Chapter 15 – Shock, Theme 048

Series: Tight Coupling

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1623

Disclaimer: Not mine, all Marvel's.

Summary: This list potentially held the name of someone who was desperate to send a message and that made Pepper apprehensive, to say the least.

A/N: I can only apologize heartily for the delay in getting this chapter out. And then apologize again for the ending of this chapter. But things are about to get interesting! I cannot thank everyone who has reviewed enough!

As always, please, please let me know what you think.

Pepper awoke the next day with the sun. She went through her I'm-actually-in-my-own-house routine. It consisted of a very quick shower, an extremely quick picking out of clothes that hadn't been removed from their dry-cleaning plastic wraps and then the even quicker putting on of the shoes she had worn yesterday. Pepper wandered into the kitchen and prayed that the milk would be okay. Miracles of miracles, it was. She made her coffee and tried very hard not to think about the fact that the apartment she had so carefully and lovingly picked out and decorated felt more like a stranger's home than her own these days.

She grabbed her Blackberry and checked all of the messages that had come in overnight and in the early morning hours. She decided to stop by the mansion. Knowing Tony's recent nightly excursions, she was sure he wouldn't be in any shape to function like the CEO he actually was until at least noon, which would happily leave her free to get some work done.

"Funny how he couldn't function at all previously," Pepper thought. She smirked a little. She may have felt a pang every now and then for the loss of the old Tony, especially whenever she discovered a new frown line on his forehead or spotted a gray hair (his, not hers thank you very much). But she certainly did not miss being the morning after 'trash collector'.

She gathered her things together and walked out of her apartment to her car.

Pepper arrived at the mansion and walked inside and headed straight to the kitchen.

"Good morning Miss Potts," Jarvis greeted her. "The Columbian coffee blend you prefer is almost ready."

"Good morning Jarvis and thank you very much," Pepper said as she recognized the aroma coming from coffee maker. She tapped her fingers on the counter as it finished percolating. She watched the last drop fall into the carafe and pulled it from the machine. "Dare I ask how Mr. Stark is after his flight last night?"

"Surprisingly chipper Miss Potts," Jarvis said. "He is currently in the shower but will be finished shortly. I believe he has a few questions regarding the paperwork you left for him."

Pepper stopped in mid-pour. "He actually looked them over?"

"Oh, yes," Jarvis said. "With enthusiasm I would go so far as to say. I believe the adrenaline caused by flying causes an unforeseen side effect in Tony."

"Which is?" Pepper asked pouring milk into the mug.

"An eagerness to work," Jarvis replied.

Pepper bit her lip to stop the laugh that threatened to burst from her mouth. "Well, I have a feeling its best not to question the exuberance and just see what happens."

"I agree completely Miss Potts," Jarvis concurred. "Will you be working from your office today?"

"Yes, I will," Pepper said as she headed down the hall to her office. "Tell Tony whenever he's ready to talk, I'm here."

"Certainly Miss Potts," Jarvis replied. "Oh, the InfoVisors distribution list is complete and is in your inbox; the total came to 75 people who have either purchased or received a beta version. I've taken the liberty of highlighting the users that are Stark Industries employees."

"Thank you Jarvis," she said.

Pepper sat down at her desk as her desktop automatically powered up. She began by sorting her emails and consulting her schedule for the week. She continued working quietly for about an hour. Then after delaying the inevitable, she reluctantly clicked on the list of InfoVisor users. This list potentially held the name of someone who was desperate to send a message and that made Pepper apprehensive, to say the least.

Her eyes scanned the list and then again. Each time, one name stood out to her above all the others. Pepper sighed and just knew this was the person trying to communicate with them. She needed to tell Tony what she had discovered.

She headed down the stairs to the workshop. Her heels made the familiar click clack as she entered the workshop.

Pepper looked around and saw Tony sitting at his computer station giving small instructions quietly to Jarvis as he typed in commands of his own. He was freshly washed and she did her best to ignore the way his damp hair was curling around the back of his neck. She made a mental note to schedule a hair appointment for him soon.

"I hear you looked over the projections last night," she said in greeting.

"Well, good morning to you too, Miss Potts," Tony said without turning around. She noticed that he quickly minimized a window upon her approach. "You're looking lovely in your blue pinstripes today."

