Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Fifty

"Good afternoon Dr. Banner," I greeted with a small smile, walking into the lab. Banner looked up at me and smiled.

"Afternoon Lucy, and friends," He added when Peter and Happy walked in behind me. I plopped myself on the stool next to Banner, shoving a stool over for Peter, "You look like hell."

"Yeah, well I've had a long morning," I replied. I motioned for Happy to sit but he shook his head, crossing his arms and leaning back against the counter, "How are the experiments going?" I asked, rubbing my eyes violently.

"The experiments are coming along," Banner said.

"What are you working on?" Peter asked.

"Tony apparently got Vibranium from Wakanda for Dr. Banner for run some tests on," I said. Peter's eyes lit up.

"That's so cool!" Peter said, failing to contain his excitement. I glanced over at him and laughed.

"You just made his day Banner," I commented. He laughed. Peter hopped off his chair and walked over to Banner. He began pelting Banner with questions. I glanced over at Happy who yawned and rubbed his eyes sleepily. I pushed myself off the stool and made my way over to him.

"When's the last time you got a good night's sleep?" I asked. He looked over at me and took a deep breath.

"2006," he said.

"What happened in 2006?" I asked. He looked over at me.

"I met Tony Stark," he deadpanned. I burst out with a laugh and he broke a smile.

"Why don't you go get some sleep. There's an apartment on 34 that is still technically mine," he offered.

"No, I couldn't do that. Tony would murder me if he found out," he said.

"I won't tell him," I said. He hesitated.

"What if something happens while I'm gone," he said.

"You've been around Tony too long. You worry just like him. Nothing is going to happen," I assured him. He hesitated again. He inhaled deep.

"Are you sure?"

"I insist," I said. He swallowed again.

"Fine. You wore me down. Apartment on 34. I'll go take a couple hours. But if anything goes wrong at all, JARVIS is to wake me immediately," he instructed.

"Yes sir," JARVIS replied. Happy nodded.

"I'll be back in a few hours," he said, making his way to the door.

"Happy dreaming," I called after.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha," he shot back as the lab doors closed behind him. I laughed.

"Lucy," Banner called. I looked over at him, "Can you go get more vials from the cabinet over there?" Banner asked, pointing to the far cabinets.

"Sure thing, how many do you need?" I asked, pushing myself off the counter.

"Uh, like 30?" he said with a slight question on the end. I glanced over at Peter.

"Mr. Parker, would you care to help?" I asked. He nodded eagerly and hopped off the counter where he'd perched himself. We made our way to the far cabinets int he corner where Banner pointed. They were so out of the way that if you squatted down, no one could see you. We knelt down in front of the cabinet, Peter holding his arms open next to me. We were in the middle of reaching for a rack of vials when the door to the lab was kicked open. The door hit the wall with a vibrating slam. I jumped back into the wall, Peter's head snapped over. He leveled himself in a crouch in front of me.