Chapter 28 [Northwest Hospital]

[A/N: Spidey and the next character in our merry story, Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil), met in Amazing Spider-Man 16. They ran into each other before this story in Daredevil 16-17, 77 and 103 not to mention Fantastic Four 73. By the way, I'm pushing DD 110's events back prior to ASM 121.]

Peter sank into a padded chair's cushions. His eyes took in Dusk's colors burnishing Broken Overcast. Cars crawled down snarled interstate and roads. Below those streets, Trains carried Commuters from work toward home and rest. Couples walked about in the courtyard. Hands held Hands. Noses smelled Flowers' scent. Concerns and Cares seemed so far away from those he watched.

Concerns and Cares, on the other hand, swamped him. The police had returned Harry to the psychiatric institution. Osborn languished under psychiatric evaluation and impending imprisonment for his misdeeds. Gwen's care and treatment would garner their own bills. Freelancing had enabled him to scrape by on daily expenses. Captain Stacy had left Gwen money from investments. She'd sold the family house. Still, Bills would devour that money as well.

How are we going to manage this? He rested his chin in his hands. Just hours before the Goblin's attack, he and Gwen had everything all set. Now, all of the pieces seemed to be thrown up in the air. Obligations overwhelmed him. ESU and his classes retreated further back down Priorities' List. Now he wished he still had that salaried position.

"Excuse me? Mr. Parker?"

Question snapped Reverie's hold on Peter. He looked around to find a slender red-haired man walking toward him. The other's suit and dark glasses drew his attention. A cane tapped out the newcomer's path. "Yes? That's me. I…" Memoria recalled the other man's face from a misunderstanding at his office. "You're Matt Murdock. I remember your ads on TV."

"Nice to know they're getting our office some attention." The blind man's hand felt around his lapel and inner coat pocket. He drew a business card in his fingers. "I wanted to offer my services. Reed Richards called me on your behalf." He handed the card to Peter. Even as he did so, a sensitivity sized the other man up. Radar Sense, the product of the accident that blinded him years earlier, heard Peter's heartbeat and sized him up. Smile creased his face. Spider-Man? So, that's why you went to the bridge. He recalled their recent team up in San Francisco. He handed the card over to Peter. "Just in case you missed our phone number on the ads."

Peter read the card over. At the moment, he wanted to deal with Gwen's health issue before pursuing Osborn or anyone else in litigation. "I'm sorry. I don't understand. We don't even have a definite diagnosis yet. Shouldn't we have that in hand first?"

Murdock bowed his head. His feet shuffled in Uncertainty apparent service. Despite the fact that the aforementioned senses clearly discerned Peter's outline, he needed to maintain appearances. He knew of the Goblin's stalking of Spider-Man for the previous four years. Still, he needed to focus on their most recent confrontation. OsCorp had rested on shaky ground due to Osborn's risks and plummeting stocks. Experience had taught him about Boards of Directors' covering their assets. He hated to push Peter and Gwen. Given the circumstances, however, he could deal with the 'ambulance chaser' label. "That would be a good idea. Still, now that the Green Goblin has been unmasked, we know he's Norman Osborn. Osborn's responsible for Miss Stacy's injuries and the care. That will be…expensive. She's entitled to have her bills covered, Mr. Parker."

Robbie's words echoed back to Peter's ears. We'll get you a good attorney. "That'd be great. I wish I understood how Osborn could be the Green Goblin. I know he was edgy lately but…"

Murdock mulled over Peter's response. His sense discerned Peter's being less than truthful with him. Still, he understood Motivation's prodding in that regard. "Sometimes people have sides to them that aren't readily apparent. Osborn had something happen. What that is, we don't know. He has a fractured personality. On the one hand, he's a normal businessman. On the other, there's the megalomaniacal super villain. The latter attacked Miss Stacy and Spider-Man. As for why we're talking, Reed Richards gave me a call. He told me about your situation. I believe we can work something out." Murdock raised his satchel.

Irony registered in Peter's mind. There's a lot more to Osborn than you know. Spider Sense buzzed in his mind. He recognized Murdock's voice from somewhere. Still, he couldn't quite place it. What's his deal anyway? Still, if Dr. Richards trusts him, Murdock must be on the level. "I just raised the Osborn-multiple personality angle to my City Editor a couple of hours ago. Spider-Man himself thinks that's the case. Too bad he's lying low until the Fantastic Four clears him of Captain Stacy's murder. I could use some more pictures."

"Yes. I'd like to talk to him myself." Murdock rubbed his chin. But I can't ask you here, can I? He had to hand it to Peter. Not only was he handing over a great initial research file but he did so without endangering his secret identity. "Maybe if you talk to him, you can have him speak to me? He and I have a mutual friend. This friend and I maintain a relationship just as Spider-Man and you do. I bring that up so that you know that I understand."

