Chapter 4

A week later, Peter woke up with a pounding headache, a runny nose and a sore throat.

Before he could even wake up properly he let out a few raspy coughs, that hurt his chest and throat. A moment later, his whole body was wracked was shivers, goosebumps running up all over his legs and arms.

No...Peter groaned to himself. He couldn't be sick. He hated being sick. It was horrible. He used to love it when he was younger, before he became Spider Man. Because May would take the day off to care for him all day, they would huddle up on the sofa and just watch movies and eat ice cream the whole time. It was great, it would always cheer him up.

But it was different now, with his altered DNA and powers, being sick sucked. Whilst it didn't happen often luckily. When it did...It was rough. It enhanced his senses, just like , but worse because he had no way to control them whilst being sick. Then there was his faster metabolism, instead of being sick over 5 days to a week, the whole illness was sped up and compressed into just a day or a couple of days. Good that it was over quicker, but bad because it meant it was a much worse experience for Peter to get through.

It was times like this it sucked that he couldn't thermoregulate. When the heaters busted in their apartment, or it was a cold day in the city, he just couldn't get warm. Thankfully, May had lots of blankets for him to wrap up in. But if he was sick...oh that just made it a lot worse. There was no way he was going to able to keep warm now.

He could tell this time was going to real bad already. Man he hated to admit his dad had been right. Patrolling all evening out in the pouring rain had been a bad idea. He wasn't invincible clearly. He dreaded hearing his dad say I told you say when he found out. Seeing the disappointment on his face...Peter felt like he couldn't do anything right sometimes.

Voices from the streets and surrounding apartments were screaming in Peter's ears, along with the many different traffic sounds, and loud clanging from construction sites close by. The smell and taste of all the different cultural food from street vendors, and apartments, all overlapping, it caused a wave of nausea to hit him with full force.

He tried to supress it, taking a deep breath, remaining utterly still. Waiting for the sensation to pass. He clutched at his pillow, pleadingly.

For a second, he thought the nausea was going to pass.

And then his body turned on him violently. His stomach churned, and he shuddered. Flinging the duvet off, Peter raced from the room. Stumbling and tripping into the bathroom. His vision blurring, his head pounding. He barely slammed the door shut behind him, and made it to the toilet before he threw up the contents of his stomach.

His eyes watered, as his stomach continued to churn, retching more into the toilet. He thought it was never going to stop.

When it finally did, Peter whimpered, dropping his head to the cool toilet seat rim. Sweat dripped down his face and Peter whimpered as the sudden pounding in his head picked up its pace.

A violent shiver hit him, making his teeth chatter.

As he tried to lift his head, wincing at the bright light, he found the room suddenly spinning.

He made the mistake of trying to get up, only resulting in him falling back down and leaning back against the wall. There was a new sharp sting behind his eyes. He felt like he was dying. A coughing fit erupted from his throat, that he couldn't stop, along with a few sneezes.

He could practically feel, and hear ever hair on his body moving, hear his heart beating so fast. He could sense everything in his body and it was horrible.

Slipping down to the ground, Peter curled into a ball, covering his churning stomach with one hand and the other covering his face. He just wanted it all to stop.

"...Peter? Honey? Are you ok?"

Finally, the roaring in his ears cleared slightly, enough to hear May calling, followed by a worried knock on the door.

Peter opened his mouth to answer, when another wave of nausea hit him. He could only clamp his mouth shut and whimper.

May slowly opened the door to peek in concerned, and gasped. Shoving it fully open; "Oh my...Peter!" May exclaimed in horror, immediately dropping down beside him.

"Peter? Honey?" She leant over, running her hands over his face. Hissing, as she felt how hot he was; "Oh no. You're sick." She breathed in realisation. After Peter first became Spider Man, he had become sick like this before, and it had driven May frantic with worry. She had even almost taken him to the hospital with how bad he got. But he convinced her not to. Now she knew why. They would take blood and find out about his altered DNA. No one could know. But Peter needed help.

"May..." Peter moaned, closing his eyes, leaning into her cool touch. Begging her to make it stop; "S'hurts."

"I know honey. I know. It's going to be ok sweetie." Panicking, May quickly stood up. Shakily, grabbing a cloth and wetting it with cold water, before filling a cup up. Rushing back to Peter, she knelt back down to dab his face, and neck with the cool cloth. Just trying to reduce his fever.

"Do you think you can sit up for me?" May asked after a moment, when Peter's shaking started to ease slightly.

Peter went to nod and immediately regretted it as his head spun again. He just made a small sound of agreement.

May gently helped Peter up, being careful where she touched him, knowing how sensitive his skin could be to touch. Sometimes he violently pulled away from her, when he was having a Sensory Overload. She hated to see him like this.

He coughed as she was helping him up, which made her grimace in sympathy. Especially at the pained expression on his face, and his glassy eyes. He was really sick.

"Here. This will help." May held the cup of water out to him, moving it into his hand to make sure he took it.

"No..." Peter moaned scrunching his face up, the mere thought of taking even a small sip made him already nauseas again.

"Peter please." May begged panicked; "You need to stay hydrated."

