A/N: My apologies for the long wait. But better late than never!
This chapter took a twist that I wasn't really expecting; it seemed to want to go there, no matter what I did. So I decided to run with it. I hope you enjoy!
As always, italics indicate nonverbal communication.
Chapter 27
After their initial discussion that morning, the group split up. Sif and Fandral did return to Ohio to help with the base there. Tony and Natasha worked together to review satellite feeds and intel on SHIELD's lab sites, with Thor observing in case he caught something odd that they might miss.
Loki offered to try magic to track the portal device; he was familiar enough with it to at least make an attempt. It had been built under his direction; he may not have been able to duplicate it, but he could scry for it.
Jane, in the meantime, kept to herself. She debated internally, wondering if she should try to push the limits of her mental abilities. She did have some basic understanding of the feel of a controlled mind, and the scientists in question were minds she'd scanned as she was first learning about her power.
It was risky, though, to open herself up. Particularly in the middle of a city with millions of people. Still, it was the only thing Jane could think of that no one else could try. She would just have to take that risk.
Better to do so while Loki was occupied, though. He would probably object, and that wouldn't help anyone.
After locking the door to her guest room, Jane settled herself on the bed. She closed her eyes and focused her attention inward. Carefully she strengthened her grasp of her center, and then moved on to strengthen her grounding point. No point in risking those connections; she suspected she'd need them before she was done.
Though Jane had little idea of how she was actually going to do what she wanted, she knew that her power sometimes worked better by instinct than knowledge. There was nothing telling her that this wouldn't work, so she felt it was worth trying. She didn't need to worry about the details of how it all worked; she could analyze it afterwards. Or so she told herself.
When she felt she was as ready as possible, Jane slowly began lowering her mental shields. She first became aware of Loki, though the feel of his mind was distant and preoccupied. Tony, Natasha and Thor were the next on her mental radar; likely because she had touched their minds previously. Jane doubted she'd ever be able to mistake the feeling of their minds; each was so unique.
As she stretched out her senses, more and more presences touched Jane's awareness. Or, more accurately, she touched them. As she reached out further, it almost felt to Jane like she was being smothered by a heavy, wet blanket. Still, she strove to push beyond it to expand her senses further.
Jane lost awareness of her own body as she pushed herself further. Her mind almost felt like a wave; as if she'd dropped a stone into a lake and her mind was the ring spreading outwards. She felt as if she were moving in every direction all at once, reaching out and sensing minds, moving outward without really doing more than brush over the people in the city below. She felt them, knew they weren't what she was looking for, and moved on. Over and over and over.
After what felt like an eternity, Jane moved beyond the city. Once away from the concentration of people, her thoughts picked up speed. She spread herself outwards, searching and seeking. She used inhabited areas almost like stepping stones, using the pull of other thoughts to take her further and further away from her body. She continued like this for quite some time before she realized that the feel of her physical self had almost disappeared.
Scared for the first time since she began, Jane tried to retrace her route to get back to the city. She could find the nearby groupings of people, but couldn't find her way back. The bond had been stretched further than it should have been.
Just as she started to really panic, Jane felt another mind touch hers as she had done with Thor or Tony. The touch had a steadying influence, reinforcing her centering and helping to bolster her sense of self. A wave of relief washed over her and Jane began to relax.
Who are you? a gentle voice asked her, the tone unmistakably masculine.
I'm Jane Foster, she replied after a moment of hesitation. Ultimately she answered because what she felt from this stranger told her that he could take the information he wanted but he was asking instead. She felt that courtesy ought to be returned. Who are you?
My name is Charles Xavier, he told her. You are a long way from your physical self, Jane. Far enough to get lost, if you aren't more careful. What are you doing?
Jane didn't question how he knew she was physically far away; she suddenly knew that he was both a mutant and a teacher. And that while the power of his mind was less than hers, his control was far greater.
They lapsed into wordless communication; rather than trying to explain what she was attempting, she simply gave him the knowledge. Her guesses, her hopes, the reasons behind her attempt. And she felt him accept it and understand. She didn't expect him to offer his help, but it didn't surprise her when a third mind joined them. Jane knew from the recognition in Xavier's mind that they had been joined by his student, another mutant with strong mental abilities: Jean Grey.
At the speed of thought, the trio worked out a better plan than Jane had originally had. The Professor was no stranger to this kind of search, and Jean had been able to work with him at times in the past. With their help, Jane resumed her search; having someone to help who actively knew what they were doing definitely made it easier.
Even so, the search they were undertaking was hard work. It was almost literally a needle in a haystack - a haystack the size of a continent. Their only real advantage was that Jane knew the feel of the minds she was looking for - and had come into contact with them while they were being controlled.
After what felt like hours of searching to Jane, they finally found something. Or, rather, multiple somethings. The flare of minds under the control of another. But they were not all concentrated into one location, as SHIELD had originally thought.
We should stop, Jean spoke after they examined the area. We're all getting tired, and we don't need to push ourselves so far as to be useless tomorrow.
Jane sighed mentally but agreed. I'm not sure that I haven't already. But…
You did what you felt you had to, the Professor agreed. Come, now. We will help you return to yourself.
And Jane, Jean cautioned as they began the push back towards New York City, I want you to make sure you eat something before you sleep. Your body needs its energy restored, and sleep alone won't be enough.
