I do not own Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man movie, or anything associated with Marvel franchise…which sucks!
"So, Doctor Baker – "
"Please, call me Emily."
"Emily," Manners said slowly, considering the woman before him, "I must say I was surprised that you wanted to meet today, and so early too."
To be honest, he was more than surprised.
The lawyer sat back in his leather chair, relaxing ever so slightly though his posture remained tense. Emily Baker was one of the three Clinical Psychiatrists he'd hired for the court case; all three had done their job to perfection. Manners had them sign a binding confidentiality contract upon court completion and he had paid them handsomely. That was it, case closed, goodbye.
So why had Emily demanded a meeting the day after the trial concluded? It had bugged him ever since his secretary had informed him of the appointment upon his return from the Osborn Manor this morning. He hadn't even had time to question or postpone meeting the psychiatrist, for she was already sat in the waiting area of Manners & Sons.
What was her game, her angle? It made Manners instantly suspicious. The psychiatrists were meant to disappear back to their own clinics, their usefulness over with. They were supposed to be expendable.
"I will be frank with you Mr Manners," Emily spoke coolly, cutting straight to the point. "I have worked in the medical profession for thirty years, and although I may have given one opinion in court, you know that opinion was falsified."
Manners gave curt nod in response.
"And although you were extremely swaying and compelling in court, I think we both know that in regards to Mr Osborn and Miss Carmichael, erotic transference is indeed real."
The lawyer glared at Emily, unable to pinpoint exactly where this conversation was headed. "Are you wanting to evoke the statement you gave in court?" Manners asked calculatedly, "Because I'm afraid the contract you signed does not allow such a thing."
"Oh no, I think you misunderstand Mr Manners," said Emily offhandedly, pushing her tortoise shell glasses up to the bridge of her nose. "I am very mindful of the various clauses in the contract. I just wanted you to be aware of the situation you now have on your hands."
Manners was really getting ticked off with this woman and her cryptic language. Bloody psychiatrists.
"And pray tell what exactly is this situation of which you speak," Manners scowled through slight gritted teeth. His hand tightened on his knee under the mahogany desk, the tension in his body only increasing.
Emily slowly leaned forward, raising an eyebrow in appraisal, "In my professional opinion, I think it is highly unwise for Miss Carmichael to continue acting as Mr Osborn's psychiatrist. It is highly unprofessional and unethical for a psychiatrist to treat a patient they have any personal connection with. And there is no doubt in my mind that their relationship is not strictly professional, let alone platonic."
The lawyer remained silent.
"During the trial, I had time to observe and speak with Miss Carmichael. She is a very bright young woman and has impressive training in our shared field. We spoke mostly about the case and Mr Osborn, as one professional to another, you understand. However I could tell instantly that any professionalism between the pair had already been compromised.
"Psychiatrists are trained in dealing with the subtle shift and psychodynamic issues that occur during a case of erotic transference. However, experiencing this dynamic in the field is rare and most professionals can become incompetent. Now, I am not questioning Miss Carmichael's ability as a psychiatrist. I am, however, concerned that since Mr Osborn has obvious feelings for her, that she may have lost control of the psychodynamic.
"I am sure you have read the reports and patient file Miss Carmichael prepared? In particular her observations of control and rejections issues? Well, erotic transference does not solely mean the development of "feelings". The "love" felt in these cases isn't necessarily real, but rather a projection of supressed childhood needs to be accepted and loved. The child part of a client wants to hoard this feeling, claim the object of this enthralling acceptance as his or her own personal possession.
"Now," Emily sighed heavily, finally getting to point, "The biggest problem we have, is that Miss Carmichael also has developed these feelings. She is very young, twenty-one I believe, and Mr Osborn is twenty years old. Two young people who are experiencing strange and irrational feelings for one another. Mr Osborn's feelings undoubtedly come from an unconscious need for control and acceptance. However, I fear that Miss Carmichael's feelings are completely genuine."
Both professionals sat in complete silence for a minute, the full weight of the situation coating the air with a thick, almost tangible tension.
"And what do you expect me to do about this?" Manners retorted.
"Nothing," Emily replied briskly, "There is nothing you can do. I simply wanted to give you my true professional opinion, the one that I could not give in court."
Emily stood from her chair, ready to leave, her piece said.
The lawyer also stood, though he did not move from his position behind the desk. His anger and annoyance was evident in how his posture appeared to be too stiff and tight-lipped smile extremely forced.
"Oh yes, there is once more thing," Emily remembered, as she reached the door, "When you do encounter problems in regards to the love birds, which you will, you have my card." Her eyes looked pointedly to his neat desk where she had left three crisp white business cards. "I will be more than happy to treat Mr Osborn myself."
And with that, the confident psychiatrist Emily Baker opened the door, and left.
Manners glared at the closed door, thoroughly pissed off. What right did that woman have coming here to give her "professional opinion"? None! He did not pay for a real psychiatric evaluation of his client, no, Manners had paid for the psychiatrists to lie to ensure Harry's release. He had had enough of hearing about erotic transference and the psycho-mumbo jumbo; he was a lawyer for god's sake, not Harry's bloody keeper or guardian!
He sighed rubbing his chin thoughtfully. What was he going to do with those two crazy kids? Sure Emily had a point about the origin of Harry's feelings, but Manners knew the lad more than some bloody meddling psychiatrist. The boy had had a hard life and a pretty chaotic six months what with Norman Osborn's death and the subsequent events that followed.
