Chapter 4
There was sound of rubble moving and grumbling coming from the wreckage. The familiar voice of Spider-Man becoming clearer as he maneuvered his way through. "Man, this thing will never be the same," he said as he looked his costume over in the light of early morning. He pushed the rest of the rubble out of his way and started to look for the others. "Hey, Storm, Iron-Man...Thing?" he asked as he lifted heavy chunks of debris. There was a moan, and Spidey rushed over to where it came from and started to remove the rubble. "Hey, is that you Storm?" he asked franticaly. The moans became more clearer, and Spidey realized it wasn't moans, but grumbling as he got closer to whoever it was. He lifted another heavy slab and revealed it was Thing. "I hate it when that happens," Thing moaned. Spidey pulled him to his feet, making sure that he was stable enough to stand. "Do you think any of the others made it?" he asked. Thing looked around, and climbed out of the rubble. "I'm pretty sure Iron-Man might of -- but Storm was hurt pretty bad." he said as he sat down. Then, there came another sound of rubble moving and a voice. "Hey, don't count me out quite yet." Storm said as he pushed the rubble from his body. Spidey leapt over to him and got under his arm. "See, don't have to tell anyone at all. The building stopped us from going out into public." Spidey quiped as he helped storm out of the mess. Storm sat next to Thing, and the two of them exchanged looks. "What?" Thing asked. Storm looked at him, and then let out a chuckle. "I think you're the only one who that wouldn't have affected too much." he said jokingly. Thing just looked at him, "Hey, my skin isn't just another fasion statement--" He began.
Just then there was a loud noise coming from the center of the wreckage. And Iron-Man hurled another large chunk of wreckage off of him. "You know, I realy hate it when they do that." he said. Spidey looked at him, "Yeah, and those dents are gonna take forever to polish out." Iron-Man looked at him, and then looked down. There were several dents down his arms, and a couple in his chest. "Nah, this one was getting old anyway." he remarked. Spidey shook his head and sat down next to the 'Fantastic Two'. "So, now Eddie's out there somewhere--doing who know's what." he remarked. Then the thought hit him--Punisher! Spidey got up and started to franticaly throw rubble. "He has to have made it!" he kept on repeating. Thing and Strorm looked at each other and then it hit them. "Didn't you have Punisher?" Storm asked Thing. Thing got up, and started to dig also. After a while, they all were digging.
Just then a voice came from behind, "What are you looking for?" Spidey whiped around and leapt at him. "Where in the hell have you been?" he asked inspecting Punisher. Punisher just looked at him, and shook his head. "Last thing I remember is the building coming down, and flying through the air out the window." he replied. Thing scratched his head. "Oh yeah, I threw him so he wouldn't get caught in the wreckage." Spidey turned and pointed a finger at him. "You let me get all worked up and you THREW HIM?" Spidey asked. Thing looked at him. He just nodded and turned back to the wreckage. "You know, it makes me wonder if he hadn't been expecting that?" Thing said. Iron-Man, Spidey, and Storm's heads shot up. "That would explain why he didn't attack us as much as he could have." Iron-Man mused. "I had a hold of him, but while I was swinging him around...that little dirty freak." Iron-Man said. Spidey looked at his companions and shrugged. "Well, looks like he is a little smarter than we all thought," Punisher remarked. They all nodded in agreement and started to walk away from the rubble.
Later on, they all sat in one of Punisher's underground bunkers. "You know, for a man who doesn't have the greatest publicity, you have a hell of a nice bunker." Spidey mused. Punisher just kept on watching his monitors. He was trying to get a good idea of where Venom could have gotten to. "You think he could be still around?" Storm asks. Iron-Man shakes his head, and so does Thing. "I have a good idea, that even with his symbiote to protect him, Brock needs to rest. And the symbiote needs to feed." Iron-Man says. Punisher doesn't even acknowledge the conversation -- partly due to his headphones -- and continues to scan monitors. "Does he even have any food?" Storm asks. Thing shrugs, and Iron-Man just stares out the window. Punisher points to the refrigerator, and Johnny Storm follows the direction.
"OK, what in the hell are you searching for?" Thing says pulling Punisher's headphones off his head. Punisher pulls him close and turns his head. "Whatever I can, to find Brock. And if you ever do that again I'll stuff them into those lovely holes you have for ears." He says. Thing shrugs and walks back grabbing a steel cup. "Boy does he have a bad case of the obsessed." He remarks. Spidey just shrugs and pulls his mask off. Mainly because they all know who he is, and he knows he can trust them. They all have a secret identity, and he knows all of theirs. The only exception is Punisher. He purposefully forged his own death and became 'The Punisher'.