Tony was right. Press started showing up the next day, right as visiting hours began. Tony had sent Ned home with a promise that he would pick him up and bring him to the hospital again, when he didn't look ready to keel over. Ned was forced to wait outside the room because he was sick and could compromise Peter getting better, which the boy paled at thinking about. He was a big ball of anxious sickness who looked ready to pass out, so Tony sent him home.

May was also sent home, but Tony accompanied her home with the promise that someone would be with Peter. Happy happened to be that someone. Despite the man's apparent dislike of the teen, Happy did care for Peter and didn't want to see him hurt, so he promised to make sure the kid was okay while Tony and May went back to the apartment briefly.

"I can't believe that Peter was shot," May blurted out, having taken a shower, changed clothes, and currently was making some tea. Tony glanced at her from the couch where he was told to sit. May brought the two mugs over, handing one to Tony, who took it with a thank you. "It's lavender and chamomile, along with some cinnamon. Peter loves tea, despite what he may say. This blend always calms him down, that or Valerian Root, but that's more of a sleep inducing tea. He's always messing around, trying out different types, seeing what he feel like after, what tastes the best, which teas for which moods, all that stuff. You'd think he's an expert herbalist or something," May chuckled, nostalgia dripping from her words.

Tony watched as she swirled the liquid around, staring at it with a soft smile. She took a hesitant sip before placing it back into her lap, both hands clutching the pale green mug. Tony thought she might have zoned out, but then she sniffed and looked up at Tony, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. She gave a soft laugh, running a hand over her face, trying to wipe the tears away.

"Sorry, it's just, Peter's usually the one I have tea with. I'll wake up to the sound of the kettle going off and find his sitting in the middle of the floor, legs crossed, slowly sipping on some random brew of tea. It'd be four in the morning, or two in the morning, or the middle of the night, or whenever he should be sleeping, I should be sleeping, and I'll find him on the floor, mug in hands. I never know why I'd find him like that. Sometimes I smell the chamomile or valerian root and know he's having trouble sleeping, or I'll smell mint and wonder if he's feeling alright. I can usually tell the mood or feeling by the smell of the tea. He never talks, just sips his tea. It's become so common nowadays, this blend with some Valerian root mixed in, that he'll make a second mug for me in anticipation for me hearing the kettle. I miss him Tony," May said softly and Tony could only frown, taking another sip of the mix. It was interesting, and he couldn't decide if he liked it or not. He was more of a coffee person himself, but this tea had meaning behind it.

"He's still here May, he's not gone."

"But he was almost. He almost died, he did die. I could have lost Peter yesterday, he could have," May stuttered, tears falling hard and fast. Tony grabbed her mug from her hands, setting both pieces of ceramic down on the coffee table, before pulling May towards him. He had given so much physical affection out in the past two days, it was astonishing. "It was just like Ben," May whispered and Tony froze in shock. He had forgotten about Peter's uncle, May's husband. He had known he had died, but he had forgotten how. He forgot that the articles he read and reports he saw stated that Ben Parker died from a gunshot wound to the chest, trying to prevent a carjacking or something like that. With that, he completely forgot that Peter was there. He made a mental note to discuss that with the kid.

"But he didn't. He saved lives, and he's still with us. Peter's a strong kid, and he's going to pull through."

"You don't know that. I want him to, with all my heart, and I'd give up everything for him to pull through, but you can't be sure."

"No, but from what I hear from Rita, and from the nurses, and from Happy, who is currently watching him, the kid's improving by the hour. He'll pull through, and then I'll kill him myself for getting shot." May smacked him lightly on the arm, a scowl on her face that held no fire because of the tears and smile hidden behind.

"Tony Stark, you are not allowed to kill my nephew. Only I'm allowed to do that," she added to her statement with a smirk. The two laughed lightly, picking up their mugs once again. The two continued talking, regaling stories of Peter while finishing their tea. Once the mugs were emptied, cleaned, dried, and put away, May demanded she be brought back to the hospital. It was a few minutes after visiting hours began when they arrived.

The first thing Tony saw upon entering was the grouping of reporters and cameras hanging around the desk. The next thing he noticed was that the main name that he kept hearing was Peter. The final thing he noticed before everything went to shit was one of the reports shouting Tony's name, causing them to swarm him. He carefully shifted May away from the grouping, her with a hood pulled over her head, and allowed her to shuffle past the group and towards Peter's, more secured, room. Luckily, none of the reporters noticed, only the nurse at the station who looked relieved that Tony was distracting them. She sent him a glance that read 'thank you' before Tony was surrounded.

"Mr. Stark, what brings you to Queen's Memorial? Are you here to see Peter Parker? Is our source correct when we say that Peter is your intern? Mr. Stark, what are your thoughts about what happened at Midtown High?" The questions were thrown around, and though Tony's anxiety was flaring up, he plastered on a smile, waving for them all to quiet down so he could answer.

"Mr. Parker is my intern, that is correct. He has been, and will continue to be my intern for the foreseeable future. I am here to check on his condition and to see how his friends and family are faring. I want to know if there's anything I can do for them in this trying time. I pose this question to all those affected by the tragedy that occurred at Midtown High, if there is anything I can do, I will try my best to do it. It was a terrible thing that happened, and for a tragic reason. Bullying is not taken very seriously within schools. Speeches are given, statements are said, words are passed around about how it will not be tolerated, but as we can all see, it is very much a problem. I'm just saddened that it took three, almost four, lives for us all to see this. That's all," Tony said, pushing past quickly, not giving the swarm a chance to react properly.

By the time the group of reporters did react, they were too late. Tony was already walking quickly down the hallway and security had been called. They formed a barrier in front of the path, not letting any cameras or anything past. The nurse behind the desk rolled her eyes when they decided that, since they weren't getting past the security officers, they could always hound the lady at the front desk.

"What information can you give us about Mr. Parker's condition? Is Mr. Stark truly here because Mr. Parker is his intern, or is it something else? Do you have any details you can give us about what happened at the school?"

"Are any of you family members of Peter Parker?" Silence fell over the group as they all looked at the nurse, who looked both threatening and innocent at the same time. "Sorry, I'll repeat, are any of you related to, or family members of, Peter Parker?"

"No, but-"

"Then I'm afraid I can't disclose any information about the patient's condition."

"Why not?"

"Because only family members are allowed to know about a patient's condition, and seeing as none of you are Mr. Parker's family, I cannot legally give you that information, even if I wanted to, which I don't."

"But Mr. Stark was allowed back."

"He is considered family by Mr. Parker's guardian. He is not blood-related, so do not make that a story, but according to Mr. Parker's guardian, he is considered family by the teen. So, if you'd be so kind as to leave this hospital, I would appreciate that."

"Can you at least tell us if he's going to make it," one of the reporters asked, seemingly desperate. The nurse looked at the man, who looked fresh out of college and brand new to the gig. She really didn't want to give anything out about Peter, he seemed like a great kid from what she has heard, but the reporter seemed so nervous, and the way the other, more experienced reporters were looking at him with disgust and annoyance made up her mind. She looked the reporter in the eyes and grabbed the recorder he held in his hands.

"I am not allowed to give out any details about Mr. Parker's condition, but I am allowed to tell you that yes, he is going to make it. Now get out of my hospital," she said sternly, clicking off the recorder and tossing it back to the newbie, who quickly shuffled away, followed slowly by the other, grumbling reporters. Smiling to herself, she mentally patted herself on the back as they left the building, the doors sliding shut behind them.

"I bet that felt good," one of the guards said with a chuckle.

"You have no idea."