The Darcy Lewis Story

Author: daxcat79

Rating: R

Pairing: Loki/Darcy, Tony/Pepper, Thor/Jane

Genre: Drama, Humor, Romance

Warnings: Non-Explicit Sexual Content

Summary: We've heard the stories of superheroes and assassins, but no one really knows Darcy's story… until now.

A/N: I won't be posting tomorrow, so this is all you get for this weekend, but you should be warned... from this point on... EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I enjoy borrowing them.

Part Seven "If Fate Calls Take A Message"

I always loved to hear the story about the day I was adopted. My mom would tell it best. I was adopted on a Friday on one of the hottest days of the year. John and Helen Lewis walked in looking to adopt a little boy, but they found me instead. My mom liked to say she knew right away I was going to be special. She said it was like magic. She looked into my eyes and fell in love. She said it was like it was meant to be. My mom can be a little dramatic, but the story always made me smile. The way she would tell it… it was as if we'd been destined for each other. Darcy Lewis was always meant to be raised by John and Helen. My mom saw me and knew I was her daughter. My dad saw me and fell madly in love. Mom has always believed in destiny. Dad usually just goes with the flow like me. We'd nod and smile, amused by her antics and wild theories. It isn't until later that I realize she was right about that too.

I'm not usually the kind of person to put much thought in strange dreams, but this one put me on edge a little more than usual. Most of it is a fog no matter how hard I try to remember, but I was standing on an enormous bridge, cut off at its edge. Light and color glowed underneath me, and I wore a flowing green and black dress that accentuated my curves and revealed just enough cleavage to make me look especially alluring. It was nothing I'd ever be caught dead in, but I looked perfectly comfortable with my attire in the dream. I was waiting for something, but I can't be sure what. I just remember looking past the bridge at the billions of stars beyond, and my hair was blowing in the wind, curled perfectly behind my ears and down my neck.

A voice whispered to me, but it wasn't Darcy he called for. "Sigyn…" he said and my lips curled as I turned back to see Loki standing behind me. He offered me his hand and I took it.

My smile grew as our eyes locked and he led me down the bridge and away from the edge. "I'm here."

I awoke with a start, eyes wide, and a shiver ran down my back. Dream interpretations were more my mother's cup of tea. She was the person who still believed in miracles and magic… okay, I was kinda forced to believe in magic considering I'm friends with gods of mischief and thunder. My phone is ringing beside my bed and I immediately answer, trying to shake off the dream that had unsettled me so. "Darcy?"

I didn't know just how much I needed to hear my father's voice until now. "Dad!"

"Hey kiddo, how's it going?"

I'm not sure why he's calling me first thing in the morning, but I refuse to complain when I can already feel tense muscles relax. The only thing better than hearing him would be feeling his arms wrap around me in one of his bear hugs. I always loved one of John Lewis' famous bear hugs! "Ummm… I guess things are going okay. Work has just been a bit stressful lately."

"They aren't working you too hard, are they?"

I roll my eyes and run a hand through my tangled hair. "No dad… it's fine… just busy."

"Cause if you ever need me… you know I'd buy a plane ticket this very second and fly down there. You're all I've got left in this world."

I realize then, that he probably misses me just as much as I miss him. Mom is gone and he's all alone. Part of me wishes he would fly down here and never leave, but I can't imagine John Lewis living in the city. He wouldn't know what to do with himself here. "I know, dad." I think about Loki, and I tuck my legs under my chin and wonder what my dad would think of him. I wonder what he would think of all of this insanity. "Dad?"

"What's up, kid?"

I lick my lips, searching for a way to ask the question no one else seems willing or able to answer. "If you had a friend counting on you… but it meant giving up something big… making this huge sacrifice just for them… would you do it?"

I can hear my father sigh into the phone, and I know he's wondering what I could possibly be talking about, but he won't ask. He's kind of awesome that way. "Would I do it? I guess that depends."

"Depends on what?"

"On what kind of person I am."

My brows knit in confusion, and I wish I could see his face. "I don't understand."

"This friend… are they important to you?"

"Yeah, of course!"

"How important?"

