Chapter 5

Tony knocked rapidly on the door of the apartment, looking around apprehensively. He'd had this discussion with May and Peter a couple of times before, about moving to a better apartment. More secure. But they were so much alike, too prideful, refusing to accept money. Insisting it was charity. Tony tried to understand, but damn if he couldn't help but worry about the safety of his son.

The door flew open, and May stood there in her nurses outfit. A stressed and panicked expression, but it soon turned into relief as she saw him.

"Tony I'm so happy you're here."

"Is he ok?" Tony asked rushing inside, heading straight for the bedroom, worried Peter had gotten worse.

"He's thrown up a few more times." May said following after him, running a frantic hand through her hair; "And he's fever up to 101 now. He seems to be in pain too. I've tried to help get his fever down, to calm him. But...I'm worried Tony. Maybe I should have taken him to the hospital."

"No no the hospital's not a good idea. I've called Pepper, and Happy. He's going to come here to drive you to work. Pepper's already calling Dr Cho to inform her of the situation. We're just determining whether she can come to Peter or he needs to go into the med lab." Tony finished as he entered Peter's room and froze.

Peter was in bed, facing the door, apparently asleep. Wearing the glasses and earbuds, a wet cloth on his forehead. But shaking violently, and his skin so pale he looked like a ghost.

Tony's heart clenched in panic. His son was sick, and there was nothing he could do it make him better.

Heading over to Peter, Tony slowly sat down on the edge, reaching over to touch Peter's cheek, grimacing at how hot he felt. Then ran his hands through Peter's hair. Knowing it had to be hard on Peter, being both hot and cold, and feeling so bad.

"Peter? Buddy? Can you hear me?" Tony said softly, searching Peter's face.

Everything was fuzzy and spinning, but Tony clung to his dad's voice, and leant into his reassuring cool touch.

"Dad?"

Peter sounded so small and lost, it broke Tony's heart. He gulped forcing a smile.

"Yeah kid it's me. I'm here."

"S'hurts." Peter tried to put into words all he was feeling, but that's all he was able to get out. His brain was incapable of thinking probably, and suddenly he found himself crying; "Dad.."

"Oh bud." Tony leant forward, his face mere inches from Peter's as he continued to ruffle Peter's hair as he rubbed his shoulder; "I know it hurts. And it sucks to be ill. But it's going to be ok I promise. You're going to be ok." Tony insisted not just for Peter, but to reassure himself.

Tony moved to turn to May, when Peter lashed out grabbing his wrist.

"Don't go. Dad."

Covering his hand, Tony shook his head; "I'm not going anywhere Underoo. I promise. I'm here. I'll always be here."

He turned to May without moving; "Can you help me get him down to the car?" Tony was already deciding to take Peter to the med lab. He really didn't look good at all. And the way his temp was rising rapidly, Peter was at serious risk here. They needed to hurry.

"No." Peter mumbled trying to shake his head; "M'get up."

"What honey?" May said stepping forward.

"I can get up." Peter murmured before suddenly turning to cough into his pillow. And Tony grimaced, the cough sounding very raspy and chesty. He didn't like it one bit.

"No Peter. You shouldn't overexert yourself." May said quickly.

"Let me carry you buddy." Tony added, already moving to pull the duvet off him and moved to lift him.

"No." Peter moaned, struggling against him. Crying now. No one was listening to him.

"Ok ok buddy." Tony said grabbing his arms, getting very concerned now. But knowing that stressing Peter out wasn't good for him; "Atleast let us help you up." He wasn't sure why Peter insisted to get up himself, but if it got him to the car faster then fine.

May and Tony both moved either side of Peter to help him out of the bed. He took a few steps and swayed slightly, Tony's grip on his arm tightened, and he moved an arm around his waist.

"You ok bud?" Tony asked worriedly peering at Peter's face, seeing the sweat dripping down his face. And he could feel Peter's body wracked with shudders.

"Fine." Peter lied through gritted teeth, but he just knew he had to do this. To show them he wasn't weak, to show them he could handle himself.

