It was late the next morning before you finally woke again. Loki was still curled safely, protectively around you. You smiled and ran your fingers through his hair. You managed to sit up without waking him. His arms stayed around you, his head in your lap. He looked so adorable, soft, vulnerable when he was asleep. He smiled softly as you stroked his hair. You touched the back of your hand to his forehead and frowned. Still too warm, though not as bad, not as dangerous.

His eyes cracked open and he made a small noise. His cheeks were still flushed, his lips dry. The fever had dried him out. You needed to get him awake and fix that. "Morning, love," you greeted him warmly.

He gave you a small smile and his grip on you tightened. He curled himself more comfortably, his eyes about to close again. "Mine," he told you softly, possessively, but lovingly.

You sighed, but you knew how possessive he was, how protective. "Yes, silly trickster, but it's time to get up now," you told him gently. He growled in reply. You smirked and bopped his nose. "Stop that. C'mon, wake up," you told him firmly. He growled, but his eyes finally cleared and he finally seemed to wake the rest of the way.

"Y/N?" he asked softly, confused. You ran your fingers through his hair again, keeping him calm. He sat up, but slowly, shakily. You helped him prop himself up against the pillows. He hated being weak or ill, hated that you could see him like this. You kissed him reassuringly.

"Yes, love. I'm here," you told him gentle, peaceful, reassuring. You were well practiced at the gentle peaceful tone. "How are you feeling?" you asked. You knew he was still ill. His cheeks were still flushed. He was too warm. You touched his cheek worriedly, trying to gauge just how bad the fever still was.

"I don't- What happened?" he asked softly, confused and worried, shivering even as he was fevered. Poor Loki.

You wanted to protect him, to just cuddle him back to feeling better, but he needed to know what happened and wouldn't rest until he did. "Jareth bit you," you reminded him, unsure where his memories left off. The fever could do weird things to memories. He nodded and you saw that he remembered that part. You hesitated, but you had to tell him. "You were infected. You've been unconscious for almost a day. You nearly died," you told him, fighting to keep the tears from your eyes. You weren't entirely sure that he nearly died, but you knew how much pack magic and nursing it had taken to keep him with you. He just stared, shocked. "I know you don't remember. The fever you had was brutal. You're going to be fine, we're past the worst, we just... we don't know what'll happen at the full moon..." you finally told him. He needed to know.

"You mean I'll turn?" he asked with absolutely no emotion in his voice.

"We don't know. It's never been tested on an Asgardian. Fenrir said you might be immune. We just don't know and there's no way to know what will happen until the full moon. I'll still love you no matter what happens, and we'll get through it together," you told him firmly.

He gave you a small smile, reassured by your words. "I love you too, little wolf," you smiled and kissed him. "I assume I have you to thank for my current state of being alive and relatively well?"

You shrugged, embarrassed. "The others helped too," you didn't want to go into detail, didn't want to tell him how sick he's been. You didn't want to make a big deal about it. Loki gave you a look.

"Tell me, darling," his voice was firm, he wanted to know how embarrassed he should be. He wanted to know what had happened while he was unconscious. You hesitated. He placed two fingers under your chin and forced your head up, forced you to look him in the eyes. "Tell me, little wolf. I need to know,"

You sighed heavily. "Fine, but in a minute," you told him just as firmly. He inclined his head and let your chin go, though raised an eyebrow at you. You climbed out of the bed and went into the bathroom. Everything was clean and exactly the way you'd had it before you'd saved Loki. You got the glass out from the cabinet behind the mirror and refilled it with water. You also grabbed the big scary first aid kit and brought it with you. You handed the glass of water to Loki before you returned to sitting next to him on the bed. "You drink that and I'll tell you everything that happened," you told him.

He grumbled and you knew by his grumbling just how bad he was feeling if he didn't even want to drink water, but he obediently took a sip of the water, so you started talking. While you told him everything that had happened since he was bitten you undid the bandage on his arm to check the wound, clean it since it still looked awful and infected, and replaced the bandaging with clean bandages.

