Okay guys so i hope you like this chapter :D usual disclaimers apply :P

They deposited Loki on his bed, Steve stopping to realize this was the first time he had been in the Trickster God's room. It had taken Thor a while to convince Loki that he was truly welcome here and wouldn't be cast aside, and so it didn't surprise Steve that there was very little personalization in the room so far. It seemed Loki had started changing things to suit his preferences, for example the Green and gold colour scheme, but besides that there were very few personal touches. The room was very large, with huge windows on the far wall framed by green curtains, a large four poster bed, a closet and a bathroom joining on to the room. There was also a ginormous bookcase filled to the brim with any books Tony thought Loki might find interesting. Eyes scanning the titles, Steve noticed most of these were either Science books, or books in other languages. There were a few of Loki's own books, from Asgard, written in old Norse. Thor had presented Loki with those just after he moved in, saying he had borrowed them from their mother in the hopes they would make Loki happy.

Steve smiled. Yes, Thor was often vying for a chance to just make Loki happy. It was quite rare to get a genuine smile out of Loki, let alone a laugh, but when he did laugh...Steve sighed. It was the most beautiful sound in the world.

Steve tucked Loki in, and pulled Tony away from where he was eyeing Loki's sceptre, and they left to find Thor. Two things were worrying Steve. Firstly, why had this illness come on so suddenly? and secondly, if it hadn't come on as quickly as it seemed, why hadn't Loki told anyone? Did he still feel like an outsider?

They found Thor in the kitchen, chuckling merrily at the television set since he had been informed via the comms that Loki had been found. To introduce Thor to television gently, Tony had showed the Asgardian man cartoons first. When first confronted with realistic television, such as a hospital drama, Thor hadn't quite grasped the concept and had leapt from the couch to help those in need.

"Hey big guy, we need to talk to you" Tony began pouring himself a drink. Steve dissapproved, but they had all had a long day and he didn't care to argue right now.

"Can it not wait, captain? This 'Animaniacs' is most amusing!" Thor barely turned from the screen.

"It's about Loki" Steve knew that would get Thor's attention. If there was one thing Thor cared about above all else, it was Loki.

And sure enough, Thor's head turned rapidly, the television put on mute by Tony.

"Loki? Has he done something to you? Is he alright? Have you done something to him?" The worry in Thor's voice overpowered an indignation Steve had about being accused of doing anything to Loki.

"We're not really sure if he's alright...you've noticed he's been quiet for a couple of days, right?" Steve continued, seeing Thor nodding, "Well, we found Loki in the Library and he seemed...ill. Can you guys even get ill? On earth?"

Thor frowned, concern knitting his eyebrows together.

"I do not know. I am certain I am unable to become ill whilst I am here, but Loki's Jotun physiology is vastly different from mine. It may be possible. I have heard tales of how the frost giants are vulnerable with climate changes. It has been rather warm recently, warmer than we usually saw even on Asgard. Perhaps it has affected him. How ill does he appear to be?"

"Pretty bad fever as far as we noticed, even to us. You told us he usually runs a little cooler right?"

Thor's frown deepened.

"Indeed. If he feels warm even to you, that is reaching dangerous levels. I must see to him."

Thor asked Steve to show him to his brother, and Steve did so willingly. If he was being honest with himself, he was worried about Loki himself. When he wasn't fighting against them, Loki was a nice guy. He was intelligent, just as much as Tony, but he was more patient than either Tony or Bruce when teaching him about technology and such. Steve supposed that come from dealing with Thor all his life. Thor may have been the big "brother" but it was evident that Loki had been taking care of Thor and steering him clear of trouble all his life. Thor was just a puppy inside, Steve thought. Loki was mischievous, but it was all in good fun most of the time, and he had valuable insight into tactical conversations. Plus, his magic was just plain amazing. Sometimes Steve would ask Loki to duplicate himself or something along those lines just to feel the spark of magic in the air, and marvel at what he was seeing. It was exhilarating. And Loki was ever patient with him. Steve wondered if he ever got tired of it. Until today Steve hadn't realized that magic took so much of Loki's energy. According to conversations with Thor, it wasn;t creating the magic that was the problem, as a truce sorcerer like Loki iwas/i magic. It was channeling the magic out in a non-destructive way, so that people didn't get hurt. Loki had showed them once what it looked like when he let all that magic just flow out of him, without restraint.

Tony had been wanting to run some tests so that he could track different magical signatures, and Loki had been a willing volunteer. Tony's curiosity had gotten the best of him, and after situating Loki in a reinforced room with cameras and a protected viewing area behind which stood all of the avengers, Tony asked Loki to just let the magic go. There had been a blinding white light, Loki's eyes glowed white, as did his limbs. The magic had poured from him in massive beams of white hot energy that vibrated what felt like the whole mansion. It had taken three renditions of Thor yelling at Loki to stop before he had snapped out of it, slumping in a dead faint. They had all been alarmed, but Thor had assured them it was merely overexertion, and Loki would be fine after sleeping for a while.

Steve hoped that Loki was only overexerted now, and that he would be better with sleep, for he didn;t like to think of anyone being ill.

But as he and Thor entered Loki's room and his eyes fell upon the thin God, laying in bed, sweat rolling down his face, yet shivering, he knew that was not the case.

read and review please :D