Grace felt the entire mood in Stark Tower shift once Loki was stowed in the large cell in the basement. Everyone was on edge. The atmosphere only lightened a little when Thor arrived that evening. Grace was not asked to be at their meeting and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents patrolled the hallway outside the meeting room, making it impossible for her to listen in by any convenient means. Instead, she went down to the basement and stood outside the large bulletproof cell window while agents finished their interrogation. Loki looked tired, mildly irritated, and a bit despondent, his suit jacket carefully folded and set at the end of the bed. Pepper was already watching the proceedings.

"Watching for any cracks in his presentation, or watching to make sure nobody breaks the Geneva Convention?"

"Somehow I think the Avengers Initiative is outside of the scope of Geneva's influence, Grace, but yes, I'm the eyes to make sure there aren't any major breaches of ethics during interrogation."

"Heard anything interesting yet?"

"Not that we didn't already know- he's being tight-lipped about just what he did after he broke out of prison."

"And on the Geneva bit?"

"No major violations, though I think Phil did threaten to run him through a few times to see how he liked it. Loki didn't seem too happy about that- he squirmed." Pepper paused and scanned Grace's face, looking for any hints of emotion, "So why are you down here?"

"I feel a little sorry for the guy. I mean, we did just end his last ditch effort for a taste of freedom before his brother throws him back in a cell. He really seemed to like that place we ate at in Detroit. Who knows, maybe he'd have fun here if he had a chance."

"Somehow I doubt Tony would allow that."

"Guess I'm going to have to bring Earth to him, then."

The agents filed out of the room, Phil last, leaving Loki sitting at the small table with his head in his hands, "He's all yours, ladies."

Pepper nodded and addressed Grace, "Don't get into trouble."

Once alone, Grace sat down on a stool by the intercom and pressed the button that allowed her to speak to Loki, "You holding up OK? Want me to bring you dinner?"

"And why," he said, his voice bitter, "would you want to do that?"

"Because I'm not as much of an asshole as I like to pretend I am. Now do you want my company or not?"

"I have had enough questions for one day..."

"Well the only ones I've asked are if you're OK and if you want food- should be pretty easy to answer."

"No."

"And that's the answer to...?"

"Both questions. Miss Grace, leave me be."

"OK, but you'd better holler if you need anything. JARVIS, Tony's robot butler, is always in earshot and he can get me at any hour. It's cool, I don't usually sleep much anyway."

"Thank you. I hope you believe me when I say I quite enjoyed your company today."

Grace smiled, "Yeah, well- just wish I could show you more of what I love about this place before you go. Anyhow- try to get some rest. You never know when the folks upstairs are going to decide what to do with you. Might as well sleep between now and then. Night, Loki."

"Good night, Miss Grace."

She left and returned to her own room. She stripped down to her underwear, tossed aside her clothes and flopped into bed, hoping she might get to play Earth tour guide for Loki before he was locked up, possibly longer than she would be alive.