Cassandra and Loki left the park in silence both lost in their own thoughts. If anything, things were even more awkward between them now. Walking beside her, Loki vibrated with irritation clearly regretting his earlier admission. Part of her wished to address it, but she knew bringing up his confession would only incense him.

She shifted her gaze away from the god who glared with narrowed eyes at any pedestrian who looked his way too closely.

A car drove slowly along the street, a long line of angry drivers trapped behind them. A few impatient vehicles whipped into the outer lane to bypass the slower car.

Outside the park entrance Cassandra stopped at the kiosk and ordered another coffee. "Loki, you want anything?"

He broke out of his trance to answer her. "No, I'm fine, darling."

Shrugging, Cassandra paid the coffee vendor and took her drink. They jogged across the street in the direction of Stark Tower. The sluggish car had stopped about a yard away beside a fire hydrant.

As they passed the parked vehicle the passenger window lowered a fraction. Everything happened in slow motion. A barrel of a gun appeared. Loki spun. Reaching for her, hand outstretched.

A loud crack sounded and then a fiery pain ripped through her shoulder. Cassandra fell, her coffee sailing through the air as she crashed to the sidewalk on her back. The lid burst off her coffee, the dark liquid splashing across the cement.

Mouth opening in a soundless gasp, she looked up at Loki who ripped the door off the car and hauled out the shooter. The agonizing pain paralyzed her leaving her helpless on the ground.

A couple pedestrians surged forward, kneeling beside her.

"Call 911."

Cassandra looked at Loki again through a haze of pain. Holding the shooter by the throat, the god looked like an avenging angel, his elegant features twisted with terrifying fury. In the blink of an eye, Loki wrenched the man's neck violently and dropped him to the ground.

The man's eyes bulged in death, his head turned at an unnatural angle.

Loki pulled out the driver and gave the man the same treatment before running over to Cassandra. "Cassandra!"

He knocked the people aside and scooped her into his arms, drawing out another moan. Spots danced in her vision.

Loki's voice sounded like it was traveling down a tunnel. "Hang on, little vixen. I'll get you help."

Safe in Loki's arms Cassandra let oblivion take her.

*************************************************************************************Loki had no idea where the hospital was. He dove into the first cab he found. "Take me to the hospital."

The driver did a double take at his passengers. The blood seeping from Cassandra's shoulder must have convinced him of the situation's urgency because he hit the gas, whipping across three lanes of traffic.

Loki cradled her carefully in his arms, bracing his legs against the wild ride through the city. Buildings sped by and Cassandra's face continued to grow paler and paler. He pressed his ear against her chest, her heartbeat was slowing. "Hurry up!" He snapped at the driver.

The cab skidded around the corner and the driver did a wild spin, sliding behind an idling ambulance at the Emergency Room entrance.

Loki burst from the car and ran for the glass double doors.

"Hey! What about my money?" The driver demanded.

Loki ignored him, gaze latching on the nearest lab coat. "This woman needs help."

The doctor barked orders as soon as she saw Cassandra. A gurney was brought along with a team of healers.

"Put her here." The doctor ordered.

Loki lowered her onto the gurney, his hand lingering on her cheek. "Take care of her." His face hardened at showing this hint of vulnerability in front of mortals. "Just do what you can." His hand curled into a fist and he jerked his arm to his side.

The doctor and her team were already running for the operating room. A nurse with a kind smile asked him to wait in the waiting room.

Loki eyed the mortals filling the room with disdain. "I will wait here."

"Dear, it will be some time before there's word of your...wife." She went to lay a hand on his arm and quickly retreated at the dark look that crossed his face. "If that's what you want."

The nurse returned to her post at the registration desk.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Loki found a shallow alcove to wait in. He propped himself against the wall across from a row of vending machines and scrolled through his phone for Fury's number. Cassandra had insisted he learn how to operate the device and he was glad she had.

The director answered on the first ring. "I didn't expect to hear from you."

"There are two dead humans not far from Stark Tower."

A beat of silence.

"I suppose you're responsible for them getting that way?" Fury asked dryly.

Loki rolled his eyes. A lot of fuss for a couple of dead humans. "I was doing my job. They were assassins. One of them shot Cassandra."

Fury's frustration blared from the speakers. "They would have been more useful alive."

"As if I care if I inconvenienced you, director." His fingers tightened on the screen. "Just take care of the bodies."

Then Loki hung up, tucking the phone into his pocket. His phone vibrated almost immediately. Crossing his ankles, he set the phone to silent and settled in to wait.

