"Are you Spider-Man?"

Those words faded in Peter's ears. Even if he knew what Norman was going to ask him, still it made him feel like he wasn't in the lab anymore. His mind was wandering somewhere far away, but the body was stuck in the chair like a glue.

"Peter? What's wrong? Can you hear me?"

The young man heard a distant voice somewhere. Was that Norman? Or maybe Doc Ock, coming for revenge? Who knows.

"Peter, good heavens! Hey, somebody, call a doctor here! Now!"

Peter blinked as he felt how someone held him by his shoulders. His vision came back and he met Norman's worried face.

"Mr. Osborn? What…what happened?", Peter shook his head.

"You went suddenly into shock. You scared the hell out of me", Norman nodded.

"I…I'm sorry. Your question just came out so sudden. I didn't honestly prepare myself for that kind of thing…"

"My apologies", Norman nodded, ashamed. "I should have waited for the right moment and not just drop a bomb like that on you."

"It's fine…", Peter nodded quietly. "But I have to say that your question really surprised me. Why on earth you think that I'm Spider-Man?"

"Well...", Norman rubbed his neck. "I just heard what you said about Harry and the mission…and something else caught my eye too."

"I see…well what, may I ask?", Peter raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you see Peter…when Octavius attacked us and you got separated, Spider-Man came to help me. He hurt his leg during the mission and his walking was really hard. And when you appeared and were limping as well, I…I honestly didn't know what to think. It just seemed to be so weird coincidence."

Peter took hold of Harry's tube. Norman still held him, which was really uncomfortable.

"Ah…okay. Well like I said, I hurt my leg when I landed into another room. And Spidey found me there and dropped to the hospital. And I waited there until I saw from the window how you and Harry came out."

Norman's face turned red. Peter hated how he had to lie, but there was no choice.

"This is so embarrassing…gosh, how stupid I am! I don't even dare to say what else made me think about that option…"

"Well, better let it all out", Peter nodded. "Then I can show that I have nothing to hide."

"Umm…well. Octavius described that Spider-Man has blue or green eyes, he is short and skinny. And he has…bruises on his hands", Norman gazed down at Peter's arms.

Peter stared at his arms and lifted his gaze up. He put his hands on Norman's arms which were still on his shoulders and looked the man in the eyes.

"Mr. O…I promise I'm not Spider-Man. Look, I admit that those marks which you have seen are weird coincidences…but I have nothing to do with that wall-crawler. I dare say that this city probably includes many other boys, who have bruised arms and right colored eyes."

Norman stared at Peter, not knowing what to think. He felt stupider at every moment.

"But…what was that mumbling about you letting Harry go to that mission?"

Peter put his head down. He dropped his arms and stared towards the floor. Norman put his hand on the young man's shoulder.

"It's okay Peter, you can tell me. Just be honest", he said gently.

"I…", Peter started.

"Yes?", Norman asked.

"Well…", Peter lifted his head up. "It was just that…I knew that Harry was going to some undercover adventure before you did. He called me after you left him there…"

Norman looked surprised.

"What?!", he said.

"Yes…but I swear sir, I don't know anything more! Harry just kept saying something about how he was going to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and he, Spider-Man and some Venom guy are going to find HYDRA's secret lair. I tried to stop him, said that are you out of your mind…but he assured that he'll be fine. And he warned me not to tell you. I thought should I call you…but then you managed to reach me first. I'm sorry sir…I just couldn't tell the truth when we were in your office. You would've have been even angrier and blamed me…since I already saw how you were suffering and said how good and pure heart I have. I didn't want to cause any more pain than you already had to carry…", Peter gazed at the floor.

Norman looked at the young Parker, eyes full of pity and concern. He felt so ashamed how he threw his selfish doubts towards Peter just like that. Like he wasn't already suffering from seeing his best friend in a comatose.

"Oh, Peter…I'm not mad. I really understand how you feel…and I should've have learned about Harry's behavior what he was up to. I'm really sorry that I roasted you like this. You must be suffering as I do", Norman smiled. Peter lifted his head up and nodded a little. Suddenly Norman gazed down and grabbed his arm.

"But I can't help noticing this…", he lifted Peter's hand in front of his face. "What on earth are these Peter?"

Young hero felt how his heart started raising. Peter tried to pull his sleeves back up, but Norman didn't let go of the hand.

"Peter…why your arms are full of bruises and…cuts?"

"Umm…", Peter looked out of the window. He couldn't meet Norman's gaze.

"Hey, look at me", Norman forced Peter to look at him. "Tell me, why are you cutting yourself? How long you've been doing this?"

Peter didn't answer. He couldn't.

"I'm starting to be really worried about you", Norman looked concerned. "Peter, it's fine. You can tell me. I have always said that you can tell me if something is bothering you."

Peter lifted his gaze up. Norman was stunned as he saw how young man's eyes were full of tears.

"I…I've been cutting myself since you brought the news about Harry…", Peter cried. "I just felt so guilty that I couldn't stop him…"

Norman looked even more worried. He had absolutely no idea what Peter has carried during these months.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?", Norman asked. "Does your aunt know?"

Peter shook his head. "No…you are the only one who knows. And I wish that she doesn't find out."

"Peter, I think you should tell her", Norman nodded. "I'm sure she would like to know."

"No!", Peter jumped up. "She can't know! No one can! I don't wanna worry Aunt May more than she already has to! She has to witness my sadness every day. This problem I have to deal alone."

"Okay, okay", Norman nodded and pointed at Peter to sit down. "I'm not gonna tell anyone. You just have to promise that you will stop this. Harry would be shocked if saw you now…", Norman turned to look at his son and sighed.

Peter watched Harry as well and suddenly started shaking. "I just miss him so much….what if he never wakes up? I will lose my best friend! I should have yanked him out of that horrible adventure when I had a chance! It's all my fault!", he cried and put his head between his hands.

"Oh, Peter…", Norman rubbed his shoulder. "It's not your fault…it was the blindness that I trusted Harry under the care of those stupid heroes. My mistake and I carry the consequences."

Peter couldn't stop his crying and trembling. He let all his buried emotions and guilt out.

"Hey, come here", Norman leaned and put his arms around Peter. He rubbed the boy's head and just let him cry. Peter was too tired to be surprised so he just took the opportunity and sobbed on Norman's shoulder.

Even heroes fall down sometimes.

-o-o-o-

Later that night, Peter and Norman sat in the living room. They were playing that same snowboard game, where Miles managed to beat Harry.

"And win!", Norman made a victory wave. Peter grunted and jumped down from the board.

"Fine, I give up. Harry was totally right when he said that no one can beat you in this."

"Well, two years of practice on gliders can make miracles", Norman grinned.

Peter smiled and sighed then. "The last time when we were playing, Harry was here…"

"I know", Norman said sadly. "But he wouldn't want us just to sit back in the corner and cry. We have to live our lives and keep him with us by doing things what we love."

"I agree", Peter nodded. "Harry is always thinking about everybody else."

"So this is a good opportunity to keep him here like he was with us right now. And tomorrow we are gonna start a plan to get him back. Are you still with me?", Norman asked.

"Sure. I'm willing to do anything to get him out of that coma", Peter put his fists together. "Ock is gonna pay about what he did."

"That's the spirit", Norman smiled. "But hey, one more round!"

Peter sighed. Then he grinned and jumped to the board and started playing.

Now things start to get better. And I'm gonna make sure that Spidey is out of this business soon. Tell me, what could go wrong?

So deep were a duo in the game that they didn't notice a little octobot behind the window. After making its analyses, it leaped silently into the darkness. So the answer to your question Peter would be that...everything. And you will notice it very soon...