It was May who helped Stark support Peter as they walked him back to his room. She wanted to hold him anyway, so it worked out well. As they walked Tony described Strange's rehab routine to her, explaining it the same way the doctor had explained it to him and to Peter. She didn't like the idea of Peter being in the pool but the boy pointed out that he was only in the shallows and he wasn't ever alone. Since Peter wasn't against the plan, she couldn't voice much opposition to it, really. Especially since it seemed to be working, even though he was certainly leaning heavily on the support they were giving him, and they both heard his sigh of relief when he finally got to his bed and sprawled on it.

"I'll leave you guys alone for a while," Tony said, watching as she covered Peter with a blanket. "Peter? You should get some sleep if you can."

He nodded, too tired from the walk to deny that he needed it.

"I will."

"How are you doing?" May asked when he'd left them alone.

"I'm good," he assured her. "Just tired."

She sat down on the bed beside him, and put her arm around his shoulder.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again, young man."

He leaned against her and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

She might have said something else, but he fell asleep and didn't hear it.

OOOOOOOOOO

Wong looked up from the book he'd been referencing. They'd been in the library for hours, looking through books, and using magic to direct them where they needed to be in order to find the source of the trace they'd both felt. His gaze went to Strange, who had just uttered a very soft curse.

"Did you notice?"

"Asgardian."

"Yes."

Strange scowled.

"I don't like that. What possible interest would any of them have in Peter?"

"Not any of them. Only one."

"Yes."

"Do we bring him to us?"

"I don't care for the idea of having him loose on Earth – especially in New York."

"We could contain him."

Strange smiled at Wong's confidence. He shared it. But he still didn't like that particular plan.

"I think I'll contact the brother and see if he knows what the infatuation is."

Wong shook his head.

"I don't imagine Loki tells his brother what he's doing. We're better off being proactive and just bringing him here. I could hold him, and you can ask him what's on his slippery mind."

"Let me think about it – and discuss it with Stark."

He wasn't used to discussing his intentions with anyone, really, but bringing the god of mischief into New York was something that he didn't want to do if he could avoid it. Maybe the Avenger facility had a space he could use instead of the Sanctum – although the Sanctum was filled with magical protections. At least they wouldn't have to worry about having millions of people around them if something went wrong.

"I'll prepare things here, just in case."

"Thank you."

Strange gave his friend a slight nod and vanished.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Tony was back in the lounge. He could have been working in a lab on some of the new tech that he wanted to develop but he was restless and didn't feel like he would be able to concentrate on anything just then. Pepper had gone to get something to eat, and he could have joined her. Instead, he was sitting in an upholstered chair nursing a drink and brooding.

The lounge was empty at the moment. It was that time of day when everyone was almost certainly finishing up whatever duties they had, were finding something to eat – or if they weren't residents, they had gone home. He didn't mind the silence; he brooded best when he was alone, and he knew it.

"We need to talk."

He didn't jump at the sudden appearance of Strange behind his chair, but he did almost spill his drink. Which made him scowl. He turned in the chair and looked up, ready to make a quip about putting a bell on him, but the man's expression was serious enough that he didn't. Instead he stood up.

"What did you find?"

"Who is the better question," Stephen told him, walking over to the bar and pouring himself a drink.

"Who, then?"

"Loki."

Tony frowned, confused.

"Loki? What the hell would he want with Peter?"

"I don't know."

"How would he even know about Peter?"

"I don't know," Strange repeated. "I was thinking the best way to find out would be to ask him."

Tony leaned his elbow on the bar.

"You want to go to Asgard?"

"I was thinking of bringing him here."

"To New York?"

"No. here. Wong likes the idea of using the protections in the Sanctum, but I don't like the idea of taking him into the heart of the city. We know what happened the last time."

"That won't happen again."

"No. Wong can contain him while I ask what he's up to, but I'm thinking a show of force might be the best way to impress on him just how foolish it would be for him to continue his present course of action."

"We could do that."

"But not in the city."

"We could probably find a place here. There are gyms, conference rooms, or the commons. Really, as far I'm concerned we can put him in the deep end of the pool and hold him there."

Strange smiled.

"Thor might not approve of that."

"Or he might send flowers."

"So you'd be all right with me bringing him here?"

"Sure. Why not? How would you do it?"

"Getting him here isn't the problem. But I'll want to prepare for him, and we'll want minimal personnel around."

Less exposure, less chance of someone walking into something that they weren't ready for and maybe getting hurt.

"A weekend, then."

"If that would work best."

"He can't get in Peter's head?"

"No chance in hell."

"Then we can wait. It's only two days."

"I'll tell Wong."

"What do you need from me?"

"Just let us know the room you can best afford to lose use of – unless you'd rather do this outside."

"It doesn't matter to you?"

"Not in the least."

"Okay. In the meantime?"

Strange shrugged.

"We get Peter on his feet and healthy."

Tony nodded.

"It's too bad you don't have a spell for that. Or do you?"

There was a slightly amused snort.

"If I did, I would have already used it. I'll be back in time for his nightly water session."

"I'll let you know what room we want to use."

"Not outside?"

"It's supposed to rain. It's harder to intimidate if there's water dripping off your nose."