Doctor Connors ushered them out the laboratory door and into the hallway. He turned toward Debra, "Use the back stairway, the one by the physics labs."

"What about you?" Debra asked.

"I'll deal with the police," Doctor Connors replied.

"Come on. Let's go!" Felicia didn't want to be there when the police arrived. She remembered when she first met Spider-Man and his jokes about how the police hated him. For an instant, she forgot what was going on around her and reveled in the memory of her early days with Spider-Man. It was only an instant and then her focus returned solely to getting Spider-Man to safety.

Peter, unable to support himself, had his arm around the Black Cat's shoulder. He tried to put on his mask with his free hand but he was losing his coordination. He struggled to remain conscious.

Debra took the mask and put it in her pocket for the time being. "Don't worry about it for now."

Upon hearing this, Peter passed out. Felicia stumbled, surprised by the sudden extra weight she was supporting. Debra took his other arm and put it around her shoulder so that he was held between the two girls. "I got you," Debra said under her breath. Then with confidence, she said aloud, "Let's get out of here."

Felicia and Debra carried Peter down the hallway. When they reached the stairwell Felicia insisted, "I can take it from here."

Debra didn't protest. She wanted to help, but she knew Felicia was stronger. She watched as Felicia scooped up Peter and carried him down the stairs. Debra ran ahead to the back exit of the science laboratories which overlooked the University Promenade. Debra checked outside. She didn't see any police, but the first rays of dawn had already begun to illuminate the campus.

The University Promenade was a half mile stretch of open grass between several of ESU's main buildings. During the day, it was filled with students sunbathing, studying and playing Frisbee. It was still early, but Debra knew there would soon be joggers running through the Promenade.

Felicia's heart dropped as she reached the open door and saw the early morning sun. She had always preferred the night and would have been willing to risk carrying Spider-Man in public if it were still dark. She and Debra knew that now they would not be able to escape unnoticed.

"What are we going to do?" Felicia asked.

"I dunno," Debra replied. "My apartment is only a few blocks from here but someone will see us."

Felicia put Peter down on the ground and turned toward Debra, "I'm gonna look around the building, see if we have any other options."

Before Debra could protest, the Black Cat was gone. Debra turned her attention to Peter. His was still unconscious, his face covered in sweat. She wasn't sure what to do but decided he was probably going to have to be awake for their escape. She slapped his cheek, lightly at first and then harder until he opened his eyes.

"Peter, I'm sorry… I didn't know what to do," Debra pleaded as Peter came to. "I don't know how we're going to get out of here."

Peter squinted, shook his head, and took moment to survey his surroundings. It took him a few seconds to register where he was and what had just happened.

"Where's the Black Cat? Is she OK?" Peter frantically asked Debra.

"She's fine," Debra answered trying to conceal the hurt she felt upon hearing his concern for Felicia. "She's trying to find a way out of here. My apartment's not too far away…but the sun's coming up. Someone will see us."

Felicia returned, her expression indicating that she had not found an alternative way out. "I didn't see any other exits…at least nothing discreet." She noticed that Peter was conscious again. "You're awake! How are you feeling?"

Peter smiled through his pain, "Never better."

Debra started to panic. "What are we going to do?" She repeated it, mostly for herself as paced in front of Peter. "What are we going to do?" She bit her lip- she couldn't fail him now, when he needed her most. Think of something, she told herself.

"Debra, calm down. It'll be OK," Peter reassured. He then leaned on the wall, pushing himself to his feet. He took a few deep breaths, and after a moment, he turned back toward Debra. "You know Dr. Sanders' lab?"

"Why?" Debra asked.

"She has a supply cabinet with a couple extra lab coats. Grab two of them," Peter instructed.

Debra didn't hesitate. She ran down the hallway and the Black Cat, without waiting for an explanation, followed after her. She reached the lab but the door was locked.

"No!" Debra cried as she pulled at the door.

Felicia grunted, "Watch out!"

Before Debra could react, Felicia had clenched her hand in a fist and punched through the door window. She maneuvered her hand around the remaining shards of glass, reached in and opened the door from the inside.

Debra ran to the supply cabinet and grabbed the lab coats. "Got it!" She signaled to Felicia and the two ran back to Peter.

"Here you go," Debra said as she helped Peter into the coat. She had figured, as they were breaking into Dr. Sanders' lab, that the coat would cover most of his costume, showing only his boots.

As Peter buttoned up the lab coat, he told Debra, "Give the other one to the Black Cat."

"What?" Felicia questioned.

"How else are you going to get away?" Peter replied. "Put it on. It'll cover your costume and we won't be as likely to draw attention to ourselves."

Felicia did as she was told.

"And take off your mask." Upon seeing her hesitation, he added, "Its OK. I know, Felicia." He looked down at his feet and then continued, "I've known for awhile. And you can trust Debra. Don't worry."

Felicia sighed. He misunderstood her reluctance. It wasn't that she was afraid of exposing her identity; it was that she had imagined the moment, over and over again, when she would finally take off her mask and reveal her true identity to Spider-Man. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She didn't want to let go of that dream.

So much had happened in the last few hours that completely shook every notion Felicia had about Spider-Man and their relationship. Yet somehow she still wanted to hold on to this last gesture and save her unmasking for another time. But she knew Spider-Man's safety was more important. Avoiding eye contact with Peter, Felicia removed her mask.

To be continued…

Author's Note: I'm sorry that it's been almost a year since I last updated. If you are still following this I'm really impressed. Let me know what you think!

Also, thank you so much to my great beta readers Mark C and htbthomas! They rock. I wouldn't have been able to get this chapter up without them.