;-)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Ultimate Spider-Man nor the characters. The only things I own are the idea, my OC Emmaline, and any poetry you may stumble across during the story. So don't sue me!

Chapter 5: Disaster

"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you.

You just got to find the ones worth suffering for."

-Bob Marley

Emma's POV

I hate the way they're looking at me. I heard Sam's comment about me being a 'nut job'. They think I'm a liar, an insane criminal. I guess you can't blame them- they've seen so many criminals by now- I suppose it's not too different from me pretty much being a social recluse; I've seen so many people by now. I still hate Knowing this stuff, Knowing what they think and say about me. It's not my fault.

They're just realizing that they really are stuck here. Unless they want to make a run for it and risk everything, and leave Danny with an utter stranger- not an option to them, as I've guessed already. My knack for guessing what they're thinking is creeping the boys out- I know from the way they subconsciously flinch- but Ava recognizes me. From that one time that I should have Forgotten by now.

"Wait- so you mean we're stuck in this dump?" Sam demands. Ava casts a glare at him, but it doesn't matter. One person's trash is another person's treasure, and only Important things have made their way into this room and stayed.

"Well, practically, when you consider the other option of certain arrest," I say, standing up and walking into the kitchen. I turn on the tap, and fill a glass full of water. Clear, refreshing, cold water. As I sip from it, I notice they're all staring at me. "Would you like some water too?" I ask politely, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I know all too well that I'm being quite rude, but to be frank, I don't like these 'heroes'. Maybe they are good people, but not to me. That's normal, I suppose. Perhaps my lack of sleep is throwing me off; usually I don't have such a short rope.

Ava's the only one polite enough to bother answering. "Sure, thanks," she says, throwing her friends a look over her shoulder. I suddenly realize why they're all hesitant to accept my offer. They're afraid I'm going to poison them, whether intentionally or not. They're afraid of me. I turn my head from them, staring firmly at the wall.

"Here," I say, offering a warm smile and the glass of water to Ava. She accepts it with a loud 'thank-you', once again shooting a look at the boys.

I don't know if I believe Ava or not. Honestly, I know that none of them trust me. She's probably- no. I have to stop thinking the worst of good people I hardly know.

You know them well enough, a voice in my head tells me. Not in person, though. Not in their realities.

"Can we see Danny now?" Peter asks.

I look at him for a moment, then turn to Ava. "Here, Ava, you can come and see him. It's probably better if you go one at a time so you don't wake him." Even to me, my explanation sounds lame.

"Oh, uh, sure," Ava says, putting the water on the counter and following me. I don't bother turning on the lamp by my bed.

Danny breathing is ragged now. Beneath his eyelids, I can see his eyes moving rapidly, darting back and forth. I readjust the covers that he's kicked off, then move to the side so Ava can see him. She gently touches his hand as though to assure herself that's he's real, then stares firmly at the floor. I show her the rod, just so she knows how serious it is. Because, in spite of myself, I am starting to trust her.

When we walk back over to the other side of the room, her teammates are looking at her, obviously expecting an explanation. Ava chokes out, "Danny's... Danny's alive." She turns to me in disbelief. "He's still breathing." The boys appear surprised and confused, but I turn away, gathering up blankets to make them beds on the floor.

"Here. You can make your beds around here. Somewhere." I toss the blankets over my shoulder, curling up into a ball on my armchair and falling asleep. Blissful sleep.

Where- where am I? Oh, no, I'm dreaming again. There goes a good rest.

At least you are with a friend.

I open my eyes. I'm sitting in a vast meadow, in a valley, across from- Danny? Is that you? Where are we?

Yes. We are in... a more peaceful place. This is not a dream of mine, though. You created it. Where did you find such Dream knowledge?

He's sitting criss-cross, in a relaxed position, but his eyes are sharp and alert.

I learned it from you.

Danny just looks at me. Not with anger. Not with disbelief. Not with mistrust. Not with pity. He just looks at me as a person, as a... friend? He looks up.

Yes, I am a friend. How could I not be, after you saved my life. Though there are worse things in life than death, where I am is not one of them.

