Chapter Five

Rain

Sam wanted to scream. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe it! How could Peter Parker be so audacious? He had now idea. Perhaps this was some kind of trick. Maybe his former friend had given him a wrong number, but knowing how stubborn Spiderman could be, Sam was certain such an assumption would turn out to be false. Now that Nova knew it was true, he didn't know how to proceed. Should he grab the hand that was being offered to him or sink into the shadows once again? Should he come clean and tell his former teammates about his past or should he keep quiet about it and wait for them to give up and leave him alone? Should he become a ghost again or become part of the living? He had no idea. That was the truth. Sam was utterly confused. A part of him wanted to call Peter right away and tell him everything but that would mean facing Ava, Peter, Luke and Danny once again.

I can't do it. I just can't. Damn it! Why am I such a coward? After all, I tried running away from them and yet eventually they found out. I'm sure that if I try to hide once again, in the long run my attempts will turn out to be futile. I can't escape them no matter how hard I try.

A groan escaped his lips and he couldn't help but think. New questions started forming in his head and he could feel his headache returning. Nova cursed under his breath and dismissed anything that had to do with his troublesome past. Right now Sam had other matters to attend to and that was getting to work on time. He quickly made himself something to eat, dressed up and exited his apartment. It was Friday night after all and he could try and have some fun. But knowing himself, Sam was certain he would end up drinking himself to stupor once again.

On his way to the club it started raining. Wonderful! Rain was something that never left him alone. Unfortunately for Sam, it always brought trouble. Just as he was once again getting soaked to the bone his mind wandered back to when he was seventeen, almost eighteen; his mind went back to when it all began.

Sam walked as fast as he could. He put his hood over his head, trying to protect himself from the torrential rain. His green eyes were glazed with worry. He couldn't believe what he was about to do and wasn't sure he would be able to bring it off. How could one person tell the people he cared about the most and who were counting on them, that they were leaving? What can of monster would abandon their team and loved ones when they needed them the most? And why you may ask? Because he was a selfish coward who couldn't bring himself to tell them the real reason; because he thought that this way he was protecting them; because he wanted them to keep this side of him in their memory and not the one he once was and was about to become yet again. Sam sighed and closed his eyes. He then reopened them and went inside his team leader's house. The only good thing about the whole situation was that Luke, Danny and Ava were training, while Aunt May was taking her cooking class. That meant he would be able to talk to Peter Parker in private and see if the one he held closest to his heart would be able to take it. If he didn't take it well, then Sam didn't know what he'd do. One thing was for sure, his future actions depended solely on Peter's reaction and that was one thing Nova despised.

"Sam!" Someone screamed.

Sam immediately turned around and searched his surroundings. His calculating gaze saw nothing out of the ordinary and was slightly perplexed as to why someone had felt it necessary to yell his name. That was when Sam's gaze fell on the limping form of Peter Parker. Nova's eyes widened and he quickly rushed to his friend's aid. He put one of Spiderman's arms around his shoulders and supported the weight of the other teen's body with his own. After a few minutes they made it inside. Sam put Peter on the couch and went to make some tea and get them some towels. Once he was done he went back to the living room and gave Peter his tea and towel. Both sat in awkward silence until Sam had had enough.

"What happened to you, Webs?" He asked not bothering to hide or mask the pure concern laced in his voice.

Peter's shoulders tensed and Sam could tell that what he was about to hear wasn't something normal. It was going to be of dire consequences.

"I got beaten up." Peter answered simply, which made Sam relax and sigh in relief.

The fact that it was just a stupid fight was great news but then all of his relief was washed away when new questions popped up inside his head and he couldn't help but voice them.

"Who did this to you? And more importantly – why didn't you fight back? You're not a superhero for no reason, Web-head!" Sam was furious by the end of his sentence. He didn't know why but he couldn't help but be worried about his friend especially when his life was in danger.

Suddenly Sam felt uncontrollable anger rising up inside of him. His chest tightened so abruptly and so strongly that he couldn't breathe. Nova was suffocating. He couldn't believe it. He knew he had less than a month before his powers went out of control but he couldn't understand why it was happening now of all times.

With all of his might Sam managed to suppress the urge to blast something and pretty soon he could think straight. Once he was a hundred percent sure he wouldn't hurt Peter or anyone near him Sam spoke yet again:

"Listen, I…I don't know what took over me. You don't have to answer the second question, but I demand an answer to the first one."

