Chapter 12

Peter was always amazed at how quickly Tony could get him an appointment with Dr. Zhago, or any doctor for that matter. Peter had literally asked the night before if he could come back, and here they were waiting to see the counselor. He had his earbuds in listening to music while squeezing Tony's hand, like a six-year-old. Tony realized what Peter was doing but didn't say anything. A few minutes later, Dr. Zhago called them in.

"So, Peter, how have you been?" Dr. Zhago asked, as they sat down from across each other. Tony held back near the door, staying if the kid needed him.

"Oh, uh I am okay. " Peter said.

"Don't you have a sister?"

"Oh- she is my step sister- I guess. I mean Tony legalized the adoption."

"Do you get to see her much?"

"Quite a lot, actually. She needs a lot of attention." Peter said, with a smile on his face.

"How you doing emotionally?" Dr. Zhago was hoping to get to the issue, since Peter didn't talk much at the first appointment.

"I-its…" Peter paused. He didn't know how to put it into words.

Tony came over, sensing the kid needed some support. Peter squeezed his hand again and looked at him pleadingly and nervously.

"It's okay, Peter." Both Tony and Dr. Zhago said at the same time.

Peter took a deep breath, trying to get himself under control, that he seemed to have lost.

Dr. Zhago realized maybe if Tony stepped outside, Peter would open up.

"Peter, would you like for Tony to step outside. Would that make you feel better?"

Tony glared at him but gave Peter a soft smile. Within seconds of the question, Peter paled and started sobbing.

"No, no, no, no, no. Please, don't g-go Tony. P-please I need you!"

"I am not going anywhere, Peter. It's okay." Tony said, trying to calm Peter down.

After a few more minutes, Tony led Peter to the car and drove home. Well the appointment was really no improvement from the last one.

When they got home, Peter had calmed down and felt a little better. He was starting to not like this counselor. Tony, Pepper, Morgan, and Peter made their way to a restaurant, but Tony was not expecting the panic attack that happened. Peter was doing fine until the waitress came over. He tried not to think about how much she looked like May. It was his turn to order, but he couldn't seem to find words.

"Peter, you okay, bud?"

Peter shook his head, "I need some fresh air." Peter got up and went outside.

Tony ordered for him. Peter couldn't breathe and tears were coming down his face. He felt sick and before he knew it, he threw up all over himself. Tony stepped out and saw Pete crying.

"God, Pete. What happened?"

Peter was just sobbing and choked out, "I am sorry. I am sorry."

He called Happy to come pick them up. Peter kept saying sorry over and over.

"Shh, it's okay bud."

Happy brought a change of clothes for Peter and paid for the food, getting Morgan in her car seat. He calmed her down because she didn't know what was going on. Meanwhile, Tony got Peter up and changed into some clean clothes. Peter was half-way sobbing and heaving at the same time. Tony gently guided him to a booth. The waitress and manager went over to Peter who was now in clean clothes, brought him a Sprite to sip on. Peter could hardly calm down enough to take a sip. Tony sat with him and laid some wet paper towels on his head and neck. Finally, Peter calmed down enough and laid his head back on the bench.

"You're okay, Pete." Tony said gently. "Let's get you home and have Dr. Banner make sure you aren't sick."

"I am so tired."

"I know bud. You can sleep afterwards. I promise."

When they got to the car, Happy was holding Morgan in his arms. Tony went over, "Is she okay?"

"She was just scared about Peter."

Tony rubbed Morgan's back. "Mohuna, Pete's okay."

Tony grabbed Morgan, giving her a kiss on the cheek, and put her in the car. Tony called Dr. Banner on the way to the tower. When they got to the med bay, Peter was extremely weak and was sleepy. "M-Mr. Stark, I am s-sorry."

Tony shushed him, "You have nothing to be sorry about. Do you understand me?"

Peter nodded, wanting to sob but was to tired. Dr. Banner looked him over and gave him some medicine for the nausea. He put a heart monitor clip on his finger and a blood pressure cuff around his arm. He then proceeded to do an IV to pump Peter up with liquids. Tony carded his hands through Peter's hair.

"Well, Pete, looks like you are extremely stressed out. I know with everything going on, stress can make you sick. No internship for a week and no overexerting yourself. Also, Tony, he needs to open up because if he has been bottling up grief, it can cause this." Bruce said.

Tony nodded giving Peter a small smile.

Bruce then turned to Peter, "I want to keep you on IV's, but we can transport you to your room. Peter, you got to tell us when anything is bothering you, understand?" Peter nodded. His eyes were heavy.

When they got Peter to his room, he was almost asleep. Tony sat next to him and turned the TV on low. It was going to be a rough night and it was Christmas Eve. A couple of hours later, Peter woke up. He was still nauseated and felt weak.

"Hey kid, how are you feeling?" Tony asked.

"Uh a little nauseated."

"Okay, just try to relax."

Peter closed his eyes and the next thing he knew Dr. Banner was standing over him. He was checking his blood pressure and heart rate.

"Hey Pete. I am going to keep on IV another hour and see how you are. After the hour, we will try some liquid and see if you keep it down, okay?"

