Disclaimer: Sorry, I kind of ran out of clever things to say order to make you want to laugh. (Assuming you do laugh!) Anyway, I don't own the rights to Spider-Man.

Chapter XIII
Vendetta

NYPD cruisers lined the streets outside of Jean's apartment. Jean was obviously not present, nor was she fortunate. Her body was being loaded into an ambulance, all the while being looked on by Stan Carter. Stan hung his head in sorrow, but he kept himself from crying. Jean wouldn't have wanted to see him cry. Then he started trembling, lightly at first and then more with each passing second. Stan's sadness gave way to anger, and then to full blown hatred. That hatred was directed at Carnage; at Venom; at Spider-Man. Especially Spider-Man. He should've saved Jean. He should've protected her. Hell, he should've killed Kasady when he had the chance. Then Stan spotted Ben Reilly trying to get some photos of the scene. Stan flew into a rage, stormed his way to Ben and knocked the camera out of his hands. The camera hit the ground and exploded into fragments.

"Hey, what the hell are doing?" Ben demanded.

Stan grabbed Ben by his shirt collar and slammed over the hood of a police cruiser. "Figures, that old scum bag would want pictures of this," Stan shouted. "You tell me, kid; is he happy now?"

"C'mon, Carter," Ben pleaded, trying to get free of the enraged Stan Carter. "I'm just doing my job."

"Yeah, Jean was just doing her job, too, and she paid for it with her life." Stan spat.

"Look, I'm sorry about the captain, okay," Ben said. "I know she was you friend and all…"

"Shut the hell up," Stan spat before finally releasing his grip on Ben. "You have no idea what it's like to lose a friend."

Stan backed away from Ben and stormed to one of the cruiser. Without a second thought, Stan gunned the engine and sped away. Ben dusted himself off after being manhandled. For God's sake, he was just doing his job. Obviously, Stan was taking Jean's death really hard. It made Ben wonder how close Stan really was to Jean. Now, things had become extremely personal.

Peter was a despondent mess. He sat alone in the living room of his apartment having not removed his costume since he returned, save for his mask. He'd lost another friend. Jean was dead, and Peter couldn't save her. He should've been able to save her. The thing that hurt the most was that, ironically, Jean gave her life to save him. Peter couldn't shake the last thing Jean said to him. It made her death all the more painful. Hell, it felt like Harry all over again. Mary Jane entered the room very quietly. She didn't need a spider-sense to know that her husband was lost in his own world. Peter didn't need to look up to know of Mary Jane's presence.

"I should've saved her." Peter said.

MJ sighed. "Peter, there wasn't anything you could've done."

"There's plenty I could've done," Peter mused. "It's my fault Jean's dead."

Peter hung his head and went silent. Mary Jane really had absolutely no idea what she could say to comfort him. Peter stared almost blankly at his mask. He thought about the people that died whenever he tried to do the right thing. He wondered how many more would have to suffer. Peter shut his eyes and then began to tremble. It wasn't out of sorrow. It was out of anger. Mary Jane noticed this sudden change in Peter's face, his increased heavy breathing. He looked ready to erupt like an active volcano.

"No," Peter muttered. "Kasady's responsible, and I'm going to put an end to it. I'm going to kill him."

Mary Jane looked at Peter and asked, "What did you say?" She clearly couldn't believe what she heard.

"I'm sick and tired of losing everyone I care about," Peter said. "I'm going to find Kasady and I'm going to kill him. Then I'm going after Brock."

"Are you serious, Peter," Mary Jane snapped. "For God's sake, you sound like Brock."

"What're you talking about," Peter said, literally jumping out of his seat. "I'm nothing like Brock."

"Really?! You could've fooled me," Mary Jane wondered. "You know, Peter, when you go out there to fight these guys, I don't just worry about whether or not you come back. I worry that at some point, you'll wind up just like Kasady. If you kill him, what then? Would you go out and find the next Kasady, and the next one and so one? That's something I just couldn't endure; I could never be able to see you wind up like…. like Harry."

Now Peter felt like a Grade-A idiot. Mary Jane was obviously dead on. Peter really was starting to act like Brock, and he too blinded by his own grief to think straight. Jean knew the risk when she sacrificed herself to save Peter. Peter, like a moron, was taking it personally. What about Harry? They both what happened to him and how he died. Was Peter destined to go down the same road as his friend? One thing was certain through the turmoil; Uncle Ben would've disapproved.

"You're right," Peter finally said. "I'm sorry, MJ. I wasn't thinking."

MJ walked to Peter until they were face to face. "I know, and I didn't mean any of what I said. I just don't want to lose you the same way we lost Harry, or worse."