Pepper furrowed her brow and looked down at herself. "How do you know I'm wearing blue pinstripes? You haven't seen me this morning."

"Ah, I'm guessing?" he sort of asked. Tony spun around quickly in his chair and smiled while he gestured at her clothes. "And look at that, I'm right. Blue pinstripes. Careful, Pepper. Don't get too predictable now."

"Right," Pepper said suspiciously. "Anyway, I just looked over the list Jarvis put together of people who may have had access to an InfoVisor."

"Oh? And who dun it?" he asked, his words flippant, but his spine was straight and eyes were focused.

"Well, some of these names haven't worked at Stark Industries in awhile. But, one name kind of stood out," Pepper hesitated as she tried to work the concept out in her head.

"Suspense is killin' me here, Potts," Tony said. "Out with it."

"Danny Morgan," she said. Tony leaned back to rest against the table and made a face. Pepper continued. "His name is on the list. He's the only one of this list I can actually claim to having has more than a brief conversation in an elevator with."

"Morgan," Tony said as he swiveled slowly on his chair. "Accounting's whiz kid right? You really think he'd send glasses to you?"

"Well no, I don't. Not normally," Pepper said honestly. "But, I did see him a week or so ago. He seemed like something was bothering him, he was very distracted."

"He's a mathematician," Tony said. "Distracted is in the job description."

"Fine, fine, not distracted then," she said rolling her eyes. "More like, worried."

"About what?" he asked. Pepper shrugged.

"I really don't know," she told him.

Tony swiveled a couple more times and then turned around completely on his stool and then launched out of his chair, Pepper stepped back just in time to avoid being run into.

"Get him on the phone," he said. He headed towards the other work table picking up a random tool out of the tool box. "Call him now. See what's going on."

He started to do something to the spare part on the table. Pepper watched him with a bemused expression. She got out her phone and put the call into Accounting.

Tony was fairly sure he hadn't fooled Pepper, but he needed to do something with his hands. He listened as she spoke patiently and politely to the receptionist, then silence as she was transferred to Morgan's direct line. He tightened a bolt that really didn't need to be tightened and then loosened it again. He glanced over at Pepper who was looking far too calm then back down at the part in front of him.

"Hi Danny, this is Pepper Potts. Please give me a call when you get this message," she said. Pepper hung up and looked at him. "Voicemail."

"Hmm," Tony said as he tapped the socket wrench on the table. "Well, try him later. Do I have to be anywhere today?"

"No, actually. Although it might be nice of you to put in an appearance at the office," she said with a pointed look.

"Why? To keep the serfs happy?" he asked.

"I really wouldn't go around calling your employees serfs, Tony," Pepper said. "It's not very polite."

"And I don't actually have any fields that need plowing, so it's not completely accurate either. What are you doing today?" he asked as he dropped the wrench back down onto the table and faced her.

"Well, I actually do need to go into the office," she said as she headed towards the stairs. "I've still got quite a bit of paperwork..." Pepper's phone rang and interrupted her.

She glanced at the caller id and answered immediately.

"Pepper Potts. Oh, Edith?... Yes, yes I did just call, I was trying to get in touch with Danny...," Pepper said as she spoke to one of the other accountants. Her brow furrowed and she turned slightly towards Tony. "What? Wait, what?"

Tony crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at the sound of disbelief in Pepper's voice.

"Oh my God... How?... Are they sure?..." Pepper asked. Her voice became tight and the color drained out of her face. Tony walked around the table to stand next to her and watched her, his eyes dark and concerned.

"No, no, thank you Edith. Tell Dr. Cummings to call me as soon as he can," she said as she tried to sound professional. "I know this is a shock. Call Human Resources and let them know. They'll handle any questions. Who found him again?... No, I don't know him... No, don't worry. I'll tell Mr. Stark. Thank you Edith. I'll call you soon."

Pepper hung up the phone and stared at it. It didn't offer any answers.

"Pepper?" Tony asked quietly. He put a hand on her shoulder and guided her to fully face him. Her eyes were troubled and pained.

"Tony…" she said, her voice broke slightly. "Danny Morgan was found dead in his apartment this morning."