Vinny grabbed Joey by the shoulder to stop him from running over to where he had left Spider-man. "Go get my flashlight. You know the big halogen one."

Joey did a quick about face and ran downstairs.

He was back in minutes and handed his brother the large light. "Stay here," he was commanded.

Vinny walked slowly in the direction Joey pointed, his flashlight aimed at the ground. He was trying not to disturb anything that could be conceived as evidence. "How far was he?"

"You're about half-way there."

After a few more feet, Joey called out, "Stop. Somewhere around there."

Vinny started a search pattern with the light, trying to catch every square inch of rooftop. Panning slowly back and forth, he would step forward a little at a time.

Joey was watching his brother carefully going over the whole area. Suddenly he saw him drop down on one knee, "Did you find something?"

Vinny yelled "Stay put!" when he saw his brother starting to come over. He didn't want him to see the pool of blood that he'd just found. Standing up, he started to follow a trail of the red droplets. It was a straight line to the edge of the building. He caught more of the crimson stain on the ledge. Peering over, he shone the light down into the alley below. He wouldn't be able to detect blood at that distance but he could certainly spot a red and blue body if there was one. Vinny headed back to Joey, "I think he's still alive, kid, I found spots of blood that go off the edge, but there's no body down there. Now, where did you leave my gun?

"It was right there," and he pointed several feet away from where Vinny found the pool of blood.

"Shit. My gun's missing," Vinny growled. "I'll talk to you about that later. Right now, let's get down to the alley and see if we can find anything."

At first the older brother headed towards the stairwell, but then said, "Let's use the fire escape, less chance of running into somebody."

At the bottom, Vinny helped his younger brother off the last rung of the ladder. "Stay here. I want to see if I can find anything first."

Starting again with the side to side search pattern, Vinny was able to cover most of the alleyway quickly due to its small size. He glanced over at his brother. He couldn't even begin to imagine how he must feel, shooting his idol. It was bad enough that the boy took a gun that he wasn't supposed to. He would have gotten into plenty of trouble just for that alone. Then add to that the gun was now missing, and he was in even bigger trouble. Vinny was going to have to report that to his captain. But, shooting the very person who meant so much to Joey, he just shook his head. The kid will never get over that. When this whole mess was over, he was going to have to have a long talk with him, maybe several.

"C'mon, Squirt. There's nothing we can do now. I have to go back and think of a game plan. I really need to report this. But I want to wait at least long enough to know for sure if Spider-man is ..." He held back finishing the sentence for his brother's sake.

Joey pleaded with his brother, "Can't we look at little bit more? Please?"

"I don't know where to even start, kid. That's why I want to go back inside, so that I can sit down and map out a plan. I have to do this just right or I could lose my job."

Joey looked like he wanted to say something more, but held it in.

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On the roof of a building just a block from the shooting, a prone, red and blue clad figure shivered in the night.

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Deep in the city, sunlight reached down the valley of the buildings a lot later than sunrise. Joey was up before it was light. He hadn't slept a wink and was anxious to hear what Vinny had planned. Ever since Spider-man changed their lives a few years back, his older brother became one of the best brothers any kid could have. He was proud of him and now believed he could do anything.

He had been fidgeting with a dilemma all night and hoped he wasn't going to have to face it. He won't have to, not if Vinny came up with a plan. Walking into the kitchen, he found his brother, asleep at the table. He gently shook him, "Vin, wake up. Wake up, Vinny."

Groggy-eyed, the young man looked at his kid brother, "Gee, I must have fallen asleep here last night. Would you mind making me a cup of coffee, Joey?" He asked rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah, did you come up with anything?"

He shook his head. "Joey, I don't know where to begin to look for Spider-man. I was thinking of asking a couple of my buddies to keep an eye open for him. He usually shows up when cops are called in. If anybody sees him, then we know he's ok."

Whispering so as not to wake his parents, Joey cried softly, "You know he's not ok, Vin. You saw the blood."

"So you don't want me to ask for help?"

"I just don't think it will do any good. Besides, what're going to tell them the reason you want to see Spider-man?"

"I would just tell them that I wanted to surprise you. They all know you're buddies with him."

Joey looked down, "Some buddy. I shot him. And probably killed him. Do you have any other ideas?"

"Sorry kid. Like I said, I haven't a clue where to even begin."

Joey decided that he needed to break the solemn promise because it meant saving a life. Still looking down, almost inaudibly, he murmured, "I know where he lives."

"Huh? Say that again."

"I said, 'I know where he lives.'"

"Why didn't you say something last night!" Vinny was now wide awake.

"Because I made a promise to him that I would never tell a soul."

Vinny got up and held his brother close. "Joey, I know you take that promise very seriously. But I think he will understand why you are breaking it." Separating, he looked down at a face that had aged 10 years since last night, "Get dressed. We're going there right now. I'm putting on my uniform so that I look more official, but I called in today. I took the whole day off, just to look for Spidey."

