It was nearly midnight.
That made it more than six hours. Six hours, and Peter Parker wasn't back home and safe yet. Was he dead, lying in an alleyway somewhere? Jillian chose not to think about it. The two girls sat on the couch with coffee and watched Comedy Central, trying to occupy their time with more than just worrying an waiting. They laughed at the jokes and tried to focus, but every time someone on the TV said something funny they were reminded of Spider-Man's witty comments and their faces fell, back to worrying.
Jillian looked down at her coffee. How many cups had she had? She had lost count at four. Mary Jane's mug was bigger, and she had gotten up for some extra caffeine many more times that Jillian had. Well, she couldn't blame themselves for being such a wreck. Spider-Man was in a dangerous, deadly career field. If they didn't notice every time he wasn't around, then they weren't doing their part. Knowing Spider-Man's secret identity wasn't just a cool fact you kept in your head--it was a responsibility to cover for him, to protect him, to lie for him, to worry for him.
And as Jillian finished biting her last nail, her pinkie on her left hand, she just couldn't take it anymore. "Where the hell is he?" Jillian said, startling Mary Jane who had been used to the quiet.
"He'll be back."
"He's sure as hell taking his sweet time!"
"He'll be back," Mary Jane repeated.
"Screw this! I'm getting more coffee." Jillian took the Garfield mug that Mary Jane had given her and went over to the coffee pot. She poured the last bit into her cup and asked: "Hey, MJ, should I brew us up another batch?"
Mary Jane didn't turn her head. "What do you think?"
Jillian started another pot of coffee.
Then there was a thump. It was a loud thump, coming from upstairs. Way upstairs. The attic upstairs.
Mary Jane stood up suddenly, knocking over her empty cup. Jillian smiled. He was back.
Peter Parker walked down the stairs into the dark halls. Mary Jane ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. Jillian hugged him too, and then she turned on the lights.
"Holy shit." Jillian gasped, her rules against curse words not in mind.
He was a mess. He had a black eye, cuts all over his face, his hair matted, his clothes ripped, his arm broken--oh boy, Jillian thought, analyzing her injured friend.
Peter limped his way over to the couch, laid down with his head on Mary Jane's lap. He was so tired, they could tell. He had one hell of a day. They both knew not to question Peter, and that he'd speak when he was ready. But Peter knew their curiosity and told them everything.
"Sorry I took so long."
"Where were you?"
"Me and Doc Ock went all out. I'm actually surprised I'm not dead. He beat me real bad and I just passed out from all the pain. I woke up about an hour ago, and I made my way back here. What happened to him?"
Jillian blushed while Mary Jane told him. Peter sat up, his eyes wide. "You shot Doctor Octopus. And he fell down."
"That's it in a nutshell." Jillian replied.
"Jeez. You're Wonder Woman." he shook his head in disbelief.
"Why did he leave you alive?" Mary Jane asked, generally curious.
"He wanted me to live with the fact that he got to you and Jillian before I could save you. Sick bastard." he cursed them.
"But it's over. The Six are gone, and we're safe now."
He pointed at Jillian's necklace. "Keep that on. Both of you." He then pointed at the spider-tracer in Mary Jane's necklace. They both nodded. And, after watching reruns of RENO:911! everyone fell asleep as they sat, recovering from the day's craziness that had wrecked havoc on their lives.
