Jane woke with a terrible headache. The first thing she noticed was the stillness of the room she was in.

The second thing was her head felt awful and she didn't recall packing any Advil. Did she…? Surely she must've…

She got up and went to the bathroom. Why did she allow herself to drink so much! That wasn't like her, not at all…

Jane washed her face and brushed her teeth. She exited the bathroom.

Where was Loki?

A hint of panic filled her. Could she be overreacting? Probably. But that didn't ease her mind.

She got dressed and hurried to the lobby, looking around. Jane went to the concierge. "Hey, excuse me…did you see…" her voice trailed. She didn't know what name Loki had given. "That…ah…guy I am here with?"

"Oh! Mr. Laufeyson? No, actually. I haven't."

"Mr. Laufeyson," Jane repeated. That sounded odd, yet slightly familiar. Laufeyson…where had she heard that name? "Thanks," she replied, and went to the room.

Jane was at a loss. She sat on her bed for a moment to evaluate the situation: Loki wasn't here. No one knew that she was here. S.H.I.E.L.D. was after them…

Shit. Jane found her phone. Nothing…

Luckily, she had saved the business card Coulson had given her when he stole her stuff, and she called him.

"Hello?"

"Where is he?" she demanded.

"Hello, Miss Foster."

Jane waited.

"I suppose formalities are out of the question. You're looking for your newest alien god?"

"Yes. I guess I know where he is," and she stood.

"We aren't going to hurt him."

"You're a terrible liar," she began to throw things into her bag. "Where did you take him?"

"To a safe facility."

"Mmmhmm. Where?"

She heard the agent sigh, and gave her an address in California.

"How am I supposed to get to California in any reasonable amount of time?" she looked around her room, as if it held the answer to her problem.

"That isn't our concern, Miss Foster. But since you care so much, if you arrive here within the next couple of days, I'll assure you an interview with the alien."

"The next couple of days!"

But he had hung up. Dammit. She needed to get to California.

Well, she didn't have a ton of money, but if she was creative, she could probably get a plane ticket out of Phoenix…

Then she remembered her car… She didn't want to get stuck in San Diego without a car.

Fuck.

Jane quickly packed up and checked out, driving at full tilt to San Diego.

After consulting Google maps, she took note that an eight hour drive wasn't so bad, and that this was totally doable. She relaxed a bit.

Why was she so concerned…?

Because S.H.I.E.L.D. was a bunch of bullies, taking her stuff, her…what was Loki? Not hers…well. Her discovery, anyway. Sorta.

He wasn't her discovery, not really. He had sought her out…

Why? Why did he seek her out? To get back at Thor, maybe?

Jane sighed heavily and drank more of her Coke. She hadn't known Loki very long. A month. But she had known Thor even a shorter amount of time.

If she was being honest (and she changed the radio station, she didn't fancy listening to Rush Limbaugh just now), she cared about Loki. Yeah, he was messed up, but they had grown to be friends over the past month, and he meant something to her.

Friends. Yes…that was what they were.

Loki was sitting in a cell.

A glass cage.

He had been waiting for his magic to regenerate a bit, but being in this structure, this prison, was inhibiting his mind to form a real opiate to his malady. And sick, he was.

He stared at the floor of the cage.

What had he been thinking, going to Jane Foster? He had so many other options available to him!

Such as…his brow furrowed.

Well. He was certain that he had other options. Whether he could list them all at present wasn't the issue.

How could he have allowed himself to be captured by these mortals! It was not to be born.

He seethed and shifted on the floor of the cell. He would need to come up with something to change this situation, as impossible as it was.

Loki's head fell back onto the wall of the cage and a slow breath slipped out between his lips. He heard someone approach, but since he had no desire to acknowledge these mortals, he refused to look up.

"Are you just gonna sit there and pout?"

Ah…Nick Fury.

"Well, I guess we could let you rot, but it's my job to make sure that Asgard and all of its wayward gods don't pose a threat to Earth."

"You think me threatening?" said Loki.

"I'm not sure. Are you?"

"Not now," and he looked at his hands.

"Do you plan on becoming a threat?"

Nothing.

"Are you going to answer me?"

No response.

Fury's head tilted up a touch. "I'm a very patient man," and he turned and left.

Patient. Loki was almost twelve hundred years old. This man knew nothing about patience.

Jane was outside the enormous complex Coulson had given her as the location of Loki. She parked her car and ran to the entrance. It wasn't until she got to the door that she realized it was eight at night…there might not be anyone there who could help her.

She began to bang on the door, the sound echoing in the parking lot.

After a few minutes, the door opened and a young man was facing her.

"I'm Jane Foster," she breathed. "Agent Coulson is expecting me."

He looked at her crookedly, disbelievingly.

"Look, here's my license. Is he here or not," it was a statement, not a question.

The man took out what looked like a walkie-talkie. "This is Goodman. Is Agent Coulson still here?"

"Affirmative," said the other line.

Jane's face fell in relief, and then she smiled.

He stepped aside.

"Where do I go?"

"You stay right here. I'll get Agent Coulson."

Jane nodded. Best not press the issue. She waited for a few minutes, reveling in the fact that she had made it. She had made it!

"Miss Foster, you are a determined young woman."

Jane turned. "I am. You're right. And it's doctor Foster."

Coulson nodded. "Well. You're here to see your alien, I guess?"

Jane smiled. "Is he alright?"

Coulson began to walk, Jane following behind. "We aren't sure. He isn't speaking…doesn't eat, and hardly sleeps. Was he this way when you were with him?"

"No!" she exclaimed. He wasn't eating or talking…?

"Well, maybe if you chatted with him," they were walking down a long, dimly lit corridor.

Ah. "That's why you told me the location. To get me to see him in the hope that he'd talk."

Coulson shrugged, then smiled.

"Dick," muttered Jane. He laughed and led her into a cavernous chamber, dark, hollow. Jane looked around. "Where is he?"

"I'll show you," he walked up a ramp to a huge steel door.

Coulson opened the door, and allowed Jane entry.

She walked slowly in…

A huge glass circular cell was in the center of the otherwise smallish room.

And inside, was Loki.

His head was down, his hair falling into his face.

Jane went over to the glass, and placed her hand on it. "Loki?"

Nothing.

"Loki?"

Still no response.

Jane fell to her knees, her palms still on the glass. "Loki! Answer me!"

At this, he looked up.

She let out a stuttering breath. "Loki…are you alright?"

She saw him swallow. Saw his eyebrows cross.

"Coulson!" Jane screamed, never taking her eyes off of him. She stood now, and a worried look creased her features. "Coulson!"

Agent Coulson came in a rush.

Jane turned toward him. "Get him out of that cell."

"I can't do that, Doctor Foster."

"Why the hell not?"

"He might be dangerous."

"He isn't!"

"I'm sorry. I can't."

Jane ran a hand through her hair, and turned back to Loki.

Loki, whose gaze remained fixed on her.

"Get me a blanket and a pillow," she paused, turning toward him. "When was the last time he had water?"

"Ah…" he appeared to have no answer.

"And get me some goddamn water for him," she sat down on the floor. "Can I go in there with him?"

"I'm afraid not."

Jane pressed her palm agains the glass once more. "I'll stay here with him. Get him the water."

Coulson turned and left, and Jane smiled at Loki.

Loki, who though he was loathe to admit it, was quite pleased to see Jane Foster.