I can't stop staring at them—the fading bruises and marks from my time at the Raft. They're covered by my long sleeves, yet my eyes are drawn to the spots like magnets. I swear I can still feel them ache when I dare to look away.

"Lia," Will calls from my laptop, "you really gotta explain what's going on. I'm starting to really worry about you."

A sigh escapes me as I tug at my hair. "That's the thing—I don't know what's going on. I've been pouring over the Jim's notes and racking my brain for any logical explanation, but I've gotten nowhere except concluding that he's doing secret human testing trials."

"Have you thought about talking to your Dad about it?" Will asks, which makes me lower my glasses just enough to glare at him. "What? It's a good question! Your dad is a literal genius who—if anyone—would be able to help you sort it out."

"Yeah, but he'd also do everything to keep me as far away from it as possible." I complain to him. "Don't get me wrong, I love him, but now more than ever he wants to me to take a break from the whole Phantom business."

"Like it's even possible to keep you from something you've set your mind to."

"You and I know that, but I'm not entirely sure he does."

"I don't know, Lia. Personally, I think he's your best chance at figuring this out." Will turns his head, obviously hearing something on his end of the call. "That's Mum calling for me. I've gotta go, but you really should go talk to your dad."

"Fine, I'll think about it." I reply and offer him a sad smile as he signs off.

It's quiet in my room without everyone around or Will's ranting about some rubbish that happened at school. I hate the feeling the silence brings. There's an emptiness that seems to echo and settle in my bones.

The copies of Jim's files stare at me from their spot on my bed where I was studying them. I let out a sigh at the mere thought of returning back to the mess of jargon and charts that I know I won't be able to comprehend. Maybe Will is right, and Dad is the only one who can help me sort through the mess.

In a burst of self confidence, I grab the files and leave the confines of my room, which sends an alert from my watch—which is just another reminder of the repercussions of what I did in Germany. "Mini Stank," Rhodey calls as he slowly makes it down the hallway, "glad to see you up and about."

"I was just about to say the same for you." I tell him sadly and drop the files to my side. "Have you seen Dad around?"

"Oh, Mr. Stank? He's back there." Rhodey tells me with a small laugh, and I shake my head not even wanting to know. "What's up?"

"Nothing much." I lie with a surprising ease. "I just wanted to talk to him about a few things. Unless—is it a bad time?"

"For you, I don't think such thing exists to Tony."

"Thanks, Uncle Rhodey." I look down at the prototype he's wearing to walk. "By the way, I'll start working on another design for you. Hopefully something more stable with less of the clutter. Dad may be one to show off, but I've always been impartial to subtlety."

"I'm holding you to that, Mini Stark. Don't do me wrong."

"Me? Never." I call over my shoulder as I head towards Dad's office. He's leaning against his desk with a grimace as Ross's voice rings through the phone before he puts him on hold. "Do you have a moment?"

"Always. What's up, bug?" He puts on a fake smile, but I can see the wear and exhaustion from everything that's been happening. We both carry the same bags under our brown eyes and weight in our hearts.

"A lot, actually." I tell him softly as I fiddle with the edges of the copied pages. "There's something I need to talk to you about, and I know this probably isn't the best time. I just—I know if I don't tell you now I never will, and I'm already driving myself crazy trying to figure it out and hide it from everyone."

"Woah, breathe for a second." He interrupts me as my words start to become indecipherable from my rising panic. "Just slow down, take your time, and talk to me. Okay?"

"Actually, I think it's better if you read this." I offer him the bundle of papers with trembling hands, and he gently places his over mine for a moment as he takes them to help me calm down.

I watch him for a long moment as he reads over everything with the tell-tale crease of curiosity and confusion showing between his brows. "What exactly am I looking at? Some sort of DNA testing merged with medical experiments?"

"I think so, but notice the descriptions of the patient's abilities?" He flips back to another page with eyes hungrily searching for the information. When he finds it, his eyes flicker up to mine with concern written across his features. "I think—I think I was subject seventy-four, and I think that maybe these nightmares I've been having are more than just nightmares."

He stays silent as he continues to glare at the papers in his hand. "I know it seems crazy to say the least, but I need to know. Especially because, the more I think about it, the more I think they're going to try to finish what they started."

Dad's head snaps up at the comment, and he instantly launches into 'Iron Dad' mode. "What makes you think that?"

I ignore his stare as I fiddle with the ends of my shirt sleeves. "It's hard to explain. When I was on the Raft," I stutter as I fight my mind from taking me back to that nightmare and remain here, safe with Dad. "and they had me sedated, I thought I had that nightmare again. Except, this time it was clearer and different. It was hazy, but I remember there were differences from the normal dream. I—I think they were testing me, like described with the REM Trials, and now, I just want—no, I need answers."

"Okay." Dad tells me as he sets the papers on his desk, and I offer him a bewildered look in return. "Tell me everything you found out so far."

"Wait, you're really going to help me? You're not gonna convince me this is too dangerous or anything?"

"Bug, I know you too well for that." He replies with a bittersweet smile as he brushes a hand over my hair. "You're too much like me in that way. When you set your mind to something, there's no one and nothing that can stop you. So yes, I'm not going to convince you to leave this alone as much as it pains me to do so. Because I would rather be there to make sure you're okay than to have you get hurt by doing it on your own."

Tears build up in my eyes, and I barely think as I launch myself forward into Dad's arms with my arms around his neck. "Thank you." I whisper and try to hide the overwhelming rush of emotions from my voice. "Thank you for believing me."

His arms wrap around me and pull me tighter against him. "You never have to worry about that with me. I'll always believe in you, bug."

I nod and let the tears flow. Because right now, this is all I need—my Dad holding me tight like a child in need of protection and the knowledge that at least one person in this crazy world will always be there and have faith in me, even when I don't.