Chapter 9: Not the Blonde You Were Hoping For

District Eight

When Logan and Master Po got to District Eight, they were greeted by one incredibly upset spider, clearly frantic and wringing his hands, unable to keep still as he waited for them to deplane.

"What happened, Petey?" Logan asked as he stepped off the jet.

"That's the problem — I don't know!" Peter said, throwing his hands in the air; he was practically pacing. "She went for a job interview — trying to do the normal thing, right? And I called, and they said she dropped off her resume and left…. But she never got back to her hotel room or called up her dad or ... or came back home or... "

"Take a breath; let's go figure it out. I've got someone to stay with the plane," Logan told him as he tried to redirect Peter. "Where was the last place she was that you know for sure?"

"I guess Oscorp, but believe it or not, Coulson already checked with them. Or ... he's checking with them now. Or something." Peter took a deep breath. "She was just going to go for an interview and see her dad."

"So what do you want to do?" Logan asked. "We can go see how friendly Norman's feeling — or we can start looking through whatever surveillance they have with the locals. Your call."

Peter took another breath, clearly trying to calm down. "I… already called Mr. Osborn, actually," he admitted.

"Okay, then let's find surveillance if you think Normy's on the up and up."

"I don't really know. He sounded really upset when I told him Gwen was missing, and Mr. Stacy said he's been helping them.… I mean, Gwen's dad is on the force here, did you know?" Peter worried his hands through his hair, then swallowed and nodded a couple of times. "Alright. Yeah. This way," he said — though that was a little unnecessary, since the Oscorp building was the tallest in Eight, and it was a fairly flat district anyway. It was also the busiest building in the district, with plenty of people going in and out, so they got in just fine — only to be a bit surprised by the pair of blondes at the reception desk.

"Look, I know he's busy," Bobbi was arguing with the receptionist, with Hunter not far behind her. "So am I — but what the heck kind of presidential candidate turns down a visit from an old victor?"

Logan took a look at the pair of them, narrowed his eyes, and turned to Peter. "Come on; we're not asking permission. We're just going."

"I'm pretty sure we could. I mean, he said he'd help if I asked..."

"Then he won't have any trouble openin' the flamin' door, will he?" Logan pointed out. "Let's go."

Peter swallowed and nodded before he and Logan made their way past the reception area toward the elevators, encountering only a few security guards — who very quickly backed off when Logan got annoyed.

But there wasn't a rush of security like they'd expected, and when they did get to Osborn's office, the former victor was just sitting there and gestured for them to take a seat as well when they came in. "If you'd asked my secretary, I would have had her buzz you in properly."

"She was busy," Logan said.

"I'm sure." Osborn shook his head slightly before he shifted his focus. "Peter, it's good to see you. Has there been any news?"

"We were hoping to ask you if you'd seen anything… I mean, it's not like I have all the cameras you do," Peter said, shifting nervously.

"We won't take much time," Logan assured Osborn, looking for the moment as if he was simply placating Peter.

"Of course," Osborn said, looking totally understanding. "I can't say that I've seen anything new, but if you like, I can show you the surveillance of our building from that day." With a few keystrokes, he pulled up the surveillance and then motioned to Peter so he could come around behind the desk and see what he was doing.

"Miss Stacy arrived early to the interview, and I was impressed with her resume," Osborn said as he pulled up the footage of her coming in. "We talked about future tests -—aptitude, that sort of thing. And then—" He pulled up the footage of Gwen leaving. "—here you have it." He let the footage play from several angles until she dropped off of his building's surveillance and then let out a sigh. "After that, she was past my cameras. You could probably pick her up on traffic cameras."

Peter looked completely crestfallen as he stared at the last image on screen.

"Thanks, Norman," Logan said evenly as he reached out to put his hand on Peter's shoulder. "We'll go check with the locals."

"Please, let me know if you find anything," Osborn said.

"You'll be the first to know," Logan promised.

Osborn nodded at that, then looked toward Peter. "I wonder — could I have a word, Peter?" he asked in a gentle tone. "You look horrible… I can't help but be concerned."

The two young men came to a stop halfway across the office, and Peter just nodded. "Sure, of course." But as Peter turned back toward Norman, so did Logan.

"A private word?" Osborn asked.

