3

The worst part was that Darcy had no idea if Loki would come back so she could actually kick his ass. Or get her food back. Preferably both. Common sense told her she should just go ahead and restock her fridge, but something else told her to wait. Something aside from her wallet.

She could get by for a couple of days on pizza and pop-tarts before the need for variety and homemade dinners really got to her. There was something to be said for pop-tarts though. It probably helped that she still had a toaster. Unless Loki swiped that while she was with Jane. That would earn him an extra ass-kicking. On the house.

The door to Jane's lab opened silently, allowing Darcy to step in unnoticed. Her boss was awkwardly leaning over a table scribbling furiously in one of her notebooks. Part of Darcy felt like she should wait to greet the very much distracted woman, but after weighing the pros and cons, Darcy opted for another approach.

When Jane was this invested in her work, she tuned everything else out. Everything benign, anyway. The clang of metal hitting the floor or a well-timed scream usually elicited a very pleasing reaction. Or, you know, a sudden unexpected bear hug.

Darcy didn't have to try very hard to sneak up on Jane. She was really into whatever it was she was writing. Darcy almost felt guilty. Almost, but not enough to keep her from pouncing on her friend, wrapping her arms around Jane's hunched figure and refusing to let go.

Jane yelped, and would have fallen backwards, if not for Darcy's unrelenting grip.

"Hey boss-lady, thanks for the afternoon off yesterday!" Darcy thanked her cheerfully.

"Darcy!" Jane wrestled free and started looking around frantically for the pen she had dropped in Darcy's attack.

Darcy handed her one of the spares she'd learned to always keep in her back pocket. Jane gave her a look that Darcy had decided meant thank you before turning back to her scribbling. Whatever it was Jane was onto, it must have been serious. Usually an interruption like that earned a couple minutes of Jane's undivided (if frustrated) attention.

She did know how important all of this was to Jane, this wormhole project. Thor had visited for a couple days back in the spring, but he was distracted. Darcy could tell he was glad to see Jane, and overwhelmingly relieved that she was safe, but his brother's lies and betrayal weren't something he could set aside, even for a couple of days with his lady love.

Then he had returned to Asgard with Loki, and no one knew when he'd be able to come back.

Darcy didn't quite understand how Thor had been gotten to Earth that last time. What she did understand was that Thor had thought Loki was dead, and his sudden reappearance had shocked everyone in Asgard. It wasn't even that Earth may have been in imminent danger, or that Loki was causing trouble by gouging people's eyes out and stealing some sort of really powerful cube-thing; Thor had been sent back because Loki was alive. He had his own actions to answer for back on Asgard, having to do with New Mexico and whatever had been going on in his own world at the time, but Darcy could tell what Thor had come for was just Loki. Odin was probably more concerned with Loki's crimes, but Thor was concerned most of all with his brother.

No one ever gave Darcy enough credit for how observant she was, and she almost liked it better that way. Though there were those times when Jane had her helping with SHIELD business and the suits treated her like a useless hanger-on, busying her with mindless tasks. That was always irritating. Maybe the work she helped Jane do wasn't something she grasped very well, but she wasn't an idiot. At least, not most of the time.

She knew some people (or a lot of people) thought she was immature and didn't take her work or SHIELD seriously. Jane was one of the few people who got that all of her button-pushing had a purpose; it was Darcy's way of reading people. It was also just fun and helped break up the general monotony of whatever was going on around her, but it could be pretty useful.

And she knew something deeper was upsetting Thor because he didn't respond to any of it. So she had backed off, but she still watched him, heard the way in which he said "my brother" on those few occasions someone got him to mention Loki. Science was so impersonal. Her field of expertise was personal, and knowing how people worked, why they did what they did, to some extent, was helpful.

So when Jane almost completely ignored her, allowing herself only a quick jump, Darcy let her be. Most of the time, Jane could use the quick distraction and the slight stress relief that came with a minute or two of scolding Darcy. But today, Jane couldn't afford the interruption.

Looking at the other woman now, she realized it should have been obvious. Something about Jane's posture was different. She leaned in closer to the pages than she should have needed to, and she hadn't moved an inch since she'd turned away from Darcy. Jane was onto something new, something important, something that just might change everything.

Something that might let her see Thor again.

It took Jane a little over an hour to settle down.

Darcy had already started working. Most of what she did was transcribe Jane's nearly incomprehensible notes, and there was already a full book waiting for her from the day before. Jane's handwriting alone let on that this was big; the lines were heavy and dark from pressing far too hard on the page, and smudged from dragging her hand across the ink before it had a chance to dry.

Darcy had no idea what any of it meant, of course, but she'd started to recognize bits and pieces showing up now and then. Little equations would be noted down in the margins, and later Jane would try to fit them in somewhere. Sometimes they disappeared, sometimes they divided, and sometimes they found their place in a larger string of numbers and characters with the satisfied flourish of Jane's pen.

