Author's Note: I am so sorry it took me so long to update. I had a really bad case of writers block. On the bright side I have gotten to see Thor Ragnarok 3 times and it is amazing! I still feel cheated we didn't get to see that hug. I am thinking there might be either one or two more chapters. Please enjoy!

Chapter 9

Thor returned to the healing chambers the next morning. The guards bowed as he entered Loki's room and he found his mother placing a new cloth on Loki's forehead.

"Good morning mother. How is Loki?"

"He had a rough night. Nightmares and a couple of seizures. He saw the carvings on his arms and became upset about them."

Thor nodded in understanding and ran a hand through Loki's hair. Loki stilled burned with a fever. It broke Thor's heart knowing his brother had seen what had been carved on his arms. He was hoping they would heal before Loki got the chance to see them, but Eir did say there was a chance they would never heal fully. The words would always be there as a faint mark.

"I can take over now mother if you wish to go get some rest."

Frigga nodded and kissed Loki on the cheek before leaving. Thor sat down beside the bed and simply watched Loki sleep. Eir would come in every so often and check his temperature as well as clean his wounds. Thor would help her clean his wounds and would hold Loki up for his ribs to be rebandaged. His back was healing very well, but there would always be some faint marks of the whip left behind. It still angered Thor that his brother had been tortured in such away.

"How is he doing Eir? Is he getting better?"

"For now my Prince he is doing as well as can be expected. His wounds are starting to heal and the infection is starting to go away, but the fever remains. It hasn't increased or decreased in temperature, but it is still high. We are doing everything we can to lower it." Eir explained.

"What about his magic? Can't his magic heal him?" Thor asked.

"He is still learning my Prince. His magic is still not advance enough for it to heal him completely, but it is probably what helped keep him alive." Eir assured.

Thor nodded and gently laid Loki back down on the bed as Eir left. He sighed softly and ran a hand gently through Loki's hair. It was odd for Thor to be so gentle. He was usually very brash and ungentle like with almost anything he did, but when it came to his baby brother, he was nothing but gentle. At least when Loki was sick or injured. He could be rough with Loki when they were sparring or rough housing, but when Loki was like this Thor was gentle with him. It went back to when they were children and Loki would be terrorized with nightmares. Thor would always be there to comfort him, even when they got separate rooms. Thor took it upon himself to care for Loki when he was sick or injured and Loki always found comfort in it.

"I'm here for you Loki. I will care for you until you recover and after that I swear I will never let anything like this ever happen again." Thor whispered softly to his brother.

Loki gave no indication that he heard Thor. He just lay there sleeping peacefully for now, but Thor knew it would not last. His brother was still considerably warm and whenever Loki had a fever, the nightmares would intensify. Thor sat down beside his brother and held his hand gently in his and prepared himself for a long day ahead.

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Odin came in about an hour later. Thor rose to meet him but Odin raised a hand saying he could stay seated. Odin walked up and put a hand to Loki's forehead.

"How is he doing?" Odin asked gently running a hand through Loki's hair.

"Eir says his fever hasn't risen or decreased, but he is suffering from nightmares. Mother said he had a few last night and he has had a couple since I have been here." Thor stated.

"And how are you my son?" Odin questioned.

"I'm worried. What if after everything he still doesn't make it."

"Your brother is stronger than he seems Thor, he will pull through." Odin reassured.

"Have the Creed caused any more problems?" Thor inquired.

"No. They did at the beginning demand Loki be returned as a prisoner of war, but I threatened them with force and due to the siege they are still weak in forces and supplies so they know they would lose. They will not bother us or Loki any more, your brother is safe." Odin explained.

Before Thor could respond, Loki's face twisted in pain.

"No..please don't." Loki whimpered.

Thor was on his feet and leaning over Loki in an instant.

"Loki? Can you hear me brother?" Thor asked putting a hand to his cheek.

Loki's head just tossed side to side and his eyes squeezed shut.

"Loki, wake up. It's just a nightmare, it's not real. Your safe, I'm here with you. Just wake up." Thor coaxed.