"That's not gonna happen," Logan said easily.

"Honestly, Logan," Osborn said, waving his hand.

"Honestly."

Osborn frowned his way for a long moment before he simply let out a sigh and looked toward Peter. "I just wanted to make sure that you're alright. I know you and Miss Stacy were close. And if there is anything I can do… if you need a place to stay closer to the center of the district while the search is ongoing, I have the space to share."

"No, that's … that's alright. Thanks," Peter said.

"My door is always open to you, Peter," Osborn said, leaning back. "I hope you find Miss Stacy soon. I hate to see you two separated after all you've been through."

"Thanks," Peter said, forcing a small smile. "I'm sure … we'll find her."

"Absolutely," Logan agreed, watching both of them with his arms crossed. "Just a matter of time."

"Good luck," Osborn said with a little nod before he seemed to turn his attention back to whatever he was working on before, and Peter and Logan hit the hallway once more.

Peter seemed to sag more once the door was closed and looked toward Logan. "That… was a bust."

"Yeah, sure seems like it," he agreed. "So now we go to her dad and check the traffic cams."

"Yeah… I guess." Peter ran a hand through his hair and then let out a breath as they got into the elevator. "But he's already checked those. I just don't know where else to look."

"We can always start shakin' down anyone that might have looked at her cross eyed."

Peter nodded again, falling quiet as they hit the main lobby, though both of them were surprised that Bobbi and Hunter had stuck around to wait for them.

"Any luck?" Hunter asked as he met them near the door.

Peter shook his head, looking downright depressed about it. Hunter frowned, but he didn't say anything until the group of them were a little further out from the building. "What about for Jess?" he asked low.

"Woah, what about Jess?" Logan asked, stopping cold in the middle of the street.

"Didn't you hear? She's gone missing too," Hunter said, tipping his head toward Bobbi. "What else d'you think would get her out of retirement?"

"I hadn't heard a thing about that. How long has she been gone?"

"A month at the end of the week," Bobbi said quietly and with a deeply settled frown.

Logan let out a little sigh and turned back toward the building. "And the last place she was just happened to be Osborns?"

"She went to meet with him about the election or something," Hunter said. "And then ... nothing. Not a peep."

Logan had just decided to head back toward the Oscorp building at that, but he didn't get more than two steps that direction before they group of them were surprised by several thus in familiar green uniforms.

The attack was clearly targeted, as the Hydra soldiers didn't seem to be trying to take on all of them. Instead, they went right for Bobbi, a couple of them grabbing at her even as she kicked back to stop them. Hunter rushed forward to help, but Hydra clearly wasn't as interested in him as Bobbi, as one of the soldiers simply shot him to stop him as the others tried to get a better grip on the still struggling Bobbi to carry her off.

The little group of Hydra soldiers were doing a pretty good job at holding Peter and Hunter back — considering that neither of them were armed — but when Bobbi let out a frustrated sort of sound that was clearly laced with fear, that was just the tipping point for Logan.

With an echoing snikt, Logan rushed forward and just started in — nothing fatal to start with, but as soon as one of the men holding Bobbi drew a gun to shoot Peter, he switched tactics and went for broke.

One moment, Bobbi was being dragged — and the next, she was flinching her shoulders to her ears and trying to get her feet under her as the Hydra men fell to the ground. Logan grabbed a hold of her arm and was dragging her back to where the other two were without so much as an acknowledgement of any of it before he started giving orders. "All of you are coming with me — now."

"Where to?" Hunter asked, holding one hand to his shoulder and looking pale — and not just from the blood loss. It was obvious the attempt to grab Bobbi in broad daylight had him furious, and worried too.

"Got a plane waiting to go right now. I want everything on Jess and everything Gwen's dad can give me on both her and Gwen this time before I come back with my party dress."

"Alright, yeah, but where to?" Hunter asked again.

"Somewhere safe," Logan said. "Just shut up and get in the damn plane."

Hunter didn't argue after that as the group of them headed back to where Logan had left the plane, with Peter promising Bobbi there were medical supplies in the jet so she could fix up her boyfriend.

"None of these look like Gwen Stacy to me — though at least you brought back a blonde," Master Po said with a pleasant smile.

"We're going back to regroup," Logan said determinedly.