I hate it when he does that, because I know exactly what he's asking and it's the question I've avoided asking myself. I guess when it comes right down to it, I'm really afraid of how I'll answer. Now my father is asking me the question I was too afraid to ask myself, and I'm not sure how to answer. I don't want to answer. "I don't know."

"Find out." That's John Lewis for you. When no one else knows what to say he can sum it up in two words. Find out. If I'm not sure what to do… and if I just don't know what I should do… then I need to find out, but that won't happen if I'm looking at everyone else. It's Loki I need to talk to. I need to figure out if he's worth it… worth the sacrifice I'd be making. My life for his… cause that's what it really feels like. My smile is faint, and a tear rolls down my cheek, but I'm not sad. I'm grateful. "You are the most loyal and compassionate person I have ever known, Darcy. I know you'll figure whatever this is out. Don't worry, kiddo… it'll be okay."

Again I believe him, and I nod even though he can't see me. "Thanks, dad."

"Anytime."

I'm staring at an empty bed trying to comprehend what the people around me are telling me. I'm scared. I only came to talk to Loki, and instead I'm greeted to an empty bed and Thor looks like he hasn't slept at all. I suppose I don't look any better. Jane stands beside Thor doing her best to be supportive, but I can tell she has no idea what to say or do. I doubt anyone would. My eyes meet the nurse, Alice… who was giving me my training to take care of Loki while he recovered from his injuries. "I don't understand how this could happen," I whisper, and there's an anxiety coming over me that I can't quite get a hold of. "Why wasn't this caught earlier?"

Alice lets out a sigh and shakes her head. "Unfortunately, we had no idea whether he was even capable of getting such a serious infection. We call it Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. The chemicals in his body are responding to whatever germs entered his bloodstream. It's quite possible he was exposed to something after his surgery, but we can't be sure. His blood pressure took a major drop last night and he went into shock."

"He had a fever… last I saw him… they suspected infection."

Alice nodded. "It looks like he was rushed to the hospital in time. They have him in the ICU and he's being given antibiotics intravenously. We can only hope he recovers. Darcy… you should know it's possible vital organs were affected. He's relatively healthy, so he's got a good chance of survival… but at this point we just don't know enough about him or his physiology to be certain whether we're helping or hurting. I'm sorry."

Thor's head drops into his hands and my heart sinks into my stomach. I promised him I would figure everything out. I'm angry… no… I am fucking pissed. I want to throw something. I want to scream. I want to look Odin in the eye and tell him his son is dying… and then I want to point out who the ireal/i monster is… because it isn't Loki. I shake my head and I turn to Thor. "Are you still going to Asgard?"

Thor looks up at me, and there are tears in his eyes. All the worry I'm feeling are mirrored on the god of thunder's face. "Loki is very ill… I should not leave him."

"No… that's exactly what we need to do. We need to go. Odin should know exactly what he's doing to his son!"

"Are you insane? You'd be putting yourself in danger, Darcy," argues Jane immediately, and I see the worry in her eyes… worry and fear for me.

Thor shakes his head at me, looking alarmed. "Darcy no… please understand! This is not his doing!" I don't understand Thor's loyalty to his father. I can't even comprehend it!

"Not his doing?! No, of course not! He just throws a rock out of the sky and expects me to fix this! Loki knew this would happen, Thor! He knew! I told Loki I would figure something out! I refuse to let him die!"

Thor stood, towering over me, looking more imposing than I'd ever seen him. Jane takes a step back, eyes wide, and even she's a little nervous. "And you believe I care any less?! He is my brother!"

"And he's my friend!" I shout back, but it's so much more than that. Loki isn't just my friend. I don't know what he is. I've been taking care of him. He was my responsibility. I would do just about anything for my friends… but I waited too long. I hesitated to help Loki, and now he's in a hospital dying because I wanted to be selfish! I am Darcy Lewis. I'm a supportive friend to anyone that matters to me. I'm smart and fierce. I love sarcasm, and I will use my taser when freaked out. It doesn't matter where I came from, what my original name was, or who I'm related to… because these facts should never have changed. I was afraid to bond myself to Loki. All I was thinking about was how it would affect me, and Loki was busy fighting for his life with no hope of ever being the powerful god he'd once been. "You're taking me to see Odin… Thor… or I swear to GOD I will tase you!"

