that, I didn't want him worrying about me more than he had to. He seemed to be more himself despite the obvious weight on his shoulders that held him down.

"Hey Princess." He smiled though it didn't quite convince me he was happy.

"Hey dad." He hadn't come into my room all day, and I think it was because he didn't want to have the conversation I knew we would have. "My arm is the same is what I heard."

"Jae-"

"I'm dealing..." Telling him how I really was, was not going to happen. I couldn't show my fear to dad, I couldn't. He was already scared as it is, I didn't want to start at ground zero. Having to re-learn everything. Telling him would only stack on more grief. He took a seat again and for the first time in what seemed forever, he had nothing to say. "Look dad we need to talk about something."

"I know. We need to talk about Natalie." His eyes showed he was serious but I couldn't tell why. He had his usual spark in his eyes that showed he was joking.

"Wait what? Why?" I tilted my head to one side, giving him a look like he was crazy. "What do you need to talk about Natalie for?" Had he known about our arrangement? I suddenly needed water as my mouth felt dry, I motioned to the glass at the side of my bed and dad handed it to me before he spoke.

"She's a spy, for S.H.I.E.L.D." I almost dropped the cup, he knew and I was going to get grounded for life. "Her name is Natasha, not Natalie." I could see by the smile on his face he enjoyed distracting my mind. "They were seeing if I was good for their secret boy band." I was filled with relief as he didn't know that I knew about what happened.

"That Avengers initiative thing?" He nodded, I briefly remembered dad telling me about that, I was still in the hospital during that time. "So you good enough for them?"

"Oh yeah, of course," He paused chuckling before he continued. "But you know, they said I had flaws," He rolled his eyes. "Stuff about narcissism, self-destructive tendencies. They got my number though." I smiled and he grinned back at me. I kinda knew why, with dad's recent behavior and all.

"Oh yea? Speaking of self-destruction..." His grin faded and I could tell he knew where this was going. "Let's talk about this behavior you've had for over the past few months." I sat up as much as I could to look at him better.

"Jaedyn I-"

"No." I said sharply. "You don't get to make excuses for any of it. You don't get to pretend that none of it happened, because it all happened. I still have the bruises," I took a breath swallowing a lump in my throat. I wanted to scream and throw something, but I could hardly move off the bed without help. "You were dying. Months, you kept it a secret from me for months. You lied to me about it for months. And I wish that you would have just told me, I could have helped. But you didn't help me." I felt the tears threatening to fall, I wasn't sure if it was sadness or anger. "You died before, I can't imagine what you were thinking about when you decided to keep this to yourself." I could see the tears threatening to fall down his face to but they wouldn't fall unless mine did.

"I thought I was protecting you, I know. I should have told you..."

"How the hell did you think that not telling me you were dying was in a way protecting me? By the way you were acting and what Ivan told me it was like you weren't gonna tell me at all. Maybe you were just waiting for me to find you in the garage next week dead. Is that really they way you wanted me to find out? When I found your dead body?" I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to focus on that pain instead of the pain i felt on the inside. "Honestly dad what were you thinking?"

"I wonder the same thing. Look Jae, I know it wasn't my best decision but I thought it was for the best. I was going to tell you at first, but when it looked like nothing could stop this. I didn't want this to weigh you down you've been getting better and now? I just-" He put his head in his hands. "Ever since you were born. I've been terrified of leaving you alone. My parents died when I was young and for Seventeen years I was scared and I didn't want that to happen to you. After Afghanistan, Obadiah and everything in-between. I panicked and wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

Something that always stuck with me about dad was as I was growing up it seemed like I got in the way of dad living his life. I knew that when he was younger, before he had me he partied and had a lot of girls, that lifestyle. I wondered if he just wanted that life still, I know as of late it was like he was that age again. I wanted a parent while most of the time I got a friend, yes he was a good friend. But he had his moments when he was an even better parent. I knew he was sorry for everything but it still didn't give him an excuse for acting like a child, I wanted to forgive him. But the anger I felt wasn't going to dissipate after one apology. And the rift between us was as large as the grand canyon, that wasn't going to be restored any time soon. It felt like he destroyed something between us and I contributed to it. I felt like I couldn't trust him anymore and that absolutely broke my heart, I should be be able to completely trust him. And I couldn't do that anymore.

"Did you tell Pepper? Rhodey?" They deserved an apology from him as well, he agreed as he met my gaze.

"While you were in surgery Pepper and I talked about it. Rhodey, he... Uhh, he's known for a couple of days." I sighed heavily looking to him. He confided in his best friend, I couldn't blame him but it hurt still. "He found me in the garage and helped me with the palladium core, I had no choice but to tell him."

