All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Forty-Five

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Time crept by more slowly than McKenna thought was ever possible. Skye had yet to return and although she'd only just met her, McKenna couldn't help but worry about her. She and Coulson sat on her cot, her head resting against his shoulder. When they first met, she couldn't imagine ever thinking him anything other than an uptight Fed high on his own power. Now, she considered him a friend.

"Phil?"

"What?"

"Can I ask you something?" She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked him squarely in the eye. "About what happened with Loki. In New York?"

Coulson's eyes widened, then returned to their normal shape. "Of course."

"Did he really kill you?"

He swallowed slowly and then nodded. "He did. He ran me through with his scepter."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. You had nothing to do with it. And I've come to terms with what happened. I don't hold it against him. At least not too much."

"Still, I'm sorry. And I know he would apologize to you as well."

"He's changed a lot since those days."

"He has. And in some ways, I think he is still the same man as well."

"That man craved power. Now, I don't get that vibe from him."

She smiled. "Now all he craves is peace and quiet. Our house is a noisy place."

Coulson laughed. "I can imagine."

"If Loki killed you, how is it you're here?" she blurted, before her nerve fled.

"I'm afraid I can't divulge that information, McKenna. It's classified."

"Oh. Right." She glanced down at the floor. It was scuffed and worn linoleum tiles that had once been maroon and white, but the maroon faded to a sickly purplish color. "You know, he never really threatened me. When he first landed in my apartment, I mean."

"Really? Then why did you help him?"

"I don't know. I guess because he needed it." She sighed softly, reaching up to unwind her ponytail. She scraped her hair back to smooth it, then rewound it. "I'd just broken up with this guy I'd been living with and when Loki crashed into my place, I was in a low place and here was someone I could actually help, that I'd be important to."

Letting out a rueful chuckle, she shook her head. "What a loser, huh?"

"On the contrary. True kindness is a rarity in today's world. You should never apologize for that. Besides, that kindness could be what saved him."

"I don't know. He said the same thing once, but it's gotten me into trouble more than it hasn't."

Coulson gave her a squeeze. "It didn't that time."

"I know."

"So he never threatened you? Really?"

She smiled. "A little, at first. But it was all vague and 'you won't like it if you don't obey' kind of stuff. Aside from zapping my phone into the twilight zone and nearly setting my kitchen on fire, he never did anything to me."

Coulson gave her a grin. "I'd say he did at least one thing to you."

It took her a moment, but then she laughed. "Well, that came later. By then I wasn't at all afraid of him."

"I hope not." Coulson grinned. "How are they, by the way?"

"Fine, I think. They're safe under Odin's watchful eye." McKenna tried to ignore the pang in her heart at the mention of Selig and Aislinn. She never missed them as much as she did right then. All she wanted was to go to Asgard with Loki, gather their son and daughter in her arms, and never let go of the three of them.