*************************************************************************************

Cassandra came to slowly. Her vision blurred for a few seconds, the pain shooting through her shoulder excruciating. An unfamiliar woman in a lab coat leaned over her, lines fanning out from the corner of her blue eyes. "You're going to pull through. Hold on."

"Loki." She whispered as a gas mask was fitted over her mouth.

"Your husband will be here when you wake."

Everything went dark again.

*************************************************************************************

A nurse found Loki three hours later in the alcove still waiting for word about Cassandra. He pushed off the wall and walked over to her every muscle in his body coiled with tension. "How is she?"

"Dr. Addy would like to speak with you, sir." She motioned for him to follow her.

The doctor waited for them down the hall. It was the same one who took Cassandra away earlier. "She made it through the operation. I was able to remove the bullet. Thankfully, there was no major damage. She'll have to wear a sling for six weeks but should recover full motion of her arm."

Relief swamped Loki. She was going to live. Dragging a hand over his mouth, he nodded curtly. "I'd like to see her."

The nurse cleared her throat pointedly. "Before that sir, we need you to fill out some paperwork for your wife. When you brought her in, you never gave us her name."

Loki glared at the woman. "It can wait. I wish to see Cassandra now."

The nurse jotted something down on the clipboard. "Cassandra what? Do you have her insurance card?"

These human healers were no better than filthy bilge-snipes. Clearly, they cared more for profit than those entrusted to their care. His hands balled into fists as he barely restrained himself from punching the nurse in the face.

Dr. Addy held up her hand to stop the flood of questions from the nurse. "This can wait, Clare. Show him to his wife. She's still in recovery." Her blue eyes flickered to Loki for a second. "Cassandra is lucky. A few inches lower and the story might have been different. The police will be here shortly to speak with you."

"The police?" Loki asked sharply.

"Its policy to contact the authorities when a gunshot victim is brought into the ER." Dr. Addy replied coolly.

Ah, now Loki understood. The doctor thought he was the one who shot Cassandra. His alleged wife. He was used to people thinking the worst of him. This was no different. The corner of his mouth lifted. "Don't you have other patients to take care of doctor? Or is the emergency room such an idle place you can stand here and berate me?"

Dr. Addy's eyes turned flinty. "Clare, don't let him leave the building until he speaks with the police."

"Yes, doctor." The nurse shot Loki a disapproving look and stalked off.

The nurse took Loki back to the recovery area. "I'll give you some time alone, but I will be waiting just outside."

A flimsy curtain shielded Cassandra from view from the other unconscious patients. Her shoulder was bandaged, her left arm in a sling.

An oxygen mask fit snuggly against her mouth and nose. A bunch of wires attached to the crook of her arm monitored her heart rate. She looked so small lying in the bed, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow, engulfed by the thick white sheet draped over her.

Loki pulled up a hideous green chair beside the bed. Her hand rested limply across her stomach. He took her hand in both of his, pressing his lips tenderly against her fingers.

He sat there in silence for several minutes holding her hand. The only sound the steady beep of the monitor and his soft breathing. Loki hated this. Caring for someone. Caring for someone meant you cared if they were hurt or taken from you.

Sentiment was revolting.

"The woman's husband brought her in with a gunshot wound, officer." A woman's voice drifted past the curtain.

"Is he still here?" A man demanded.

Loki tensed. It seemed the authorities had arrived. With barely a thought he shifted his appearance. When the cop stomped into view he saw a middle-aged male nurse checking the patient's vitals.

The officer hitched his thumbs into the belt loops of his pants, his massive gut straining his uniform shirt. "Are you the husband?"

"I'm sorry officer, I don't know what you're talking about." Disguised Loki said guilelessly.

"The woman's husband, where is he?"

Disguised Loki scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I believe he went to the bathroom. I didn't ask when I came in to check on the patient."

The cop snorted and rubbed a finger beneath his nose. "Which way?"

Disguised Loki shrugged. "I didn't ask."

After shooting a final suspicious look at Loki, the cop waddled off to fruitlessly search for his quarry.

Loki listened for the cop's retreating footsteps before he turned back to the bed. While he could not read minds planting a suggestion was not beyond him.

He pressed another kiss to Cassandra's forehead and whispered. "Dream of me, little vixen."

A/N: Yes, I finished this! I know, I know, I keep torturing Cassandra but that's half the fun of writing. Tormenting your characters. I hope you enjoyed it. As always, comment, vote, and have a great day!