Chapter Text
It started with Jane throwing up about seven times before midday. Thor had been gone nearly three months, they had completed their 'World Tour' as Darcy called it (and it was- she'd travelled more in her time with Jane than she had in her whole life) and were back in Jane's Mom's London flat. They had yet to hear about the Nobel, but odds were it seemed to be in the bag. Jane would be celebrating were it not for the constant vomiting and chills.
'Dude, you're pregnant, just admit it,' Darcy went to wash out the bucket she had been holding as Jane was in no condition to move, let alone pour her own puke away. Jane just glared 'No, Darcy, I'm not.'
'You taken a test?'
'No.'
'Then-'
Jane sighed loudly 'The whole time Thor was here, I had a hormonal implant, which I had taken out a week after he left for Asgard.'
'Yeah, but what if he has, like, Space-God Super Sperm-'
'That's not how it works Darcy,' Jane rolled her eyes 'even if he did, the implant stopped me ovulating all together, so it would have no where to swim to.'
'Urgh,' Darcy winced 'thanks for the mental image.'
'You asked.'
'But why'd you take the implant out without putting a new one in?'
'It wasn't working for me, it was making me all head-achy and cranky, plus the thing itched my arm like crazy. Plus I'll need to get a whole new smear test to get a IUD put in which I haven't book yet and-' She stopped and gagged 'Oh God- pass the bucket.'
Chunder number eight happened, as did nine, ten, eleven- well into the afternoon, so Darcy didn't mention pregnancy again.
By day two, it was clear Jane couldn't keep anything down, not even water. Not only that, but she had gone deathly pale and was sweating profusely. Her glands had swollen, her lips cracked and her gaze unfocused.
'Jane, you're burning up!' Darcy placed the back of her hand on Jane's forehead.
''m cold,' Jane mumbled, wrapping her blanket tighter around her.
'There's no way in Hell you are going to be able to do that talk day after tomorrow.'
'No...' Jane protested, so feebly Darcy barely heard it.
'I'll call the University, you are not going any where.'
Day Three had Darcy fielding calls from the HR people at Greenwich Observatory.
'Yeah, I know it's short notice- listen buddy, you can come over if you don't believe me, but she's really sick right now. She called me 'Donny' earlier, I'm pretty sure she's hallucinating-'
Darcy jumped at the sound of a scream and came running, dropping the phone on the way and finding Jane curled up in a ball and sobbing 'Oh God.. it's gone... it's gone I know it's gone... 's all my fault... all me...'
'Jane?'
'It's in my skin, can't get it out....' Jane hissed, teeth ground together 'it won't leave me alone...'
Darcy ran forward and hauled Jane upright 'Okay, whatever you're imagining, it's not real, you're just sick and you'll get better!'
But Jane wouldn't listen, she cowered away and collapsed on the bed, still crying and holding herself, begging the Aether to leave her alone.
'Thor...' she was breathing hard 'you said it was gone... oh...'
Darcy left the room and found the phone on the ground, the HR guy calling 'Hello? Miss Lewis?'
Darcy picked it up and said 'Did you get all that?'
There was a pause '… Yes.'
'Still think she's in a fit state to do this talk?'
'… No,' he confessed 'but maybe in a week? We sold out in five minutes and they'll be disappointed-'
'Literally couldn't give less of a rat's ass right now, I'll call you if we can get another date.'
She hung up, feeling about five inches tall and just... completely useless, whilst Jane sobbed herself to an exhausted sleep.
'C'mon you big moron,' she muttered, up at the ceiling 'when're you coming back?'