Nancy's breath caught in the back of her throat. "You're... alive." she breathed.

"Of course. I said I would return." Loki shrugged noncommittally. Had she not expected him? Her wall of Loki spoke otherwise.

"But, Thor said you'd died. You died in battle. He held you in his arms. How are you still alive?" Nancy remained absolutely still in her kitchen, half-frozen somewhere between fear and bewilderment.

Something clicked in Loki's head. Of course Thor had come back to tell her his brother had died. Thor was the only one who had seen their interactions. So of course she had assumed Loki would never return. It all made sense, but she should have known better. All the same, he would teach her better. He smirked and offered only a vague explanation. "Magic, pet."

His words snapped her out of her stupor and she timidly took a few steps forward. "Is that what happened to Brutus? Magic?" She sighed heavily and stooped down by her dog. "I really liked him. Can you fix it?"

Loki shrugged at her again. She thought he would give things just because she asked? Obviously she had learned nothing from her research. "I am unsure how long it will last."

Nancy's eyes widened. "So you mean he'll be like this indefinitely?"

"Theoretically..." Loki looked up at her, dead serious. How much did she really care for this creature? "Yes."

Nancy growled and stood up to her full height. "Now, you listen here, buddy." She stepped forward, quickly closing the distance between them. "You have some nerve! First you barge into my home, take over like you own the place, and then you knock the creature most dear to me unconscious indefinitely! Ha! Fix him!"

"I said 'theoretically'. I am sure he will recover." Loki allowed the smirk to return, if only to egg her on. She had no idea what he had done to the creature, she just assumed he would leave him like that indefinitely. That said much about her opinion of him. "Just not while I am here."

Nancy huffed and tuned back to the sofa, flopping down on it and letting her dog remain where he lay. She'd had the longest day ever and she absolutely refused to let this maniac ruin her relaxation. She quickly took down the bun she'd had her hair in – it was giving her a headache – and tussled the stands to let them fall back into place.

"So..." she began, finally looking up at Loki again, "What're you planning to do with me?"

Loki shook his head. So many questions. She always had so many questions. Could she not sit still and quietly and let the matter reveal itself in due time? He studied her with new interest. "You always wish to know more than I am willing to tell."

"And you have a nasty knack for being vague and cryptic." Still trying to get comfortable in Loki's looming, uncomfortable presence, Nancy unbuttoned her suit-coat and shrugged it off, revealing her white dress shirt. "Are you going to harm me?"

"So many questions." Loki raised an eyebrow, once again surprised that she would think such a thing of him. And, really, how could she be so comfortable in his presence that she would take down her hair and draw attention to it? "And posed to a ghost, no less."

Nancy leaned back and grinned at the thought. Maybe he was a ghost. Maybe she was just hallucinating. Strange visions and dreams could be symptoms of a lack of sleep and over-caffination. "Are you a ghost, Loki?"

Loki stood and leaned over her, pinning her with one arm on either side of her shoulders. "Am I? Perhaps just wrought from your imagination." He leaned closer, until he hovered a mere inch from her face. "I heard your begging from the Bifrost site."

Nancy grinned back at him. "Oh, did you? Is that why you've finally decided to make good on your promise to return? You simply heard me and... remembered?"

Typical of her naivete. To think that he had come simply because she had asked it. She really knew nothing of how he worked, did she? Loki chuckled softly. "You speak too often and do not think through your actions or words." He straightened then, tired of playing a scare tactic she wouldn't respond to. He moved past her. He hadn't seen her kitchen yet, and surely there was something worthwhile in there.

Nancy watched him saunter toward her kitchen, still in amazement that he was even alive. And now, just when she was getting her life back in order, now he chose to show up. She looked him over as she watched him, noting every detail. His shining armor seemed out of place in her small apartment. He seemed to be a figure lost in time. And yet, somehow he seemed to control the whole room, without even trying.

Loki found the stone countertops to be intriguing. And cold. The sensation felt good against his skin as he ran a finger along it. "Why, Nancy McAllister, do you think a villain returns for his prey? Or, if you prefer, nemesis?"

Nancy leaned forward, tilting her head so she could see him better. "Is that what I am to you?" she asked, genuinely wanting to know, "A nemesis?"

"Do you not remember the battle? One agent alone with her enemy?" Loki clucked his tongue. She was so interesting. To think that she had forgotten those exchanged words... "Do my words fall on deaf ears?"

