Chapter 6

Jane stretched out cramped and tired muscles outward from her desk, small crumbs falling carelessly to the floor, and her eyes locked on the computer screen, the viral red reading 3:47am. She'd been here since the night before, watching the screens for new development anything to show some more progress, but there was nothing. Not a single thing that showed anything, nothing. And she was so tired of waiting. She thought that she had perfected the concept of waiting; of going through each day with nothing new that it felt like it had become an old annoying companion. However now that there was a change, a flicker of light in something dark, she was impatient like the day Thor first left with a promise sealed by a kiss.

But how long was it going to take for that promise to be fulfilled? The main lights flickered on overhead, "Miss Foster why are you still here?" Bruce Banner stood in the doorway, still as unkempt and bedraggled tired as the first she met him. But he was a kind man, however many dark secrets that he kept locked away inside him. He was strong though; Jane didn't think she could have ever carried the burdens that Banner did.

"Bruce, please just call me Jane. I've told you this already."

He titled his head down, an awkward smile and composed himself long enough to spit out "Jane why are you still here? I'm pretty sure your watch has been over for the last several hours".

Jane waved a grease soaked cold friend fry at the screen, "Just waiting to see if there are any more surges coming around. There isn't anything very concrete with them or pattern. Someone could miss something."

Bruce laughed again, " I highly doubt that. The computers are running 24 hours at a time and if any were to crash the member of S.H.I.E.L.D would be alerted to it. We also have back-up computers running as well along with a program and power source that stark Industries invented. What could we miss?"

Why did he have to be so smart? Why did he have to know everything?! Because he knew everything there was nothing that Jane could say to get him to listen. Banner was, after all, the only that could keep up a conversation with Stark when it involved more then simple quantum physics and nuclear theories on particles.

She waved a cold French fry at toward the pot of coffee she had already consumed for the night, "I'm not going to sleep anytime soon."

"Well then perhaps a shower, all girls love spa days. Go home, soak in a rose filled tub and a bottle of Champagne," Stark pushed through the doorway, chips in his hand, "Well someone in this room is going to do it. The one who lives closest to their tub should be honored this privilege."

Jane offered up her keys to the towering figures above her.

"Mission accomplished, Jane Foster is officially out the door, 5 miles down heading west and security has been told to not allow her back on the premise for at least 24 hours." Stark said between mouthfuls of fries.

Banner stared up at him briefly before settling in at the work desk in front of him. "How did you manage that?"

The millionaire shrugged his shoulders, "More then likely it was my charm, good looks, and the need to take care of ones appearance in front of me that finally caused her to realize the error of her ways and heed everything I had to say."

"You had to bribe her."

Without looking at Bruce offered up some peace fries, "25% of future research supported and funded by Stark Industries."

Banner laughed at the antics of Stark. Whether the man wanted to admit it or not he like Jane Foster—they both did. There was a unique appeal about her; it was like a magnet that attracted all to her. To Banner—and even to Stark, whether he would ever admit it or not, Jane was like a younger sister. One that should be protected looked after. And of course to tease when the occasion called for it. Which Tony ended up taking full advantage of whenever he got the chance.

The intercom clicked on, disrupting his thoughts, "Requesting Stark and Banner to underground sectors 7. Fury needs to there as soon as possible."

"Showtime!" Stark said.

"As soon as possible would mean…" though of course they both knew the answer to that.

"10 minutes ago."

Banner opened the door, "After you."

The minute they stepped out of the door the halls were filled with organized chaos. Soldiers ran off, each with purpose and extra padding. If things were going as Banner thought they would probably need it. He was already going back to a lot of memories…. And a lot of bruises.

They hadn't made it very far before they could hear Nick Fury and his loud orders. He barked them out surrounded by scientists that feared his wrath and assistants that were staring wide-eyed and amazed at the events that were lying out before them. There was so much mystery out there, so much chaos and power. The man eyed them as they walked through the door, "Are you ladies ready to get the ball going or do you need to take a tea break and go to the powder room?"

"Is our Hammer happy fool ready to say hi?" Tony called out to the scientists, he turned to Fury, "And some tea would be lovely—earl grey if you have any. Though I think that the powder room is a little over the top, don't you?"

Banner laughed and joined his friend in the fray of things. Wondering if today was actually the day that the Avengers would start to assemble once more.

There was this itch, this beyond desirable need to do something…. Anything! Her fingers twitched, her legs kept her at a constant pacing. No matter how much she yawned her mind wasn't restful enough to actually close her eyes for more then a moment.

She attempted a sense of normalcy, something that she had been trying to connect to since she had first saw a flash of Thor—she dialed Darcy's number. Jane had never been so busy as the days when S.H.I.E.L.D had recruited her and she had to admit that she missed the college girl who was sarcastic and funny, proud of her antics and Taser abilities.

"Jane! Jeez I haven't heard from you in months! How is everything going?" Darcy exclaimed.

They chatted basics, each complaining about the others eating habits and ways of living. Darcy was still convinced that using the microwave for every meal of the day was the right way to live and she was trying to convince Jane that having 4 hours of sleep or less was not the way anyone can function, nor the amount of coffee consumptions.

"So why are you really calling me? Its 11 at night and for a college girl like me this is just a normal night…. But for someone who now has free time on her hands should be at least catching some Z's. So…." Darcy left off waiting for Jane to give an excuse. How considerate of her.

