Author's Note: So I'm just gonna keep going on this one. We're gonna get some worried Tony in the next one, motherly Natasha too. I promise. Please review. I own nothing.

18. Patching Things Up

It was almost like floating in an anti-gravity chamber, and yes Piper had some experience in one of those. Tony let her play around in the one that permanently resided at Stark Tower, under supervision though half the time that meant Uncle Bruce or one of the Dummy Bots. It was really only different because of the darkness that surrounded her and the movie that seemed to be playing in front of her. It seemed to be shot with some kind of color mute filter, everything was distant and she could almost hear what they were saying but not quite. They seemed to be in trouble. White Tiger was thrown across the roof a small radio tower brought down on her legs pinning her down. Piper wanted to help but she couldn't seem to move. It was as if her body wasn't hers anymore. Something about a symbiote flickered across the surface of her mind but then pain spiked. A loud hiss came from somewhere a foot or so above her head, from her mouth? No that wasn't possible. The pain returned, this time searing across her back. She got slightly dizzy as her perspective shifted rapidly. Nova was still laying on the roof but he was shooting a beam at her. He'd shot her in the back? She hadn't thought he'd hated her that much. He was still shooting her, her face was starting to sting but she seemed to be walking forward into his shot. She didn't remember doing that. She looked down and saw black webs surrounding her, she was completely wrapped in them, trapped. Trapped in her own head, she tried to struggle as the symbiote picked up Nova and threw him into White Tiger and Power-man. Iron Fist advanced slowly hands held up in a calming gesture. It sounded like he was talking through a tunnel but she caught what he was saying this time.

"I know you're in there, Spider-girl. Let's talk." There was a warped hissing laugh. From her mouth she realized, or at least the mouth of the symbiote.

"There is only Venom." Then it lunged shooting webs out of its wrists, not her web shooters, she could feel those, the symbiotic webbing pressing them uncomfortably tight to her wrists, blocking their use, even if she could move. Danny was trapped, stuck to the wall, Venom advanced teeth bared as if ready to rip Danny to shreds. Power-man lunged shoving Venom away from Iron fist. Venom slammed a fist into Power-man's face sending him flying. Then it turned and spotted Harry who seemed to be standing on the edge of the fire escape watching the fight. Venom practically howled and lunged. Piper screamed. Suddenly she could move again. Her legs were still trapped but she didn't need those to fight. Somehow she pulled her torso out of the symbiote, strands of its black tarlike substance tried to pull her back in. She growled.

"That's it ugly I'm not letting you hurt anyone else!" Their fight had to have been confusing to watch. Piper fought to get free as the symbiote tried to pull her back in. They battled across the rooftop as the team watched on unsure if they could help without hurting her. The oily mass of the symbiote reached out and wrapped itself around her hands, rendering her web-shooters useless. She struggled and fought but she could feel the symbiote winning.

"It's too strong! Can't do it alone!" Then she got an idea, it was gonna hurt like hell but it might just work.

"Nova I need my hands!" Nova shot a quick blast freeing her hands. Piper reached both hands away from the symbiote pointing them towards two other large metal structures on the roof. She could feel herself sinking into the symbiote but that would, hopefully, make this work even better. She shot lines at both structures wrapping the web around them with a flick of the wrist.

"You wanna be Spider-girl? You're in for a big shock Venom!" She pushed her wrists back further activating the electro web function. Electricity coursed through the metal through her and back into the metal. Venom let out an inhuman screech and shook as Piper bit her tongue trying to hold back the scream building in her throat as she convulsed. With nowhere else to go the electricity poured upward giving the illusion of lightning striking. She felt the symbiote give one last shriek more than she heard it and she let her wrists go slack. The webs retracted and she fell to her knees but before she could fall all the way to the roof someone steadied her. She blinked a few times, clearing the lights from her eyes. It was Nova though the others weren't far behind. Piper smiled under her mask.

"Don't tell Fury, that's definitely gonna void the warranty." Nova snorted out a laugh as Power-man and White Tiger pulled Iron Fist down from the wall shredding most of his clothes as they went. He was wearing a pair of stylized briefs that matched his costume and he had a dragon tattoo that matched the insignia on his costume burned into his chest. The team stared, Danny shrugged smiling under his mask.

