Chapter Nine

I watched as the numbers ticked by as we stood in the elevator. I hit the emergency stop as we reached the top.

Clint looked at me in confusion as I started shaking my head. "I can't do this." I whispered as I reached back so I could lean against the back of the elevator. "I can't face him. I can't face him, because what if he is still angry. Or, or he could try and voodoo me again and then I would be dying again or dead depending on how much magic he had. But then dad would be upset and but, he should be dead too. I mean he dropped from space where there is no air. His reactor was off so there was time for those tiny pieces to get closer to his heart. And then he would be dead and I would be dead and then there would be no more Starks so the com-" Clint put his hand over my mouth.

"Is this a panic attack?" He asked concerned lacing his tone.

"I, I ,I-" I stuttered before stopping and taking a breath and leaned close to rest my head on his shoulder. "I can't see him."

Clint reached up and squeezed my hand. "Ok," he said as he pressed the button and the elevator reached the top level. The doors slid opened and Clint immediately stood in front of me as he led me to my room, blocking me from the mess going on in the front room.

We slipped into my room and I sat on the bed, my head cradled in my hands. Clint pressed a quick kiss to the top of my head and left me alone.

I took a couple of steady minutes and then stood up. I turned the water on in the shower and started to strip. I paused before taking off my bra; all of my scars were gone. I twisted around to see my back and it was clear too. My knees started to tremble and I placed my hands on the counter. You can get through this, I told myself, breathe. I jumped into the shower and started to scrub away everything that happened. I washed my hair, not getting all the tangles out but enough for now. I turned off the water, my skin now pink from trying to scrub the memories of today away. I dressed in a pair of jeans and threw on a soft pink and green plaid button up.

Numb, that's how I felt. My entire body was numb and there was a ringing in my ears. I robotically braided my hair in a side braid. Finishing, I paused, no the ringing wasn't in my ears. It was coming from my desk. I stood up and my wobbly legs made it to the desk where I picked up the phone. "hello?" I asked before clearing my throat and saying it again "hello?"

"Is he ok?" I heard a concerned voice from the other end.

I paused as I tried to catch up on the conversation. "He is, hold on, I'll get him."

I hit mute on the phone and stared at the door, on the other side was the man who caused all of this. On the other side was the man who brought me back from death. I squared my shoulders and slid on my Stark mask.

I threw the door opened and strutted into the living room. I glanced around at the superheroes that were situated around the room before I found the one I was looking for.

"I get that you just saved the world," I said as I tossed the phone to Clint, he caught it, looking at the number, "but ignoring your boss, not a good idea."

Clint shot up and headed straight towards my room.

I looked up at my dad who was entering the room, sans suit. We made eye contact and he motioned his head. "To the lab, daughter?" he asked.

I nodded my head and walked over to him. I looked up at him and the two of us pulled each other into a bone crushing hug.

I buried my head into his chest and squeezed tighter, I waited this entire war for this hug, and I'll be damned if I let anyone take this moment away from me.

We pulled back and I narrowed my eyes at him before punching him in the shoulder.

"Ow," my father said clutching where I hit him, "daughter!"

"Father!" I countered.

"What was that for?"

"You died," I said. "You left me alone."

My dad looked at me raising an eyebrow. "You died first," he countered.

I paused for a moment pursing my lips I shrugged my shoulders. "Fair enough," I conceded.

Dad threw his arm around me and the two of us headed to the lab, not paying any attention to anyone else in the room. I was still purposefully not looking for Loki. "How are you?" He asked.

"Still hungry," I made it into the lab and I noticed Bruce sitting there, back down to human size in some of my dad's clothes.

"Hey Dr. B," I said as I sat next to him.

"Feeling any better?" he asked.

I nodded my head. "Well, I'm not dying so, yes."

"About that," my dad said as he pulled my hand towards him, he pricked my finger and took a small swab of blood.

"Um, ow," I said taking my hand back.

Dad placed the sample on the table and had Jarvis start to run diagnoses on it.

"I really can't wait here to see if the cancer is gone," I said my eyes glued to the sample.

"Then let's go eat," he chirped.

Fury sent over some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to take over watching Loki for us as the team and I made our way to go to wherever this Shawarma place that my dad had found.

We settled down while my dad walked over and persuaded the workers to actually make some food instead of trying to clean up their restaurant.

I settled down in between my dad and Steve, I picked at my food as everyone settled down and began eating.

After five minutes I glanced around our small team and noticed that pretty much everyone except for Thor and Bruce were dead on their feet. I looked over at my dad who was still trying to finish his meal. "You done?" I asked softly.