You understand? What is he hiding a costume under that suit? I… Peter shook that notion off. Come on! He's blind. It's not like he's going to fight anyone! He scoffed to himself. "If I run into him, I'll let him know. He kind of does his own thing."

"From what my friend says of him, that's an accurate assessment." Murdock mused over their previous meetings. Both he and Peter had largely remained loners as heroes. Both tended to shy away from associations. Of course, exceptions did come up. Both had helped the Fantastic Four on occasion. His relationship/partnership with the Black Widow had dissolved recently. He'd teamed up with Spider-Man against the Circus of Crime, the Masked Marauder and Ramrod. "You did a nice story on him. Both he and the Black Widow appreciated that."

That curveball grabbed Peter's attention. He recalled the incidents years earlier at Murdock's office and against the Sub Mariner. Memoria brought up his team ups with a certain crimson-clad hero. He sucked in a deep breath. "I just asked the questions and took the pictures. Daredevil and the Black Widow were really forthcoming. They made it easy for me. I witnessed the fight with that metal-headed guy. Why not give them great press?"

No Silhouettes, Pulses, Odors or Footsteps crossed Murdock's radar sense at that point. He drew closer to Peter and lowered his voice. "Why not indeed? Anyhow, yes, Daredevil is the common friend I referred to earlier. Natasha Romanov and her driver, Ivan, are friends as well. So, thank you, Mr. Parker. They'd like it if I'd look out for you as well. That's another reason why I approached you." Murdock looked up and just off to Peter's right (again to maintain his cover).

Peter pondered those points. He relaxed a tiny bit more. Maybe we might be able to afford this. Still, DD and I haven't always been on the best of terms. Then, there's Spidey hassling Murdock's partner back in the day. Just see where it goes, Parker. "Maybe Gwen and we can talk about this, Mr. Murdock? I'd like her in on it."

"Of course." Murdock sensed that Peter was telling the truth on that note. "So, you and Miss Stacy? If I can ask, what's the nature of your relationship?"

"We literally just got engaged a couple hours before the Goblin broke in. Why?" Peter raised his eyebrow.

"There's a legal difference between being the boyfriend and the fiancé. That's why you were able to sign off on her documents. The courts and Mr. Osborn's partners will seek to settle his accounts as soon as possible. We should move against Mr. Osborn as soon as possible." Murdock heard a gurney passing by in back of himself. He cut off their discussion.

"Here she comes now. Just a minute!" Peter saw Gwen lying on her stomach. "Hi, Gwendy! X-ray go okay?" He walked over to her side. He squeezed her hand in his.

She shrugged. Playful Smile flashed for his benefit. "You know how much I like having my picture taken, Mr. P. Everything okay out here?" She noted Murdock standing there. "I know that guy from some place. What's going on?"

"Dr. Richards sent him over. His name's Matthew Murdock. He can help us with the expenses." Peter motioned for Murdock to join them. "I was going to talk with you in the room about it."

Recognition flashed in her eyes. Despite Medication's fog, she knew the name. "Peter! He represented my Dad on a case a couple of years ago. He's like the best in New York!" She strained to turn. "Sorry, Mr. Murdock. I don't mean to be rude."

"That's all right. I didn't think you'd remember me, Miss Stacy. As Mr. Parker just said, Dr. Richards asked me to come and see you both. I know you're tired given everything that's going on. When you're ready, give me a call. We need to talk about a potential case," Murdock clarified.

"I'd like that, Mr. Murdock. Peter and I don't have a lot of money. I wish we had more to offer. You're like the gold standard. I appreciate you talking with us." Gwen sulked. As much as she wanted Murdock's services, she knew they couldn't afford him. "I'm worried about the bills from this stuff."

"That's why we should talk, Miss Stacy. I'll let you rest. As for compensation, I told Mr. Parker we could work something out. Right now, Mr. Osborn's the one who should be worrying not you both. I'll look forward to hearing from you. Take care." Murdock held his hand out just to Peter's right.

"You too, Mr. Murdock. Thanks for coming up. If you talk to Dr. Richards, please say thanks for us." Peter shook Murdock's hand. "Sure glad that article and the photos worked out for everyone." Then, he walked just behind the orderlies and Gwen toward her room.

Article and photos? Did Peter do something for Mr. Murdock in the past? He's acting like it's the first time they met. Or is this a Spider-Man thing? A frown curled at the sides of her mouth. She kept her eyes focused on the hallway straight ahead. She wouldn't inadvertently give away secrets.

Murdock nodded to himself. He headed for the front door. Maybe his secretary would have those briefs ready to go for the next day's cases. If she didn't, he and Foggy could go over their next case. He tapped his cane to guide him toward a nearby taxi.

Radar Sense did help the blind man, it seemed….