This took me way too long.

Anyway, hope you like it!!! :D 

Doctor Who tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edit: me

Music:

Evanstar- LOTR: TT soundtrack

Still, Still, Still- Jon Schimdt

Chapter Thirty-Eight

~Nobody's POV~

Videl slinks up away from the camp and smirks as he hears Thea's screams permeating through the air. Several nightwings take flight, chattering sharply.

Abruptly, he turns on the spot and vanishes into a fluid black mist. He doesn't stumble as he looks around at his new surroundings. He's in the middle of an abandoned palace. Perhaps it was once beautiful, with its intricate, Greek-like columns, overgrown plants, marble flooring, and high ceilings. But now, it's dull and dank, water dripping through cracks, the only light coming from the moon as it rises in the sky.

Videl enters a magnificent room, or one that was magnificent at one time. A large canopy bed, with the hangings now in dust stands in the center, and giant gilded windows across the room make it seem even larger.

On the bed, a figure lies, prone, unmoving. Long blond hair, the beginnings of facial rubble from decay. One eye open, a red eye.

Videl takes a small vial, uncorks it, and lets the thick red liquid drip into the figure's slightly open mouth, through the parched lips. At first, nothing happens but then, trembling slightly, the figure's tongue reaches out and licks his lips. And then the other eye snaps open.

Videl considers the figure, then says, "It was all I could get. But have no fear, Father. Soon, we will be victorious. You will rise. All will. We just must wait for the right moment."

Videl's father does not move. Then, his eyes close, but there is the vaguest tremble of a smile playing at the edges of his lips.

Like father, like son.

*

It's nearly midnight by the time the lake party gets back to the camp. While Kyle stays in the tent with Thea, Steve explains the situation, with Loki standing silently behind him.

"Is Thea okay?" asks Max, frowning, who has only been half-listening to the strategies regarding the lake.

"She's shaken and a little beat up, but other than that, she'll be all right," says Steve lightly, not exactly believing the words coming out of his mouth.

"When is she going to be strong enough to move to the lake?" asks Natasha, also frowning.

Steve hesitates, then says, "Her power helps her to heal, so maybe a couple of days, maybe not. Kyle won't let her go until she's completely better."

"The bloodsucker's impatient though," says Tony, his mouth twitching in irritation, "I don't know how much longer we have until he comes back."

There's a general silence. Then, Steve says, "Let's just wait a little and see. Thea's a strong girl. If anyone can get through this, it's her."

*

The next day, Thea spends her time in the tent, trying to feel better. But she's restless. She had not truly fallen back asleep last night.

It's not quite as cold here as the top of the mountain, but it is still slightly chilly nonetheless. Thea shivers constantly and although she tries to hide it as best she can, she is miserable. The wound in her side is healing quickly, thanks to Kyle's and Bruce's adept attention, but the bite on her neck is still stinging painfully. It's not hard to tell that she's miserable, even though she tries to hide it as much as possible.

That night, as Loki is conversing with Thor and Clint- actually, he's standing there stoically silent like usual- Bruce walks up to him.

"Hey man, you're going to have to come here. Thea's sort of freaking out, and she won't let anyone near her."

Loki stands immediately and follows Bruce across the nearly silent campsite.

"What's wrong with her?"

Bruce shakes his head, "I think she's just scared, and in a lot more pain than she's letting on. Poor kid's been through a lot."

When the two men arrive at the tent, Bruce steps back to let Loki push back the tent flaps and enter by himself.

It's dark and hot in the tent, as Bruce and Kyle have been trying to keep Thea warm, but now, she is nearly overheated. She has kicked off her blankets and is clutching her side, where Kyle's stitches have remained intact. Her hair is matted and plastered to her sweaty face. Her shoulders are shaking, and she is whimpering softly, trying to stop her tears.

"Oh Thea," says Loki, kneeling down next to her, "Oh Thea, Thea, Thea."

"Go-o-go awa-a-a-y," she stammers.

But he ignores her, feeling her scorching forehead. "You're burning up," he says quietly.

She moans in agony and exhaustion, her throat ripping with the sound of pain. It's clear that she doesn't want Loki around.

Naturally, he doesn't pay attention to this, "You're much too stubborn," he says as he rolls up his sleeves, "You realize this, I am sure."

"What are you...doing?" she asks, sitting up and briefly looking up at him.

As she watches, Loki's fingers, then his hand, then his arm begins to turn a turquoise blue, the edges crystalizing with tiny bits of ice. When his eyes turn red, and when he sees her recoil, he says, "It's all right Thea, it's still me."

He reaches forward and although she pulls back a little, he disregards her hesitation and places his azure hand on her sweaty cheek. "Stop pulling back, little one, stop pushing me away."

Thea bites her lips but does not say anything. She is being purely stubborn, and the both of them know it.

But the ice cold of the frost giant's hand begins to comfort and cool the girl, and she breathes a sigh of content as she relaxes.

"There you go," murmurs Loki, taking one of her small hands in his much larger one and letting the cold take over her, "There you go."

With all her heart, Thea wants to push him away, determined to heal by herself, but not only does she know better, but she also does not have the energy.

When Loki is relatively satisfied that Thea has cooled down sufficiently, he leans back and the blue tint from his skin wavers and then fades away.

Thea is tired. "Nnnn," she mutters, leaning heavily against Loki's side, although her head is more accurately on his outstretched legs.

He raises an eyebrow as he looks down at her, but allows her to stay there. Reluctantly, Loki reaches down and wipes the remaining tears from her face, the remnants of his frosty skin obvious as his finger freezes the teary droplets. She doesn't pay the slightest bit of attention to him.

