Part Three

            Max Dillon walked the streets of New York with an expression of contempt across his face. "Look at these people." He said bitterly as bystanders stared at him rather confused. "You've never seen a guy walking around before?" He asked loudly.

            After murdering the foreman, Max had decided to get some sort of clothing that wouldn't burn away when he utilized his electrical abilities. So he had gotten one of the company's E-Suits. They were essentially a green jumpsuit with yellow gloves, boots and collar. The suit was designed to stand up to the most dangerous environmental situations no matter what they may be.

            Max reached a street corner and waited for the light to change. While there, he noticed a little girl standing by his mother, who was watching the oddly dressed man with suspicious eyes.

            "Hi." He said mischievously and leaned in towards the girl, "Want to see something really funny?"

            "Honey, don't talk to him." The mother said pulling her daughter away from Dillon. However, the girl took no heed of here mother's warning and nodded.

            Max grinned, "Good." He outstretched his finger to the mother, "This'll be fun." Electricity poured out from his fingers and soared to the girl's mother. The electrical sparks lighted a fire in her hair. "How was that?" He asked a horrified daughter as her mother screamed wildly.

            Bystanders from all over the street rushed to the woman's aid while Max walked across the street laughing uncontrollably. He could hardly keep from breaking down and leaned against a wall for a moment. It was just so funny.

            Yet, when Max caught sight of his destination he immediately halted laughing. He was one block away from the Empire State Building. He clenched his fist and smirked, "People should stay indoors, there's a thunderstorm coming."  

            Peter landed on the side of his home with Mary Jane in his arms. He crawled alongside the wall until he reached his open window. He carried her inside and stood tall in his own room. He surveyed his surroundings as if entering some ancient tomb. There was his bed all made up. Everything around him looked as if it had never been touched.

            "How are you handling this?" MJ inquired staring at his things intently.

            "I don't know." He responded, "I'm just a little confused right now." Peter pulled off the gloves of his costume and threw them on the end of the bed wearily before taking off the web-shooters as well. "From what I can remember our last encounter didn't go too well. I don't think he's going to be doing a waltz at seeing me again." He couldn't shake a subtle feeling of danger here.

            "You can be sure of that." A voice stated as it opened a door and aimed a gun straight for Peter. It was Uncle Ben, holding an old revolver. "Stay where you are." Ben ordered. He glanced at MJ curiously, "What is she doing here?" He looked frazzled and worn out, the man had clearly seen better days.

            Peter gulped, "It's a long story. Put the gun down, Uncle Ben." He took a careful step towards him, "There's no need for it."

            "The hell there is." Ben said back sharply, "You almost killed me! What's happened to you?"

            "I couldn't help it." Peter answered, "Believe me, if I could have I would I have stopped it, but I couldn't. There was nothing I could do."

            Ben frowned, "What are you saying?"

            Peter sighed, "It's complicated, but understand I was a passenger in my own body. You know that I would never do anything to hurt you."

            The old man hesitated with his next words and feebly leaned against a wall but kept his weapon focused on his nephew. "I don't know what to do. This is tearing me apart, Peter."

            "You're not the only one." Peter replied cautiously, "I came here planning to say so many things to try and make it better; and now all those words feel empty." His eyes shifted from side to side, full of anxiety. "Whatever I try to do will never make what happened go away. It's something that I have to live and cope with."

            Ben's hands trembled as he uneasily put the gun down on the floor, "I don't know if I can forgive you. Peter, you did terrible things, things I didn't think you were capable of."

            MJ moved towards Ben, "Mr. Parker, don't do this to him." The old man turned his gaze towards her, "The pain that he's suffered is beyond what anyone should go through. Don't make his pain any greater than it is now."

            Peter watched them converse as she made the connection that he yearned to. She could tell what he was feeling inside and strung words together that deeply moved him.

            "He made a leap of faith coming here." MJ continued, "Peter came back to you, because he hopes that you'll understand. He needs you to understand. Don't deny him your love when he needs it the most." She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, "Please."

            Ben stared at his nephew and began to cry, "Peter." He exclaimed and rushed over. Both Parkers's embraced one another in a moment of total vulnerability. "I missed you so much. Don't ever run again."

            "I won't Uncle Ben." Peter replied holding his uncle tightly, "I promise."

            "Don't you get tired of these meetings, Harry?" Norman inquired as he watched his son struggle against his bonds, "Why not just submit."

            Harry clenched his jaw defiantly, "I always knew you had problems, dad, but I had no idea you were this bad."

            Norman slugged Harry across the jaw in retaliation, "Don't ever speak to me that way, you little freak. You're lucky I don't finish you right now." He was dressed in a suit and tie, a perfect businessman. "Now, let's talk about your treatment." A suitcase lay at his feet.

            "Treatment?" Harry asked warily, "What treatment?"

            "Oh, I've decided to speed up the healing process and focus on correcting your behavior to something resembling a decent son." Norman pulled out a syringe from the suitcase and looked oddly at the contents inside, "This should help."

            "No." Harry whispered at the sight of the needle, "Dad, whatever you're planning to do, don't. I'll do whatever you want, just don't do this!"

            Norman raised an eye, "Why so nervous, Harry? You should be happy; this'll work like a charm. After all, drugs did wonders for me!" He cackled madly and stuck his son's arm with the needle and injected the chemicals inside into his son's bloodstream.

