As he shadowed Thor and Loki through the palace Tom took a detour to Loki's room. When he had come here in the past, no future, there had been a square of cleaner space in the dust on the cabinet. Tom only hoped that it was the book that held the healing spell. He hurried into the room and found a book where the space should have been. He grabbed it and rushed from the room, turning his skin and clothes chameleon like to blend in. It was a useful spell he had discovered a while back but drained his energy a lot. But desperate times called for desperate measures. As he dashed round a corner the hourglass fell from his pocket and landed quietly onto the floor. Tom was in such a hurry he didn't notice, he also didn't notice that only a quarter of sand was left.

Loki was contemplating the meaning of life. 42. Stupid midguardian answer he thought. He had just entered the ship with Thor and was amused by his incapability to control the ship. Just as he was about to press the start button himself Thor appeared too have activated the ship. Except the button had moved of its owns accord. Loki then saw a shimmer just to his right. A chameleon spell, well Tom would have that one...

He stepped back adding comments like, "There firing at us" every now and again to keep Thor occupied, what he was really doing was trying to locate Tom. He heard a rustle like the turning of a page to his left. Swinging his hand out he hit something solid and heard Tom hiss. "That was unnecessary" he whispered

"Why are you here mortal. I told you there is nothing to be done"

"I wont accept that" Loki heard the turn of another page.

"Are you trying to learn the spell by reading about it"

"Books are the most powerful weapons in the world."

"A foolish statement as foolish as the man who made it"

"You know about doctor who?" said Tom puzzled

"I've met him. And for your information his name is.."

"Now that is something I do not need to know." Tom cut him off, of course doctor who was real here. he was running out of things that surprised him. He glanced out the 'window' and noticed it was about time for him to jump off.

"I will rejoin you in a minute" he said as the back of the ship opened.

Loki felt Tom's presence disappear from beside him. Annoyed he started to tease Thor only to be shoved out he back of the ship. With a loud thud he landed in the boat and heard a chuckling from just beside him. "Idiot" he hissed as Thor and Jane joined them.

The rest of the journey was uneventful for Tom and Loki. Loki was refusing to talk to Tom, which suited him just fine as he was still trying to learn the healing spell. He had had to re open the wound on his hand to continue practising but he was sure all he was doing was causing more blood to pour out of the cut. As he hissed in annoyance he saw the wound heal, had he done that? He saw Loki glancing in his general direction, apparently not.

"It is pointless" Loki said as Tom moved beside him.

"I can't just let you die"

"Many wish me dead, think of all the people that will be happier"

"A stupid statement as stupid as the man who made it" retorted Tom, drawing a chuckle from Loki.

"Touche my friend"

The use of the word so lightly made Tom look round startled. Loki of course could not see him and continued to steer the ship. He really had changed. He returned to practising the spell with extra effort, still heeding no result. He noticed they were nearing the passage and settled down more firmly inside the boat closing the book.

As they made it to the other side and Thor and Loki fought, becoming even closer in the process Tom despaired. There was no way he could learn the spell in time. As the boat jerked to a stop the book flew from his hands still cloaked. He scrambled around for it but could not find it and as Loki left the boat he heard him murmur, "I do not wish you to see what happens next my friend. Do justice for me in that film and return home"

Tom felt in his pocket for the hourglass to see how much time he had left. He found it empty. Panicking he checked all the other pockets. It was gone. In the distance he saw Thor roll down the hill. Stabbed by Loki to all appearances. Time was up in more way than one. Tom felt a curious sensation run through him and opened his hand to see a grain of sand sitting on his palm. He was trapped for he next five months. Or perhaps he didn't return at all. As this thought crossed his mind he saw the ether spread from Jane.

He rose from the boat and started to walk towards the scene. He ran through a list of spells in his head and found an appropriate one. If the hourglass had returned without him then it was possible he was not expected back. But maybe Loki could be. A change of place as it were. Or a change of fate.