Second Chance

Chapter 10

I wake up in the infirmary. I looked around and Wanda was sitting against the wall, Steve was sitting by my bed, and Tony was standing at the door.

"How did the meeting with Cassie's parents go?" Steve asks Tony.

"How would you expect it to go? They said they would love for us to have Secret give them a call when she woke up."

"I guess its a good thing I'm awake now." I say, getting their attention.

"Hey, you're OK!" Wanda smiles.

"Well I wouldn't call being in here OK, considering other circumstances. "

"Glad to see you awake kiddo." Tony smiles.

"So how are Larry and Jessica holding up?" I ask him.

"They said that they were proud of her."

"Thank you for doing that. I wouldn't have had the strength. So I'm not really injured right? I can go back to my room?"

"Well, I'm not sure you want to go back in there." Steve mumbles.

"I'm well aware of what I did. How is loki?"

"Same. He has been asking for you." Wanda says.

"How long was I out?"

"Two days." Steve says.

"Well, if its OK I'd like to go back to my room." I grumble as I sit up and get to my feet. My legs a little wobbly, but I manage to walk fairly for well being so emotionally distraught that I went into a two-day coma. Steve puts his hand under my arm, but I wave him off. They all follow me as I make my way to my room.

"I tried to clean up some things, and I found you another nightstand. We will have to look harder for another TV." Tony explains.

"Don't worry about it. Look, I greatly appreciate everything you guys have done. I am truly happy to have you guys as my teammates, as my friends. So go to bed, don't worry about me. I'm just gonna fix the stuff I broke." I smile.

"As your friends, its our job to worry." Tony says nudging me. He kisses my forehead and leaves the hallway.

"If you need anything, come get me." Wanda says. She hugs me and goes back to her room.

"So, are you sure you don't want help putting your room back together?"

"I think I can handle it. Plus, I'm the one who did it. I have to own up and fix it."

"You can't blame yourself for all of this, you know that right?"

"Well, I may know that, but that doesn't stop me from thinking it."

"Listen. I want you to get some real rest. OK?"

"Ha-ha, I feel like this was the other way around a couple weeks ago?"

"Ha, I guess it's my turn to worry about you." He laughs.

"I'm gonna go to my bed. And sleep. Or hibernate. Either one works." I smile at him as I open my door. My room is totally trashed except for Loki's side. I fix my bed, straighten my night stand, and sit down.

"Secret?" Loki asks. He is now standing up leaning against his door.

"Hi there. Long time no see honey bunches of crazy." I chuckle.

"I see you are in better spirits?"

"Somewhat. As much as someone can, after they lose the only family they have left."

"I am... sorry."

"It's OK. It is not your fault. You gave me the address. Without you, I would never have been able to say goodbye to her." I smile at him. I get a knock on my door, and I open it. Wanda hands me a package.

"It's what you ordered before we left for.."

"I know. And thank you!" I smile at her. I walk back into the room, open the box and take out a smaller box.

"Hey, I got you something." I say to loki.

"What?" I walk over to the slot, and open it. He comes over to me and I take his right hand. I slip a ring on his middle finger. It is a beautiful emerald green with silver writing that reads: be your own second chance. As I am putting the ring on, I cast a simple enchantment and the emerald color begins to glow and glisten with the power it now holds. I step back and close the slot. I look down and open the door with the enchanted key. I pull open the door back and stand in front of him. I look up at him. You can see the tears building up around his intense green eyes.

"I know we have not always saw eye to eye, but maybe that is because I never gave you a chance. I practically preach that second chances are mandatory and that everyone makes mistakes, yet I never really gave you an opportunity. So this is it. You gave me the opportunity to see my friend for the last time, and I want to give you the opportunity to see a new friend for the first time." Smiling, I take his hand and pull him out of the box. "I know that I can't actually promise you freedom, but I can take down these walls, and let it just be one shared room. I mean, they aren't necessarily OK with you roaming the halls just yet, but that stuff takes time." I reach up and put my arm around him, pulling him in for a hug. He flinches at first, but accepts. "Thank you. And I am so sorry you had to see me break down the way I did. I fell apart at the seams, and I'm still trying to sew myself back up." I say as I walk to my closet. I start picking up my clothes and he comes in to help me. "You know you don't have to help me."

"I want to."

"But you have already helped me fairly enough. I'm sure you're getting tired of always having to talk to me by now." I laugh.

"Well, as long as it does not pertain to that horrendous TV show about the " sponge," I find it somehow comforting to talk with you. What is it you said, venting." I turn around and see him smiling from behind. He finishes helping me clean the room, and I settle into bed. He climbs into his bed and I roll over to look at him.

"So what are these so called microwaves?" He asks me. I just burst into uncontrollable laughter. He rolls over to meet my gaze from across the room and he smiles. A real smile. And a little piece of my broken heart heals. He smiled.