Manners had never seen Harry look so happy in his entire life. And as long as he didn't hurt Miss Carmichael or jeopardise the outward appearance of their professional relationship, by pulling more media stunts like at the courthouse, then Manners was happy to indulge this little thing, whatever it was.
The lawyer sank heavily into his leather chair, taking a quick disgusted sip of his stone cold coffee. He was getting a migraine.
"BRRRRRING BRRRRING," screeched the ringing telephone on his desk.
Manners snatched up the phone before the third ring. "WHAT!?" he snapped angrily into the receiver.
The soft feminine voice of his personal secretary replied, "Oh, erm, I'm sorry Mr Manners, but there is someone here to see -"
"Well tell them to go away!"
"But - "
"Karen, listen to me very carefully. I do not have any other appointments scheduled for today. So whoever the fuck it is, tell them to piss off!"
"But sir," Karen persisted, "You said to let you know when Miss Carmichael arrived."
Looking down at his Rolex, Manners narrowed his eyes. It was only 12pm; Hayley finished work at 4pm today.
"Are you saying she's here?"
"Yes sir."
"Fine. Send her in," Manners barked. What was she doing here this early?
A faint tentative knock could be heard before the door to his office opened slightly. Hayley peeked her head round the door's edge, uncertain of whether her unscheduled early appearance had caused him stress. She'd never seen the lawyer this aggravated before, as he was usually so calm and poised, the very essence of composure. Though having just witnessed the secretary holding her office phone at arms length whilst Manners could be heard shouting through the receiver, Hayley realised that even the collected lawyer had his bad days.
"Do you have any aspirin?" Manners asked, keeping his voice quiet so as not to irritate his throbbing head.
Hayley walked towards him, sitting down in the chair opposite before opening her handbag. She shifted through her numerous belongings trying to find the correct strip of pills in her mini medication pouch.
"That's a lot of drugs Miss Carmichael," Manners commented, finally looking up from having his head in his hands. "Are all of those prescribed for you?"
"Here it is!" Hayley said loudly making Manners wince at the noise.
She held up the pills to check that the aspirin strip was the correct dosage before handing them to the lawyer. Luckily she had avoided the prying question.
Manners glanced around his desk, seeking out any form of liquid to swallow the pills with. He spied his cold cup of coffee and shuddered. Picking up the phone again, he waited impatiently for his secretary to answer.
"Karen? Send out the intern for two Starbucks filter coffees, grande, and - " Manners looked Hayley up and down, "- and two breakfast muffins. Stat!"
Hayley offered a warm smile in appreciation, though she refrained from expressing her dislike of Starbucks black coffee. Also, she found it annoying when people ordered food on her behalf. She wasn't hungry anyway.
"So," Manners spoke slowly, moving a single sheet of paper towards the redhead, "Would you care to read the contract while we wait for breakfast?"
She nodded in response. Hayley reached out to bring the document with her signature on it towards her so that she could read it.
"I took the liberty of highlighting the more important sentences and key words for you."
Hayley smiled appreciatively upon seeing pink highlighter pen decorating the paper; she wasn't stupid, but all the legal jargon was a pain to read through. She started to thoroughly read the document, taking particular notice to the words and sentences that Manners had highlighted for her;
"Upon signing this document, the assigned outpatient physician is herby medically responsible for the patient, a Mr Harold Theopolis Osborn…
… full documentation will be undertaken daily by the assigned outpatient physician, to ensure that the health and safety of Mr Harold Theopolis Osborn is not compromised or altered further by the previous ingestion of the OsCorp venom formula…
… daily documentation will include the following tests; physical examination and treatment of the on-going exterior manifestation of Retroviral Hyperplasia genetic disease, along with a full health check involving general vitals inspection; resting pulse and heart rate, blood pressure, eye sight anomalies, mouth and dental abnormalities, finger and toenail inconsistencies…
… twice weekly counselling sessions, weekly weight and height measurements documented, monthly blood tests, monthly prescribed medication review…
Full cooperation from OsCorp Industries has been obtained, allowing the assigned outpatient physician unprecedented access to company research, laboratories, medical and scientific staff, to work towards a cure for Retroviral Hyperplasia…will also be part of a geneticist research team… Assigned outpatient physician will be provided with additional training and qualifications to aid in the care for Mr Harold Theopolis Osborn…
The assigned outpatient physician is under the employment of OsCorp Industries and shall only be released from this contract when the honourable Judge Morris and OsCorp Industries are ensured a one, Mr Harold Theopolis Osborn, has been cured and no longer poses a threat to society, Manhattan and the state of New York.
I, Miss Hayley Marie Carmichael, hereby agree to the terms and conditions of this contract …"
And along the dotted line, as clear as day, was the pen scrawl that Hayley recognised as her signature.
Fuck.
She sat back in her chair defeatedly. Closing her eyes for a second longer than a usual blink, she hoped that when they opened that this would all be just a dream.
Opposite her, Manners watched her carefully, gauging a reaction. He could tell that the full impact of the contract had hit her by the hazy look in her now open eyes. Those green orbs were wide like a deer in headlights but glazed over with extreme tiredness that only come from the exhaustion of realising ones fate. The contract was binding, there were no loopholes and no alterations could be made; she was bound to OsCorp industries… and Harry Osborn.
Manners was about speak but was rudely interrupted by the door of his office banging open. His eyebrow twitched in annoyance and Hayley jumped at the intrusion, as a young intern hurried forward with the long awaited Starbucks. The intern placed the takeaway coffee cups on the wooden desk along with a brown paper bag containing the breakfast muffins. Manners glared daggers at the nervous male intern, who fled without saying a word, smashing the door closed behind him.