Looking at her through slit eyes, he saw her worry and relented. Shakily taking the cup, he brought it to his lips to take a very small sip. Testing to see if his stomach rolled afterwards. When it didn't come back up, Peter experimentally took a bigger sip, relieved to have the cool water sliding down his hoarse throat. It caused a slight tickle in his throat, he tried to clear it and before he knew it was having another coughing fit. His face going beet red, and he collapsed against the wall exhausted.

May rushed up to the medicine cabinet, frantically pulling out the thermometer. As she returned to her nephew, she slipped it in his mouth when he finally stopped coughing. He gave her a small glare, hating the thermometer.

When it beeped, May pulled it back to have a look. An inhaled sharply; "100.5. You have a fever Peter. I better call in to say I'm staying home."

"NO!" Peter objected instantly and winced at his own voice causing him pain; "It's not too bad." Peter grumbled, clearing his throat; "I'll be ok. I'm already feeling better." He moved to push himself up. How could he have a fever, he felt absolutely freezing?

"Peter!" May said shocked reaching for him to help but he waved her off as he finally stood. But was leaning fully on the wall to keep upright. He was sure the room wasn't actually spinning, and that there wasn't two May's, but he wasn't going to tell her that. He wasn't going to force her to stay, it was different when he was a kid, he needed her there. But he wasn't a kid now, and she had to work. She'd already taken a few days off for him, and the hospital were keeping a close eye on her. He didn't want her to lose her job just because she took a day off to stay with him.

"It's just the flu." Peter insisted, using his hands to push along the wall, to head back to his room; "And with my spider man DNA. It'll be over in a few days."

May frowned deeply at him, hands outstretched to help him if needed; "Don't downplay how you're really feeling honey. You look terrible."

"Thanks." Peter furrowed his brow hurt, finally reaching his room. Practically stumbling into the room, and falling onto his bed. He let out a small moan of relief, as he climbed back into bed. Exhaling heavily, like it was the hardest task in the world and he was utterly exhausted. As he laid back, closing his eyes for a moment, he felt the bed dip, and May's hand was caressing across his forehead.

"Honey you're sick. You need me here."

"I can take care of myself. I don't want your job to suffer." Peter said instantly sniffling as his nose run. He went to wipe it with the back of his hand, when May batted his hand away, glaring. And handed him a tissue.

It wouldn't be the first time that May had gone to work whilst Peter had been sick. Only those times, Peter had neglected to tell her he was sick. Not wanting her to stay just for him. So he had lied to the school, and stayed home alone, just spending a few days in bed waiting to get better. He'd done it before. He could do it again. He wasn't a kid anymore.

"Don't be silly Peter." May said fiercely; "You are my priority. And you're sick. I can't just leave you here! I'm staying." She was already pulling out her phone.

"No please." Peter begged, his hand flapping out before he finally grabbed her wrist to stop her; "I know you've been warned about taking anymore days off."

"What?" May said startled.

"Superhearing." Peter offered with a sheepish look; "May please. I don't want to get you in trouble. It's just the flu. I'll be better in a couple of days. All I'm going to do is stay in bed and..." He stopped mid sentence as he was overwhelmed with the sound of loud drilling from a construction site, and a sharp pain in his head.

"Peter?" May said concerned studying his face.

He covered his mouth let out a moan.

May acted quick, grabbing the nearby trashcan and shoved it into his hands just in time. He threw up again. Only there wasn't more much to throw up. Leaving him just dry heaving for a little bit.

"Ughh." Peter moaned, it felt like his head was on fire.

Biting her lip frantic, May just kept rubbing his back offering encouragement.

When he finally stopped, he slumped back against the headboard flinching.

Quickly setting the can aside, May rushed to grab his special case for his glasses and headphones for his Sensory Overloads. She pulled them out and quickly handed them to Peter, waiting whilst he quickly put them on; "Is that better honey?" She murmured quietly, carding through his hair.

Peter just nodded, unable to speak.

May paused as she pulled the duvet up to cover Peter. Seeing his body was still wracked with chills. She wanted to stay, he needed her. But it was true. Her boss was on her ass about not missing shifts. She had to leave soon if she was going to make it, but there was no way she was leaving Peter alone.

"Ok I'm going to call your father." May said determined as she stood up looking through her contacts for Tony's name.

"No don't call him!" Peter said loudly, reaching out with a shaky hand, but let it drop finding it too heavy.

"Why not?" May said; "He's your dad. He would want to know anyway. And I'm still not convinced you don't need a doctor."

"I don't want him to know." Peter pleaded looking at her panicked. It may seem silly, but he didn't want him to worry, or be angry at him for getting sick.

"That's nonsense honey." May just smiled warmly at him, as if he was talking crazy Then went to dial the phone, but it was already ringing. Tony calling.

"Well what do you know." May scoffed; "Maybe he already knows." She answered; "Tony? Hi."

Peter groaned, pushing his face into his pillow. Today was going downhill fast. Now his dad was going to come over, moan at him for getting sick, and he'd be mad at him. Maybe even take away Spider Man because he had been stupid and reckless. He felt like crying. He didn't want his dad disappointed with him.

