Jade has lost track of time – her phone dying moments after she contacted her dad. Evan hasn't been back since the last time – ten hours ago. Jade has been forced to keep her mind going – have faith that she'll be found soon and taken home where she's safe. She's in pain – excruciating, throbbing pain, but she can't think about that right now. The only thing she can think about is getting home to you, Loki, Thor, and her siblings. The fifteen-year-old knows that the trauma will take a toll on her, but she reminds herself that as long as her family is by her side, she'll come out alright.
She'll be able to say she's a kidnapping and sexual assault survivor.
"NYPD search warrant!" a male voice calls out from the floor above the room where Jade is being held. "If anyone's here, you'd better show yourself or we'll release the dog!" A few seconds go by, and the sound of a flashbang echoes the top floor. Soon after, the storming of the SWAT team becomes music to Jade's ears. "Jade!" an officer yells out as the team searches each room. She's not gagged this time – she's doesn't have a gun to her head anymore.
"DOWN HERE!" the teen screams at the top of her lungs – praying that they'll be able to follow her voice. The footsteps stop, and she screams again. "I'M DOWN HERE!"
"Jade!" another officer yells as he runs down the stairs into the room that the voice is coming from.
"I'm here!" she continues to yell – her voice cracking through her tears of relief. "Behind the wall!"
She can hear the officers exploring the basement wall. One officer moves a dresser, and he finds a small door.
"It's a fake wall," he reports to his fellow officers.
When Jade sees the flashlight from the SWAT officer's rifle, she scrambles to her feet and runs towards the opening. Immediately, the officer passes his gun over to another officer, and Jade jumps into the fully-armored SWAT officer's arms while the others breathe a sigh of relief.
"Can I go home now?" Jade tearfully asks the man – feeling him adjust his grip, so he can carry her to safety.
"You're going home, sweetie," he softly assures her.
While Jade is being checked out by a paramedic in the back of an ambulance, you and Loki arrive at the scene - the amount of flashing lights and sirens shocking both of you. Loki quickly parks, turns the car off, and jumps out of the car – sprinting up to the ambulance with you in tow.
"Jade!" Loki yells for his daughter. She turns her attention from the paramedic bandaging her wrist, to you and her father coming towards her. Instantly, the tears start coming from her exhausted, blue eyes. "Oh, thank the Gods you're alive," Loki sighs – wrapping the teenager in his arms and holding her head to his chest. She immediately hugs him back – squeezing him as tight as she can around his waist.
Seconds later, you join in on the hug, and Jade wraps her arms around both of you.
"I'm so sorry," you apologize to your daughter – placing a kiss on her matted, black hair. "Jade, I'm so sorry."
Jade shakes her head and lets the two of you go. "Mom...what are you sorry for?"
"That I wasn't there to protect you," you whisper – your tears still flowing
"No, mom," Jade denies, "this wasn't yours or dad's fault. Okay? This was his."
Loki scoffs to himself. "I should've made you stay home."
"Dad, stop!" Jade yells – jumping off the back of the ambulance. "Stop trying to make yourselves feel bad!" She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I need you two more than ever."
You and Loki nod – pulling your eldest daughter back in for another hug. "We're sorry," you apologize. "We...Your father and I have never felt so much fear."
"Neither have I," Jade whispers – almost to herself – her eyes staring off as her mind relives everything that happened to her. "Can we please go home?"
You, Loki, and Thor pace around the living room all night – having been told by the police to stay put in case Jade returns home. You and Loki want nothing more than to go scour the city streets of New York and find your daughter.
"She's tough," Thor reminds both of you. "Jade's Loki's daughter...she'll be fine."
Loki scoffs and stops his pacing – sitting down on the sofa next to his brother. "For whoever's taken her sake...she better be."
You walk over and sit on the god's lap – leaning back to rest your head on his chest.
"I can't just sit here and do nothing," you say quietly. Upon hearing the distress in your voice, Loki begins to rub your forearms in an attempt to calm your nerves.
"I know neither of you want to consider it," Thor carefully begins, "but...do you think she possibly ran away?" You and Loki stare daggers at the God of Thunder, who holds his hands up. "I'm just saying...she's done it before, right?"
"No," Loki denies through his clenched teeth. "She was in a great mood this morning. She's been in a great mood for months now."
"Daddy...," a small voice calls out from the hallway. Ivy creeps into the living room where the panic-stricken adults are.
Loki stands up and scoops up the eight-year-old, who has clearly been crying. "Hey, sweetheart," he says calmly – walking back over to the sofa with the twin in his arms. "What're you doing up so early?"
"I miss sissy," she tiredly says – rubbing her face into Loki's shirt. "When is sissy going to come home?"
Loki looks to Thor as if he can tell him what to say, but Thor takes the chance to speak up. "Jade will be home before you know it," he smiles – his optimism earning a scoff from Loki.
"You promise, Uncle Thor?" Ivy asks with pleading eyes.
"I promise," Thor assures the eight-year-old.
Suddenly, Ivy climbs out of her dad's lap and goes to hug her uncle – becoming comfortable against him and her eyes forcing themselves closed.
"Should we take her back to her bed?" you quietly ask Loki – leaning on his shoulder and joining him in looking at the little girl snuggling against her uncle, whose eyes are also beginning to close.
"No," Loki answers. "Let's let her sleep."
Your eyes manage to close – not that your mind got any rest, though. Loki's eyes never left his phone – desperate to get any information about his missing fifteen-year-old – when suddenly, there's a text message notification.
Loki jumps up from the sofa – effectively waking Thor, Ivy, and you up.
"Loki, what's goi-,"
"Jade texted me!" the God of Mischief answers your question immediately – his fingers desperately sending text messages to the teen. "She's been kidnapped." Loki passes you the phone that has one gray message breaking up the barrage of blue ones.
"Oh my God," you whisper to yourself – your hand covering your mouth as you pass the phone back. "She's alive."
You take a deep breath and try to calm your nerves. Jade is alive, and right now, that's the most important thing. You notice Loki's face turn red – the air filling with his rage. "Loki?"
"He has her," Loki quietly states. "That son-of-a-bitch has our daughter!"
"What? Evan?" you ask incredulously. "Loki, the police already searched his house...his and Claudia's."
"Then they've missed something," he argues – becoming more frustrated by the second. "They need to go look again."
You stand up and wrap your arms around your lover – trying to keep him calm and his thoughts straight. "Yes, Detective Lopez, it's Loki Laufeyson," he begins quickly. "Jade managed to send me a text. She says Evan Nichols has her...she wasn't able to tell me where, but he has our daughter." The detective can be heard on the other end of the call – speaking quickly and loudly – other voices joining him. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Did the police find sissy?" Ivy asks – sitting up from where she was resting with Thor.
You and Loki walk back to the sofa and hold the eight-year-old in your arms. "Not yet, sweetie," you tell her. "They will, though. She'll be home soon."