"My brother saw me naked?" Loki asked horrified while you worked.

You were preoccupied with the ugly wound and weren't guarding your words. "No, only I had that pleasure," you told him. "You had underwear for the ice bath," you added and continued your story. You finished with the wound and your story at about the same time. He also held up the empty glass of water. "Good," you told him and kissed him. "You've gotta eat something, though, and I'm sure that brother of yours is worried," you got up again. He hesitated, you saw the fear in his eyes. "Come on, Loki," you bid him and took his hand to pull him out of the bed.

"I don't-" he started.

You sighed. "You're a mighty god, surely you can make it downstairs. The entire team is worried about you. They know you're not feeling well, but you'll reassure them by going downstairs to eat something," you reminded him. "Or do I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you there?" you asked, hands on your hips.

"You're incorrigible," he told you grumpily, but got out of the bed. You wrapped an arm around his waist. "I despise being ill," he growled. You laughed and walked downstairs with him. He tried to look casual as you walked into the living room, tried to look like he was feeling better than he was.

"Hey, Loki, you're alive! We were getting worried," Clint greeted you from the kitchen where he was making breakfast. Loki liked his pancakes the best, besides yours of course. Loki looked shocked by the attention as the rest of the team greeted him warmly, said how good it was that he was up and about. You got Loki settled at the dining room table, draped one of the blankets from the couch over his shoulders and set a giant glass of orange juice and a stack of Clint's pancakes in front of him.

"Darling, sit down and eat," Loki told you firmly. "Stop fretting. It's just a fever," he added. You kissed the top of his head.

"I'm allowed to worry over you. It's my job," you reminded him.

"Stubborn little Omega," he growled softly. He moved quickly, somehow, wrapped the blanket you had draped over him firmly around you and pulled you into his lap in your blanket burrito. You yelped and protested, but even sick he was strong and he held you firmly in his lap. "Mine," he told you.

"Loki..." you sighed, exasperated and squirmed, trying to free your arms of the burrito. "You're going to be incorrigible if you turn," you grumbled. He already had an Alpha-like personality. It would only get worse if he actually turned.

"I take care of you, Omega," he told you firmly. Yep. He was going to be incorrigible. You couldn't tell if it was because he was sick, or because he would turn that he was acting this way.

You still couldn't let him get away with it, though, not like this. "Loki. Let me go. This isn't like you. I know you don't feel well, but knock it off," you told him firmly, growling softly in warning. He blinked quickly and seemed to finally clear and he realized what he was doing.

"I'm sorry," he started as he loosened his grip.

"I know, love, I know," you told him, praying this mood of his was just because he was sick. You got off of his lap, settled the blanket back over his shoulders and kissed his forehead. "Eat your breakfast. You'll feel better with food," you told him gently. He grabbed your wrist and gave you a look. You sighed and rolled your eyes. "I'm going to the kitchen to get my plate from Clint," you reassured him. He let you go, but didn't look happy about it. You sat next to him with your breakfast a minute later.

"You're limping," Loki told you when you sat down.

"I was in a werewolf battle yesterday," you reminded him dryly. "You knew I was going to be injured. Even I don't heal that fast,"

"I was planning on bundling you in bed until you healed," he reminded you.

"I thought you were planning on taking me out somewhere nice," you teased. He smiled. The team looked reassured that he was in decent enough shape to joke and converse reasonably.

"As soon as you are feeling better," he replied warmly.

"Brother, I am glad you're feeling better!" Thor boomed as he entered the room. Loki flushed. He seemed to hate most of all that Thor had seen him in such a state as he'd been yesterday. Thor didn't embarrass him, though.

You had a pleasant breakfast with the team, though Loki looked like he was fighting to stay awake before the end of it.

