Chapter 21

To Hell Again and Back

Last chapter! (There may be an epilogue later too?)

Gemma

With the customary flash of green light Gemma, Jessie and Loki found themselves standing outside a tall steel wall, topped with barbed wire and guarded by dozens of soldiers in shiny black uniforms.

The moment the three appeared from seemingly thin air, shots rang out as the startled soldiers fired their guns. Loki only had just enough time to install an invisible barricade around himself and his companions that protected them from the hail of flesh-tearing rounds.

"CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE!" a familiar voice bellowed.

Gemma felt her heart rate increase rapidly. She knew that voice, she'd know it anywhere.

"Fury!" she cried out, forgetting about Jessie and Loki in her eagerness, she took off running full speed towards the only man she could ever look up to as family.

Nick Fury's hair was mostly grey now, but he looked otherwise virtually unchanged. Gemma noticed a limp but marked it off as a battle injury.

With a thud, she crashed into him, burying her face in his chest. Silently, tears washed her cheeks clean.

"Gemma! Thor said you were coming. He's explained everything." Fury said, cradling her head.

"I'm just glad to be home."

"'Cuse me, Sir," Jessie said, extending a hand. "Nice to see you again, Sir. It's me, Jessie, Sir."

Fury smiled and shook the young man's hand with vigor. "I was wondering when I'd see you again, boy! You've shaped up quite nicely, I must say. Ever thought about joining SHIELD?"

"Hate to interrupt this reunion, but would you mind calling off your men?" a snide voice said from behind Gemma.

Fury's eyes snapped to Loki, who was looking peeved at the guns that were still raised to his face.

"Loki," Fury started, limping towards him with a scowl. "Many of these men lost loved ones at your hands. They are not keen to let you walk free."

Loki gave what he hoped to be a sympathetic smile, but came off as simpering. The soldiers shifted uneasily, their fingers still on the triggers.

"Fury…" Gemma said, reaching out and taking Loki's hand with her own. "You've got to give him a chance."

Fury looked back at her. "I expect that I don't have much choice, do I?" he said. "You'll bend me to your will either way, yeah?"

Gemma nodded.

"Alright then. Men! Get back to your posts," he sighed.

O o o

Entering the head quarters was like stepping back in time for Gemma. She was overcome with a sudden wave of nostalgia and suddenly, she had a very keen idea of what things had been like for Steve when he'd woken up after all that time and seen his world so changed.

They had entered the room where the team was currently eating their dinner and chatting playfully, unaware that Gemma, Loki and Jessie were in their midst. Suddenly, one of them looked up. This woman was new; Gemma had never seen her before. She was beautiful in a way that could never be touched by age, and yet a great sorrow hung on her features.

"Where is he?" the woman said, her eyes locked on Loki's with a hateful passion.

Silence fell as the others noticed the three people, standing awkwardly by Fury's side.

"WHERE IS HE?" the woman cried out, getting to her feet.

"Who is she?" Gemma whispered to Loki, her eyes never leaving the woman's face.

"Her name," he explained. "Is Jane. She loved my brother and I destroyed their only chance to be together. This is the woman who hates me more than anyone else in the world."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, you sick bastard. What do you think you're doing here?"

Tony Stark was standing in front of Loki, his hands balled into fists, he looked expectantly at Fury, as if waiting for the command to beat the living crap out of the exiled Norse god.

Loki bowed his head, seemingly ashamed.

"Lay off, Stark," Gemma said threateningly.

"Gemma!" Tony said, his eyebrows jumping up into his peppery hair with surprise as he noticed her for the first time.

"It's Gem."

There was a moment of hesitation and then they embraced, Tony letting out a cheer to the others.

"It's Gem! She's back!"

"Someone tell me: where is Thor? Is he alright?" Jane said, her voice ringing out clear over the din.

"My brother is well," Loki said, his voice cutting through the air like ice. "But ask me not where he is, for I know it not. Look towards Fury if you wish to know the answer, he spoke to my brother last."

Now everyone was staring.

All at once, the crowd erupted into noise. Shouting and questioning and cheering (aimed at Gemma) and screaming insults (aimed at Loki).

"Shut up!" yelled Fury, but in vain, the team couldn't even hear him over the sound they were making. "GOD DAMMIT! EVERYONE, SHUT THE FUCK UP!" he screamed, the veins in his neck bulging.

All commotion ceased at once.

"That's better," Fury said. "Now will you all please shut up while I explain things?" he looked around the room threateningly before nodding and resuming. "As you all have noticed, our own Gemma Shepherd has returned to us. She brought along her brother, Jessie, who is our newest recruit… You may cheer for that."

