She knew she shouldn't be here. Back at the place where it all began. Back in this wasteland that had hardly mattered to her before. This dry, barren land had seemed so insignificant. Just another case. And then she'd seen the Bifrost residue. And then she'd met Loki. …and then she'd met Loki.

"What're we doing out here, Nancy?" Agent James Harper groaned, leaning his seat back, "We have to get to the airport before the team leaves without us. It's been years. The old thing has probably blown away by now. Or been buried with sand. Heck, we stay here much longer, we'll be buried in sand."

"James. Cool it. I just want to take a few photographs to see if anything's changed." She kept her eyes on the horizon, a small GPS pinging in her peripheral vision. "You have your work, I have mine."

"Yes. How's that worked out for you so far, might I ask? Got you kidnapped and nearly got me killed."

"I never asked for you to save me."

"Hey, I don't care what division you were part of, we were on the same side. And I wasn't gonna let him take you."

"Says the guy who got blasted into a wall."

"Says the girl who got carried off like a piece of luggage."

Nancy gave a soft laugh and glanced at her lounging partner. The past few years had seen so much change. The collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D. Her employment with the FBI. Finding out James was being transferred to her unit, and then having him for a partner. They'd hardly spoken during their time within S.H.I.E.L.D. A few passing comments, a drink or two, that one fateful night. But she hardly remembered it. And, apparently, neither did he. But, now… now they were partners. Now they'd grown closer than ever. She was finally starting to feel normal again.

But, then… then there was that nagging feeling in the back of her mind. The feeling that wouldn't go away. She didn't believe that Loki was dead. Didn't believe it for a minute. He was a master of cunning and craft, the god of mischief and mayhem. He'd survived the Battle of New York, as well as a serious beating from The Hulk. How could one 'monster' defeat him? No… he was still out there. Somewhere. And she'd find him. If it was the last thing she did. Even if it was just to talk. She had to know. Why did he take her? Why did he heal her? What was she to him?

James gave a bored groan, "Why do you need more pictures of that old hieroglyph?"

"It's not a hieroglyph. It's a rune that explains how the branches of the Yggdrasil are so intricately woven together. How the realms are connected. It's sacred."

"Don't tell me you actually believe that Egg-drazle crap."

Nancy flinched. "Yggdrasil. And, yes. I do. If it doesn't encroach too much on your one-on-one time with the inside of your eyelids." James already had his eyes closed.

"It doesn't. But just don't get too caught up with this, Nan. The guy's dead. He's not coming back. Try to focus on the living, alright?" He opened one eye and glanced at her. "Focus on what really matters. Who really matters. You can't keep on like this, with your head up in space. Come back to earth every once in a while." He closed his eyes again and mumbled, "Stay up there too long, you're bound to fly off the deep end."

Nancy gripped the wheel tighter and focused on the desert sand around her. He'd never understand. Her need. Her desire. She'd never believe Loki was dead. Not until she was standing over his grave or held his cape in her hands. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be. She had too many questions that needed too many answers.

In the distance, she could see the dark engravings on the golden sand. She quickly pulled over and turned their black van off. "Stay here. I'll be back in a minute."

"No need to tell me twice. Just don't get sucked up by that thing, alright? I don't wanna be the one to tell Daniels you got abducted by aliens… again."

Nancy rolled her eyes and stepped out, taking a moment to gaze in wonder at the giant rune. A small smile started at the corners of her lips as she remembered her work with the runes before. How she'd run her hands over the burns in the sand and had taken photos when it was fresh. How she'd spent long nights studying this one, where Thor had landed, the second one, where the Destroyer had landed, and the last, where Thor and the others had gone back again. Back to their world of mystery and majesty. Back to the world where Loki lived and thrived, or so she believed. She had to believe. She had to.

She walked to the back of the van and pulled a small black box out of the backseat. Hidden inside were her camera, files, and everything she could possibly need to study the symbols. She opened it, carefully taking out her old photos of the interwoven patterns. Each rune was the same, burnt into the sand. Strange, how the sand could be scorched in such a manner without it turning into glass. To add to the mystery, the markings within the runes were alike. The same pattern, the same language, repeated throughout time and space. She'd been to Norway and seen where the round pattern was still burnt into the rock of the shore. After thousands of years – years of wind and rain, floods and frosts, earthquakes and erosion – the symbols remained, like the sparkling city of Asgard itself. Oh, if she could only see it. To live the myth. To become myth herself. But these were nothing but fleeting imaginations.