Joey trudged back into his bedroom.

Vinny sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair. If any of this gets out, his job was history. He's breaking every friggin rule in the book. And even though he hadn't mentioned anymore of it to Joey, he was worried about his gun. What if it was used in a crime?

Knowing Joey would be ready soon, Vinny left to get dressed.

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The brother's walked up the flight of stairs quietly so as not to disturb any neighbors. Vinny thought, 'Shit, I'm going to have to knock pretty loud to make sure who's ever inside hears, so to give them a chance to answer the door. I don't want to get caught breaking and entering into someone else's place.'

"Ready?"

Joey nodded and he knocked on the door, "It's me, Joey."

No answer.

Joey didn't want to call out Peter's name because he hadn't disclosed that yet to his brother, waiting until the very last minute, just in case he didn't have to. And he couldn't very well yell 'Spider-man'.

Knocking a little harder, "It's me, Joey. Open up."

Looking up at his uniformed brother, "I guess you have to try."

Trying to look like he's on official business, Vinny knocked louder, "Police. Open up sir."

"One more try then I'll break in. You know what this means, Joey? You sure this is the right place? If anyone finds out, I'm no longer a cop. I'll lose my job for sure." He didn't want to mention a possible jail sentence.

"It was his place a couple of years ago."

"A couple of years ago! He could have moved a dozen times over by now!" Vinny hissed, now hesitating to go ahead with his plans.

"But his life's at stake. And he risked his to save yours. Right?"

"Yeah," he said calming down. "I guess that's why I'm doing it, kid."

Just as he raised his fist to try again, the door across the hall opened up. A man with a face like a rodent popped his head out, "When you see that guy, tell him he owes me rent. And if he doesn't pay up, you can haul his ass out of here." Then just a quickly, he popped his head back inside and closed the door.

The brother's looked at each other, their faces mirrored the same reaction; half fear, half humor.

Vinny turned back to the door again, banging on it. "Open up, this is the police." He stood still, listening. Then he looked around at the other doors. He didn't hear anything from any other apartment, and he noticed they did not have peepholes to look through. "Ok, Joey, without looking like a lookout keep an eye open. I'm going in."

The older brother took out a set of lock-picks and deftly picked the flimsy catch. He slowly opened the door, and looked around the hall one last time before entering. He quickly closed the door behind them.

"This is where Spider-man lives?" Vinny asked, shocked at the meager, tiny apartment.

The boy nodded.

"I sat over there and talked to him," Joey said as he pointed to the chair. He still didn't tell his brother yet that when he met 'The Man' face to face, it was without his mask.

"When did you do that? How did you find… never mind, let's find him first. But I want to know all about this later."

Looking around the sparse room, checking the trash can, the sink and anywhere bloody evidence could be found, the cop stated, "It doesn't look like he's been here since, uh… Well he hasn't been here."

Joey was staring at a strip of pictures stuck in the mirror frame. "I wonder if this is his girlfriend."

Vinny came over, "I know her. Well, I've seen her. She's an actress. Pretty, huh? I wonder if she knows who's behind the mask." He took out his notepad and jotted a reminder to look up the woman's name and go ask her some questions. Then as he admired her picture a moment longer, his eyes drifted down to a business card with the name of a clinic and doctor on it.

"I wonder if Spider-man has someone who is his private doctor. Would make life a lot easier when he got banged up," he said as he wrote down Dr. Jackson's information.

Joey looked to his older brother, "Do you think he went to the hospital? Not as Spider-man but as Pe….uh his other self?"

"Huh?" Vince missed the statement as he was writing in his notebook.

"I said, 'Do you think Spider-man went to the hospital as his other self?'"

"That'll be easy enough to check. All gunshot wounds need to be reported."

Vinny glanced around for one last look when he spotted a student ID. Picking it up, he whispered to himself, "Peter Parker."

Joey looked at him, eyes round, "You're not supposed to find out!" then clamped his jaw shut.

Looking over at his brother, Vinny said, "You knew? Is there any other secret you'd like to tell me to help in the investigation! When this is over, we're going to have a heart to heart talk. With your secret life, for all I know, you're hiding Jimmy Hoffa under your bed."

Joey shook his head.

Talking more to himself now, "Well, that explains why he always gets pictures of Spider-man. They are one in the same." Then looking around at the poor accommodations, he thought, 'and he was going to do my wedding photography for free!'

Listen, I think we've been here long enough. I've got some leads here I can follow up on. We should go now."

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Spider-man sat huddled on the ground, in the darkest corner of an alley, hidden by a garbage dumpster. Clutching his side, breathing hard, he thought, 'Good one Spidey. You did it again. You know it's your fault you got shot again. What were you thinking scaring the boy like that? You're just lucky you got hit instead of one of the kids.'

Banging the back of his head against the brick wall, he cried, "Stupid, stupid, stupid." He stopped and looked skyward, "Please, don't let me die like this. It isn't fair to the kid. He shouldn't have to live with something like this for the rest of his life. If it's my time, just let me survive for now and once Joey knows he didn't kill me, then take me."

