THE RETURN OF SPIDER-X

CHAPTER 34: THE SEARCH

Jamie woke up a little groggy he was wondering why his bed seemed a little harder and why there was this pressure on his chest. He raised a hand to rub his eyes and he noticed some grey hair near his chest. He looked down to see Spyder there and everything came back in. He had wished it had all been just some nightmare or something but it really happened.

The mansion was attacked, mutants were exposed, and they lost Peter, Tabitha, Jean and Xavier, now they were out in the middle of nowhere. He looked down to see her sleeping and then twisted his head around to see that the others were most likely up since they were alone.

Most likely breakfast was being made and he had to admit he was hungry. And Spyder would be as well he guessed. 'Well maybe I'll go and get something for us and I can wake her up then.' He thought as he very gently rolled out from under her. Although he had to admit she was really soft and it felt really nice but he shouldn't be enjoying it this much she was his best friend after all.

He gently placed her on the ground and she curled up a little muttering something. He smiled as he looked down at her. She looked really cute right there and he kind of wanted to just watch her for a moment. He reached out and moved some of her hair out of her face he had a thought and looked around wondering if he should do it.

Jamie wasn't sure what to do as he was debating it but then again it's not like he would ever have another chance at it. He quickly leaned down and planted a small kiss on her cheek as he got up and left before someone came in or she woke up. It was only too bad that he felt that only way he would be able to do that would be when she was asleep it was kind of depressing for him as he got to the open ramp.

What he didn't see was Spyder's eyes open a bit she had been awake only she just wanted to sleep in. She was too comfortable and she didn't want to leave it had been no nice and warm with Jamie. Once again he had been there for her and she was trying to get back to sleep when she felt him brush her hair aside and just when she was wondering what he was doing she felt the kiss.

Her heart actually picked up at that, and it took all that she had not to move or do anything. Now she was left wondering why he had done that she reached up with her hand touching the place where he kissed her. Was that just a friendly thing? She never had a male friend like Jamie before so she wasn't sure given she have lived inside because of her looks all her life.

Now she wasn't sure what to think was it just a friendly kiss or did Jamie…Like her. And more then a friend so now she was all confused about it. Should she confront him about it or just leave it as a possible one time thing. Spyder was just too confused and not just with what Jamie had done but with how she felt about it.

Normally if a boy tried that she would deck them but how did she feel that Jamie had done that? Oddly she wasn't really angry at him which was just a lot more confusion did that mean she liked him back? She just moaned and pulled the sleeping bag over her head it was too early to start thinking about this and she kind of wished Peter was here. Maybe she would talk with May later.

Outside there was a small fire going as they were trying to cook up a few rations they had taken with them that were usually put inside of the X-Jet. The only problem was the fact that they only had enough for maybe a week at best that and the taste wasn't as good as they would have liked.

Hank was busy as he was looking at the pieces they had. He had them scattered onto a large blanket as there were pieces all over the place. He was eating a plate or part of it at least he was too busy with his work. He was trying to locate things like serial numbers, or what kind of parts they had. He was praying open part of the head which he managed to salvage, at least enough that was left.

Part of the head had been damaged and he hoped to find the CPU and maybe some kind of control or data memory. He finally managed to pry it open and grimaced at the burnt sight that was inside of it. He pulled open his tool box cutting away wires and trying to pry out anything usable.

"Mr. McCoy?" He turned to see Kitty walking over to him she was in jeans and a large shirt by the look of it, it was most likely Lance's since she had lost one of her bags in the move at the moment and she most likely borrowed it. Her hair was also loose and not in it's usual ponytail.

"Kitty what can I do for you?"

She sat down nearly him, "I was just wondering if you like needed any help."

Beast thought about it and from the look on her face and her demeanor and guessed she needed something to keep her busy and to keep her mind on something other then what they were dealing with. It was what he needed that was for sure and the fact that it was something constructive at least.

He reached over to a lap top that had a small dish for wireless access to the net hooked up to it. "Then you can help me run down serial and part numbers. We can find out faster with the two of us who made this insidious device and where it came from and by then find out who our new nemesis is and where the vile villain is keeping our friends."

She gave him a small smile of thanks as she went to work totally focused on her work. She needed to feel like she was doing something to help them out they all could need something to focus on at a time like this. She was glad that she had a way with computers and that Hank had this with them so that she could at least use those skills.

