Chapter 89 [Luthor Mansion—Twenty Minutes Later]

Angie stepped back from Spider-Man's bedside. She'd reset his separated shoulder and put his arm in a sling. She wrapped his ribs. "He's lucky to be alive."

"I found him barely able to sit up against the wall. He'll need to stay in that bed for a few days at least. I wiped his wounds off with blessed water. The dark fire will scar his psyche." Katrina pocketed her vials. "The demon would've killed him. If not for the Destroyer and Princess Jasmine, he'd be dead right now."

"That's a real comforting thought." Angie rolled her eyes. She thought about the tube in her bedroom. Dave doesn't want me to open it but I can help! This is ridiculous!

"I cannot leave tomorrow. You all need help here." Katrina lamented.

"Ichabod and his partner need you there. We appreciate your help. I'm sure Dave has said the same." Angie shook her head. "We need all hands on deck."

"David loves you, Angie. I do not blame his concern. She however is needed. Nyoki and Princess Jasmine agree." Katrina took her bag. "Be patient. When the goddess wishes for her to appear, it will happen. Perhaps you should look in on him?"

"I can't leave Spider-Man by himself. Someone could…." Angie started.

"I can…hear you, Doc…" He winced. "What did you give me?"

"Something that should have made you sleep until morning." Katrina frowned. "With those injuries and your spiritual condition, you should rest."

"Got…to get up. I…." He collapsed back into bed. "Terrific." He glanced down at the bandages around his bare torso. He felt his left arm bound against his side.

"You're going to stay right there at least for a few days, Mister." Angie narrowed her eyes at him. "Lex'll make sure you're not bothered. You just get well. Even with my healing abilities, I have to let the arm set first."

He struggled to get himself back into a comfortable position. "You try dealing with the Rider, Doc."

"I have actually." Angie sighed. "It kidnapped me in high school. A good friend of mine and I were taken to the valley in back of my husband's former house. She was tortured. She sacrificed her life for mine. It's also where I saw Dave change into the Child for the first time." She rubbed her forehead. "And then Lana's mother, Dr. LaFontaine and I watched an earlier version of this afternoon's fight in Amherst a couple of years later. Then it tried to drop a tree on my car in Eagle Plain. Its brother tried to kill Miranda and me. Want me to go on?"

"Wow. Guess you have." Pain's sharp jab made him see stars. "How's…he doing?"

"He's sleeping off the demonic stuff. It happens." Angie sighed. "You should do the same."

"Need to know…if…everyone's safe." He shook his head.

On cue, Gwen rushed into the room. Panic and Worry widened her eyes. She put her hands in front of her mouth. "What happened?"

"The Rider ambushed him at the high school. He's lucky help got there when it did." Angie assessed. "He's to stay in bed. He has a separated shoulder, a broken arm, strained ribs and a sprained ankle."

"Are you all right, Mrs. Crane? That thing dragged you out of the Talon. We didn't know what happened," Gwen inquired.

Katrina shook her head. "The Destroyer did not drag me. I cast the spell to protect all of you. Then I accompanied the Destroyer. I am well although out of sorts. I wish I did not have to return to Sleepy Hollow. I fear Ichabod and Abbie will need me soon." She placed her hand on the younger woman's arm. "He needs your love."

"My love?" Gwen stiffened. "Lady, I'm engaged."

Angie closed the door. She cleared her throat and motioned toward it.

Katrina glanced toward Angie. "I thought David told them about auras?"

"He did. I was trying to be discreet." Gwen frowned. She sat down beside the bed. "I know he didn't go looking for that fight. That's a change at least. It's like dealing with my Dad all over again. Now I know what my Mom felt like. Jean…Captain DeWolff…and I used to talk about that." She pulled up Spidey's mask enough to expose his chin. She kissed that and pulled it back into place.

"It's…okay. I'm awake." He turned slowly. "You should see the other guy."

"After Mr. Dubois had to go all-demon to take that creep out, I should say so! You're going to stay put, Mister. At least the whole thing was at the high school. All I have to say is that you were caught in the middle of it. That's not a lie at least." Gwen cleared her throat. "They can see the damage."

"Great. That's what I get for talking with Mr. Sanders after class. I straightened the room out. I was walking down the hall. That's when it crept up on me." He reclined back into the pillows. "So how'd you survive?"

"The same way you did." Angie shrugged. "The Big Kid drove it off." She glanced at Katrina. "I'm going to check on Dave. You should pack. I think Gwen can keep an eye on him."

"Thanks." Gwen smiled. "I appreciate everything." When they'd left, she turned back to him. "You're going to get yourself killed." She closed the door for their privacy.

"The Rider threatened you and everyone else. When that creep wants to do something, he slips in and does it." He reached ever so slowly for his mask and peeled it off. "He wasn't that sneaky in Salem though."

"Maybe its new boss taught it new tricks?" She handed him a cup of tea. "Here. Drink this. It's regular tea."

"Thanks. Yet another thing we can thank Norman for." Peter rolled his eyes.

"I don't understand. Does he have a split personality or something? Usually he's so nice." She checked his bandage around his chest.

"Mr. Osborn is. The Goblin isn't. It's probably Oscorp's falling stock and Harry's addiction issues that caused this relapse. Lex outmaneuvering him on LuthorCorp's stock. He knew that Mr. Dubois would bring the Rider and its coven down here. He and his wife don't deserve that," he explained.

"He's so nice. I wish he didn't have to deal with this." She took the empty cup from him.

A knock came from the door.

"Yes?" She walked over to it.

