Pretty Sinister Chapter 9, a spider-man fanfic

9. Lizard

Florida, 2001

[Location Redacted] Airport

"You know we could just get a loan." Martin didn't like this, he never liked seeing her off. It wasn't the first time, she had already completed a tour beforehand, and survived a warzone in Kosovo. Yet, each time, could be the last time. Of course the last time, she wasn't leaving behind a baby boy.

It was the last thing Caitlyn Connors wanted, but she had to make the hard choice for a better future, for them. "I know Marcus, but this is important. Oscorp said regardless of the outcome, they will give me a grant that can cover our living expenses for years, possibly a decade!"

It was a new conflict, and that meant an opportunity for certain people. Contracts were being signed for the war economy. Oscorp was offering bank, hand over fist, almost literally, and legally. All she had to do was fix up the guys that were going to be doing the real field tests.

"You might miss out on Billy's birthday."

Cait knew it might happen, but if this goes well, she'd make it in time. "This tour will be six months. I'm not missing my little boy's life for the world."

2002

Seven Months Later

Afghanistan

Cait woke up in a medical tent. Strong winds created ripples in the military grade medical tent. There was no way for her to tell whether it was day or night. She tried to lift up her arm, but couldn't. Shadows were moving around her.

"-Fragments didn't get too deep-" The doctor was saying.

"Whe-where?"

"Patient is awake, increase anesthetic." A doctor-nurse?- was over her, calm, reassuring. "It's alright. We're fixing you, it's alright."

"What happen-?" Cait could partially remember: There was an ambush, the enemy more numerous than they had ever been. She had been trying to keep Andrews from bleeding out, then a flash, a force...and blue sky...

She felt physically restrained, which was usually done to prevent a patient from self-harm, but while numb, she could feel most of her body present, but something was on her right side. Something was missing... She looked down her side.

Cait saw bandages, Wrapped all around a nub. It's the last thing she processes before the meds kick in, fading into black.

Two Weeks Later

Miami International Airport

Once cleared, Cait was on the next flight home. When they had left, it was on a private flight specifically for them, the families saw them off at the air strip. No point in the private flight now, it would just be Martin, alone... Her teammates had already been sent home.

Martin was waiting for her at the bottom of the escalator. Billy was in his arms, looking around with wonder at the crowds of people. He spotted his mother, squealing with joy as she approached. He reached for her, and an immediate feeling of loss occurred, when Cait realized she couldn't hold him like she used to.

Billy didn't seem to care much, only ever reaching for her. Dropping her bag, she held him tightly in her arm. That dark feeling of loss was buried by the joy that she made it home, and still had an arm for her baby boy. Looking at Martin, she smiled, crying as she did so.

"I made it for his birthday."

New York, 2008

Peter was helping May clean out some things in the attic. Money had become tighter, and May felt it was time to lessen the load. They kept a number of things in the attic, some things irreplaceable, and other things that should have been replaced long ago. He was moving boxes, when he saw a box marked R. Parker.

"May, do you know what's in this box?" He asked her as she came back up. Her eyes brightened in recognition.

"That contains some of your fathers things! I can't believe it slipped my mind. Your father had left some things behind after...we lost him. Ben wasn't able to let go of everything, we had meant to show you sooner but...I suppose life got in the way."

"Is it okay if I look?"

"It's more than okay, Peter. It was kept for you."

Ignoring May's fussing in the background about being careful, Peter used a box cutter to open the top. In the box were a variety of items, an old school trophy, and a leather suitcase. May saw the suitcase and stroked the old leather. "Richard always had this with him, to and from work. Mary once joked it was an extension of him."

Peter decided to put the box aside and look at the suitcase later. They continued to shift through boxes for the next hour, until they called it quits.

Alone in his room that night, Peter opened that suitcase, and found pictures of both of his father and mother. Some were in their childhood and teenage years. Richard looked near exactly like Peter growing up, and that made him feel better about his growing pains, radioactive spider not withstanding. It was odd seeing pictures of a younger Ben, and as he got to the later years, a younger May, who used to be a blonde. He made sure to put those pictures aside in case May wanted to keep them. If not, he would.

In the Parker home, there were plenty of pictures of Peter, Ben and May, but Richard and Mary only had a select few. These pictures told a story Peter himself didn't realize he was a part of. His father and mother, both scientists-traveling the world.

Then, he found a particular picture: Either a class, or a group of scientists. He recognized the building: Empire State University. He found his mother and father relatively quickly, Turning the picture around, he found the date, and a list of names...

One Month Later

Empire State University

At the ESU Science Convention, you kind find any and all sorts of topics. Whether it was about weapons of the future, biology, wormholes, even baking. There was always room made for the mind of the future to speak their minds, or share a theory they had been cooking up.

Peter Parker had never felt such a sense of belonging till that moment. He also never felt so alone. Harry had to go on a trip, and there was no way in hell that anyone from school would have wanted to come with him. He could imagine:

"Hey Liz, want to go to a SCIENCE convention with me?"

He would sabotage his own chances faster than Flash ever would. Even so, it was besides the point. It didn't matter if no one really wanted to go with him. Nor did it matter how exciting these subjects were, or could be. He bought his ticket to be here for a reason. He was here, for someone.

On the internet, he searched the names from that photo, to see if he could find out more. Many were scattered, far and wide, virtually none in New York. However, one name was promising, the one who was standing closest to his parents in the photo. While not living in New York, she attended the ESU Science Convention yearly. The fact it had been coming up had been a "Lightning in a bottle" chance.

Peter heard her voice first, just as he found the room. Walking inside quietly, the room was decently filled, and he stayed next to the wall, dyed exotic shades of green as reptilians were displayed digitally on a large screen. An image of a Salamander, its tail cut off in one image, quickly flickered through hundreds of photos like a classic motion picture to show the stages of regeneration.

"And as you can see it doesn't just heal or scar, it grows back! How do these creatures achieve this?" A spotlight suddenly illuminated her as she spoke. Her appearance was unmistakable, the mid length brown hair, the face, perhaps a bit older, as almost ten to fifteen years would do for anybody, but she was almost an exact match for the woman smiling beside Richard and Mary in the photo. "And how do we, as human beings, mimic this ourselves? It will never be fun to lose a hand or a limb, but how much more fearless we could be if we had this potential. Careers are no longer ruined by accidents or slip ups. Soldiers serving can return home safely, and whole. We speak of such ideas as ridiculous, yet, our own genetics laugh right back at us. The 'X Gene', recorded officially as far back as the forties, show our genetics are more capable than we have ever given real credit for, from body alteration to even as far as chemical and environmental manipulation. We should, as an old saying goes, 'dance with the lizard brain'."

A respectable applause followed, as the moderator took to the podium.

"Thank you, Doctor Connors, any questions from the audience?"

Forty-Five minutes later

"Doctor Connors?"

Cait didn't expect anyone to engage her outside the panel, let alone a voice so...young. Turning around, she had to pause for a moment to process the young man, whose appearance was strikingly similar to someone she used to know. "Yes?"

He looks like him, but those eyes, is this...

"My name is Peter Parker, I think you knew my father-"

"Richard Parker," Cait interjected. Setting her suitcase down gently, she offered her only hand, "Good to meet you Peter, call me Cait."

Having already noticed the closed up right sleeve, Peter's left hand came up first, as he shook hers without hesitation.

"Good to meet you, um, do you have a moment? To talk?" He hoped he didn't come across as inconsiderate. She could have more important things to do.

She smiled. "Of course, how about lunch?"

Later...

Seated at one of the in-house deli's, Cait reminisced about the past for a moment.

"We always came for lunch here, me, your parents. Are you planning to attend Empire State?"

"Truthfully Dr. Connors, I didn't give it much thought until recently." He took out the old picture he found of the science team. "I was hoping you could tell me more about them? What were they like?"

Cait took the offered photo, and smiled warmly. She remembered it being taken, but didn't remember if she actually had her own copy. She saw Richard's arm around Mary, and remembered feeling...

"Richard and Mary were several years ahead of me, of course, in more ways than one. They were technically my teachers when I was still a student. Richard was confident, carried himself with swagger in the lab and outside of it, a bit of a jokester to boot. Your mother was a bit more reserved, but she had compassion, and could put Richard in his place when she needed to." Cait felt a sense of melancholy. "But in the lab, those two were a powerhouse."

"Did you spend a lot of time with them?"

"I got pretty close, for a glorified assistant, I was even at your mom's baby shower. Then, well, Your parents found new employment, began to travel, and I signed up with the armed forces to lessen my student debt."

"Ben said they traveled often, because of their jobs. He said Ric-dad was very passionate about his work." Peter felt a tad embarrassed, not used to the words "mom and dad".

Connors caught the slip-up, but didn't blame Peter. He had to have been an infant when it happened, and what were his guardians supposed to do? Remind him daily? For the small time she had known Ben and May, Peter couldn't have been placed in better hands. "I'm sorry you never got to know them. Richard would have loved to show you science. He loved engaging in dialogue with anyone who was willing. Mary would have loved to show you the world. She wanted to take you with them when you were old enough, expose you to new cultures and ideas. I was stationed out of the country when I had learned what happened from a secondary source, after the funerals."

The doctor was silent after that. Peter felt a need to redirect the topic. "Dr. Connors? I don't want to be rude or anything, but, what happened to your arm?"

Peter was unsure if the doctor's arm was a touchy topic. But, at least for him, she was not the least bit offended.

"It's not rude at all. It was during my service, got clipped by an insurgent. Could have been worse. I suppose sometimes, to gain something, you lose something in turn."

The rest of the conversation was lighter, some odd little tidbits about Peter's parents, and Cait's work. Eventually, however, life had to move forward.

Cait stood up. "Well, I must be going, but I'm glad to have met you Peter. You're a bright young man, you'll make Richard and Mary proud." remembering the photo on the table, she picked it up. "Here's your picture-"

"You can keep it-I mean, it's a copy I made, unless you already have one, I don't want to just push it on you."

Richard's drive, Mary's compassion. "You've pushed nothing on me. Thank you Peter." Pocketing the photo, they shook hands, and Peter reminded her once more of his father with his smile.

During the taxi cab ride to the airport, Cait felt the weight of the encounter finally hit her. Richard and Mary's son, Peter. He had inherited their best attributes. It was a crime that Richard and Mary couldn't watch their son grow up, couldn't guide him in this beautiful and cruel world. She pulled out the picture, slightly bent from being pocketed.

Richard, Mary, your son is gifted, I think he'll do a lot of good in this world.

Later That Night

Florida, Everglades

After the almost 3 hour flight, and then spending another hour driving, Cait made it home. As she pulled into the well-kept dirt driveway of her home, exhaustion was put aside as she noticed the living room lights on.

The house had all of the proper amenities made for one who dared to live so close to the swamps of the Everglades. floodlights on all sides of the house to keep a clear sight on anything approaching. The reinforced front door was made of high quality metal. A similar door was made for each bedroom, in the worst case scenario of unwelcome guests.

Getting out of her car, Cait gently closed the door, before walking up the steps. The television inside was so loud, She realized she didn't need to be worried about being stealthy, as she opened her front door.

Within was a home so suburban you would have expected it to be anywhere but a swamp. Walls painted a sky blue, the floor made of pearl white tile, a circular rug in between the couch and television that was comfortable enough for an eight year old to sit on for hours, even when they should be in bed.

Billy looked up from his spot on the rug, the Television playing Looney Tunes re-runs.

"Mommy!" He shot up, and crashed into her. "You're back!"

She hugged him to her tightly, before going down on one knee to comb her fingers through his blonde hair. "Of course I am, what are you doing up so late?"

"He insisted on staying up for you." Martin came out of the kitchen, a bathrobe loosely tied over his pajamas. "It's Friday, so I figured it wouldn't hurt."

"I see. Well sweetie, have you brushed your teeth yet?"

Billy clasped his arms behind his back. "...No..."

"Brush your teeth, and I'll read you a chapter from Treasure Island." Billy ran up the stairs, as Cait called out. "And make sure to floss!"

Martin came over, hugging Cait as he kissed her. Cait wrapped her arm around him, asking:

"Is he keeping up with his video diaries?"

"He's left you at least a dozen. Did you eat? We didn't make anything special for dinner..."

Later That Night

"Sometimes, I worry if I should still be reading him stories." Cait inquired aloud as she entered their bedroom, and began to undress for her shower. Martin laid back on the bed, sports magazine in hand.

"It's not that he needs them, he just gets more time with you. Video diaries can't replace real contact." Martin was right.

"I know, I know. It's just, really important that I try to get my work more exposure. I'm so close." Unbuttoned, her shirt dropped, and she grimaced at the closet mirror.

The damage went far more than her arm. A pattern of shrapnel scars decorated that side of her body, the shrapnel cut so deep that the scars would never disappear. Every time she saw herself was a brutal reminder, that she didn't come back whole.

"Yeah, I get that. But if you aren't at the lab, you're out at one of those conventions or summits or whatever."

"You're right, I need to manage my time better." Still in her panties, she sat on her side of the bed, and reached out to him. "You know, I'm home tonight, and..."

Martin shifted away, giving a somewhat lazy shrug, his eyes still on the magazine. "Maybe another time. It's been a long day."

"...Yeah, okay." She got up, having kept her cool under far worse conditions.

Martin didn't touch her now, not like he used to. At first, it made sense, it was a new change neither of them had asked for. Cait understood he needed to get used to it, she still struggled to look at herself. Initially, it seemed like he was worried about causing her pain. But Cait learned by now that pain wasn't the issue. Martin had to mentally prep himself to touch her. Cait understood that, she didn't hate him for that.

It was the way he refused to look at her undressed, that killed her inside.

Entering the bathroom, she turned on the waterproof radio to soft music, Once under the showerhead, she felt shielded enough by the combined noise of music and running water to cry.

The entire weekend, Anxiety creeped up on Cait. They saw a movie on Saturday, Billy wanted to. On Sunday, their son went to bed early for school, Martin finally touched her in the way she truly craved.

The next morning, Cait eliminated her breakfast with speed, putting her empty plate in the sink before kissing Billy and Martin goodbye. She got into her car and drove silently down the road, preferring the sound of nature over the radio. Eventually going off road, she reached her lab unit, practically a second, one story house. A home, with nothing homely about it.

Crossing a small reinforced bridge protected by metal mesh, she walked around to her front door. Flipping open the protective plastic casing, she slipped her key card out, and slid it down the open slot. With a green light, the door unlocked and she slid the key card back into her front pocket. The inside consisted of several lab tables, cages for the rabbits and mice she would test on, and a computer desk, and a bunk for overnight stays.

Cait checked the food and water supply, they had some left over as estimated. Sitting down at her desk, she finally took a look at her mail, A single letter, the word "NOTICE" in big red letters. She opened it neatly, and read:

Dr. Caitlyn Connors

We hope this letter finds you in good health. We are afraid we must inform you that-

She skimmed through the rest of it relatively quickly, only taking a moment to acknowledge the import sections hidden within the flowery yet clinical wording.

They were going to cut off her funds. It was a relatively early notice, but it was polite of them to tell her now, instead of the day before. Oscorp paid her medical bills, they covered the payment on her house, all in all very generous, but not her independent research. After cutting ties, she had to find other means, and those means were sick of waiting. It didn't matter what progress she was making, they wanted something now.

Do they think she feels different? That she doesn't want results right now? She's wanted results for eight years, she's wanted to hold her son with both arms, she wanted her husband to touch her without hesitation, and prep.

Now, there was a literal deadline.

So, it's like that isn't it?

It was no longer a choice, Cait either failed trying, or failed doing nothing, and she would not do nothing.

"There was...very little left, the bone and muscles were beyond any level of recovery or repair."

"Oh. The guys are gonna rib me for this one. Where are they?" Hearing Jackson or Ramirez giving her shit talk would be a comfort. The doctor had a look. A look Connors had seen many times."No..."

Several Months Later

Cait was in overdrive. Each morning she would wake up, breakfast with Billy. Go straight to the lab. Five minutes for lunch, Then back to it. Then home, read to Billy, then bed. Each day like clockwork.

A new mixture was tested, failed, and marked down each day. It was improving, Cait was on the right track, but even as she saw the improvements made, as missing limbs began to grow, failure shattered her hopes, degeneration, seizures, mutation, death. Remains were cremated in a furnace, before continuing. So many attempts, so many failures. Her nights had become more restless, as the need for a breakthrough burned in her mind.

5:00 AM

One rabbit left, one last serum. Cait wanted to believe it would be the breakthrough. That's what the other failures were supposed to be. No other variant of the serum had been more refined, more efficiently restructured. Yet, she couldn't quite convince herself. Reaching down to stroke the rabbit gently, she aimed her needle.

"It all comes down to you."

