-Unbetaed, non native speaker so please kindly point out any mistakes
-Warning: some language, inaccurate medical procedures and psychiatrist terms.

As Peter swung into the Avengers' medical bay via a window, he saw the back of a guy who only wore boxer shorts. The surprising thing was the person's back was full of cuts and bruises. He wondered who that was. He somersaulted and landed in front of the guy. The guy raised his head, saw Peter, and quickly scurried back to get away from Peter until he couldn't anymore because his back was against the wall.

Peter was equally shocked because the guy was Stephen Strange who had been missing for three months, presumably dead. Personally Peter believed Doc was still alive so he was glad to be proven true.

"Stephen, it's me, Peter." They were already on first name basis since they were stuck in the pocket dimension.

Stephen remained quiet and protected his head using his shaking hands.

Peter look at Stephen's condition. He had lost a lot of weight since they last met, bones protruding from his ribs. His whole body was full of scars and bruises, some were old and some were still fairly new, some were covered in bandages which he believed courtesy of Dr Cho. He noticed the red marks at his neck, arms and ankles. He realized those were marks from manacles. Stephen must have been through hell in the last three months.

Peter stepped back to show he was not trying to harm the doctor. "I won't hurt you. We're friends. We've been stuck together for six months and you managed to put up with me. Don't you remember?"

Stephen peeked behind his hands to look at Peter, shook his head, and hid behind his arms again.

Peter's heart sunk because there was no light of recognition in Doc's eyes.

He removed his mask. Dr Cho and Mr Stark already knew his identity anyway. Stephen was more likely to respond positively if he saw his real face. He remembered their first meeting when Doc looked amused when he thought Doctor Strange was his made-up name. Perhaps history could repeat itself.

Stephen put down his hands and looked at Peter. "You're only a teenager. You're injured. Let me have a look. Please sit down." He went to pick up the alcohol and the remaining bandages on the table.

Peter didn't expect this at all. At least Stephen was not hiding anymore. In fact, if it were not for the sorry state the doctor was in, he looked like he was being a normal doctor. He sat and let Stephen tend to his wounds.

"You're only a teenager. You shouldn't be fighting." He shook his head as he applied alcohol to Peter's wounds then covered them.

"But I have superpowers. I want to do good. Besides, I have superhealing."

"You need to be careful." He noticed Peter's dislocated right shoulder. "Superhealing won't heal that. This is going to hurt."

"I can take it."

With his shaking hands, Doc flexed Peter's right elbow to ninety degrees and gradually rotated his shoulder outward and put his shoulder back to the join.

Peter couldn't help but screamed but the pain quickly subsided and he felt much better. Doc put some ice on his right shoulder.

"Sorry about the pain but I can't help it. How do you feel?"

"Much better. Thank you, Stephen."

Stephen smiled for the first time since Peter met him. They had hung around for around 6 months in the Soul World but Doc never smiled once. He always acted like he carried the weight of the universe on his shoulders, which was literally the case for Stephen.

Peter liked his smile. It took at least ten years of Stephen's age. He looked so innocent and carefree as he smiled.

"You're welcome. It's only my duty." He then looked astonished at his own admission. "Am I a Doctor? I don't really know." He started to pull at his own hair.

Peter's heart ached. "Yes, you're. The very best. My name is Peter Parker and my made-up name is Spider-Man."

"Nice to meet you Peter Parker. I was told that my name is Stephen Strange."

"It's a nice name and it fits you as you deal with strange stuffs. You usually introduce yourself as Doctor Strange."

"Am I? What strange stuffs?" He started to yawn as he said that.

"Stephen, I think you need to sleep. Let me help you tying this hospital gown." Peter noticed that the hospital gown had laces and he didn't know whether Doc could tie it himself with his condition.

"Thank you." He let Peter approached him which was a good sign. He trusted Peter.

Peter started to tear up as he tied the gown. Stephen didn't deserve this.

"Why are you sad?"

"Nothing. It's just my shoulder."

"I should've done it better. As they said, I'm useless." Stephen started to tremble.

Peter wanted to have words with whoever "they" were. He hugged Doc. Doc went still but didn't reject. "Hey, you're not useless. You fixed me. OK. I dislocated my shoulder many times before but your way of fixing is much gentler than others so you shouldn't feel bad."

"Thank you." He yawned again. "I'm sorry. I haven't slept properly for a while. They don't let me sleep for more than one hour in one go."

Peter definitely would kick they. "That's OK. You can sleep as much as you want now. You're safe here. Do you trust me?"

"Yes." Stephen lied down and closed his eyes.

Peter covered him with a blanket.

Withing a few seconds, Peter noticed that Stephen's breaths had evened out which meant he had fallen asleep. He needed to talk to Mr Stark which he knew was outside.

Tony wanted to interrupt as he saw Strange was scared of Peter.

Wong shook his head. "I'm sure Mr Parker can handle himself."

They were shocked when Stephen tended to Peter's wounds.

Tony felt there was some water in his eyes. This damn sand dared to appear in his tower. He noticed that Dr Cho dabbed her eyes using tissue. He could've sworn that even Wong sniffed. Knowing Wong, he'd deny it.

After Strange fixed Peter's shoulder, he turned to ask Wong, "I thought he lost his memory. How could he still be a doctor?"

"Do you lose your invention skills if you lose your memory?" Tony shook his head. "So that's the same for Stephen. He's always a doctor at heart."

"I thought he was a sorcerer at hear as well. Why couldn't he access it?"

"I think Mordo might've taken his abilities for that."

"But not his doctor skills?"

"I think Mordo was more concerned about Stephen being a sorcerer. He never cared about Stephen being a doctor."

Tony shuddered thinking what this Mordo guy could do. "Does it mean we can let Stephen stay? I doubt he'd attack people if his nature is to heal." He felt bad now thinking about kicking Strange out.

"I believe so. People reveal their true self during Tabula Rasa. There is no pretending to impress someone or to gain something. I'm as surprised as you. I'm glad that Stephen is actually good at heart despite his arrogance and attitude."

Dr Cho chimed in. "I'm not an expert in psychiatrist but I believe Mr Wong was right."

Peter chose that time to walk out of the door. He must have heard their whole exchange with his superhearing.

"Mr Stark, please let Stephen stay. As you can see, he is a good person. He can be the Avengers' doctor while he stays here."

"I'll let him stay until we caught Mordo. However, we already have Helen so we don't need another doctor."

Helen said, "Tony, I've been meaning to tell you that I want to take a month leave. I think now is as good as any. I believe Dr Strange can replace me while I'm gone."

"Would anyone want to be treated by an amnesiac doctor with shaking hands?"

Peter raised his hand. "I would. I had first-hand experience. Perhaps being a doctor is like riding a bike?! You never forget it."

Helen seemed like she wanted to protest but she stopped herself.

Tony sighed. "OK, kid, you win. Don't make me regret it. Helen, can you recommend someone in case Strange couldn't do some surgery?"

"Sure, I can recommend my friend. I plan to ask her to replace me but I guess Dr Strange is as good as any."

"OK, that's settled then. Thank you, Stark. I'll catch up with you later." With that, Wong created a portal and left.

Helen said she needed to go.

Tony looked at Peter. "I guess we and the wizard are the only ones left like the bad old days."

Notes:

-Stephen won't be "only a victim" in this story but will have more active roles.
-The comic writers seem to like to torture Stephen as well as shown by preview of the latest Doctor Strange#2. adventuresinpoortaste dot com/2018/06/15/marvel-preview-doctor-strange-2/
-Next: Christine