"Had a small Hydra problem," Hunter said with a nod as Bobbi took him by the arm and steered him to a corner so she could look at his shoulder.

"Well, the important thing is that no one died needlessly, yes?" Po said, watching the two blondes.

"Yep," Logan agreed. "They needed it."

"They tried to grab Bob," Hunter explained.

"I see," Master Po said. "Bobbi Morse?"

Bobbi nodded for just a moment. "Guilty," she said with a self-deprecating smile.

Master Po turned toward Logan for a moment with a growing smile. "How very interesting."

"Shut up," Logan grumbled. "Don't want to hear it."

"And you are?" Bobbi asked.

"Most people call me Master Po," he replied. "Unless they are accusing me of being a battle axe."

Bobbi had to smirk at that. "You don't look much like a battle axe."

"You've known him for five seconds," Logan said. "Give it another ten."

"You don't look like a battle axe either, and neither do I," she pointed out. "I didn't say he wasn't one," she added, smirking despite herself.

"Look," Peter cut in, his foot bouncing where he sat, "the introductions are great and all, but… Hydra just attacked us? And two spiders are missing still? Maybe focus?"

"If you really think I can't fly us back and give you a hard time, you're slipping," Logan replied.

Peter shook his head. "Alright, yeah, true, but still. Let's get moving. Gwen's still out there somewhere."

"Pete, unless you happened to pick up new information while I was gutting Hydra, there's nothing new to talk about, and I'll red line the damn thing once we're out of the city," Logan replied.

Peter let out a breath and nodded, trying unsuccessfully to stop his foot tapping. "Yeah, alright."

"Such a short fuse," Master Po said before Logan stuck his finger in the old man's face.

"Knock it off. Right now."

Po sat back, trying to not smirk too much. "Then we'll discuss it later."

"Fine."

The rest of the flight was in silence — outside of the small talk that Peter tried to spark up with Bobbi, who did not look like she was entirely comfortable now that they were airborne with no say on what was happening.

Once they got there, though, things were a little easier, since both Kurt and Kate had come to see what had happened with Peter, and when Kate saw Bobbi, she grinned and redirected to find her a place to stay — while Kurt seemed to take over on a very depressed-looking Peter.

"We didn't find her," Peter muttered.

"We will," Kurt assured him, his arm around his friend's shoulders as he lead him back in.

Logan was on a mission as soon as they arrived, though, and he just made a beeline for the laptop that had all the intel rolling in. He was insistent on finding everything he could on Jessica right that second and opened up a video line to talk to Coulson. "Why the hell didn't anyone say anything to me about Jessica Drew?" he demanded in lieu of a greeting.

"Because SHIELD has been investigating it — and you've had your own issues to deal with, as I understand it," Coulson replied.

"Come on, Coulson. That's crap," Logan half growled out. "What about Hydra? You guys miss that too?"

Coulson raised both eyebrows. "Hydra?"

"Yeah. you remember them, right? Ugly bastards in green. Got a real one-track mind. Tried to grab Bobbi just now …"

"Where did this happen?" Coulson asked. "We haven't seen a hint of Hydra activity for weeks. There are a few pockets of supporters, but they haven't been organized."

"In Eight," he replied. "Left a few bodies for you there."

Coulson let out a long breath and shook his head. "I should have told you, but we've been working on our search efforts with several teams, not to mention Bobbi and Hunter and a few others."

"Well they're both here now," Logan told him. "Along with Peter Parker. I want everything — everything — you have on Jessica disappearing before I head back to Eight."

Coulson sighed but nodded all the same. "I'll send it your way."

With that, Logan ended the call and had to let out a sigh. If the little team they'd barely formed before the end of the war was up to it … this would probably a good run for them to work with. But Betsy had gone back to Two with Remy. And he was sure Scott wouldn't want anything to do with an unsanctioned run anywhere.

Before he could bring it up to anyone, though, Coulson came through. All of the intel they had on Jess popped up on the screen: the surveillance, the time stamps … traffic cams... And that's what he was doing — sifting through it all — as Kurt came to see what was going on.

"You know, you've locked yourself in here and haven't said hello to your wife yet," Kurt said as he peered over Logan's shoulder at what he was looking through. "I'm sure this is very important as well, of course…"

"Jessica Drew has been missing for a month," Logan said. "And SHIELD has no leads."

