In the morning Thor was eager to go see Loki as Strange had promised, this time three people had met up to be there for Thor.

Sif, Fandral and Steve Rogers. They had been allowed because Thor was actually free to leave now, he had only been kept in the hospital over night for observation and they were there to take him to his quarters as Stark Towers where they insisted he should rest.

Before Thor left though they brought him breakfast. Ones again Sif sat down and clearly wanted to feed Thor.

This time though Thor stopped her. It actually wasn't that he was against the idea. But it was pretty embarrassing with Fandral and Steve sitting right there next to them!

Beside Thor and Sif weren't…. Thor shook his head. It wasn't like he had time to worry about that now.

Him and Lady Jane had broken up. Not because their love wasn't real but because both realized their lives could never match up. If they were to be together one of them had to give up their entire life and neither of them could.

He would always love Jane, she had changed him for the better. And Thor would carry this change with him forever, treasuring the things she had taught him.

It was though, time to move on with each of their lives. Valuing the lessons they had taught each other and use those to shape a better future for themselves.

At least…. Thor had to fight for a world where he could and he looked up at Sif's brown eyes as she looked down at him. And there was a warm softness in them, a genuine concern and…

Thor blinked as he tried to place what her eyes were showing and couldn't help but ask himself. Had she always been looking at him like that? How come Thor felt like he was seeing Sif for the very first time.

It was a weird thing to think about, but suddenly Thor realized…. Sif was a woman.

He honestly had never thought about that or what that meant. Sif was just… one of his friends! Someone to go hunt with and drink with. Tell tall tales to and boast about their adventures. One of the guys…. Except, well.. Thor tore his eyes away before he got to finish that thought.

Finally after he had eaten Thor was allowed to get up for bed. He was thankful that Sif had the deceny to leave the room while the other two helped Thor get dressed.

A little embarrassing, but moving to much hurt so much and actually had to ask for help to pull his own pants up as he couldn't bow down to grab them.

Finally after having been dressed in comfortable big jeans and a soft hoodie Sif returned and didn't hesitate to place Thors arm around her own shoulders so he could lean upon her as they walked down the hallway to the elevator.

Purposely Steve pressed the button, seemed like he knew where they were going. A few floors down it seemed and then they continued working, Thor heavily relying on Sif's support to his own embarrassment.

Finally they met Stephen Strange in the hallway who looked up at them. "Thor and one other to help support Thor. No one else." he demanded.

"I got it!" Sif injected before anyone else even got the chance to offer it, and somehow neither dared objecting against the warrior maiden.

Strange nodded. "Very well. Please be quiet, keep at a distance. I know you most likely will want to talk to him or hug him. But I must ask you to not disturb him, don't call for him, let him stay in his trance and do not touch him."

Thor sucked in a breath then nodded and finally Strange opened the door for Thor.

Thor took a deep breath and then allowed Sif to guide him inside.

The first thing Thor heart was that beeping sound. In a steady rhythm, high pinched and went right to his hurting skull. It was a painful sound to him.

Beep… beep… beep….

Then Thor heard the rattling deep breaths, some sort of machine. He heard the crackling of something else, a humming sound and then more and more sounds on too of each other and Thor realized it was an entire orchestra of sounds from different machines.

And then Thor saw it, all of it placed around a figure laying in bed.

By the sight of it Thor couldn't help himself as his eyes watered. He understood now what Strange had tried to do the other night.

He had tried to prepaire Thor for this to the best of his abilities… But there was no preparing for this. The sight hurt Thors to his soul and made him sick.

This helpless figure laying in bed, machines all around him hooked to his entire body.

There was a plastic mask covering noise and mouth, attached to a large machine and tank through a thick tube. On his chest electrical wires were attached.

Bags with liquid hung on poles and were attached to his arms with smaller tubes. A medium seize tube came from Lokis abdomen and a constant flow of blood came through it, through a little machine and back again through a second tube.

Any exposed skin was bright red and covered in a thick strong smelling salve that burned in Thors nose. The only thing looking normal, ironically. Was the black hair fanned down the pillow, the only thing giving away that this pity full creature was in fact Loki.