Loki studies her. Her small, slightly upturned nose is red, from the heat and from the tears. Thea's eyes are closed, but a single tear still has trickled from her heavy lids. Her face is wan and her usually full cheekbones are now bony. The freckles that had faded from age are now more obvious from all the sunlight she has been exposed to, making Thea look even younger than normal.  

"Hmm," says Loki. Then, he reaches a finger down and traces the outline of her face. When she wrinkles her nose, her eyes still closed, he chuckles, "I coddle you far too much, darling." He smooths her tangled hair, "Far too much."

*

In the middle of the night, when Thea wakes up crying and screaming, even Loki cannot calm her.

"Why can't you help her?" demands Kyle, as if this is all Loki's fault.

Loki glares at Kyle, "Because she was dreaming about me too."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because why else would she be frightened of me?" snaps Loki.

"Oh let's see," says Kyle, ticking the reasons off his fingers, "You're mean to her, you provoke her, you're harsh and expect her to act older than what she is, a thirteen year old child, you killed her parents and her brother- don't give me that, you might as well have!" Kyle's voice is growing louder, attracting the attention of Jack, Max, Stece, and multiple others, "You torture her not only physically with your crappy spear thing but also mentally when you -"

"Silence," hisses Loki, his green eyes dangerous.

But so are Kyle's. "You just don't want to hear it because it's the fricking truth, you moron!"

Loki's lip curls, "Is that's so? And why is it that you are so desperate to gain her trust, her loyalty?" When Kyle just glares at him stonily, Loki snarls, "It's because you do not wish to admit that she trusts me. Who does she come to in the dead of night? Not you. Who has saved her life over and over, brought her back from the dead, died for that child?! Not you!"

Kyle's face is pained; Loki has hit a note.

"You don't know anything," says Kyle in a low, trembling voice.

Loki smiles widely, "Of course you don't. And you never. Will."

Kyle lunges for Loki, and that's when Max and Steve step in.

"All right gents, break it up," says Steve, restraining Loki as much as possible. Kyle, held back by his brother, looks enraged, "Neither of you is helping her right now, so keep it together, the both of you!"

Loki and Kyle glare at Steve.

"Kyle, you're mad at Loki because you hate him, and some...other things. As for you Loki, you're just mad because for once, you can't help Thea. Now I need both of you to get your act together! You got it?"

Neither Kyle nor Loki reply, but shoot each other looks of eternal loathing.

Someone clears his throat quietly, shyly.

Steve glances up to see Archer standing next to the angry men. "What is it, son?"

"Can I try something for Thea?" he asks softly.

Steve and Max exchange looks. Ever since Archer had found the mangled body of Miryen outside of camp, they had been treating him with proper respect of a friend who has just lost a loved one.

"What are you going to try?" asks Max, reservedly.

Archer hesitates. "I can make her see what she wants the most."

Five minutes later, Archer ducks inside the tent, followed closely by Loki (and Kyle). Thea is no longer screaming, but still crying. When she sees Loki, she kicks out aggressively, causing Kyle to snap, "Get away from her!"

"I bet you've just always wanted to say that," says Loki, his voice dripping with cruelty.

Kyle snarls.

Archer ignores both of them and crouches down next to Thea, who tries to skitter away from him, but is too tired. Closing his eyes, concentrating, he presses his hand to her forehead. Within seconds, she has relaxed and closed her eyes again.

*

~Thea's POV~

I'm in a meadow. It has tall grasses that tickle my feet as I run through it. I'm laughing, truly laughing. Glee fills my chest and my heart and I feel light as a feather.

Beside me, someone else is laughing. It's Leah, and she's chasing after me, a strand of lily flowers through her hair and is wearing a long, flowing white dress. She is smiling from ear to ear as we run through the meadow.

We come up upon a ridge, and I realize now that we are in Asgard, looking over the city. The towers gleam in the sun, nearly blinding us. The wind blows around us, and I laugh again, just from sheer joy.

...the dream shifts...

...and now I'm in a long tunnel, walking with someone, overlooking the Asgardian palace. He's tall, not quite so tall as Thor and Loki, but tall anyway. I feel myself freeze as I see him.

"Bryce?" I whisper.

He smiles, his blue eyes sparkling. He looks just the same as always: old band t-shirt, messed up jeans, and his blond hair flopping in his eyes. There's a soft glow to him. He hugs me against his broad chest, just like old times.

I sense movement behind me, and my heart stops. I see my parents, walking towards me. Like my brother, there's a slight light about them that makes them seem almost transparent.

Mom reaches forward and hugs me and I hold her close, not ever wanting to let go. She still smells like lavender. And then Daddy hugs me too, strong and secure.

I step back and look at them, my hair shifting in the wind. All three of them are smiling at me. Bryce and Mom have Leah's blue eyes. I have Daddy's eyes.

"I want you to come home," I whisper, staring at them, afraid they will vanish.

...and they do...

...once more, the dream changes...

I'm in Asgard's palace, walking along the gilded hallway. There are people in the room in front of me.

Max and Kyle.

Jack and Peter and Nat.

Thor and Jane.

And then Loki.

All smiling.

 Hope you like it! :) 

~Three Tasks Fact~

Btw, in Thea's dream, there are several elements that are symbolic. Or important. or both. Just FYI.

~Three Tasks Fact~

In the edit, that's actually not Archer. It's a young Jamie Campbell Bower. Incidentally, he plays Videl, but I thought this picture looked a lot more innocent and less gothic than the current Jamie, and that it fit the chapter well. So. 

Have a lovely day!

~sierra