[She turns her head when he walks back in, a faint smile gracing her lips to see Bruce looking more himself than the haggard man who had been hiding from the world on an equally worn out couch. That's a good thing, that he can go back to normal at least in terms of appearance. She's not foolish enough to think that such a simple transformation goes past the skin, no more for him than it has for her.

But maybe he feels a little better now.]

Have you slept at all? [She understands so well that desire to do, but Bruce looks absolutely wiped out. And though he isn't Tony, Pepper knows this routine still. He wants to help but she wants to see him well first, to have his body recover from the strain and weariness the heartache has put him through.] I can finish cleaning up, and I promise not to throw away anything that looks like a science experiment.

[Counters, floors, opening the windows to air out the room. Pepper's got her to-do list already in her mind, a quick list of tasks for the woman who needs to stay busy doing tedious chores.]