Peter had a hand pressed to his abdomen and his shoulders were slumped. He knew that the only reason he was so drained was due to the blood loss, not to mention the concussion. Otherwise, he would be ready for another fight. He had a lot of stamina but his healing factor tended to drain him of energy. He only needed to take a small break. His wound was tender but it wasn't gaping open anymore. Might need another hour to seal completely. Maybe two for it not to reopen while he swung away. The web-swinging did tend to stretch out his midsection quite a bit. He could always climb up and rest on a rooftop for a bit. Maybe he could continue to help wrangle the escapees without web-swinging?

"Oracle, let the commissioner know that Killer Croc is ready for transport back to Arkham at this location," Batman said after having pushed a button on his gauntlet.

"That was quick," responded Oracle, though she sounded like a tinny automaton voice from where Peter was standing. "I thought you went after the Mad Hatter."

Her voice could use an upgrade, Peter couldn't help think.

"I told Robin to go on ahead. We just happened upon Red Hood's sidekick. He took down the Croc."

"I'm not his sidekick," Peter said without any bite. And if he were anyone else, he wouldn't have noticed Batman's smirk when he said that. Though the smirk disappeared so fast that even Peter had to fight the thought that he'd just imagined it. So Batman has a sense of humor and really likes to kick a guy when he's down.

"Impressive."

"Not as impressive as the wound he's sporting. Send word to Hood that the Spider needs transport to the clinic."

Yup, he's having fun at my expense alright. Peter scoffed and waved a hand near his stomach. "This is a normal Tuesday. Not a big deal. Just get me a couple of tacos and I'll be fine."

"He's going to know that you're trying to sidetrack him from going after the Joker."

"Hnh."

"He's on his way," Oracle said. "Two minutes out."

"Good," Batman said and shot his grapple gun to make his way out of the sewer and onto street level.

"Thanks for the assist, I guess," Spider-man called out before he slumped onto the sewer wall. He didn't need to force his body to stay upright now that no one was watching him.

"Take care of that wound," Batman said from above and then he was gone.

Peter closed his eyes. It was only for a couple of minutes. There was no harm in that. He just needed to rest his eyes for a bit.

"Peter," said a voice he would recognize anywhere.

"MJ?" Peter said in a slur, his eyes fluttering but not quite opening. "How?"

"Oh, Tiger, did you really think you could stay away from me?" Mary Jane said in a sinister voice.

"MJ, what are you saying? I don't—" Peter said and then screamed when MJ's hand went through his stomach. It felt like she was digging around the viscera. It was excruciating. "MJ! Guh! Stop!"

"Spider-man!"

Peter's eyes shot open and he looked around. He saw the Red Hood hovering over him. He felt a strong grip on his shoulder to keep him down.

"I can't tell if your eyes are open or not," Hood said. "But you stopped screaming and that's always good in my books."

"Yeah, they're open," Peter struggled to say. "What's going on?"

"The doc is stitching you up."

"What? Why?" Peter said feeling confused. The doc? As in Doc Ock? What am I saying? I'm in Gotham not home. Not home.

"You had a nasty gash on your abdomen," Hood told him. "She's almost done but we need you to stay still. Do you think you can do that?"

"It's not nece—" Peter said and took a breath and spoke with more determination. "I have a healing factor. Don't need stitches."

"Yeah, we noticed that but you still needed some regular medical care for this one," Hood told him. "I don't think you realized how deep that wound was. There was a lot of internal bleeding and according to the doc that is not good."

"Hold him down, Hood," said the doc.

"Spider-man, be a good boy for the doc and stay down," Hood told him as he pressed his hand down even more on his chest and shoulder.

But Peter didn't thrash again as the doc finished up his stitches. It hurt, sure. But not to the point where he needed to move. He'd had worse pain than this.

"I'm done," said the doc. An older woman from what Peter could tell. He couldn't see past the Hood's helmet to know for sure. "I just need to dress the wound."

"I guess he just needed to be awake to stay still," Hood said, sounding amused. He squeezed Peter's shoulder. "So who is MJ?"

"What?" Peter said as tried to look down at his abdomen.

"You said MJ a couple of times," Hood said with a shrug. But he didn't wait for Peter to answer, he turned around to talk to the doc.

"Hood," Peter said, trying to lift his arm but it felt like jelly. He was going to thank him but the way he felt, his thoughts took his conversation to a different topic. "Did you give me a sedative?"

"The doc did," Hood told him and sounded a little cagey. He took off his helmet to get a better look at Spider-man. "We didn't know how much you would need and I thought she went a little heavy-handed. It didn't work though, cause you started to wake up."

"Oh," Peter said and tried to sit up but Hood held him down.

"Why don't you wait a few minutes before you try to walk out of here," Hood told him with a smirk. "I mean, I get it. Ask the doc. I always try to leave right away. But it doesn't matter how fast you heal, your injuries are at your core."

"Right, sorry," Peter said and took a breath.

"Well, he's the best patient I've had so far," said the doc. "He actually listens."

"It's the least I can do," Peter said, gesturing to his abdomen. "Thanks for the stitches and the bed and for saving me too."

"It was no problem at all. My clinic is always open for you," said the doc. "My name is Leslie Thompkins."

