Author's Note: I've been watching Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan on Hulu, and it's surprisingly good. The soundtrack is fantastic. It's been a while since I've had a good anime to sink my teeth into, yay! Lol, I'm suffering in the throws of Hayao Miyasaki film withdrawal, and I need something new. On the other hand I'm stoked at all the E3 games they unveiled. I know it was a while ago, but still. I'm stoked to get my hands on Overstrike. And anyone who enjoys BioShock or Silent Hill or Final Fantasy, totally check out the game trailer for A Secret World. I think that is the game I'm most looking forward to.
Anyhoodly, it's awesome to hear from you guys! This chapter was a doozy, please drop me a review to let me know whatcha think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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Chapter 14: Hospital Returns and Beaches
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Jane held her breath as she and Darcy slunk past Cale and Garrett, hardly daring to breath for fear they'd be heard. They were so close, Jane could have plucked the loose threads hanging off of Garrett's sleeve if she'd wanted to. The two men, for all of their big muscles and ferocious attitudes, were closet nerds however. They were busy discussing last night's episode of The Walking Dead, and the two women crept away without being seen.
"Whew," Darcy said, as they made it out the door of the compound, "I thought we'd have been goners for sure."
"Bah," Jane muttered, "We're too awesome."
Darcy quirked an eye at her. "Uh huh. Whatever you say, captain."
Jane looked ruefully down at the black spandex sweat pants that hugged her thighs and flared out slightly to her ankles, just barely covering her white and black converse sneakers. Her deep red tank top fit her like a glove, completing her gym ensemble. She was grateful that she was wearing what she was; they had a long day ahead of them in order to reach the hospital. It was going to be a long and sweaty hike into Puente Antiguo.
The compound wasn't necessarily well guarded to the people that were supposed to be there, though, they wouldn't be given a ride out to town should they just ask for one. Coulson would have their butts right back in the lab, as bothering Erik Selvig in his top secret hospital room was apparently a matter of national security.
Jane snorted at that particular thought. As if.
Darcy, though she never attacked Natasha's regimen with the same amount of ferocity as her boss, was wearing athletic attire as well. Though hers were a tad less practical in their appearance, opting for a more flamboyant approach. Darcy's violent purple shorts were a bit on the skin tight end of the spectrum, with the words 'politically sound' stamped across the derriere in white calligraphy. A fuchsia colored sports bra barely kept her ample chest in check, though the various male agents they walked past couldn't help themselves but do double takes.
"Good god Darcy," Jane said, exasperated, after the second male soldier in a row bumped into something after spending too long oogling her assistant's assets, "That one walked into a light pole."
Darcy giggled. "I know. I just can't help it. It's so funny."
Jane rolled her eyes. She wanted to find something to go bang her forehead into, several times and hard. Maybe that gentlemen would consent to share his light pole.
"Hey," Darcy said, "You have to admit, we are just waltzing out of here. At least they're good for something. When life saddles you with double D's, you've gotta get some practical use outta them without turning into a hussy. Besides, I will break out the 'boss, you have teeny boobs' card if I have to."
"Are we seriously arguing about boobs? You'd think we were dudes, or something. And my boobs are NOT teeny."
"Yeah, they kinda are. You're just jealous of my tracks of land."
"Oh no you did not just quote Monty Python to me."
"Oh, I so did."
Jane threw up her hands. "Gah!"
Darcy chuckled. "You're grinning, don't fight it. Besides, when we get your Thunder Hunk back down to Earth we can make him watch Monty Python and all sorts of fun stuff."
Jane's grin widened. "This will be awesome."
"You bet, boss lady."
The two girls reached the barrier. The steel walls ringing the compound were not so high that they couldn't shimmy up them, but the cameras mounted in regular intervals did cause them a moment's concern. They slunk along the wall, hugging the uncomfortably warm metal that was just getting around to baking in the clear Arizona morning. Jane winced when she got too close to the pocked surface and it left her with a small burn on her elbow. Well, there was no help for it. If they left the shelter of the barricade, then the cameras would spot them immediately and Agent Coulson and a legion of his cronies would be out in a jiffy to haul them back.
Jane and Darcy crouched next to the gap in the wall. The opening was quite large and it was to let vehicles through, but it was also guarded by Agent Cheavers. While overall Jane approved of S.H.E.I.L.D and the Avengers and their agenda, Agent Cheavers was someone she could do without.
He gave Jane the creeps, with his clammy skin and wide popping eyes. He stared far too long when they had to speak to one another, and she always found herself wanting to scrub down with bleach and a wire brush after a few minutes in the man's presence. He gave her, in essence, the heebie jeebies of epic proportions.