            "Sorry, we don't have too much food." Ben rubbed the back of his head uneasily, "I didn't shop with the expectation of feeding two more mouths."

            MJ shrugged, "That's fine. Besides, I think Peter could use every bit."

            Peter raised his head at hearing his name mentioned, "What?" He asked with a piece food dangling in his mouth. For the first time in weeks, Peter was dressed in street clothes and was eating a hearty meal.

            The three were crowded around the kitchen table in the Parker home. Ben smiled, "Just keep eating, kiddo." He turned his attention towards the young redhead Peter had brought home, "So, what do you think of my nephew's hobby?"

            "I've seen worse." MJ answered.

            "I suppose so." Ben noted, "So, are you going to go home soon?"

            Peter gulped some food down and interjected almost immediately, "Actually, I was thinking that Mary Jane could stay with us. We haven't used the guest room in months."

            Ben grimaced, "I really wouldn't be comfortable with that, without clearing it with MJ's parents first."

            "I don't think her parents are the most reasonable people." Peter remarked, "I think it might be better if she just stayed here."

            MJ had suddenly shifted from a happy person to some totally silent and reserved, afraid to even speak up.

            "Listen, Peter, we're having financial trouble as it is and I don't know if I can support another teenager in this house." Ben clicked his tongue, "I really would if it were possible, Mary Jane."

            "Come on." Peter urged, "It would really be for the better if she stayed here. The situation is complicated at her house."

            Ben rocked his head back, "So I hear, listen, coming over is one thing, she can do that whenever, but I can't support another person under this roof. The matter's over."

            Peter lowered his head defeated.

            "If I'm going to go home, I'd rather go now." MJ said quietly.

            "Okay." Ben said, "I'll drive you home. I'm sorry I couldn't help."

            She shrugged, "That's alright, I understand. I'll see you at school, Monday."

            Ben rose up from his seat, "That reminds me we need to start getting together a story, you've been gone for almost two months and its going to be hard as hell easing you back in, kid."

            "You're making a mistake." Peter said, "You shouldn't do this to MJ."

            Ben bit his lip, "Maybe."

            Ben drove MJ to the front door of the Watson home and saw her off. He watched as the redhead fearfully approached the front door and rang the bell. A few moments passed before the door opened. The father led her in and gave a suspicious look at him before shutting the door.

            Immediately, he could hear screaming from both parents. Words that no woman should ever be called were thrown at MJ freely. Even through the walls of the Watson home he could hear her crying.

            Ben sighed and shook his head, disgusted at the situation, "I feel like a real jerk right now."

            MJ ran into her room and shut the door. Her father was still yelling, apparently drunk, and focused his attention on her mother. She sat on her bed and began to cry quietly.

            "I've got some Kleenex if you need it." Peter said, dressed in a spare Spider-Man costume, staring at her through the window.

            "Peter?" MJ rushed to the window with a smile on her face, "What are you doing here?"

            "Did you think I would really leave you here?" Peter outstretched his hand to her, "One way or another, I'm going to make sure you stay safe. Come on." The moon hung over his shoulder, illuminating his image.

            She grasped his hand, "What about your uncle?"

            Peter shrugged, "It'll take some working out, but I'll figure out a way to get him over." He pulled her out the window and fired a web-line that connected with a home down the street, "This is a one-way trip so hang on tight." He pushed off the roof and began the trek home.

            Peter slid back in through his window with MJ. He heard the phone in the hallway ringing loudly. "Let me get that." Peter said pulling off his mask and rushing to the phone at inhuman speeds. "Hello?"

            "It's me, Ben." His uncle said grimly on his cell-phone, apparently held up in traffic, "I've had a change of heart. It won't be easy, but Mary Jane can stay at our house. But there's going to be some rules and I don't want you two getting frisky. May wouldn't have it and neither will I."

            Peter's face widened in surprise, "Really?"

            "Yeah, but don't think its all going to be fun." Ben replied. "There's going to be more responsibilities placed on you. If something goes wrong, you're going to be who I go after, got it?"

            "That's great!" Peter exclaimed, "Thanks, I really mean it, thanks! What made you change your mind?"

            Ben sighed, "The infamous Parker guilt. Hold on, traffic's clearing up, I'll call you later."

            Peter said goodbye and put the phone back down on the receiver. "Well, looks like things are finally going my way."

            Max climbed up to the top of the Empire State Building and surveyed his surroundings. "Hello, world!" He yelled loudly at the city below, "Remember me?"

            The thunderstorm had now gotten underway and flashes of light were visible all around him in the night sky. The roar of the electrical discharges was immense and overpowering.

            "Well, I remember you!" Max screamed. He stretched his hands toward the sky, "I'm ready!" Suddenly, thunder came down from the sky and hit Max directly.

            Another thunderbolt streaked down. Max channeled the thunderbolt into his body. He lit up like a light bulb. Two more bolts of electricity streaked down from the sky and surged through Max's body.

            The crackle of electrical energy was foreboding as Max placed his hands down on the roof of the building. He screamed loudly as another thunderbolt struck his back. His skin was singed, he was beginning to resemble a burn victim and his brown hair was burning away. Max sent a massive electrical charge into the building, using the thunderstorm as a source of unlimited energy. He continued to pump power into the building. His entire body was sizzling from the electrical energy flowing through his veins.

            With another bolt of thunder channeled through Max's body, the Empire State Building suddenly became black as the power failed. Max smiled and looked across the city to see the lights failing all over Manhattan. He had created a black-out.