"So you fixed it?"

"Yea, discovered a new element to replace it," He smirked leaning back in his chair. I listened intently as he explained everything that had happened. He talked about the party, destruction of our home, Natasha, Nick Fury with S.H.I.E.L.D, him giving dad a bunch of my grandfather's things, a trip to Pepper's new office, him being on house arrest. Everything, it was refreshing to hear the truth from him for once.

"It's safe though right?"

"I knew that would be your next question," He chuckled. "Yes, Jarvis ran every test. It's safe." I felt reassured now that I knew all the tests were done and he was going to be okay for the most part.

"Thank god." I shook at the thought of the thing that was keeping him alive being the thing that was slowly killing him. "I'm still super angry at you." I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath. "But I'm really glad you found that element." There was silence between us for what seemed to be forever.

"Princess can you tell me what happened..." I knew it killed him to not know what happened, and I mean all details of the attack. The details weren't going to help though. The look on his face showed me that he needed to know.

"I'm going to rip it off like a band aid, so just listen." I took a deep breath and went for it. "I was walking the park and I was continuing on back towards the hotel when I was grabbed off the street. I fought, lost, obviously. They overpowered me, slammed my hand in the van sliding door. When I woke up I was tied up my hand was horrible. Hammer asked me to say hello to you from the recording, he left for the expo smacked me when I fought back. After he left for the expo Ivan came out of the shadow, tortured me after he explained a crazy revenge scheme against the Stark family. Told me how my grandfather deported Ivan's father. He called you and I knew you would be tracing it. Thank god for that. He broke my finger, cut my palm, hit me a few more times. Then he shoved me in the closet and I escaped said closet by taking the door off it's hinges and kicking it at you. The rest you know..."

"He what?" I could see the anger fuming off of him, and his hands were clenched to fists.

"Dad. He's dead. I'm alive. I'm fine, kinda."

"Jaedyn it matters," I scoffed at him. "I should have protected you-"

"Dad!"

"What's the point of being Iron Man if I can't protect the most important person in my life? You told me that you and Pepper were going to be targets, the two most important ladies in my life. And I was to arrogant to listen I'm sorry."

"Ivan was hell bent on revenge against the Stark family dad. There was nothing that would have changed anything. He would have somehow found some way to get his revenge. Let's just learn from our mistakes and let go. I'm dealing with everything the best I can, I recommend you do the same." I glanced to the cast and shifted my body on the bed. "Yeah, I'm angry too and I wish I could go back in time and change all this. But guess what. I can't." I could tell from the look on his face that he was surprised at how quickly I had come to terms with this. Maybe my anger and tears were going to just hit me some time. "It's just gonna be harder for me to kick your ass when we have build races..." While I saw his smile, I saw through it at his brave facade he kept up.

"Hey, not fair." I laughed and it was a good for me cause I felt lighter. "I did start construction on the house by the way." I smiled the house would still need to be dealt with. "Anyways I'll let you rest. I love you princess. Goodnight." He kissed my head and then went for the door, dimming the lights.

It was nearing midnight when my eyes were growing heavy and harder to keep open. I'd told dad to return to his hotel room for the night, but he did promise to return the next morning. I was glad he wanted to be here for me but I just needed to be alone for the most time. Time ticked by of course but it was easier than watching dad look at my arm. Waiting for it to move. My eyes were closed as I let my mind wander, the past, the future. Anything to distract me from right now, I didn't need this. I honestly hated everything, I felt so much anger within me. Pictures flashed by my head, of the attacks, both of them. Obadiah's men almost throwing me down the stairs and Ivan cutting my body. Two scars that would both remain on my body, permanently. I remembered the restricting binds that bound me to the chair, I could hardly move and when I felt the gag on my mouth it was cutting into the corners of my mouth. I felt my breath start to quicken when I was afraid of death.

"Jaedyn." My eyes shot open and I took a deep breath shooting my eyes to the door. In stepped Natalie- Natasha. She looked differently for sure. The last time she was in a skin tight dress and high heels, now she was wearing a black catsuit. There was a belt across her waist, gun halter on her thigh and two braces on her wrists. I'm guessing they weren't just for fashion. She looked deadly, well more intimidating. It was a good look, and I was jealous. She obviously knew how to handle herself, she didn't need anything from anyone. She could handle herself in a fight for sure, and she didn't need anyone to hold her hand or tell her she's beautiful. I wanted to be that, I wanted to be strong like her. I couldn't be that girl as much as I tried, she didn't have to try she stood there making it look effortless.

