All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

McKenna sighed as she turned away from Selig's doorway. Both kids were sound asleep and yet, as the clock in the family room chimed midnight, McKenna was wide awake. Thank God tomorrow was Saturday and no one had to get up early, and Shannon didn't insist on chatting into the wee hours. She knew McKenna had enough on her mind, and wisely didn't push.

Shannon was sound asleep in one of the guest rooms, so McKenna went downstairs into the kitchen. It'd become something of a ritual. After everyone else was asleep, she'd make a cup of hot chocolate and sit at the table, just watching the darkness and waiting for spring to arrive.

Lunch was nice, but a little weird, as it'd been a long time since she'd gone out to eat with a guy who wasn't Loki and it was the first time she'd been one on one with Clint. He was normally very quiet and somewhat reserved with the group. But alone, he was actually quite warm and funny, telling her stories about everyone from Phil Coulson to Tony Stark that no one else probably knew about.

When lunch was over, he walked her back to her car and said, "Call me anytime you need a sympathetic ear, Kenna," and gave her a quick hug.

And the rest of the day passed by uneventfully. Now, as she stared out at the darkness, she sighed. It was dramatic, but she was beginning to think Loki was never coming home.

A movement caught her attention and she got up to get a better look.

Lady Sif was emerging from the woods, dressed in a long black cloak, and McKenna felt her heart leap into her throat as she yanked open the French doors and hurried out into the cold. "Sif?"

"Oh, McKenna, thank the gods I didn't have to wake you." A silvery frost cloud rose from Sif's lips and a furrow appeared between her eyebrows. "You need come at once."

"To Asgard?" Her pulse pounded through her temples and a sick feeling rose in her throat. "What happened to Loki?"

She thought she was going to faint, her knees already buckling as Sif shook her head. "You need to come with me. Now."

McKenna grabbed the deck railing. "Tell me, Sif. What. Happened?"

Sif came up the steps to take her hand. "I will, but we need to go now."

"I have to let Shay know." McKenna could barely breathe, her words spilling out over one another. "And the kids... I have to get them up..."

"They should stay here for now, McKenna. I will come for them if need be."

"Sif, please..." Her voice was no more than a whisper and she tried to suck in some air without success. "Please tell me... what happened to him..."

Sif opened the doors and gave her a gentle push. "Sit. I will wake your friend and tell her she needs watch the children."

McKenna nodded, sinking into her chair and letting her head fall into her hands. Her heart beat so loud, all she could hear was the slam and bang and the roar of her blood. Her stomach churned madly, growing worse by the moment. Sif was just coming back into the kitchen when McKenna's gut revolted and she bolted to the bathroom just off the kitchen.

Sif waited patiently, handing McKenna a cup of water. "We really do need to go, McKenna."

"I know." McKenna rinsed her mouth and rose onto unsteady legs. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes as Sif handed her both her jacket and her boots. She slid into everything, her hands shaking so badly, she couldn't zip the jacket.

Sif caught her wrist. "You won't need it zipped."

McKenna nodded numbly and followed Sif out into the cold, although she barely felt it. She barely felt the snow that seeped into her boots, or the cold that pricked her cheeks. She only felt the heavy mantle of dread on her shoulders. "What happened?"