FATR: I own Spider-Man 2 on dvd! I got it on the night of November 30! I watched it with the trivia feature turned on! Woohoo! When I found out that mom bought it for me I started jumping around the livingroom, clutching the box to my chest, doing the fangirl squeal. And I also watched the blooper reel. That was fun. Okay, now then... NatzandtheRatz: Come on, tell me about the name. The mention of Batz just intrigues me even more. Tell me the story, and let decide if I think it is uninteresting or not. Please? I am very easily amused. I have been signing in and updating at least once a week, just not always this story. Now I am neglecting my other stories because I got my... third wind on this one. Yes, I believe I am on my third wind, now. I'll return to "Heros are Made" and "Cat and a Half" later, but for now this one and "Temptation of Otto" are the orders of the day. Though, "Temptation" has been finished for some time now, I'm just taking my time updating it. Heh... uh... Thank you for the help, Phoenix Sheridan. It was very... well, helpful! I present to you... Dah Duh! The internet chocolate chip cookie of gratitude! (,',) Well, it kind of looks like a cookie, right? big grin I really enjoyed your review as well, Agent Silver. Oh, yes, I really did. Now, if you bothered to read this far into my babble, pat yourself on the back. If you skipped right to the story, then you won't know that I said screw you. Hehe, just kidding, haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately. My own fault. ANY-hoo, chip chip time!

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Emma had never realized that Leo was such a smooth talker. It was one of the reasons she was so grateful to have his assistance this time. Emma herself could never lie and manipulate her way into someone's house. Leo had simply walked up to the door, rung the bell, and explained that he was a detective George had hired. He had gone on to say that George had been unsure of the safety of one of his pieces and that he, Leo, had been hired to do a little research. He had found out that the artifact was indeed in danger and had to see George right away. There were several other things that Leo had expertly thrown out there, shooting down each suspicious question as soon as it was tossed his way. Now they were upstairs, the man who had answered the door was in a chair in the hall trying to hold down his lunch, and Leo was studying the body. Emma knew that she was late for work, but she figured if she could get a scoop on this Jameson might forgive her. Though it made her uncomfortable because she felt like a manipulator, she tended to bring out the better in everyone, including the ever grouchy James Jonah Jameson.

"I think cause of death is obvious enough," Leo muttered. He had been careful not to touch the body too much, though as a demon he possessed no fingerprints. "Are you getting anything?"

Emma took a breath, the reek of blood making her stomach churn. "She came in through the study and left through the roof. He... tried to kill her... over there," she pointed to the wall with the missing battle axe, "and then ran into her again in the study. She left..." Emma studied the ceiling and felt rather than saw the lingering residue of magic. "Right there."

"You can't tell anymore?"

"I can see what spells she used and where. Unfortunately, I have not been given much alive time to strengthen my powers. Every time she kills me, I have to essentially start all over again."

Leo looked hopeful. "Does that mean if we kill her this time and she comes back, it would be easier to kill her next time?"

Emma winced. "Please don't talk about killing her in such an offhanded fashion. She is my sister after all, no matter what she does to me."

Leo nodded his understanding. She was still hoping they could find a balance, but he doubted that would ever happen. Just as Emma was one extreme, Ana was another. He, however, knew how much stress Emma was under and didn't want to shatter her dreams completely. Sometimes dreams were all the truly good could have. "I guess we've done all we can do in here. Let's go talk to our friend in the hall."

Emma was the first out of there, more than happy to get away from the grisly scene. The smell of death alone made her ill. The thought that anyone could do such a gruesome thing was just beyond her.

The butler was scared half way to a catatonic state. It had to be about... whatever artifact Leo was hired to watch, but what could be so important as to drive a person to murder? He heard the door open and when he refused to make eye contact, Leo crouched in front of him.

"I would only like to ask you a question or two. The person who did this is still loose, and after something very valuable. This person will kill again if you don't help."

The butler looked up at Leo's female companion. She had remained silent thus far, but he felt no reason to distrust her, none at all. Her face was the angelic embodiment of truth. She seemed deeply troubled, but when she noticed him watching her she smiled reassuringly.

Emma placed her hand on the frightened man's shoulder. She didn't have to speak to him. The gesture alone seemed to comfort him immensely. His muscles relaxed under her touch. "We only want to know if you know where the Spirit Stone is being kept."

"I don't know..." the man eyed Leo suspiciously.

"Please," Emma whispered. "It is vital that we find it before someone else does."

The man was moved by her desperation and sincerity. He felt the warm light spreading out of her finger tips and passing into him. He had been close to George, his right hand man, so to speak. George had spoken to him about the potential power of the stones, about dimensions beyond the one full of super heros and villains, and about... "Emma?"

Emma blinked. "Yes..."

He grasped her hand. "Don't be afraid." The butler dropped to his knees in front of her. "It is truly an honor to be touched by your radiance, and I would be more than happy to inform you that the stone is in the World History Museum. At least, that is the last place he had it. If he knew it was in danger he may have had it moved."

"Thank you." Emma was flattered by and a little uncomfortable with all this adulation.

"Will everything be okay? With the stones and all?" The butler asked, gazing imploringly into her eyes.

"Leo and I are doing our best."

"If only I had known first, I wouldn't have been so difficult about letting you in."

Emma put her over hand over his. "Don't worry about it. I would like you to go call the police right away, answer their questions honestly, and try not to worry."

By now quite a crowd had collected in the hall. As they were taking their leave, Leo whispered, "Are you sure it's wise to involve the police?" in Emma's ear.

Emma looked sad. "If we don't stop Ana we'll have much worse to look forward to, and if we do stop her we can go home."