Every time she saw that, those little ticks that indicated Jane had figured it out, that she had connected one more piece of the puzzle, Darcy couldn't help but feel a little happy herself.

So when Jane walked over, another notebook in hand, Darcy had to smile.

"You've really got something this time." Darcy couldn't keep the slight awe from her voice, "I don't know what it is," she gestured vaguely at the notes she had been transcribing, "but I've never seen you working like that."

Jane returned the smile. It was tired, but she was brimming with excitement. "I almost can't believe it," she paused, "an Einstein-Rosen Bridge, Darcy. A gateway to another world, other worlds, and I'm right there, I can see it." She took a deep breath, and a look of fondness and real hope settled on her face. "I can see Thor again." It was a whisper, like Jane was afraid if she said it too loud it her wish wouldn't come true.

Darcy moved around her desk and wrapped her arms around Jane's thin frame. Her friend returned the hug, resting her head on Darcy's shoulder and holding her just a little too tightly. But these were special circumstances, and Darcy could stand the discomfort. She squeezed back, and felt a tear hit the back of her neck.

"Jane?" Her tone was quiet, and she tried to sound comforting. "You know, it's not like I'm not into hugs, but it's getting just a little hard to breathe here."

Okay, so she couldn't help being a little snarky. It paid off when she felt Jane smile before pulling back.

"Sorry." She said it with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Dude, don't be sorry." Darcy handed her a tissue. "You're building a wormhole to a bunch of crazy alien dimensions. Pretty much by yourself. I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but that's kind of amazing." She watched as Jane dried her eyes. "Also, you know, hot alien boyfriend waiting for you."

Jane rolled her eyes before glancing at the work on Darcy's desk. "So, how much have you got?"

"Oh, I was super productive while you were doing your thing. You should be impressed. Half of one of these books already, and only one cup of coffee into the morning." She grinned, pleased with her own little accomplishment.

Jane did look pleasantly surprised. Usually Darcy was not quite so eager, but she had to give the girl credit for really working when she knew it mattered. It always mattered, of course, but some days were lazier than others, spent playing with equipment or watching screens and waiting for data to compile. This day was much more.

"But enough about me," Darcy turned to Jane's latest toys that she'd assembled just the day before, "let's talk about your work." She waved her arms in the direction of the shiny instruments. "Like what the hell is all of that and what does it do?"

"Darcy, you don't care what anything in here does except for the coffee machine."

"No, I do not." She almost looked proud. "But you do, and you have that look that means you really want another smart person in here for you to talk to, but there isn't, so I'm making you talk to me. Now, what does the stuff do?"

Jane obliged, as Darcy knew she would, and led her assistant over to the new equipment, gesticulating and babbling excitedly. Darcy understood about half the words coming out of her friend's mouth, and so she let her mind wander. She still tried to nod at the appropriate times, but she was hardly listening.

Unsurprisingly, her thoughts settled on Loki.

Part of her was tempted to just tell Jane. She wouldn't tell her everything, as Darcy fully intended to keep the first few minutes of her acquaintance with Loki a closely guarded secret, but just the parts where Loki was in her goddamn apartment. Which was still confusing on far too many levels.

Then again, what could she say? 'By the way, Jane, this is great and all, but I thought I should mention that Loki was in my apartment yesterday. Also he stole all of my food.' There was no way that wasn't going to sound crazy. And then SHIELD would get involved, which was good in theory, but she'd probably be locked up in some interrogation chamber for a couple days. Or weeks. Probably weeks.

The longer Darcy thought about it, the more she became convinced that the Loki secret should stay a secret. At least for the time being.

Jane's speech seemed to be winding down, so Darcy let the Loki issue rest and tuned back in to her friend's commentary. When Jane finished speaking she took a deep breath, told Darcy to get back to work, gave her the look that Darcy had decided meant thank you, and excused herself for a coffee break.

As Darcy approached her desk, she noticed two things that hadn't been there before. Beside the notebooks sat a perfectly delicious-looking chocolate-chip cookie and a glass of red wine.

Author Note: So, two weeks isn't bad for another update, right? I was kind of hoping to get this up more quickly, but then personal stuff got in the way. I'm sorry there's no Loki in this chapter (okay, so there's implied Loki, but you know what I mean) but worry not, for he will be back soon! And by soon I mean whenever I get the next chapter up. It's a little annoying because I keep formulating these scenes in my head that aren't going to happen for awhile, and they're making it hard to think about precisely what's happening next. Also there was Jane in this chapter! Yay! I'm still not sure if I'm characterizing everyone in a way that makes sense, but I'll probably figure it out. And thanks everyone who has reviewed and followed and faved! I might be just a little bit amazed that there are actual people who are reading (and enjoying) my stuff. Current count because I'm having fun with this: 41 Follows, 16 Favorites, 15 Reviews.