Judging by the sun, he figured it was late afternoon. 'I'm not making very much headway. I've gone all of a block and a half since yesterday. I'll be either completely healed or dead by the time I reach Doc. Jackson's.' He banged his head a few more times out of frustration.

'Maybe I should just go to my place and call the doc from there. I'm sure I can make it at least that far.'

Picking up the gun he webbed just before he left the roof, he studied it for a moment, turning it over in his hands. 'I wonder where Joey got this, if it's Vinny's? God, I hate these things.' Putting it down, he looked at his surroundings, 'I need to find Doc Jackson. Man, he's gonna kill me this time. He's gonna be so pissed that I got shot from my own stupidity.'

Although his mind was telling him to move, the body stayed. He closed his eyes. He just wanted to do it for a moment. That was all. Just rest for a minute.

He was snapped awake by sounds coming from the entrance of the alley. He couldn't tell if they were drunks, rowdy kids or thugs, but whoever it was, he couldn't be seen by them. Not in this condition. He removed the glove from his right hand, and picked up the gun. With only his hand bending around the corner of the dumpster, he deliberately cocked the weapon making sure the click was loud. Then he yelled, "Get lost!"

The voices silenced, and after a moment, he heard the sound of running feet departing. Uncocking the gun, he placed it on his lap, then laid his head back against the brick wall. Sweat made the costume uncomfortably sticky. 'That was close.'

The last thought he had before falling back into the murky waters of unconsciousness was 'I really need to get out of here.'

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After spending the day chasing down the leads, Vinny sat in Joey's room, phone in hand. He didn't want to be where his parents could hear the conversation, but wanted his brother by his side. He dialed the number taken from the business card.

On the second ring, a female voice answered, "Glenview Avenue Clinic, can I help you?"

"Yes, is there a Doctor Jackson there?"

"Yes there is but he is busy with a patient right now. Something I can help you with, perhaps?"

"What kind of doctor is he?"

"A General Practitioner."

When Vinny heard that, he gave Joey the thumbs up. "This is Officer Tarentetto, 33rd precinct. I need to speak to the doctor. Can he be disturbed?"

"Please hold."

Vinny waited several minutes, before hearing a deep male voice on the line, "Hello?"

"Is this Doctor Jackson?"

"Yes, and you are Officer..?"

"Officer Tarentetto."

"What can I do for you that couldn't wait, Officer?"

Vinny decided to go with the photographer's name, hoping to be able to read his reaction better. "Do you know a Peter Parker?"

There was a pause at the other end, "There is a doctor patient confidentiality that prevents me from answering that."

"I didn't ask if he was a patient, just if you knew him." But that alone told him that Parker was a patient of the doctor, but it didn't tell him if the doctor knew he was Spider-man.

"I still don't have to give you any information."

Vinny took a gamble and said, "He's missing and presumed seriously hurt."

There was silence at the other end. Then hesitantly, "Missing? How? And how do you know he's hurt?"

"There was blood at his last known location."

"Listen Officer, I'm afraid I can't help you. I have to go." Vinny listened to the empty dial tone for a moment.

"Well?" Joey said excitedly.

"I don't know. He hung up suddenly. He didn't lead on that he knew Spider-man. But something's not right. Anyway, he definitely didn't know that Peter was hurt or missing. So I guess that rules the clinic out. Oh and by the way, I tried to call that actress and got no answer. I checked with my partner and there's no reported gunshot wounds at St. Barnabas, the closest hospital."

Vinny looked out the window into the night. It was late evening. "Why don't we call it a day, and get a fresh start tomorrow morning?"

"Vinny! This is the second night he's out there somewhere hurt. Hey, we know where he lives and we know where the doctor lives. Why don't we start walking from here in that direction? We don't have to go far, just check out a few places. PLEASE!"

Vinny hesitated. His brother was right. If Spider-man were still alive but hadn't made it to safety yet, time could be of the essence.

"Ok. But you stick to me like glue. I'm going to keep my uniform on to deter any problems." Looking up at the ceiling, he thought deeply, "The trail on the roof was at an angle. That way," and he pointed out Joey's window. "But, it's too much work to check rooftops, too. We'll just do a ground search."

For the first time in 24 hours, Joey looked optimistic.

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Spider-man awoke to the sounds of voices again. But this time, fear filled his thoughts. He could hear, "He was down this way. He's on our turf. Bum with a gun or not, he's history."

'Oh great' he thought as he attempted to get up. He ended up doubled over in pain instead. "Man, how am I going to get out of here?" he whispered to himself. He knew he didn't have the strength to web himself out. He slowly turned and faced the wall, placed his hands in preparation to climb and pulled himself up. Only off the ground a foot, he fell back in a heap. Writhing, he slithered back to his corner near the dumpster. 'The dark will give me some cover, but not much. And all that will buy me is a little time.'

Then he thought of the gun.