You touched his forehead. "Come on, love, back to bed with you. That fever's getting worse. The team saw that you're doing better and your idiot brother will stop worrying now." He nodded tiredly and got back to his feet, the blanket wrapped around him like a cape while he shivered. You stood and wrapped an arm around him to steady him. Thor was on his feet too, worried. "He'll be fine, Thor. The worst is over," you promised. You hoped he wouldn't force the issue. Loki didn't want Thor to see him like this. Thankfully, Thor knew his brother well and didn't comment besides telling Loki to feel better. Loki was fading fast as you walked to the elevator and was leaning heavily on you, making small whimpery noises. Poor frost giant did not do well with heat, especially in the form of fever. "Do you trust me?" you asked him.

"Always," he murmured as the elevator doors slid shut, blocking you from view of the team. You smiled and swept him in his blankie cocoon bridal style into your arms. You fought back the wince as your injured body protested. Your ribs hadn't healed yet. Loki yelped, not expecting to be carried.

"Hush, love. You're safe," you reminded him. You were perfectly strong enough to carry him, and he wasn't as bulky as Thor, so it would look strange if the mortals saw you, a tiny female, carrying a grown man, but it was no strain, or wouldn't be if you weren't injured.

"This is ridiculous, put me down," he complained automatically. You didn't believe him since he just set his head on your shoulder exhausted and fevered.

"I will," you told him gently. "Now hush and let me take care of you." He hushed and even smiled. You got him tucked back into your bed. He was asleep before you'd even laid him down. So much for his indigence at being carried. He'd been pleased you cared enough for him to do so. You kissed his forehead and settled in to read, keeping watch over your sick Loki.

*

Your phone rang a couple days later. Loki was better and your wounds had nearly finished healing. You'd gotten back to work and school that day and were thoroughly enjoying that the rest of the team had gone out on a mission without the two of you.

"Why do people always call while I'm making out with you on the couch?" you growled from you position straddling Loki's lap as you reached into your pocket for your phone. It was Samuel. "Hey Samuel," you answered. Loki's fingers worked the knots in your back and he pulled you closer to him. He nibbled gently on your free ear and slowly kissed his way down your neck.

Annoying distracting god.

You minded so much.

Except that it was hard not to moan in pleasure while he was kissing your neck and kneading your back expertly.

"Y/N. I've been stalling this as long as I can, but there's pack business you have to attend to," Samuel told you. Loki stopped what he was doing when he heard that. He sat up and looked at you, raising an eyebrow. "I need you to come to the compound. Can you come tonight?"

You sighed heavily. "I know. Is anyone going to fight me the second I get there?" you asked him, placing a finger against Loki's lips before he could ask.

"No, they won't be fighting you," Samuel replied.

"We'll head right out then. Yes, Loki is coming with me. He's entitled, Samuel," you added quickly before he could protest you bringing your boyfriend.

"He's infected, I know. Father told me. You can bring him,"

You said goodbye and hung up the phone. "What was that about?" Loki asked when you removed your finger from his lips.

You sighed heavily. You'd been avoiding this conversation. "I have to visit the pack. There's pack business to take care of," you told him as you got off of his lap. "But I can't go dressed like this." Pajamas wouldn't do for the trip you had to take.

"Why does that sound so ominous?" Loki asked as he got to his feet too.

"Because it may very well be. I don't expect this trip to go pleasantly, though Samuel is right. It's been postponed as long as possible..." you explained as you headed back up to your room to change. He was quiet, thinking, until you were in your room, digging through your closet for something appropriate to wear. You settled on a bright red tank top, soft well-worn jeans, a black leather jacket, and your combat boots. You strapped on a visible dagger sheath at your side and the one hidden at the small of your back and tied your hair up. You took your necklace and bracelet off to leave behind safely.

"Does this have to do with your fight with Jareth?" Loki asked, evaluating your outfit as you hid more blades in your boots and in sheaths on your arms, before you shrugged the leather jacket on.

"Yes. Yes it does,"