Injecting the rabbit, Cait took a seat by the kill switch and watched. Expecting failure, she simply waited for the rabbit to start growling, mutating, making noise as its mutated, killing it from within... She waited...and waited...and waited...

8:00 AM

Cait startled awake. How long have her eyes been closed? minutes! Hours? Looking into the rabbits container, she saw it was perfectly fine, and let out an easy breath. A normal healthy rabbit, hopping on four legs-"Oh my God."

Four legs. Four legs! Cait opened the cage cautiously, the rabbit was unfazed. Picking it up she looked over it, any scar tissue it had was gone, Fur had in fact grown where it had been lost for good. She checked the time: three hours. Then checked her footage, and watched attentively, She watched the process as the limb regrew as though it was nothing.

She had done it. Serum 1,963 had done what 1,962 prior attempts had failed to do. Immediately replicating the formula, Cait stared at the glowing green tube with pride. But what now?

Test it.

No, she couldn't. There were protocols to follow, as incredible as this was. She had to take her time.

Legalization, let alone human trials could take years to develop. Meanwhile, Martin could look elsewhere for someone more...whole.

Cait set up her computer camera to record, leaving a verbal note before injecting it directly into her amputated stump. It was ten seconds before she felt a tingling feeling on her scarred side, and had no idea if that was normal. She could never ask her rabbits.

Then, she felt... something, it wasn't painful, but it was an alien feeling as a lump began to grow out of her right socket, the tingles were like a numbing sensation. She saw the lump grow and extend, felt as bone, muscle tissue and skin seemed to recreate itself. How could she describe to be her colleagues, the feeling of a joint being recreated as she bent her newly formed elbow. Before she knew it, she felt five, very distinct sensations, as her fingers reformed. She flexed the hand, as she prodded and pinched her new arm, feeling the tendons and muscle, good as new.

Finally, whole again.

teary-eyed, Cait got her shirt and lab coat on. She was about to decide her next move-call Martin, or go back home directly to show him- When she felt it.

A tingling, that became a slight burning, appeared in her chest, and her excitement halted. Hearing a strange growling, she looked beside her at the rabbit, and saw that not only was it twice as big, it was green, and shaking with violence. As though fate decided to be cruel with timing, she felt her new hand shake, and when she grabbed it she felt bumps. Looking down, she saw they were scales. The tingling suddenly became excruciatingly painful, and she moved herself to grab-

She didn't make it, falling over as she lost motor control. Bones shifted, muscles grew both contorting to new shapes as Cait Connors receded into the back of her reptilian mind.

Two Weeks Later

The three of them sat in the boat, not noticing the shape floating behind them.

It rose with unnatural quiet. One man turned at the sound of dripping water, seeing the massive shape. He raised his hand, and jaws snapped over. He fell back, holding a bloody stump, screaming.

Buckshot echoed across the swamp, followed by the echo of a monstrous roar.

New York, The Next Day

Daily Bugle

Peter was on his way to the office of J. Jonah Jameson, to pawn off his usual pictures of Spider-Man. Betty was gone for lunch, the man's door was open, and Peter heard Jonah ranting at Jared.

"What makes you think we can afford to go to FLORIDA to investigate a GIANT BIPEDAL LIZARD!?"

"What's this about a lizard?" Peter inquired, entering, and Jonah's frown deepened.

"Jared here was just trying to talk to Jonah about a story besides Spider-Man." Robbie explained.

"A giant Lizard, that no one has any evidence of! Meanwhile that Wall-Crawler is here in the city, a proven menace."

"We could use stories besides Spider-Man, Jonah." Robbie countered, using his stern tone that sometimes made Jonah see reason.

"Ok, sure, but answer me this: Who can we afford to go down to Florida right now? And who wants to go? I'm not going. Jared? You did suggest it."

"I could go." Peter suggested. The adults looked at him flabbergasted.

"What?" Jonah was especially flabbergasted.

"Spring Break is basically here, I can go, ask around, figure out if it's a hoax. I'm not missing school, and if nothing is there I can just come back."

And if it takes long enough, Jonah might just see that no one else can take pictures of Spider-Man like I can, especially when he isn't around.

"Ok fine, you go down there, if you get pictures or evidence, I'll give you a nice sum of money in the triple digits."

"Thank you Mr. Jameson, speaking of which, I have some pictures for you."

And so resumed Peter Parker's usual day, as Jonah flipped through photos, before making his usual starting bid.

"I can give you fifty bucks."

Florida, Everglades

It took some convincing, and a little stretching of the truth, for May to allow him to go down to Florida. He felt a little guilty, using Connors, who May only somewhat knew, as an excuse. She didn't follow rumours, and Peter could feign ignorance.

His plan was simple. First, ask around to see if this creature was just another hoax or not. Second, go to Connor's home, hopefully she had answers. She hadn't responded to his email, but it was entirely possible she was locked up in her lab. Third, nab some photos of Spider-Man bringing down this beast of nature, if it existed.

Getting off the bus, he checked the address twice. He decided to ask around, starting by going into what seemed like a popular bar and grill. Families ate lunch and loners drank at the bar, more than a couple of them looked like they wrangled gators or Crocs.

Going up to the bar, he grabbed the attention of the bartender. "A little young to drink here, unless you want some water."

"I'll have water, but if you don't mind, but um, do you know the Connors family?"

"Oh, sure. Martin comes here every so often." The bartender seemed to have a sudden realization. "I'm sorry, you a family member?"

"What do you mean? Did something happen?"

"I heard that Cait went missing a week or so back, around the time of that 'Lizard' sighting. Search party had no luck." He leaned in close, like he was about to let Peter I'm on some gossip. "If you ask me, I think it's-"

"It's the monster!" A rough looking blonde man with a wrapped stump yelled.

"Trey, are you mixing your meds with liquor again?" The bartender tried to dismiss the man, addressing Peter. "Don't mind him, poor guy got his hand removed by a gator-'

"It was no goddamn Gator! Or Croc! Or goddamn iguana!" Trey stood up too fast, staggering on his table and spilling his latest drink. "This thing stood up! It killed Benny and Kyle! And I guarantee you, it killed that lady- Connors-whoeva!!"

While Peter's mind reeled from the thought that something had happened to Connors, a few other guys from the bar had stepped in, each gently grabbing an arm. "You've had too much to drink man. Come on, let's go."

Trey seemed ready to fight, but his face went from anger to sadness and shame as his head dropped. He didn't resist as they helped him outside. The bartender addressed Peter, who stared after the man.

"Sorry about that, Benny and him were tight for years, and Kyle was a good man. Some folks found Trey alone, wading through the swamp in a panic, minus one hand. Damn Shame. Anyways, you need something else?"

The bartender was nice enough to tell him which road to take. He said the house was isolated, but still in view on the road, you couldn't miss it. Peter considered going as himself, but decided Spider-Man might have a better chance at getting answers. Web-swinging through the swamps was actually kind of fun, if not a little scary for the idea of actually falling in.

When he reached the house, it became harder for him to believe that Connors just disappeared. With floodlights and reinforced doors, it looked predator and reptilian proof. Landing on the front porch, he knocked on the door, and waited.

A man answered the door. Eyeing Peter's uniform, it was clear he was not amused. "Who the hell are you?"

"Dad, it's Spider-Man!" The kid-which had to be Billy-in the living room yelled excitedly. The boy got up to take a closer look at the red and blue hero.

Martin did not share Billy's excitement, keeping his son back. "Listen here asshole, my wife is missing, so enough of this-"

Spider-Man jumped, and clung to the underside of their house without effort. Standing upside down, Billy and Martin watched with open mouths as The Web-Slinger explained himself.

"I want to help you find your wife. Will you help me?"

Spider-Man headed in the direction of the lab. Martin told him. "It's the only lab in this damn swamp, you can't miss it, if anything, the police tape should tell you something."

Before long, he had seen it, the lab unit was almost like a small single story house, sans anything homely about it. Yellow caution tape was wrapped haphazardly around the bars of the walkway, and all around the structure.

Martin had mentioned that he had already called the authorities to look for Cait, after she didn't return home. They said something happened at the lab, but couldn't make sense of it. They taped off the area, and haven't done a thing about it since, other than writing up Cait as missing.

Coming closer, he saw the door had been busted outward, leaving it unlocked. He pulled it open gently, the weight of the door alone tearing the police tape away. Looking over to the damaged door, he took note of the claw marks, from the inside.

Walking in, he flicked a switch, and dim lights came on. The lab had been wrecked. He could tell where a table used to be, and a splatter of blood from a torn cage. The computer station was the only thing relatively untouched.

Going over to the computer, Peter tried to turn it on, with no luck. He then noticed what looked like a key card slot. Looking around, still no luck. After checking the same drawer twice, he sighed.

Dammit, if there are answers on the computer I can't get to them. Of course I didn't bring my tools, didn't think I would need them in a Florida swamp. Shows what I know.

Peter left the lab behind, web-slinging through the Everglades.

It doesn't make sense. No one has beef with Connors, last I checked. If it was a robbery...still makes no sense, there was nothing taken. There's nothing that indicates that anyone broke in, if anything-

Something broke out.

Around mid-day, clouds overtook the sun, engulfing the sky, and the swampland took on a dull and eerie character, filtered through a hint of green. Spider-Man first checked out the area the creature had allegedly been sighted.

There were a few small boats half sunk, the first indicator. Spider-Man landed on one that seemed sturdy enough, and gave a quick look around.

Well, this is the area, but where are all the gators? Matter of fact, I haven't noticed any since I came through, it's not like they're hiding from me...

The cricket stopped chirping, the swamp suddenly becoming silent, eerily so. Behind him, a shape seemed to glide under the water.

Peter felt his Spider-Sense milliseconds before the creature burst out of the water from behind him. Twisting himself around as he leapt, he felt himself spun the other way as a clawed hand grazed his shoulder.

THWACK*-CRACK*

SPLASH*

A massive tail collided with his forearm, sending him spinning into the water. He found his footing and got his upper body out of the water, aiming for a tree branch to web. His Spider-Sense blared, but the water slowed him just enough for his legs to be grabbed, pulling him under.

Peter learned very early in his career that he was stronger than he looked. It was easy for him to break bone, if he really wanted to. As this creature dragged him into the water, all sense of restraint disappeared in a "fight or flight" response. His arm cut through the water as he delivered an uppercut with full strength into the head of the monster, freeing his other arm, he sent another before kicking off hard, sending the unknown creature deep into the depths of the swamp.

The moment he broke the surface, he shot out multiple webs, pulling himself to a nearby tree. He clung to the thick trunk of the tree, gasping for air as he tried to keep his feet from slipping back into the water. It was real-

Spider-Sense

SPLASH*

Suddenly he leaped up simultaneously shooting webs at the branches above as The Lizard leapt out of the water, landing where Peter had been. It immediately jumped up, with its jaws wide open for the Web-Slinger, who narrowly pulled himself upward and out of reach as jaws snapped shut like a gator. Spider-Man watched from his new perch as the Lizard fell back into the water, making a big splash. Strong waves rippled from the impact, before quickly returning to a calm. He could see its shape under the lime-colored water briefly, its form sleek like a shark as it circled.

It broke the water once more, And Spider-Man delivered a full force kick into its sternum. It flew back, crashing hard against an ancient tree, bouncing off the bark, it was about to fall head first into the water, when it suddenly gripped the trunk, and it began to scale the up tree like an iguana. It craned its neck up at the Web-Slinger, both truly seeing each other for the first time.

It was sleek, the entire body coated in dark emerald scales. The head was like a raptor out of the movies. Its torso seemed to be covered in stained rags, or perhaps it was some other residue it picked up.

The Lizard launched itself after Spider-Man, going for a vicious slash. Spider-Man dodged, and five claws buried itself into the wood. The Web-Slinger leapt from tree to tree, and The Lizard lunged again, barely missing him. With Monstrous grace, it dove into the water, out of sight once more. Peter knew he couldn't keep this up.

I have to get out of deep water...over there!-

As he leapt, spinning a web, The Lizard erupted from the water, clawing Spider-Man, grazing his thigh. He spun a kick into The Lizard's face, his foot hopefully knocking some teeth loose, for the pain it caused him.

The reptilian refused to give up its chase, using the edge of the deep water to breach once more after its prey. Instead of sinking once more, it landed on the nearest trunk, before leaping off after Spider-Man.

It lunged after him between branches, smashing whatever was in its way. Spinning on his heel, Peter sent a torrent of webs at the lunging Lizard. He quickly learned he couldn't afford to be sparing, it was too strong to be held by a few webs, even for a moment. Sacrificing what remained of a web canister, He threw it like a dart. Engulfing the Lizard's body, it did not relent in its violence. Taking every effort to not panic as it aggressively attempted to bite at him, he shot web-line after web-line, until it was finally held in place. Peter was heaving as he watched it struggle.

Did he kill it? Should he? It killed people, it likely killed Connors, and it would continue to kill.

If I run, what was this all for?

He was going to snap its neck, just end it quickly. Then, he realized, it was wearing clothing, stained by bogwater, he could still make out a lab coat. The name that was barely readable:

Connors.

"No..."

The name was stitched onto the front of a pocket. Said pocket had what looked like a card sticking out. Peter acted, quickly pulling the card out before stepping away. The Lizard fought to free itself of its bindings, as Spider-Man fled.

Peter was in full acrobat mode, swinging through branches and leaping from trunk to trunk. He refrained from overusing his web shooters, only using it for the occasional zip forward, or when his panicked brain feared the Lizard, lunging from below the water.

His mind of course was too preoccupied to worry about his web supply.

It's real, the Lizard is real! And it's Connors? Or is it? Does this thing happen to be wearing her dirty ragged lab coat, What if-

SPLASH*

GOD-

Peter had already web zipped violently forward before he could realize it was just a fish that broke the water. He continued his acrobatic escape through the bog.

Did it kill her? Is it wearing her clothes like a prize? Is it that intelligent? If it is Connors, where do I even begin-

He then saw it, the lab. Somehow, by luck, chance or instinct, perhaps a mix of the three, he found it again. Landing without grace, rolling across the roof, he breathed heavily as he watched his surroundings. At least here, he would be able to see the Lizard coming, on the roof he couldn't be spotted from below like before. It must have freed itself by now, and could be tracking him for all he knew.

Checking his web fluid, he grimaced.

There's not enough here to play around stupidly.

Slipping in through the busted window, he made his way to the computer. It had been a split second decision to grab the key card, but a good one, as he slipped it into the terminal, and the computer screen glowed.

[ACCESS GRANTED]

"Hi Mom! I know you're busy working today-"

He spun, as a monitor, set aside, from the others came to life. It was crooked, glowing in the darkness, separate from the others. Young Billy was on the cracked screen, a pre-recorded message for his mom. Peter should have known better, his Spider-Sense didn't even flare up. It was the first time, in a long time, he had felt afraid.

The message was still playing:

"-wanted you to know, I got an A minus in class today, I know I said I'd work hard and get an A, but I worked REALLY hard, and dad said an A is an A! But during recess today, I found worms!-

Suddenly it cut off, Peter figured it had to be something faulty. When the Lizard-or maybe Connors- went berserk in here, it must have messed up at least one of everything.

Returning his attention to the main monitor, A list of files were already open and ready for him. He hit one at random, a video feed popping up. Connors appeared, more or less as he had seen her before, but with a lab coat, and darker circles around her eyes indicating long hours.

"This is Connors. Variant number 'three hundred and sixty" was tested on three different subjects...all of them showed promise, before degeneration occurred and they died within the hour. This batch is a failure, I'm going to start over completely."

The video ended, and he scrolled down for a good minute before clicking on another video. The screen revealed Cait, even more disheveled, with a dull, frustrated tone to her voice.

"This is Connors. Variant number five hundred and seventeen, was tested on two subjects. They regrew their limbs, however... something different happened. They became very aggressive, I had to put them down... goddammit! I know I'm on the right track. I just need to refine the process. I can get this right."

He scrolled down again, and clicked on another video. Cait had a sappy smile, holding a glass filled with amber fluid, clearly not her first, as a half empty bottle in the background implied.

"Sometimes I wonder why I bother...." She hiccupped, before continuing. "Maybe I've been going about this the wrong way. You know, Starfish regenerate too! Of course, that requires the sea, which also means a lot more beach bodies for Martin to look at...and I can't wear a bathing suit."

She seemed to want to cry, before she started to laugh instead, cutting off the video diary with ambiguity. Peter checked the date, and realized that wasn't long before her visit at the expo. Was she holding this in, all this time? Oh doc...

He decided to press forward, and scrolled all the way to the last entry. The video flickered open, and Cait was topless. A part of Peter felt perverted for seeing her in such a way. Another part of him took note of how aggressive the scarring was on her body. In spite of his distractions, his attention went to her words the moment she began speaking.