"No." she immediately replied, standing, "I remember."

Nancy joined him at the counter and leaned against it, still studying him. How could he think of her as an enemy? If anything, she was the closest thing to a friend he could probably ever have. He was S.H.I.E.L.D's enemy, not hers.

"I just... I don't think of myself as your enemy is all." she paused, frowning, as she thought about the answer to his question. "To kill it." she finally stated, "In reply to your question, the only logical reason for a creature to return to its 'prey'... is to kill it." Sad realization fell upon her as she stood there beside him. "I thought you better than that."

"Shall we test that theory?"

Nancy gave a sad, bitter laugh. "Aren't we already?" She motioned around, showing him how utterly trapped she was, like a mouse trapped in a cage with a snake, waiting for the snake to strike. "I bet you could kill me right here if you wanted and no one would hear a sound."

"Oh, but what fun would that be?" Loki smirked. Let her think he would kill her. Right here, right now. It would do her some good to worry for once, instead of assessing how he would react. "No. I've always been one to toy with my prey."

So, he was planning on killing her. Like the snake he was, he'd mesmerize her first, then he would strike when he got bored. Just when all hope seemed to vanish, she remembered something. One word that had plagued her for months.

"But... what about...?" she sighed and trailed off, knowing it was a futile effort. Perhaps she'd simply read too much into that word. It never meant what she thought it had. Nancy shook her head and looked at him again. "Could I show you something before you kill me?" Her voice sounded weak and timid, even to her own ears.

A shrug sufficed to portray the emotion he wanted her to believe of him. "And, what about what?"

Tears began to gather in her eyes and she looked away, not wanting him to see. "That... that term you used to use. 'Pet'. You used to call me 'pet'. It's a term of endearment... usually."

She shook her head again and led him over to her office. She hardly cared what he thought of her investigation into his person. It's not like it mattered anymore anyway. What she wanted him to see was far more important.

Nancy quickly unlocked the door and flipped on the light, illuminating the small room. Along the far wall and the wall closest to her desk, various pictures of him, maps, stories, and other miscellaneous information were plastered into a systematic collage. Across from her desk, along the empty wall, shelves upon shelves of books and papers stood in even rows.

"I promised you that I'd wait for you." she explained, motioning to the far wall, "And I did. I searched everywhere for you." She slowly stepped in and leaned back against her desk, staring at something posted to the wall by the door.

Loki raised an eyebrow and stared around the room. The room of him. Yes, this shrine to his imposing presence. He did wonder how it all got there and why. But he would never allow her the satisfaction of asking."I have seen this. Is there something specific you wish to address?"

"This." Nancy pointed to three framed degrees on her wall. Her pride and joy, hanging proudly where she could always look up and see them. They hung as a symbol of her success. Of her passion. "A Doctorate of Linguistics from S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, a Masters in Psychology, and a Bachelors in criminal justice." Tears began to stream from her eyes as she stared at them. Everything she'd worked so hard for... meant nothing now.

"Yes. Impressive, I suppose. A learner." He tore his eyes from the wall to look at her. A sudden thought crossed his mind. A new intrigue to his plan. "Are you a quick learner?"

Nancy shrugged and crossed her arms, still staring at the degrees. "When I need to be." She sniffed and brought one hand up to wipe at her tears. "If all we are is an accumulation of our past achievements and failures," her voice broke, "then what am I? At thirty-five years old, who am I?But a... a bunch of... books! Books crammed into one person! Knowledge. Knowledge that I'd only begun to pass on. Nothing more." A stifled sob escaped her throat.

Loki bobbled his head, pondering her disturbing outlook on life. He sighed. "Is there a point to your theory?"

With a shuddering breath to regain some sort of composure, Nancy looked up at him again. "Were you afraid when you nearly died? Did you fear death?"

"It is a subconscious instinct to fear death, no matter what race you are." Loki furrowed his brow, thinking. He had feared death. When he fell from the Rainbow Bridge. When the monster beat him. When that monster ran him through. He shook his head to clear the disturbing thoughts. No matter.

Nancy gave a small smile at his scientific response. It was a comforting thought, despite its coolness. In a way, she knew it was a round-about way of saying he had.

"Will you have a drink with me?" She wiped at her tears and took another breath to calm herself, "A glass of wine to take the edge off. I should be allowed one last drink before my demise."

Yes, alcohol to calm herself, and a lengthy drink to stall. It was a wonderful idea.