Thor is staring at me, half shocked by my words and the empty promise. It may have hurt him before when he was without his powers then. Now it probably wouldn't even affect him at all if I were to attack him with a taser. I don't care. He needs to know I'm serious. He licks his lips and nods. "We shall leave tonight. Return home and wait for me there. We will be using something similar to the tesseract to return to my home. I must see to Loki and inform the others of our plans." I nod, turning towards the door. "And Darcy?"

I look back at him. His eyes shine with newfound respect, and I'm not really sure I deserve it just yet. "Loki is blessed to have a woman so loyal and courageous."

I just smile back, but it's a watery smile. "Thanks Thor."

It glows blue like the jewel Odin sent me, and I can feel it's power. I don't reach out to touch this time. The last time I touched something that glowed it didn't work out to well for me. Instead I just watch as Thor carefully places it in a glass cylinder with handles on each side. I take one side and he takes the other. Our eyes lock and I'm terrified, but there's no turning back now.

"Wait! Don't go yet! Just wait please! Holy shit!"

We're in Jane's office and it's only Fury and Jane in the room, but Tony Stark is standing at the door out of breath. He's sweating like he's been running for quite some time. "Stark?" I'm not sure what he's doing here. He had a plane to catch… Fury said something about a business meeting with a base outside of D.C. and yet… here he is instead.

"Rogers just told me Thor is taking you to Asgard… are you fucking insane?"

My eyes narrow at him. "Loki is dying! What do you expect me to do?!" I don't feel like having another argument with him right now.

His eyes widen, and his hand idly taps on the reactor buried in his chest. "You really are insane… Jesus…" he whispers and walks over to me.

"Shouldn't you be gone? You had a plane to catch yesterday," I point out to him.

Stark shrugged. "I cancelled the meeting." He can see the disbelief in my eyes and smiled. "I'm Tony Stark, Darcy… I do what I want."

One glance at Thor and he gives me a slight smile. Yeah… now that I think about it… he really does. "And you decide to come here to stop me from saving Loki?"

Stark frowns. "I get it… you want to save him. I was an idiot… but I did warn you that happens sometimes. I can't help myself. I just… be careful, okay? I kind of… like you… or something."

I can't help smiling, because it's the worst apology ever, but I still let go of my side of the device to pull him in for a hug. "You really suck… like you may just be the worst person I've ever met," I tell him.

He laughs and gives me a hug, but it feels all awkward and wrong. Then again, nothing about us will ever really be right, will it? I'm okay with that. I wouldn't want it any other way. "I know… sorry."

"You're forgiven… mostly," I assure him and grab Thor's device once more, taking a deep breath. "You should probably take a step back."

He looks around a bit, suddenly realizing there are other people in the room and backs away next to Fury who is giving us both a knowing stare… not a smile… just a stare. "Uh right… try not to piss off Odin too much. I'd hate for Thor to bring you back in pieces." I really hope he's joking. Odin wouldn't really do that, would he? Shit. I glance over at Thor and he seems just as scared as I am. Oh god… I am so fucked!

Thor glances at Jane, and they share one of those looks like something from a romance novel. "We will return shortly… I promise."

Jane doesn't answer. She just nods.

I decide I can't take any of this anymore, and I realize Thor's seconds from activating this device and who knows what will happen next. "Hey Stark!"

He looks at me, shoving his hands in his pockets, curious. "What's up?" He has no idea….

I nod to Thor and the blue cube glows even brighter. I can feel it's energy flow through me. It's now or never. "Guess what… you're my father. Just thought you should know in case I die or something."

His jaw drops, and it feels kind of good to mess him up like this. I consider it payback for what a jackass he was to me yesterday. I'm sure Fury can explain the whole story for him after I'm gone. I'm so glad I won't be here for that conversation. "Uh… wait… what?!"

I smile awkwardly. "Don't forget to tell Pepper." And just like that the world fades away, surrounded by light. My eyes close, blinded, and they only open when the light fades and I'm standing on a bridge just like the one in my dream. "Holy shit!"

To Be Continued