"Final note, in case this kills me, I need there to be a record. It worked on the rabbit, within hours it regenerated its foot... I am moving onto human trials immediately...the subject being myself. I can't stand not being whole anymore. I have an antidote...an anti-serum I mean, on standby, not that it really helps. If this works, why would I cure it? If it doesn't, I'll probably be dead... Whatever, here it goes."

Cait, without flourish, injected herself. Peter watched, feeling her excitement as her arm slowly grew back, and shared her wonder as she flexed newly born fingers. As Cait buttoned up her lab coat, Peter heard a noise. Dread filled him Connors went to investigate. Then, she was trying to rush toward the unseen cabinet, but staggered to a stop, her body out of her control. The camera was destroyed, cutting off the feed. It was alright, Peter saw the scales, and had what he needed.

Cure, she has a cure here, hopefully it didn't-

Peter spotted it, a canister within a refrigeration unit, glowing blue. Grabbing it, He double checked the labeling with the video.

All clear, now, how to get Connors to take her medicine-

Spider-Sense

He heard the splash outside as it landed on the grating. Moving fast and quiet, he slipped out the window, staying just out of sight as the Lizard ripped open the door. Stalking inside, it seemed to sniff the air.

She was tracking me. I'm only lucky it took her this long, but how do I get her to take the cure?

Moving forward, it looked at the computer, letting out a huff, it prodded the keyboard, and the cracked monitor flickered on brightly.

"Hi mom!-"

The Lizard spun on its heels, ready to attack, yet Peter didn't hear the sound of smashing. Looking over, he saw The Lizard watching the video.

"-I know you're working hard, dad says I shouldn't send too many videos, but I miss you!"

Peter couldn't quite describe it: The Lizard's predatory expression now held a sort of...sentience?... awareness? It seemed to know what it was looking at, who, it was looking at, as if it just remembered.

"-And I showed him too, it was the Jurassic Period, not the Triassic Period. He didn't understand what Period meant! My teacher said I was really smart, but it's because you showed me!"

A clawed hand reached out, as though to caress the boy's head. The tip of its claw made contact with the screen, then dragged down on the digital face of Billy, and shot out the door. Peter flung himself forward, and saw a trail of rippling water. Peter's mind was finally quick enough to put the pieces together.

No!

The floodlights illuminated the house like a giant beacon, as Billy sat close to the stairs, trying to be a "scientist". He mainly dug up the front yard, much to his parents amusement, and dismay. Billy's mom allowed his digging, but only if he fills the holes back up. Mom said someone could get hurt by accident, and Billy didn't want to hurt anybody.

As Billy wrapped up filling the most recent dig site, he heard a splash, and looked across the road. A... crocodile crawled out of the swamp. Billy had seen crocodiles before, he knew to stay away. Usually, he would go inside right away, as his parents always told him, but the animal looked strange, its limbs were long, and he'd never seen a croc or gator like that before. He watched it in a trance, completely ignorant of the Web-Slinger that was flinging himself at max speed to prevent a tragedy.

It crawled into the light, and Billy only had a brief look at it, its long limbs, the body covered in what he could have sworn looked like a dirty coat. It stood upright-six feet eight inches tall-as Martin came out to tell him to come in. "Billy its-Oh God!"

Spider-Man, swinging hard from above, shot two web lines on either side of The Lizard, pulling himself down with max power into its back, smashing it into the ground. Flipping back, Grabbing a leg, he tossed the monster back into the darkness before yelling at Martin. "Get him inside!!"

"RAAAA!!" The Lizard leapt from the darkness at Spider-Man, claws outstretched to slash and maim.

Billy's father pulled him inside the house, before bolting the door shut. Growls, howls, and a mix of smashing and crashing seared itself into Billy's memory as the front yard was wrecked beyond repair.

SHATTER!*

Spider-Man flew through the window, shattered glass flying as he landed sprawled out, blood staining the rug and tile, quickly pulling himself up and into a crouching stance. Martin grabbed Billy up in his arms and sprinted up the stairs, reaching the upper floor as The Lizard leaped through the window.

"Billy, go to your room, lock the door, do not come out." Billy did as he was told, and Martin ran back the way he came, stopping by the master bedroom to grab the Smith and Wesson. Muscle memory made him shut his bedroom door on the way out. Gun drawn, he stepped down the stairs to see the Lizard grab the feebly resisting Spider-Man with its tail, and fling him through the wall, roaring in victory.

Martin fired the model 29, hitting close to the eye. He fired again and again, landing the shots as the lithe reptilian creature was stunted by 44. caliber bullets. He landed all six shots at various parts of the body, capping off with another shot at its brain. Its head snapped to the side as it dropped to the floor. Two seconds of silence, and Martin ejected his casings to reload.

The Lizard sprang on all fours, and lunged, closing the gap between them.

Billy was in his room, in the corner furthest from the door. He could hear the creature climb up the stairs, its thumps as it scoured the hall. Mom and dad's door was smashed open, and the creature let loose another roar. Billy tried to stay quiet, his hands over his mouth.

The thumping stopped at Billy's door. He heard loud sniffs, like a dog-

BANG!*

The door shuddered.

"Mommy..."

BANG!* BANG!* CRACK!*

Spiderweb cracks spread from the center of the door, as thick wood splintered.

CRACK!*

"MOMMY!"

SMASH!*

A giant reptilian head smashed through the door, Its cherry red maw widened as it let out a hybridized roar. Its body broke through the rest of the door, stepping in. It moved forward-

Thwip* Thwip*

-And stopped short, as two lines of webbing clung to its back.

Spider-Man shot another line, and pulled with all his strength. The Lizard was yanked out of the bedroom, slamming into the wall, leaving an indent. Peter grabbed the giant lithe reptilian and flung it down further into the hall. It landed on all fours, going for a lunge, and felt every knuckle in the Web-Slinger's fist make contact, blood and teeth flying out. He followed up with a quick web-shot at Lizard's foot, holding it in place as he dodged a claw, before returning with an uppercut, then, roaring, sent a haymaker. Her head snapped to the side from the force of the haymaker, as she slammed into the wall. Webs shot out once more, in an attempt to stick the creature to the wall. It quickly lunged at Spider-Man, one arm webbed to its chest, as its other arm buried itself into the wall.

With bitter resolve, Spider-Man drove his fist up from below spearing into the Lizard's outstretched arm, snapping it. The creature roared, as Spider-Man leapt up, pulling the broken arm along and webbing it over the creature's shoulder, before crawling all over the torso to apply more and more webbing. The Lizard slammed its back into the wall, and he hopped off. Jaws snapped violently at Spider-Man, forcing him back briefly. He snapped the razor tooth jaws shut with a left uppercut, using the momentum to rotate his torso, right arm pulled back tightly. Fast on the draw, his left hand sent two webs downward in quick succession-the first to stick the reptilian foot in place, the second to connect a web line. He drove a right hook into the knee, bending the leg into an unnatural form, and breaking three of his fingers in the process.

The Lizard finally halted its attack as its good leg struggled to keep it upward. Spider-Man didn't stop, even as pain demanded he scream, flee and mend his wounds. Gritting his teeth, he moved in on the hunched over Lizard. Every second was a second that it healed, he had to take advantage of its pain, now.

Leaping up unto its back once more, he grabbed its muzzle with fingers, broken and unbroken, and its jaw with his good hand. Using all of his strength, he screamed in pain as he pried the jaws open. The Lizard resisted every second. Praying silently, he jerked the lower jaw side to side, breaking it, before forcing it downward. Oral cavity exposed, he finally yanked the canister out from his makeshift bandolier-and shoving it down into its mouth.

He leapt away as rapidly healing jaws clamped down on the silver canister, too late to stop the cure. Blood and antidote leaked from its mouth, over its teeth and down its bobbing throat as it swallowed. Slitted iris's enlarged, engulfing the eyes in pure black.

The Lizard spit the canister out, its head whipping around violently as it tore free of its web prison. The healing factor went into overdrive as it began to blindly swing its arms around , talons violently tearing the damaged, bloody walls further. For a moment, Peter feared its healing factor was stronger, signing his and everyone else's death warrant.

It didn't come after Spider-Man, however, instead it seemed to be fighting itself, it's body shaking and twitching. Landing on its back, the body convulsed as its tail thrashed. Suddenly, it slowed to near stillness, its right arm raised up, reaching out, before it fell apart. Bones shifted back to their normal place, and green scales disappeared to reveal peach colored skin.

Before him, Connors lay, shaking, sweaty, and aside from her missing arm, and scarring from her service, not a mark on her.

Spider-Man let out a breath, before going over to check on the doctor. "Doctor Connors? Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

"Oh God, my head, Jesus."

She shivered, and he realized how exposed she was, the dirty shredded labecoat had slid off of her. Looking around, he spotted a bathrobe in the master bedroom, the doorway already smashed open. With a thwip, he yanked it over. "Here."

As Cait shakily tied it, Billy's crying reached them.

"Billy?!" She staggered upward and toward Billy's room. Not in full control, her leg gave out, but Spider-Man caught her before she fell over, and helped her reach Billy's room. "Billy!" She called to him, and Billy scrambled from his spot into his mothers arms.

At the base of the stairs, Martin came to, his side burning up, head aching from the hard landing. Limping up the stairs, holding his side, he saw the collateral damage that was his hallway. Looking at the hero who sat against the wall, right beside his son's broken doorway.

Martin shuffled over to look inside, where he saw his wife and son. He sank back the floor in exhaustion, sighing deeply.

3:00 AM

For forty minutes, hot water and soap foam swirled around the drain as Cait did everything she could to scrub off the essence of the swamp. Scrubbing, rinsing, then scrubbing again. As soon as she was certain her skin and hair smelled like lavender, and not bogwater, she stepped out of the shower.

Going to Billy's room first, Cait wanted to be sure that he was asleep. The boy was out cold.

Slipping downstairs, she saw Martin in the kitchen, her ragged lab coat hung on a chair. Spidey sat across him.

"Feeling better doc?" The Web-Slinger asked. His suit was ripped open in multiple places, yet somehow held together. The white bandages under the costume barely hid the damage she had done...

"As good as I can? The throbbing in my head has all but gone, and my body feels sore. But what about you?"

"Me? This outfit gets wrecked all the time, it will be a bitch to stitch it back together, but it won't be the first time." First time it's been this bad though, holy shit. I guess I know where my photography money is going.

"I meant physically." Cait pointed at his hand, currently held together in a hybrid of Brace and splint. She wondered if he was hiding his pain.

"It will heal. I'm tougher than most, doc, don't worry."

"...I'm sorry." She said.

"You made a mistake, you're not condemned. This-" He gestured towards himself, "-wasn't really you, ya know? You're cured, family is safe, it's over."

"But the locals..." Martin wondered.

"Hate to say it, but let the locals believe there's still a 'Lizard' out there, in time, it will just be another myth." Getting up, Spider-Man made his way to the door. "It's time I headed out."

Cait got up and followed after him. Stopping at the front door, she grabbed his good hand gently before he could get out of reach.

"Spider-Man, you're still injured-" Cait wanted him to stay, he needed to recover safely. The medic in her wanted to make sure he was well. She would feel that way, even if she hadn't been the cause of his wounds. Yet she was the cause...she caused so much.

He turned around fully, and gently put a hand on her shoulder, doing his best to assure her. "It's not the first time I've done this. I'll be fine. You guys just take it easy, figure out your next step."

He let go, and with a mended three-finger salute, the red and blue clad hero leapt out, a web attaching itself to a thick tree branch. Cait and Martin watched Spider-Man swing further and further away, until he disappeared from visible sight. Turning, she made eye contact with Martin. They already knew the truth in each other's eyes.

"Let's talk outside, on the porch." He said, walking back to the kitchen to grab her rags.

Sitting outside together, it was quiet for a long minute. When Martin spoke, he did not mince words. "This cannot happen again."

"It wasn't supposed to-"

"That doesn't matter now. What matters is what it did, what it has done. We have to leave the Everglades, the whole state if we have to."

"My research-"

"People are dead, Cait." He cut her off. "You turned into a fucking dinosaur. Billy is probably going to be traumatized for life! Your research can be put on hold. I'm still trying to wrap my head around why? Fuck, we weren't going to lose the house. What drove you to test on yourself-"

"I just wanted you to fucking touch me!" Martin looked at her, stunned into silence. The explosion of anger was a gateway to tears, and for the first time in front of her husband, in years, Cait sobbed. "I didn't want to hurt anyone. I didn't."

Martin, sat quietly as his wife sobbed. Finally resigning his anger for the whole situation, he stroked his wife's back.

"I'm sorry, Cait."

They sat on their front porch, mourning the loss of their old lives. The Everglades resumed its natural soundscape, the calls of crickets and frogs, and the occasional splash of water.

2010

Empire State University

Peter had done it, he was here. He recognized the building, the same one in the photo taken many years ago, the photo that had mom, dad, and Cait Conners. And now he was here.

Peter Parker felt a mix of anticipation and dread, as he walked through the halls of Empire State University. Graduating by the skin of his teeth, he was thankful to have earned a scholarship for academic achievements, most of which were earned prior to his second life as the Web-Slinger.

As he entered his next class and took a seat, he noticed the professor wasn't present yet. Before he or anyone else could make assumptions, she entered. The right sleeve of her coat was empty, yet her left hand moved with practiced grace as she wrote her name on the board.

"Hello everyone, My name is Caitlyn Connors. You can call me Doctor Connors, or Professor, whichever you prefer. The only thing that matters to me is that you respect me, and your peers, and you work hard. I look forward to seeing all of you succeed."

2011

Green water, crickets chirping. Fish scatter. A dark shape is coasting above, its occupants oblivious. She glides through the water silently, her right arm reaches out, claws sharp-

Cait woke with a start, her body covered in a layer of cold sweat. The bedsheet on her side was down to her legs, Martin was oblivious in deep slumber. She swung her legs off the bed, and moved into a sitting position.

She remembered the Everglades, like she was still there, could still smell it, feel it. The memories were clear as day in her dreams, the week or so she spent as a reptilian hybrid. Sometimes, it felt so dreamlike. In many ways, she felt like a completely different person in those dreams. It was like the identity of Connors was eroded, fragments barely clinging to the animal she had become.

She walked into the bathroom, and took a good look at herself. Her arm was still gone, but the scars that marred her body had become noticeably fainter, less apparent, as though she had a dozen very successful skin-grafts. Sadly, it wasn't enough for Martin to want to touch her, especially after...

Shutting off the light, she walked to their kitchen to brew some tea. It helped calm her down, nowadays. Before, she would usually just have water at her bedside. After what happened, a strange thing occurred to her. Out of nowhere, clean drinking water would taste like swamp water. It occurred twice, the first time she thought it was a one time occurrence. The second time, it occurred in class and she had to pretend she had swallowed wrong.

Feeling calmer after drinking her tea, Cait went back to bed, hopeful for a dreamless sleep.

"Peter, could you stay back for a moment please?"

"You're in deep now, Mr. Parker." Harry teased, poking him in the ribs. "Dinner will be in the microwave."

"Get outta here." Peter gave him a friendly shove. Before turning to face Connors.

"Have a seat Peter." He did as he was told, and Connors liked that more than she should. Instead of standing above him, she took a seat beside him. "Peter, I'm concerned. You're one of my best, easily, but you're showing up late, if you do at all, and when you do, you're exhausted. A colleague told me about a term, once: 'Brilliant, but lazy'. Now I don't think you're lazy, so what's going on?"

"I-I think..." I need to regulate my time as a superhero. Peter Parker has responsibilities too. Still, there are certain things I can't walk away from. "I think I just have a lot on my plate, metaphorically and literally."

"Does this, by any chance, have anything to do with Miss Stacy?" Peter blushed. "It's okay, you know. What you do is none of my business, so long as it isn't affecting your education, because that is my job."

Peter felt called out, and it wasn't like she was wrong. Gwen did have something to do with it, distracting...in a good way. "I mean, that's a part of it, but not all of it. I mean, she's really pretty and smart. There are just...things going on."

"I know more about that than you know. But anyways, if that helps you, maybe you should just bite the bullet and talk to her." Peter seemed a little flustered still, and Connors suddenly thought of something. "They would have approved, you know, your parents."

Peter looked at her with eyes wide. Her warm Expression eased him into a more relaxed state, even as his eyes felt a little watery. "Thanks doc."

"Please, call me Cait."

Cait didn't really know how it started. She had come home around her usual time, but Martin was late, arriving fifteen minutes after her. He was usually home a full hour before her. His excuse was that he was late with an appointment, not unusual in itself, but...he smelled funny, flowery. One thing led to another...then-

"What about that Parker kid?! I forget you even have other students!"