"Bloody interns," Manners muttered before sipping his warm coffee, swallowing two little aspirin pills. He pushed the other cup towards Hayley and motioned to the muffins before taking out his own, "So, now that you've actually read the contract, do you have any questions?"
Hayley stared at her muffin intently, picking off the pumpkin seeds. "Not really. It pretty much explains everything," she mumbled reluctantly, "Though, finding a cure? How do you expect me to cure him? And of what - Retroviral Hyperplasia or his Goblin psychosis? I'm just a psychiatrist! A nurse! I'm not fit to be an outpatient physician!"
"That's why you will receive additional training in the areas you are unfamiliar with," the lawyer reassured gently, trying to skate over her last question, "You can do this Hayley."
"Can I?" Hayley responded despairingly, continuing to pick at the Starbucks muffin aggressively. "Sure OsCorp will help me with the science side, but what about his psychological side? I only managed to barely scratch the surface in Ravencroft, and it could take a long time for him to work through those issues, like years, I don't know, he may not be willing to ever discuss certain issues, he's just so secretive…" she rambled, unable to keep her self-doubt from entering her voice.
Taking a bite from his breakfast muffin, Manners could see the pressure and realisation of what her new job entailed, starting to eat away at the redhead's confidence. Maybe her feelings towards Harry were getting in the way…
"We could bring in another psychiatrist to help you."
"Why would you say that?" Hayley questioned instantly, snapping out of her doubt-filled mind.
"I only meant," Manners started gently, "That even though I managed to persuade the court that erotic transference is mumbo jumbo, I think we both know that this is not true, is it? I wouldn't want any personal feelings between the two of you to affect your work as Mr Osborn's physician. Ultimately, his recovery is paramount – it is what you and I have been working towards for these past six months, is it not?"
Hayley stayed quiet, squishing muffin dough and cranberries between her fingers agitatedly.
"At least think about it," he said sliding Emily Baker's crisp white business card across the desk. "Anyway, why are you here this early? I didn't expect you 'til at least five."
"Mmmm? Oh, I quit Ravencroft," Hayley stated simply, finally popping a piece of dead muffin into her mouth.
The lawyer smiled ecstatically, "Good. I was going to recommend you do so, that place is toxic. Besides, your work as an outpatient physician will be a full time job."
What? Hayley thought. How could monitoring Harry's daily health be a full time job? Surely I would just check him over once, document it, and then go home? Maybe some days would be longer with the OsCorp science stuff and counselling sessions, but full time every day? I highly doubt it.
Hayley nodded, keeping her thoughts to herself.
"I'll call for the Sedan to pick you up," declared Manners, taking out his personal cell phone and pressing the speed dial button. When Hayley gave him a questioning look, he responded, "You might as well see him now, there's no point waiting until six, is there? Sit in the waiting area and Karen will tell you when the car arrives."
Waving a silent goodbye to the lawyer, Hayley went and sat out in the waiting room, leaving her cold untouched coffee and destroyed muffin on Manners' desk – she really hated people ordering for her.
He hadn't moved much since deciding to stop consuming the amber liquid.
Harry had slept relatively soundly. For some unknown reason, he had dreamt of his parents. Well, his photo frame picture perfect parents that time forgot.
Both were dancing the waltz in an empty ballroom as he hid in the shadows behind a stone pillar, watching intently. His parents were magical, enchanting even, keeping in time to a silent tune. They twisted and turned this way and that, completing the dance, before slowing down until they almost stood still.
Still hidden behind a pillar, Harry stepped out of the darkness, trying to catch a glimpse his parent's faces. He wanted to see that look, see his father's emotive eyes and his mother's beaming love filled smile. But their faces were blank. No, they had no face. These people weren't his parents!
Harry edged nearer to the faceless couple, quickly becoming distressed at the strangers who still wore his parent's clothes... The pair suddenly performed a flurried spin, allowing Harry to be faced with the back of the man, but able to easily see the face of the young woman.
His eyes widened as he recognised the soft auburn locks and porcelain skin of Hayley, whose hands were held by the strange man. Her green eyes held the same sentiment as his father's had, an emotion that Harry simply did not understand. Whatever emotion it was, he did not like that it was directed at someone other than him.
Racing forward, Harry could feel his blood boiling with the need to know whom this bastard was who was holding his Hayley. He had almost reached the pair, his hand held out ready to grab the man's shoulder, when… the lights went out.
Harry stood in darkness, momentarily frozen. Then an abrupt spotlight illuminated himself, Hayley and the faceless man. Except, he wasn't faceless anymore. In the darkness, the pair must have done another spin, because Hayley now faced away from Harry, her arms draped around the man's neck. A neck that was covered with ugly lesions and dark green veins.
The Goblin looked away from Hayley, locking eyes with Harry, grinning wickedly through razor sharp cracked teeth. Harry stared back at his alter ego, glaring in anger at the way the monster's hands clung to the redhead's fragile body. He was still frozen from earlier and Harry helplessly watched as Hayley reached up, planting a kiss on those smirking demon lips. The Goblin never strayed his eyes from Harry's blue ones, as he returned the kiss.
Knowing that Harry was still watching, the Goblin glanced down at Hayley and mouthed a single word.
"Mine."
BANG!
