Chapter 25
Gwen's grin spread further across her face. "Clark! Lana! Miranda! Mrs. Kent! Everyone's here! That's awesome! After this morning, I can use all of the good news I can get! Can you believe this attention?" She patted Aunt May's arm.
"I'm not complaining about having a few great friends." Peter eased his way back over toward the wheelchair. Vertigo began to set in again. "Sorry. I just need to sit." He rubbed his forehead. Nausea tipped at his stomach.
"Are you all right, Mr. Parker?" Jasmine recognized Concussion's signs anew.
"I'll be okay, Princess. Thank you." Peter motioned toward his aunt. "Maybe we can give Aunt May a few more minutes?" He turned to Martha and the others. "After everything last night, I was thinking about you all. Glad you're okay."
"We're fine. We had something to take care of. We just heard about Mrs. Parker." Martha looked over Aunt May's sleeping face. "Is there any news?"
"Nothing yet. Thanks, Mrs. Kent." Peter turned in his wheelchair. "Sorry. Princess' orders."
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "I wish for you to take care, Mr. Parker. Your enthusiasm gets the better of you. I have heard you disregard your personal safety for your tasks?"
"She's got you pegged already, Mr. P." Gwen nodded. "We're going to need that place, Man o' Mine. We've got nowhere to go. I mean we could sleep at your old house for a night. We'd make that a target too."
"Why don't you guys ask Lex Luthor? I'm sure he's got lots of guest rooms." Clark interjected. "He's got great security."
"Clark. I'm sure Lex doesn't want an incident. We can't just speak for him…" Martha considered the implications. She and Jonathan didn't want to involve Lex or Lionel any more than necessary.
"You are all from Smallville. Yes? That is where my sister and I are going. Alex Luthor has agreed to host us. I will speak to him on your behalf. `As Mr. Kent has indicated, he has excellent security. Abdul and a small group of bodyguards will be there as well."
"Let's see what Dad says, Peter. I don't want to walk around with a target on my back all summer. Besides, maybe we can see that café?" Gwen shrugged. Previous Day's Conversation ran through her mind still.
"We're there! First coffees on the house. We don't have a dance floor like the Coffee Bean does. We do show old movies sometimes in the back theater." Lana smiled. "Anything you can think of, we either have the menu or we can make it on demand. Right, Miri?"
"Trust her, Guys. We have some really picky customers for a town like that. We please 'em all. Hope it works out." Miranda nodded to them. "Our supplier can provide whatever your favorite blend is too." She bowed to Jasmine. They knew each other's secrets. Still, Roles and Games dictated their approach at that point.
Jasmine restrained herself as well. "We shall speak on that, Miranda. Thank you. I know that Princess Rasniya has her tastes. I have mine. I would not trouble Alex with such things at the moment."
Aunt May coughed. "P…Peter?" Her eyes cracked open. "You're…here. You…all right?"
"Never better, Aunt May." Peter forced himself from the chair. He supported himself against the bed. "You scared us too." His lips whispered Affection's sentiments across her forehead. "Gwen's been with you the whole time."
"I had Lieutenant deWolff helping, Mrs. Parker. I wasn't going to leave your side." Gwen smiled at her. She squeezed Aunt May's hands. Nerves banged around in her chest and stomach to be honest. "I am so glad to hear your voice!"
"Thank you, Gwendolyn. I appreciate it." Aunt May nodded. Approval once more shone in her eyes. "Goodness me. I must have fainted."
"I'm sorry I scared you. Just the same, Aunt May. They're running tests. Doc Bromwell will be up here to look at you." Peter squeezed her right hand. "Sorry. We met some new friends yesterday. I guess they'll be going back today or tomorrow. They wanted to meet you."
"Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Parker. We heard about your situation. Peter and Gwen have been really nice to us yesterday and today. We thought we'd offer support. My name's Martha Kent. That's my son, Clark, his girlfriend, Lana Lang and our friend, Miranda Arighatto. I'm sorry, Princess…?"
"That is all right, Mrs. Kent. Mrs. Parker, I am glad to see you recovering. I am Princess Jasmine-A 'isha of Javalastan. I too met your nephew and Miss Stacy yesterday. I thank them for their companionship and wish you well." Jasmine nodded to her. "I will say a prayer for you."
"Thank you. My word, Peter! A Princess visits us?" Aunt May gasped. Her mind tried to wrap itself around Jasmine's presence. "I…I should bow!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Parker. Your respect is noted. I would not have you harm yourself." Jasmine patted May's hand. "Please relax. All will be well. Are there others who should be notified?"
"I'll call the Bugle. Is Mrs. Watson still in Florida, Aunt May?" Peter rubbed his chin. Florida's hot this time of year. Maybe it might be a way to get her out of harm's way.
"She's not coming this year. Quite the shame. I'd hoped to visit with her this summer. Peter Dear, maybe I might take the train to see her? It is cheaper than one of those big airplanes. I like to see the coast again." Aunt May's eyes sparkled. Memoria recalled her trips to Miami and back over the years. "I heard Mary Jane met someone nice down there."
"Sounds super duper! Maybe she can bring him to visit!" Gwen relaxed a bit more. Her chief rival's commitment elsewhere eased her heart. Maybe now she and we can be friends without her horning in? Guilt nagged her over those thoughts.