Thors eyes were filled with water as he was unable to keep back a sob.

"Thor I…" Sif gasped. "I'm so sorry." she said as Stephen Strange walked up to Loki.

"As you can see." Strange began in a professional voice. "This is an oxygen mask, this helps Loki breath." he began then gestured at the wires to Lokis chest. "This is what we call a pacemaker, it is temporary so the battery is outside of the body. What it does is that it constantly measure Lokis heart rhythm and if the hearts becomes irregular the pacemaker will sort of massage it with small electrical pulses until it is stabilized again. The reason Lokis blood is running through here is because his liver is at a low function. Normally the liver removes toxins, we are doing it for it for now. These are called IV's." Strange gestured at some bags. "They are constantly giving him nutrition. As well do they contain some vitamins, electrolytes. All to help his body to heal."

As Strange spoke Thor relaxed a little bit, he couldn't deny that Strange explaining all these weird machines made it sound less scary… But not that much.

"If you have any questions." Strange said. "Feel free to ask."

"Will he recover fully?" Sif asked.

Strange halted then sighed. "I don't know." he admitted. "If he had been human and didn't have magic. None of his organs would be able to just recover…. How-ever he is not human and he is using magic to heal himself. You may not be able to see it yourself… But I sense it. Small pieces of magic within him, stitching up cells one by one."

"So he'll recover then." Sif stated.

"I don't know Ms." Strange repeated himself. "I don't know how successful he will be in his endeavour and it is clearly a long process."

"You don't know Loki like I do. He is the worlds most stubborn bastard, he will recover just to spite me." Sif stated firmly. "He'll recover Thor. He's to big of a bastard to go out like this." she said in a sure voice.

And that more than anything, that actually felt right and Thor sniffed as he broke. Then he nodded. "Aye… He has to." he said.

"There you go Loki, you have to. Simple as that." Sif stated and Thor couldn't help but laugh even though it hurt his ribs so bad.

Strange shook his head, but even he seemed amused.

"Do you want to get closer Thor?" Sif asked.

Thor nodded. "Aye, please."

And Sif took a few steps bringing Thor closer so Thor could see. The face, bright red and half covered in a mask. Yet the shape of the face, the sharp cheekbones. Thor recognised it and a breath caught in his throat.

"It would be just like you wouldn't it Prince Loki?" Sif asked. "Go out like a martyr just to spite us all… We wont let you." she said. "Do you hear me? We wont let you."

Thor smiled as he held unto Sif's shoulder and he swallowed. "You saved Asgard yet again Loki." he whispered. "I am afraid though, I can't allow you to keep resting forever. Asgard still needs you… I need you." he said. "We all do. Please… My brother." he said. "Get better." he asked. He had to stop himself from bowing and kissing Lokis forehead, instead he took a steep back and Sif caught the signal as she turned and took Thor with him as they slowly moved to the door. Opened politely by Stephen Strange and the two stepped out.

Thor was a mess of tears, but no one faulted him for it as they took him outside the building and to the car where Natasha Romanof was waiting in the drivers seat.

Soon Thor found himself placed on the back-seat, leaning up against Sif and he sighed deeply as ones again she was gently stroking his hair.

"I'm sorry for all of this." Thor whispered to Sif. "You shouldn't have to do this."

"I want to." Sif said. "What-ever you need… I wish to help. I am here to serve my king. What ever he needs. Whether it is small or big. I will be happy to give it."

Thor swallowed. "Just because I am king, you don't have to…"

"I told you. I want to." Sif said. "You owe me nothing, this is my desire. I will always be there to serve you Thor and be faithful. In what-ever capacity you so desire. As a warrior or a friend. And if that is all you desire, then so be it." she closed her eyes. "I will no longer ask any more of you. I will just be happy to be of service."

Thor swallowed trying to find the deeper meaning with her words but he was already so tired, and leaning up against her while the car was driving. Ones again Thor drifted off to sleep.