Jane considered the explanation and accepted it. I promise, she said.
Together, the group quickly retraced Jane's steps. In what seemed like a very short time in comparison to her outbound journey, Jane's awareness of her body quickly grew until she was close enough to snap back into herself all at once. A brief, gentle touch of the Professor in her mind told him that she was well and Jane was alone again in her own mind.
Almost.
Jane slowly opened her eyes to find Loki sitting beside her, tension and worry evident in his face. She watched some of the tension drain away as she reached out her hand to him.
"Jane," he breathed as he caught her hand in both of his. "Are you alright?"
Jane nodded and sighed. "I'm fine. I'm sorry if I worried you."
"You've been in here for hours, and I couldn't wake you. What happened?"
Jane paused, considering how to best answer his question. She thought about what she had done, and tried to find words to explain. "I tried to use my mind to find the missing scientists," she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I tried to reach out, beyond the city, to see if I could find any sign of them. But it was hard, and it took a lot of concentration. I almost got lost out there, I think," she watched Loki's expression turn dark and hurried on to add, "but I came into contact with some others with power like mine. They helped me be sure I could get back."
"Then I owe them my thanks as well," Loki said, relief evident in his eyes. "Are you quite alright?"
Jane smiled a little. "I'm fine. Hungry, and a little worn out. I've been told to make sure I eat before going to sleep, though. Apparently it takes a lot of energy to do what I did."
"Then eat is what you shall do," Loki declared. He rose from his seat on the bed and pulled Jane up beside him. She wavered on her feet for a moment and Loki gently braced her up until she found her footing. "You can tell me more about what you did afterward. And who these others are, as well."
Jane smiled softly, knowing that his imperious tone concealed his very real worry for her. So she didn't argue; she simply let him lead her out to the kitchen area. Pepper was just getting off the phone.
"Hello Jane, Loki," she greeted them as she set down the cell. "Dinner should be here in about an hour."
"That's good to know, thanks," Jane replied with a nod. "Is there maybe something I can snack on in the meantime? I seem to have… worked through lunch."
Pepper raised an eyebrow at Jane's phrasing, but she nodded. "Of course. Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. I think we have some cold cuts left." Pepper studied Jane with a discerning eye and then nodded to herself. She crossed over to the unit and opened the door.
"I don't want to trouble you, Pepper," Jane said quietly. "I can throw together a sandwich or something."
Pepper pulled a few packages out of a drawer, then added a bag of lettuce and a tomato. "Are all scientists so careless about their health?" she asked rhetorically. "I think Tony would try to live on coffee and pizza, if I'd let him." She crossed over to Jane with the items and set them down before rummaging through the cupboard for bread and a plate.
Jane laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose those of us who love our work get easily caught up in it, sometimes to the exclusion of all else. It happens."
"Well, not on my watch," Pepper answered firmly. "JARVIS, add a note to my schedule to check on Jane as well as Tony, when she's around."
"Certainly, Miss Potts," the AI's smooth voice replied. Jane blushed and set about assembling herself a sandwich with the grilled chicken, sliced cheese and veggies that Pepper brought to her.
Loki, in the meantime, listened to the conversation with a rather bemused smile on his face. When Pepper shifted her attention to him, Loki recalled himself and winked at her. "Lady Potts, I do believe you and my mother would get along famously," he told her.
It took Pepper a moment to collect her thoughts, but then she responded with a wink of her own. "I hope that someday I get a chance to meet her," came the serene reply.
"Once we have the Bifrost repaired, I shall make a point of introducing you," Loki promised with a gleam in his eye. He could just imagine Frigga's pleasure in bonding with another woman who had made an art form out of supporting and manipulating a stubborn, difficult man.
"The Bifrost?" Pepper asked, clearly intrigued.
"It's the bridge between Realms, Pepper," Jane explained. "An Einstein-Rosen Bridge, if you're familiar with the theory. I was working on trying to make one, before Thor fell into my life the first time."
"I'm afraid the science of it is rather beyond me," Pepper admitted. "But if anyone can make it happen, I believe you can Jane. Which reminds me; Tony said something about Bruce Banner wanting to discuss theories with you?"
"I'd like that," Jane agreed with a small smile. "Perhaps once our current problem is resolved."
"Would you like to help them work on the Bifrost, Jane?" Loki asked quietly. "You know I could probably arrange it when we get back to Asgard."
Jane frowned as she considered it, then shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I want to make my own, and it wouldn't be the same if I were working based on the Bifrost's plans. Besides, I don't think I understand the magic involved in your version well enough to be much help."
"You never know, Jane," Pepper encouraged the younger woman. "Maybe you and Tony should collaborate. It might help us as well as Asgard."
Jane's frown smoothed away and she nodded. "You could be right, Pepper. Thanks. And thank you, too, Loki," she smiled at them both before turning her attention to the sandwich in front of her. It only took her a few moments to devour it; clearly she'd been hungrier than even she realized. But she could wait until dinner for anything more.
"Goodness, Jane," Pepper teased gently. "Next time just help yourself when you start to get hungry!"
Loki only shook his head, a fond smile on his face.
A/N: Reviews are love! Please let me know what you think!
