He wasn't in the medical wing on the helicarrier. That was the first thing that Agent Phil Coulson noticed as he came back to consciousness he wasn't sure how long after Loki's attack. His senses immediately went on high alert. Not a hospital either, he realized after a moment, the bed he could feel beneath him much too soft, the cover tucked over him some sort of fur. He slowly opened his eyes a fraction, hopefully enough for him to fool any observers.

No, definitely not a hospital or any other medical facility that he knew of. The bed was large, of some sort of carved wood, thick pillows filled with down tucked beneath his head. There was a fireplace large enough for a man to stand up in without bumping his head across from the bed, a fire roaring. What in the world was going on? This didn't look like the prison he had expected once he realized he wasn't in a hospital. Had Fury decided that he needed a vacation after what had happened, and had put Stark in charge of his accommodations?

Just then he detected movement. He risked twitching his head a bit to see better. There was a bench by the fire, heaped with more pillows, and there was a girl sitting there. He didn't think she could be older than thirteen, a long green tunic over skirts of the same color, black hair pulled back with something that looked almost like bone. A basket was sitting beside her, a piece of cloth that she was sewing on her lap. What in the world was going on here?

Before he had time to think about it more, to work out some sort of plan, the girl looked up, and then moving faster than he thought possible, she was at his bedside.

"Good day, my lord. I am Leah." she said, her speech somehow bringing Thor's to mind. "My mistress bids you welcome. If there is anything you wish, but name it and it will be done."

He slowly sat up. His suit, he was in his suit. Would they have sent him on vacation in his suit? Or put him to bed in his suit? At least it wasn't one of those flimsy hospital gowns though. With one of those one, he wouldn't have dared get out of bed in front of a child. "Where am I?"

"Hel, my lord." Leah told him.

"Hell?" He had gone to hell? "Budapest. It was Budapest, wasn't it? I always thought that was a little iffy, but I never suspected it was a mortal sin." Hell, just perfect. And what had happened to the Avengers while he was on a trip downstairs courtesy of Nick Fury's assignments? Had they stopped Loki? He didn't have time to go to hell. Who knows what trouble Stark had caused while he was gone.

"What is a Budapest, my lord?" Leah asked as Coulson stood and looked around the room, located the door and headed towards it. "Good sir, you should return to bed. I do believe the fever is upon you, although I do not know how that is possible. Perhaps rest will bring you to your senses."

As he crossed the room, Coulson caught sight of the girl's sewing. Was that an embroidery of Stark? Just more proof he was in hell.

"My lord, please!" Leah opened the door right after Coulson walked through and hurried down the hall after him at a run. "My mistress will be here in but a moment. I'm sure she can aid you with whatever you desire, if you will return to your bed!"

"What I need is to get back to work." Surely Fury would let him remain on the helicarrier. He wouldn't have to pay a ghost. That would be a plus. As he thought, Phil drifted through another door, and suddenly stopped short.

There were candles everywhere, on tables and benches, and floating in mid-air. And in the center of the room was what looked like a glass coffin. And inside…. What in the world was going on? He was inside the coffin, eyes closed, hands tucked at his side, his best suit on. "I didn't know they brought your body along when you went to hell." Phil murmured as he took a step back. but couldn't bring himself to turn his eyes away from the sight in front of him.

"I'm afraid you've made an error, good sir." A voice behind him said. "This is Hel, with one L. I am Hela, and I bid you a most gracious welcome to my home."