"It's a monk thing." Piper laughed lightly. Harry and MJ vaulted over the last few inches between them and the roof. Harry hurried up to the gathered heroes.

"Have you see my friend Piper? We couldn't find her anywhere." Luke raised an eyebrow.

"Shrimpy kid?" Sam chipped in.

"Spaghetti arms?" Danny held in a grin.

"Three dollar haircut?" Ava wasn't quite as witty though.

"Only a ninety-eight average?" The others turned to her eyebrows collectively raised.

"What? Is that not a jokey insult?" Spider-girl stepped forward, still a touch wobbly on her feet.

"She's fine." Harry smiled looking utterly relieved.

"Good, she's my best friend." Piper smiled slightly as the door to the roof burst open and Norman Osborn rushed out followed by two police officers.

"You destroyed it?!" For a moment, there was something demented behind Norman Osborn's eyes. But in an instant it was gone. Replaced with the look Piper was used to when she saw Norman, cool and calculating but maybe caring, somewhere deep down, maybe.

"Thank goodness, get the hero some help." Piper shook her head waving off the officers. Norman turned to Harry.

"I'm so glad you're alright, you could have been killed. You're lucky Spider-girl was here." Harry looked a bit taken aback as his father hugged him lightly.

"Yeah, hurray for Spider-girl." Piper thought he sounded a touch resentful but ignored it, there were few people who actually called her a hero even sarcastically. She nodded to the team before swinging off. She had to make it look like Piper hadn't just been in a fight for her very identity. She managed to sneak back into the Osborn's penthouse without being seen and shut herself in the closet she'd changed in. She quickly changed back into her street clothes. For extra measure she jammed the closet door and began, lightly for her, pounding on it calling for help. Soon enough there was an answering call. It was Harry, MJ not far behind him.

"Piper? Where are you?" Piper hammered on the door, lightly so she didn't break it.

"Coat closet! I was running out of the penthouse but I tripped, fell in here. Then something slammed into the door! Now I can't get it open." It took both Harry and MJ to get the door open. Harry pulled her into a hug.

"I was so worried when we couldn't find you." Piper blushed bright red. MJ smiled until she spotted Piper's hands. There were scratches and several pieces of glass were still sticking out of them. She grabbed them in her own examining the palms. Harry hissed in sympathy. MJ smiled lightly as Norman Osborn cleared his throat behind them.

"We'll leave you two to talk. The first aid kit still under the sink in the bathroom?" Harry nodded looking a bit nervous as the girls made their way to the bathroom. It took MJ about twenty minutes to clean up Piper's hands completely, she couldn't see the glass that was hidden under healed skin. Piper could take care of it when MJ left, or when she got home. MJ wrapped her hands and smiled as she headed out to make sure Harry was alright. Piper carefully unwrapped her left hand and grabbed a sterile scalpel out of the kit. She managed to pull out two more shards of glass without too much blood getting anywhere. She decided that was all she could do for now and rewrapped her hand. She wrapped the scalpel in extra bandages and slipped it into her bag, no need to bring up uncomfortable questions. She slipped out of the bathroom and back into the living room just in time to see MJ showing Harry how to use the mop.

"I knew that?" Piper chuckled lightly. Harry turned to her and smiled slightly.

"Hey." Piper waved awkwardly.

"Hey." MJ smiled.

"Double hey means you two need some time. I'm gonna head home. Hope your hands feel better soon Piper." Piper nodded and MJ left. There was an awkward silence before both teens spoke at once.

"I'm sorry." They both blushed and chuckled. Piper picked up a trash bag and began to help Harry pick up the mess left by the party. She was doing it slightly gingerly as the glass still remaining in her hands moved and sliced new wounds into her hands. Harry grabbed the bag from her.

"I got this, but if you'd like to hang out that'd be cool." Piper grinned.

"With you always." Piper began to search for the remote. As she turned away she missed Harry catching a small piece of goop inside an empty bottle.

"And hey, maybe we can try again. I promise they're good people. Except Sam, Sam's… Sam." Harry laughed before turning around to face Piper.

"You know, why not? What's the harm in making a new friend?"