Chapter 37 *I realize I switched tenses in the past chapter at the end I apologize*

The cab rolled to a stop at the corner of a busy green space. People were bustling about, some shouting and others subduing startled children. I watched numbly as a hassled mother swept a crying child into her arms, not seeming to notice when the crying girl's strawberry ice cream pushed right into her platinum blonde hair.

I didn't understand how anyone could be so calm.

"Thanks," Jane muttered to the cab driver, slipping him a wad of bills. He tipped his hat to her then sped off, obviously thinking about getting the hell away from the city and whatever was in it. On the far side of the park I could see the dark green swarm that was military officials. They had begun to make their way around the Reflecting Pool, speaking to people scatted along the park.

"This way," Darcy murmured, peeling off her disguise as we went. I followed her, removing my gun. It was empty but I figured it looked like a good enough deterrent if anyone were to approach us.

Jane and Erik led the way towards the Lincoln Memorial. At the foot of the statuses feet sat three metallic looking suit cases, obviously stuffed to the brim with science equipment. As they hurried to open them, I let myself rest, mind wandering. I wondered where Clint and Natasha were. I wondered if the fighting in Chicago had been subdued and if my brothers were safe.

Mostly I wondered about Loki. My heart thudded painfully. I couldn't afford to be upset, not in front of these people.

"Do you got what you need?" I asked, tense. I felt stupid for not recognizing what they were assembling in front of me, but how was I supposed to know? I'd studied Law after all. Not astrophysics.

Erik stood, holding two long rods in his hand. "Come with me," he said in a raspy voice, waving me after him. I followed, keeping pace with his long stride. The military forces had spread out over the park, wielding guns and checking to see that everyone had been evacuated. Great.

It was me and one crazy old man holding long rods which were emitting faint pulses. If we didn't strike them as suspicious, we certainly struck them as a pair of lunatics.

We'd need a diversion.

Tapping Erik on the shoulder, I pointed to the men. "They're gonna notice in about three seconds. I'm gonna be a distraction. You need to move really fast."

He gave me a dopey eyed look, but seemed to acknowledge my words. Hoping he'd act, I broke away.

"I always get the hard job," I muttered to myself, dropping my gun. I was just about to commit a crime and all for the hope that this scatter brained idea could help me find The Cube and possibly save Loki.

Here goes nothing.

"Hey!" I yelled, breaking into a sprint. A few startled looking men watched me, heads turned in my direction. I paused nervously on the spot. Were they not gonna chase me after all.

"Ma'am, you can't be here," one of the men shouted. "An order of evacuation has been sent out-"

"Kiss my ass, soldier boy!" I bent over, making a rude gesture to him.

Bingo.

Breaking into a run, I dodged the reflection pool, making my way for the streets ahead. The what would probably be busy street was empty, the usual tourists obviously herded away to some safe space in the city. In the distance I heard the barking of dogs. Not even I could outrun dogs.

I was trapped. I hoped that Jane got her hare-brained scheme working because I was about to get arrested for harassing a military official.

I didn't have to worry about that much longer.

Directly in front of me, the ground wavered. A gaping black hole had severed the air in front of me and I didn't have time to bring myself to a stop. Throwing my hands up to cover my face, I plunged into the gap.

For a few gut clenching seconds I was free falling. Then I hit the ground. Hard.

The old fire in my ribs sparked to life, making me wheeze and suck desperately for air. In my haze of pain, a hand seized my shoulder. I froze, pulse audibly in my own ears.

In the pitch blackness I couldn't see a thing. Except a pair of livid green eyes. "What are you doing here?" The voice was male, low, and accented. Not to mention angry.

"You're alive!" If I could have, I would've jumped to my feet and latched onto him. But in my current state I was in no mood to sit up let alone embrace him. "Oh my god you're-"

A thin hand, crossed with lines and scars clamped gently over my mouth. It was cold against my lips. "Hush. You shouldn't be here. I can't believe you are here." He shook his head, hair whispering against his neck.

I frowned. "Nice to see you too,"

"You came through the portal," he muttered, ignoring my annoyance with him. "I should have thought of patching it before this happened. Should've known the transfer would cause imbalances in the wards. Oh, bother. Best it be you and not some sniveling, bratty Midgardian." He signed again, lacing his fingers through with mine. I let him haul me to my feet, holding onto his hand like a life line.

He didn't object. We began to move, my ribs singing a song of complaint as I struggled to keep up with his long stride. "Where are we?" I did my best to keep my voice to a whisper, but it bounced back, oddly in a way. Almost as if we were in a tunnel.

"Tunnels deep under the city. I feel the trace of the Cube even know as we speak. I've been hunting for it ever since I left you."

I was silent, letting him lead us through the dark. There were faint splashing sounds every so many feet, but I didn't want to think about what else might be down in the dark. Nasty crawling things I couldn't see. I shivered despite myself.

"How come you didn't tell me-"

"It was best I lie to you for if this didn't work and I did end up dying you wouldn't be as hurt. You wouldn't have hoped for me to return." He stopped, running his fingers through mine. "You don't know how it hurts me to hurt you."

"Then don't," I answered, a little out of breath.

"If we get out of this alive I swear on my life I won't ever again. Not for as long as I may live." He brought my hand to his mouth, kissing it. It was a small gesture all in all but it still made my heart flutter. He smiled because he knew.

Unsure of what to say, I looked away. "Good. I promise, too," I added the last bit lamely, heat rushing to my cheeks.

"The only way you could hurt me is by doing what's best for you and pushing me away. And even then I couldn't find it in my heart to hate you, Sam. I may be a cold man, literally, but I know what love is. Don't doubt that."

"I won't,"

With that, we continued making our way down into the darkness. I couldn't help but feel that something terribly wrong was going to happen. Something that would destroy everything I knew and loved. Something truly evil was near us and it was waiting to pounce. The question was, could the mice navigate the maze and come out free? Or would the cat get them in the end, predictably and sure?

Maybe, just maybe, the mice could win this time.

Or maybe not.