With a soft sigh, Nancy organized the photos back into their proper order and removed her camera from the box. Her favorite DSLR. She'd never go on an expedition without it. Especially if she knew she'd be taking photos of symbols that needed translating. With a quick swipe to clean any dirt or fuzz from the lens, she was off, marching towards the great circle in the middle of the New Mexico plain.

After all these years, it was still there. In pristine condition, too. Like James, she'd supposed the wind would have covered it over with sand by now. Or the rain would have washed it away. An engraving in sand was vastly different than one carved into rock. Well, except for their one similarity… they had all been carved by an Asgardian. Perhaps it was magic that held the symbol in place.

Nancy snapped a few quick pictures, making sure she captured the whole symbol just right. She'd study it later for any slight changes it might have undergone. Any changes could mean the language was changing. Or perhaps the magic was wearing off. She couldn't be sure, but perhaps the photos could tell her what she was looking for. Could give her a clue of how to bridge the gap between their worlds. The Bifrost was the great bridge, after all. Perhaps it led to an even greater gateway for her to use.

As she stood there, looking the giant ring over, her smile slid into a frown. She was so close. So close to him. Right here, right now, in this very moment… this was as close to him as she'd ever be again. He was lightyears away from her, and yet… and yet they were so close.

Without more than half a thought, she walked out to the center of the ring. Nothing happened. She sat down cross-legged, as she had every time she sat down before him. Still, nothing happened.

"Are you there, Loki?" she whispered into the air, "Are you still alive? You promised. You promised you'd come back. Please… still be alive. I'm waiting for you. I told you I would. I kept my promise… now you keep yours. Come back to me."

"What're you doing?"

Nancy jolted and turned to look at James. He stood outside the ring, with his arms crossed, glaring at her with the same intensity a parent would give a child.

"Um… I'm testing the… magnitude of the wavelengths… to see if the solar radiation… damaged the patterns."

"Uh-huh. Come on, heartbreaker, before your crazed alien does come back. Lord knows I'd love him to. I owe him a fist to the face in exchange for the blast he sent at me."

Nancy blushed at his bluntness and stood. Was her obsession so obvious? She turned slowly, looking at the swirls around her feet. She'd been so close. She still was.

"Nancy." James held his hand out to her, his voice soft and coaxing. "Come on. We'll be late for our flight."

Images of the day she was kidnapped suddenly flashed through her mind. She saw him standing by the door, gun in hand, reaching for her. She saw the blue bolt of energy, and James slamming back into a thick metal wall. She remembered her screams at the thought that her friend had been killed in front of her. And then her guilt that had kept her away from his hospital room.

Involuntarily, she slipped her hand into his. He was right. She needed to get her head out of the sky. Loki wasn't coming back for her. She just needed to realize that. He was a crazed super-villian. What was she to him?

James softly kissed the back of her hand as he led her out of the circle. "This time, I'm driving."

/

Eight hours later, Nancy found herself sitting in James' car in the parking lot of her apartment complex. Her duffle bag waited for her in the back seat.

"I'm glad we get to work together, Nan. I enjoy having you on the team."

Nancy blushed slightly and smiled. "Me, too. I'm glad, too. We never got to work together enough in S.H.I.E.L.D."

James turned and smiled at her. "You look tired. You sure you don't want some help inside? You haven't slept well in days."

"I know. I'm looking forward to my bed." Nancy opened the passenger's door and set one black boot down on the pavement.

"Nancy." James began, placing one hand on her arm, "Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night? We have all night off to recover from the case. I know we're not supposed to have relations with our partners, so it won't be that. Just two friends having dinner. We could go out or stay in. It really doesn't matter. Whaddya say?"

Nancy glanced down, considering his offer. She had grown so fond of him since joining the FBI, where division and rank didn't matter as much as it had in S.H.I.E.L.D. She liked his company and his humor. And, he was one of the few people who seemed to understand her. He knew what she'd been through in S.H.I.E.L.D. He knew the pain she felt at the loss of the agency… he felt it, too. She really thought she could be happy with him, if she allowed herself. But still… still, there was the possibility… that maybe Loki would come back. Maybe he would keep his promise. Maybe he was still alive.

"I'd love to." She heard herself say. In an instant, she had her satchel—with its new and improved zippers—around her torso and her duffle over her shoulder. "Good night, James."

"Good night, Nancy."