Chapter 16 [Examination Room—Down the Hall]
Johnny flipped through the latest racing magazine. He scanned over the latest buzz from NASCAR and the Formula One Circuits. He recognized the other drivers' names from their time around the pits and garages. Between the team, fighting cosmic level bad guys and Crystal, however, he'd found his way to the track less and less often.
Priorities and all of that…
Too bad I don't have time to train for an actual race. He shook his head. Kind of like me going to college. How does Wyatt or…well…he do it? Exasperation's hiss meandered through his teeth. He rubbed his forehead. "The world got to us early. Didn't it?" He set the magazine on the table. His eyes shifted to the sleeping friend/sparring partner/rival on the bed. History set them at odds early on. Two hot headed teenagers wanted to take the lead on everything. Competition dominated their early run ins. And now, I get it. I guess I kind of knew he was a teenager too. But Peter Parker? An incredulous cough escaped his mouth. Guess it was meant for Dorrie or that other girl he was dating at the time. Well, Parker didn't do too badly for himself! Gwen Stacy's a great catch for any guy. Of course, so's Crys.
"Mmm…Gwen…? Uncle Ben? I…" Spider-Man's eyes snapped open under the mask. He noticed Electrodes taped to his arms. "What? Where am I?" He found himself in a sterile white room. He noted the institutional bed underneath himself. He saw the web shooters on the table next to the bed. "Johnny Storm?" He rubbed his forehead.
"Slow down, Web Head. Yeah, it's me. You're at the Baxter Building in our headquarters." Johnny got up out of his chair. "Reed hooked you up to that stuff. He wanted to keep track of how you're doing. I got you away from the Green Goblin. He's in police custody. His gas has worn off. Just relax. All right?" He walked over to the sink. There, he filled a glass with some water. "Drink this. You've been asleep for a few hours."
Spider-Man flexed his arms and legs. The previous numbness had vanished. In addition, Flu's effects had also moderated. "Thanks. I definitely need that." He rolled up his mask to expose his mouth. He gulped down the offered drink. He handed it back to Johnny. "You might want to sanitize that. I've got the flu too. Thank the Hulk for that. He gave me a bath outdoors up north."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "Yeah. I'll do that. Wish I'd known that earlier." He made a face. "Thanks for the exposure, Web Head." He set the cup in the sink. "I'll let the others know." He heard a knock at the door. "Yeah?"
"Johnny? How's he doing?" Sue peeked in the door. She saw their guest sitting up in bed. "Reed thought that gas would be wearing off."
"I'm getting better that way, Mrs. Richards. Thanks for the save." Spider-Man rubbed the back of his neck. "Don't get too close. I've got really bad flu. At least, I got to sleep some of it off." He sucked in a deep breath.
"Yeah. He just told me, Sis." Johnny shook his head. "Guess we know why he could barely stand up straight much less fight the Goblin on that bridge. I'm glad we were in that traffic jam."
"Me too." Spider-Man bowed his head. "I just wish you all could've been a little faster. The Goblin shoved someone I care about over the side just before you showed up. I couldn't help her because of that gas. I…." Once more, Gwen's potential loss slammed into his psyche.
She brightened up. "Johnny and Crystal saved Miss Stacy. She's alive and at the hospital right now. Reed checked up on her."
"She's…alive?" Spider-Man tensed up. "That fall…she…The Goblin hit her in the back! How?" He wanted to believe them. Really, he did. He still beheld the mixed emotions in her eyes and face.
"Crystal slowed her down with an updraft. I caught her about a third of the way down. We got her into an ambulance. I guess Reed'll fill you in at some point." Johnny glanced at her. Then, he looked at their guest again. "The Goblin ranted off in front of us about your real identity. It's okay."
"We know. Ben's promised to keep your secret too." She pointed toward the kitchen. "I have some soup warming up. Would you like a bowl?"
"That'd be great, Mrs. Richards. Thank you." Spider-Man watched her close the door behind herself. "So, he told you all? Greeaaattt!" He weighed his options. Finally, he eased his mask off. "Guess it's out in the open?"