-Several Days Later-

Everyone was getting a little frustrated with things there had been a few fights that had to be broken up now and then. They had used of a small stream to use as a water source for drinking after it was boiled thanks to Amara of course. They also used it to wash clothing as well and they had strict times in order to use it to wash up as well.

Everyone was trying to deal with the current situation as well Kitty and Hank were pretty much burying themselves in the work. Lance tried to get her to take a break now and then but she flat out refused it caused a few arguments but in the end he just ended up making sure they ate and left it at that.

He knew that they were doing important work but he also thought she was pushing herself too hard and he didn't like that at all.

They used the computer to send out e-mails to families or friends to let them know they were okay although Scott wanted to tell Jean's family what happened but he didn't know how to get in touch with them. He just hoped to get Jean back soon he knew they were worried sick given how much he was worrying as well.

Logan actually went out hunting and took down a deer he skinned it and got it ready so for a few days they had fresh meat. There were a lot that didn't like the idea of eating deer meat but it was either that or the food rations they had so they had a tough choice. In the end they found out that it wasn't so bad.

Spyder however was still confused about Jamie and for the past few days it was a bit awkward around him. She tried not to show it and he was still the same likable best friend she had but she wasn't sure how much she liked him. If it was just as a friend she could hurt him if he liked her more then she did.

But if she did like him more then just a friend could she try something? It wasn't like she had any experience in this but if she had misread that kiss then she could ruin everything. It was so aggravating that she was close to screaming and pulling out her hair. Why did he have to do something like that? Things had been so simple before.

So after thinking long and hard she just came up with one single thing. To just ignore it at least for now she would just try and have things like they used to be but she would look a bit more closely to see how he really felt.

May was keeping busy by keeping everyone else busy she would try and find things for others to do and even let them blow off steam in a few games. It helped to keep all their minds off of things that was for sure.

By the end of the day the adults and the X-Men were gathered in the back of the X-Jet as they were listening to what Kitty and Beast had found out. It had taken a lot of time and Kitty had to do a few things on the net that she knew wasn't exactly legal but given how things were going it was the least of their problems.

"Okay so what is it that you two found out?" Scott asked them he had looked better his appearance was a little haggard and the fact he hadn't been sleeping well didn't help.

Beast pulled up the laptop and several screens came on, "As we found out several of the parts seem to come from different sources by several different companies the odd thing is that most of these companies seem to have no tie to the other."

"That is when you take like a closer look," Kitty stepped in as this was what she had learned, "There is a major share holder in a few and some I think are totally bogus. Not only that but there weren't very many sales records for the parts. Plus something didn't seem right with the data I found I looked closer and I'm not entirely sure…but I think the data was changed. There are little inconsistencies in the data of the parts and for everything else."

"So you're saying that someone is covering their tracks?" Logan asked and he got a pair of nods from the two of them.

"Yes we believe so but we think we managed to figure out who is either behind this or is closely linked. The data I managed to pull from the memory was corrupted from the damage but the devices themselves had all the logos and certain parts filed off except for this." He picked up a piece of the 'brain' of the robot and turned it over.

"I nearly missed it but whoever built this must have missed this logo. I ran it through the net and found out that it was from Oscorp Industries."

Kitty nodded as he pulled up something, "Yeah and guess who is the guy that owes parts of those companies we said earlier? Norman Osborn the president of Oscorp."

That got some reaction from everyone that varied and even Rogue was a little surprised. "Hey wait a minute…Wasn't that the dad of Peter's friend Harry? Ah mean ah'm not sure but what if it was?"

"I think it was," Evan said thinking about it but he wasn't sure he didn't know much about Peter's friends. "But hey how many Osborns could there be? I mean he mention that Harry's dad was rich or anything? What are the odds of two rich guys named Osborn?"

"If there is a link then how can that help us?" Ororo asked them all, "Would he help us?"

"I think he would," May stated she had been shocked by the fact that Harry's dad was involved. She had never met Mr. Osborn but she had met Harry many times as he and Peter were close friends. "Harry is a nice boy I don't think he's like his father in fact Peter was the first real friend Harry has had. If he knew that Peter was in danger he'd try to help out."

"I know for a fact both him and Mary Jane would help out if they knew what was going on."

"But should we even try and make contact with him though," Scott said as everyone looked at him wondering why he would say that. "If he finds out we're talking to his son that could really complicate things. If we need to rescue them we need to find out where he's keeping them and we need surprise on our side for a chance."