Agent Cleavers was watching the camera monitors, unblinking, his wide toad eyes never deviated from the screens. Jane chewed her lip, wondering how the hell she was going to get him to look away long enough for them to sneak over the wall.
They sat there a moment, both thinking furiously. Then Darcy let out a quiet shriek and clutched at Jane's arm, muttering something about her taser.
Jane looked around at her foot and very nearly shrieked herself when she saw the tarantula, which was about the size of her hand, casually sauntering by. The quiet scientific voice at the back of her mind was classifying the arachnid as a Grand Canyon Black, but the main part of her brain was busy fumbling around with the words 'oh god' and 'ew big hairy spider.'
Jane carefully stuck her converse clad toe out in front of the spider, ignoring Darcy's quiet chorus of "ew's". The big spider walked right over her shoe, considering it nothing more than an inconvenient road block. Jane uttered a silent apology to the creepy crawly slowly meandering up her foot, and when it was situated on the tip of her shoe she kicked out with her leg.
The spider went sailing straight at Agent Cheavers, landing right in the man's lap.
If the spider could talk, Jane was sure it would be swearing at the top of its little spider lungs.
Just like Agent Cheavers was the moment he realized he had a giant hairy pissed off tarantula perched right on top of his nether bits. Jane and Darcy both choked, trying not to laugh as the man in the guard shack jumped up with a shriek and began flailing about like a kid in a pool with foam noodles attached to his arms.
Jane took a running jump, scrambling up the wall, hooking her fingers on the edge and painfully pulled herself up the hot metal side. She lay on her stomach and reached both hands down to Darcy. Darcy shimmied up, dark chestnut curls bouncing energetically as she worked her way up the side of the wall. Once up, they both rolled over the top and fell with solid plops down to the desert floor below.
Jane snickered as she flicked dirt off of her palms. She could still hear Agent Cheavers shrieking and banging into his observation equipment like a deranged monkey.
Darcy rose to her feet, brushing her butt off. "We'd better kick rocks before someone comes to see what all the fuss is."
Jane whole heartedly agreed. Agent Cheavers would not be pleased once he'd figured out that he'd been duped, especially if the spider took a vengeful chomp out of his man stuff. It was in their best interest to take advantage of his... predicament and make a speedy getaway. She allowed Darcy to haul her to her feet and they set off. The town of Puente Antiguo was only a few miles away, and the hospital was smack at the edge of town. Jane and Darcy both settled into a leisurely jog, enjoying the run before the sun rose too high and the desert became too hot to bear in the skimpy athletic wear they were both sporting.
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The hospital staff knew exactly who they were, and that was why they were able to just waltz right in, Jane figured. Agent Coulson and Director Fury had practically terrorized the staff while Jane and Pepper and Stark were hospitalized, and they were probably still slightly afraid of any potential repercussions.
It spoke measures for Nick Fury's tenacity and that of his staff; they were clearly forces to be reckoned with. Or at least the small town hospital employees certainly thought so.
Whatever the reason, Jane and Darcy were not challenged as they trundled through the recovery ward of the hospital, looking for Erik's room. It didn't take them long: the small town hospital fit the small town of Puente Antiguo in its simplistic design. It was merely a matter of trial and error. After barging into four different wrong rooms respectively, they eventually found the right one. Jane opened the door and peeked in, her face brightening when she saw Erik Selvig sitting in his hospital bed, straight jacket nowhere in sight. She opened the door wider, then swore when she saw the agent sitting in a fold up chair at the foot of his bed reading.
Agent Sampson Delancey saw who the rooms intruders were and his brow furrowed. He carefully set Crime and Punishment aside and rolled his huge shoulders. "You ladies are not supposed to be here."
Erik frowned, looking from Jane to his guard, but said nothing.
Darcy peered from around Jane and her eyes settled on Delancey's imposing figure. "Wow, you're big. Hey Jane, isn't that the dude you told me about? The one who god his ass kicked by Thor when he was going for his hammer thingy?"
Jane blushed and Delancey's dark cheeks darkened further. "You are not supposed to be here," he repeated.
Jane stared at him for a moment, then got a really, really stupid idea. It was such a bad idea, but it wouldn't go away. It would give Darcy a chance to talk to Erik, and get any information as to Loki's intentions if she could.
Jane dropped and swept her foot around behind Delancey's ankles, trying to trip him up. He was too solid and she was too inexperienced so he did not fall, but he still stumbled back a few paces. Jane moved forward, landing light hits to his solar plexus and thighs.
"Ms. Foster, what are you- ooph!"
Jane spun, and when he was off balance, she hooked her foot around his ankle again and he went crashing like a tree felled in a forest. He certainly shook the fixtures in the room with his fall, and the ceiling lamp tinkled ominously.