His head was pounding something fierce, and he knew he was on the verge of a bad Sensory Overload episode. Everything was so loud, but the only thing keeping him together right now was his dad. Having him there just made Peter feel better.

He managed enough energy and strength to make it to the elevator, and outside to the car.

Finally they get to the car, which Tony is relieved about as Peter is getting more unsteady by the second. And the way he's breathing, Tony panics Peter is about to pass out. He yanked open the door, and May and Tony gently put Peter inside. Immediately, Peter lets out a sigh and closes his eyes. Clearly exhausted.

Tony thought that was good. The kid needed some rest.

As he closed the door, Tony turned just as Happy pulled up.

"Hey I got here as soon as I could. Traffic was mayhem!" Happy breathed as he ran over, and instantly hugged May. She fell into his arms, and Tony smiled at the two. Pleased to see they were still going strong.

"How's the kid?" Happy asked as he pulled back, keeping his arm around May for support, and looked inside the car.

"Pretty sick. I'm just heading off to see Dr Cho." Tony explained; "Can you get May to work? Before she's late.

"Yeah yes of course." Happy nodded instantly.

May bit her lip and covered her face; "Maybe...Maybe I shouldn't go. If Peter is really that sick, I should be with him." That Tony understood, but Tony was lucky enough to be able to run his own company so he could leave whenever he wanted. He considered offering to find May another job, but knew exactly what she'd say about that.

"I get it May, but I promise I'll take care of him. And I'll notify you of any changes every hour. He'll be ok. I swear I won't let anything happen to him."

"I know." May smiled at him, and rushed at him into a hug; "Thank you Tony."

"Of course." Tony replied as he pulled back; "I'd do anything for Peter."

"Come on sweetie." Happy gently guided her away to the car, and Tony rushed into his own car. Speeding off before Happy and May had even left, sending panicked looks to Peter. He was really worried that something was very wrong with him.

Halfway to the Tower, Peter let out a moan and turned his head. Tony immediately faced him.

"Peter? You ok kid? You going to throw up? Want me to pull over?"

Everything was just too much. The sounds, the smells, the taste, the scratchy sensitive feeling of his skin, and the seat he was sitting on, it was just all too much.

He opened his mouth to respond, when another coughing fit hit him, that had him gasping for breath.

Tony instantly pulled over panicked, practically parking on the sidewalk as he turned to Peter. Rubbing his back and offering soothing words.

"Come on buddy. Slow deep breaths. You're ok. It's ok."

"Dad..." Peter moaned as he rolled his head to look at him when the coughing stopped. He didn't even know what he wanted now, he just liked saying dad.

Then his stomach churned again. He managed to get enough strength to shove the car door open and retch, throwing up a little of the water he drunk earlier.

"I'm here buddy." Tony said softly, rubbing his back. Trying to hide the fact he was terrified.

When Peter sat up, Tony studied his face offering him a bottle of water. He tried offer him a reassuring smile, but Peter could see he was worried; "How are you doing?" Wondering if Peter was a bit more coherent now.

"Dunno...everything hurts. Feel strange." Peter murmured taking slow sips.

"Strange how?"

"Confused...horrible...bleh...don't like it."

"I know. It's horrible being sick Underoo." He reached over to touch Peter's forehead, frowning deeply at how hot Peter still was; "FRIDAY. Update?"

"Peter's heart rate is still faster than normal, temperature stable at 101.5. I am reading a low blood sugar as well, and that he is becoming dehydrated."

"Ok you ok to carry on buddy?" Tony restarted the car and drove off.

"Where...going?" Peter mumbled between sniffling, blinking drowsily at Tony. Shivering in the seat, and hugging himself. Tony resisted turning the heat up, knowing Peter already had a fever.

"The Tower. Dr Cho's going to have a look at you. Make you better."

"No!" Peter whined frustrated, turning to push his face against the seat cushion.

"What?" Tony turned startled; "What is it Peter? Are you going to throw up again? Do you feel ok?"

"No doctor. No med lab."

"Oh Pete... buddy you need to. You're sick. We just want to make sure you're ok. It's going to be ok. I'll stay with you. Nothing bad is going to happen I promise."