"Dodging the cops by dimension hopping, huh? I dare say I may be detecting a touch of deviousness in that plan."

"Not really. We didn't do anything wrong. We are not dodging anything. I do, however, really, really have to get to work. Can you take care of things?" But she was really asking if he could take care of himself.

Leo gave her a cocky grin. "Of course I can. I'll get Spider-Man..." He trailed off when he saw Emma cover her face with her hands and bite back a sob. "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to help his and you know who's relationship." Emma took a breath and looked at the sky, hoping gravity would help keep the tears behind her eyes. "Basically they're out of the battle until sometime this evening. You'll have to take care of it yourself, Leo. I'm such an idiot."

"Don't worry about it. Everything will be fine. Just you wait and see," Leo assured.

"I guess..." Emma gulped. "I guess... if that song and dance back there was any indication of your character... yeah, I think you'll be just fine."

----

One of Otto's pets tapped on the door.

"Yes?"

"It is Octavius, master Fisk. I have a couple of things I wish to discuss with you, if you are not otherwise engaged at the moment."

There was silence while Fisk thought this over. "As you wish."

Otto stepped inside. He had rehearsed several opening lines on his way up but had ended up discarding all of them. The Kingpin was lounging in his large chair behind his desk with his hands on the arm rests. There was some paper work on his desk with a ballpoint pen dropped carelessly across it.

"I am quite busy at the moment, Octavius."

"I assure you I will not consume very much of your time at all."

"You have three minutes."

Otto bowed his head to demonstrate his submissiveness to the Kingpin's power. His tentacles hissed their disgust in his head but he ignored them. "I have not exactly been myself lately, and for that I apologize. Perhaps I can make it up to you somehow."

Fisk raised an intrigued eyebrow. "I suppose you already have something in mind."

"You always were a sharp one, sir."

The octopus raised his head and the light flashed off his glasses. There was a demonic smirk on his face. However, the mountain of a crime lord was not unnerved by this hellish expression. He was, after all, the Kingpin, and everyone answered to the Kingpin. "What are you proposing?"

"I am, humbly of course, requesting your permission to take the boys out on a little excursion to the World History Museum. If memory serves correctly, they have an exquisite collection of jewels in the Egyptian exhibit."

Fisk leaned back in his chair and eyed Dr. Octopus suspiciously. Why was he humbling himself now? Fisk still didn't know what secret agenda had driven the abduction of Jessica and Jacob. It had played out well enough for Fisk's interests, and the boy was all right, if not for the trauma of waking up to seeing his mother butchered. When they had left, the boy had been walking without assistance, though he still wasn't talking. "Answer me this: what are you hiding?"

Otto looked surprised. "Hiding, sir?"

"You spend all day in your lab, and no one knows what you are doing down there. You take Jessica and Jacob down there, and Jessica's body comes back practically liquified. I also have it on good authority that you took some books from their home. I cannot help but wonder what your real motive is for robbing the museum."

Otto would not be fazed by this line of interrogation. "The others will be joining me, and I give you my word that I, we, will have something for you when we return. Is there anything in particular you desire? Something you may have had your eye on?"

Fisk rubbed his chin as he debated this. "Let me see if I understand what you are doing here. You will pay me off and I will not ask questions about what is going on under my own home. Is that it?"

Otto didn't smile or laugh, at least not externally. "Yes, sir, that is exactly what I am doing."

Fisk thought about this. "I will allow you to proceed with your museum adventure on two conditions. First of all, I want you to go after it gets dark. Second of all, I want you to bring the spoils of your endeavor to me for inspection. Once I see the peace offering, I will determine if it is a sufficient payment for looking the other way."

His plan was so close to fruition it didn't really matter if Fisk decided to press the issue or not. Otto had bought himself some time, and after he had the stone all the interference in the world would be in vain. The demonic expression reappeared. "That is perfectly fair."

"Excellent." Fisk picked up the pen and went back to work. "Now leave."

Otto performed another submissive head bow and left. The fat man won't know what hit him. He chuckled to himself.

"Have yah seen Steph around? I wanna-"

The tentacles whipped around to glare at Mac with all four red eyes.

The scorpion felt a chill run down his spine when faced with the potential wrath of all of Otto's 'pets,' as Otto called them. The doctor himself turned around slowly, and the expression on his face was far less than friendly. However, it wasn't nearly as creepy as the 'looks' the tentacles had in their 'eyes.'

"Obsessive much?" Otto smirked. "I doubted you will make much ground if you keep throwing yourself at her like this. It is, in fact, rather pathetic."

Otto was clearly in one of his darker moods. Mac had seen him like this before. Even though Otto at home was generally shy and kept to himself, Otto in the field was arrogant and ruthless. It was field Otto, Doc Ock, that Mac was talking to just then, and Doc Ock had some kind of scheme up his sleeve. "Wha' business did yah have with Fisk?"

"We, my nitwitted dolt of a team mate, are going out on a job tonight. A job that far exceeds your numerous failed attempts at romance in importance. I do not expect you to understand the greater implications of this particular job, but I do believe that time would be better spent preparing yourself for our nocturnal engagement."

Mac eyed the octopus for a moment. He was positive Otto had woven at least one insult into that mini speech, but he didn't feel like taking the time to sort it out. So he simply asked, "When?"

Otto's face stayed hard as stone. "When I say." He turned dismissively. "Inform the others. I have things to which I must attend."

"An' wha', yah schedules suddenly so damn much more importan' than mine?" Otto stopped and smiled over his shoulder. It was the most chilling smile Mac had seen come from Octavius yet.

"If only you knew, Gargan. If only you knew." And with that he swept off down the hall, trench coat rippling in his wake.