Shout Outs: Thanks to MythologyStar for reviewing the story.

Chapter 9: Allies

The Sandman gazed at the mysterious visitor with a deep look. The armored man titled his head to the side as he gave his own thoughtful look.

"I've come to seek for your help," the Sandman spoke at last.

The man grinned, giving an impish giggle. "Well then. You've come to the right source. For a man that has everything, I can guarantee you anything that you want," he paused. "Think of me as a genie. But with a twist," his grin twisted cruelly. "You work for me under the circumstances of the agreement which we both agree upon."

The Sandman narrowed his eyes. "Why should I work for you when you said it yourself? You have everything."

The man grinned. "Because face it, dearie. Right now, you're weak and pathetic and you're the one who is seeking for my help."

"If I work for you, what's in it for me?"

The armored visitor suddenly had his face grow dark and twisted, a sense of cold feeling washed over him.

"You can kill Spider Man once we weakened him," he replied darkly which made the Sandman grinned nastily.

"Deal. Now, how about we strike?"

"Ah ha. We mustn't be so hasty, friend. Let Spider Man enjoy his last days."

Tony sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. Endless nights were spent on searching for this new fiend and he was unable to sleep. He was on the point of having a breakdown but he didn't want to show it. He didn't want to succumb to his weakness.

He fidgeted unnervingly in his spot as he resumed staring at the screen. But as he did, there was a disturbing feeling in his body which he couldn't shake it off. A storm was coming, that much was clear. It may not be now but in time, the terrible danger would be coming and Peter must be ready to defeat it.

"Something the matter, sir?"

From the unexpected voice, Tony jumped with startle before he placed his hand on his rapidly beating heart.

"Oh, Happy," Tony muttered. "You scared me."

"It wasn't my intentions, sir. Forgive me. I had knocked but you were deep in thought and I didn't want to disturb you…" he paused. "Until now."

"Oh, no. Don't worry about it," Tony replied as he dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

Happy stared at his long-time friend. He hadn't seen Tony this disturbed since he first became Iron Man. He had to ask. It might help him out.

"If you don't mind me asking sir, something's troubling you."

Tony sighed as he finally tore his gaze away from the screen. He could almost feel his anxiety stress coming.

"This is…unsettling. Everything is," Tony answered at last. "There's a storm coming—a heavy one. It may not be now but it will eventually come. I really don't want to put the burden on Peter but he must be ready to face the evil that's threatening the world," Tony sighed as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his lap as he rested his forehead on his thumbs. "I…I don't want to lose him," he croaked. "I nearly lost him with the fight with Vulture."

Happy remained silent as he listened what Tony had to say. When he was finished, Happy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. There was so much stress going on, he wouldn't be surprised if Tony had a huge breakdown.

"If Peter were to destroy the new evil, you must believe in him, Tony. He's stronger than you let yourself on. He could beat this. He did it last time. And if I'm right to assume, are you perhaps growing fond of the boy?"

Tony tensed a bit as he averted his eyes, staring at the ground. In fact, he was grown attached to the boy and that's what made it scary. He was afraid if he was too close to the boy, he could end up losing him.

"I am," Tony whispered.

All that harshness, the fighting, it was just too protect Peter from seriously injuring himself. Or getting himself killed. He truly meant no harm to Peter—he meant well but it was just his recklessness that frightened Tony. Tony just hoped that after all this, Peter could forgive him.

"I just hope that Peter could forgive me," Tony muttered.

"Sir, I truly believe that young Mr. Parker may have an edge about you. I believe that he knows what you're doing is for his wellbeing and to protect him. Believe me if I say this is that Peter will forgive you. It may just take time."

Peter hopped to a spot, sitting on the window ledge and he pulled his mask off. There was something unsettling about the Sandman he just talked to. It really felt like it wasn't the real one at all.

Peter stared to the right to see the medium-sized board that was hanging in his room. It was a new addition and he needed it to analyze the patterns what the Sandman has. All those murders and disappearances—all of them seemed to be leading to Sandman. But again, Peter felt like he was missing a big part of the puzzle and it bugged him. How can he defeat the enemy if he can't even solve this mystery?

He went back to the time when he hung around the crime scenes but they only left sand which instantly points to Sandman. Sighing, Peter touched the Spider insignia and his suit got unzipped as he was walking towards his closet to put on his home clothes. He then stuffed the suit in the closet before opening the door, walking down the stairs only to stop when he reached at the bottom.

Peter made a small smile when he saw Aunt May, sitting at the couch as she watched TV. It almost looked inviting. Peter doesn't recall when was the last time the two of them actually sat down in front of the TV and watched a movie. He had been so caught up with being Spider Man that he didn't have the chance to appreciate these small things.

He walked towards Aunt May and cuddled against her once he sat down on the couch. The blaring lights illuminated the room and upon seeing Peter, Aunt May smiled as she played with his hair.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey."

"Tired?" she asked.

Peter shrugged a bit. "A little."

"Something on your mind?"

Peter hesitated, wondering if he should tell her what was really bugging him but decided against it.

"Nah. I just feel like being a kid again."

Aunt May chuckled a little. "To me, you're always a kid but you're my kid."

Peter smiled softly as he gave out a yawn.

"Now go to sleep."

"I'm not tired," he mumbled. He resumed watching the TV, blocking any background sound as he was only focusing on the screen.

"But we must figure out what happened. All those people."

"Don't worry, Maria. I, Detective James, will figure it out."

"Do you suppose that…that…this villain is working with someone else?"