Kurt frowned and leaned forward to look closer this time. "And this is all they have?" he surmised.

"It was little enough that Bobbi came out to look herself," Logan told him.

"I wondered what she was doing here," Kurt said, almost to himself.

"She nearly got snatched by Hydra," Logan said as he leaned forward to look closer at one of the video loops. "Petey and I got her out."

"So you think Jess was snatched by Hydra?"

"Seems too easy," he said, shaking his head. "But we were near Oscorp when it happened, and both girls disappeared after their meetings with Normy. Might be a link."

"Peter told me about the visit to Oscorp," Kurt said. "But if Hydra is working with Norman Osborn, maybe we can start there."

"As much as I don't care for Osborn, I can tell you he never had ties with Hydra," Logan said.

"Then we have two different problems," Kurt said. He grinned Logan's way. "Which should we tackle first?"

"I think … we should talk to Gwen's dad and see those videos first. If there's a chance we can follow the Hydra creeps back the way they came, that'd knock one of 'em off the list. Norman ain't goin' anywhere."

"Sounds wunderbar. When do we leave?"

"As soon as we put on some armor for the party," Logan replied.

Kurt nodded, putting a hand on Logan's shoulder. "And as soon as you stop by to talk to Skye. You should at least see her for a moment."

"Yeah," he agreed scrubbing one hand over his face. "Nothing going on for the longest time, then all the shit hits the fan at once."

Kurt smirked his way. "Yes, well. You may actually enjoy this."

"If she's not hurt, then I'm enjoying it," Logan deadpanned.

Kurt just chuckled. "See you at the plane, mein Freund," he said, though he made sure to check that Logan was headed the right way before he went to grab his own armor.

He didn't make it all the way before Kate spotted him, though, and when she saw his swords and armor, she broke into a huge grin. "Alright!" she called out. "Katie needs to shoot things. Where we headed?"

Kurt considered telling her that he and Logan were just going to District Eight for a short time to take care of things with Jess and Gwen, but when he saw her huge grin, he couldn't help but match it. "There's a small Hydra problem in Eight."

"Oh, good. I love shooting Hydra. Don't leave without me," Kate said, motioning for Kurt to stay put before she took off running at full speed to get her bow and her uniform.

Logan, meanwhile, took a moment to figure out that Skye was in the kitchen — though it wasn't terribly hard to decipher by the laughter coming from that direction. When he got there, she was nibbling on raspberries and enjoying watching Clint and Wade spoil the stray lab that Mr. Kenneth had been feeding out of the kitchen door. "Is this the regular meet up?" he asked as he took the empty seat next to Skye.

"Pretty much," Skye said as she reached over to pull him closer and hug him. "I heard from Bobbi and Hunter that you didn't find Gwen. I'm sorry to hear that."

"No," he said. "No sign of her yet, and SHIELD just doesn't have anything on it. What about you? What happened? Sounds like all the fun happens when I'm gone."

"Oh, just a big jerk who tried to ambush me," she said, pushing her lower lip out.

"That's the only way he knows how to fight," he replied. "Can't do a square fight to save his life."

"No kidding," she grumbled.

"Oh, hey, Wade — I got a job for you," Logan said. "If you don't mind, that is."

Wade looked up from playing with the stray lab and broke into a wide grin as he practically bounded over. "Ooh, yes! Reporting for duty, sir!" he said with a little bounce.

"I just brought Petey back," Logan said. "He needs a babysitter. Don't let him feel too sorry for himself."

Wade nodded, looking entirely serious. "Not to worry, mon cap-i-tan," he said patting Logan on the shoulder. "My favorite Spiderman will be totally distracted and 100% cheery — as much as he can under the circumstances, anyway."

"Wade," Logan said, getting him to pause at the doorway. "No kissing."

Wade let out a high-pitched whining noise. "But the internet, Logan."

"Yeah, I'm sure. No kissing." He paused and had to call out, knowing Wade was thinking of a loophole. "Even if you're wearing Gwen's hood."

"You," Wade said, shaking a finger in Logan's direction, "are sneaky!" He didn't sound too put out by it, though, and he shot Logan a double thumbs-up before bounding away on his assignment.