Who started accusing who, she couldn't remember. Maybe it was a scathing comment from him, or maybe it was her. It seemed irrelevant, in hindsight. Then again, maybe it wasn't. Was it always this hard?

"I don't ignore any of my students, and you know he's different! The Parkers were my friends!"

"A bit more than that...when it came to-"

There was a near overwhelming surge of anger. Her voice was quiet and cold. "I told you that in confidence. It was nothing more than a crush, no different than a whore on a poster."

"Yeah? Well I didn't work with any of those girls, personally."

Cait gritted her teeth. "I. Respected. Them. And they. Respected. ME. Yes, I felt a bit more than that, once, but nothing happened, and things became different."

Cait couldn't look at him right now. She needed to leave, vent, before Billy came home and saw them arguing. Cait got her shoes on, as Martin couldn't help but continue. As she opened the door, he began to ask:

"Oh yeah? What changed?!"

"I met you!!"

SLAM!*

Empire State University,

Science Labs

Cait went to the lab-of course she went to the lab. She didn't like bars, and any good coffee shops were closed at this hour. Besides, the lab was a haven. A project to distract her, keep personal problems at bay, usually... but the fight with Martin made her directionless,

Then, Spider-Man's shadow interrupted her scientific study on drying paint.

"I hate to bother you doc-" He sounded regretful. "But I could sure use some help."

Spider-Man didn't go to her often, but enough to be expected. He was clearly roughed up, a nasty tango with empowered criminal the likely cause.

She waved him in. "How can someone I owe my life to, be a bother?"

The Rhino was back, and trying to finish what he started with Jameson. Spider-Man couldn't repeat what he did before to take him out, but he learned from last time. The big man wasn't as dumb as he seemed.

Cait wished for a sample of Rhino's hide, and the Web-Slinger granted it. He didn't want to explain how he got the piece. Telling Cait the short version: It involved a wrecking ball, destruction, and the city couldn't afford him trashing it just to chip off Rhinos armor bit by bit...if he got that far. Within hours, the pair worked to synthesize a counteragent

It was a wonderful thing, to watch a superhero who understood science, the labcoat around his uniform proving not to be for show. "It always amazes me that a masked crime fighter like you can also be such a capable scientist."

"Science was always my first love!"

"Science was always my first love! Then of course, I met Mary."

The memory flickered across her eyes, making her pause. The memory shoved her argument with Martin forward, her eyes becoming cloudy with thought. Her sudden hesitation caught Spider-Man's attention, who could tell something was wrong.

"What's wrong? Everything okay?"

Cait was hesitant to share the truth, but realized no one else would understand better, than the Web-Slinger. "My husband, we had an argument about-um, it was stupid. It doesn't help that he... doesn't like to touch me anymore. Not after..."

"Oh... doc..." In class, Cait carried herself so confidently, Peter assumed they had recovered from the incident. But he shouldn't have believed so, understanding better than anyone else would, what the family went through. He put a comforting hand on her back.

"While I understand where he's coming from, he should try to overcome it. You made a mistake doc, but you don't deserve to be unloved."

"I feel like I keep making mistakes. It doesn't help he thinks I-" She stopped.

"Thinks what? You can talk to me."

Cait hesitated, but confessed. "He's jealous of my Student...Peter."

The fuck? "Why?"

"Because Peter's activities of late have been concerning me, I've been talking about him. Long ago, I used to have... affection for his father, so of course, during our argument, he throws it in my face. He forgets that I got over it, and I got to know Mary, and I loved that woman. I loved them, adored them, and Peter was robbed more than I ever was. And now I'm telling you, because you've already seen my worst-what is this compared to Florida?" She slumped in her seat. "God, I'm so sorry, what the hell am I doing?"

In spite of the odd revelation, Peter put aside any and all confusion he had, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry you're going through that. He's not being fair, but Maybe there's more to it? Just give yourself some time."

One Hour Later

"Alright, this should work. Discharge it right, and it should cover most of him, he'll be vulnerable. Just give it a few minutes to work its magic, okay?"

"Thanks again, I'm sure it will work." He was about to leave, but felt the softest grazing of fingers on the back of his suit. Turning back, he saw Cait's hand retracted back, in a way that implied hesitation. "Doc?"

"Maybe, I can come with you, help you..." She wrapped her arm around herself, gripping her amputated side.

Peter realized what she was thinking, and couldn't allow it. "No, it's too much of a risk. You're one of the only friends I have, and I can't afford to lose you."

"You're right, I'm sorry." She knew why. He didn't say so, but people died because of her, and it wasn't worth the risk. She just hated not being able to do more.

Cait looked so sad, that Peter forgot he was Spider-Man for a moment, and pulled her into a hug. "Don't be, you helped me out, big time. Thank you."

He let go before Cait could process, and reciprocate. She watched him leap out, swinging from building to building, gracefully exiting into the nightscape of New York.

Empire State Employee Lounge.

Cait saw the pictures in the Bugle, taken after the rematch. It had worked, Spider-Man was able to expose the man beneath Rhino's hide. Peter had come into class, looking a little rough. He must have been up close and personal. She needed to have a talk with him about doing that, if not for Richard and Mary's sake, then just to put herself at ease... one less thing on her mind.

Cait felt her skin tingle, but thought nothing of it, it occurred, like the dreams of memory, or freshwater tasting like swamp. She was dwelling more on her eroding marriage, and tried instead to focus on the counsel from her "peers".

Cait didn't like to open up about her personal life, even with close friends. She confided in Spider-Man, moreso than others, and why she did so she couldn't fathom. Still, She had managed to become friends with her new colleagues, enough that they gossiped with her, and knew enough about her own troubles.

Andrea Janson was a hematologist and molecular biologist. Significantly younger than her peers, or at least looked and acted like it; Perfect tanned skin, full lips and blonde hair. She had the type of look that Cait always envied. Despite the contrast, she treated Cait like a friend, and was honest, if a bit crass. "So, when's the last time you and your man fucked?"

"It's been three years, almost four." Cait couldn't exactly tell her the exact reason why.

Andrea nodded, matter of factly. "He's fucking around Cait, I guarantee it."

"What? No, I mean..."

"Theory, not fact." Marina Caches, neurologist, added for Cait's sake. Closer to Cait's age, she had more finesse in the emotional spectrum than some of their more scientific peers. Her work often involved the study of addicts and the effects chemicals have over their brains.

"Is he asexual? Listen Cait, men are horny, and get horny easily. There are certainly ways around your... problem. If he hasn't touched you like that, it means he's found some side-action." Andrea was convinced.

"Don't compare her marriage to your botched island romance." Marina interjected.

Andrea shrugged "What happens in the Caribbean stays in the Caribbean."

Marina took note of Cait's unfocused stare, and squeezed her hand gently. "Cait, you should still try your best to make your marriage work. That being said, don't be afraid of the concept of divorce, separation, annulment, whatever term makes you feel better. You both can still work together to raise Billy, and raise him right. My ex husband, Carlos, was not a cheater, but he was clearly married to his work more than me. He didn't want to change that, so we made the best agreement we could. He's still a part of our son's life."

There was a time that Cait would never consider such a concept. Yet, the state of her marriage wasn't something she expected either. "I mean...is that really possible?"

"Even though I separated from Carlos, we both agreed, that Fabian is the most important part of our lives. Sometimes... people just grow apart. It doesn't have to be anyone's fault.

Later That Day

ESU Science Lab

She stayed at the University late, not feeling ready, mentally or emotionally, to face Martin. Not with the thoughts clouding her mind, and her judgment.

Despite Marina's comforting words, a sick feeling pooled in Cait's stomach, as Andrea's implications were ingrained into her mind for the rest of the workday. It wasn't like she was ignorant of the concept, remembering previous tours in the military, fellow men and women removing their wedding rings on the flight to whatever hellhole they were headed. Cait was disgusted by such actions, but could do little about it.

If Martin really wanted to separate... Who's to say that's what he wants? Maybe she should try harder for her marriage first? What if he wants to fix it just like her? What if he doesn't?! But the idea of him-

Is-is Martin cheating on me? No, NO he wouldn't. I mean why would he, he wouldn't be so jealous of Peter that...Unless he was already cheating...

But would it have really started after her... transformation? She had been hideous for years. Looking at the oddly shaped beakers and flasks on her table, her reflection was distorted, body bent into odd, unappealing shapes.

Martin had to relieve his own stress like I've had to. But it's not like I have options, even if I was that kind of woman. He is complete, whole, unlike me.

The image of him picking up women at a bar, thrusting into them in a cheap hotel room before coming home... it made her hand shake uncontrollably with rage. The memory of him showing up an hour late, smelling like-

If he did... Goddamn him-I will gut him like a fish! I will cut his belly open with my claws and rip into him with my teeth-??!?!

An intense tingling in her right side grew , before turning into something like a cramp, as intense pain traveled into the stump of her arm. Feeling with her fingers, it was growing, and to her horror, she felt the texture of scales. By the time the neurons in her brain could fire off in alarm, they were overwritten entirely by the other.

Uncertain fear became righteous hatred. Hatred for Martin, hatred for her coworkers, hatred for Spider-Man.

Hatred for all of humanity.

"Peter,"

"Hmm?" Peter

"Is everything okay?" Gwen

In reality, being "okay" could mean a lot of things. For Peter, everything was okay, or as okay as it could be. He was just tired, and he told her so. "Just tired, long night."

"I have to be honest, I get concerned for you Peter. I don't want to jump to conclusions, like I did when we first met."

"Don't worry about that."

"But I do! I was the new girl, I thought you had this attitude. I didn't try to understand. Had I chosen to go to London for school, I would still be ignorant of what you were really like. "She shook her beautiful head. "What I'm trying to say... is that I know you are not telling me something. I know it's not another woman or something...but I know its important."

He wanted to tell her, by god he did. Maybe he should, if Gwen is going to be involved in his life like this. But the moment he tells her, that's it, he can't close the box. But, would she still want to be with him? Would she even let him explain the things he couldn't before?

Gwen would know he's Spider-Man, whether or not she accepts his identity. She would be involved, moreso than ever. Yet, how dare he pull someone into his life so intimately, without letting them know what they are getting into. If he was serious, she had a right to know.

He opened his mouth, unsure if he was about to tell another lie, or if he was getting ready to tell her the truth.

"Breaking News, the reptiles are loose! New York is experiencing a strange phenomena, as reptiles of all sizes and shapes have broken out of their containments at New York Zoo!"

The News interrupted their usual broadcast. At first, Peter thought it was ridiculous. Then, an uneasy feeling filled his stomach. It couldn't be...but could it? He knew he would sleep unless he checked, and he knew that meant he'd have to find an excuse to delay this conversation.

Dammit...

Spider-man first investigated the lab, since it was on the way to Connor's apartment. The mess he found; The shattered glass, broken table, and claw marks, told him enough. He headed to the apartment next, to make sure The Lizard hadn't made its way to Martin and Billy yet.

Spider-man knocked on the window, and it quickly opened. He couldn't describe Martin's expression upon seeing him. Not happy, not sad.

"I know that I'm-"

"Never a good sign. It's happening, again." Martin interjected. He turned around, Spider-Man hoped that was an indicator he was allowed inside. "I watch the news, I hoped it wasn't what I thought it was."

Unfortunately, it seemed to be the case. Cait hadn't come home. It wasn't the same as before, but the solution remained the same.

"Connors had a lab here... do you mind if I-"

Martin opened a door, revealing a small lab setup. It was the kind Peter wished he could afford as a kid. "I believe she held onto the files for everything, but most importantly...the cure."

That's what Spider-Man was counting on, as he combed through the lab carefully. Knowing his way around a lab, and being around Cait long enough, it didn't take long to find what he was looking for. The antidote's canister was a new design. The Doc must have refined it for an easier "delivery".

On his way out, he was intercepted by Billy, who seemed more somber than a ten year old should be.

"My mom's in danger, you'll help her, right? You saved her the last time." He was putting on a brave face, but his eyes betrayed him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Spider-Man looked at Martin. The man's face was neutral, nothing said, or done, that implied Billy knew anything regarding the truth about his mother, only that she was in danger. The Web-Slinger got down to eye level with one of his biggest fans.

"I promise you, I'll do everything I can."

Spider-Man figured the best place to find The Lizard, was among lizards. The reptiles of the zoo had already been recruited, so that left pet shops. Lizard seemed to break in at night, when less witnesses would be around. Peter was doubtful it-she was afraid of being "caught", or confronting humans, she just didn't want her movements tracked. At least, that's what he guessed, but if it was true, it meant that Lizard had intelligence, this time around.

When he found her, at an exotic pet store on a more vacant part of New York City, it was more luck and chance, then actual tracking. A lithe reptilian form, long limbs, a shredded white coat barely hanging on, and those plum colored pants she sometimes wore, it was unmistakable. She was casually ripping open cages, releasing all kinds of invasive species. Spider-Man felt a knot in his stomach at the sight of her. He had fought a lot of bad fellas since the Everglades, some bigger and stronger, but she was different. He felt wounds from that first fight, that had long since healed.

She noticed him first, a sniff in the air before twisting her sleek neck in his direction, eyes shining in the night. He was tempted to quip at the reptilian, in hopes of gaining a sense of normalcy for this-

"Ssspider-Man."

Peter's heart froze, his quip slipping into nonexistence.

The Lizard can talk?!

"Cait?"

The Lizard bared her teeth in a snarl, or grin, as it used its tail to fling a now empty cage at the Web-Head. Spider-Man dodged, and braced as the Lizard lunged for him, teeth targeting his throat.

SHATTER*

The Lizard smashed through the painted display windows of the storefront. Rolling unto a quadruped position, the sleek reptilian neck craned up, looking left to right, before darting to the left.

Spider-Man hopped out, barely recovered from his smashing reunion with Lizard, who was running at full speed towards a busy street.

Oh no.

The Lizard smashed into a car, sending it spinning, its side crashing into a fire hydrant. Spider-Man leapt onto the car and peered in, immediately noting the passengers as shaken, but alive. He web-zipped himself across the street to resume pursuit.

The Lizard slipped into the common New York traffic jam, one that carried led all the way to the bridge. It looked back, seeing her nemesis check on the pink-skins that dared get in the way of escape. Lips curled back, the intuitive part of the brain that belonged to Cait decided to experiment. Using monstrous strength, the Lizard flip several over violently. Taking note of Spider-Man's actions, an even more vile thought came.

Spider-Man saw the Lizard moving at full speed up the bridge. He would lose the chase once the Lizard dove into the water.

But she didn't. Instead, rushing into a taxi cab, it dug its claws into the rusted yellow frame, and launched it over the bridge. Spider-Man moved fast, simultaneously connecting a web to the bridge, the other to the taxi. He strained as he connected the two web lines together. Web-zipping upward unto the bridge, he caught sight of the ongoing rampage.

People fled their vehicles in an attempt to escape. Lizard tipped Cars onto their side, swiping at whoever got in the way. A claw connected with a man's neck, death was instantaneous. A car was purposely shoved into a pedestrian, pinning her between vehicles.

Spider-Man tried to keep up, but as he reached the already dead man, Another car over the bridge, then another, before Lizard finally dove into the water below.

Spider-Man had to help these people. He just hoped the device he had slapped on The Lizard's back earlier would work long enough. He moved with focus, pushing abandoned cars aside gently to clear the way for paramedics, and assisting them in retrieving the injured.

A reptilian head emerged from the water a fair distance away from the bridge. Slitted red eyes watched the red and blue hero swing about to assist the people on the bridge, before submerging soundlessly below the waves.

Several people had died, Peter would have to carry that weight, and if-no-when he saved Cait, he knew she would feel that weight too. He refused to believe that...thing was truly Cait; she loved life, cherished it. The Lizard serum, it had to have twisted her mentally, as well as physically...perhaps he couldn't prove that yet, but he will.

The tracker was a work in progress, but thankfully, it seemed to work long enough for him to get the data he needed. The data he received gave him an idea of where the Lizard had gone. Unfortunately, as he expected, it was deep below the city.

The underground maze that was the New York sewer system was practically a city in itself. The Web-Slinger had occasionally been a tourist, whether it was to "flush out" a gang hideout, or a thief and/or supervillain tried to make their escape. It was a system of pipes and tunnels, leading to more pipes and tunnels, some the size you would expect, others so wide, their systems so elaborate, Peter couldn't help but wonder at the workers who had to make repairs when something broke.

Spider-Man was crawling along the wall of a more "traditional" tunnel, when he saw a shape. At first it seemed to be a homeless man sleeping on cardboard. More than once he had encountered people, who, for one reason or another, found themselves making home. Some had bad luck, others were druggies, most were just trying to survive.