Peter suddenly perked up and just by hearing the dialogues, it made Peter wonder. It would make sense, doesn't it? A small flashback came to his mind about the articles, the missing people and the disappearances. Peter knew that Sandman could pull it off but not without getting caught. Suppose he purposely left the sand behind him? Just for Peter?

That's the biggest mystery, Peter thought in realization. Quickly, Peter got up which earned a confused look from Aunt May.

"Where are you going?"

"Uh, I've got some things to do…" Peter quickly responded and he took off before Aunt May could even say 'at ten in the night?'

How come I've never saw this before? Peter resumed staring at the articles that were hung on the board; his eyes trailing from one piece to the next. The Sandman has an ally with him. He is working with someone—that's why he usually leaves the crime scene without a trace.

Heart racing, Peter opened his closet, struggling to get on the suit with this much adrenaline rush going on. Once it was on, Peter exited out of the window and zipped through the night with a thought in his mind. He needed to see him.

He just hoped that he was awake.

Once he reached at his destination, Peter entered the room unexpectedly which of course made the guy startle.

"I know how the Sandman's been getting away," Peter replied, unannounced.

"Jesus Christ," Tony replied, startling. "What in the blaze are you doing here at ten in the night? Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"

"Actually, it's ten thirty the last time I checked. And I can say the same thing to you."

Tony sighed. "Can't sleep. Now, why was it so important that you had to rush yourself over here that couldn't wait in the morning?"

"Because I've figured out how the Sandman been getting out of the crime scene. He's working with someone—someone with the ability to make Sandman look like a ghost."

Tony frowned. "Even so, how can we prove it? What makes you so sure?"

"It's…It's just a hunch. Think about it," Spider Man spoke as he moved towards the screen, pressing buttons so that it was activated. Seconds later, images appeared in the air.

"All these people missing and the disappearances, it just makes sense doesn't it? What if the Sandman is doing all of this just to throw me off his trial so that he could look for an ally?"

"Peter relax," Tony muttered as he sensed that the boy was being overwhelmed by the idea that was running through him.

"Well now if that's the case, we would still have a question that still remains. Who will be the next target?" Tony asked.

Peter stared at him before he looked at the ground. Perhaps, that is one of the puzzling questions. Tony sighed.

"Peter, you've got to plan this through. What if the whole reason for the abduction is for the Sandman to draw out your attention so he could attack you when you least expect it? Just…please think this through"

Peter sighed. "Why is it that every time I got an idea you instantly shut it down? Even if the mystery is solved."

Tony pursed his lips until they were white from pressure. "I just don't want you to get hurt and you will end up being hurt because of your recklessness. I'm…I'm just worried for you."

Peter stared at the ground. "I think you don't believe in me. You don't think I'm not strong enough that I can defeat this evil."

"Peter—"

"Is it true?"

Tony began to speak but faltered and that made Peter connect the answer. He narrowed his eyes before he turned his back on him and he got out of sight.

It's not that I don't believe in you…it's that I don't want to lose you.

"Do you think I should've told Tony I interrogated the Vulture?" Peter asked.

Ned paused what he was doing and stared at his best friend. He was in a thinking mode with slouched shoulders and there was a wave of sadness washing over him.

"No," Ned responded. "If you two had a fight, then it wouldn't be wise to tell him. It would just mess things up even more and he would be furious."

Peter groaned. "Why is this so hard? Why can't it be simple?"

Ned shrugged. "Take a look at this way: things will eventually be easy. I guess this is the path you're supposed to take to be a hero—I'm not saying that you're aren't—but being a hero has its hardships. No one said it would be easy."

"I suppose not," Peter sighed.

Ned tilted his head as he resumed studying his friend. From the way his body was expressing, there was something else that was bothering him.

"What else is bothering you?"

"It's just the other mystery. I know that the Sandman is working with someone else but I don't know who."

Ned bit his lip and he cringed of what he was going to say next—he knew that he was going to instantly regret it.

"Well…there might be another way," Ned grimaced which made Peter raise an eyebrow. "Like where is the one place where you can get all of the recent criminal activities? And the confidential information?"

Peter widened his eyes as his jaw drop. Was he hearing right?

"Are you feeling alright? Do you realize what you are asking?" Peter suddenly bombarded him with questions. "You want me to break into the NYPD? I thought you were against me doing all of this."

"Well I didn't say I was against—I just disagree with most of your ideas that tends to get you into trouble. But look at it this way: you want information, right? And I hardly doubt that Tony would give you the data you need. So the best way to have all of the info is to go to the base that has it all. I know—it's a terrible idea. I don't know why I'm suggesting it but it's the only way for you to get off your sorry ass and have the upper advantage for once."

Even as Ned was speaking, Peter was still staring at him like he had grown a second head. His own best friend was giving an idea—a horrible one—and that was to break into NYPD. This calls for a suicide mission.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Peter asked. "You ate anything funny?"

Ned scowled. "Seriously? The one time I'm giving you a helpful idea—"

"That just screams suicide—"

"And you make me feel like I'm insane or something." Peter was about to open his mouth but Ned quickly shot him down. "Don't even," he said in a warning tone.

Peter drew in a sharp breath as he was trying to process the suggestion he had just been given to. If he wants to do this, then he would have to do this carefully and sneakily as possible. This wasn't his first time breaking into a building. Plus, he had never been to NYPD so that may be a bit difficult as to locate the necessary files he needed.

"Fine," Peter replied. "But I get caught, I'm coming back to haunt you."

Ned shrugged it off. "Eh."

While Peter was swinging out of the room—as he needed to go—he couldn't help but to question himself and his sanity.

Author's Note: Both of them are fools…and I assure you that this new 'helper' will be revealed; just not now ^^ what happens next? Find out!