Chapter Five
The doctors and nurses came in and out of Ellie's hospital room. She was in a medically induced coma due to all the injuries she sustained when the side of the building fell down on top of her. Jane, who was Ellie's emergency contact, had flown in to be with her. The doctors did not think she would live. Time was quickly running out for her.
The doctors told Jane that she needed to start making decisions on whether or not they would take Ellie off of life support when the time came. The swelling on her brain would eventually lead to brain death. Even though Jane did not want to call Ellie's father, she tried to contact him. The phone line was disconnected. She called the diner back in New Mexico to see if she could get into contact with Bill but found out that he was found dead in his home. Jane thought the alcohol finally took its toll on Bill's body. So this meant that Jane was the only person Ellie had left.
Jane sat down in the chair in the corner and cried. She didn't know what to do. Never before had she ever held someone else's life in her hands. In a way she hoped that Ellie's body would give out before she had to make that decision.
In the middle of the night Jane awoke in the chair, the room was dark and she sensed she wasn't alone. Other than the beeps from Ellie's monitors there was no sound but something had awoken her.
"You have no idea how happy I am to see you again Jane."
She knew that voice. "Thor?"
"Yes Jane. It is me."
Jane flung herself out of the chair and into Thor's awaiting arms.
"I thought I would never see you again!" she cried into his massive chest.
"So did I. But I am here now."
They stood there in each other's arms and just felt content.
Jane finally broke the spell. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to bring Ellie back to Asgard. But I am so happy to see you. Why are you here?"
"I am Ellie's emergency contact. When she was hurt they called me." She pulled back to look up into Thor's face. "Why are you taking her back with you?" Jane asked confused.
"By my father's orders. It seems that Loki has feelings for Ellie."
"What! How could that be? They have never even met."
"Loki would come to keep an eye on me when I was banished on earth. While he was here he met this young woman and came to her aid. It also seems that when Loki returned to earth he sought her out first. When he could not find her, he continued with his plan to overtake the earth. Ellie seems to have power over Loki."
"How do you know all this?" Jane asked.
"Heimdall has seen it." Thor said plainly.
"Who's Heimdall?"
"He is our protector. Heimdall sees all that goes on in the realms when he is looking. While I was banished here with you, Loki sat on the throne of Asgard while my father slept. Heimdall kept watch on Loki and he saw the connection between Loki and Ellie. So my father thinks that she may be the key to Loki coming back to us."
"Where is Loki now?"
"We locked him in his chambers. He is guarded at all times but he has not even tried to escape. It's almost as if he has given up and become complaisant with the situation he is now in. Almost a shadow of himself. I am here to bring Ellie home in hopes that I can save my brother and bring back the good man I know he is." Thor said.
"She is dying Thor. I don't think she is going to make it. The doctors are already having me make plans for the end of her life." Jane exclaimed. "I don't even think she would make the trip."
"I did not realize that she was injured so badly. We must take her now before it is too late for our medicine to help her. Heimdall!" Thor yelled to the ceiling. "Have the healers ready for when we arrive."
Jane looked at Thor confused.
"He can hear me. Heimdall will have everything ready for when we arrive."
"Where is the nearest bifrost sight?" Jane asked.
"It is in Central Park." Thor replied.
"That's a twenty minute car ride from here. She will never make that in her condition, if she even makes the trip through the bifrost."
"I will have to fly us."
Thor walked over to Ellie and stared at the wires and IVs hooked up all over her.
"Let me." Jane said as she started to remove everything. "You will have to leave with her immediately after I pull everything off or the hospital staff will be alerted that something is wrong."
Thor looked at Ellie and then at Jane. "I cannot carry you both if she is so badly injured."
"Leave me. I will be alright."
"Jane. I can not leave you again." Thor said with a painful look on his face.
"If your world can save her, then you need to get her there as soon as possible. I will wait for you."
Thor pulled Jane into his arms and kissed her deeply. "I will come back for you this time. I promise."
She smiled up at him. "Hurry! You must go."
As soon as Jane had Ellie unhooked from the machines, Thor gathered Ellie in his arms and moved to the window. "I love you Jane."
Thor swung his hammer and flew out the window. Jane smiled and then quickly moved to the chair before everyone started to rush in.
…..
As soon as Thor landed in Central Park he checked Ellie to make sure she was still alive. Moving quickly into position the bifrost brought him back to Asgard. Heimdall stood waiting with a group of people who immediately started to assess Ellie's injuries.
"She does not have much time. We need to get her to the healing room." One of them said.
"I will take her." Thor said and took off once again.
Landing in the healing room he quickly moved to the bed and laid her down. Thor stepped back while five healers started to work on her injuries. At that moment his mother, Frigga, walked into the room followed by four guards and Loki.
…..