Crawling closer, a blood stain spilled into the water. Peter checked for a pulse, and wordlessly mourned.

Another life...that makes...no, no point in counting. One was enough... one is already too many.

How many more would die, if he didn't stop this now?

Suddenly, an echo, the sound of metal smacking together. He followed it carefully, and came upon a strange scene.

The Lizard was using a haphazard makeshift lab. There were no computers, everything was analog. Connors was in the middle of clamping down a device onto an alligator's back, It looked like it could hold a container. Peter's eyes moved to the large container, like a comically enlarged parody of an office water machine. The massive jug glowed bright green, and there were empty tubes, waiting to be filled.

Oh my god, she's weaponizing the formula.

Spider-Man seemed to already have Lizard's plan outlined in his mind. Those reptiles, carrying the serum, would go to forests, lakes, anywhere and everywhere. When those set off... he imagined it spreading beyond the city, across the entire state of New York. People and animals alike would either mutate or die. Then, if no one was able to contain it, the government would...sanitize.

Connors had only attached the serum to a few reptiles, so Spider-Man decided to strike first. The Web-Slinger started by falling free, webbing the ceiling as he fell and maneuvering a swing-kick right into The Lizard, sending the mutate off the floor and into the water stream below. Immediately webbing down the reptiles that were armed with serum, he leapt onto the glowing container and was thankful he felt plastic.

Loading one of his cures, he stabbed one side in. A reinforced hypodermic needle speared through, releasing anti-serum, ruining the batch. The Lizard released a roar, slashing at Spider-Man, barely grazing the Web-Slinger's back, leaving thin red lines.

The Web-Slinger twisted, and sent a kick into The Lizards side, knocking her into exposed machinery, and roared as her tail was caught. Swinging its head with superb flexibility, Lizard chomped down on its own tail, severing it. Pain fueled its violent slashes at Spider-Man, who Jumped away to safety.

To his horror, She picked up a plastic milk jug, containing sources of serum, at its feet, biting into it, Lizard swallowing glowing, mutagenic fluid.

"No!" Spider-Man lunged, slamming into the Lizard. Both crashed into the floor before Spider-Man leaped up and away to avoid a swiping claw.

Veins gained a glowing intensity, as the Lizard's muscles made a small but noticeable increase in size, and its rapidly healing tail regenerated even faster.

"Humanity sick-humanity is sick! Can cure them!" She hissed as it swiped at Spider-Man, failing to make contact. He returned the favor with a kick into the sternum, knocking the reptilian back.

"It's not a cure, it's a toxin!"

The Lizard rumbled as it glared at its enemy. "You are the only one who does not fear! Once I destroy you, all mankind will tremble before The Lizard."

In spite of her words, she threw herself into the rushing sewer water, disappearing. Spider-Man followed the path. Water diverged into holes too small for Lizzie to slip into, leaving only the path forward. Flowing water flowed downward like a waterfall.

Lowering himself down on a webline, much like the arachnids he was inspired by, Spider-Man entered a massive circular space. Sewer tunnels surrounded the area, leading all over the system. It would take forever to investigate each one, and by the time he was done, Lizard could have moved into one he had checked, or was already on the surface wreaking havoc.

He shot two web lines, connecting them. Then, he shot another two, and another. He continuously spun a web until he had a network expanding into each tunnel. All he needed to do was feel a vibration. He waited patiently, not letting his guard down.

He felt one, but before he could move another vibrated, then several. Shadows stretched into the dimly lit tunnels surrounding him. Any one of them could have been Cait, but each one he saw turned out to be a reptile of some kind. Some were more like the common housepet, others were the more exotic variety from the zoo. It must have been a feint-

SPLASH*

He leapt, as Lizzie came from below. Propelling too fast, it rocketed upward to him before he could maneuver away, and they landed together on metal grating.

Both of his hands were busy, wrapped around the scaly wrists of claws attempting to maim him. His right foot pushed into Lizard's torso, to keep snapping jaws from taking a chunk of flesh. He made one more attempt.

"Cait... I know you are in there... Come back!"

The Lizard hissed aggressively, loathing any reference to her human self.

"Cait isn't here. Only The Lizard! She is gonnne!"

"No she's not!!"

He drew both of his legs back, and let her lunge forward, as he kicked, snapping her saurian head upward. Letting go entirely, his hands touched the floor, and he coiled himself for a brief second before springing himself into The Lizard like a corkscrew.

Spider-Man leapt up, drawing the cure like a weapon, ready to impale it into the reptilians chest. The Lizard, sprung back fast, and intercepted the Web slinger mid-leap-both fell with a heavy-

SPLASH*

The water was travelling at such high speed, neither could react before they were sucked down into the vortex.

They were traveling through a tube. Spider-Man held his breath, but he wouldn't be able to hold out for long, not while struggling with Cait. The Lizard was in her element, Spider-Man was barely able to maneuver around her claws.

His mouth opened, and he swallowed water. In his last conscious moments, he parried away a claw, and drove his arm upward, the dual-needle spearing through under her jaw.

1991

"Have you thought of baby names?" Cait asked, once Mary had a moment during the baby shower. It was still hard for her to process, even as the evidence was right in front of her.

"Of course." Mary said, putting a hand on her growing belly. "We were considering a few names, Richard Junior, Ben, but we like one in particular-"

2012

The Lizard's weight plowed through the grate, taking the brunt of the landing as they were vomited out of the tube. Spider-Man was rolled off of the Lizard roughly as she went on all fours, shaking and wheezing. violently ripping out the injector out of her neck. She attempted to crawl away, before freezing, then vomiting the excess water and fluid from its stomach, as scales, tail, and right arm withered away into dust in the air.

Cait Connors woke up on her side, coughing, feeling once again a most intense hangover. Already having some idea of what happened she forced herself up, unable to stop the shivers from her nude form, nor her panting from enduring the transformation. "You did it again, Spider-Man... Spider-Man?"

She looked around, and spotted him laying on the wet ground. He was still, and with faint memories of the last few minutes before the cure took hold, she realized immediately what was wrong.

He drowned!

Cait ignored the pain in her body, violently crawling to the man with all her strength. She rushed to perform CPR, and in her panic, she took off the mask entirely. His face, The chocolate hair, the sharp features she would never forget. It had to be a nightmare, it had to be.

"Peter?!"

No...no no NO!

With long practiced form, Cait switched from straddling Peter, performing one handed presses, to quickly bending herself to properly blow air into Peter's lungs.

"Peter!!"

Please, God, whatever God exists, don't do this. Don't take Richard's child. PLEASE!!

Peter suddenly expelled water, and Cait turned him on his side so he could proceed vomiting. Once he stopped, he leaned his head on the metal grating as he breathed heavily. She rested her hand shakily on his head. "Thank you, thank you..."

The sound of footsteps were numerous as they echoed. Cait pulled the mask halfway, leaving Peter's nostrils and mouth exposed to air. Light engulfed them as armored agents surrounded the area. Guns were aimed around, before pointing at Cait.

"Please, help him."

The Next Day

The Raft

Cait, clean of sewer water, and wearing a blue jumpsuit, sat wearily in an isolated cubicle. A glass wall divided the rooms in two. All things considered, she wasn't pushed around or treated harshly, quite the opposite. They were cautious, very cautious, and no matter how nice they were, Cait knew their hands were ready to draw if she so much as turned green.

It was fair, especially considering the story she told Director Fury, who was a patient man to listen to all of it, as Cary Armstrong stood firm by him. It shocked Connors more to know they had in fact, been keeping tabs on her since Florida. They needed to be sure she wasn't going to have another episode. Things had been so calm for her the past few years, and then suddenly, it occurred again. Unfortunately, by the time they mobilized, Spider-Man had already been on the case, and had almost died, again, saving her from herself.

Now, she was going to be here at this... Raft. Fury told her it was more complicated than being a prisoner. She had a condition, and it was clear that The Lizard wasn't completely gone, even now.

The door slid open, and Martin came in, escorted by guards. His hair was a bit messy, clothes disheveled, it was clear he hadn't rested. A glass wall divided them, but they could hear each other, clear as day.

"Martin, I'm glad you're here. I-"

"I'm going to Florida. Billy is coming with me."

She stopped, her thoughts derailed. "What?" He wasn't looking at her. "Martin I'm-"

"You said that you wouldn't attempt this again."

"I didn't! It was the chemicals I used to help Spider-Man, it wasn't supposed to affect me like that. It was a mistake! I swear to you, this isn't something I did on purpose. You know me!"

Martin's expression didn't change. "I'm going to let Billy see you, before we leave. I'll let him come back to visit."

Martin stood up to leave, turning his back on his wife.

"Martin..." She called out to him, but he didn't stop, walking out the door and leaving her alone, once more.

"So that's what's going on."

Spider-Man recovered well enough. He had been around the block since fighting The Lizard the first time. Besides near-death by drowning, he had sustained less injuries this time around.

There was no barrier between them as Spider-Man sat beside Cait on her new bed, his unique status allowed some breathing room.

This was his fault, he could've asked for help elsewhere, could've found another way. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have involved you, and because I did, this happened-"

"NO." Cait aggressively, almost violently disagreed, but reigned herself in quickly. "No... It wasn't your fault I didn't take precautions...It's my fault...back then it was, and it's my fault now." She felt the urge to suddenly admit. "When you asked me for help, I was so happy. Happy to do something good."

Cait didn't want to talk about it anymore. She couldn't do anything about it, neither could... that's right. There was a revelation that had to be addressed... carefully.

"Spider-Man?" He looked at her. "I want to clear the air while I have the chance. In the sewer, you had drowned, I had to give you CPR. I know."

He paled under the mask. "So you do."

There was nothing threatening in Cait's gaunt face, only a small glimmer of pride. "It's okay. That's what I wanted to tell you, it's okay. I will only advise, that you tell the people in your life, but only the most important people."

He nodded thoughtfully, then said. "Well then, I'm happy you know."

Cait couldn't speak, she only smiled tearfully as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I don't understand, why do you have to stay here. Are you in trouble?"

He should know the truth. He will, one day. Not like this.

"Billy, I'm sick. Do you remember how I use chemicals in my work? I made a mistake, and I'm unwell. Right now, I'm here for everyone's safety. It's not going to be forever, okay?"

"But you're fine right now..."

But I could hurt you, I could have this entire time without realizing it. If I was at home, when I changed...

"I am fine right now, but I might not be tomorrow. I want nothing more than to go home with you and Daddy, but I have to do this, for you...okay?"

He hugs her tightly. Cait has to resist the urge to hold him too tightly. Unseen guns were ready to put her down, if she started to change, or show aggression.

"I love you mom."

She doesn't want to let him go, but she has to. "I love you, and that will never change. No matter what happens to me, remember that."

One Month Later

The Raft

"You described your time as The Lizard to Dr. Kafka as 'blackouts', but different, can you explain that to me?" The man was a doctor, same as Kafka, but apparently they wanted a second opinion. It must have been a precaution, despite Ashley's well earned credentials. She didn't blame them for being cautious.

"When I transformed, the first time and...last time, It was like being blackout drunk. When I came to, cured, I had no idea how I got to where I was, I felt sick, off. At that moment I don't remember anything about what occurred."

He scribbles into his notepad, even as their conversation was taped.

"But later, it comes back to you?"

"When I dream...I remember pieces more vividly. At first I thought they were just dreams, interpretations, but the locations, the people, all of it was too real and familiar. I'd remember them even after I woke up, like buried memories."

"How do you feel when you wake up? When you remember?"

The water, the blood, tearing flesh and crushing bone. My heartbeat hammering as my throat lets out a roar of fury.

"...I feel sick..."

The room was quiet as Cait let the man process her answer. Certain he wasn't going to ask another question, she asked her own.

"Be honest with me, am I going to be locked up for the rest of my life?"

Doctor Mousey put his notes down, making it clear that he was here for her. "Cait, I don't think you are evil, and you are far from insane. It will be a hard road, but I strongly believe you have a good chance of reintegration into society."

"We are talking about mutations that alter our bodies rapidly at a physical level. It is completely ignorant to believe such changes, whether they are genetic or not, do not affect the individual's psyche."

-Excerpt from "The Human Mutate", written by Dr. Leonard Samson.

Connors Trial, Day One

Connors had been optimistic as of late. She has not changed since her incarceration. She was monitored closely, given psyche evals by trained professionals. It seemed like her case would be in her favour.

Dave Hopkins was nicknamed "Cowboy", and boy, did he own every centimeter of that role. If it wasn't his southern suit, or his suede boots, his thick mustache, and the damn hat, which for some reason he wore to court, it was his confidant swagger. The bold personality was reminiscent of a hundred televised cowboys, John Wayne style.

All of which would be amusing, if he wasn't trying to give Cait the death penalty. Hopkins played hardball. He was able to procure multiple statements from people, to pictures of graphic nature displaying The Lizard's crimes in full view. People maimed, property damage, and a number of tombstones...

"We are talking about several people dead, and several others mutilated. Where is their justice?" He was addressing the Jury. "First in the Everglades, then in New York, the number of those affected in the latter is even greater. Take for example, Hayley Mitts, whose legs were pinned between two cars, and still walks with a cane."

"Objection your Honor." Matt Murdock stood tall and firm, red shades betraying nothing. "While it is true that the second rampage had done more damage to property, less people died. Also, while Hayley Mitts's injuries should not be underplayed, her situation is optimistic. Her physical therapist says that she will make a full recovery. Secondly-"

"And what of her mental recovery?" Hopkins interrupted.

"Once again optimistic, by her own account, she barely got a look at The Lizard, before she was pinned between two vehicles." Matt didn't give Hopkins an opening. "The second transformation was also unintentional, and completely unexpected. Connors had not had a reaction after the first time for years, Even without counting the mental trauma she has endured, Cait Connors is just as much a victim-"

Connors Trial, Day Fifteen

"Doctor Kafka, both you and Doctor Mousey not only assessed the defendant, but also have been involved in weekly therapy sessions since her relocation to the Raft. Correct?"

"Yes, Mr. Murdock."

"You and Doctor Mousey have shared notes, and both of you have come to very similar conclusions. Is this also true?"

"Yes."

"And what is your shared assessment of Caitlyn Connors?"

"Caitlyn Connors has felt nothing but guilt from the moment she had regained her mental state. Her time as the Lizard could be compared to being unintentionally exposed to brain chemical altering drugs. A blackout state where you are completely out of your mind. If Caitlyn had truly been in control, she never would have acted in such a way."

Murdock faced the direction of the Jury. "I would like to add that Doctor Kafka is considered one of the best doctors in the country, and her expertise is in the treatment of super criminals."

Connors Trial, Day Thirty-Six

"Cait Connors, please stand." She stood, ready for her fate. "You made a decision, that gravely affected the lives of many people. This cannot be ignored. However, no one could anticipate the outcome of what occurred, and I believe you are sincerely regretful of your other's actions. I emphasize the use of 'other', as it is clear this Lizard has a distinct personality, mentality, and instinct that is in simple words, inhuman. A separate entity, who unfortunately shares your flesh. Therefore I hereby declare-"

2014

"Connors, You have a letter from Florida." It was Cait's favorite part of the day, although that would be changing soon. She had followed through on her commitments, and soon, would return to society. Technically, she would still be serving a term, still be observed, but she would be free.

Cait didn't hide her excitement, as she retrieved her letter from the dropbox. She was used to getting letters from Billy, who constantly wrote to her, about anything and everything. Soon, they could spend time together, and not bound by-

Immediately she knew it wasn't from Billy. The letter was... professional. Opening it, Cait read carefully. Still as she processed the words, her hands slowly began to shake, as tears fell onto the papers. Fingers bent the paper inwards as she stopped herself from reading, knowing the end result regardless.

Martin...

It was a bad day, for many.

"Peter Parker is here to see you. Do you want him in?"

The guard was far more polite than he needed to be, even if she did have the right to refuse visitors. Maybe he saw her breakdown as she processed the divorce papers she had been sent. Maybe he was just paid enough to be polite.

"Yes, please."

It still surprised Cait, and Peter, that he was given access so easily. Sure, his alter ego let the managers of this fine establishment know Peter Parker was safe, and trustworthy, that didn't mean that they had to listen.

Did she even bother telling Peter? Maybe she should-

Peter entered her room. His clothes were rumpled, hair unkept. However, it was his face, especially his eyes. She knew the look. "Peter? Peter, what happened?"

He moved robotically, as he sat down. "Gwen... she's..." He stopped, and before Cait could ask, his composure disappeared, as he fell to his knees. "Gwen is...oh god..."

"Peter!?"

"He took her- she was falling... I-Spider-Man didn't- I didn't!"

Cait took him into her arm. His arms wrapped around her in desperation, weeping. Once again, Cait felt so helpless, as someone she cared about suffered.