"Just to Reed, Sue, Ben and myself. Crystal and Alicia Masters don't know. Give us some credit, Parker. We do keep some secrets around here, you know." Snark punctuated Johnny's tone on that note. "SWAT took the Goblin in too."
"He's going to tell everyone! The only thing is if there's a shock or trauma that jars him back to Norman Osborn's personality again. Osborn doesn't know. He's got two personalities in that noggin, I guess." Peter twisted his lip.
"You may be good then. The Goblin tried to break through Sue's force field. He crunched up that glider. He hit his head pretty hard. Guess we'll have to see? SWAT probably brought him to Bellevue. Even if he remembers, people will think he's nuts." Johnny mused over Peter's observation. "Wait a minute! You mean he's Norman Osborn? As in the head of OsCorp?"
"Same guy. He's also my landlord too. His son and I are roommates. Go figure that one out. I'm glad I'm moving. I just hope I still have that place to move to." Peter moped. He tapped his fingers on the bed. "The Goblin told her too. She hates me."
Johnny shook his head. "You need to talk to her! Reed told us that the police think you killed her Dad. Come on! You get under my skin sometimes. You're no killer. Come clean! Hey, you love her, right?"
"Then I expose my secret identity." Peter sucked in a deep breath. "I know you're trying to help, Johnny. I get it. The police want my head. J. Jonah Jameson makes me out as Public Enemy #1 in the Daily Bugle. He'll sue me if he finds out I've been taking pictures of myself. How can I deal with that and tell Gwen how I feel?"
"Then you can countersue him right back for libel. Matt Murdock, I'm sure, would love to take that case on. Reed can put you in touch with him." Johnny stood firm. "What really matters to you? Your secret? Or your lady? Come on!"
"You don't have an aunt ready to have a stroke or heart attack if she ever found out either, Flame Brain! All right?" Peter's frown twisted in on itself. "Aunt May hates Spider-Man. Gwen can't deal with me. Once again, Spider-Man just has to ruin everything."
"Wow. This is a new one." Johnny backed away a few steps. "Your powers ruin everything?" Sarcasm prompted a chuckle from him. "Way to feel sorry for yourself, Peter. Well, you've heard my take on this a while back. I'll sum it up again. Everyone gets knocked down. What matters is how we get up. You do pretty good. Reed said you just fought the Hulk yesterday and the day before? Then, half sick, you fly back, swing across town and manage a round with the Green Goblin? You really need to give yourself more credit. Look. I get that you're overwhelmed. Anyone would be. You're alive. Gwen's alive. That Osborn guy's in custody. Your stuff's safe down the hall. Your friends are right here with you…smart mouth or not." Smirk crossed his face on that note. He inhaled a deep breath. "I'm going to let you think for a little bit on that. Maybe you don't believe it but you did good this week. Hey, we get sick once in a while. We're human. Maybe you might want to look at your life and set priorities? I know a certain blonde that should be number 1. Think on that." He opened the door and walked out.
"What was that about?" Sue set the soup down on the table by the door.
"He wants me to think on some things. Right now, I just want to think on my girlfriend being all right." Peter lingered in the corner. "Can you let me know if you hear anything?"
"Reed will, Peter. Sorry if Johnny…" Apology started to come from her.
"He's right. I just need to get everything in order. He told me Dr. Richards knows about Gwen's Dad? How can I come clean if it exposes me?" Peter refilled his water glass at the sink.
"Have faith in Reed. He's working on that right now." She surrounded herself with a force field. "This way, I won't be exposed." She walked into the room and closed the door. "You know. Reed and I have our arguments too. Crystal and Johnny have theirs. That's a part of relationships. One thing about being open with one another though, we don't have to hide anything. This is your chance to be honest with Gwen. Maybe while you're thinking, Peter, you should think about what to say to her? Maybe focus on all the good you do. Just consider that. Well, I'll let you enjoy your dinner. Thank you for listening." With that, she left the room.
Peter considered the soup in front of himself. Rather than Canned Food Expectations, he discovered thick egg noodles, big chunks of chicken, carrots, celery and spices floating around in homemade chicken stock. He sampled a spoonful. Flavor exploded in his mouth. He took another spoonful and then another still.
Seemed that the friends had a point….