That was his last thought before the pain and exhaustion was just too much, and he surrendered to the darkness.

0o0ooo0o0oSPIDERMAN0o0o0oo0ooo

Tony was sulking in his lab at the Tower. He was supposed to be looking over the specs for an idea of a new stealth drone to transport medical supplies to war-torn countries. It was a good project, a good idea, and it could work. No reason why Tony would be hesitating.

Well there was one.

Peter.

Ever since Peter left a few days ago, Tony was feeling sad. As always when Peter left. But this time he had a bad feeling in his gut, that something bad was going to happen to him. The nightmares had gotten worse about Peter, driving Tony crazy. Pepper was getting worried about him too, and started checking on him more and more, even allying with FRIDAY against him. Making sure he only spent a few hours in the lab, before getting locked out and forced to rest.

At the moment, he was sitting at his lab table, looking through one of Peter's baby albums. Specifically, looking at some photos of Peter when he was around 8 or 9. One from Halloween where Peter was dressed up in a little Iron Man outfit, standing beside Ned as Darth Vader. Peter looked adorable, and seeing his son dressed up as him really made him envious for not being there. Then seeing a little Peter sitting by a Christmas tree, in Iron Man pyjamas, holding up an Iron Man figure with a toothy grin. It was like a kick in the gut. Knowing that Iron Man was Peter's hero his whole childhood, his whole life, that he was his hero, his idol, and he hadn't been there. He hadn't been there for Peter's first word, his first step, his first Christmas, taking him trick of treating. It sucked knowing Tony had missed all of Peter's firsts as a kid.

Halloween was coming up soon as well, then it would be Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. Tony wanted to do something special for Peter at these events. But what? Peter might be too cool for Halloween now, and who knows what Peter's traditions were at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maybe Tony didn't fit into those...

Suddenly, FRIDAY spoke making him jump.

"Boss I know you asked not to be disturbed unless it was an emergency regarding Peter..."

"Is Peter ok?" Tony sat up instantly, panic flaring.

"I am detecting some alarming bio readings from his wristbands."

"Alarming?" Tony repeated slowly; "Show me." He spun to his large screen on the table as Peter's showed.

"His heart rate is alarming fast, and I'm reading an elevated temperature."

"Was he injured?" Tony asked scanning for other injuries.

"I have not detected suit activity for over 24 hours so an unlikely assumption."

"Call him."

There was a pause and then; "I have tried. No response."

"Call May." Tony clenched his hand to stop it shaking, standing up to pace. His own heart racing fast. God if something bad had happened to Peter, Tony would never forgive himself.

"Tony hi." May answered instantly. There wasn't fear in her voice, but tension.

"May thank god. Is Peter ok?"

"How? How did you know?"

Tony stopped pacing; "What? Know what? What's going on? FRIDAY told me Peter has a temperature and elevated heart rate. Is he there? Is he ok? Please tell me he's ok."

"He has the flu. He's ok, well atleast I think he is." May rambled nervously; "I mean he's sleeping right now."

"The flu." Tony exhaled heavily closing his eyes, and clasping his knees as he doubled over. Mumbling to himself thank god. He had been picturing Peter bleeding in an alley or something.

"He threw up a little while ago and he's got a bit of a fever, with a cough. I think he's also having some Sensory Overload issues."

"Oh." Tony was worried again now, rushing back to his screen. Thankfully, he had also had the sense to have FRIDAY in built in the glasses and earbuds to relay data to him; "So how bad is it?" He asked as he frowned at the data. FRIDAY was reporting she was having to use maximum suppression to help relax Peter. That wasn't good.

"He says he's fine." May's tone clearly relayed Peter wasn't; "But I can tell he's trying to hide how bad it really is." May sighed; "Listen Tony. I have to go work, I hate to leave him like this, but my boss is being a hard ass and I can't afford to lose this job. Peter is insisting he can handle it himself, but I am not leaving him alone. I'm worried about his whole enhanced flu thing and how serious it could be for him."

"Wait wait go back. What enhanced flu thing?"

There was a beat of silence, that Tony was sure made his heart stop; "Didn't Peter tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"The whole thing about his sped up metabolism." May said slowly sounding confused; "So when he gets sick instead of having it being a week thing like it is for us, it's all sped up so he deals with it in only a couple of days. But it means its ten times worth for him. Last time, I was so terrified I almost took him to the hospital. Scared me to death...He didn't...didn't you know?"

Tony gritted his teeth. That damn kid. Why did he continue to keep this stuff from him? How could he protect him if he didn't know everything?

"No he didn't." Tony said dangerously quiet. Suddenly remembering how Peter couldn't thermoregulate. He wasn't going to be able to keep warm now. Tony couldn't let that happen.

"I'm so sorry Tony. I should have..."

"Don't worry about it." Tony cut in briskly, quickly rushing to grab his jacket and car keys, transferring the call to his phone as he rushed out.

"So um...I was wondering if you could come..."

"Already on my way." Tony replied, already getting into his car; "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks Tony." May sighed in relief as she hung up.

Not that she needed to thank him, Tony planned to come anyway. His son was sick and needed him. There was nothing that would keep him away.