He shook his head no, so I rested my head on the first thing I could find. It was Steve's still padded shoulder, and I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

I woke up, wrapped in my blankets and felt better than I had in a long time. I dug myself out of my cocoon and made my way into the living room.

"She awakens!" My dad exclaimed as I padded into the kitchen.

I scrunched my face in confusion as I picked up the coffee pot and poured some in a cup for me. "What?" I asked I had taken a sip.

"You slept for an entire day," my dad informed me.

"I did?" I questioned. "God, I haven't slept that much since-"

"Since never," my dad finished, "trust me, you have never slept that much, and as a single parent of said four year old that was awful."

I smiled as I hopped up on the counter. "So, I slept for over twenty four hours," I said trying to absorb the information.

"That's what happens when you die and have a God bring you back and cure you of cancer," he said.

My heart skipped a beat. "C-cured?" I stuttered out.

"Jarvis finished running the tests, it's gone and whatever mutated cell that was wrong is gone, too. It's like it never happened." He informed.

"It's gone?" I whispered.

My dad walked over and crushed me in another huge hug. "It's gone daughter," he whispered into my hair.I gripped him tighter. When I woke up we were in a war, I had done my best to force everything out of my mind; all the pain and all the worry and focus on helping those people, getting them to safety. And then the nuke happened and my dad was flying into space and I never once stopped to think about my health. But it's over now, the peril and danger subsided and I had hoped that what Loki had done had worked. Apparently it was gone and I never had to worry about it again.

My dad pulled back and I hopped off of the counter. "I need to face him," I said.

"You don't need to do anything," he countered as he took a step back and let me pass.

"Point," I conceded. "But I feel like there is something that I need to do."

My dad thought about it for a moment, "Ok, I'll go with you."

I nodded my head. "Twenty minutes," I promised as I headed back to my room.

First things first, one I did need to do was take a shower. I took my time and actually combed the rat's nest I called hair. Drying off I threw on some underwear and a bra, I pulled on a pair of black slacks and turned back to my closet to find a shirt.

"Scarlett?" I heard a voice call as the door opened.

I turned around and saw Steve standing there, his face red and he started stuttering because I was standing there, in my bra. I squeaked and threw myself into the closet trying to find a top that I could throw on quickly. "Steve," I stammered.

"I'm so sorry," Steve managed to get out. "I'll just-" he trailed off and I heard the door shut again.

I groaned and slid to the floor, careful of the shoes that were on the floor. I cannot believe that just happened. I picked up a light rose-pink tank with black cross back straps. I opened the door and looked down the hall. No Steve.

I sighed and skulked back into my room to finish my hair and makeup. I ended up just keeping my hair in its natural waves and a quick swipe of mascara before I threw on a black jacket and slipped on some ballet flats before I left my room and headed back to the living room.

I looked down and adjusted my top before running into someone. "I'm sorry," I gasped as a pair of arms grabbed me from falling.

It was Steve…. again.

I exhaled a breath with a smile. "We've got to stop meeting like this," I said.

His cheeks turned pink and he quickly let go of my arms. "Scarlett," he yelled out startled.

I jumped at the loudness of his exclamation.

"Steve," I greeted back in a softer, more normal tone.

He nodded his head realizing that he spoke too loudly.

I looked around and grabbed his hand before sneaking into the spare room to the left."Are you ok?" I asked. I noticed that across the back of his palms where these thin red lines, healing scratches were more accurate; scratches that I had caused. "I sorry about these," I said my fingertips trailing along them. flashes of me clawing my way out of his grip during the battle rose through my mind.

"It's fine," he said slowly pulling his hand away from my grip, "and I'm fine."

I glanced up at him but took his answer anyways.

"I'm sorry about before," he said motioning to the door. "About the door."

I waved away his apology. "Accidents happen."

We stood there in silence for a few moments before I opened my mouth to ask him a question, but Steve beat me to the punch.

"I wanted to see if you were ok," he said. "I heard that you were awake and," he trailed off.

I gave him a small quick smile before thinking about the answer. "Honestly, no," I finally admitted. "But I think that I might get there eventually."

Steve nodded and we settled back down into our silence. It was an almost awkward silence, like the two of us were on the verge of saying something, the thing we wanted to say, what we needed to say.

I was shocked out of my thoughts by two strong arms wrapping around me. It's a hug, it's a hug from Steve. I quickly wrapped my arms around his middle. He squeezes me tight. "I'm so glad you're ok," he said.

We release each other and I gave him another smile, this one true and not forced.

The door opened and my dad walked in. "There you two are," he said before sending a glare at Steve before turning to face me. "Ready?"

"Yeah," I said and I headed out of the room with him.

