Chapter 14 ~ To Hell in a Hand Basket Part 1
Stand in The Rain – Superchick
The arrests happened the next day. Practically the entire police forces mobilized at one and drug nearly every popular figure in. The media was in an uproar and the press littered the streets. Rolf Fest slowly folded his hands together. He had already put people into motion long before these arrests started when his informant from inside the police had relayed the news about the pending police action.
He stood slowly, letting his fingers rest on the desk before him, a large screen T.V. showing his associates being taken into custody. He knew the police would soon be at his door but he was calm… he awaited one call. He recalled now the one girl he had taken from his twisted ring. A girl with fire in her eyes. Even now, just the memory of her as she screamed at him to stop stirred him. Then his phone rang, snapping him from his stimulations.
Picking the black phone up, he heard one phrase that brought a sick smirk to his face.
"We found them."
XXXX
With each passing day, Lithia's anxiety grew steadily worse. Something inside her was twisting and made her feel uneasy. Running calmed her down temporarily and work with Tony kept her occupied but dread welled inside of her when her mind wandered. She found herself on the steps outside the house, her gleaming car just washed and sparkling like a black diamond in the sun. In a dark blue tank top and light blue cut-off jeans, her bare feet were slightly splattered with dirt.
"Working hard there kid?" Tony asked, coming to sit next to her. "You look it."
"At least the car looks amazing." She muttered, bumping him slightly.
He chuckled and bumped her back. They lapsed into silence. Lithia drew small circles with her toes. "What's eating you?" Tony asked, pulling her into a side hug.
"Everything." Lithia said, leaning into his side. "I just have a bad feeling that something horrible is going to happen."
"Hey kid, nothing is going to happen alright?" Tony reassured her. "You got me (I'm Iron Man by the way), Reindeer Games, Capsicle, and Bruce's big green rage monster on your side plus your own kick ass powers. We're Starks to. Anyone who is stupid enough to mess with us is gonna get it back at them ten-fold."
Lithia smiled at that. "When did you get to be such a motivational speaker?" she asked.
"Last night." Tony countered, smiling at her. "Now, how about we take that shining car of yours and go grab some take out? I'm famished."
Lithia hugged him before standing. "I'm gonna go change and grab some shoes." She said as he stood.
"Hurry up. I'm dying here." Tony called as she padded off.
Lithia laughed and hosed her feet down before wicking the water away and entering the house. She quickly shucked off her shorts and slipped into a black skirt. Stepping into black flip flops, she summoned her purse and skipped out of the house. "Your car locked itself." Tony said, coming up from the car to meet her at the door.
Lithia rolled her eyes and hit the unlock button for her car. The next thing she remembered was waking up in the hospital. Slowly, her eyes slit open, glaring at the florescent lights filtering down around her. Only one eye showed anything while the other remained dark. Soft breathing sounds and a steady heartbeat beep were the only sound in the room. She turned her head to look around the room. It was a hospital and the outside was dark. On her right side, in another hospital bed, was Tony. A book rested across his chest as he slept. He had a bandage over his nose and a large bruise on his jaw.
Lithia sat up and swung her legs over the side. Numerous cuts marred the skin of her legs and she could feel the stretch of stiches all along her body. Her head throbbed in a dull ache and her left shoulder was immobilized against her body. Thick bandages bound her right hand and, as she reached up, another bandage was wrapped around her forehead, covering her right eye. Rolling her neck, she cracked the bones of her spinal cord before arching her back, cracking the rest of her spine. Looser, she turned some machines off before sliding to her feet and used the IV pole as a staff.
She shook her head again, feeling her lack of hair. Reaching a hand up, she ran her fingers through the much shorter locks. 'What day is it?' she mentally asked herself before shuffling out of the room.
None of the nurses noticed her as she started exploring the hospital. She was hungry and headed toward the cafeteria. Halfway there, nature called so she detoured to a bathroom. Finishing her business, she returned to her path toward food.
XXXX
Loki had practically paced a rut in the floor of the hospital as he, Greta, Pepper, and Steve waited for the doctors to finish with Lithia. Tony had been far enough from the blast that he was hardly injured. Even still, Lithia's body had blocked most of the explosion so his damage was minimal. Again, Loki ran his hands through his hair before turning his heel to walk back through the waiting room. Pepper and Greta were holding each other as Steve's hand rested on Greta's back, rubbing little circles there.
"Pacing won't help her." Steve said, looking up at the former villain.
Loki stilled once. "It may not help her but it prevents me from going in there and murdering the doctors for take this long. Asgardian healers would have been done ages ago so forgive me if mortal medicine frustrates me in its slowness." Loki snapped, his voice belying his worry.
Steve fell silent, knowing he would be in the same place if he was in Loki's shoes. He shivered mentally at the thought of being Loki, even for a moment. Loki resumed his pacing. His emerald eyes landed on the guards that S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent as guards. Sneering once, he turned and stalked back across the room. A few moments passed and the director of the government agency himself appeared. "Any news?" Fury asked, making everyone look at him.
Loki had stopped at the window and stared out it as Steve replied, "Stark will be fine. They're keeping him for the night for observation. Lithia is still in surgery. She… took the brunt of the explosion."
