Author's Note: Thanks for the wonderful response to the first chapter! I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying the story!

"It's not supposed to hurt this way

I need you, I need you

More and more each day."

—Avril Lavigne, "Why"

Dr. Banner met her at a crowded coffee shop, at the small wooden table all the way in the back of the room. Their voices would be lost in the din of friends gossiping and keyboards clicking. Frankly, this small coffee shop was the only place in London, besides her lab, that she felt safe meeting him in. He was doing her a huge favor, she knew, but aside from Thor—she really didn't want to call him yet, not without exhausting all her options—he was the only one that could help her. Bruce made her feel calm, which was a surprise given the amount of time he spent as the Hulk. Still, while most people ran off scared, Jane knew the man behind the monster was a good one. He cared for people; he tried to help others the best he could. He was a brilliant scientist and an amazing doctor.

"Dr. Foster," He greeted as she rose from the table, shaking hands. His grip was firm and she grinned in relief upon seeing his face. He was disheveled as usual, but his green eyes reflected back a serene calm, one that made her racing heart slow slightly. "It's good to see you again." He sat and she returned back to her seat. She poured him a cup of coffee, her hands shaking somewhat. What she had to tell him, what she had to trust him with—it was a lot to swallow, she knew. Still, he was part of a superhero team. If anyone was going to believe her, it would be Bruce.

"I see Tony let you out of the lab." She said with a small smile tugging at her lips. How long had it been since she felt this at ease? Sure, she had Darcy and Erik, but with her secret now revealed, they spent their time fretting over condition. She was lucky, she knew, that she had two people who cared so much, but sometimes, Jane wished they could be as they were before she found the Aether.

"Yeah," Bruce remarked, taking a small sip of his black coffee. "He and Pepper are off in Hawaii for the week."

"A vacation," Jane mumbled, tucking a strand of her chestnut hair behind her ear. "That's nice." They sat in silence for a few moments. Her gaze fell to her coffee cup and she tried to muster up the courage to tell him the truth about why she had summoned him to a different country.

"Jane?"

"Hmm?" Her head darted back up and she met his concerned gaze.

"I get the feeling you didn't ask me to fly here just to catch up." She swallowed nervously, her hands unconsciously gripping the cup.

"No, I, uh, didn't." He waited and she tried to push the words out. What was she supposed to say? How could she break this to him delicately? She didn't want the other Avengers involved because if Thor found out from someone else other than her—

"Is it you and Thor?" He asked hesitantly and she shook her head furiously.

"No, no!" She exclaimed quickly. "No, he and I are great."

"That's good," Bruce sighed with relief. Then, curiously, he titled his head to the side somewhat. "Then, why did you call me?"

It was time for her to bite the bullet.

"I'm sick." Mild shock registered on his expression, followed by confusion.

"Sick?" He echoed. "With what?"

"I don't know," She confessed, biting her lower lip nervously. "I just . . . I think it might be magical or something like that." Desperate, she forced herself to look him straight in the eyes. "Bruce, I've been to more doctors then I can count and no one can tell me what's wrong."

"And you think I can?" He questioned quietly and she nodded her head. He ran a hand through his hair and sucked in a breath before releasing it slowly. "Okay. We can run some tests. I can compare your results to SHIELD'S database and see if we can come up with something."

"And you won't tell anyone?" Bruce chuckled softly at that.

"I can guarantee you doctor-patient confidentiality," He assured her. "Whatever we discuss, whatever I find out, it won't be told to anyone else unless you want it to, Jane."

"Okay," She breathed, a huge weight lifting from her shoulders. "When do we get started?"

"Tomorrow morning." He informed her. "I'll just need to borrow some equipment."

"Yeah, of course." She mumbled, relieved to finally have someone that understood, someone who could help.

She felt like an idiot.

"Go on." Darcy encouraged with a smirk on her lips. Together, they stood outside, the wind ruffling her hair. She stared upwards at the starry sky and she sighed softly.

"Hey, Heimdall," Jane spoke quietly, wondering if the God that guarded the Bifrost was listening. "Listen, uh, I don't know if you know this, but I'm sick." She waited for some sort of heavenly response, but the skies remained as they were. Turning to Darcy, she snapped, "This is stupid!"

"Fine," Her intern growled. "Let's go inside and we can call up Fury and tell him exactly what's—"

"Wait, okay, fine." Jane huffed. She was a woman who believed in science, in logic. Talking to the empty sky in the hopes that an Asgardian a whole realm away could get in touch with Thor was ridiculous. She wasn't one to consider herself a damsel in distress, but whatever was happening to her—whatever the Aether did to her—it wasn't from her realm.

She needed help, she could admit that.

"Jane." Darcy prodded and the scientist nodded her head.

"Anyways," She continued. "If you see Thor, could you let him know that I would very much like to—?"

A rumble of thunder, a flash of light and out of the darkness, Thor appeared.

"Jane." He beamed and she felt a smile of her own appear on her lips. He embraced her, his strong arms encircling her and she let herself be swept away by the relief surging through her veins.

For a moment, she let herself forget.

"Thor?" He met her gaze. "We really need to talk."

And that's how she broke the news to him.

Author's Note: Next chapter, some Jane/Thor fluff! I'll try to make it lighthearted. Please review if you have a second. Thanks!