Peter nodded and turned to look up at Tony, "Sorry for ruining everything."

Tony looked at him firmly and with as much seriousness as he could muster, he said, "You do not need to apologize, Peter. You are a part of this family. You didn't ruin anything. Got it, underoos?"

Peter's eyes filled with tears, "Y-yes, Mr. Stark." His voice hoarse.

No matter how sick he was, he was determined to go visit May.

Peter was a good kid, but lately Tony could tell something was off. He figured it was probably just the holiday season approaching. Late that evening, Peter was laying in his bed, miserable. He was missing May terribly and wanted to go to the cemetery, again. He finally put his earbuds in and his hoodie on. He climbed out the window hoping to make it to the cemetery and back without getting caught. God, if he got caught, no telling how much trouble he would be in. He made it to the cemetery and turned his phone off. He was lying next to the grave when Tony found him. Peter stood on his feet startled when he saw Tony standing above him. He must have dozed off there in the cemetery.

"I am so s-sorry, Mr. Stark. ' ." Peter trailed off when Mr. Stark put his hand up.

"Take a breath, Pete. Slow down." Peter exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. Tony grabbed Pete's shoulders, "Look at me, Pete." Peter opened his eyes, afraid of what Tony might look like.

He seemed more concerned than anything else. Peter's eyes filled with tears. Tony wasn't sure what he was going to do, but right now the kid needed a hug.

So, he did, he pulled Peter into a hug, "Let's go home, Pete."

The ride to the tower was silent. The only sound was Peter sniffling and occasionally a hand going up to wipe his eyes. Peter tried to make a beeline for his room, but Tony caught him.

"Ah, ah, bud. Let's go sit on the couch."

Thankfully, Pepper and Morgan were asleep since it was one in the morning. Peter made his way to the couch, wishing he could bolt but realized that would only make the situation worse.

Tony came over and sat across from him, "Pete, you sneaking out of this house is unacceptable. It will not happen again. Also, I have said this many times, that if something is bothering you, to come talk to me. You could have asked to visit the cemetery and we would have gone in the daylight. I don't care if you are Spider-man or not, no 14-year-old boy should be going out on the streets of New York by himself at night. You could have gotten hurt and I wouldn't have known it. And you want to know why? Because your phone was turned off. Not to mention, you are sick!"

Peter just stared at his feet, his face burning at the lecture he was getting. This reminded him of when Tony gave him a lecture about the ferry incident.

"I – I am sorry, Mr. Stark." Peter whispered, voice cracking.

Tony stared at him with a firm look on his face. "I know kid, but it doesn't excuse the little stunt you pulled tonight."

When the kid didn't say anything, Tony continued, "Alright, I am done lecturing. Let's get some sleep."

Peter just put his knees up and buried his head in his arms. He started crying loud enough that Tony could hear him. Tony had been a little hard on him, but he needed to be in this case. Tony went over and sat next to Pete. For a minute, Tony didn't say anything. "What's bothering you, Pete?"

Peter just sobbed in response. "Pete."

Peter finally looked up at him, his eyes red. "S-sorry, Mr. Stark. I-I want M-May back."

"I know you do, Pete." Tony said softly. Tony grabbed a water bottle from the mini fridge and handed it to Peter.

When Peter calmed down, Tony said, "Feeling better?"

"A little. I really am sorry for sneaking out again. I should have just asked. Won't do it again." Tony went over to Peter, giving him a hug. He then gave Pete a kiss and whispered some loving reassurance to Peter. He then sent him to bed.

"Get some sleep, bud." Tony said as Peter got comfortable under the covers. Pete still seemed sad, so Tony sat on the edge of the bed, "What's making you so sad, kid?"

"I just miss my parents and my aunt and uncle." Tony bent down and gave Peter a kiss on the head.

"I know bud. It is going to be okay. You know you're grounded again right?" Tony asked.

Peter nodded and was going to hand him his phone. Tony shook his head and Peter was confused.

"Not your phone. If you keep turning your phone off, I am going to put a tracker on you and believe me when I say, you won't like it."

Peter nodded his head in understanding, not wanting a permanent tracker. So, with that in the back of his mind, Tony also told him that he was grounded for a whole week, rather than just three days. Peter knew not to argue because he deserved it, this was the second time.

The next day, Peter slept in until noon, since he had been up late into the early morning. Tony had allowed Peter to stay home from school. However, it was going to be a long boring day since he couldn't use his phone or any electronics. And to top it all off, he wasn't allowed in the lab for the week. Peter laid on the couch, moaning when Tony came over to check on him.

"How are you feeling?"

"A little better than I was yesterday."

"Good. Need any medicine?"

Peter shook his head.

"Bored?"

"Yes, sir."

Tony chuckled a little and ruffled Pete's hair.

"You should try to sleep some since you aren't in school. You're still sick."

Peter nodded. He was actually tired. To his surprise, Tony came over and sat down, putting Peter's feet in his lap. Before Tony knew it, the kid was out like a light. He would need to wake him up in a couple of hours, so Bruce could check on Pete. Leave Bruce with a grumpy, grounded teenager… ha… jokes on Bruce.