Jane pressed her fingers deep into her temple and squeezed her eyes shut, "I haven't been able to sleep. Not since I've gotten so close to finally connecting everything. If I kept working then maybe—"

"Maybe he'd already be there? I'm pretty sure that Thor wouldn't want you collapsing from exhaustion just to see him quicker. For a scientist you aren't being very smart at the moment." She paused waiting for a retort but got none, " Seriously Jane I promise that if you get some sleep you will be able to think better. Maybe it will make your work faster!"

She knew the college student was right; this girl had a very annoying habit of being right more often then naught. They went back to small talk for a while before Darcy started to yawn again with the promise of starting her second internship with Jane again when the summer started in a few months. And secretly Jane hoped that when one of her closest friends came to visit there would be another someone there to greet Darcy when she walked through the door and into the lab.

How was Jane supposed to keep her mind free? How on earth was she supposed to relax for any length of time? She hadn't truly relaxed since before the attack of New York City took place.

Book… a book that would do the trick… right?

Of course though, as cruel and kind as it was, the only book that Jane had on her was the ones about the Norse Gods…. Myths and tales of Thor and his adventures were riddled throughout the pages, as were the stories of his tragic brother and the warriors three. It was the only book she had that wasn't revolved around the work S.H.I.E.L.D had been piling on her, the papers that were strewed all over the table, the small couch Eric had dragged in, and the large cot that she bought when she would fall asleep at her work…. It had become more and more common.

She absently flipped through the pages, slowly reading out the words and the stories wondering if they were true or if they were fables told by humans just like herself. The stories soon kept her attention and she found herself curled up on the couch enwrapped in one of the stories so much that she barely noticed the time slip away from her, the thrilling story of battle, victory, of even the failures that the warriors who battled alongside him.

The memories of them were brief but hem seemed like very kind and noble people, they were true friends of Thor, Jane hoped to one day—

The window flew open; the storm from outside had increased without her knowing and had blown the window clean open. The papers, her work, scattered all over the place. With the book forgotten Jane threw herself over to the glass and struggled to get it closed. "Come on, come on..." She groaned against the weight determined to do this

Everything I have to go through, everything I've had to go through… a freaking window? She gritted her teeth, annoyed as the rain soaked through her clothes and the chill that buried itself in her skin until goose bumps rose on her flesh.

What had been task before suddenly became so easy that it slammed shut with such force she thought that it had shattered. But she saw the large strong hand fitted right by her own smaller, fragile one.

It couldn't be…

The hand pulled away before even a noise could slip through her lips. It left—she spun quickly around, wanting to see, not quiet believing her own dream and watched the figure take two small steps back.

He stood there. Thor.

There was only raindrops, loud, weight filled raindrops that slammed against the roof. It was the only sound she could hear, the rest of the world and its sound was deaf to her. It was a dream, the way he just stood there in her lab, wet with heavy warm breath. He just stayed there, didn't move toward her, say anything, all he kept was a small smile on his lips.

This was the perfect chance, the one were she could spill everything. Thank him for the letter he had made sure she got, protected his secret as best she could and has worked so many hard hours and sleepless nights so that he could come back here, to do good—be here where she could see him once more. Jane wanted to tell him that she had never stopped searching for her, she never stopped; she even wanted to apologize because for a brief fleeting moment she had thought that she should move forward and not wait for someone no matter how breathless they made her or the knowledge that there was someone out there who would listen to everything she had to say and stay enthralled. There was so much that she wanted to tell him right there, it was her chance.

"Do you want some coffee?" That's what came out of her mouth at that moment instead.

His brow furrowed just as confused as she was. But Jane wouldn't let him speak; mortified, terrified that it might actually be all in her head. She couldn't stop when he attempted to speak, she just kept going, and she just kept talking afraid of silence.

"I remember how much you liked the coffee when you were (What was the right word? She thought) here last so I brought some when I was out. Though I wasn't sure what you wanted so I got a few different flavors. I hope there ok, but of course we can always go out and grab some more. Maybe different flavors or something." She ran towards the small kitchenette, "Are you hungry? I have some things here or we can order something like pizza. Did you have pizza the last time you were here? Maybe not, its good, though it can be very addicting when you tend to get lazy. Not that your ever lazy, after all I can't image a Demigod being lazy in any sense." And somewhere as she search through cabinets for coffee that had disappeared suddenly she slipped on the papers that were blow all over the place. The mess hadn't clicked in her head. "OH! I completely forgot about these. I am sorry about the mess, the papers everywhere. The wind blew them all over the place, I completely forgot about them. Let me just clean these up and then—"

"Jane"

The words died out. She had spoken so fast that everything around her had been a blur and he said her name so softly. She heard it, over the sounds of the coffee pot beginning to spur to life and the frantic rustle of paper in her arms. Everything just stopped then all because he said her name with a kind voice.

"Your back." She said.

Thor smiled at her, "Yes I am back," gently, slowly narrowed the space between them. "I had promised I would return to you. I am truly sorry that it took me so long to return. But I am here, for earth and for you. I shall stay as long as I can."

"Deal?"

He laughed, one that reach deep inside him and made the whole world just a little less dark, "Deal."