Waking with a start, Harry fell off the grey sofa, landing hard on the marble floor. He quickly scanned the room from his low position, trying to find the source of the noise. It almost sounded like a gunshot.
"Gunshot? Please, who would want to kill you?"
Harry rolled his eyes and sighed in annoyance before standing up, "I am fairly certain there's one person who wants me dead. Though, Spider-Man doesn't kill people."
"Reckon he'll make an exception for you, hmmm?" the Goblin asked.
Spotting the source of the noise, Harry walked towards one of the tall windows; ironically the one Spider-Man had fled through all those months ago.
"Spider-Man? No. But Peter, he just might," he replied, touching the glass where a faint smudgy outline of a bird could be seen.
He'd forgotten how often birds flew into the crystal clear glass – another reason why his father gave the upstairs penthouse to him no doubt.
"So, dream of anything interesting?" goaded the Goblin mockingly.
Harry's eyes flashed darkly in his glass reflection.
"Nightmares as usual," he responded calmly, before suddenly wincing as the Goblin's manic laughter echoed inside his skull.
There was no way that he would ever admit his dream to the Goblin, even though Harry was more than certain that his Id also shared his nightly visions.
The Goblin smiled to himself, "Of course."
Returning to his favourite sofa, Harry sat down heavily and checked his Rolex; 2pm. Now that he was sober and no longer sleepy, what was he going to do until Hayley arrived? She finished work at four, and after her meeting with Manners, she probably wouldn't get here until six. How was he going to kill four hours?
Harry was bored.
Again.
Fuck sake.
Seeing no choice other than to consume more alcohol to pass the time, Harry reached towards the half empty Scotch bottle. He began to pour the tawny liquid into a crystal glass, when a sharp knock sounded to his far right.
The only door leading to the outer corridors, opened.
One of the Osborn Manor butlers, Greg Connolly, swept into the room, his back poker straight and his brown hair neatly combed. Connolly had worked for the Osborn's as long as Harry had been alive, and had been promoted to Master Butler the week before he'd left for boarding school. The butler was now in his fifties, yet still remained as polished and loyal as ever.
"There is a Hayley Carmichael here to see you sir," Connolly called out across the open plan room.
"Bring her up," Harry instructed calmly, though his insides were buzzing with anticipation and surprise.
A few minutes later, Connolly, who had left to retrieve Hayley, returned.
Deciding to get off his ass, Harry stood quickly and walked over to the door to greet his ginger doll.
"You're a bit early," he grinned welcomingly.
"Look at this place!" the redhead exclaimed breathlessly, momentarily distracted by the art-adorned room as she entered.
His grin only widen at Hayley as she gasped in awe. Pure joy seemed to radiate from her, her beauty surpassing the numerous pieces of his expensive art collection. She seemed to just fit. The room didn't swallow or cage her like it did Harry. No, to him, Hayley appeared right at home, as if she'd lived here her whole life.
But when Hayley did a little spin, trying to take it all in, it spoiled everything.
Harry's mood soured instantly and his grin waned – her innocent action immediately reminding him of his dark and haunting dream.
"Looks stunning, doesn't she?" the Goblin purred in his ear.
Taking her hand in his, Harry quickly stopped Hayley mid twirl.
"I take it you like it?" he asked, suddenly feeling nervous, like her opinion meant everything.
He rarely brought girls back up to his penthouse, preferring a night of fun in hotel rooms. Osborn Manor was begrudgingly his home and it was private; Hayley would be the first woman that mattered, other than Felicia, to have been up to his suite.
"Are you kidding? It's beautiful!" Hayley replied excitedly, not noticing that Harry was slightly stroking her hand that he still held. "I've never seen anything like this! You could fit about three of my apartments in here. It's blinking huge!"
"So, why are you here this early? Not that I can complain, I was getting rather bored by myself."
"You were?" Hayley asked, concern filling her voice, all previous excitement vanished.
He probably feels just as alone as he did the institute, she thought.
"I'm early because I've left Ravencroft."
Harry nodded agreeing with the decision completely, "Good. It wasn't safe for you there."
Hayley nodded, knowing that he was referring to Kinsey. She still couldn't sleep because of the recurring nightmares, and it had been almost a month since the attack. Closing her eyes at the horrible memory, Hayley saw flashes of that night, of the man that nearly took are innocence. Even the memory of it caused her to start trembling.
"I never did thank you for…for before," she said in a quiet voice.
Upon feeling a strong hand holding her cheek, Hayley reopened her eyes, unable to stop from gazing into Harry's eyes to centre herself.
Those eyes, those sparkling emotive blue eyes, were beginning to draw her in. Hayley could feel herself getting lost in them, her mind and senses drowning in their vastness, in how they bore into her very soul. It was amazing to feel this connection again, just like the secret moments they had in Ravencroft…
She wanted kiss him. Hayley knew it was coming, she could see him staring down at her lips, could feel how close his body had suddenly got to hers. However, in her mind she heard Manners' voice from this morning. She couldn't kiss him; it would destroy the already fragile physician/patient boundaries. In her heart, Hayley wanted this, craved this feeling of being wanted, but she knew it had to stop.
It had to end now.
Stroking her cheek softly, Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You never need to thank me," he murmured, his lips only millimetres from hers.
Maybe just a peck, Hayley tried to reason with herself.
I can't kiss him, but if I completely reject him then I could loose his trust completely, she reasoned. Yes, a peck. A peck will help him understand that I have to stay professional…a goodbye peck.
