Fury's lone eye looked around the room in its perpetual scowl as he decided how he should talk his way through the minefield that is Thor. Thor, himself, was sitting at one end of the table with his head bowed and elbows propped up on the table with his hands folded as if he were deep in prayer. Fury knew Thor was in strong disagreement with SHIELD and their decision to keep Loki and Thor here for the time being, so, the trick would be to get to the part of how they're sending them home before Thor exploded.

Maybe I could get some support from the others, Fury thought half hopefully, half sarcastically. Nevertheless he looked towards Bruce Banner whose eyes where wandering the room as if he were waiting for something to happen at any moment. If anyone, he would be the one to support Fury. He had the most analytical and logical mind among the Avengers and would most definitely see the benefit of keeping Loki around for the past 24 hours. But he would also realize the risk of Loki's health here, where they could offer no help to Loki's psychological state. After all, Loki hadn't even awoken from his comatose state yet.

He glanced towards Agent Romanoff who was looking around expectantly and unemotional as ever. She was a good Agent and would help him with Thor if he ordered her to – but he really didn't want to order support. Despite her tough exterior she did have her weaknesses and compassions. Deep inside – deep, deep down – she was probably feeling for Loki and Thor.

So those two options were out, but he really, really, really didn't want to do this without any support. Luckily there was still… Hawkeye… He disregarded that thought immediately. Hawkeye probably hated Loki's guts after what he had done to him. But who was he to say? It's not like Fury and Hawkeye were good friends.

After Fury thought that he knew he was grasping at straws.

Well, maybe – just maybe – Steve Rogers would understand. Steve was exceedingly compassionate and understanding about things – if a little naïve. But he did have a strong sense of justice…which would be exactly why he wouldn't defend Fury for keeping Loki here. It appeared as if Loki really had no recollection of his past deeds on earth whatsoever which made him…innocent. But there were real reasons he was being kept here they...they were just hard for him and the rest of the Avengers to accept.

Well, it looked as if Fury would be doing this alone after all. "Loki is slowly improving," Fury started cautiously as he kept his eye on Thor. "And we have controlled the Tesseract well enough to send Thor and Loki back to Asgard." He watched Thor but he didn't respond in any way. "Thor, you and Loki could go back within three days."

That was it. Thor exploded, "Three days? My brother needed to be in Asgard yesterday." He shook his shaggy blond hair angrily, "Your earthly doctors are doing nothing for him here! He needs a healer from Asgard and instead he is left in a – in a cage! He is being watched day and night in case he attacks you even though he is clearly unwell! He. Was. Possessed! Can you not understand that?"

"Do not forget that Loki is still a threa–" Fury said as he received the expected onslaught.

"Oh, give the guy a break, Fury. He almost killed his thought-to-be evil brother two days ago before finding out that he was being possessed by creepy, evil aliens," Hawkeye said with a glare.

Well now I know he's not going to support me. Fury thought. It really had seemed as if Hawkeye had truly forgiven Loki for his own possession. "I understand that, but that does not mean that they won't possess him again and turn him into their own personal flying monkey."

"I don't understa–" Thor started.

"I understood!" Steve said putting his hand up like a school kid. He looked around: Hawkeye was giving Fury a confused look. Romanoff didn't look any more knowledgeable about the reference either. "I understood that reference."

X+X+X+X+X+X

After Rogers proudly made it clear that he finally understood a reference Fury concluded the meeting and left the room with an irate Thor right on his heels. The rest of the team stayed in the room each stuck in their own contemplative world. What should they do about Loki? It was clear what Thor thought was necessary… And even though the whole team agreed with Thor they also knew that they couldn't very well disobey Fury outright. They would have to somehow appease Fury and Thor and do what was still best for Loki's health. Out of the silence Bruce spoke up, "It would seem that we are stuck."

"You think?" Clint said, frustrated. "I don't know about you guys but I really would rather have both Fury and Thor on my side at all times."

"We need to find a common ground for them to agree upon," Bruce said as he turned his contemplative gaze toward the window. The sun was setting and it cast the whole city into flame. It looked magnificent. And broken. "We could move Loki to a more accommodating location," He mused.

Romanoff nodded but also saw the flaws, "Where would that be?"

Just then, like a sign from heaven, Tony walked in the room. He glanced around the room – even though he was wearing sunglasses everyone knew he was wearing his signature "Snark Stark Smirk". He walked towards the table and, very unceremoniously, flopped into a seat. He smiled playfully and looked around the table, "Are you guys…having a meeting…without me?" He asked as he put his hand to his heart in mock hurt and exasperation. Steve, who had not said anything since the monkeys dropped his head into his hands. Steve had had respect for Tony's father but how had Tony come about being…Tony?

Bruce explained to Tony how Thor just went on a rant about his brother and how it would be a good idea to move him to a place more comfortable then HQ. Then, without hesitation, Tony suggested, "He could come to Stark Towers."

Romanoff replied "Are you sure you want a delicate god," she looked around to make sure Thor was nowhere near, "and possibly a threat in your house? And his brother probably breathing down your neck?"

Tony smirked "Of course, I need something to keep me on my toes. Plus, I get to brag I took care of a Norse god who tried to take over the world. Who wouldn't want that?" He pulled up a chair and relined in it with his feet on the table.

Romanoff was getting slightly irritated at this, "Stark, you know this is big deal, you cannot mess up, and if you do, Thor will have your head"

Tony just replied "Wonderful! So," he rose from his chair "I'll just take him, any objections?" and started to leave, but before he reached the door

Romanoff said, with a stern tone even though you could hear the anger build up "You can't just take him and walk out, he is still in critical condition."

"Why can't I? I'm Tony Stark"

"Because you can kill him!"

"Really? Me, killing an immortal god by taking him away from this prison? Yes, because I'm sure that he is going to resist and fight back" he paused "Where's Thor, he will be on my side"

Clint piped up "He got angered and left, we don't know where he went, but I'm sure he didn't go far"

Tony glared at Romanoff "Oh look! Barton is on my side too! What about you Cap?"

Steve pulled his head out of his hands and replied "You can't just pick him up and go, he can barely walk... but I agree with the idea of him recovering at Stark tower"

"4 against 1, I win." With that he left the room and walked down the hallway to where Loki was being held.