Logan growled under his breath since Scott made a point they couldn't risk Harry either turning to his dad or his dad figuring out.

"What if someone else could talk to him that was trusted that wouldn't raise any suspicion?" May said to them all since she thought she knew just the person to call. After all she had been friends of the family for years and she knew that person well enough to know that she would help them out. "But how can we even get in contact with them?"

Logan thought about it, "We'll have to risk making a call somewhere. I think there is supposed to be a dinner out here somewhere where we can make a call. You sure about this?"

"I've never been so sure of anything more then this Logan."

-New York-

In her room a young red headed and very good looking girl Mary Jane Watson was once more looking at the small TV in her room as more reports were coming in on everything that was going on especially the Xavier School or what was left of it.

She remembered when she had seen that live footage of that. She had just been doing her homework when that battle against that giant robot happened. She had been stunned seeing all those people there and when she actually recognized them any doubt that it was all just some joke went out the window to her.

MJ just couldn't believe it at first seeing them there she had met them, talked with them when she went out to see Peter and how he talked about them. Hell his girlfriend was out there and then it hit her that if Peter lived there was he a mutant too?

Mary Jane had started looking at the faces trying to pick him out but there was only one person who she couldn't see his face and that was the one in the black mask. Mary Jane had thought about what if that was Peter under there and then she thought about how that person was very similar to Spider-Man.

Just how many secrets did Peter have from them all? It was kind of hurtful she had thought they were best friends and she finds out that he had been living this secret life the entire time. Then when it was all over the entire world just went nuts, curfews were made and everyone was freaking out.

She got together with Liz and Harry and they couldn't believe this either, Liz had always thought of Peter as just the nicest and most normal guy on the face of the planet. But after that and started talking they guessed that he wasn't as normal as he had appeared.

They didn't really talk about it with anyone else given how the kids at school had been talking about these mutants. The three of them agreed after seeing Flash and the others try and pound a freshman who was a bit pale thinking he might be a mutant they all agreed to not say anything about Peter.

But by now she was worried about him even if he couldn't talk about it why didn't he at last call to explain? That was something she had been expecting him to do but for the past few days nothing not even an e-mail and she was starting to worry.

"Mary Jane, phone call!" He mother shouted from downstairs.

She picked up the phone in her room, "Got it thanks mom!"

MJ put the phone to her head, "Hello?"

"Mary Jane?" Came a warm and familiar voice from the other line.

"May? Where are you? What's going on? Why hasn't Peter called and why didn't he tell me what was going on?" She said to her as her voice was a mixture or worry and a little anger in it.

May sighed a bit on the other end, "Mary Jane trust me if Peter could tell you himself then he would say he was sorry about not telling you. He wanted not to be seen of as anymore different then he was."

"Wait…What do you mean if he could? Is he alright?" Now Mary Jane was feeling a little more fear for Peter. Sure she was a bit pissed at this but she was now much more worried about him too much to be angry.

"When the others returned the mansion was attacked…Peter as well as a few of the others were kidnapped." May said and Mary Jane felt a sliver of ice grow in her chest at the older woman's tone. She swallowed hard feeling a little light headed and was glad she was sitting on her bed at the moment she was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to stand at the moment.

"Do you know by who? I mean why would they do that?" She just couldn't understand why someone would do that or build a giant killer robot for that matter.

"We have an idea but Mary Jane we'll need your help with this."

The red head blinked a few times not sure how she could help them out hell she was a simple high school student. "I'd like to trust me anything I can do to help I'll do it but what can I do?"

May paused for a bit not sure how to explain this to her, "We need you to get in touch with Harry and we need to talk to him."

"Harry? What's this got to do with him?"

"Mary Jane…We found evidence that…That his father was involved in that attack on us and he may be the one that has them…"

Mary Jane nearly dropped the phone at that point it seemed like everything was just spinning out of control. But she had to pull herself together now wasn't the time to freak out she would do that later. "Are…Are you sure about this?"

"Yes we're pretty sure…"

MJ closed her eyes and hung her head, 'Oh god Harry…How the hell do I tell him this? First his dad was in the hospital and now this…God this is going to be hard as well to tell him this.'

She opened her green eyes again and took a deep calming breath before she spoke again tinto the phone to May, "What exactly do you want me to do May?"

NEXT UP CHAPTER 35: GETTING HELP