"Yeah, but at least Harry redeemed himself in the end." Peter said.

"As have you!" a voice said, kindly and familiar.

Peter turned toward the voice and his eyes widen when he saw aunt May standing there. "Aunt May," Peter looked over himself and said. "This isn't what it looks like."

"Peter, it's okay," MJ said, and she lowered her head and said. "I told her everything. I'm sorry."

Peter was speechless, and he turned to his aunt, defeated. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, aunt May. I couldn't risk your safety, not after what happened with the Hobgoblin."

Aunt May approached Peter and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You have nothing to apologize for, Peter. To be honest, a part of me knew all along."

Peter was pretty choked up by that point. "You guys are the best, but I still have to stop that man. I just can't do it alone. I need help, and there's only one person I can turn to."

Mary Jane knew exactly who Peter was talking about, but aunt May said, "You have to do what you feel is right, Peter. While I don't quite approve of this, I can honestly say that I've never been more proud of you," Aunt May placed her hand on Peter's face and told him, "Go get 'em, tiger."

Peter smiled and headed for the window, slipping his mask on. By all accounts, he never in his wildest dreams, expected aunt May to discover his secret. But at least he had no need now to hide it. He looked back at his family, and in the back of his mind, wondered if it would be the last time he'd ever see them. Mary Jane seemed to sense it and she suddenly stepped toward Peter, taking hold of his arm. It brought Peter to sudden stop. In a flash, Mary Jane embraced Peter. There was a reason for it, and if it was going to be the last time she'd ever see him, Mary Jane decided the time was here and now.

"You'd better come to me, Peter," Mary Jane whispered, as tears were beginning to stream down her face. "You have to come back… because you're going to be a father."

A father? It clearly was something Peter never came close to expecting. What should've been enough cause for apprehension became motivation for Peter. Now he had the best damn reason in the history of best damn reasons to come back alive. Ultimately, Peter said nothing, but he a wave of emotions on the inside. He kissed Mary Jane's forehead through his mask. Then he shot out a web line and leapt out of sight. Mary Jane sighed and leaned against the windowsill, with aunt May at her side.

It accord to Ashley how bleakly ironic it was for her to be back at Ravencroft. It was the place where her entire world turned upside down when she encountered Venom. It shocked her even more when it turned out to be Eddie Brock. Even more shocking was that Eddie seemed to genuinely care for her. Ashley was beginning to feel the same way about Eddie. It pained Ashley greatly to have seen Eddie suffering against the symbiote corrupting him. Compelling him to kill her. But Eddie was fighting the alien; of that much Ashley was sure. It pained her to know how utterly helpless she was to help him. Ashley moved to the window of her office, wondering where Eddie might be.

Where are you, Eddie? she thought. Suddenly, a blood red and black hand grasped Ashley's mouth.

Carnage appeared outside the window, upside down and still grinning. "Hey, hot legs! Ya miss me?"

Within the next twenty five to thirty minutes, news of Carnage's latest attack was made public. It was on every known news channel, on every working television in the city. Perhaps out of blind luck, Eddie was one of the many viewers watching the telecast. He really shouldn't have cared, wouldn't have until the victim was revealed to Ashley. She was still alive for the moment, but that was likely to change if Carnage had his way. Eddie was about ready to snap and he was quick to enter an alleyway. That was when his mind began racing, and he heard voices in his head. His own voice and that of the alien.

I have to save her. Eddie thought.

Apparently, the symbiote disagreed. Save her from what? Let Kasady have his fun.

No, she's not part of this! Eddie thought.

She was already dead when she met you. Besides, we still have bigger concerns. The symbiote responded.

I don't care about that anymore, Eddie thought again. I have to save Ashley.

The hell with her, the symbiote responded. Spider-Man is the only thing the matters and he deserves to die.

But Ashley doesn't.

So, you'll willingly jeopardize our goals for one, insignificant woman?

Before Eddie could answer the alien's question, he was suddenly pulled straight up at a rapid pace. Eddie knew the cause at halfway up his unintended ride. Once airborne, the symbiote enveloped Eddie until only his face remained visible. Sure enough, there was Spider-Man crouched over a ledge.

"You!" Eddie snapped.

"Eddie, I need your help." Spider-Man said.

"You need help alright, Spider-Man," Eddie said, and the symbiote enveloped his face. "Just not from us."