"No." Peter continued to whine; "Home. I wanna go home."

"You can't Peter I'm sorry." Tony said pained, hearing the anguish in his son's voice. He didn't know what to do here, but he just wanted Peter better; "May's at work, and we're not leaving you alone."

"Noooo...not there...home...with you."

Tony braked sharply at a red light turning to Peter wide eyed; "My house? You want to come to my house? Home with me?" Hearing Peter called his house home, it meant everything.

Peter just murmured in agreement; "Please dad...take me home." And to send the point home, Peter sent him a puppy dog look.

Tony had no chance. He couldn't say no before, but now the kid was sick, he just looked more pitiful and sad. There was no way he could say no.

"Alright buddy I'll take you home. But Dr Cho is going to come see you there. No objection. Ok?"

Peter just let out a snore, fallen back asleep.

Tony smiled warmly, reaching over to gently ruffle Peter's hair before driving off again. Diverting to the house. He knew he could have carried on to the Tower, Peter was asleep now and there was nothing he could do about it. But...well Pepper was right, Peter had Tony wrapped around his little finger.

0o0o0o0oSPIDERMANo0o0o0o0o0o

Peter didn't wake up as Tony carried him into the house, which worried Tony. He had to be really out of it, and Tony could feel the heat radiating off him.

Pepper and Dr Cho were already waiting and worried.

"Oh Peter!" Pepper said rushing over as Tony passed to Peter's bedroom, reaching over to run a hand over his head; "Is he ok?" She asked fearfully to Tony.

Tony set Peter down on the bed, and stepped back for Dr Cho to get to him; "Is he?" He asked her, as he reached for Pepper's hand. She immediately took it, and he squeezed tightly, needing her right now. She was his rock, he couldn't get through this without her.

Dr Cho sat down on the edge of the bed, getting out her medical bag.

"How long has he been like this?" Dr Cho asked as she pulled out a stethoscope checking Peter's heart rate and breathing.

"A few hours I think." Tony replied anxiously; "I had FRIDAY send you his vital records from the wristbands."

"Yes I saw them." She replied simply not giving anything away as to whether she was worried or not. Then she removed his glasses and earbuds for a moment to shine a penlight into Peter's eye, and put a thermometer in his ear.

"He keeps falling asleep, and is in pain. He's thrown up a lot too." Tony continued when she didn't say anything; "And he has a fever. That's bad isn't it? Is this because of his DNA, because his metabolism is speeding it up or something?" Tony knew he may just be overreacting. People with the flu had fevers, but he needed to be sure this wasn't something else.

Dr Cho sighed and nodded as she turned to them; "I believe so. It's not surprising. His metabolism is ten times as fast as ours, which is why he heals so quick, needs to eat more than usual. It stands to reason that the same thing would happen when fighting off a virus. Unfortunately, it means all the symptoms from the flu Peter has to experience all at once, and of course a virus can act unpredictable. In Peter's body, it seems to be having averse reactions. We all know the flu can hit some people pretty bad, Peter particularly more so. And unfortunately, there is no simple cure to the flu."

"What do you mean?" Pepper asked desperately; "Is he in danger from this?"

Tony balked, and tightened his hold of Pepper.

"No I don't believe so." Dr Cho said quickly; "Thankfully, I had the foresight for such an eventuality. As Banner and Rogers have similar alteration to their DNA, they too experience the flu somewhat differently and severely as well." She turned to her medical bag as she continued; "Now whilst I can't do anything about curing Peter, I do have something to help his symptoms." She turned holding up an orange bottle of pills; "Super pills if you will." She said with a smile; "They compensate for the alteration in DNA, and work to try and slow down the virus so it doesn't hit them as bad. It should supress some of the more violent symptoms. Like the nausea, coughing and fever." She held them out to Tony; "Get him to take these every four hours. Just like normal medication."

"Wait." Tony said panicking turning from the pills; "That's it? You aren't going to do anything else! He's sick!"

"He has the flu." Dr Cho said calmly; "It can be quite scary and worrying. But he will recover. And with Peter, it will only take 2 days or so. He will be ok." She emphasised with a smile at Tony.

