Loki's Plan (July 2000)

Kate's eyes widened when she saw Steve suddenly fall forward. She could see dark red blood dripping from his side and she knew without Loki telling her that that was real. She really hated Loki now and she rushed over to Steve's side. She looked into his eyes for a moment before she stood up and stood protectively in front of him. "If you're going to kill someone here today, kill me, but don't touch Steve again." She really hoped that Dr. Strange would arrive soon and have some way of dealing with Loki.

"I'm afraid we had an agreement Kate. And you broke it so Steve...he's already dead," he said. Logan growled and jumped past her but Loki waived his hand and Logan's momentum accelerated and he seemed to fly into the wall. The wall didn't stop him though and he flew right through it. He fell to the street once his forward momentum was enough to keep him into the air.

"Isn't a Wolverine a rodent? No matter, Now Steve...You can save Kate. You open the safe and I give you my word she will not be harmed," Loki said.

Kate looked at Loki. She wasn't afraid of him and she looked hard at him. "He's not going to open the safe because unlike you he has a heart and the capacity to do good. He's a hero, whereas you are a villain. You may be a 'God', but you will never be a better man than him."

"How do I know you'll keep your word?" Steve asked with a wince. Blood had already began to pool beneath him. "Oh, I'll keep my word. Kate will not be hurt...I think your death on her hands is punishment enough for her folly," Loki said. Steve looked up at Kate. "I'm...sorry...I won't watch him kill you...I'm in love with you Kate. I can't watch you die," Steve whispered. "Oh...how touching...the Safe?" Loki said.

Kate looked over at Steve and tears came to her eyes. "I'm in love with you too, but I can't let you do this. You're the one good thing in my life right now and I can't bear the thought of living without you." She looked back at Loki. "So the answer is no."

Suddenly, she heard a crack of thunder and she saw a worried expression come over Loki's face. A large, muscular man with golden hair wearing a red cape and brandishing a large hammer appeared through a portal opened by Dr. Strange. Kate moved closer to Steve and knelt down and put her arms around him.

Loki winced as the portal opened and formed into Thor, his elder brother. "Loki! What have you done!?" Thor growled angrily. "You harm these people!?"

Loki looked annoyed and gave Thor a suffering look. "Oh dear brother! I didn't expect to see you here...well it was more a of a hope...actually," Loki said dryly. "You're game is ended. This one known as Strange (No pun intended) Has told me about the Uru!" Thor said. Loki cringed. "Well I think all the Uru belongs in Asgard dear brother," Loki said. "Do you take me for a fool? I can only guess what you thought to do with it but your game is done!" Thor said.

Steve just looked on in amazement. Stephen Strange got down onto one knee to help stem the flow of blood. "Thor is the god of thunder and Loki's elder brother," Stephen said. "Thanks Kate, I got your warning. Leaving your comms open help me determine where to get help," Stephen complimented.

Kate could only look on in amazement as Thor dealt with his brother. Thor grabbed Loki roughly by the collar and pulled him back through the portal to Asgard. The portal closed behind them. Just at that moment Logan reappeared. He was bloodied from the fall he had taken, but Kate wasn't sure if there was anything that could truly kill him. He had his claws out and was practically foaming at the mouth as he looked for Loki. "He's gone Logan," she told him. She then reached up and touched her neck when she felt something wet. She was still bleeding slightly from the cut on her neck, but it wasn't terrible. She was worried about Steve though. "Is he going to be alright?"

Strange began to use his amulet. it glowed green and he gestured just so with his hands. They became wreathed in Green light and runes...

Kate could only look on in amazement as Thor dealt with his brother. Thor grabbed Loki roughly by the collar and pulled him back through the portal to Asgard. The portal closed behind them. Just at that moment Logan reappeared. He was bloodied from the fall he had taken, but Kate wasn't sure if there was anything that could truly kill him. He had his claws out and was practically foaming at the mouth as he looked for Loki. "He's gone Logan," she told him. She then reached up and touched her neck when she felt something wet.

Steve put his fingers on the cut. He stood in front of her and looked into her eyes. He was completely unhurt but he looked concerned about the cut. "It's not serious Steve," Strange said as he closed the amulet. "Loki won't be bothering you again," Strange said. Logan retracted his claws and it was clear he wanted Loki's blood right then. "I'm gunna go get a shower!" Logan growled. Steve's hand and fingers were bloodied but the cut would not even need stitches. Steve had Kate sit down and keep pressure on the cut while he went and got the first aid kit. Strange looked at Kate.

