Author's Note: I'm back! So sorry for the long delay. I hadn't known so much time had passed. Please note that this chapter contains a character committing suicide. If this bothers you, do not read this chapter. Please enjoy this chapter!
"One day you will do things for me that you hate. That is what it means to be family."
― Jonathan Safran Foer
Oscorp has been evacuated by the time the team arrives. In fact, as the jet touches down, Steve can't help but wonder just where all the people are. The surrounding streets are deserted, cars abandoned with their engines running and the few people that Steve can see are locking up their doors, terrified.
"What's the plan?" Tony asks, his faceplate open. The billionaire genius surveys the impressive skyscraper with an almost bemused expression.
"Attack?" Clint murmurs and Natasha chuckles darkly as she flexes her fingers. The two agents are obviously ready to go in and cause some damage to the bad guys that have harmed one of their own.
"We get Gwen back and get out." Cap finally replies, grimacing as he thinks of Peter's girlfriend. Who knows how much blood she's already lost or how bad the wound was? She could be dead already—
No, he couldn't allow himself to think that way. Peter and Gwen were counting on him and the team. They would find a way to save the day—they always did.
"And Oscorp's files?" Tony ventures. "We should at least try to figure out what they want Peter for—"
"Gwen hasn't much time." Thor interjects sharply. The God was silent on the ride over, but as he was debriefed on the situation, his expression had grown darker by the minute and he'd been white-knuckling the grip on his hammer ever since.
"Agreed." Cap reaches for his shield and gestured towards the front door. "Tony, if you get the files in the time it takes for us to get Gwen, good. But if not—"
"Got it, got it." Tony waves dismissively, his faceplate closing.
"Charge?" Natasha asked.
Cap just nods and immediately, the team springs into action.
"What have you done?"
"Mr. Osborn?" Dr. Lahey is agape, stunned beyond all belief. His boss, once so sickly, now stands before him, back straight and confident.
"Dr. Lahey," Osborn hisses, voice deep. "What have you done?"
"Sir, I—" His voice cuts off though as he glances at the blood on the floor, at Gwen's unconscious figure slumped over on the floor, her chest barely rising and falling.
"The Avengers are on their way," Mr. Osborn growls, lips curled backwards in a snarl. He glances at the girl and scoffs, "Is she even alive?"
"I . . ." Dr. Lahey hesitates. Guilt strangles his voice. Had he really shot Gwen, his perfect intern? The girl who had done nothing but her best for this company? She is dying and it's because of him!
"You're an imbecile." Mr. Osborn snaps.
"But, sir, I—"
"It's too late for you, Dr. Lahey," Mr. Osborn smirks cruelly. "But me, on the other hand?" The older man moves towards one of the many computers in the room and inserts a black flash drive into the port.
"Sir?" Dr. Lahey tries to goad him into discussing what he's doing, but Mr. Osborn remains silent.
"For the record," The computer beeps and Osborn removes his flash drive from the device. "I hope the Avengers kill you."
And before Dr. Lahey can process what is happening, Mr. Osborn is gone.
She's standing on the edge on the street, clutching her purse and few belongings, she'd managed to grab with her as she fled her old office. She is pretty sure her boss is crazy and life as she knows it is pretty much over, but she has no choice but wait to see the outcome. The Avengers are already in the building. In no time at all, they would find the girl and they would save her.
They had to save her, right?
She's only a secretary, but she knows too much about the company and it's inner workings. She needs to vanish and never return.
But until she knows that the young intern is safe, she'll stay here on the sidewalk, waiting.
"You with me JARVIS?" Tony questions as he hacks into the Oscorp mainframe.
"Indeed, sir." JARVIS' voice chirps and it's somewhat reassuring to hear.
"I need anything and everything you have on Peter." Tony taps a few keys, his suit acting as a conduit. He briefly scans through the files, trying to locate anything important.
"Sir, it would seem someone has initiated a self-destruct protocol on the mainframe."
"Shit," Tony curses, typing away faster. He can't allow those files to slip through his fingers. Until they know the full story about Oscorp and Peter, the team won't be able to fully keep the teenager safe. They have to be two steps ahead of their enemy, not vice versa. "Can you counter it?"
"I'll try, sir."
Tony quickly continues searching, trying as fast he possibly can to find something—anything—before the files are deleted and purged from the system. Peter's life could be depending on this.
He can't fail.
"Put the gun down." Steve orders, voice firm, but his hands outstretched and not threatening.
Finding the lab had been surprisingly easy considering all of the employees, including Mr. Osborn himself, had fled. Which meant, aside from Gwen's unconscious body, it was the four of them vs. the man who had shot Gwen.