"Yes I do," Hayley whispered before turning her head away from his, placing a small quick touch of her lips onto his cheek. Then she let go of his hand and stepped back, putting much needed distance between them, before finally saying, "Thank you, Harry.
The both stood in silence for a long minute and Hayley already detected traces of rejection in his eyes, the hurt written all over his face.
Harry's jaw became ridged as he ground his teeth in annoyance. But he knew that he had to stay calm, keep control of the situation. No doubt Manners had said something or she had become spooked by today's newspaper articles and photographs.
"She will come to us, Harry. I can see the want in her eyes…she's nearly ours."
"I assume you spoke with Manners," Harry stated cheerfully, though his tone was forced.
He walked away from the redhead and the doorway to sit back on his grey sofa. Hayley followed, running her hand over the smooth granite table where Harry's meeting had taken place earlier that day. She quickly surveyed the seating layout, noting that even though Harry was sitting comfortably, both arms draped over the sofa top, he had left an obvious space beside him for her. Maintaining her distance going to be testing it seemed.
A navy cushioned chair that was lying upside down on the ground allowed Hayley time to think whilst she righted it. She almost thought about sitting on it but realised she would then be too far away from Harry. Instead she finally sat down on the other navy chair, the one closest to him and his grey sofa.
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did you read the contract?"
"Yes I did," she answered, smoothing out the creases in her suit trousers anxiously as she suddenly spied the stack of newspapers on the coffee table. "You've seen the papers then?"
"I have indeed."
Great, Hayley thought, now he's completely closed himself up.
"What did you make of it?" she tried again. Was he as freaked out as she by what the reporters were saying?
"It's a good photo," he grinned cheekily, flicking his bangs out of his face.
Hayley sighed and relaxed in chair, thankful he didn't appear to have entirely shut himself off from her.
"You hungry?' Harry questioned suddenly, "I could get Connolly to bring us some food?"
"Why is everyone trying to feed me today!" she half laughed incredulously, "First Manners with his breakfast muffins, and now you." Hayley smiled warmly to show that she was gently joking with him.
Still smiling, Harry replied with a pout, "Well, I haven't eaten."
"I can see that - drinking much? When I start you off on medication again then you'll have to go easy on the Scotch, Harry."
"Did Manners not say?" Harry said, leaning forward to rest his hands on his knees, "After you were suspended because of the chair-throwing incident, he continued bringing me my daily medication that you usually brought. I haven't stopped taking my pills."
Hayley's brows furrowed in suspicion, but did not let the concern taint her voice, "Oh. I'll still need to monitor your alcohol intake anyway."
How did Manners know about the secret drugs she gave Harry?
"You have to come daily to do your medical examination and tests, correct?"
"Yes. Anytime before lunch would be best I think. Morning maybe? So that I can gather you're resting heartbeat and blood pressure."
Harry learned further forward where he sat, resting his chin on his hands in thought. "Most days this week my meetings start at 9-9:30am, and I'm pretty much booked up until late afternoon… so before nine?"
"Erm, yes, yes," Hayley replied feeling rather flustered. Before nine in the morning? "I would say that the check over would take no more than thirty minutes. Maybe if I come here for 8:15?"
"Ok. I should hopefully be awake."
"Don't expect me to drag you out of bed, I have a job to do," she teased tenderly. "How are you feeling anyway? About being under house arrest, I mean?"
"From one prison to another, though at least I get to move around feely," Harry sighed, putting his head in his hands, unable to hide the stress for a second. "This place is just as oppressive," he said bitterly.
"Harry, before I begin being your outpatient physician tomorrow… I…I have a question to ask," Hayley started nervously, her voice starting to shake. "I never asked you before because…I have to ask you Harry, about what you said in court, about Gwen. Did…did Spider-Man really kill her?"
"Yes."
Shifting in her chair, Hayley continued, "I only ask because we never discussed the clock tower in our sessions together. I've found it hard sometimes treating you because - "
Because I care for you, she thought.
" - because a small part of me blamed you for her death. But I know now that it was Spider-Man. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ever doubted you, it's just Gwen was my only friend and… I'm sorry if my personal feelings ever got in the way of your treatment."
"It's ok," came Harry's voice, suddenly sounding extremely close to her.
Hayley looked up to seem him standing beside her chair, his right hand holding its cushioned back. When did he leave the sofa? Maybe be when she was staring into her lap during her mini confession.
"You look tired Hayley, would you like me to drive you back?"
She nodded, the exhaustion of today hitting her in waves. But then a thought crossed her mind.
"Hang on, you can't leave!"
Harry chuckled, like a naughty child caught in a mischievous act, "I could break the rules." Then he lowered his voice and looked down at her from beneath his bangs, "For you."
With his left hand, Harry brushed his knuckles softly across her pale cheek before, twizzling a strand of her copper hair around his pointer finger.
Hayley froze in her seat, mesmerised by those sparkling blue eyes again…
She stood quickly, disrupting their intimate moment. This had to stop!
"It's ok, I'm not worth being thrown back in Ravencroft for breaking your court order, am I?" she smiled gently, slowly inching around the blue chair, her hair falling from his fingers. When her legs hit the granite table from behind, she was able to speak again from a safe distance, "I can make my own way home."
"Oh Ginge, you are always worth breaking the rules for," whispered the Goblin out loud for only himself and Harry to hear.
Hayley walked around the large table and quickened her pace towards the exit door.
"The Sedan will take you," Harry said simply, undertones of an order lacing his statement.
"Thanks but I'll be ok. I like taking the subway. See you at 8:15," Hayley called after her, practically flying out the door.
