My Friend Loki: The Price You Pay

Part 22

Thor and I left Dr. Lowenstein's office, running as fast as we could while searching for the best way to get to Omega Level; the stairs.

Once we got there, both of us a little breathless - well actually I was the breathless one - we searched for 'landmarks' in the hallway to find the right room where Loki and Coulson were. Apparently, we didn't have to look too hard, there was a team of security not far from where we were standing.

As we got closer, I could hear a man yelling inside the room, "...He should have been tried and executed for his crimes. My sister died because of him!"

Admittedly, I did feel for the man and his loss, but not enough to feel true empathy, or even pity considering what he did, and had done, to my friend.

The man was brought out into the hallway, in handcuffs, and Coulson walked out behind him. If Loki having a panic attack was a haunting visage, the expression on this man's face was more so - the hate and loathing for my friend just exuded from him.

It was enough to make me take a step back - I ended up bumping into Thor.

"Sorry," I said, a bit sheepish.

Thor put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I did the world a favour," the man said proudly, looking at us - adding with a wicked grin, "you're welcome."

"Take him away," Coulson said, his voice tinged with disgust.

As security hauled the man off, Coulson gestured with his head for Thor and me to follow him into the room. When we got inside, I noticed Dr. Lowenstein was already there. Loki was still on the floor of the cell, lying inert. My hand went to my mouth as my eyes started to well up...

This couldn't be happening...

This wasn't the kind of freedom either of us wanted - but for me, it didn't make it hurt any less. Again, I felt Thor's hand on my shoulder.

"Beverlee," Thor said quietly, "things are not as they seem."

"Stay here," Coulson said to us, then walked over to the cell and opened the door. Entering, he knelt by Loki's body and carefully touched his shoulder, "are you hurt?" he asked.

The inert body came to life, rolled over, then sat up, "he grazed me," he pointed to his shoulder. The area of fabric there was burnt.

"That was quite a performance," Coulson said. "You really killed it."

"I what?" Loki said, becoming worried, "I-I didn't kill anything."

"Killed it means..." Coulson said with an amused expression, "that you did a good job."

Loki gave Coulson a small appreciative smile, then shrugged. The action of the shrug made him wince and clutch his arm.

"I was wrong about you." Coulson said, "You're... well let's just say I was wrong about you," then stood up and offered his hand to help Loki stand.

For a moment, Loki looked carefully at Coulson, then at his hand.

"This 'killing it'," Loki said slowly, attempting to understand the term, "seems much more rewarding than... the other kind." He grasped Coulson's hand.

"You're tellin' me."

As I watched this whole scene before me, I blinked away my sad tears, only to feel fresh ones of happiness. As I saw Coulson and Loki walk out of the cell, I felt elated in the extreme that my friend was alive.

Dr. Lowenstein approached Loki and briefly examined the burn on Loki's arm, "hopefully it just looks nastier than it really is," he said, "we'll know for sure after a trip to the examination room."

Loki silently nodded.

Thor then walked over to them, "Loki, your power of illusion did you proud."

"Not that proud, Thor," Loki said, showing him his injured arm, "he took me by surprise. I wasn't able to fully get out of harm's way."

"Well," Thor looked carefully at the injury, then said, "I'm proud of you anyway." His hand reached out to briefly touch Loki's cheek.

Then Loki saw me.

 Almost immediately glistening moisture appeared in his eyes.

I became worried and hastily went over to him. Reaching out with my hands to take his, he didn't take them. Instead, he took my wrists and pulled them around him into a hug, in turn, his arms wrapping around, no, enveloping me.

"I'm so sorry," Loki whispered. "Please forgive me," his voice was so sad, "I didn't mean to say those words to you in the cafeteria."

"Oh, Loki," I said, feeling very emotional, "there's nothing to forgive." I absently stroked his back, "I know you didn't mean them."

We simply held each other in silence for several minutes.

"Beverlee," Loki broke the silence with another whisper, "let's get out of here."

"Yes, let's," I said softly.

*********************************

Loki was taken back to the Med Centre for another session in the examination room. Again, Thor and I watched from the observation window.

I could see Dr. Lowenstein was taking his time to properly assess if my friend, from head to toe, was still in good shape.

We already knew Loki's ribs were healing. Then we learned the graze on his arm was a second-degree burn - like his ribs it would take time to heal, but the key thing was it would heal.

Instead of calling for a nurse to perform the burn care - applying ointment and dressing - Lowenstein did it himself. It gladdened me to have it done not only right away, but by somebody we'd both grown to trust.

Helping Loki off the examination table, Lowenstein assisted him back into his wheelchair. I could see from Loki's face he was fatigued.

Considering what he had been through... I soon had an idea that might be beneficial for my friend.

When Lowenstein wheeled Loki out to us, I excused myself for a moment and called Tom aside. I whispered a request to him, which made him smile.

"I can do that," Lowenstein said eagerly.