Note: Thank you for your patience. And again, thank you for all the reviews. Keep telling me what you think.
"Ok," Doc Connors began, attempting to bring Debra up to speed with Spider-man's condition without wasting time. "We're dealing with some sort of toxin. I believe it's from snake venom. It doesn't match up with any of the snakes in North America. I'm attempting to adjust an antidote that responds to a similar toxin. I've started developing some of these anti-toxins, but so far none have responded to the poison. Here take a look at what I've done so far." Doctor Connors stepped away from his microscope to let Debra examine his work. "There are several different permutations that may work. But it could take several tries before we stumble across the right one. The more people we have trying the better his outcome looks."
"Ok, let me get started." Debra gathered materials and began working. This was more advanced than any of her previous research. But Debra soon understood what was necessary and completed several combinations. None of them succeeded against the sample of the toxin taken from Spider-man's blood. Debra knew that every time she failed, Spider-man was that much closer to death. She let out a moan a frustration.
"I know. It doesn't look good." Doctor Connors replied. "I think we need more help. But I'm not sure who I can trust. I called Peter Parker before but he didn't answer. I guess I should try again." Doc Connors reached for his cell phone.
"Don't bother." Debra let out a slight, ironic laugh that quickly faded. "He's not home."
"How do you know?" Doc Connors asked. He had wondered before if Peter and Debra had been seeing each other. They certainly would make a great couple, the two best science minds of ESU. But her tone led him to believe that if this were so, things had gone sour. Still, she must know something, he thought. And he was always curious to learn more about the mystery that was Peter Parker. "Are you sure? It is close to 4 a.m. now. Where would he be?"
"I just know he's not at home," Debra tried to resume her work without continuing the conversation.
"Well, let me call just to make sure. Spider-man's life may depend on it and I know that Peter is a friend of Spider-man's."
Debra restrained herself from commenting. She had to focus on the task at hand. She glanced over at Doctor Connors who stood with the phone to his ear. The ringing had ceased and Debra could faintly make out the message from Peter's phone. She had heard it many times before, too many times before. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Doc Connors redial the number. "Maybe he's asleep and just won't pick up. I don't think I can trust any of the other research assistants with a matter like this. And Peter's particularly good with biology and toxicology, perhaps even better than me. Spider-man needs him."
Debra had tried so hard not to say anything. She had wanted to respect Peter's wishes. But it had been so long that this knowledge, this secret ate her upside. She needed to tell someone. She couldn't bare to hear Doctor Connor's speak of Peter when he lay a mere five feet away slowly dying.
"Doctor Connor's, Peter can't help us." She got up from her lab table and moved toward Spider-man. She gently touched his face and slowly pulled the mask further over his head, exposing his face.
"Debra, no. We need to respect his privacy." He lunged forward to stop her, but then he saw the face beneath the mask. And he froze.
"I know that he can trust you. Peter always talked very highly of you." She then said to herself under her breath, "I only wish he had been able trust me…" Debra put the mask back down covering his eyes. She could hear him gasping for breath and she knew that she had to return to working on the antidote.
"Peter?" Doctor Connors asked allowed. "All this time, Peter Parker was Spider-man?"
Debra nodded.
"But, he's just, just a boy. Barely 20. And he's student of mine! I had Spider-man in my lectures and I never knew. And all the times he came through for more, saved me. I don't believe it." Doctor Connors returned to his work station. "I won't let Peter die."
They worked in silence for several moments. And then Doc Connors could no longer remain quiet. There were so many questions he had. He knew that he had to continue working, but as he worked he asked Debra, "How did you find out? Did Peter tell you?"
"No," Debra shook her head. "I figured it out after a while. I got suspicious a few years ago. So finally I decided to find out for myself. I researched the photos he took for the Daily Bugle. And I analyzed them. I realized that by the camera angles there was no possible way he was behind that camera."
"There's so many other questions I have…" Doctor Connors was about to ask more but they were interrupted. Like a swift breeze, the Black Cat entered through the window to the laboratory. She rushed to Spider-man's side.
She realized that his condition had not improved since she had left him. "Doctor Connor's, how is he? Will you be able to save him?"
"We're doing our best." He replied and quickly got back to his microscope. Felicia had been so preoccupied with Spider-man's well-being she had failed to notice Debra.
"What is she doing here?" The Black Cat asked and approached Debra. She vaguely recognized the girl who sat at the lab table. But she still did not trust her with these matters. "Doctor Connors I thought we could trust you. What if she tells someone?"
"I need help if I'm going to find the antidote. Besides, you can trust her. She's a friend of Spider-man's."
"If you say so…" Felicia was not reassured but there was little she could do now. She knelt besides Spider-man's side and kissed his barely exposed cheek. And then she whispered, "Hold on, my love. Hold on."
Debra heard this but did not turn around from her work. Instead, she took a deep breath and resolved that she would not rest until Peter was cured.
To be continued…