Pain. All Ellie could feel was pain. It was a new sensation considering for some time she felt nothing at all. She thought she was dead. Did this mean she was alive? Unfortunately the pain just kept getting stronger and then a strange itching sensation. Did that mean she was healing? Her eyes would not open and she was happy for that in a strange way. It hurt to even breathe. Then slowly her hearing started to return instead of the constant humming she experienced before. Ellie could hear voices around her but did not recognize any of them.
"She is doing better." One voice said. "She will survive."
"Her injuries were extensive but they are all slowly starting to heal," said another voice.
"When will she awaken?"
Wait, that voice sounded familiar to her.
"I do not know. The human medicine is very unfamiliar to us. We do not understand how it works or how long it will remain in her system."
Ellie felt a gentle touch upon her cheek and then a familiar tingle.
"Let me know if anything changes immediately." The familiar voice said as footsteps moved out of the room.
"Why does Loki care? After all that he has done," said the first voice.
"I cannot believe that Odin allows him walk among us even if he does have guards," said the second.
Ellie laid there and listened to the two men talk about all the atrocities this Loki had done. She was shocked by what he had done to New York City but then became confused about where she was. These people had a different way of speaking. They sounded more eloquent than where she was from.
"Let us grab more healing stones. It is time to use them again," said the second voice.
Healing stones? Where the hell was she?
…..
Loki sat in his chambers thinking about Ellie lying in the healing room. He found his mind wandering to her more and more. She was slowly getting better. That made the knot in his chest loosen. He still did not know if he could ever completely get rid of the ache. He was the one that caused so much pain for everyone, especially Ellie. Never in his life had he ever felt so much regret and deep down it made him angry.
Looking out over Asgard from his balcony he contemplated what would happen next. He was surprised that his family was happy to see him again even after all that he had done to them and so many others. When Odin ordered him confined to his chambers he could not believe it. He felt that there was ulterior motive and this made him wary. For he was certain that the dungeons deep below the palace were to be his home for the rest of his life. Yet here he was in the comfort of his own chambers where his mother would come and sit with him. Frigga would do all the talking. Not once did she bring up the unpleasantness that had occurred.
Then a few days after Thor brought him back his mother came to see him as usual. Except this time she asked him to follow her. He stared after her for a moment but followed none the less. He was then flanked by guards which did not surprise him. Loki followed his mother for a while and no one said a word. Curiosity was killing him but he felt it was much safer not to ask. They finally stopped outside of the healing room. His mother turned to him and with a small smile grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze then turned to walk into the room. At first he feared for the health of his father but knew they would treat him in his own chambers. Then why would they be here?
As Loki followed his mother into the room he saw Thor standing in the corner with a grim look on his face. He saw the healers huddled around the bed working frantically over someone. Stepping next to Frigga he looked down and saw Ellie lying on the bed. His heart raced with seeing her but he could see she was not well. He moved closer and stood next to her bed and brushed his fingers against the back of her hand. Ellie's skin was pale and her hand was so cold. Without showing any emotion, Loki inwardly hoped she could be healed.
Thinking back on that memory of her laying in the healing room he never noticed his brother enter the room. Thor stood in the doorway and observed Loki. He had changed. It was evident in the way he carried himself. He truly cared for this girl. Loki went to visit her in the healing room every day. He would sit there for hours and hold her hand all while the guards waited outside. Then he would go back to his chamber. Never did he ask to go anywhere else. Was Loki truly in love with this girl?
"How are you today brother?"
Loki spun around to face Thor surprised that he never heard him walk in. Without saying a word he turned around to look out the window again.
"Will you not speak to me?" Thor asked.
Loki stayed silent.
"Fine, I will do all the talking then. We are all glad to have you home no matter what you may think. It did not feel like home without you. I know you hate me. And I am truly sorry for all that I have done to you without even realizing it. I don't expect you to forgive me. But I would at least like to try and be like we were before. I missed you terribly and all the chaos we used to cause."
When Loki said nothing in return Thor turned and left the room. Loki hung his head. His brother had come in and apologized to him. With all that had happened and his brother had done the apologizing. Loki felt all mixed up inside.
….
Ellie had been in Asgard for just over a week now. Thor had gone to bring Jane back as well. She was so happy to have someone there that she knew. Ellie knew Thor, but only a little and he had many things to do so Jane came every day to keep her company. She was finally awake now and the pain in her head had subsided to a dull ache. Sitting up was a chore but she managed and was now able to eat some real food. The accident had happened just over two weeks ago and she had lost a lot of weight from not eating. Jane said she looked so boney and frail.
Once she was able to sit, her caretakers moved her into her own chamber which was right down the hall from Jane's. There were constantly big platters of food brought to her to encourage her to eat. Ellie would usually take a few bites just to be polite, but her appetite had not fully returned. The happiest she was in this strange place was the day she was finally able to get out of bed on her own. Jane or some of the other women would usually come and help her into the bathroom which was bigger than her apartment back in New York.