At the word 'demand' Peter saw read. His blue eyes shot open and he looked at Sam with such intensity and rage Nova could swear he felt the urge to crawl under a table or something similar; anything that would protect him from a furious Peter Parker.

"You demand? YOU DEMAND?!" Peter yelled and his eyes bore into Sam's. The latter could only gulp and brace himself for the impact but nothing came. He thought Peter was going to punch or at the very least shove him against a wall. Alright the latter wasn't really the best thing to imagine.

"Those people were asking for you." Peter said in a much calmer tone. His blue eyes looked apologetically at Sam and Nova knew his friend was sorry for bursting. The statement, however, caught most of Sam's attention. And it angered him greatly. This time his self-control nearly burst. He was certain that if Peter wasn't in the room he would've destroyed something by now.

"They said that they wanted me to do them a favor and that was the only reason they allowed me to leave and preserve my life."

"Preserve your life? Oh, those bastards have certainly lost their minds. Don't worry, Webs, I heard their message loud and clear. Now I think it's time I gave them the much awaited answer." Sam said through gritted teeth.

"You don't even know what they told me, Bucket-head!" Peter cut in and his anger had returned yet again.

Sam rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Let me guess. They said something along the lines: Tell that little wimp that if he doesn't come with us tonight, we are going to kill his teammates, starting with the girl."

Peter opened his mouth and tried to say something but nothing came. Sam would've laughed at the strong resemblance of a fish, but now wasn't the time. Judging by the look Peter gave him, he was right. And that was what he feared. It seemed that his time had indeed come. It was time to say goodbye.

"Don't worry, Webs. They're not going to bother you ever again." Sam said simply and started walking toward the door, intent on leaving.

A hand shot out and prevented him from exiting the house. Sam automatically glared at his friend, but sensing the concern and seeing it written all over Peter's face made it disappear. Nova sighed and let go of the door. He looked away and mumbled:

"You know they aren't going to hurt her. Danny and Luke are with her. She's going to be fine."

Sam was taken aback by Peter's bitter laugh. Nova was surprised when his team leader whispered:

"You're not coming back, are you?"

Sam's eyes widened and he looked away. He knew he was going to come back and tell the others about his departure and most of all take his things. He couldn't just leave his helmet and everything behind. But that question broke it to him and he realized for the first time that his decision was final and that he indeed was going to say goodbye soon.

"Aww, Webs. Don't be like that. For a minute there I thought you actually cared about me." Sam replied trying to lighten up the mood but his joke died completely when Peter responded:

"I do care, Sam. You have no idea how much I care about you. I just don't understand how you know these people. They were uncontrollable and were full of rage and… such a strong thirst for blood and desire to kill."

Sam shuddered at the words. He knew how those bastards looked when they had caught their prey. The hunger to end the life of another was the only thing he had witnessed when he had been living with them. Of course, he wasn't about to reveal everything of his past. He was grateful that Peter wasn't asking any questions otherwise he was sure his powers were going to go crazy once again. He was well aware of how unstable he became when they were mentioned.

"I will come back, Peter. But…" Sam couldn't tell him; not right now at least. He still needed to see if he could take care of those idiots on his own. If he couldn't, then he had no other choice but to go with them.

"Sam, promise me you won't go with them. I know they've threatened to kill us, but we can fight them off together. Alone we are easy targets, but together-"

"You don't understand, Parker." Sam's tone became as cold as ice with each word he spoke. The coldness and harshness sent shivers up Peter's spine. Sam then continued," These people are far too dangerous and aren't your average criminals or super villains. Trust me, I know."

Peter nodded but was still unconvinced.

"I know that and I trust your judgment. The only thing I don't understand is why they're so fixated on you."

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Sam replied quickly and with that he opened the door and went out into the pouring rain, intent on finding those idiots and putting an end to their chaotic presence. The only thing he wasn't aware of was how hurt Peter was when he had left him alone in that empty house.

A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited, followed and most of all read. I'm sorry for making you wait so long and for the slight cliffhanger. The problem is that this is all I can manage between exams. Also(since I want to complain) I was granted with a delightful cold. Now I'm sick and annoyed and that's partially the reason why I made Sam so near to explosion. Oh, and by the way, please note that this is an AU and I'm going to develop some of Sam's powers. They're going to be the same but there's going to be a slight description of what they might be if he tried to unlock all of his power, of course.

Until next time I update and/or post a story my fellow readers.

~ QueenofRhymes ~