"So how do you want to do this?" Bruce questioned as they ran down the sidewalk, Korg following close behind with Thor in his arms.

"I don't know....I didn't really have a plan up to this point."

The scientist sent him a glare.

"So...we're just gonna walk in and get Thor to the infirmary?"

Loki shrugged, never slowing his pace.

"Why not? To be honest, I could care less right now. All that matters is that Thor is given proper medical attention. I'd heal him myself, but my powers don't extend to healing a fatal wound on another Asgardian."

Bruce stared at him with curiosity.

"Are you sure about this? You could turn back right now and no one would think any different of you."

Loki shook his head.

"No. Thor is my brother and I need to be there for him. I can't be on the run forever, Doctor. If I continue to run the opposite direction whenever I'm faced with a problem then I'll never solve anything. This is probably for the best. Besides, I can't clear my name when I'm hiding out in a warehouse."

The scientist nodded, deciding that Loki had earned a tiny bit of respect in his book.

They got to the facility, and Bruce noticed Loki's hesitation.

"I'm not going to say this again. Are. You. Sure?"

The trickster nodded and pushed open the door only to receive a face full of guns from the SHIELD operatives that had surrounded him.

"Get Thor to the infirmary. I'm guessing that Fury will want to talk with me, so I'll make this quick and meet you there. Go!"

Korg and Bruce took off down the hall as Loki was surrounded.

"Back so soon, Laufeyson? Though I doubt you're here to turn yourself in."

Loki smiled.

"Heavens, no. I'm here because my brother sustained an injury and needs medical attention. Bruce Banner and a friend of mine have already reached the infirmary by now."

Fury glared at him with his one good eye.

"Right. So do you mind having a quick chat with me about why exactly you're here on Earth?"

Loki returned the glare.

"Only if I'm absolutely sure that this chat will end with enough time for me to get back to my brother."

Nick nodded his head in a silent agreement to the terms.

"Glad that that's settled. Take him to the detention block."

Loki was marched off through the facility, flanked by ten of Fury's best agents. They weren't taking any chances with him. Luckily, the god of mischief had already scouted out six different ways to escape should it be necessary.

They put him in a cell similar to the one he'd been in when he first came to Midgard during the attack.

Loki remained calm, hoping that the conversation would go quicker than he thought.

Minutes later, the director entered.

"Alright, I have a few questions for you, Loki."
***
Undisclosed Location

"We have agents stationed around the entire perimeter of the SHIELD facility, ready to attack. All you need to do is give the word."

Dr. Pamela Reese sat at her desk, staring at the General in front of her. Her pen tapped idly on the cherry wood surface and the scent of hazelnut coffee filled the spacious room.

"I understand that you are anxious to take action, General, but everything will play out in time. It's about patience. Tell me, have you ever played chess?"

The General shook his head, unsure of where she was going with this.

"You see, it's all about strategy. All we need them to do is make one fatal move, and then...."

She flicked the king chess piece that sat atop her desk onto it's side and smirked.

"Checkmate."
***
"Thor! My gods....I'm so sorry!" Loki cried as he rushed into the small room.

Thor sat up slightly in the hospital bed and grimaced as the pain in his chest increased.

"Loki? What are you doing here? What am I doing here?!"

The trickster sighed as he stood at his brother's bedside.

"Look....I screwed up. I let my rage consume me and when I stabbed you, it grazed an artery. The wound was fatal and I didn't know what to do, so Doctor Banner and Korg helped me bring you to SHIELD to get medical attention. Fury has agents stationed outside of this room and SHIELD will be watching my every move, but apparently my conversation with Fury went better than I expected and for the most part...I'm free."

Thor grinned, slapping Loki's arm with a chuckle and immediately regretting the decision as a fresh wave of pain shot up through his chest.

"That's wonderful, brother. Speaking of Korg....did you really bring him here?"

Loki let out a small laugh, his expression brightening as relief flooded him.

"Yeah, he earned several curious glances from the SHIELD agents. How are you feeling?"

The thunderer shrugged with one shoulder, trying not to aggravate his wound.

"Well, I've been worse. What do we plan on doing about the woman that we left in that alley?"

The smile vanished from Loki's face as the memories hit him.

"I don't know. All I know is that the people are missing their king, so we need to get you back as quickly as possible."

Thor nodded his head weakly.

"Yes, I should be fine if I just rest for a few hours."
***
As promised, Thor was ready to go in no less than three hours, and the group of four headed out of the facility.

They had almost made it back to the warehouse when they noticed a crowd gathering around a tree on the outskirts of the park that the Asgardians has first ventured through when they crashed on Midgard. The Battery was flooded with people that looked sick to their stomachs.

"What's going on?" Korg asked, beginning to push his way through the crowd.

His question was answered when he saw the man's body hanging from the tree. He dangled from one of the branches, where his neck had a rope looped around it connected to the branch.

"I think I'm gonna be sick..." Bruce announced as he ran to the nearest trash can and hurled.

"What is happening to our people?"

Loki turned to look at his brother.

"I don't know....but I don't think that it's coincidental. I think it's strategic....almost as if someone is trying to send us a sign."

He had no idea how right he was.