"Ms. Foster!" he bellowed, hauling himself back to his feet.
Jane laughed and stuck her tongue out at him. She darted from the room when he made to follow her.
"Ms. Foster! You are a grown woman! Act your age! This is not- GET BACK HERE!" he roared.
He charged after her like an enraged rampaging rhinoceros going after a lioness that had overstepped its bounds on the Serengeti. Darcy settled into the abandoned chair, glancing briefly at the book Delancey had been reading, before setting it aside. She and Erik both listened to the sound of Jane's mad dash through the halls with Delancey chasing after her. Darcy shook her head, wondering what on earth had gotten into her once quiet and reserved boss.
She was learning how to be a ninja with mad skills, escaping from top secret facilities by way of spider flinging, and now she was picking fights with Avengers agents. Darcy shuddered to think of what she'd think of next.
"So," she said, turning to Erik, "How're you feeling?"
He smiled briefly, a little sad. "Well enough, all things considered. We won't have long to talk. Sampson will be back with Jane soon."
Darcy scuffed her sneaker on the worn linoleum. "I know. So..what was it like? Having, ya know, him in your head."
A shadow passed over Erik Selvig's face, and he suddenly looked more old and tired than Darcy had ever seen him. "It was the most- words can't describe it. I was seeing, but like in a dream. I almost killed Jane. He would have made me kill Jane."
Erik's face crumpled and he hunched in on himself in his grief.
Darcy rose from her perch on the chair and went over to the small kitchenette and set about brewing a hot pot of tea. Being around Jane for the past few years she'd developed her boss's near constant craving for coffee, but Darcy's family had always been of the mindset that tea healed all ills. Why Erik had a full tea set in his room she could only guess, but she appreciated the fine china and the rich wooden tray it was sitting on. She found scones sitting in the little refridgerator and added them to plates. After checking to be sure that the cream and sugar pots were acceptably full, she carted the whole thing over to him, setting the tray in front of him and sitting on the edge of his bed.
They both sipped their tea in silence, after Erik's murmured "Thank you."
"What does he want?" Darcy asked finally.
"He wants us all to die," Erik said quietly, "But he harbors special hatred for Jane. She is the symbol of everything that was taken from him. She took his brother, and started the events that lead to his downfall."
Darcy felt a chill run down her spine. Her boss wasn't out of the woods yet, it seemed.
"Tell Jane," Erik whispered, "Tell her I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
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Thor fell into bed, feeling like he had a hoard of Valkyries clamoring in his head, full armor and weapons clattering together to form a giant Jotun sized headache.
The pallet he'd made up in a spare servant's quarters was not uncomfortable, but the little bed was not made for someone of his size. Thor curled up on it and sighed.
The other option was going back to Sif and their betrothal chambers. He knew he was shaming her by conspicuously not sharing her bed, but that was the one thing he could not make himself do. He would do the dance in public, play the reluctantly enamored groom to be. He would play this farce for them, and for the good of Asgard, but he had to draw the line somewhere. He felt nothing for Sif, and he wouldn't dishonor her by taking her when he had absolutely no intention of ever actually marrying her.
Thor coughed. His lungs felt dry and scratchy, and that bitter taste reminiscent of the crystals remained in his mouth. It wouldn't go away. This would be the first night he'd actually sought sleep since using them, and he had no idea what would happen. The Norns said they were good for three uses only. He coughed again, trying to breath. His body felt like it was being eaten by the inside out.
He gasped, his eyes rolled back into his head, and everything went dark.
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It was starting to become easy to recognize her dreams.
Jane was sitting on a beach, watching turquoise blue waves lap lazily at porcelain white sand. Salt and brine was heavy on her nose, combine with the scent of sunlight and tropical plants. Birds called to each other, little sand pipers darted in and out of the charging and retreating foam, searching for what, Jane could only guess. She rolled her head back, enjoying the way her deep red bikini allowed the sun to bake her skin to a warm gold.
"Jane?"
She jumped, then tilted her head back farther. Thor was standing right behind her, wearing blue swim trunks with little gold and grey lightning and thunderclouds all over them. Jane put her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle. He looked adorably confused, and so incredibly cute.
"Where am I?" he asked, looking out over the beach and the waves.
Jane gently took his hand and tugged him down to sit next to her. "I think I'm dreaming again."
"I think I might be, too," Thor whispered, "I had not thought that I would be able to look upon you again."
Jane looked at him, really looked at him, and her mind finally registered the gauntness of his cheeks and the hollow expression in his eyes. Her Thunder God, her dear Thunder God looked like he was about to drop dead. Her heart ached for him and she pressed a trembling kiss to his furrowed brow.