Walking down the endless corridors, Hayley finally found Connolly who led her to the exit. All the while she was thinking; what was it that rich people didn't understand about flashing their cash in Lower Manhattan? Sure if she lived near the Financial District, then it would be fine, but around the Lower East Side? No. Taking the Sedan or Limo near her apartment area was not a good idea.
It was about three in the morning and Hayley had fallen asleep listening to the news anchor reporting on the Rhino's latest movements. He hadn't been seen since his battle with Spider-Man. How you could loose a huge metal Rhino in New York was the million-dollar question that nobody could answer. There were rumours that another Russian, a hunter with a machine like crossbow, had aided Aleksei Sytsevich's escape. Either way, the droning voices and low buzz of the television had caused her to drift into a deep dreamless sleep.
Her apartment was completely quiet other than the television bustling angrily and the numerous echoing sirens of cop cars – Hayley could sleep through anything.
Then, there was an explosion.
A monstrous rumble tore through the apartment building, rocking Hayley onto her carpeted floor with its ferocity. She stayed low and glanced around quickly, certain that her building was under attack.
Another detonation, which sounded further away from the apartment than the first, allowed Hayley to cautiously and shakily get to her knees. Her cold fallen Pot Noodle soaked her jeans in minutes but she didn't care. She was too focused on the horrifying scenes displayed on her television.
The Rhino had reappeared along with the crossbow armed stranger. Both were fighting Spider-Man, and all three were causing destruction left, right and centre. The news cameras couldn't keep up with the fight, images flickering as the station switched from camera to camera, trying to get a decent picture. Hayley couldn't even identify how close the devastation was - all that the news would say was that it was in Lower Manhattan.
But it sounded so close.
More blasts could be heard in the distance and Hayley shuffled along the floor to her window, ignoring the wet squelches made by her noodle water wet knees.
How close were they?
Plumes of fire and grey smoke tainted the navy night sky. The skyline was jagged, some how different, like a few obvious buildings were missing…
"Oh my god," Hayley whispered in shock, her trembling hand going to her mouth, "They're in Alphabet City… What if they come to the Bowery? What do I do?"
She was beginning to panic. Her breathing became short and sharp like a panic attack was imminent. Her reflection in the window was terrifying; she looked like a pale quivering ghost with a backdrop of smoky darkness and radiant flames. The ghostly twin enchanted her so; it almost appeared more terrible than the fallen buildings, the sky in pieces. Who was this frightened and haunted girl? Hayley barely recognised herself anymore.
Her world was falling apart…
The sharp trill of her cell phone disturbed her trance, and Hayley practically leapt across her small apartment to answer it. Gripping the phone in her hands, she didn't even care that the number wasn't one she knew; she needed for someone to know she was alive.
"Hello?" Hayley shrieked desperately.
"Hayley? Is that you? Are you alright? Are you hurt?" came a low but urgent voice down the receiver.
"Harry!" she cried, tears tumbling down her cheeks, "Harry, I'm so scared. What do I do? There's fire and smoke and sirens…and…and then the apartment shook – "
"Calm down, I'll come get you – "
"NO!" she screeched down the phone, "You can't! I won't have you breaking the rules for me Harry, I won't!"
"Then what can I do? If I can't come get you, then what can I do?" Harry asked, his voice full of concern.
"I don't know," Hayley answered, calming down now that the explosions had stopped and she had something to focus on.
"For gods sake Hayley, I have all this money, I'm Harry freaking Osborn, and you're telling me that there is nothing I can do?" came Harry's voice, filling her ears with very passionate alarm. "I don't like feeling like this, like I can't do anything, like I'm…"
Powerless.
Weak.
"Please," Hayley pleaded, clutching her cell tighter, "Don't stop talking. I just, I need to hear your voice… I don't want to be alone."
Harry spoke to her all night until around five in the morning, when they both fell asleep, linked by their still connected cell phones.
Harry was already awake and dressed, sitting on his sofa, waiting.
"You're late."
"Yeah, no shit Sherlock!" Hayley retorted irritably walking into the penthouse. "Have you seen the news this morning? It's been chaos getting there! I left at like seven. And I had to take three subway connections because of all the damage."
She didn't mean to be rude but seriously what did he expect? Alphabet City was like a mini war zone with so many streets cordoned off, which only made the subway trains more busy than usual. It was like a mosh pit down there, no one could move.
Hayley collapsed into her blue cushioned chair, exhausted from her travels and lack of sleep. To her left, Harry looked calm and lively in comparison. The only sign of his weariness were the dark bags under his icy blue eyes.
He glanced down at his expensive Rolex; it was nearly nine.
"Well I've managed to push back my 9 o'clock meeting by thirty minutes so you'll have to make this quick," Harry said curtly, reclining lazily on the sofa whilst examining his nails nonchalantly. He didn't particularly care about the meeting, but he did care that his time with Hayley would be cut short.
Rolling her eyes, Hayley sat forward and rummaged in her large tote bag for all her medical materials. She really did not have time for his sass this morning. He was probably in a mood because by phoning her, it proved that he cared about something other than himself. Knowing Harry like she did, Hayley was fairly certain that their two-hour conversation had been the longest he'd ever spoken to a person in one hit. Well, in an intimate manner anyway.