"Gwen, it's Lex. Can I come in?"

She opened the door. "Hi, Lex. Is everyone okay at the Kents?"

"Clark's resting. Our friend shoved him into a wall. He wanted you to know he'd be all right." Lex looked him over. "Ouch. You got worked over too."

"Can we call or text Mr. Reynolds, Lex? Let him know what happened?" She bit her lip. "I don't want Peter to get in trouble."

Incredulity raised an eyebrow. "Why would Peter be in trouble?" Lex turned back to Peter. "You didn't pick a fight. Did you?"

"In there? Lex, you're kidding. Right? That creep ambushed me. The usual dark blasts, threats to the loved ones and the usual mayhem. Just another day for high school," Peter wisecracked.

"Peter!" She shook her head.

"Where Mr. Dubois' concerned, Peter's right on the mark." Lex shook his head. "He dealt with the Rider and Lichtenfeld all of the time growing up. It didn't stop in Amherst where he went to high school. You haven't seen Lana's great, great grandma. Pray you don't. What did Dr. Dubois say?"

"She set his shoulder, bandaged his ribs and set up the sling. Mrs. Crane gave him something for the soul issues…she said?" Gwen's face scrunched up. "What did she mean by that?"

"I talked to Pete Ross before I dropped him off. He reported charcoal and sulfur reeking throughout that hallway. I think the Rider burned Peter with hellfire." Lex shook his head.

"The Rider was bad enough before. With that stuff and the teleportation spells too? Great." Peter grimaced. "So what was the deal with the total demon thing?"

"When you're out of that bed, Dr. LaFontaine and Mr. Dubois will fill you in on the rest. Gwen, can you give Peter and me a minute? I'm sorry about this. There's something private I need to talk to him about," Lex requested.

"Uh okay. I can get some more coffee from the kitchen." She kissed Peter on the forehead. "I'll be back in a minute. You have some more tea."

"Sure thing. I'll be counting the seconds!" Peter told her.

"I know." She nodded to them. Then she walked out and eased the door shut behind herself.

"I hated doing that." Lex checked the door. "Sorry." He sighed. "Clark told me you saw him in the hallway."

"Yeah I did." Peter grunted back to a sitting position. "The guy runs in a blur. His punches made the Rider notice. Don't worry. I didn't say anything to the ladies. You know?"

"He sheltered me from a flying desk." Lex rolled his eyes. "Let's just say it's not the first time he's taken a hit for me. Actually I have to thank you as well."

"You…uh…do?" Peter tried to wrap his head around that statement.

"Let's say that having to keep your secret has helped me." Lex paced a bit. "Even a month ago, I'd been tearing into Clark and his parents about trust issues and lying to me. He didn't want to keep it from me. His folks made him keep it under wraps."

"From what I saw, I can see why. I remember doing the high school superhero thing. Well he has my secrecy. I wish I could return the favor. Mr. and Mrs. Kent seem nice enough. I just don't know them well enough." Peter coughed. He took a sip of tea.

"You can trust them, Peter. They kept Clark's secret from my father. There's nobody more careful than Jonathan and Martha Kent in that regard." Lex opened the door again to find Gwen walking toward him with another cup of coffee. "Thanks for understanding."

"I trust Peter. I know there's a secret. I'm sure he'll tell me when I need to know. Just one thing, it's not something about him. Is it?" She glanced around the hallway.

"Absolutely not. I appreciate you both trusting us with his secret." Lex ushered her back into the room.

"I was going to tell you. Dr. Dubois and Mrs. Crane know too. Something about the aura?" She gulped from her coffee.

"Dr. Dubois is sensitive like her husband is. She'll keep the secret. I'm sure Mrs. Crane will but I'll check in with her. By the way, Dr. LaFontaine might know about you as well, Peter," Lex clarified. "She can answer your questions about Mr. Dubois as well."

"Such as why he did the total demonic thing?" She shuddered. Seeing Peter tense, she shook her head. "He never touched me or anyone else. He changed and vanished."

"The Destroyer is the demon inside of him. Think of the Child as the in-between entity. I have one of the few copies of the explanation in my safe. We can talk when you're back on your feet, Peter." Lex rubbed the back of his neck. "We'll have to see about having you somewhat healed up for the wedding. I'll speak to Mr. Reynolds. You're not moving for a few days from this mansion. I'll let Jasmine know you're awake. She was worried about you."

"I appreciate Clark and her for bailing me out. Mr. Dubois too," Peter expressed.

"You're welcome. You'll find that's what we do for each other around here." Lex lingered at the door. "At least while you're here, Peter, you don't have to go it alone. Do me a favor. Next time that happens, call for help. If you want, we can get you a separate burner phone with a panic button installed on it. One buzz and you've got back up. I know Mr. Dubois would tell you the same thing. Got me?"

"Please." She squeezed his hand.

"Sure, Lex. If I can help, you know I'll do it as well. I just hope Mr. Osborn doesn't try anything else," Peter agreed.

"Leave Norman Osborn to me. I'll make sure he gets the point. Have a great night. I'll have the kitchen bring you up something." Lex departed.

"You just take it easy. I'll get you a sandwich or something." She straightened his hair. "We might want to get you changed as well. No sense in someone seeing you half in costume."

"Yeah. I'd appreciate a hand. Thanks. Just glad Aunt May can't see this."

She chuckled. "I think she'd understand. Let's get these off. Then I have your sweats right over here."

He had to smile. After the beating, she was an angel all right. Made him wish he'd told her sooner….