<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">"You're never an interruption, Jolly Green," Tony assured him, smiling.  He didn't leave Peter's side despite an urge to sneak up and hug the rumpled scientist -- Peter's needs got precedence for now.  The quiet lab time had helped Tony too -- he was feeling less like an emotional mess himself.  Still not level -- and still overwhelmed with being what amounted to the primary caregiver for a grieving teen -- but less like he was going to do something stupid.<br/>
<br/>
"Another hour or so Petey, and then you need to get to bed," Tony said, rubbing the teen's back.  "The social worker dragon lady will be here tomorrow morning, and I'd rather you not look hungover with tiredness.  I promise I'll get a decent night's sleep too, or try to."  He didn't want to interrupt the boy's flow, but it was necessary to discuss real life at some point.  "I don't want to give her any reason to doubt leaving you here, kid -- which means playing by her rules."  He brushed hair out of Peter's face.  "You're not going to school tomorrow, either.  I'm keeping you here with me -- and once the dragon lady leaves, we'll go see R&amp;D and get you some samples of that polymer shit to play with."</span></span>