Hi! :-) Sorry if the chapters aren't very long, and have typos, I'm writing them in one sitting without editing, so they're probably not the best, but I feel bad making you guys wait too long for another chapter, so I'll try to keep updating often. I only have a fairly vague plotline, so if you have any ideas or anything that you want to happen [I'm guessing from the reviews you want Danny to live ;-)] I'd appreciate them. :-)

Chapter 3: JJJ

"The world is a dangerous place to live;

not because of the people who are evil

but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

-Albert Einstein

I stare in utter disbelief at the television. J.J.J. isn't complaining about Spider-Man today. No. Why, you ask?

He's finally won. The laws are changed. I don't know why, or by who. I guess society finally agrees with the ignorant self-inflicted man after that fight. Why, really, though? How could this happen? How could all people who fall under the category of "superhero" or "mutant" be banned?

How could being a "superhero" be illegal? I already knew that mutants like myself aren't exactly loved by the public, but superheros- no. I was right.

I hate being right.

I only turned the TV on to see if anybody knew who the 'villains' were from that fight. Oh, gosh. And here I was, thinking things wouldn't get any worse, just go uphill from here. That's what I'd convinced myself after that good cry this morning. Hard to believe it's only been a few days.

At least Danny's alive.

I ignore the cascade of objections that tumble into my mind, instead walking back over to the sleeping Danny. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s done for. I guess I might as well call one of his friends. The only person I know for sure he was with was Peter Parker, so I resign to looking him up in the phone book. Once I've found the number, I dash to the telephone and dial before I can lose my courage.

"I can't talk now, M.J.! I told you, I'm really busy right now! Would you please quit calling me back?!" a voice snapped into the phone.

"Um... this isn't M.J. ..." I stutter.

"Oh, a, oops." There is a long pause, then, "Well, who is it?" He sounds stressed and annoyed.

"You don't know me, but, erm, I, er, have your friend, Danny." I hate how awkward I sound, but I don't know how else to put it. There's a really long pause.

"Uhhhhh... are you sure? He's, um, a blonde surfer dude who's a Kung Fu master, and he's sort of missing- as in, nobody can find him..."

"Yes. If you want to, uh, come and see him, my apartment is in the building three blocks off of Central Park, on the 8th floor at the end of the hallway. He's hurt." I don't know what else to say to him, so I hastily hang up, even though I know it's rude. Now it's just Spider-Man's choice if he comes or not. I do realize that, well, he probably is going to have some trouble just walking down the street, being a 'superhero', but I guess that he could just, you know, dress as Peter Parker and hope for the best.

I don't know why I called Spider-Man. I guess because I know he's a close friend, and that they're looking for him. Really, though, I don't think it will take long for the 'secret identities' to be discovered, so he'd better think of something for him to do.

I walk over to the bed and sit there, thinking about the mess I'm in. Being a mutant, I'm not even legally allowed to be in this apartment right now, plus I'm with Danny, who's still in his 'superhero' costume. Great. Even if I trusted the government, I can't take him to the hospital at all. I knew it. At least I didn't bring him there.

Danny groans again. I really wish I had some magic medicine to make him better. Even painkillers would help. I don't take over-the-counter meds ever, though, so I don't even have ibuprofen or aspirin to give him. All I've got is a bed for him to sleep on, pretty much. I still don't trust myself to take the rod out, which probably needs to be done. I don't have any fancy equipment to help him breath, or give him fluids, to keep him alive.

I sigh. I remember seeing Danny at the organic foods shop a few blocks away, sometimes. He was with a group of other people then, and I didn't pay much attention. New York City's a big place, with lots of people, after all. I've seen him on TV too, when I bother to turn the thing on.

Standing up, I stretch my arms. I'm tired, and hungry. Careful to keep an eye on Danny, I walk to the kitchen and make myself a bowl of cereal. As soon as I start eating, I realize just how hungry I've been, and gulp the rest down in a few short minutes. When I return to the stool by the bed, Danny's eyes are opening. Sleepily, he blinks, then looks around the room.

"Hi," I smile, trying to hide my concern. I mean, this is a pretty big mess right now...

Danny just looks confused. His beautiful green eyes dart up and down, stopping at me, then widening. "Where- where am I?"

I blush. "Um, my apartment in New York City. I found you, uh, hurt." He frowns. I stand up to get him something to eat, at a loss for words.

"You should probably eat. What do you want? I, um, don't eat meat, so ..."

Danny looks up at me, and his eyes meet mine. Inside, I can see him smiling at me as his eyes twinkle. "I do not eat meat either. All forms of life have value."

I start, surprised. Hastily, I ask him, "Do you want more oatmeal?" Once I see him nod, I busy myself microwaving some.

Danny breaks the silence. "Why did you save me?"

I stare at the dirty rug underneath my feet, trying to look interested in the faded flowers. "I... I saved you because... because... because you're a person. A good person. A really good person. A superhero. Busy saving the world."

He looks at me. "One who- who-" he breaks into a fit of dry coughing. I run over to him, kneeling urgently beside the bed.

"Danny? Danny? Danny?!"

When the coughs subside, he sits there, breathing heavily. His ragged breaths pierce my heart, one by one, and I hate myself even more.

"How- how do you... you know my- my name?"

I stare at him, then turn my head away. "Here's... here's your oatmeal." As I turn to walk away, Danny grabs my arm and whispers between torn breaths,

"Thank you."

Peter's POV

I stare at the phone in my hand disbelievingly. What the-? Who on earth just picks up injured people on the street and kidnaps them?

Apparently this girl. Who didn't even mention her name.

What's she going to do to Danny? Is this a trap? Probably. I mean, it's not like everybody knows that I'm Spider-Man- right?

"Come on, Web-Brain. We're going to go look around the park again. HellO!" Sam waves his hand in front of my face. "Yoo-hoo!" Stupid buckethead.

"I- I think I've found him. We've gotta hurry. Danny's in danger."

Once Sam has recovered from my shocking statement, he rolls his eyes in an exaggerated way. "Duh. You really are a Web-Brain. We can't even leave this house, remember, stupid? Weren't you there when J.J.J. announced the new laws? Oh, right, you're not right in the head. Nock nock! Anybody home?!" Buckethead demands.

"It doesn't matter. We've gotta go help him. Get the others- we're leaving NOW!"

So? Not too bad... right? Please review! Thanks x a billion to those of you who have already! :-D

I'll probably update again soon!

-F.F.S.