Two Weeks Later

The door knob turned smoothly, as Cait and Peter entered the home. Already furnished, and stocked ahead of time. It was nice, and hollow. A house for three, only housing one.

"This looks pretty nice. You have some peace and quiet, surrounded by nature. Cops aren't five minutes away if you need them." He was rambling, he knew he was. Cait still had a vacant, numbed expression as she looked around the living room. "You're not in a cell anymore, and you got visitation rights. Billy will be happy to see you again."

"Will he?" Cait sat on the couch. "It really was my fault. I saw that the rabbit had healed, and I was ecstatic! I didn't wait, I didn't consider that there could have been a delayed reaction, nor did I consider that the human metabolism might react even faster. Billy has mentally blocked out the incident, but he has nightmares. It... me...stalking through the house...tearing apart the door of his room, jaws snapping at him...trying to get him...I did that. I feel like I've missed so much of his life. He's had several years without me, what has Martin told him?"

Peter took a seat beside her. "I don't believe Martin would smear you like that, regardless of how things have gone."

"When Billy figures out what really happened. He may never see me the same way...he might even hate me."

He shook his head. "No he won't, that kid loves you too much."

Peter did too much for her. Cait knew he was still hurting inside. That he was still out there, doing his thing, was a testament to his will. It was quiet in the empty house once more. Cait decided to change subjects. "I got my job back, if you can believe it."

It was bittersweet of course. Peter heard, when Warren had been informed of Gwen's death, he had left without a word. No resignation, no notice, nothing. With a few pulled strings and the truth of Cait's sudden resignation kept quiet, she could return without too much fuss. That didn't mean nobody knew, it simply meant those that did pretended not to. "I heard they are getting you an assistant?"

"Yes, I've already met him. He isn't S.H.I.E.L.D., but he meets their criteria, and mine. A bit bumbling, but I've seen him at work, I think he'll do just fine."

"And they trust him? Do you?"

"I think he's harmless, but I can't be picky. Besides, they never find anyone I can trust as much as I trust you."

???

Cait felt the usual sluggishness that came with a reverse transformation. While her body could not physically catch up, her mind already was in existential dread. How long was I out? Who did I hurt? Where am I?

She had expected some kind of sewer, to be looking up at a stained wall of a tunnel, covered in something slimy. She expected darkness and that odor that her scaly half seemed to have no problem with.

Instead, she was looking at the cosmos, a view you could not get on earth. The stars were brighter, several seemed to fly across headed toward unknown Destinations. Nebulas were in clear view, the brightly colored clouds illuminating the dark vacuum of space. Several shooting stars seemed to breeze by so casually. Her view was obscured by a black shape, with pure white eyes. "Doc? You okay?"

"Spider-Man? Please tell me I didn't hurt anybody."

"Nope, not at all. I'm just thankful you woke up, before we used the teleporter."

Teleporter? "Teleporter?"

As her mind became clear, Cait realized several things. One, she was surrounded by essentially every known superhero, as well as several other groups. The Avengers, the Fantastic Four, except, where was Ben Grimm? Even that group that called themselves the X-Men. She also realized, Peter's arms were around her, his suit...

"Your suit, when did it change? How long was I out? Actually, where the hell are we?"

"In order, I got a fancy repair, and honestly, not that long, a few weeks at most-"

Cait panicked at the word weeks. "Oh God, I've been gone for weeks, they are going to put me back in the Raft, I'm not going to be able to see Billy-"

"Cait, relax. Time moved differently in Battleworld. It's probably only been a few days on Earth."

Coat breathed deeply, feeling herself relax back into Peter's arms, her limbs still weak. "Battleworld?"

"Yes. We were literally abducted, everyone here can vouch for you, like Janet here."

On cue, a small gold light flew in front of her before growing into the superheroine Wasp. "I'm Glad to see you're okay. Spider wasn't kidding about your other half being vicious."

"Did I hurt you? Either of you?" Janet shook her head, but Peter looked away. "P-Spider-Man.."

"Tis but a scratch, besides, I'm already on the mend."

"Okay, okay but...You let me take a look when we get back okay? Can you do that for me?"

"Sure doc."

"It's ready to go Reed." Said a stocky man, who Cait later learned was actually Ben Grimm. "Who's going first?"

New York

Spider-Man asked to be dropped off with Cait. He didn't have anywhere he needed to be, and she was going to need a day and a half to recollect.

With a flash, they were in her living room. A loud thumping was heard, a door swinging open as a plump man with a slipper in his hand, ready to fight, paused mid-step.

"Doctor Connors!" Aldo Quadrini saw the two, and shock became relief. "Thank goodness, I wasn't sure what I was going to do if you didn't come back-oh, nice suit Spidey."

"Thanks."

"But where the heck were you guys??" Aldo asked again.

"Battleworld." Both replied.

"...What?!"

"We were kidnapped, abducted, et cetera, et cetera. A bunch of heroes were."

Aldo was silent for a long minute, but, as a New Yorker, he accepted it quickly. "Wow...you will have to tell me the whole story later. I wouldn't worry about your absence too much. If several big time heroes suddenly going MIA didn't raise some eyebrows, well, an entire section of Denver disappearing did. I'll let everybody know you both are accounted for... unless you guys need help with anything?"

Cait shook her head. "No, but thanks Aldo. I think I need to just get some real clothing and a good night sleep. You go home, get some well earned sleep yourself."

Aldo nodded, excusing himself as he got on his phone, he was already in contact with an agent as he headed out the door. When the door shut, it was an awkward silence. Aside from the literal misadventure that they both apparently had, they couldn't exactly just initiate small talk.

Peter tried to take advantage of that silence to excuse himself. "Well, I should get out of your hair as well-"

Peter began to move, but Cait's hand held him back. She pointed at the couch.

"Nuh uh, suit off." He wasn't about to run off without a check-up. Cait doubted Lizard was of any help on Battleworld, nor good company. When Peter was about to make another excuse, she used the tone of Billy's mother. "Peter."

"Alright, alright." He gently plopped onto the cushion, and then he just... pulled it apart. It opened for him like a zip up, except he had no zipper. Her questions for the suit slipped her mind, as she saw the fresh scars running down his chest, scars she had made. They were fading pink, but once she took note, she couldn't unsee them.

The suit was off of his arms and torso, and she analyzed him, noting other, familiar claw marks. Exploring his chest, she touched the scars. A pulse reverbed in her brain, as she suddenly felt her memory return, of how she gave him those scars.

"Doc?" Peter inquired.

She didn't look up at him. "Why is it, that for every time you've helped me, I only seem to hurt you more..."

He shook his head. "That's not true. You've been helping people for years. And it's not you that's hurting me it's... the other."

Cait should have stopped touching him. Her hand grazed the bruised muscles, felt the bones for breaks or fractures. She could and would argue that she was genuinely checking him for injuries, but she knew it was unnecessary.

Peter humored her medical curiosity, it's not like he enjoyed her touch... Nor was he admiring how...soft she appeared. Somehow she hadn't aged in the years since, time only seemed to make her younger, or was that... the Toxin?

"I could argue that it's still me Peter. Scales or not. I can't hide behind that, not when I..." She trailed off, uncertain. "What would Richard say if he knew what I did? What I've done, to you?"

"I didn't know my dad, my biological dad I mean. But if I take after him so much...I think he'd have appreciated all that you've done. I also think, that as your friends, neither of them would give up on you. I know I won't."

Why do you forgive me, so easily?

Instinctively, she pulled him close. She didn't know what her goal was, he didn't ask for comfort. Maybe it was for herself, her own selfish needs after being abandoned by her husband. Maybe she was trying to offer thanks to the man who refused to give up on her, who understood her better than anyone else possibly could. He held her in return, and Cait felt safe. Safe from The Lizard, safe from the whole world.

For Peter, it was just nice to feel someone trying to comfort him. Ease the burden put on his shoulders everyday, instead of adding more to it. Maybe Cait was just trying to tell him, again, that she was sorry. Still, the hug was nice.

She let go of him, and he thought he saw something in her eyes, but she quickly averted her gaze. "So, this suit, what does it feel like when you wear it?"

"Soothing, like a warm bath."

2015-April

Cait sat on a bench, waiting, as travelers boarded and exited trains that came and went. It wouldn't be the first time Billy had visited, he had seen her multiple times while she was in the Raft for "treatment". He has also stayed with her several times since her release into society, again, with supervision. She was excited, and nervous.

Billy's train should be arriving from Florida any minute. Most likely it will be just him, Martin stopped coming before I had even left the Raft.

This time was different though, supervision was going to be a lot less invasive. Billy was also not staying for a mere week or two, but months? Possibly longer! Martin had a medical problem , but refused to elaborate, only saying it would be easier for him and Billy if he stayed with her while he recovered.

From what Martin described in his emails, Billy has been more and more of a handful lately. More confrontational, uncooperative. Is it about our issues...or something else? He's growing up, and I'm not around as much as I should be, he must-

Cait felt it. The tingling sensation that was a precursor to something terrible. Looking down at her only hand, she saw a bumpy scaly pattern appear over green tinged flesh. She bottled up to keep a lid on her growing horror and panic, but one look at her face would betray all.

It's mad-INSANE! There's no reason for it! No reason!

Cait got herself out of sight, behind a dim archway, not realizing that someone already saw her, and followed. Shutting her eyes, she focused on her breathing, lowering her heart rate so it didn't feel like a hammer pounding away.

Please, not like this, not right now. I just got him back, please. I'm sorry, I'm sorry a thousand times over, what more do I have to do?

Still human after a long minute, she opened her eyes and looked at her hand. It was peach colored, and perfectly normal, although she should have clipped her nails. Her watch also told her Billy would have arrived already-

"Mom?"

She looked up. Billy was sixteen now, and he was almost as tall as Cait. He looked like a punk that was ready to disappear into the night with friends, ready to be rude and hostile to his mother. His sneakers were dirty, his jeans had too many rips, and she had to wonder where he got that flimsy excuse of a leather jacket, and his hair was short, wild and unkempt. "Are you alright? Is it your condition?"

Ashamed, Cait pulled herself together. "Just had a moment, I'm okay. Too excited I guess-"

Billy hugged his mother right around the waist, leaning into her like he was still a child. Cait's short-lived nightmare was banished from her mind as she held him back tightly to her.

Home

Martin mentioned Billy was having problems with communication. By that, he meant Billy wasn't talking to him, at all. Yet, in the car on the way home, Billy did nothing but talk to Cait. He told her everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. For everything he wouldn't say to Martin, he would say to Cait, even about Martin. It seemed like Billy had a fresh subject for her, even as they sat down for dinner.

"And the animals are getting pushed into the roads, mom. Out of their homes."

"That's a shame, and they shouldn't be doing that. But why skip school? Why cause property damage?"

"Heat of the moment, I guess. I mean, they're a bad chemical company anyway, maybe if they weren't around, you wouldn't have your condition."

He still didn't know the truth-that was her fault. She wasn't ready to tell him everything, but she could still tell him some of the truth.

"Chemicals didn't do this to me...I did this to me. I made a big mistake as a scientist, I rushed ahead playing god. It's my fault. Martin was looking out for you, I'm lucky I get to see you at all." Cait couldn't help but notice Billy appeared sour, whenever his father was mentioned. A fear suddenly grew in her chest. "What's going on with Martin? Is he... mistreating you?"

"No, no it's just... He's been seeing this lady."

Cait felt like she had been stabbed, but she was already used to the experience. "Oh... Is she nice?"

Billy stabbed his dinner, but didn't take a bite. "Enough. But I don't... I'm not calling her mom. and if dad gets serious-well, I don't want that... because... I wanted you and dad to work things out."

"Oh, Billy." Cait couldn't deny that she had hoped they could reconcile. But, no matter how kindly she put it, no matter what words she used, it led to the same conclusion. "I wish I could do that for you, but relationships are a two-way street, and I can't hurt your dad by forcing him to stay if he doesn't want to."

Did that mean he had to give up on you so easily? A whisper, like a hiss, in the back of her mind.

"But it's not your fault, it was never your fault!"

How did she explain it to him? Experimenting with reptile DNA on herself, so that Martin wouldn't be revolted by her. That doing so turned her into a monster that killed several people, hurt Martin, and almost Billy. That Martin left to protect them from her. That for years, she's been trying to fix her mistake. Where do you even start?

"Sometimes it's nobody's fault. Sometimes...life changes course." Violently. "But you are not bound by what happened between us. We love you, and that will not change, ever."

One Week Later

They were having breakfast together. No phones or television, this was a rule for meal time. Someone knocked on the door, someone familiar, Cait knew because the rapping on the door was a familiar sequence. She motioned for Billy to continue eating and went to crack open the door.

"Cait Connors, I need you to come with me."

Empire State Hospital

Cait didn't know what to expect, She had many thoughts and fears, but none of them were reality. Because the reality was worse, so much worse.

Every single doctor and nurse was on duty, no one was exempted, it was all hands on deck. It was needed, as they moved through the halls of the Hospital, patients were all over. Coughing, wheezing, and dying.

Doctor Noah Purl explained to her as they walked. "Otto Octavius has committed bio-chemical warfare on Manhatten, at least, that is our current take."

"Jesus, how many?"

"Hundreds have been afflicted, and the problem is complicated."

"How so?"

"How it affects people wildly differs. At first it seemed to affect the lungs like a bacterial infection, some are suffering from internal bleeding, external bleeding... but we have more issues, especially from those at ground zero."

Cait understood, except for one thing. "Why am I here?"

"Because you understand mutation, and-"

They came across a window, and Kate saw a man violently fighting his restraints, his hands claw like, scales all over his body like blemishes.

"-the bio-weapon, contains traces of the Lizard Toxin."

The Next Night

In the waning sun of the day before, Spider-Man had returned with a cure. In spite of his rather quick and brutal obtainment of a cure, it was too late for some. Those who were elderly, with pre-existing health conditions, or both, would not make it in time for the cure to be mass produced.

Connors was combing through the names of patients, double checking and cross referencing to make sure they were absolutely accurate. She wanted to account for every single soul that was lost. In part, because she felt somewhat responsible. Currently, they counted sixty people dead, double the number that died at ground zero. The number of people infected in total was still growing, but slowed greatly. Her fingers paused in motion as she noted a name on the deceased list. It was added very recently, somehow she must have missed it.

It was stunting her progress, so she decided a quick check would satisfy her curiosity. Pulling up the file, an image of an elderly woman came up.

"This is my brother Ben, beside him is May. They're not really the science type, but you couldn't trust a better pair of folks."

There was no way he didn't already know. The newfound knowledge would have only added to his urgency in retrieving the cure. But for it to be too late...

She found him later, sitting on the open window, a sight that would make any reasonable human being concerned. Even without looking directly at him, Cait could just... feel it. She knew the feeling of loss, even if it wasn't the same. Peter's Parents, The people she has lost during service, men and women whose faces she would never see again.

It had been like this with Gwen Stacy. Now, Peter had lost a woman who, in all but blood, was his mother. Not at peace, but because of a madman, again.

"I heard people are recovering fast?" He spoke, without indicating he even noticed her.

"A lot of people we were certain were beyond help are making a steady recovery." She leaned on the window, watching the city with him.

"But not all of them..."

"But a lot of lives have been saved, because you acted."

She almost reached for his hand, but paused as she saw it clenched, veins protruding. Such a detail was never apparent in his old suit.

"Can I ask you a question?" The rage that had carried Peter through the day was gone, only a sad calm remaining.

"Always."

"When you were the Lizard, do you...remember what it felt like? I'm sorry, that's horrible for me to ask."

"No, it's fine." Cait took a moment to think back on what she could recall. "I remember hunger, rage, a kind of...urge. Why do you ask?"

He was silent for a long moment, then: "Octavius. He was below me, broken and scared. I... really wanted to kill him. More so than I ever did, and no one would have stopped me, no one could have... but I didn't, I wonder if that's the problem." His mask peeled away as he looked at her. "Is it wrong, that I don't kill? I've given him so many chances, and just as many opportunities I could have ended it. Now, so many people have been hurt. Have I been looking at this all wrong?"

Deciding to be brave, she gently put a hand on his clenched fist. "You have every right to feel that way. In some cases...maybe death would be the only way to stop them for good. But, if you had always used killing to solve your problems, I wouldn't be here...I wouldn't be able to help the people now. I wouldn't be able to see my son grow up. I won't lie to you, if I had been in your shoes, whether I was some kind of Spider-Woman, or... Lizard again...if I had the choice, I would kill him. But that's also what makes you special, you would have the choice, and you would still choose right."

Peter quietly processed the information, before quietly standing up, looking at his former teacher. "Thank you, Cait." Before he stepped off, free falling into before slinging a web, and Cait watched him glide across the night sky.