Venom quickly lunged right at Spider-Man, who was quick to leap out of the way. In mid air, Spider-Man shot two web lines at either side of Venom and then catapulted himself right at him. The hero scored a direct hit, and he and Venom went flying from one rooftop to the next one. Venom slammed back first into the ground, but he still was able to flip Spider-Man off of him. Venom nipped up and fired black lines at Spider-Man, which Spider-Man managed to dodge. Spider-Man shot off a series of web sphere, only to have them bounce off Venom's chest. Venom fired his own series of black spheres. Spider-Man dodged between the spheres, many of which leaving becoming embedded into the ground. Venom tackled Spider-Man to the ground, snarling in his masked face and attempting to crush him. Spider-Man shot a web line out and snagged a pipe, and then he pulled himself free. Venom still rammed his fists into the ground, only just realizing that Spider-Man wasn't there. Spider-Man lunged right at Venom and punched him right the jaw. Venom grabbed Spider-Man and held him in a bear hug.

"We're going to crush you with our bare hands." the villain snarled.

"Venom… you have… to listen to me," Spider-Man struggled to say, even as Venom squeezed him. "I didn't come… to fight you."

"We're not interested in listening to anything you say." Venom sneered.

"But… Ashley!" Spider-Man coughed Ashley's name.

Venom's grip suddenly loosened and he threw Spider-Man clear across the roof, all the while screaming, "SHUT UP!"

Spider-Man hit the ground with a thud, and he muttered, "Well, that struck a nerve!"

Venom leaped into the and came down with both fists driven into the ground where Spider-Man. "You don't get say her name, not in front of me."

Did Spider-Man hear that right? Did Venom just address himself in the singular instead of the plural? Spider-Man had to be reaching Eddie if he was talking like that. Venom refused to let Spider-Man have a moment's rest, continually lunging at him. Spider-Man, at that point, was playing keep away with Venom, angering his alien rival. Venom snarled and roared every time he missed his mark.

"Hold still, dammit!"

Spider-Man landed atop a ledge and said, "Eddie, if you really love that woman, then you'll stop and listen."

"I said SHUT UP," Eddie, not Venom, shouted. He fired a black sphere at Spider-Man, who easily dodged it. "If Kasady kills her, then why should I give a damn?"

Venom charged at Spider-Man head on, and Spider-Man easily tripped him. Venom went careening into a wall. Now, Spider-Man was damn sure that it was Eddie talking and not the symbiote. Venom appeared to not be finished, as well as appear to be fuming. He should've attacked right then, but he was hesitating. He shouldn't have been hesitating like this. There was no reason. Scratch that! There was a reason.

"That bitch means absolutely nothing to me." Venom shouted and charged again.

"Liar," Spider-Man suddenly shouted back, and Venom stopped dead in his tracks. "You can keep this charade up as much and as long as you want to, but you'd better convince yourself first. Now, are you going to help me stop Carnage, or not? If not, then Ashley's as good as dead. You really want that on your conscience?"

Venom seethed at Spider-Man and wanted to pull his head off, but instead the symbiote receded from Eddie's face. "Alright, you win," he shouted, and then he finally calmed down. "I do love Ashley, and if saving her means I have to stomach you then I'll help stop Kasady."

"Hey, believe me Eddie," Spider-Man said. "I don't want this anymore than you do. But there's really no choice, is there? Besides, we both have something to fight for now."

Eddie moved to the edge of the roof and, without looking at Spider-Man, said, "This is temporary at best and when it's over, it's you and me. Until then," Eddie turned Spider-Man and the symbiote enveloped his face. "We're partners. For now!"

Venom shot out a line and swung ahead, and Spider-Man rubbed the back of his head muttering to himself, "That's it; I've completely lost my mind."

Alone in a dark room, Stan Carter was preparing for a very personal war. He wasn't wearing the police uniform, for there was no longer a need. Stan now wore all black; black trousers, a black and a black trench coat. A series of firearms lined a table, illuminated by only a ceiling light. Stan loaded a single pistol with bullets, and then a sawed off shotgun. He threw on a shoulder holster and then a holster around his waist. Stan took the shotgun in his hand and cocked it. He sighed as he removed his police badge; the last remnant of his previous occupation. He wouldn't need anymore, because likely wouldn't survive the night, so he threw it in the trash. Stan shut the light off before heading out the door, with one thing on his mind. They pushed him to this. They deserved what was coming to them. Carnage! Venom! Spider-Man! Everybody in between. Every liar, hypocrite and sinner. Stan Carter was going to make them all atone for their sins, or die trying.

Author's note: Don't you just love how things get so personal? I didn't originally intended for Stan Carter to become Sin-Eater (hell, I ain't even gonna address him as such) but he made this far so, what the heck? We're closing in on the final battle, so stay tuned. Adios!