"Oh, yeah, I've heard of your clinic. You do great work for the community, doc," Peter told her. "It's nice to meet you in person. I'm a big fan of what you do."

"A fan?" Leslie said with a chuckle. "Well, I don't hear that every day."

"You should," Peter said.

"I appreciate the sentiment, Spider-man," Leslie said and turned around to look at Hood. "I have a few other patients that need my care."

"I've got it from here, doc," Hood told her. "Thanks."

Leslie nodded and walked out of the room.

"Is this the VIP section?" Peter said looking around the spacious room. "I've never been a VIP anywhere."

Hood chuckled. "It's reserved for Batman. But he doesn't get much use for it these days."

"What do you mean? He figured out a better way to fight without getting hurt?"

"No," Hood said with a chuckle. "He's on the outs with the doc."

"Uh," Peter said and looked towards the door. "She's his ex?"

"No, gross," Hood said and shook his head. "She's practically his mom."

"Then what did you mean?"

"They had a disagreement," Hood said and crossed his arms over his chest. "And then she lied to him."

"I'm guessing it wasn't a little white lie?"

"No, it was downright deceitful," Jason said. "I understand why she did it but she hurt a lot of people."

"You weren't one of them?"

"It was before my time, Spider," Jason said with a shrug. "No skin off my back."

"But you still trust her?"

"Sure do. She's been my doctor since I was a kid," Jason said with a shrug. "Free clinic, remember? And she regrets what she did. She's one of the few wholehearted people I know. That's saying a lot in Gotham."

"Yeah, I get you," Peter said and sighed. "You know, you don't have to stay until I'm back on my feet. You still have a clown to catch, right?"

"No," Hood said with a shake of his head. He looked angry. "He went to ground. It's a waiting game now."

"Did they get all the escapees?"

"The dangerous ones at least," Hood said. "Besides the clown, that is."

"I'm sorry if I got in your way," Peter told him sincerely. He knew what it was like to go after a dangerous adversary just to watch them get away.

"It wasn't you," Hood said and looked murderously at the ground.

"Oh, well then I take my sorry back," Peter said with a smirk. "I should save it for when I really need it."

Red Hood snorted. "You sound better."

"I feel better," Peter said sitting up. He didn't even have to grunt. That was good enough to tell Peter that he was good to go.

"Let's get out of here then," Hood said and gestured to the door. "I have my bike."

"Thanks. I know better than to swing right now."

"The doc's not here anymore. You can stop trying to kiss her ass," Jason said as they walked out through a hallway that led to an alley where the Red Hood had parked his bike.

Peter rolled his eyes but didn't answer. He felt better but his stomach was still tender. He felt it with every step. Unless it was the stitches that were pulling. "Hey, are these stitches the kind that dissolves or—?"

"Yup."

"Cool," Peter said, eyeing the bike once the Red Hood had settled on it. He was buying some time while trying to decide if maybe they should part ways.

"Are you getting on or what?" Hood said, looking at him over his shoulder. "I want to get back to the safe house to go through CCTV footage. Maybe I'll find a lead that will help me find the clown."

"Yeah, okay," Peter said and slowly got on the bike not wanting to pull on his stitches. "Oh, and by the way, thanks for not taking off my mask."

"Who said I didn't?"

"What?"

"You think I was able to give you CPR through a mask?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Totally joking. Hang on," Hood said, not sounding like he was joking at all and took off so fast that Peter didn't get a chance to respond.

Red Hood stopped for food along the way. Chinese take-out that one of the employees handed to him from the backdoor that led to the alley. He handed it to Peter to hold while he revved up his bike and took off at top speeds once again. It wasn't long before they'd pulled up into the safe house.

Hood pointed to a couch off to the side, he clicked a few keys on the keyboard, then went into the kitchen area to grab a couple of water bottles.

Peter had settled on the couch and rummaged through the bag to see what Hood had gotten to eat. He was starving. He picked one without having to open it since he could smell what was inside, grabbed the chopsticks provided, lifted his mask up to his nose, and dug in.

Hood handed him one of the bottles of water, grabbed a box after opening it to see what it contained, and settled in front of the computer. They ate in silence. Peter was simply trying to replenish calories as he fought sleep. Hood looked over the footage he'd keyed up.

The next thing Peter knew, Red Hood was shaking him awake.

"Hey, I have to go. I actually have a day job. You good here?"

"What time is it?" Peter said groggily as he looked around. He was surrounded by empty Chinese take-out boxes. His mask was askew on his face but was still over his eyes. He pulled it down as he sat up. Then he stretched and groaned. Yup, still tender.

"Fifteen to seven," Hood said and yawned before taking a sip of his coffee.

Peter reached out for the mug but Hood pulled it away. He pointed at the coffee table where another mug of steaming coffee sat in wait.

"I love you," Peter said, grabbing the cup and pulling up his mask to take a big drink. "Marry me?"

"Are you talking to me or the coffee? Cause I don't think you can marry the thing you just ingested," Hood said a hint of amusement in his voice.

"That's why you marry the source," Peter said looking past him at the coffee pot on the countertop. He took a bigger drink and set down the now empty cup.

"Right," Hood said and cleared his throat. "So, I wasn't kidding about the day job."

"Oh, crap," Peter said looking at the wrist covered in the suit with no watch in sight. "I am so late. Thanks for everything, gotta run!"