"Well umm, hi..." She walked deeper into my room where she stood at the side of my bed with her hands behind her back. "You look different- it's good, like damn."

"How are you feeling Miss Stark?" She grinned softly to me.

"Well I could tell you, but I'm afraid you would just run back and tell S.H.I.E.L.D and tell them everything," Sarcasm laced my voice. "Dad came in and told me your real name, Natasha. Like it. Keeping your real name and cover name close makes it seem easier to spy I'm guessing?"

"You are very smart Jaedyn," She replied smoothly. "Anyways," She checked the room before opening the door once again. "You have a guest." I heard the clack of strong boots against the white tile before I saw someone entering the room. Tall, dark, intimidating as hell. Did everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D have to be scary? Despite having never met him, I knew who he was, plus the eye patch was a clue. Dad had described him to me after he broke into the house, when I was still in the hospital for my leg. This was not a man easily forgotten.

"Miss Stark, I'm Nick-"

"Fury," I finished what he was going to say. "I know. My dad told me who you are. What do you want from me Mr. Fury?" Somehow I knew the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D popping into my hospital room in the middle of the night wasn't for a quick chat. He stepped up to the bedside and he put his hand on the railing of my bed.

"Miss Stark, Agent Romanoff has informed me that while she was on her mission. Undercover in your home. You didn't tell your father," He paused looking to my arm in which I took a deep sigh hoping to breeze pass any sympathy he would share with me. "She also informed me that you blackmailed her, saying you you would keep her secret if she was to train you-"

"Well that isn't gonna happen any time soon," I scoffed rolling my eyes. Natasha took a heavy sigh when she heard me. "I'm useless as of now." I snapped at him, facing the opened blinds showing my high story hospital view. "Sorry..."

"I understand." He moved his hand from the railing up to the cast on my arm. I groaned softly, stopping suddenly when I realized something. I felt that. "Miss Stark, is there anything we can do for you? Water?" I nodded at the word and Natasha went over and brought me a cup of water holding it for me to take, on the side of the bed where my cast was. The wrong side of the bed.

"Do me a favor, Agent Romanoff," I spoke rudely to her as I was now upset at her. Yet she remained there, holding it a few inches from my injured arm. "Look Romanoff have some fucking compassion. I'm a seventeen year old whose been kidnapped twice, tortured twice, and ended up in the hospital because of them both twice." I groaned and hit my other hand on the bed, and when I heard the clattering of an object my eyes shot to Natasha where the cup was gone. My hand had stopped moving, moving. My eyes went wide and I saw that Director Fury had flashed a smile, only for a moment.

"Miss Stark. You are strong, stronger than most. You ran to that Expo in hopes to save people, against better judgement you went back to save people. Like you said yourself, you are a seventeen year old who has been kidnapped twice, tortured twice, and ended up in a hospital on both occasions. Yet you still had that fight and will to survive." He seemed to be taking is sweet time at getting to a point.

"Look Director what are you wanting from me?" I took a long breath rubbing my eyes.

"Miss Stark, which would you rather: Fight or Flight?" I lowered my hand from my eye giving him a questioning look.

"Fight." An easy statement for me to make.

"Then I offer you this," He motioned to my hand before continuing. "You just knocked the cup out of Agent Romanoff's hand, when there was a low, almost impossible chance of getting that feeling back. Natasha and you had a deal that she intends to keep. Are you up for it?" I looked to Natasha who was now sitting in the chair next to my bed with her legs crossed looking to me. She seemed almost proud to see that I had knocked the water out of her hand.

"Up for what?" I asked curiously, my eyes going back to my arm again. I started to poke at the cast on my arm, I couldn't get rid of the smile on my face that I had moved it and I was regaining feeling.

"Working for S.H.I.E.L.D," Natasha said calmly to me.

"You would receive training from Natasha and another Agent name Agent Barton. We don't normally recruit this young, but Natasha thinks there should be an exception to you. She said you were, what was it Romanoff?"

"Trouble, the good kind." I smirked my eyes going from Fury to Natasha then back to Fury.

"So are you up for the job?" Fury said, his arms crossing over his chest.

"When do I start?"

Authors Note

I'm so sorry, it has been a long time since I last updated and that is because I just had no energy for the longest time. But here is the latest chapter and I hope you enjoy.

Feedback would be appreciated as always, again thank you for all your kind words and taking time out of your day to read my story.

I hopefully will be back onto a better updating schedule.

I'll talk to you all later.