"But he has a high fever. He's having a Sensory Overload!" Tony objected rambling; "You're a doctor help him!"

"Tony." Pepper said calmly putting her hand on his arm.

"As I said before, there's nothing to be done about the Sensory Overload but to make sure he doesn't get stressed, and to get some rest. Now the fever is to be expected with the flu. Anything up to 102 is high but normal with the flu. It's nothing to be overly concerned about, as long as you keep an eye on him."

"What if it's over?" Pepper had to ask.

Dr Cho nodded as she turned to Peter gently putting the glasses and earbuds back for him; "Anything over 103 is dangerous, and if it gets that bad he'll have to come into the med lab, and we'll need to put him in an ice bath to get his temperature down. But that's unlikely and very rare."

"Can't you do that now to get his fever down? Give him those fluid bags to make him feel better?" Tony insisted. He wanted anything that was available to make him feel better.

"Doing an ice bath now is not a good idea, because it's not needed. If we did, it would bring his temp down too much too fast, and then we'll have another issue to get his temp back up." She shook her head; "That's just as dangerous. Now I can bring some fluid bags over here, and hook them into an IV for him. If you want me too. But I don't think it's necessary. If you can make sure he keeps drinking, and try to get him to eat something now and then. Like crackers, toast, some soup. That should be enough. You didn't want to bring him to the Tower because he didn't want to come, I don't want to do anything to add anymore undo stress to him. If he would rather stay here, and recover normally, that would be the best thing to do."

Tony hesitated, making a face. He didn't like it. Just having to wait for Peter to get better, not being able to help take his pain away or make him better.

But Pepper nodded slowly processing the orders; "So...we just need to watch him. Keep an eye on his fever. Give him the pills. And try to make sure he drinks and eats?" She wanted to make sure she didn't miss anything or do the wrong thing, to make Peter worse. She knew what to do about the flu, but like Tony, as a parent she was worried. Especially because of Peter's spider DNA.

"You can try reducing the temperature of the room," Dr Cho offered; "Changing him into some baggier lighter clothes. Cool wash cloths. Just the usual stuff. Some ice cream might help. It's cold, soothing for the throat, and has lots of calories to help get his strength up. And well Peter is going to need more because of his metabolism."

"Peter does love ice cream." Tony murmured randomly.

Dr Cho nodded smiling; "Good. For now, get him to take the pills, maybe get him to change and try to eat and drink something. Then let him sleep. Sleep is good for him. It's best if he doesn't overexert himself, he'll drain energy faster if he does." She paused and then softened at them; "I understand you're worried. This is your child, and you just want him better. I wish I could do more. But it's just the way it is with the flu. All you can do is be there for them, and try to ease their symptoms. But I promise he will get better. It's going to be rough on him, but he's going to be ok. Try not to worry."

Tony scoffed; "Yeah that's impossible. I'm getting grey hairs because of him."

Pepper rubbed his arm warmly, to comfort him, before turning to Dr Cho; "Thank you so much for coming."

"Of course." She stood nodding at them; "Now you can call me anytime day or night if he gets worse and I'll come immediately."

"I'll show you out." Pepper said kissing Tony briefly before leading Dr Cho out.

Tony sighed as he moved to sit where Dr Cho sat, and reached over to comb through Peter's hair. Feeling both relief and worry. Relief it's not as serious as he thought, but saddened that Peter had to go through this at all. Tony felt useless and powerless. He had all this money, all this technology, all this power, and yet, he couldn't do anything to help his son get over the flu.

Pepper came back, putting her hands on his shoulders, before resting her chin on his head; "He's going to be ok Tony." She reassured him.

Tony reached up to take her hand; "Yeah. I just...wish I could do more."

"I know honey. But like Dr Cho said, we just need to be here for Peter. That's what matters. We can make him feel better, make it easier for him."

That made Tony pause. He hated the fact he had been there for Peter when he needed him. Now was Tony's chance. Peter needed him here and now. He was sick, he needed his dad. Tony was going to do whatever it took to make Peter feel better. He was going to be here. He couldn't before, but he could now. Pepper was right, that's all that mattered.