Loki flinched at that comment. Closing his eyes, his head jerked slightly to the left. A silence lapsed over the waiting room. Loki heard a seat being taken and glanced over to see Fury seated. He grimaced slightly before beginning to pace again. Eventually, more people trickled in. Bruce appeared a few moments after Fury, didn't say a word, and sat a seat away from Fury. Natasha and Clint came next, exchanged a few words with Fury before sitting together, alone. Finally, Thor came. Seeing his brother distraught as such, he walked quickly over to the pacing being and grabbed his upper arm.
Thor pulled Loki into a seat. "Brother, do not make me hurt you. We may be in a hospital but do not think that will cause me to hesitate." Loki hissed, jerking his arm free.
"Brother, look upon yourself." Thor said softly. "Lady Lithia is stronger than she seems. We must be patient and await the healers of Midgard."
Loki closed his eyes, dropped his head into his hands, and sighed deeply. "Your words do not stop me from wanting nothing more than to rush to her now." He whispered, rubbing his temples.
"Are all of you waiting for Lithia Embry?" a baritone voice asked, making Loki's head snap up.
"Yes we are." Pepper said, releasing Greta's hand and standing slowly.
"She just got out of surgery." The man said, looking over a chart. "She's doing fine but she's being kept in an induced coma for her own safety. The damage was… very extensive. We are very confident that she will pull through but, as a precaution, I can only allow a few people in to see her."
Pepper instantly turned to look at Loki. He stood. "How many?" he asked, his voice softer than any had heard before.
"I'd say no more than 2 today." The doctor replied.
Loki's head dropped and he turned slowly. His head turned to look at Greta who had taken Steve's hand in the absence of Pepper. He exhaled before looing away and returning to his seat. He sat down elegantly then, as if all purpose to remain proper looking left him, he slumped. Covering his eyes with his hand, he spoke quietly and said, "Lady Pepper, Lady Greta… you go. I and the others shall remain here."
Greta looked up, her breath caught in her throat as she held back her tears. "A-Are you sure Loki?" she asked quietly, unsure what to say. Part of her was grateful he would offer her this, but the other part… the other part she was holding back; she didn't know if she could handle seeing her best friend like that. She looked at him, the pain in her heart showing through her eyes.
"It's okay, really, you should go. She's..."
"I will not offer again Greta." Loki snapped, shaking his head. "It would bring her more comfort if you and her mother were by her side. She has known you longer."
Greta only nodded and followed Pepper into Recovery. Before the doors closed, Greta peered at the broken man over her shoulder as her voice carried no louder than a hushed whisper, "Yeah, but you're the one who holds her heart."
They entered the room to see Lithia strapped to numerous machines helping to keep her alive. Breathing tubes, IV drips, heart monitors, the whole shebang were all strapped to one small form. Numerous burns covered her arms, the worst were bandaged but you could see the discolored skin of the more minor ones. Her entire left arm was bandaged and gauze peeked out from the neckline of her hospital gown. Pepper nearly lost it when her eyes settled on Lithia's bandaged face. "My baby…" she cried softly, going to her side and taking a cool hand. "My baby…"
Greta stilled. She should have insisted that Loki go back than her. Seeing her best friend like that, barely clinging to life… she couldn't handle it. "I-I'm...I'm sorry, I can't!" Greta turned, wanting to rush through that door. Images of bloodied bandages and the dying beep, beep, beep of a heart monitor flashed in her mind.
"Love you baby girl..."
It was too much.
Pepper lifted her head to say something to Greta but only the slamming of the door answered her. She ran headlong and, when she collided with the first warm object, she clung to it. Tears streamed down her face, dampening the fabric she sobbed into. Cool hands and arms enveloped her, making her still. Evidentially, she was too much for the person she clung to because they sank to the floor. "I'm sorry…" she muttered through tears.
Another hand rested on her back, making her open her eyes. Loki looked down at her and Steve was off his shoulder. She could not comprehend and buried her face back into Loki's shirt. Rather than pass her to Steve, Loki hummed softly and rubbed small circles on her back. Greta only shut her eyes and buried her face into his shirt, clutching tightly.
"I-I, I just couldn't!" she forced between gasps.
"It's alright…" Loki said softly, pulling her away from him to look at her face. "It is alright."
He released her and let Steve take over consoling the distraught mortal. Rising up, he gave her one look more before going down the hall she had just rushed from. He found the door and gently tapped on the doorway before stepping in. Pepper looked up, silent tears on her eyes. Giving her a nod, Loki regarded Lithia with a devastated look plastered to his face. Cautiously, he walked around to her bedside and made a chair appear. Sitting down in said chair, he thread his hand in her own, the coolness of her's startling him. Bringing her fingers to his lips, he pressed them there and let them remain.
The night passed quickly and, all too soon, visiting hours were over. Only Pepper was allowed to stay but she left all the same. To be alone was more than she could bear. Each resigned themselves to rooms, fitful slept awaited them all the same. Loki, while leaving the physical plane, remained at Lithia's side as a specter, his hand never leaving her's. It was only until true unconsciousness claimed him that his specter left her side.