Once the noise has died back down, Fury began again. "And then there's Loki."

Tony spat on the ground.

"Stark!" bellowed Fury, outraged. "You will try your damn hardest to be nice to Loki. He has sworn his allegiance to SHEILD and proven himself more than once over of being more compassionate than you'd ever imagine."

Loki scowled.

"If it wasn't for Loki, Gemma would be dead. In fact, this whole world would have ceased to exist. He's saved us all, as much as I hate to admit."

"Why would he do that?" Natasha asked, breaking the silence.

"Perhaps," Loki began. "I only wanted to wipe the red from my ledger, Romanoff."

Fury shook his head. "We will have none of that tonight, Loki. From here on out, you will only speak the truth. Are we clear?"

Loki sneered at the man but he didn't argue.

"Loki did it out of love. He did it out of love for one person. Someone you'd least expect." Fury said.

"He did it for me," Gemma spoke up, her voice was stronger than she'd expected. "And I'd trust him with my life. If you want me, you've got to accept him too."

Loki's hand found Gemma's and clasped it tight.

There was a scattered mumbling across the room and many dark glances, but for the most part, it seemed none of the Avengers were going to argue.

"Exactly what happened to you, Gem?" a voice rang out, clean and sure. Surprising, coming from Bruce Banner.

Gemma smiled at him. "You sound well, Bruce."

"A lot has changed since you've been gone." He replied.

Gemma nodded, suddenly aware that she was fighting back tears.

"I know…. But that story is not for now," she said, her voice draining to almost a whisper. Loki squeezed her hand and Jessie gripped her shoulder comfortingly.

"I'd say that's enough for now. We will speak more of this in the morning. Let us eat!" Fury said, grinning.

"Wait!" Jane's voice rang out once more. "Please! You said Thor was here. May I speak to him?"

"I am here, Jane," Thor's voice cut in as the golden-haired man stepped into the room, his eyes gleaming with a smile.

The crowd cheered as the two embraced, even Steve joined in, though his face had been grim the entire time. Gemma knew why. He was thinking about his own fate, how the tables hadn't turned just right. Not for him.

"You okay?" Gemma asked, some time later when she had taken a seat by the blonde haired soldier.

"Fantastic! Never been better. I'm glad to see you, Gem," he replied, smiling brightly, though it looked forced.

Gemma smiled sympathetically and patted his shoulder. "I am sorry, Steve. But I understand how you feel now… My little brother is older than me. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here."

Steve looked genuinely pleased then. He took her hand and helped her to her feet, grinning. "Come on then, why don't you enjoy the party. It is yours, after all!"

Gemma nodded, her eyes landing on Loki, who stood next to Thor. He was scowling at the floor, but Gemma had come to know him better than ever.

How are you, Loki? She asked.

From across the room his eyes met hers like magnets. Not bad, Gem. Not bad.

The rest of the night was a blur of hugging, drinking and story sharing. Gemma was lost in the arms of her old friends. All but one.

Clint was out in a mission, it was unlikely he would return until the morning. Gemma felt her heart sink at the news. Of all the people she wanted to see, Clint was the one she'd missed the most.

"He'll be so glad to see you," Natasha said quietly. She had crept up behind Gemma where she sat, staring at a fork on the table before her. All around them were the rest of the team, still celebrating her return, getting acquainted with Jessie and joking with one another.

Gemma caught sight of a glint of silver on Natasha's hand as the woman ran her fingers through her hair.

"Is that?..." Gemma said excitedly, grabbing Natasha's hands in her own. "IT IS! OH MY GOD!"

"Yes, Gem?" Loki said, grinning. He'd just crept up silent as a cat to join the pair.

"Shut up, Loki!" Gemma said, playfully socking him in the arm. "Natasha is married! It is Clint, isn't it?" she asked, her face glowing with excitement.

Natasha actually giggled then, her entire face lighting up. "Five years next week!" she said, grinning.

After that, the party picked up. Soon everyone was drunk, even Gemma was a little tipsy, and she wasn't much one for drinking. Of course, no one held a candle to Tony, (and if they did, the entire place would have gone up in flames, he was so drenched).

The sun was already rising by the time Gemma told a slurring Tony Stark that she didn't actually care to see any more pictures of the new and improved Stark tower. She was about ready to pass out when Fury handed her a key and told her she could take any empty bedroom for her own.

"I expect you'll be wanting a room for two?" he asked, gruffly, his eyes on Loki.

Gemma blushed and nodded.

"Go on, then. You need to sleep. Clint will be here by lunch time tomorrow."