"You don't understand," The man whimpers, gun shaking in his grasp. "Mr. Osborn, he wanted the boy, told me that if I couldn't bring him here . . ." He laughs, on the verge of hysteria, and points to Gwen. "He was going to kill me."
"Put the gun down." Steve tries once more, stepping in a little closer. Clint and Natasha begin to move towards Gwen, and Thor holds his hammer up, ever so slightly, ready to attack should it become necessary.
But Steve doesn't want a confrontation, not with Gwen in desperate need of medical attention. He just wants to take this man into custody, get some answers and get Gwen the help she needs.
"He'll find me and kill me." The man in the bloodstained lab coat continues. "I never signed on for this."
"I understand," Steve gives him a shaky smile. "Put the gun down and we can talk about this."
The man huffs out a laugh, "I'm afraid, Captain America, the time for talk has passed." He places the gun to his temple. "Tell Miss Stacy I'm sorry."
And before Steve can even react, the man fires the gun and slumps to the floor, dead.
Peter paces the hospital waiting room floor, trying to calm his wildly beating heart. He's been here for what feels like a small eternity, waiting for the doctors to let him see Gwen. He doesn't know anything about her condition other than she lost a lot of blood.
"Peter." He meets Bruce's serene gaze and tries some of those deep-breathing exercises the doctor taught him. The good doctor is only one with him right now—after all, it would be a little hard to explain why Tony Stark or Steve Rogers would be waiting with him to check in on a civilian patient—and as such, Bruce was selected to go with him.
"I'm fine." Peter takes a seat next to him and places his head in his hands.
He can't lose anyone else.
He physically can't. After Uncle Ben, all he wanted to do was curl up in a ball and wait for the world to pass him by. When he came close to losing Aunt May, that feeling had been even more acute. Now, with Gwen, he can't help but wonder what he'll do if she dies.
"She's going to be okay." Bruce assures him and Peter manages a watery grin.
"We have to call her family," Peter suddenly realizes. "Oh God, what are we going to tell her mom? She can't lose anyone else—"
"Natasha has that covered," Bruce soothes, rubbing reassuring circles on the teenager's back. "Just keep breathing."
"Family of Gwen Stacy?" A doctor calls and Peter jumps to his feet, Bruce soon following suit.
"How is she?" Peter questions quickly.
"She lost a lot of blood," The doctor starts, "But she made it through surgery and she's recovering in the ICU." He grinned at the teenager. "Barring any complications post-surgery, I expect a full recovery."
Peter finally feels like he can breathe.
"Can I see her?"
"Right this way."
Peter looks at Bruce and the older man grins, "Go on. I'll let the others know."
"Thanks, Bruce."
Peter follows the doctor through a myriad of twisting corridors until they finally come to a small room. Pushing open the door, the doctor nods encouragingly.
"Peter?" Gwen murmurs, voice thick with sleep.
"Hey, Gwen," He goes to her bedside and claps her clammy hand within his own. "You doing okay?"
She smiles at him and it feel like the sun has finally emerged out of the clouds. "S'kay, Peter." She squeezes his hand. "M'okay."
"Yeah." Peter manages to say through the overwhelmingly relief that clogs his voice. "Yeah, Gwen, I know."
He takes a seat and holds her hand because while he may not have been able to save her, he can at least be with her now.
"Love you, Peter." She whispers.
He kisses the top of her hand, "Love you too."
"So, let me get this straight," Alexander Pierce starts, rising from his chair at his desk to meet Fury's gaze. "Not only did Norman Osborn get away, but he also managed to delete every file the company had on Peter?"
Fury grimaces, "It would appear that way."
"So, now what?" Alexander sighs.
"We wait," Fury answers. "Unfortunately, Norman Osborn will have to make the next move."
"And how do we know he'll do that?" Pierce inquires.
Fury smirks, "He wants Peter badly. He'll make a mistake."
"Very well," Pierce mutters, signing a document in front of him before handing it to Fury. "Continue the lockdown order for right now, but I doubt he'll comply for long." Then, adding, "And I want the Stacy family protected has well. Have Barton and Romanoff take shifts."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
As Alexander leans back in his chair, he grimaces. He hates the waiting game. He likes to be proactive, to quash threats before they become problems, but for now, all he can do is hope the team will be able to keep Peter safe.
After all, he's no use to H.Y.D.R.A. dead.
Author's Note: This story is far from over! I hope you guys will stick with me until the end. Please review if you have a moment. Thanks!