Her hand ran absently through her blonde hair as she poured a cup of coffee.

"So, what are you doing on Earth?" Cassie questioned, handing the cup to Thor.

His large hand grasped the cup gratefully, and Cassie felt small and insignificant standing beside him. Thor's eyes traveled across the room, meeting Strange's gaze.

"That's currently sensitive information. I'm sorry." He shrugged one of his broad shoulders.

She nodded understandingly and stood against the wall, her flannel falling about her in a comforting way.

"Cassie?" Strange glanced in her direction.

"Hm?" Cassie's eyes flitted over to him. "Strange?"

"Something on your mind?"

She crossed her arms securely over her chest and shook her head. Guilt was pounding in her chest, threatening to burst. Stephen had been her confidant for the past several months. Anything she was feeling, he knew. He was always there, ready to listen. This had been very hard on her, and he'd been very patient. Now...he'd asked her to trust him. And she hadn't.

"No. No, nothing."

Stephen smiled at her from his spot on the couch. "She's probably intimidated by you, Thor..." he smirked as her cheeks turned red. "Every time I've seen her try to flirt with a guy...well...it's pitiful."

"Flirt?" Thor raised an eyebrow, staring at her innocently.

Cassie could feel the heat spreading in her cheeks as she stuttered to find something to say. "N-no...I-I-"

"What is a flirt, exactly?" Thor smiled, though confused.

"It just means she thinks you're attractive, Thor," Stephen laughed, shaking his head.

"Oh...well, you're quite beautiful yourself," Thor smiled at her, taking her hand in his and pressing his lips against it gently.

Cassie's eyes were fixated on his, no words leaving her mouth.

"Cassie?" Stephen prompted.

"Oh, um...thank you," she nodded.

Thor released her hand with a nod.

"But I wasn't trying to...to...insinuate that you...you needed to...or-or should..."

"Thor," Stephen interrupted again, "she thinks you're attractive but is trying to explain that she doesn't want to date you."

"Date me?" Thor questioned.

"Yeah..." Stephen shook his head. "How do I explain that?" He gazed at her with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You mean the way Jane sometimes called me her boyfriend?"

"Yes," Cassie nodded.

"I see," he finally smiled in understanding.

"Maybe we should turn to more serious matters." Stephen stood, moving toward Cassie. "After the accident, Cassie hasn't been able to learn to control her new abilities. And I thought you might be able to help. I believe your brother used to deal with-"

"Let's not speak of Loki presently."

"I apologize. Do you too have skill in the art of-?"

"Working with the mind?" Thor finished.

Cassie nodded for Strange.

"Your plague then-you suffer? In your head?"

With a meek glance at Strange, Cassie shifted uneasily. Thor took her hand again, forcing her to look at him.

"Yes..." she choked out, feeling a twinge of anger at having to relive this again.

"I see. What troubles you?"

"I...I can't...can't control my anger and things...happen."

"Happen? Things?"

"Cassie cannot broaden her mind," Strange explained.

"She doesn't understand things outside her realm?" Thor questioned.

"No."

"Have you not shown her?" Thor released Cassie's hand, turning to Strange.

"I've tried," Strange mumbled.

"Shall I?" Thor asked gently, meeting Cassie's gaze.

Cassie took a couple of steps backward, building a wall between herself and Thor. "I didn't ask for this," she muttered hastily to Strange, reaching for her purse.

"Cassie, he can help! If you understand how this all wor-"

"No. I don't want to. I won't." Her eyes were focused on her shoes, unwilling to let them see the tears she blinked away.

"Cassie, that's unacceptable!" Strange's voice was rising.

"No! It's not!" she screamed, throwing her purse on the floor and striding forward until she was inches away from him. With her hands balled into fists, she was trying to take deep, calming breaths. "You have no idea, Stephen! No idea!"

"About what?!" he demanded, his voice just as loud as hers.

"You chose this! I didn't ask for this! The things I see-the things I hear..."

"I know." He lowered his voice, anger dropping from every word. "That's why I brought him..." He jabbed his thumb at Thor. "If you won't let him help you, Cassie-"

"What, Strange?" she demanded.

"Enough." Thor's voice cut in, trying to warn them, neither aware of the trembling in the room.

"If you won't let me help you... If you won't let him help you... If you just want to remain like this forever..." His eyes were full of anger. "Causing the pain of so many...the blood, Cassie..."

She visibly recoiled as though struck. Pain began to sear her gut, but she stood firm, anger bubbling so violently in her. "What, Strange?"

He took a deep breath. "You're so stubborn. Maybe you should just go."

With the pain blinding her vision now, she slowly backed away, legs trembling. "I will!" Her voice was so high-pitched it was almost unrecognizable.

The world spun in all directions like a kaleidoscope. Cassie screamed uncontrollably and collapsed onto her knees. As her head lolled back, Cassie barely registered the feeling of two arms wrapping around her so tightly that she felt herself pressed against the floor in a ball. Everything fell dark.

Cassie opened her eyes hesitantly. She was lying in a green pasture, the night falling about like a blanket. Thor sat next to her, his eyes resting on her gently.

"Wait...wait, what happened?" she questioned, propping herself up on her elbow.

Thor stood, wiping his hands on his pants. He didn't answer her immediately. Instead, he paced, staring up at the sky.

"I had to protect you, and Stephen," he finally answered.

"Protect us?"

Thor knelt, helping her to sit gently. With his large thumb, he brushed something away below her ear.

"Thor, did I-did I hurt anyone?" she asked with wide eyes, staring at her own hands.

"No. No you didn't."

A breeze blew through the pasture, ruffling her blonde hair. Thor raised her to her feet, his arm around her waist, and she grimaced, putting a hand to her head.

"Easy..."

She gripped his hand firmly, eyes shut tight. "Where are we?"

"I thought it best to contain your blow. We're in Asgard."

Her eyes shot open, and she gasped, clutching his hand even tighter. "Asgard?"

He chuckled lightly and nodded.

"Can we get back?"

"Of course."

"Can we go now?" Her voice was trembling lightly.

He lifted his hand again and brushed away something from her other ear. "You're bleeding," he explained.

"I'm bleeding?!" Panic overcame her face.

Thor laughed and brushed her hair back from her face. "I believe it best that we stay here for the night. You're in no condition to travel."

"But-"

"Here, right here. Don't worry." He lowered her to the ground again and let her sit, her head resting on his chest. "Where will you go now?" Thor asked her, holding her hand tightly.

"I'll...search for an apartment."

"Without guidance?"

"I don't need guidance, Thor..." She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "I'm an adult."

"But...not a normal adult."

"I know that. But-"

"But you will stay with my friends."

"Your-your friends?"

"Yes. You need people who can help you control this."

The stars above her head were undefinably numbered. They shown brighter than any visible from Earth. Cassie felt her eyes drifting closed, her head lolling against his shoulder.

"The argument you had with Stephen...was full of anger. And until you make up, which you will, my friends will care for you."

"Thor, my head hurts..." she mumbled absently, her eyes already closed.

With his hand firmly supporting her neck, Thor helped her to lie upon the cushioned grass. "Sleep now."