Loki didn't seem to hear him and kept tossing in his sleep.

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Loki screamed as he was hit with the whip again.

"The sooner you talk little Prince the sooner this could stop."

"I'm not going to tell you how to get into the weapon's vault. I won't betray my father."

The whip hit him again and he cried out.

"You are worthless. I saw you while you were out on the battlefield. How your brother had to keep saving you at times. You might be skilled in magic, but you are not a very good warrior. You are weak and I am sure the All-Father believes we did him a favor by taking you. I am sure your brother is happy to be rid of you too. No longer having to worry about his burden of a brother that he always had to save."

Loki tried to kick out to the warrior, but the warrior stepped aside and the whip was brought down on Loki again.

"Oh so you do have some fight in you. That won't last."

The whip came down on his back again and again. Loki screamed Thor's name.

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As Loki screamed another seizure took over him. Thor immediately turned him over and held him gently as the seizure racked his body.

"What is happening?" Odin asked.

"Seizure. He has been having them ever since the fever started. Eir said they should go away with the fever. Easy Loki, easy. I got you." Thor reassured.

Odin stood there and watched in horror as Loki's body convulsed against his will. It was a pretty bad one, Loki bucked hard against the bed that Thor was afraid he was going to hurt himself. Loki finally went limp, with tears coming down his face and gasping for breath.

"Shhhhhhh…..it's ok Loki. It's over, it's over. I'm here, I've got you." Thor whispered soothingly.

Loki moaned in pain and reached up to grab Thor's hand.

"Loki? Brother, are you with me?" Thor asked returning Loki's grasp.

"Thor…." Loki moaned.

"I'm here Loki. I'm here. Father is here too." Thor reassured stroking his hair and leaning down close to Loki's face.

"It hurts…." Loki whimpered as he rolled on to his back.

"Where does it hurt brother?"

Loki finally opened his eyes and looked at Thor. His eyes were glassy and unfocused.

"Thor tell Father I didn't tell them anything. I swear. I didn't tell them anything, they asked everyday but I never told them. Please tell him. I don't want him to hate me, I didn't tell them anything." Loki begged sounding desperate.

Thor sighed to himself. Loki was still in the delusion that his mind had created while he was sleeping. It had happened earlier today and Thor thought nothing of it. But now that it had happened a second time, Thor was becoming worried. Odin walked up to the bed and placed a hand on Loki's head.

"I'm here Loki. I know you didn't tell them anything. You were very brave my son, but you're not there anymore, your home and safe. Calm yourself." Odin reassured gazing into Loki's unfocused eyes. The green in them seem to shimmer.

Loki still rambled on. He kept begging his father to believe that he didn't tell the Creed anything. He was becoming more desperate the more he talked and begged that it brought tears to Thor's eyes. Thor and Odin gently pushed Loki back on the bed as he tried to sit up.

"Hush now Loki and be still. You need to rest, it is the only way to beat this fever. We have so many adventures to go on, but we can't do that until your better. So rest please." Thor urged stroking Loki's hair back.

Loki was still visibly upset and scared and he tried again to sit up. Thor's hands on his shoulders gently restrained him.

"Loki please be still."

"Thor I need to talk to father please. I didn't tell them anything I swear." Loki begged as he tried to push Thor's hands off of him.

"I'm going to get Eir, he's becoming worse. He's never acted this bad."

"Don't bother Eir, I will take care of him."

Odin placed two fingers to Loki's temple and Loki took a deep breath before his eyes fluttered shut and he relaxed in Thor's hold. Thor gently released Loki and readjusted the blankets on him before he soaked a cloth in cool water. He wrung out the excess water and placed it on Loki's forehead.

"Father I'm worried, he seems to be getting worse."

"Don't give up hope yet Thor. We must remain hopeful that Loki will beat this fever and be well again."

Thor nodded, but still remained worried about his brother.

"I must go now, but I will send Eir in to check on him. I will try to come back at some point today."

Odin placed a gentle kiss on Loki's forehead and wished him well before leaving. Thor sat back down beside Loki's bed and took his hand again praying his brother would be well again soon.