A/N: Just because sick and needy Loki is kind of cute. He needs cuddles.

Ch. 7

Thor and Jane quickly walked back to the room that Loki was in. They opened the door to find him lying on his back, shaking and groaning. The ice packs that Jane had given him were on the floor.

"Loki? What's wrong?" Jane asked, moving to his side. Thor followed behind her. He noticed that there was a little bit of vomit on Loki's chin and on the bed near the side of his face.

"Hurts..." he whimpered, looking at Jane with pleading eyes.

Something snapped in Jane's head. She actually felt bad for Loki. He seemed so pathetic and needy. It activated her maternal instincts.

"I don't understand what is wrong," Thor said, also looking at Jane.

Jane felt Loki's forehead, then touched his shoulder. He was still extremely hot.

"I think he has heatstroke," she replied. "Loki, did you throw the ice packs on the floor?"

"No...Couldn't stop shaking," he answered.

"Alright. Alright, Thor, we need to get him to the bathtub. We're going to give him a cold bath to bring his temperature down."

Thor nodded, reached down and picked his brother up as if he were nothing but a doll.

"Lead the way."

Jane led him out of the bedroom and towards a door at the other end of the hall.

"It's in there."

Thor carried Loki in and Jane followed behind. It was a tiny bathroom, but the three managed to fit.

"Here," she said, putting the lid to the toilet seat down. "Sit him on top of that. We have to get the rest of his clothes off and get him into the tub."

Thor kneeled down in front of Loki.

"Brother, I have to help you undress," he explained.

Loki whimpered again and wrapped his arms around himself.

Thor ignored this and proceeded to help Loki get his pants off, but left his underwear on.

A second later Loki started to cry.

"T-Thor, I want mother!" he cried. "Make it stop!"

Thor wasn't sure what to say. Thankfully, Jane spoke up.

"Loki, we need to give you a cold bath. It will make you feel better." She managed to squeeze past the brothers and reach the bathtub. She turned on the cold water and stopped up the drain. Meanwhile, Loki was working himself up more and more. Not only was he crying and begging Thor to get their mother, but he was hiccuping too.

"Go ahead," she told Thor, moving back out of the way.

Thor picked Loki up and gently placed him into the bathtub. Loki shrieked once he felt the water and did his best to get out.

"Loki! Calm yourself!" he yelled, holding Loki in place. This just caused Loki to cry louder. He began shaking violently again.

Again, Thor wasn't sure what to do. He had never seen Loki this hysterical before. He worried about what Loki's magic might do. They needed to calm Loki down fast.

"Loki, you need to calm down," Thor said, his tone softer this time.

"I want mother!" Loki cried. "Please, Thor...it hurts!"

Jane came to the rescue yet again.

"Thor, let me try," she said.

He sighed and got out of the way.

Loki attempted to get out of the bathtub again, but suddenly stopped when Jane touched his shoulder. She was very gentle. Something about her made him feel calm. Her voice sounded a little bit like his mother's voice did. It was soothing and caring in a similar way.

"Loki, you need to relax. It's okay. I promise," she said. "Your mom isn't here but we can help you. Take a deep breath."

Loki did as he was told, then looked at Jane.

"Good job. Let it out."

Loki exhaled, and his shaking seemed to slow.

Jane sat down on the edge of the bathtub.

"Thor, can you hand me that plastic cup there?" she asked, motioning towards a cup that was on the side of the sink.

Thor picked it up and handed it over.

"I'm going to pour some of the cold water on you. That is all," Jane said, filling the cup up with bath water. It was extremely cold, but that was good.

Loki sighed, then sniffled as she poured the water over his back, then did it again and again.

When the water in the bathtub was high enough Jane turned it off. She continue to sit by Loki and pour water on him though. It took a while, but eventually Loki's skin began to pale, and he began to feel much cooler to the touch. He also seemed completely exhausted.

"Thor," Jane said, "Can you help him out? We'll get him dried off then put him to bed."

"Of course," Thor answered.

The two switched places and Thor lifted his brother out of the bathtub. Jane was standing by, holding open a large towel. Together the couple helped Loki dry off.

"There we go," Jane said, smiling at Loki. "One last thing." She reached over and grabbed a tissue. "Your nose is running."

Loki didn't move as Jane wiped his nose, then threw the tissue in the trash.

00

"Does he have anything to sleep in?" Jane asked. Loki was still in his underwear, which was now soaking wet, and still wrapped in the towel. Neither of those would be sufficient to wear to bed.

"Our mother packed us some sleep wear," Thor replied.

"Great. Why don't you go get that and help Loki get dressed. I'm going to go get Loki some water and find another blanket," she said, referring to the fact that Loki had thrown up on the one that was currently there.

Loki was too tired to fidget or really cause any problems, so it wasn't long before he was dressed in his snake pajamas and lying on the bed. He looked rather comfortable and his eyelids were drooping.

"Now, before you go to sleep, you ought to drink some water," Jane told him, holding up the water bottle she'd brought in.

"Don't wanna," Loki whispered before yawning.

"I know you just want to go to sleep," Jane said sympathetically, "But you need to drink it to make sure that you're hydrated properly."

Loki stared at her, confused by what the term meant.

"If you don't drink it you might get sick again," Jane added.

Loki pouted, but did drink some water after Jane held the bottle up to his lips.

"Good boy," Jane praised him. She put the water bottle down on the nightstand. He'd managed to drink half of it, which was good enough for now.

Loki yawned again.

"Okay. We'll let you rest now. We'll be right outside if you need anything. Just call for us."

Loki nodded and curled up on his side.

Jane smiled at Thor, and the two turned to leave the room. Before they could leave, however, Loki called out for his brother.

"Thor?"

Thor walked back over to Loki's side.

"Yes, Loki?"

"I miss Arrow."

"You do?"

"Mhm," Loki answered, yawning for a third time.

Thor grinned. "I actually think I can help with that!"

He dashed out of the room and returned a minute later holding Arrow. He handed it to Loki.

"Here you go," he said, grinning again as Loki's eyes lit up a little.

"Arrow!" Loki hugged the doll to his chest. "I missed him so much! Thank you Thor!"

Thor reached down and ruffled Loki's hair a little. "Not a problem. Now, get some sleep."