The Before [Prequel- Part 1]

"Where is she?"

~~~Thor's pov~~~

"This isn't healthy, sister." I sighed as I watched Catherine remain in her chair beside my brother's bed. "You need a break."

It had been two days since Banner made the decision to keep Loki on life support due to him finally showing some signs of recovery, but Catherine refused to leave his side for fear of anything happening.

"Thor, I appreciate your concern, I really do. But as I told Natasha, Bruce, Steve, and Pepper, I am not leaving or 'taking a break' until I know that nothing will happen to my husband the second I exit the room." Her voice was more upbeat than it had been a week ago, but I could still hear slight apprehension in her tone.

I was grateful that Loki found someone that loved him like Catherine did, but if she wasn't able to even leave him to eat a meal, I had to find some way to get her out of there.

"I understand that." I nodded, quickly formulating a plan. "And after this, I'll stop trying to persuade you. I promise. But could you just do this one thing?"

She raised a brow suspiciously, but nodded.

"Just walk down to the library and grab a book. You can bring it back here and read it to him. Maybe it'll wake him up." I said this knowing that the walk to and from the library was at least ten minutes.

It may not have been a lot, but it would still be ten minutes that she wasn't obsessing over my brother's condition or when he might wake up.

"Fine." She groaned. "But just to get you guys off my back." And with that, she headed for the door.

I can't believe that worked.

"Wait. Thor?" She called back to me as she was about to walk out.

Damn. So close.

"Yes?"

"Could you stay in here until I get back? I just don't want a repeat of what happened last time..." She trailed off, worry filling her features.

"I won't leave this room until you return. You have my word." I assured her, and with that, she finally left the room.

As it turns out, she couldn't have left at a worse time. Because five minutes later, I saw my brother begin to stir back to consciousness.

~~~Loki's pov~~~

I sat straight up with panic as I awoke, blinded by the bright lights shining down on me.

Upon looking at my surroundings, I realized that I was back at the compound, alive.

I was alive.

This caused another wave of panic to come over me, especially since I didn't see Catherine anywhere in the room.

If I was still alive, did that mean the transfer spell hadn't worked?

"Brother..." I heard Thor's voice and I turned to see him stepping forward cautiously from the other side of the room.

"Thor?" Confusion now mixed with my panic as I stood from my hospital bed. "What happened? Where is Catherine? Is she okay?"

He raised his hands in protest when I took a few steps away from the bed. "Brother, hold on. You've been unconscious for a long while-"

I promptly ignored him, my heart racing as I realized he wasn't answering my question. "Where is she, Thor?" Fear coated my words.

He said I'd been unconscious... Was I in a coma?

I tried recalling anything from the time I had been asleep, but I couldn't remember a thing. A familiar voice, maybe. But other than that, it had just been darkness.