"I'm headed back to Eight with Kurt," Logan said. "Just had to make sure I didn't need to find a bomb to drop on Creed."

"I sorta kinda … destroyed his arm," Skye told him. "So I don't think he'll show up for a long time."

"Atta girl," he said with a little smirk before he leaned over and kissed her temple.

She smirked back at him. "I had a good teacher. Good for teaching girls how to deal with creeps."

"And some of Tony's tech that wasn't meant to be used that up close and personal," he pointed out.

"Well, that too. But I still think it was mostly the training," she said. She leaned over to kiss his cheek and added, "Think you can stay in practice long enough to teach ours?"

"I sure as hell hope so," he replied.

"Good." She grinned. "She'll be the toughest kid on the block."

He paused for just a moment. "She? Is that a for sure or wishful thinking?"

"Hank checked me over after—" She waved her hand. "It's a for sure."

He smiled her way for a moment — one of the rare smiles that nearly got a chuckle. "That's perfect."

"I think so too," she said, halfway snuggling into him for a longer hug.

He took a moment to curl halfway around her before the dog caught his attention making all kinds of god-awful noises begging for a pet as Clint tried to not grin at them. "If you're going to keep that damn thing, at least give him a bath," Logan said Clint's way.

"Are you talking to the dog or the Hawkeye?" Skye teased.

"Yes."

"Very funny," Clint said with a crooked grin.

Logan gave her an extra squeeze and a kiss. "Alright. I'll be back soon. Hopefully with Jess and Gwen. Maybe, if it's not too much trouble, Hawk-guy, you can shoot anyone that's not invited to this party?"

"Can do," Clint promised. "And I'm sure Nat'll do the same. We've got this place covered. Go get the girls."

Logan rushed off to change, trying to flatly ignore Master Po as he watched him pull on the bulletproof uniform. "You think I'm making a mistake?" he asked.

"No," Po replied. "I just think you're a little too optimistic for the job at hand. It's a nice change."

"Same time tomorrow?" Logan asked.

"As long as you're not in the infirmary, yes."

Logan stopped in his tracks and gave the smiling old man a totally dry look. "Same time tomorrow then." With that, he headed off to the jet — and had to laugh when he saw Kate bouncing in place. "You're in my seat."

"I am not," she said. "You probably flew on the way back. Give someone else a turn. Selfish."

"And here I thought you'd want to suck face with your husband."

"You know I do actually do things that aren't making out with Kurt," Kate said, though Kurt was chuckling.

"Yeah. Things you have to do … like eat."

"And sleep," Kate said, though this time with a shameless grin.

"Tell you what … copilot … I'll take it on the way in — and you take it on the way back. And if you're good, I'll tell you what I did today."

She tipped her head to the side as if she was studying him before she burst into a laugh. "How about, oh copilot mine, I take it in, and if you're good, you'll be able to fly back and not get stuck in the hospital while I fly back."

"I was going to invite you to Three with me next week, but … looks like I'd be better off with Clint."

"He-ey." She turned his way and narrowed her eyes. "No. You're taking me to Three. Clint's not as awesome as me — and you know it."

"Clint doesn't argue when I want to fly once in a blue moon."

"Yeah, but someone has to stand up to you. Selfish. I got here first." Kate stuck her tongue out. "You snoozed, you lost. Better luck next time."

"Fine," he said. "I'll tell Kurt about the ninjas then."

Kate's eyes were sparkling with trouble as she leaned forward. "Hey, Kurt. There were ninjas, and he fought them. A lot of them." She looked toward Logan and grinned wider. "There was stabbing, fighting… the end."

"Nope," Logan said, shaking his head. "No stabbing at all. And we had tea after."

"There ya go," Kate said with a nod. "And that's pretty much the whole story. Give or take a sentence."

"You're a pain in my ass," Logan told her. "And just for that, our little girl can't be named for you at all."

"There's an abundance of Katies anyway," Kate said airily, waving her hand. She grinned and leaned forward, biting her lip. "But that's final, right? Not just a hope and a prayer for a girl for your army?"

"I do not have an army."

"Oh no, not at all," Kate chuckled before she turned back to the controls. "Strap in, boys. Time to play heroes."