Who are you, Danny? What do you do? All I know of you is what I've seen, and I don't trust my vision.

I gesture to my glasses, earning a small half-smile from him.

A better question is, who are you?

I don't even know anymore.

Danny looks at me sadly.

Maybe you are just looking in the wrong places.

I don't know where else to look. I've been so many people, now. I know how others define me;

Freak. Mutant. Nut Job.

There are no freaks. There is room in this Universe for everyone.

Mutant? Nothing is an accident.

Nut Job? Who ever said such a thing of you?

Your friends.

I'm bitter now. Those people, his friends, aren't any different than anybody else. Not in my reality. They treat me like everybody else ever has- a FREAK.

Nobody has achieved perfection as of this existence. Perhaps they have not been friends to you. I do not believe everybody has treated you this way.

Everybody has.

What about me?

I wake up in a cold sweat to find I'm crying. Quickly, I brush away my tears, even though it's dark and there's nobody who will notice. Glancing at the clock, I realize it's 6 AM.

Softly, I tip-toe over the rugs to Danny. He's asleep, but one lonely tear is trickling down his cheek. I stand there, dumbfounded for a moment, before realizing that he's crying. In his dream, wherever he is, he's crying. Soon I notice that I'm crying too, as a tear drips onto his sheet.

"Danny, I'm sorry," I whisper. "So, so sorry." I lay my head on the bed, silently sobbing. Suddenly, I feel a warm, gentle hand stroking my hair. The tears ebb away, and I just sit there like that, breathing in and out, calming myself.

When, at last, I lift my tear-stained face up to face the world, I see who was comforting me.

Danny.

His eyes are still shut, but his breathing is steady, and he's still softly stroking my head. Trembling, I sit there until I can speak again.

"Danny? I'm sorry." My voice shakes, but at least I can speak. "You're- you're … you're different."

There's no answer, but I rest my head against the bed, and he keeps stroking. I glance up and see a small smile on his face. Then I just sit there, succumbing to the steady rhythm of my hand, basking in the wonder that there's one person in the world who cares, who will be my friend.

I must have fallen asleep, because I find myself being awakened later by loud, obnoxious voices exclaiming. Danny's hand is touching my head, and he is fast asleep. I am curled up against the bed. I don't want to get up, and feel the warmth of my friend's hand leave, but I know I have to.

Ava, Luke, Sam, and Peter are staring at me. I stand and walk into the kitchen, warming a huge bowl of oatmeal for everybody. Once it's cooking in the microwave, I lean against the counter, calmly gazing back at them. I remain that way until the oatmeal is done- then I turn my back on them, while I spoon the food into bowls for everybody. I walk around the room handing the bowls of oatmeal out. Finally, I sit down on the stool by Danny's bed, and eat.

"You can just sit on the floor," I inform them, because they are just standing there stiffly. The room feels tense. All four of them are looking rather angrily at me.

"What- what is the matter?" I hear a soft voice stutter from behind me. There is a collection of gasps of excitement from Sam, Peter, Luke, and Ava, then they dash over to Danny and start talking at once. I smile.

Their voices blend together, so I don't bother trying to decipher what they are saying. I still catch a few phrases here and there, though. Mostly, I think they're just happy to see him awake and alive. Especially Ava, who knows how bad things really are.

I know they still don't trust me, because I hear Peter quietly asking him what I'd done to him. Danny said, "She saved my life and became my friend." Peter can't hide his surprise. Some things can't be explained. Some things are sacred.

Today is the happiest day of my life. We don't all trust each other, but we are all Danny's friends, so we're all happy together. I know that Danny's still hurt really badly, but now he's awake, at least- and that's more than ample cause for celebration. Danny's healing, he's getting better!

Just then, there are three loud knocks on my door. Rap! Rap! Rap! The room goes completely still.

"Open up! This is S.H.I.E.L.D.! You are under arrest!"

With a sinking feeling, I hear Peter whisper, "Danny's com." Then everything goes black as the room is flooded with pink gas, and the last thing I remember is shouting and a muffled thump as I hit the floor.

;-)

-F.F.S.