As Peter stepped out of the building, he saw a black bird sitting on a wire. Oh yeah, that's a great omen. He rubbed his eyes and made his way downtown, a brisk five minute travel for those who could swing from building to building, but since Peter ditched his alter-ego, it was either a forty-five minute walk or pay for two buses and still have to walk five blocks to get there. I need the exercise anyway. Maybe it'll clear up my head too. He hadn't been sleeping much-or well-lately and Peter couldn't figure out exactly why. He had lost his job a month ago-which was nothing especially traumatizing; no one had died, and there wasn't any new drama caused by the female persuasion. Yet, for the past week when he had gotten to sleep, it was filled with nightmares. Visions full of cars and buildings burning, the sound of women sobbing over lost children and other loved ones. Men were fighting their wars and Peter saw himself in the middle of a platoon of soldiers, they were running towards him; towards an enemy he could not yet see.
He stood in front of the familiar building; his head craned slightly to see the bird's nest that was still in the big 'D'.
"At least some things never change," Peter sighed in relief as he walked through the door and took the elevator up to the main office floor. When he walked through the glass doors of the office, the first one to welcome him back was Robbie Robertson. Good ol' RobbiePeter thought. Always put everyone in front of himself.
"Hey Peter!" Robbie took Peter's right hand into a firm handshake that developed into a hug. The hug reminded Peter that his ribs were still attached and still bruised. "It's good to have you back, man. Where've you been, haven't heard from you in a long time."
Peter shrugged once. "Oh, I've been around…just not as much as I used to be."
"I can tell. You don't look so hot Pete, you feel sick or something?"
"Or something." Robbie had been one of the people from work that had actually cared about his well-being. Peter was about to tell Robbie about his inability to sleep and the nightmares when he was summoned.
"PARKER! GET IN HERE!" J.J. wasn't really mad, that was just how he spoke. Peter walked into J.J.'s office and waited there for some lecture about not showing up to work or how when he was Peter's age he was married and working. What he got, instead, was something totally different. "Parker, it's good to have you back. I even have an assignment lined up for you." Peter had to do a double-take. Am I on Punk'd? Okay Ashton, you got me, come on out and let J.J. go back to normal. "Well? Aren't you going to ask what is? Or how about a 'Thank you Mr. Jameson'?" Okay, that sounds more like J.J.
"Thank you Mr. Jameson. What is it?"
"I knew you were going to ask that Parker, that's why I had Betty type up this report for you to read on the plane."
"Uhm, I'm not sure I understand Mr. Jameson." A plane? Excuse me?
"What's there to understand Parker? It's all in the report. Go home and pack. Your flight leaves tomorrow afternoon. If you need a ride, call Robbie."