"Are you alright Kate?" Stephen asked.

Kate blinked as suddenly Steve was in front of her looking at the cut on her neck. Something had happened, but she didn't understand what. She watched as Logan left and then Steve went to go get the first aid kit. She looked at Stephen as she tried to make sense of it.

"What just happened? Steve was on the floor, bleeding one second and then up and perfectly fine the next. Did you do something?"

"I did and I didn't. The Eye of Agamotto can modify time. I selected a timeline where Loki didn't stab Steve but kept everything else the same," Strange explained. "I also looked a bit into the future. You've been through alot Kate. It's ok to Lean on Steve. And, as things are, I think he really wants that. It could...benefit you both," Strange said cryptically as there was more to that. He smiled at her as Steve reappeared. He shifted a chair and opened the first aid kit.

"Ok Kate, this might sting a bit," Steve said as he began to disinfect and make a small bandage for her neck. Strange was behind Steve and he gave Kate the thumbs up.

Kate blinked a little when Stephen admitted that not only had he selected a different timeline than what she remembered happening, but that he had also looked into the future. She heard what he said, but before she could question him Steve reappeared with the First Aid kit. She saw Stephen behind Steve and when he gave her a thumbs up and then disappeared into a portal she couldn't help but smile just a little. She still didn't think she was the right person for Steve. She had issues upon issues, but he didn't seem to care about them. No matter what he was always there for her. She suddenly grabbed him and pulled him towards her and kissed him like she had wanted to kiss him for a while now.

Steve was taken completely by surprise when Kate kissed him. All he could do is continue to hold the bandage to clot the blood but he didn't pull away either. That and she'd feel him kissing her back. They had both gone through an ordeal and had stayed true to one another. They had stayed strong. Her lips were so soft warm and moist. He didn't want the kiss to end. Words were obsolete and unnecessary. The kiss was all and his heart rate jumped into overdrive. Their faces were very close when their lips parted and blue eyes looked into blue eyes.

"Well...Miss Blackwell, I think we should have done that a while ago," Steve said with a smile. "I know I wanted to. I think I wanted to kiss you the moment I saw you for the first time," Steve admitted.

Steve's lips were strong and yet soft at the same time and in that kiss they poured all of their feelings and emotions that had been bottled up for months. The kiss was everything Kate thought it would be and more. As their lips finally parted, their foreheads touched and she found herself looking into his beautiful blue eyes.

"Steve...I'm a mess. Is that really what you want? You could have any woman in this city."

Steve rubbed his cheek against hers and gave her another kiss before they shifted to look at one another. "You're not a mess to me Kate. Everyone has problems and you have a handle on yours. You're healing and I want to help you heal," Steve said. "If you'll let me," Steve added. "I don't want to put a label on...whatever this is between us. I just want us to be close and to share time. Our lives can flip on a dime and often do. But I wan't to know that...you want to try...to be...more," Steve said carefully. He meant more than just friends.

Stephen's words about allowing herself to lean on Steve echoed in her ears. Her instinct was to shield herself to keep from getting hurt or allowing people to use her again, but she knew in her heart that Steve would never hurt her. She felt something with him that she had not even felt with Matt. 

"I'm in love with you Steve," she told him before he could finish his sentence. "I don't want to just be friends. I want to be with you."

Steve's eye lit up like a Christmas tree by what Kate said. But Steve just wanted to take this slow. Kate was healing and he wanted to focus on her needs for a while. "Oh Kate," Steve said as he suddenly felt weak as all the emotions swirled around in his head and in his heart. He couldn't help himself and he kissed her again. And their kissed lingered longer this time. He took in her sent. He smiled and asked in a very naive tone. "What do you mean...be with me?" Steve asked confused. Wasn't she with him now? He wondered.

Kate looked at Steve. "I just meant that I want to be in a relationship with you," which was all she had truly meant. She wasn't going to rush their relationship. They had expressed their feelings to each other and that was what ultimately mattered to her. They would figure everything else out as they went. "I'm assuming this was the conversation you wanted to have with me earlier," she said with a smile.

Steve smiled and nodded. He rubbed some ointment on her neck and then place the bandage on her and sealed the outer edges of it. "There, all fixed up," He said then lightly touched her face. "I don't know about you but I could use a beer," Steve said and got up to get them some. He opened the fridge, got 2 bottles out and popped the caps off. He came back and handed her one while he took a sip of his.

"How are we gonna explain this to Isabella?" Steve asked. "I vote that maybe, you can talk to her," he said with a hopeful grin.