Fifteen minutes later, Gemma and Loki lay curled together on a single bed, fast asleep. Loki, who hadn't drank much had stripped down into the uniform nightwear provided by SHEILD. Gemma, however had barley managed to take off her boots and jacket before she'd passed clean out on top of the sheets.

Loki

"Let's go!" Gemma was saying from the ground, where she sat pulling her boots onto her feet.

Loki anxiously looked on. It wouldn't take an expert to know that something was wrong.

"Gem, I don't think I should be there when you see him," he began.

Gemma got to her feet, frowning. "I don't… Look. Fury has already explained the situation. I'm sure he will be on his best behavior. That is, if you are."

Loki grimaced. He was dreading coming face to face with Clint Barton once again. It was the archer who hated him most of all, and for good cause, too.

"Besides; I bet that once he gets to know you, you'll become friends." Gemma reasoned.

Loki possibly knew Barton better than himself, a side effect of mind control. He knew there was zero chance of ever befriending the man. It was more likely that he'd end up with an arrow in his eye. That is, if he didn't hex Barton first.

All the same, some five minutes later found Loki and Gemma walking hand in hand into the dining hall where the rest of the Avengers already sat, each nursing their own hang over and looking spent. Tony was leaning against Steve's side, obviously telling a joke because the rest of the team started laughing. But Gemma and Loki only had eyes for one man.

Clint Barton was sitting casually between Natasha and Bruce, frowning at his half-eaten sandwich and seemingly lost in thought. Banner nudged him slightly when he noticed Gemma and Loki come in, and the archer suddenly snapped into awareness, his eyes landing at once on Gemma's flushed face.

"Gem?" he asked, as if in a trance.

Gemma felt tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn't realized exactly how much she missed her best friend until then.

"Oh god!" Clint cried, getting to his feet and rushing towards her. "You look exactly the same!"

"Wish I could say the same for you, Clint. Is that a grey hair?" Gemma joked, tears spilling from her hazel eyes.

Loki scowled and shuffled away, hoping to minimize his contact with Barton. He found company, surprisingly, in Jessie.

"What's she like?" Jessie asked, looking dreamily off at Gemma, who was joking loudly with Clint across the room some time later.

"Gem?" Loki said, drawing out her name.

Jessie nodded rubbing his finger over the glowing blue stone in his pocket. "I feel like you know my sister better than I do…"

Loki shifted closer to Jessie, a hazy smile playing on his lips.

"Well… She's incredible, but that doesn't even begin to describe it…"

From across the room, Barton and Loki made eye contact. Loki felt his body stiffen with anticipation. Then, slowly, Barton nodded once.

O o o

That night Loki and Gemma retired early. The day had been relatively laid back, with Gemma attending training with the rest of the soldiers, eager to resume her old routine. Loki and stuck by Thor's side, acting sullen all the while, though he wouldn't admit that he was actually enjoying himself.

"How was it?" Gemma asked, once they were alone.

Loki allowed himself a small smile as he came forward and claimed her mouth in a kiss.

"I think this could work," he crooned, slipping an icy hand up her shirt.

Gemma's breath caught at the unexpected chill.

"What? Living here, with SHEILD? Or this," she tangled her fingers in his ink-blot hair, leaving a trail of kisses down his bobbing neck.

"Both," Loki said, gritting his teeth in pleasure as he slowly pushed her down against the bed. "Have I ever told you why they call me Silvertongue?"

o o o

The night sky was filled with stars, stars that Loki had never seen before. He and Gemma lay on their backs on the roof of one of the soldier's barracks, enjoying the cool night breeze from the east.

"One time you showed me your stars. Let me show you mine," Gemma whispered, gesturing to they sky.

Loki's hand found hers in the dark.

"Show me."

The hours were spent with Gemma's hand in the air, pointing out her favorite constellations, her lips working as she told Loki each story to accompany every star. He drank up every word, his eyes only leaving her face to gaze up at the sky.

"Orion's Belt," she murmured, her eyes reflecting the stars she was pointing at.

"I love you," Loki said suddenly, breaking her train of thought.

"What?" Gemma sputtered, rolling over on her side to face him.

"I love you," Loki repeated, smiling at the look of surprise on her face.

Without hesitation, Gemma kissed him lightly, wrapping her arms around him tight. It was there, under the stars that they fell asleep, so thickly intertwined with one another that in the gathering dark, that it was almost impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

Galaxies away, a new constellation, one that would someday be named "Sleeping Lovers", blinked into life, searing it's light into the darkness.

Ok ok so ahhh! I'm gonna go scream now. I hate endings! I hate hate hate writing endings! Omg. I really don't have anything to say. Thanks. I might write and epilogue for this at some point, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'll write a story following Jessie some day. OK. Ok. Ok.