"I've got it, Aunt May." Peter exchanged looks with Gwen. Obstacles seemed to fall away. "Maybe your Dad might be up for a trip at least until this gets settled?" He tapped his fingers on the bedrail. He looked toward the visitors.
"As I said before, I will talk to Alex." Jasmine piped in. "He has told me of Mrs. Kent's cooking. He compares it to the finest cuisine in European restaurants. I hope to taste these delicacies for myself."
Martha blushed. "I just do my best, Princess. Of course, if we can work out the details and arrangements, my husband and I would be delighted to have your sister and you over for a meal." She bowed again. She turned to Abdul. "I speak of security for her. Perhaps in respect to your culture as well?"
"I understood your meaning. Thank you for your consideration. The Sultan would say the same, I am sure." Abdul nodded to Martha. "Mr. Luthor, welcome!"
"Thanks, Abdul. It's been a while." Lex extended his hand. He met everyone's line of sight around the room. "Everything all right in here?" He bowed. "Good evening, Princess."
"Of course, Alex." Diplomacy demanded that Jasmine accept the bow and cultural practices. In truth, such practices chafed on her. "Mrs. Parker is awake. We found Mr. Parker outside. I managed to wheel him up here to see them. Gwen wondered about her father?"
Lex nodded. "Captain Stacy's fine. Chloe Sullivan and I showed up early for our meeting with him. Thank Chloe for smelling the gas leak. We got him out of the house and to the car. They're waiting at the nurses' station."
"Gas leak?" Gwen raised an eyebrow. "We don't have gas. We have electric everything. There's no line going to the house anymore." She scratched her head.
"No gas? What?" Clark turned to Lex.
"Not here, Clark. We don't know who's listening. We'll talk later about that and a few other things. Are you okay? I know Arighatto threatened you this morning." Lex connected some dots. Suspicions pointed toward Sabotage's attempt in that regard.
"What? Clark?" Martha wheeled around on Clark. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Mom, there isn't anything to say. Maybe we can talk about this later? I don't want to upset Mrs. Parker." Clark motioned toward Aunt May. Anticipation forecasted lectures for Lana, Chloe and him upon their return to Smallville. Swann's lectures rang in his ears already. Lex waited to add his two cents on matters. He looked over Peter again. "You sure you don't want to rest, Peter?"
"I'm fine, Clark. Thanks." Peter noted Aunt May's disapproval over his condition. He knew her lecture would be forthcoming as well.
"I think Clark's suggestion is a good one, Peter. You should go home and get some rest. It is such a shame what happened. Who would want to do that to you both?" Aunt May patted Peter's hand. "I'd like to take a nap for a little while anyhow. I have plenty of people to look after me here."
"Dad would like that too, Peter. Thanks, Mrs. Parker, for the tip! I'll make sure he gets his rest. You do the same. Okay?" Gwen smiled at her.
"You're a dear. Thank you. Please make sure Peter doesn't strain himself. Thank you, Everybody." Aunt May closed her eyes and dozed off.
"I just hope she's all right." Peter mulled over an unaccompanied train trip to Miami. She'd be a target. Maybe we should try to fly her down there? I know she'd prefer the train but I can afford the flight with this bonus. She's got to be safe!
"Why don't we get some lunch? By the way, Lana and Miranda, thanks for making sure the schedule was covered through tomorrow. I extended your stay until then. Let's get Gwen's Dad and Chloe. Then we can find something great. I let Mr. Kent know that we'll be here until then. Princess? You're invited as well."
"That will be splendid. Thank you. Abdul, can you wheel Mr. Parker down please?" Jasmine motioned toward the door. "Alex, we should speak as well about our arrangements?"
"The mansion's ready when you are, Princess. Maybe Abdul can touch base with my own Chief of Security? What about Princess Rasniya? Will she be joining us?" Lex visualized the arrangements. Fortunately, Miranda's summer plans allowed for a room to open up. Chloe's and Lana's situation took up a couple of rooms. Jasmine and Rasniya would need their own rooms.
Jasmine shook her head. "Princess Rasniya will be coming next week. She will fly into Smallville's airport. We can have security around the field. Agents Petersen and Singleton already have touched base with the Metropolis office of the FBI. They will assist as well."
"Sounds good. Let's get lunch. Then we can talk." Lex led them out of the room and down the hall.
"Dad!" Gwen ran over to Stacy. She threw her arms around him. "I'm glad you're okay!"
"I'm glad you're all right as well, Dear. It seems we have matters to discuss." Stacy embraced Gwen back. "I knew Jean would keep you safe. How is Mrs. Parker?"
"Mrs. Parker's resting. We don't know any more than that. I guess we're still waiting for the results. I hope she just fainted." Gwen rubbed Peter's shoulder. "At least our guy here made it through!"
"Yes. That is a good thing. We should call the Daily Bugle and let them know." Stacy studied Peter over. Questions popped up in his mind related to the apartment's explosion that morning and Spider-Man's involvement. A theory piled onto the others in his mind. "I'm glad you made it through, Peter. Jameson, Norman Osborn and Joe Robertson were all concerned."
Peter nodded. Jonah's really going to love when we tell him the good news about the summer. I might wish I'd gone up in that explosion. His eyes rolled.
Such as it was….