One Week Later

Within a week, the cure was distributed. The already slowing death count came to a complete stop. Unfortunately, the cure seemed ineffective for those at ground zero, still mutated, still feral. Cait's work wasn't done.

"Can we fix what he did?" Aldo had been on vacation during the attack. When he arrived, there was a seriousness, and lack of bumbling that Cait appreciated.

"I don't know. I don't know if Octavius did it, or someone else, but my serum has been altered, flipped inside out practically, and mixed with god knows what else."

Dr. Purl had a grim expression, as he watched the footage of feral patients. "I know we have put a lot on your plate already as it is, but I don't know who else can fix this, and do it right."

"I'll do it." It was her toxin, her fault, one way or the other.

"You will have Aldo Quadrini, Andrea Janson, my associates, and also-"

Peter walked in, and Cait immediately noticed that he was worn down. Yet, he seemed better than he was before, a weight was off his shoulders.

"Mr. Parker, good timing."

Aldo strode forward and curtly introduced himself. He had already been told of Peter's recent loss, and saved himself any embarrassment. "Aldo Quadrini, a pleasure to work with you Mr. Parker."

Peter shook the man's hand, as though they had never met. "The pleasure is mine Mr. Quadrini."

"We will be working together for a while, please, call me Aldo."

There was still planning to do. The lab needed to be reconfigured, samples needed to be collected. For the moment, Cait finally had a private moment with Peter.

"I'm glad to have your help." She couldn't help herself but add: "I'm happy to see you, even under these circumstances."

Peter nodded. "I'd rather contribute, then sit around."

Cait decided it was better to poke the tiger now than in the lab. "Are you okay? I was worried when I heard nothing about Spider-Man the next few days. I couldn't help but notice-"

"I got rid of it, the suit." He was staring outward. "It...it was alive. Reed checked. It was alive and it was changing me. I was forgetting who I was, becoming something else."

Cait was horrified, but was able to bury those emotions. It was just another Tuesday, in New York. "So..is Spider-Man taking a break?"

"Yeah, but Peter Parker isn't."

Two Weeks Later...

They were already studying samples of the current toxin, when S.H.I.E.L.D. came by to deliver more samples of the original. Cait had anticipated this, though she had hoped they had destroyed what samples remained from her lab. The problem came from what they brought alongside them.

"What the hell is this doing here?!"

It was rolled in on a mobile table of its own, kept in a transparent refrigeration unit for preservation. The severed tail of The Lizard, from her second change.

Aldo moved quickly for a man his size, quickly interjecting on the delivery man's behalf. "It's alright Doctor, the guys from high up had it shipped in, they're hoping it would help speed up the progress."

All it did was remind Cait that this was her fault. That she almost killed Peter multiple times, and now hundreds have been directly affected. "How do they think it would help?"

For God sake, they already had a pet Iguana, Iggy, for any reptilian DNA they needed.

"Its DNA contains your original serum. This could help us understand what Octavius did, and how he changed it." Aldo saw it did little to quell her rage, and made a better bargain. "We don't have to use it, Doctor, we can put it away, but it could help."

"Just get it out of my sight for now."

Weeks turned into months as the trio worked to right the wrongs of Octavius. Spider-Man appeared only if he was absolutely needed. Otherwise, the efforts of Peter Parker were far more important. Connors had been successfully convinced to stop living at the lab, and spend time with her son. Billy seemed in no rush to go back to Florida, but Peter knew firsthand to appreciate time with the people you loved.

It came off as a surprise to the routine, when Peter realized what he had accomplished. "Cait, come here for a second"

Cait came over immediately to see what was wrong...or in this case, right. Aldo heard Peter as well, and decided to take a moment to see what Peter had discovered as well.

Cait looked at his data, and realized what she was looking at. "We need to set up a test."

Later...

"Patient is seventeen years old, female, she was at ground zero. Lost both legs in a car accident a year ago. While at the hospital she grew her legs back, then became feral. Mutation level is significant."

The girl in question was strapped to a steel gurney, the base of it bolted securely to the floor. The straps, designed for use on "Gamma related" mutates, kept her body pinned down, and her snarling head in place. Scales covered her entire body, and frills were starting to develop.

"Okay, Peter, give me the Anti-serum. Aldo, watch her, and make sure to take note of everything as it occurs."

"Of course, doctor." It was real easy, considering she was snarling at him.

Cait injected the serum directly into a neck vein.

The patient became even more violent. Then, as it had happened with Cait, Her thrashing began to lessen, as the scales peeled off of her body, unveiling pale skin. Once again, a pale dark hair girl breathed softly.

Everyone was elated, a breakthrough, and an end to the nightmare. They all were so elated, that they almost missed one other revelation:

The girl's legs had remained, and were human.

The Night After

Home

"Peter, Cait, let us make a toast." Aldo carried in a bottle and some glasses.

"Aldo! When did you start drinking alcohol?"

"When we made a breakthrough for curing dozens of mutated victims. Come now, we are coworkers, you really shouldn't see me drinking, unless of course, it's outside of work-which we are."

"I don't know..." Cait then remembered, Billy was at a friend's house for the night. She rarely got to celebrate anything. "I guess we can have a few glasses."

"Very well! First, a toast to Peter, for finding the breakthrough that we needed."

Clink*

"And a toast to you Cait, for guiding us through this process! There's no telling how much longer it would have taken, without your experience and expertise."

Clink*

It didn't take long, nor much wine, for Cait to loosen up. Stories were shared, Peter told of his somewhat embarrassing times at Queens High School, while Aldo shared some looney adventures that seemed ridiculous, borderline untrue. Still, Aldo was no liar, And Cait had to admit to herself that she kept him at arms length.

Peter, while not really the kind to treat Cait's home as a place to "hang", was very comfortable on the couch as Cait ranted to her lab assistants about her history with Oscorp, and their deal. Aldo had been the one to casually mention it, Saying: "It is still absurd to me, that Oscorp Didn't try to hire you, it would have only made them look better in the long run, and they would have benefited."

"Exactly." Cait began to explain. Peter knew the circumstances that led to her being wounded, but Oscorp had paid off her house and medical bills, and no doubt, had offered her a lab on top of it. As usual, there was more to the story.

"-And of course, they wanted to control all of it: How it was distributed, and for how much. I'm a realist, I know supply costs money, but I knew for a fact, they would milk every cent out of every person, regardless of their background, even if they gave a limb for their country!" She finished her glass with a firm gulp. "Bastards."

Within the next hour, Aldo rose from his spot on the couch. "Well, I suppose I should be off. Peter, do you need me to call you a cab? I'd offer you a ride, but I arrived on my scooter."

"It's alright Aldo, Peter can stay here. I have a spare bedroom."

"Very well, good night."

Cait looked into her closet. She always had a stick of toothbrushes and utilities ready in case one of Billy's friends came over-

She had her old bedsheet in her hands, the one she and Martin had shared. After she had been released, she slept in the sheet for a while. One day she finally realized that Martin would not come back, and one day-after cleaning the sheets -put them in the closet. Shaking her head, she put it back.

"One thing about these altered genes of ours, it's hard to get drunk, and stay drunk." Peter said, as Cait returned. His system had already processed the alcohol.

Cait nodded. "You have to down a whole bottle to keep yourself buzzing for an hour, I don't recommend that by the way."

They sat together on the couch, a game show played but they paid little attention to it. Cait suddenly said. "Peter, Thank you."

He looked at her, somewhat confused. "What for?"

"Not giving up on me. Not letting me fall, helping me back up when I did. If things had gone differently..."

She was the one grazing his face, but he moved forward making lip contact. She felt herself leaning in, pressing against him. Then, she realized what she was doing, and screaming internally, forced herself to stop, pulling away.

"I um, sorry, I shouldn't-" She got up. "I'm going to shower, there's one in the guest room. I-"

She walked away, before causing further harm.

Minutes Later

Cait stood under the showerhead, loathing herself. She tried to comprehend what had happened, why it happened.

For years, Cait harbored a growing love for Peter, that doubled as it turned out he and Spider-Man were one. She knew she wasn't a groomer, but this situation, his age, her age. And now she knew...it wasn't entirely one sided.

Why, why did this have to be so complicated? Why did she have to be attracted to her mentor's son? Her former student? Why did he kiss her first?! How could she do this to...

Turning off the shower, she walked to her bedside cabinet. Dripping water, she picked up her wedding, eyeing it with new understanding.

Under a shower head, Peter was stuck in his own thoughts. He couldn't believe he had done that. He couldn't excuse himself with alcohol. He knew people, both when they were sober and drunk, and he knew what it was like to be inhibited. He was clear-headed, albeit lost in Cait's...Cait.

Peter remembered the first time he saw her, seeing a kinship in science. She became his teacher, his mentor. Now she considered him an equal. Throughout the years, he had always considered her pretty, but it was overshadowed by science, by his own personal respect for her. He knew her pain, she knew his. Not once, did he see her as incomplete, nor as a monster.

And now, Peter may have permanently damaged their relationship. He knew her wish for her family to be complete, far stronger than her wish to be physically whole. Now, he may have added guilt of infidelity, even though she was divorced.

Peter shut off the water, before grabbing the towel. Impatience made him give up on completely drying before he threw the robe on and walked out.

He decided to apologize to Cait. To be sure their relationship wasn't damaged-

Cait sat on the edge of the guest bed, in her own bathrobe. Her hair was still wet, she stood up and walked toward him gingerly, as though scared of harming him.

"I'm sorry, about before, I wasn't ready-I didn't think I was ready." She reached out slowly, fingers grazing his chin. "If you don't want to, if it was a mistake, I understand, but-"

Peter raised his hand to graze hers, putting his other hand on her waist to urge her close. Their lips touched, starting softly, only for their actions to become more brave, passionate. Peter pulled her into him, and Cait's fingers combed his wet hair. It took all of her willpower not to pounce on the man. Cait separated, only to breathe out. "My room, bed's bigger."

Peter, lifting Cait up as she wrapped her legs around him, walked to her room. Setting her on the bed's edge, he pulled her robe off her shoulder, and she remembered, although partially healed, remnants of green scales invaded the edge of the remaining scars. Cait was still incomplete, scarred, damaged goods. Her body, that never seemed to be enough after what happened-

Fingers grazing her damaged frame, Peter wrapped an arm around her side, and pulled her close. She began to kiss him again, gingerly, before becoming more fervent, and greedy. Pulling off her robe, and then his.

Years of celibacy seems to melt off as Cait felt the affection she had been denied for so many years, Peter embracing her without hesitation. She held onto him, relishing the skin to skin contact, even as the euphoria of release wore off. He held her, just the same.

Billy arrived at his home at around nine in the morning, relatively early for a teenager that didn't have to be up for school. It was one of the few quirks he had, the ability to rise and shine without needing coffee.

Strangely, he still liked to drink coffee, he also liked his breakfast. His friend was out of coffee at his house, and only had stale cereal. and Billy figured, screw it, just drop by home, make breakfast and be back before his friend could even think he had even left.

Entering the house, he noticed that his mom hadn't gotten up yet. He also noticed the wine bottle empty on the living room table.

Going upstairs, he told himself that if the door was closed, he would leave it be. It wasn't, but Billy saw his mother sleeping, looking more peaceful and content than she usually did. Matter of fact she hadn't looked like that in years-

The bathroom door opened, and Peter Parker came out of the bathroom, wearing boxers and not much else.

Cait woke up to the smell of coffee, her nose more sensitive to this aroma even before the serum, and moreso after, possibly the least offensive alteration done to her body. Peter was not in bed with her, so she assumed he was making some morning brew.

She remembered everything from last night, and she hoped Peter did too. God, it was fantastic. Not just the sex, because she had been deprived of another touch for years, but because it was Peter, because he cared about her, adored her, and she adored him, and...

Maybe she was taking this too far. He was making coffee, sure, but she was significantly older than him, fine for a tousle? Sure. But being in a relationship, did Peter even want that? Cait couldn't deny that she craved him in that way. Just because they had sex, however, didn't mean he suddenly wanted to get serious...

She wasn't going to get answers indulging in a one sided conversation, in her head. Getting her undergarments on, and her robe wrapped securely around her, she mentally prepped herself for the talk with Peter. Coming down the stairs firmly, her opening sentence was silenced before she could utter a word, taken completely off guard by Peter eating breakfast at the table, with Billy-who should be at his friends house. Her son spoke before she could look properly horrified.

"Hey mom! Came by for my coffee, and decided to have breakfast."

Cait completely forgot, Billy liked his coffee. She wasn't sure when it started, but he always brushed after so it never bothered her.

"I didn't realize he was a coffee lover. Kid knows his brew." Peter said.

"He is far ahead in that field than I am." Cait said calmly, yet on the verge of panic. She sat down, a plate already prepped for her.

Breakfast was great. The three of them together felt odd, but it didn't feel wrong. Billy and Peter kept a majority of the conversation. Cait just focused on remaining calm.

When Peter went to use the bathroom. There was some silence between mother and son.

"Billy, listen, I-"

"Mom, it's okay. I know how dad treated you, I know you were waiting for him, even if he wasn't. You deserve to be happy too."

"So, you are fine with Peter?"

Billy stood up to wash his plate in the sink. "Pete's cool. I can't imagine anyone being better."

Feeling better, Cait took a sip-

"Except maybe, Spider-Man."

-and nearly spat out her coffee.

Billy left after breakfast, leaving the two alone once more. Cait sat on her side of the bed. Peter laid back on his.

"So, um...we are both adults, and I think we can talk about this. If this was a one time thing, I can completely respect that."

"What if I don't want it to be a one time thing?" He asked, stunning her.

"Peter I'm older-"

"Cait, there is nothing complicated about this, I simply don't care. I've seen gods, fought monsters, and-" Wrapping an arm around her waist, he brought her close. "There's been so much hurt, Cait. Before this, before..." He paused. "I have scars too Cait, I'm not saying that to compare. I say that because...of all people, you understand that. I just need somebody who understands. We don't have to rush anything, but I don't want to lie anymore than I have to in this world, not to you."

Cait couldn't hold it in anymore. She kissed him fully, and he rolled her onto her back, looking her in the eyes. She pulled him down to her.

Hours later, Cait's phone rang, and its unique ringtone told her it was work, and it couldn't wait. Peter grabbed it for her with an outstretched arm, so she didn't have to move from her spot on top of him.

"Mhello?" She asked tiredly. Their moment of peace broke, as Cait shot up. "What do you mean the lab is compromised!?"

The Night Before

Aldo walked into the lab briskly, the usual expression of wonder and curiosity that seemed plastered onto his face, gone.

The first thing he did was pull open the container holding the severed tail of Connors, given to them for research. Somehow highly preserved. He hummed in thought, before moving along.

Moving over, he opened the glass cabinet containing glowing vials. His hand glided over the vials, fingertips grazing over the various formulas they had made. Most were marked as "Rejected" or "Failure", neither was accurate to the man. He found what he was looking for: An attempt at a cure, that ended up becoming an even more aggressive version of the Connors formula, thankfully never tested on a patient.

"Man shouldn't play God, yet..." He looked over, seeing Iggy, the iguana they had put aside for reptile samples. Its pale green scales glistened.

One more experiment.

Grabbing a syringe, he stuck it into the vial, extracting the vibrant green fluid.

"So, cameras are scrambled, but someone came in, last night. We don't know exactly what was taken, but the audio still worked, and from what we heard..."

"...Lizard Toxin."

"Correct. But we need to find out who had access to the lab. We know it wasn't you, because we had eyes on your house last night, and you never left."

"So who isn't accounted for?"

But they already knew, and a warrant was out for Aldo Quadrini.

Dix Hills

It crawled just beyond the treeline. There were many scents, mingling and mixing. When it awoke, it was very much like that, so many scents, it had to find the right one.

"Thank you all for coming. We are gathered here today in solidarity for the citizens of New York City. As you know, once again we have been the victim of a terrorist attack-"

The loud voice was just beyond the transparent barrier. It hated the noise.

"Your aid will help thousands financially recover, as well as covering the medical expenses for the people afflicted by this monstrous attack."

It recognized the words, but did not truly care for them, it was focused on what it wanted. It emerged from the bushes low-

"Which brings me to good news. Our scientists, who have dedicated their time and energy to solve this crisis, have made a breakthrough in developing a cure for those who were affected far beyond the average victim."