He'd spoken about his time at boarding school and the numerous countries he'd visited – nothing too revealing. But Hayley had loved every minute of it. His soothing low voice caressing her ear as she tried to ignore the wailing cop sirens outside. Luckily Spider-Man had contained the destruction to Alphabet City, so the news anchor had said. Hayley had calmed slightly knowing that her building wasn't going to suddenly collapse. Though, when she did finally sleep, all the people who could be injured or trapped under the rubble troubled her thoughts. Her dreams were of smoke and flames engulfing the entire Lower Manhattan area.
"Tick tock. Anytime like the present doll," Harry said, grinning when she jumped out of her thoughts.
"Wow, Harry, I didn't know you could be so demanding," she teased with smile.
"There is a difference in being demanding and know what you want," he replied knowingly, his voice getting very low all of a sudden. "And I know what I want."
"You… you do?"
"Yeah…I want you to get your nurse mode on do your little check up," Harry chuckled, enjoying they way the redhead easily fell into his traps. "I am a busy man after all."
Getting back to business, Hayley methodically laid out a note pad and pen, a medical torch pen, a stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, and some alcohol hand rub.
First she picked up the torch pen and flicked it on, walking to stand directly in front of Harry who remained on the grey sofa.
"Ok, I want you to sit up straight and look from left to right when I tell you to," she instructed, bending down on her knees to be at his eye level.
Harry tried to contain a toothy smirk like he was about to say something naughty.
"Look left. Now right. Up. Down," Hayley ordered, flicking her torch into each of his eyes, looking for any imperfections.
She knew that this part of his daily check up was to document the changes that occurred to his iris colour when he slipped in and out of his Goblin psychosis. Today she found no traces, just his usual sapphire orbs twinkling mischievously at her.
"Brilliant. Now open your mouth."
Giving her a confused eyebrow raise, Harry complied and opened his mouth, but was unable to contain a small chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all.
Hayley flashed the light, inspecting his teeth for any lasting damage caused by the venom and initial Goblin transformation. His front teeth were pearly white, utter perfection, but the back molars had a khaki tint. They also appeared to be more worn down than usual. However, Hayley was no dentist, so she turned of the penlight and noted down her findings so far.
Unconsciously, Harry flicked his tongue over his front teeth. Her little mouth check reminded him of when he bit and licked her fingers in his cell… now that was a fun memory from Ravencroft. He watched her kneel on the hard marble floor, scribbling away her findings. It gave him the perfect view her bum. It was almost too much that she had decided to wear that tight black skirt today. All Harry wanted to do was reach out and pull her to him, caress those hips, feel her body…
He started biting his fingernails to stop himself from over stepping the line.
"Hey! I need to look at those, stop biting them!" Hayley ordered kindly, holding Harry's wrist and gently releasing his trapped nails. "Did anyone tell you that biting your nails is a bad habit?"
He smiled as he felt Hayley's fingers softly ghost over his hand, as she examined the tattered nails.
"Think I need a manicure?" Harry asked jokingly, allowing her to inspect his other hand.
"Maybe. But not until I take some nail clippings tomorrow."
"Are you being serious?"
"Dead serious. And I'll have a look at your toenails tomorrow too."
Harry sat back after she released his hand and sighed, "Really? And you have to do this every day?"
"Bingo," Hayley replied, turning away and writing more recordings in her notepad that was resting on the small coffee table. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Mr Osborn."
"Like that would be a bad thing," the Goblin murmured aloud, though the redhead didn't seem to notice.
"How are you sleeping by the way?"
Thinking the examination was over, Harry swung his legs onto the sofa and sprawled out along the length of it. "Better now that I have this sofa and a comfy bed. Though I didn't sleep much last night."
"Hmm," Hayley mumbled, so immersed in her documentation that she failed to remember what happened last night.
"Yeah, I'm loosing sleep over this girl, a redhead…" Harry said playfully, smirking when her head popped up like a meerkat, suddenly hearing his words.
She spun round on her knees, "Me?"
"Well duh, Hayley," he laughed rolling his eyes at her from where he lay, "I was on the phone to you until five this morning, so yeah, I didn't sleep much."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a bother…"
Harry sat up quickly and put his finger over Hayley's lips, stopping her from talking.
"I phoned you remember. You have nothing to apologise for," he murmured quietly, captured her green orbs with his blues ones. "Even if last night didn't happen, I'd still loose sleep over you. Ever since we met, I wake up needing to know you're safe. Where you live is dangerous, as last night clearly shows. What if the Rhino comes back and smashes your building, or someone like Kinsey attacked you again? I can't protect you now you are so far away from me."
Hayley had no idea how to respond; time to keep it professional.
"Right, take you shirt off."
"What?' Harry spluttered, unable to keep the shock from his face.
"Quickly! I only have fifteen minutes left and I have three more tests to do!"
He tutted, mentally berating himself for even considering she meant anything other than business. Though his heart continued to beat wildly as Hayley loosened his tie – why did she look so sexy doing the most ordinary things?
"Do you know how long it takes me to get that tie perfect?" he muttered, undoing the buttons of his shirt.
"That's fine, you can keep the shirt on, I just need to check your heart," Hayley babbled, blushing at seeing his bare torso again.
She grabbed her stethoscope and quickly listened to his heart, recording it as slightly elevated. Next she deftly checked his chest, stomach and neck for any old or fresh lesions. The only one she could find was the stubborn one on his neck that, thankfully, his shirt collar covered. Even though the room wasn't cold, Hayley noticed that her fingers left goose bumps on his skin.
"All done," Hayley smiled brightly, thankful yet reluctant for the examination to be over – she really did like touching his body even though she shouldn't. "I'll check your back and use the sphygmomanometer to take your blood pressure tomorrow, since we've run out of time."