"So where is everyone?" I asked as we headed towards the elevator.

"Already there," my dad replied. "Well almost everyone, Cap apparently isn't."

I hip check him. "Be nice," I warned.

The doors slid shut as we rode down two floors before the doors opened again.

"Really?" I asked as we stepped out.

"Like we would let Loki out of here," he said as he offered his arm for me.

I raised an eyebrow and took his offered arm as he walked into the living area of this floor. There were the rest of the Avengers, along with Fury and Maria and a few other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

"Lady Clara," Thor boomed as he saw me, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at the two of us.

I shifted on my feet at the attention.

"Yes it is us," my father said as we descended to mingle.

I settled on the couch next to Clint while I watched everyone go back to what they were doing.

"Come to join the team?" Clint asked.

I laughed and shook my head. "I think we both know that I'm not on the Avengers recruitment list. No, I'm here to see him," I admitted.

"You ready for that?" He asked.

"Not even a little bit," I replied truthfully, "but I don't have a choice, he'll be gone if I wait till I'm ready."

Clint tilted his head, and then slapped his hands on his thighs. "Then what are we waiting for?" He asked as he stood up and held out his hand for me to grab.

"The coward in me to overtake what slice of courage I have somehow acquired," I quipped. Nevertheless I took his hand and we slipped away down the hall to where the Loki was being arrived at the door and I paused. "A spare bedroom?" I asked.

"It's not like you guys built a dungeon when you designed the tower," Clint said as he nodded at the two guards at the door.

"My bad," I said as I glanced at Clint. "Next time."

I reached forward and opened the door before stepping in. I didn't wait, I didn't try to take a breath; if I did, I knew I wasn't going to go through with this. I was diving headfirst without a plan in this.

I closed the door and looked around the room. I found him sitting in one of the chairs for the table in the corner.

"So she finally decides to show," Loki taunted from his spot.

"Well I did just wake up," I counter as I leaned against the dresser that was next to the door.

"Have you come to gloat?" He hissed.

I shook my head. "No, to be perfectly honest I'm not quite sure I'm here," I admitted.

My confession hung in the air and I saw Loki form something of a smile. "Are you feeling better?" he asked.

I bit my bottom lip before nodding. "I am. The scans say that I'm cancer free, so thank you for that."

"Well, I needed you fit to rule by my side," he informed.

"But you knew I never would," I quipped. "You knew how I felt about the spotlight, about being in charge."

"I thought that I could change that," Loki said. "That we could become each other's family."

I gave him a painful smile. "I found my family," I said feeling a rush of pride at that statement.

"Family," Loki scoffed. "The same family who decided to let your father die in space."

My heart lurched. "They were doing what they thought was right," I tried to defend them.

"They heard you crying, begging, pleading to wait, and yet they still ignored you. Your family," he spat.

My teeth clenched against each other and I turned my head to break away from his gaze. "So did you," I spat out. "You raged a war on innocent people despite my pleading."

Loki chuckled as he finally stood up and walked over towards me. He stalked towards me, almost like he did on our night together, but instead of something igniting inside of me, I felt my inner self shrivel up and cower. He finished his trek a half of step before me. "You are such a creature, Clara Stark," he said as he reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear.

I swallowed my retort back down and looked back up at him, his eyes while not the ones I remember are greener then they were before. "What's going to happen to you?" I asked.

Loki growled and turned away from me. "I'll be sent back to Asgard with Thor," he spat. "Then who knows what Odin will decide to do."

"That's not what I meant," I corrected. "The person who gave you the scepter, the army. You failed them. What's going to happen to you?"

Loki paused and glanced back to me before turning his back once more. He whispered something I couldn't hear and I was afraid to ask him to repeat it.

Deciding that he was done with our conversation he went back to his chair and sat down, dragging his feet up to the table.

I raised my eyebrow at him and then pushed myself off of the dresser before turning and leaving the room. I shut the door and rested my head against it and closed my eyes and tried to find the strength to leave.

Strength found me in form of Steve. He grabbed my hand, causing my eyes to open. He led me back to the front room where a few S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Fury were trying to start clean up. I glanced at the map. "You can't start there," I said as I walked up there.

"And why not?" Fury asked."How exactly are the clean-up crews going to get there?" I countered with a roll of my eyed. "You know what step aside," I commanded.

I pulled out my phone and started dialing a number while I took the pins out of the map.

"Captain Stacey," I greeted. "Will you do me a favor and grab a couple of other captains from some other precincts and bring them and yourself up to Stark Tower? We need your help to start coordinating clean up."

AN: One more chapter left and then the Epilogue guys! Let me know how you guys want this phase to end!