"Oh baby," she murmured, holding out her arms, "I'm so sorry. May I?"
He looked up at her and nodded, and she crawled into his lap, suddenly cold even though the warm sun was baking them both. She wound her fingers into his thick golden hair, resting her chin on top of his head. Thor's arms curled about her tightly, and her heart broke when she realized he was shaking with dry sobs. Jane said nothing, there was nothing she could possibly say to alleviate his pain. She merely stroked his hair and back, and let him hold her tight.
His grip finally loosened and he looked at her a little sheepishly. "I am sorry, Jane. I lost myself."
Jane knelt between his knees and cupped his face. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing at all. Can you- can you tell me what's wrong? I might not understand, but I can listen."
Thor smiled tiredly and tugged her into his arms. She languished against him while he spilled out everything: Sif, the crystals, not sleeping, the throne, his father, the whole messy business.
Jane reached over, finding a small minibar had appeared next to her elbow while he was talking. She grinned. She loved her dreams. She pressed a kiss to his knee while she flopped over him awkwardly and began mixing them two mudslides. Jane preferred shaved ice as to ice cream, and the little mini bar obliged with a tiny trough of ice. She dumped extra Baileys and chocolate syrup into hers, while she was quite liberal with the vodka with his, feeling that he'd prefer vodka to chocolate. The tall iced glasses were in the shape of Asgard drinking horns, their frosty ends curling around to form a delicate curly q at the end.
Jane rested against him and his arm not holding a cold drink curled around her and held her close. Her eyes slid shut, and she enjoyed the sound of his heart beating just under her ear and the scent of his sun warmed skin of his chest against her nose.
Jane stabbed a spoon into her drink. "I want you to know, Thor, that I care for you." She swallowed, unable to get the words out that she wanted to say.
He looked at her, not understanding.
She pushed on. "I am willing to wait. However long you need. Your promise...I don't want you to suffer. If you can't get back through means that won't cause you pain, then don't come back," she took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn't reject her for what would come next, "It breaks my heart to see you hurt. I can't do it, I just can't. I want you to be happy. And, you must realize that I'm not going to age as you do. My life span is a great deal shorter. I can't tether you to me, not like that. I can't ask that of you, it would be cruel. I want you to be happy. If that's with Sif, then let her take care of you."
Thor's face could have been made of stone. He said nothing, merely watched her with eyes like chips of blue ice in his unforgiving face.
Jane floundered at the look on his face, but she couldn't stop now. He had to know her feelings.
"What I'm saying is..I love you. I'm in love with you Thor. I love you so much it hurts. I don't want you to be hurting- because of a stupid promise you made me."
Jane wasn't able to look him in the eye, for fear of seeing the rejection in his eyes. She knew that they had chemistry, and sure they'd rolled around together a bit in her dreams, but they'd never really spoken of their relationship. He'd never once said he loved her. Her heart was in her throat and her eyes squeezed closed. Oh god, oh god, he wasn't saying anything. Wake up, wake up, wake up-
"Jane."
Her eyes snapped open. His face was so deliciously close and the look in his eyes made her knees turn to jelly.
"Jane. Minn ast. Minn hjarta," he whispered reverently, cupping her cheeks like she were made of glass, "I have waited so long to hear those words from you."
Her eyes closed and her breath left her in a rush as he abruptly stood and spun her around, laughing. His joy was infectious and she found herself laughing along with him as she wound her legs about his hips.
"I was happiest when I thought I would live the rest of my days with you," Thor whispered, "And it wasn't a stupid promise. I meant every word. And I still intend to fulfill that promise."
Jane stroked her thumbs along his stubble rough cheeks, laughing still, and was utterly surprised to find her eyes wet with tears. She swiped at them furiously, and Thor pressed scruffy kisses to her palms.
Jane then dropped to the warm sand, wanting nothing more in that moment than to feel his body on hers. He followed her down, bracing his weight on his elbows to keep from squashing her. Jane slid against the firm length of him, relishing the feel of him against her. He really was made with power in mind, every inch of him was hard packed muscle sheathed in soft golden skin.
"I do not think I have long here," he whispered, seeing the heavy lidded look she was sending his way, "And I will not dishonor you, not while we are not bound formally."
Jane ignored all of this. "Kiss me," she whispered, "Please."
Thor dimpled at the sight of her practically writhing underneath him. Jane Foster was the most brilliant and beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, and here she was in his arms practically naked in her skimpy little suit, almost begging for him. He was unable to help himself, and he bent and pressed his mouth to hers.
He could taste the alcohol and chocolate in her kiss, and before he gave himself over, his mind whispered that this was Valhalla, he needed nothing more.
.x.
To be continued...