The loud voice continued his speech, unaware of the danger, even as his audience spotted the strange creature, their eyes squinting in confusion, and then horror as it began to run, its leg muscles tightening as it prepared to leap-

"I cannot emphasize enough that it is a huge stepping stone to fixing this scourge. With your donations today, We get closer to-"

SHATTER!*

It crashed through the glass on all fours. The crowd could only look in shock as the reptilian rose on its hind legs. Yellow eyes combed through the crowd as it sniffed the air in front of it. It bent its neck at a distantly familiar scent, before it lunged forward. A claw glided through the air, gouging a man's side as he was sent flying through a table. The crowd moved in a panic as the creature snarled. It grabbed another man in its way, and bit down. Yellow eyes glimpsed at, a man, pulling a woman away. "We have to go Toni!"

"Rick, no!"

Immediately, its interest in the scent disappeared. They weren't what it was looking for. Screams were coming from the other aide of the building, but it didn't bother, focusing on finishing its current meal, before resuming its search.

"We just got a call in from Dix Hills-a giant Lizard attacked the fundraiser this. a couple of people, including Dr. Barron, have been killed." Andrea said, ending her call.

Cait had just come back from the re-secured lab, a net gun in her arms. "Noah and Toni?"

"They got away. However we are getting contradicting information. What we know right now is that the Lizard is already gone. Are we sure those are gonna work?"

Peter, now redressed as Spider-Man, was loading a gas launcher with unique antidote rounds. Designed to release the cure in a mist form, disgustingly ironic. Of course, to be effective, the target had to stay put to inhale, hence the net gun. "I hope so, we had to rush the design, ammo is limited, but we can't wait for more people to get hurt."

"I don't understand, why attack a fundraiser? It's so far from the lab, I don't get it. What is it thinking?" Cait was still trying to figure out why? What was Aldo thinking?

"Maybe we are overthinking it?" Spider-Man, suggested. "I'm not saying let's underestimate it, Maybe it has all your intellect, or none of it, but for all we know, it might be operating on base instincts."

Intelligence, maybe, but instincts, absolutely. Cait thought: If I was that Lizard, I would be surrounded by scents. everybody in the lab, their scents would mingle together. Two of them were at the fundraiser, Andrea is here. People are already at Aldo's home. Peter is with me and-

"Oh my god."

Cat felt the rush of air as Spider-Man swung through the city. Her Net gun was clipped to a rifle strap, Spider had a holster for his cure gun. In a short time, they were at the Connors house.

"Billy?! Billy?!!"

Billy opened the front door, confused and concerned, seeing his mother and Spider-Man, with weapons. "Mom? What's-"

It came out on all fours, like a reptile, before raising its torso into a standing haunched position. Its scales were a dark mix of yellowish green. A high fin-like crest started at its head, and ended on its lower back. Its Yellow eyes, fixed on Billy, turned to glare at Cait.

Cait aimed the net gun, ready-

Spider-Sense

Spider-man leaped to intercept the second reptile- a bright green mass of muscle, tackling it away from Cait. Cait fired the net gun, as the first leapt for her, trapping it.

Without Spider-Man, however, the plan was already fucked sideways. The Lizard was quickly working its way out of the netting. Cait grabbed Billy, and ran into the house.

After a very intimate roll down the hill it came from, Spider-Man kicked the beast off, sending it rolling, splashing through a stream, before it rose up hissing at him.

It was a light green, faded brown stripes adorned its arms and legs. A row of spines trailed down from its head, down to its tail, just like-

"Iggy, is that you?" It roared at him. Peter only had two shots, no guarantee one was enough. But regardless, I can't waste time here either.

"Alright Iggy. Time to take your medicine.

Cait locked the door, it would buy them another minute. She pulled Billy upstairs. "Billy, go to my room, there's a shotgun. I need to get something to actually kill that thing."

"Mom-"

"Go!"

Billy finally listened, and ran to her room. Cait ran into the bathroom. She didn't bother locking the door.

We thought there was one, We thought Iggy was the new Lizard, that he ate the tail. Aldo, you injected the severed tail, was that always your intent?!

She grimaced as she pulled out a syringe of teal fluid. There was no guarantee it would allow her to keep her humanity. But Peter was busy, and her shotgun would only delay the Lizard. They needed more teeth.

Billy was going to know the truth, but Cait didn't go to the bathroom to try to hide her secret. She knew, that it would know everything up to the point of complete conversion, including anything she said or did. Taking a deep breath, she looked into the mirror.

"I know you're there. You're always there. You know all my thoughts, and you have my memories. You may hate every aspect of me, of humanity, but I know, at your deepest level, you love my son, just as much as I do. He is blood, and right now, a rival is trying to kill your blood."

Her thumb pushed down. Feeling herself sink beneath a colorless lake, the other grabbed her, as it rushed to breach the surface.

It was just like years ago, Billy was against the wall of his room. The reinforced door was buckling as The Lizard attempted to break through. Last time, he didn't have a shotgun, but he knew how strong this creature was, and just hoped his mom was okay.

BANG!* CRACK!

"GO AWAY!"

It broke the door open, and stalked inside. Billy was about to pull the trigger, then froze in horror, as he saw another Lizard behind it.

I'm dead.

The new Lizard rushed from behind the first, and bit into its shoulder. Roaring in pain and fury, it snapped at its attacker.

They smashed through the window, both falling onto the grass below. Billy watched from above at the two. He looked at the second one, the green one with a white coat-

...Mom?

A tangle of scale-covered limbs and tails crashed onto the grass, before separating, hissing and growling. So similar, yet different; Similar sleek shapes and sharp rows of teeth. Yet, yellow eyes-burning with rage and a hunger, met red eyes- cold fury, and intellect.

They lunged at each other again, clashing. They rolled around violently, a pile of teeth and claws, biting and scratching. The Clone had a preference for biting, while Cait used her claws to often redirect the bites, before returning the favor. The violent scuffle seemed endless, until they suddenly separated again.

Both rapidly healed from bite and claw marks, as they circled each other. The Clone crouched low, hissing. The original, Cait, upright, in a stance more man than beast, and the Clone loathed her for it.

The Clone speared its claw forward, a mistake. Cait grabbed the outstretched arm, snapping it. Dodging the swing of the other arm, her claws glided across the clone's exposed naval, spilling its meat onto the grass.

Grabbing its head and a shoulder, the urge took over as she bit down on its neck. The clone roared and fought to free itself. With a twist-

SNAP*

The clone slumped, its body sagging into the grass. The original held it by its neck. The sun was almost gone beneath the horizon. Spider-Man swung into view, just in time to witness the victor holding her kill. "Cait?"

"Itsss done." Family was safe, and now-

Lizard saw the gun in Spider-Man's hand, and began to hiss-

"Mom?" A reptilian red eye widened as it focused on the young man.

The corpse fell silently into the grass, as the Lizard released it. Spider-Man tried to warn Billy, but he ignored him as, slowly walking to the tall, lab coat wearing reptilian. She seemed to realize where she was again, and was suddenly aware of the blood staining her hands and torn clothes. Billy raised his hand slowly.

"Don't." She raised her arm to block her hideous face. Billy was still coming closer. "Don't, Billy-"

She felt arms going around her waist, a face hiding in her stomach. In that moment, Cait was human again, Billy was eight years old, up past his bed time, and happy to see his mother.

Peter was too scared for Billy at that moment to see it the way they did. A young man hugging a tall reptilian covered in blood. But then, he saw it: Tears spilled from red eyes, as Cait gently put her arms around her son. Those red eyes locked eyes with him, before lowering her head.

The antidote canister landed by their feet, hissing as it enveloped the two in a blue mist.

One Week Later

Empire State Hospital

"Well, good news is I should be out of here soon."

When Agents arrived at Aldo Quadrini's home, they anticipated the worst as they finally broke down the reinforced door to the basement. They found Aldo, gagged and bound in the corner, on a high quality soft mattress, and a note.

Aldo Quadrini, the real Aldo Quadrini, was in bed. He had lost weight during his captivity, given the bare minimum. Hospital food did little to help.

"I'm still so sorry Aldo, I can't believe I was tricked for so long." It had been an imposter, since the red mist incident. She thought of small signs, the grace the fake seemed to move with, the easy and believable lies he weaved on the spot, the drinking-If she had known Aldo better she would know he didn't drink.

"You can't be blamed, Cait. The Chameleon probably watched Aldo for months before making his move. He had done the same thing with Jameson once." Peter was upset and confused, his Spider-Sense should have warned him, why didn't it?

"It's okay Cait, I just wish I could have helped you during this crisis. The one time I do get drunk, I'm kidnapped? It figures."

"Regardless, I hope to get to know the real you, Aldo." Peter said, offering his hand. If Chameleon was anything like the real Aldo, they would be a good team.

Aldo gripped Peter's hand firmly. "Likewise, Mr. Parker."

"Please, call me Peter."

"I can't help but still be worried. What did you call that fake?" Cait asked Peter.

"Chameleon."

"Of course, it's a reptile...he has the toxin, I know he does...what can we do?"

"Honestly? Nothing, but the thing about Chameleon, is that he's a wild card. Usually that's bad, but I get the feeling, it will be okay, this time around."

Concurrently

Europe

Dimitri watched the countryside pass. He had a new face on, and was happy to no longer wear a fat suit. Only Cait had clearance to the lab, and to the samples. He had to wait to make a copy, then move in once an opportunity arose. Letting those beasts loose was a distraction. Of course, he didn't have to wait so long, but he felt a... responsibility to see the cure found. His brother's role in such a... devastating event could not be understated.

A stewardess brought him his wine, and he thought back on his night of drinking with Peter and Cait, feeling a warm mirth at the memory. It was just a mission, yet... he never wanted them hurt. If he did, he wouldn't have waited for them to be away from the lab. He found he had cared for them, in his own way.

The briefcase containing the samples and the data sat at his feet. He was supposed to hand the toxin over to a very lucrative bidder...Of course, he could wait a while. And no one said he couldn't leak a cure as well...

He played a dangerous game, it was his favorite one to play.

Concurrently

Empire State Hospital

While Peter and Cait visited a recovering Aldo, Billy had volunteered his help with the local F.E.A.S.T. members. He delivered a few cups of coffee, a few blankets, but at the moment, nobody seemed to really need help, and so he was wandering around, unsure of what to do.

Around the corner, Billy heard grunting, like someone struggling, and turned his head to look. An asian girl, with short dark hair was struggling to take steps forward, with her hand on the wall to help jeep her balance.

He immediately saw why, the girl looked like she weighed less than one hundred and twenty pounds already, that was before seeing her legs, so thin they looked like they could have been born yesterday, or simply weren't used her entire life. The moment her knees began shaking violently, he moved forward, and caught her as she began to fall.

"I got you." He said.

"Thanks." She responded, before hissing out. "Damn it."

Setting her on the bench close by, Billy asked. "You okay?"

"Not really, better than before I suppose, just not used to walking."

"Haven't done it for a while?"

"Not long ago I didn't have any legs, and then I grew them!" At that moment Billy saw the flecks of green on her neckline, and recognized the scales, however faint.

"You were there..."

"Ground Zero, a blessing in disguise, honestly...I lost my legs a few years ago, my own damn fault. I was so tired of being that poor girl in the wheelchair."

"I'm glad to hear you're getting a second chance-um, I didn't catch your name?"

"Melati." It sounded like Melody to him, like her voice.

"I'm Billy."

One Week Later

Florida

"She's super cute dad, believe it or not."

Martin couldn't say he loved being bed-ridden, listening to Billy talk about one subject, then another, and then back again. He was, however, happy that his son was talking to him again, and calling him dad.

"Anyways, um, dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Is it okay if, um...if I transfer over to New York for school... I'd really like to."

He liked New York that much? "Okay, son, but I'll need to sort it out with your mother."

"Okay! I'm gonna give you some privacy then!"

Martin was confused, but then, as Billy exited, his ex-wife entered. For the first time in years, Cait and Martin were in the same room together. She wore a long sleeve button up, and slacks, yet seemed completely unbothered.

"Hey Martin." Somehow, Cait seemed to turn back the clock almost a decade. She was youthful, and glowing, in spite of her somber voice.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to check on you, with supervision of course, they are right outside." She sat down. "How are you doing? I heard the surgery went well, they're optimistic they removed the entire tumor."

"It did, I'm gonna be held up here longer than I want but...I suppose if Billy is staying with you there's no rush to get out of here, if you are alright with that."

"Billy is welcome at my home, or yours, wherever he wants to go. As long as he's treated right. I met her on the way in, she seems nice."

Cait was so... at peace. It was unnerving. "She is... Cait..."

"It's alright Mar, you have a right to live your life. I just wish I realized sooner I had the right to live mine. I'd like to say nothing is wrong with me, but that's not true... but it's getting better. I just wanted to give you this."

She reached down, and placed her wedding ring on the bedside table, using her right hand, clad in a black glove.

"I'm gonna start moving forward too. Goodbye Martin."

"How does it feel, being back in Florida?" Cait asked her escort, Peter, who waited outside the building.

"A little warm, I prefer New York's gators." He then asked "How is he?"

"He's doing okay, even approving of Billy staying with me."

"Good."

It was more than good. Years of pain and regret, finally let go. Cait felt free to move forward, but where to? With Peter of course, but... "When we get back to New York, what should we do? I mean, besides my personal project."

"I think... I want to help others, like you. I didn't tell you before, but I got permission from The Raft to see the file for Mac Gargan, The Scorpion. His tail is weaved into his spine. It won't be easy, but I want to help him."

"When is it ever? Rome wasn't built in a day, Mr. Parker."

He smirked at her, as Billy ran out to catch up to them. "Mom, Peter, can we hang out at the park before we leave?"

Sitting on a parkbench, Cait watched as Peter and Billy played frisbee. They looked more like brothers, but they still looked like family. Would Billy see him as family one day? What if, Peter didn't tire of her, and wanted to truly become a family? Resting her chin on her gloved hand, Cait hummed in thought.

"Caitlyn Connors Parker... Cait Parker..." Pulling out a compact mirror, she looked at the reflection. "What do you think?"

The Lizard stared wordlessly...

End...

Authors note:

I don't know where to start. I was supposed to have this finished by summertime, not post-October! So many times I thought: "This is the week it wraps up". Instead, pushback after pushback, and while for good reason, was simultaneously frustrating.

Also, this finally wrapped, at around at almost 30K words...ugh.

But seriously, that is the longest chapter I have ever written. I expected around 20k, but somehow, it has turned into this Proto-Epic, more on that in a hot minute. The story was never meant to take this long, wasn't supposed to be this long, and now, I'm at that point where I'm kind of scared to release it. I truly am not sure what the response will be for this chapter, other than "This shit is too damn long!". But you know what, If I let fear decide, I would never have posted the story in the first place.

The Lizard is sort of unique, in the sense that Connors(classic) doesn't mean to become the Lizard, is he inherently evil. It's essentially Jekyll and Hyde.

I wanted Lizard to essentially represent a milestone for Peter, a brutal enemy, that for the first time, made Peter truly fear for his life. His rogues gallery up to that point had been pretty mild, and he had the advantage of knowing New York. He also hadn't encountered the Goblin yet...

I try to stick to the source material as much as I can(until I don't) but The Lizard plotline has gone back and forth a lot, generally speaking. I wanted to represent, realistically, the kind of trauma and damage this scenario would do to the people involved. I also went back and forth on whether Martin actually cheated or not, and I didn't go down that route because this was long enough as is, and I had to ask myself: Does it matter? Their relationship was already eroding. I also wanted to do more than make Martin an asshole and/or kill him off.

I knew Peter and Cait's relationship was gonna be a slow burn, but it was important that it didn't come off as grooming, but at the same time subtly making that attraction exist, so it doesn't come out.of nowhere.

So, some broad answers to some questions that have pulled up, and where we are headed.

1: The "Epic" Chapters: I don't know how many there will be, but they WILL be split into two parts. Editing this chapter was awful, I'm not gonna lie. As much as I like keeping it one chapter/one villain, it's not going to be viable for the epics.

2: Seeing where previous chapter characters are at(kids?): I will not say much on this, except, YES, we will.

3: I don't really have any villains off the table per say, but I am trying to stick to the Spider-Man rogues gallery first and foremost. I have humored the idea of a Magneto chapter, it would be a firm exception to the rule if it comes to be.

I think Hammerhead and Silvermane are the only ones I'd say are currently off the table, simply because I don't want to put the energy towards those characters, no disrespect intended.

I have some ideas for Prowler and Wraith but they are down the line. Kingpin ironically is one I'm not certain about. Of course, I somehow made Rhino work. Real talk, should (F)Kingpin be bald?!?!

To those who have followed and favorited since last time, thank you, and to old and new readers, I hope you enjoy this one. If you didn't, I can only assure you that I will strive to do better for future chapters.

I'm setting a goal now, the next chapter WILL be a short chapter, and will be out by December 1st. I'm making this a goal, if I fail to do this, then I'm simply still working on it. I must say, if I can stick to that date, it will be a "Shocker"!

Till next time, friends.