Harry remained silent as he watched Hayley pack up her equipment, admiring the way her body swished around the coffee table and sofas. He kept his eyes fixed on her as he redid the buttons on his shirt and fixed his slim black tie.
It's never as much fun putting on clothes than it is to take them off, he thought.
"You know," Harry spoke slowly, standing up and cracking his back, "It would be easier to get here on time if you lived closer."
"Yeah, obviously," she said dismissively, placing her heavy tote bag on her slender shoulders.
"You could stay in one of the spare rooms while Alphabet City gets sorted. Otherwise you'll be late every day this week," Harry replied nonchalantly.
Hayley turned and raised an eyebrow but kept her voice gentle, "I'll be fine Harry. It's nice that you worry for me, but I promise I won't be late again."
There was a firm knock at the door.
"That's my cue. Enjoy your meeting Harry," Hayley said cheerfully and skipped away and out of the room before Harry could even respond.
It had been two weeks since Hayley's first day as Harry's outpatient physician and she was very pleased that she hadn't been late once. Though she was beginning to understand what Manners meant about her daily examination's being a full time job.
Donald Menken was looking for any excuse to slander Harry's name now that news had broke about him reclaiming control over OsCorp as CEO. There was an ever-constant sea of reporters outside OsCorp Tower and the Osborn Manor, which wasn't helping the situation. Hayley's face kept appearing in the newspapers, much to her dislike. Every morning she had to bat away the cameras and be constantly vigilant in case nosey reporters followed her.
And although she hadn't yet been late, Harry was not always awake when she arrived. Waiting for that man to get washed and dressed was like watching a chess match. It took him forever to walk out of his room dressed as Harry Osborn, CEO of OsCorp. It's not like she hadn't seen him at his worst!
Either way, Harry's morning routine ate away into her examination time, which usually meant that Hayley had to wait until after his morning meetings to do her work. This meant that the data she was collecting for the geneticist team at OsCorp was inconsistent and incomplete. Once it had almost been 2pm before Hayley even had a chance to do her daily check up.
Her work involved a lot of waiting around and travelling backwards and forwards between her home, the Osborn Manor and OsCorp tower. Quite frankly it was exhausting.
And as much as she enjoyed her work and learning about Retroviral Hyperplasia, even the geneticist team at OsCorp were beginning to voice their opinions.
Their biggest annoyance was her data not being consistent, especially with the time of collection varying each day. This led to the usual argument about Hayley's time keeping abilities. One scientist pointed out that Norman Osborn's physicians lived with him to ensure data regulation accuracy and constant care. The team were also eager for Hayley to up her examinations to three times a day as it would allow more research into how the disease affected its host in relation to daily living and stresses. Also, they reasoned, how would she ever be able to see if the Goblin psychosis returned if she wasn't with Harry Osborn all day, every day?
Begrudgingly, Hayley was beginning to see the team's point. Maybe if she lived closer, or, hell, lived with Harry, then the work she was doing at the OsCorp labs could really improve.
Wait, was she really considering living with him?
That's all Hayley could think about as Harry gave her another lecture about her Pot Noodle addiction.
She'd just sat around for three hours waiting for another important meeting to finish, and they were having lunch together on the big granite table in the living area now that her examination was over.
"You keep asking me for Pot Noodles," Harry said through a mouthful of salad, "But Connolly refuses to buy them. And you really shouldn't be eating them doll, they are full of crap!"
"Yeah I know," she replied, distractedly moving a baby tomato around her plate with the most polished and expensive silver fork she'd ever seen.
Harry looked at her hunched over her food and could tell instantly that something was wrong.
He'd watched her closely these past weeks and had started to pick up on different visual cues. When she was nervous, she licked her lips. If he complimented her, then she would frown in embarrassment, but her eyes would sparkle with pure joy. And whenever she was uncomfortable or caught up in her mind, she would refuse to look anywhere but her lap. Like now for instance.
"Something on your mind," he asked casually. It usually didn't take much coaxing to get her to spill.
"Well, I got this letter…"
Bingo.
"…more of an invitation really. From OsCorp," she spoke quietly, flicking her wide green eyes up to look into his own, hoping that he would help her out.
There was going to be no chance of that – Harry wanted her to say it.
"Apparently there's this charity ball, to do with the foundation you've set up, the one part of your community service," Hayley continued, "And I've been invited… Except it's a black-tie event…and it says all women should be accompanied…and I have no one to go with…"
Harry smirked.
"Well doll, I also have no one to take. So, I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Miss Carmichael."
So, the next update will be Chapter20! How have we got this far? I've got the whole chapter planned out and I'm expecting it to be looooong – I better start writing it! It's going to be a very special chap with scenes that I know you have all been waiting for and will love *wink wink* – trust me, I've been dying to write this stuff!
Btw, I apologise if my knowledge of New York and Manhattan is a bit er inaccurate – I do my research and I've got a map of Manhattan but everything is so different compared to where I live in the UK!
Also, I watched Dane's new film Life After Beth in the cinema…OMG! Bloody love that man YUM! Highly recommend it!
Thank you for everything guys. I love all you favouriters, followers, reviewers, guestslings, reading in the shadow lurkers – you make this writing experience AMAZING for me XXX Much love
P.S. Sorry if my chapters are taking longer to update that usual – I aim to do two chaps a month or one every two weeks, but sometimes life gets in the way :'(