Ellie had awoke early and lay in her large bed. She almost felt like she was back to normal but every now and then she would suffer a dizzy spell. So she slowly sat up and dropped her legs over the side of the bed. As she contemplated the chore of getting herself to the bathroom she heard a knock on her door.
Figuring it was Jane or one of the other women there to help her she said, "Come in."
The door opened and Ellie was surprised to see her rescuer walk into the room dressed in green and brown leather and carrying a platter of food. He moved with that air of authority. His face was still a mask of no emotion. Ellie now felt intimidated in his presence with her condition still being so fragile.
"I have brought you some breakfast."
"Thank you." Ellie replied timidly.
Loki looked at her with this intense gaze and she had to look away from his beautiful eyes. Ellie glanced down at herself and noticed her night dress was all twisted and she was showing way more of her chest than she thought decent. She tried to discretely cover herself but failed miserably as she fumbled with the cloth.
Loki smiled as he turned to set the tray down on a table and Ellie struggled like a fool. He was happy to see her awake and starting to look like her old self. Ellie was thin but her skin was the warm lightly tanned color she had before. When she finally righted herself, he turned back to face her.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"Yes. Thank you."
Ellie stood slowly and felt pretty good so she gingerly stepped towards the chaise lounge near the tray of food. Loki stood aloof, too unsure to get near her. She got about five steps away from the bed and started to feel dizzy. Loki saw instantly that she was about to fall so throwing caution aside he quickly stepped to her side and grabbed a hold of her waist to steady her. They both immediately felt the tingle where their bodies touched. Ellie looked up into Loki's eyes and felt her face flush. He gazed back into her eyes and the urge to kiss her overwhelmed him. She already felt uncomfortable because her top nearly exposed her breasts so he felt he should not take advantage.
Before he would lose the battle in his mind Loki guided Ellie over to the lounge and helped her to sit down. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breathes till her mind became clear again. Loki stood over and watched her to make sure the spell would pass. As the dizziness disappeared, a small smile came to Ellie's lips. When she opened her eyes they came in direct contact with his intent stare. Ellie quickly looked away so Loki turned and pulled the table closer to her so she could reach.
Ellie was so confused. She had so many questions. The fact that she was brought here and it saved her life was something she would never be thankful enough for. Then there was the unexplained intense attraction she had for the man standing in front of her. The one thing she truly wanted to understand was why she was brought here. But no one wanted to give her straight answers.
"You are looking well." Loki said.
"I'm feeling better thank you." Ellie paused and then mustered her courage to ask him. "Why am I here?"
Loki looked at Ellie confused by the direct question.
"I know Jane had me brought here to save my life, but that doesn't really feel like the whole story to me."
Loki realized that Ellie felt in the dark about some things. He was in the dark about a lot of the same. He was unsure why Ellie was brought to Asgard and he was confused why he was allowed to come into her chamber without his guards. This whole situation seemed a tad odd. Did she even know who he was and what he had done? He did not think so.
"I do not know the answer to that." Loki said plainly.
Ellie looked down feeling a little disheartened.
"But I will try to find out," he added.
Ellie wasn't sure how to take this man most of the time but he seemed sincere in that moment. She sighed but then reached over to the tray to grab a bite of food. She looked at the tray unsure of what to grab. There were some odd looking fruits, some cheeses and slices of stuff that could be meat. Everything looked so different from what she was used to.
Loki saw Ellie's confusion about the food, smiled and stepped up to the tray. "Here, try this. It is similar to your beef I think it is called. And it tastes wonderful with a bite of this cheese."
Ellie smiled at her rescuer as he helped her through the meal. They compared foods from earth and Asgard which then led into a conversation about their childhoods through what they were made to eat as children and could not stand. Ellie wasn't sure how it happened but it led into her talking about her mother dying when she was young and being raised by her father. Loki tensed when she brought up her father, but she continued on to say how her father was not a good man and left it at that.
Ellie observed Loki through the time they spent together. He was pleasant to her but remained somewhat reserved. She was pretty sure that Loki was enjoying the time they spent together but he seemed like he was uncomfortable. It was no matter to her, Ellie was happy to have someone new to talk to.
Loki and Ellie talked for a little while longer when Jane knocked and walked into the room. She saw the two leaning towards each other as they talked. They quickly moved away. Jane smiled to herself knowing that they probably didn't even realize they were doing it. Jane was happy that she could report to Loki's family that the two seemed to be hitting it off.
"Well, I shall leave you ladies alone." Loki stood to leave.
"Wait." Ellie said.
Loki had reached the door and turned around.
"After all this time and I still don't even know your name."
He smirked, said "Loki" and left.
