"Charles?" Autumn said, a bit faintly. "It's Autumn." Just hearing his voice was enough to make her knees go a bit weak in relief. Everything would be okay now that she'd been able to contact Charles. He would make sure she got back safely to everyone. Especially Pietro and wow she didn't want to think about just how relieved she was at that right then.

"Autumn." Charles sounded relieved. "We've been worried, I didn't know where you were." He paused. "Where are you? Are you alright?"

"I'm... okay for right now," Autumn said. It wasn't exactly a lie. "We're in Illinois somewhere. Alexis already called Stark for a pickup, so I'm probably going to be with them before coming back to the mansion."

"Of course," Charles said, taking that in. "I'll have someone at the tower to pick you up. Do you need anything in particular?" He knew that tone of voice, knew something was wrong, but he wasn't going to pry just yet.

"I'm not sure," Autumn said. That, at least, was truthful. She had no idea what she needed at the moment, aside from a safe, secure place to have a meltdown. "I'll be glad once I'm back."

"We've all been worried," Charles said. "I'm sure everyone will want to see you. I'll tell them that you need until tomorrow to recover." He could do that much for her, at least, and he knew she needed it.

"Thanks, Charles," Autumn said with a soft sigh. She missed everyone, and was worried about them in return, but she didn't want to face them all just yet. Not until she knew what was wrong with her.

"Of course. Logan will be at the tower with a car to bring you back." Charles smiled. "And I will be very surprised if Pietro does not join him."

"Alright," Autumn said. "Thanks again, Charles." Hopefully, everything would be alright and she would be back at the mansion soon.

"We'll see you soon," Charles said before he hung up.

Alexis had moved to the bench outside, just sitting waiting for their ride. She was barely even blinking, just taking everything in.

Autumn went and joined her, gingerly sitting down. She flinched slightly every time a car went by, and she huddled near Alexis.

"God this is going to suck," Alexis muttered, too quietly for anyone else to hear. "This is going to take some adjusting." Her lips twisted in wry humor.

"No kidding," Autumn said. She cringed when a door opened and the hinges shrieked. "What happened? What did they do to us?"

"I have an idea, and I don't like it at all," Alexis muttered. If she was right, they were both screwed. So, so screwed. Especially if anyone else found out.

"I'm all ears," Autumn said. She handed her eyes when the sun came out from behind the clouds, and then she grimaced and closed them entirely.

Alexis licked her lips nervously, shading her eyes from the sun. "They never stopped the super soldier experiments," she whispered. "They just tried different things."

Autumn just make a thin little noise and put her forehead on Alexis's shoulder.

"Never mind, I don't want to think about it," she said quietly.

"Yeah." Alexis let her stay there, instead keeping guard the whole time it took for Tony to arrive.

He parked right in front of the two and got out, looking at them.

"You both look like shit," he said bluntly.

"Thanks," Alexis said tiredly, waiting for Autumn to get up first.

Autumn carefully unfolded herself from where she'd been curled on the corner of the bench and got up without a word. She'd had enough time to think that she was fairly sure she'd have a breakdown before they got back, if she said anything now.

Alexis sat in the back with Autumn, staying close to her.

Tony didn't say anything else, just giving them a bit of time and driving back to his plane.

"Another hour and a half and we'll be back at the tower," he told them once they were in the air.

Autumn just nodded and carefully curled up in one of the seats. The armrests creaked in protest as she wedged herself between them, and she bit her lip slightly when one of them groaned ominously.

Alexis stayed quiet for the ride back to the tower, going over everything in her head again to make sure it all made sense to her, so she could report back. She was still treating it like a mission, to make it easier on herself.

Once they got back to the tower, though, she opened her door and blinked when Pietro was there, waiting for Autumn.

Autumn was right behind Alexis, luckily, and she also blinked when she saw Pietro. She managed a weak little grin when she saw him.

"Hey," she said quietly.

Pietro grabbed her and hugged her, not even caring that there were other people around.

"Come on, let's get you back home. You look like you could use a bath." Pietro didn't release her entirely, though.

Autumn was surprised at the hug, but settled into it easily enough.

"Yeah," she said softly, not even caring that everyone could see them. "Let's go."