open to abetterlie
If anyone had told Peter Parker that his life would level out and become more easy routine and less stressful a few weeks ago he'd have laughed in their face. Never in a million years would he have believed that Harry would a find a way to let MJ and Peter back in and the three would be friends again. He never believed that the cocky kid he met on the Osborn balcony would become his partner in protecting the city and one of his best study buddies at college. Peter would have rolled his eyes at the idea of working at OsCorp and enjoying his work there. The truth was that things were going well for Peter Parker. His grades were up and his attendance record had never been better. The schedule that Connor and Peter worked out has allowed for the two of them to live relatively normal lives. His work at OsCorp was challenging and rewarding. There were times he pondered if he should consider what Harry said about making a career at OsCorp. It was too early to make a choice like that, but the thing about working at OsCorp was that it served two purposes. It allowed Peter to work in the field that he loved, and it let him keep an eye on Harry.
Now that Peter was aware that Norman appeared in ghost form, he was more convinced than ever, that Harry was too vulnerable to be left alone at OsCorp. It wasn't just Peter who worried about Harry Osborn at the plant. He'd heard mumbling about a secretary who was sent home in tears because Harry yelled at her a couple of days before. That wasn't like Harry at all. Some of the other technicians and doctors were making throw away statements about how much like Norman Osborn that Harry was turning out to be. Peter couldn't see it, not really. Sure Harry was determined to make this project a success, but he had reasons that the other people were not privy too. If they understood his true motivation then they would stop comparing his friend to that maniac Norman.
Peter had convinced himself that it was the enhancement drugs that turned Norman Osborn into a monster. It wasn't until Harry explained what had happened in Greece that Peter got the clear picture of what Norman had been like. He wasn't just an emotionally abusive and neglectful father. He'd been a mad man who had no value of human life. A man willing to do anything to be successful and excused his behavior by swearing the ends justified the means. Harry wasn't like that though. Peter knew that Harry Osborn valued human life more than just about anyone Peter had met before. Harry was the guy who handed the homeless people hundred dollar bills and gave them business cards to contact the realtor he hired who buys out buildings in New York to turn them into rent controlled apartments for people who need help getting back on their fate. He was the guy who volunteered to read to little kids, and most of the time didn't want the press to know he was there because he just wanted to hang with the kids. Harry wasn't a monster.
"Parker, what are you doing here?" Dr. Griffin asked, breaking Peter's train of thought. He tilted his head and studied Peter who gave him a sheepish look. "Don't tell me Osborn has you working weekends too."
"Sometimes. I was supposed to meet him to go over the test results from yesterday's experiments, but I haven't seen him around." That was a little unsettling, actually. Harry had always been one of the most punctual people that Peter knew. He'd seen the Mercedes parked outside in Harry's usual spot, but Harry hadn't been in his office or the lab where they were supposed to meet.
"I haven't seen him and I've been here most of the day. You sure you guys didn't get your wires crossed?" Dr. Griffin looked up from his paperwork and frowned. "Unless he fell..." He let his words trail off.
"Unless he fell? Fell? What are you talking about?" Peter demanded. Harry had a habit of being accident prone, but it was normally drug and alcohol related.
"I'm sorry, Parker, I'm not at liberty to talk about it. I've already said too much."
"He's my best friend, Dr. Griffin. If something is wrong with Harry then you need to tell me what it is so I can help him." Peter's tone bordered on anger and desperation. He felt slightly ashamed when he saw how uncomfortable Dr. Griffin looked. Harry always spoke highly of Mitch Griffin and called him an old friend. One of the most valued employees at OsCorp. Peter had no right to alienate one of Harry's favored employees. "Please, if he needs help you have to fill me in."
"Parker..Peter, I'm worried about Harry. He's been working a lot of hours lately and there is a lot of pressure on him to succeed with this project. He doesn't have a history of reacting well to stress, and well he came to me..."Dr. Griffin approached Peter, leaning on the lab table between them as he dropped his voice. "I'll need your word this stays strictly between us. I'm breaking confidentiality here and it could cost us both our jobs, as well as Harry's friendship."
"You have my word," Peter vowed as he felt his heart racing. Something was wrong with Harry. How could he have missed this?
"Harry came to me because he worried about passing out at random times, waking up, and not remembering falling asleep or the hours before he passed out. I told him that I would run some tests, but I urged him to get some rest. He's always been a bit fragile, you know, ever since he was a kid and had that overdose. I would advise his father to take it easy on him, but Norman didn't believe the medical reports. He believed that a little trip to drug rehab would fix Harry up, but I saw the medical reports. Harry's mind...he needs to take it easy, Parker. I don't believe working at OsCorp is a wise choice for him."
"He's blacking out?" Peter whispered as his hands squeezed the ends of the table. He knew about the drug overdose when Harry was a teenager. Harry told him about how the doctors didn't think he'd survive it. That he was supposed to have taken too much LSD to ever fully recover, but Harry beat the odds. He was so proud of beating the odds because it had pleased his father. That was why he was allowed to go to public high school and live back at the penthouse. Norman let him out of the hospital and gave Harry a chance to prove himself. Harry never mentioned that he had lingering affects from the overdose. He never mentioned that stress could... "When did they start?"
"As far as I know recently, but Harry has been a bit off since his father died. Did something happen six or seven months ago?" Dr. Griffin asked as Peter struggled to breathe. "Are you all right?"
"What? Yes, of course. Six or seven months ago?" Peter knew what happened six or seven months before. The mask came off. Harry had stumbled back and dropped the dagger. He'd looked like his entire world had crashed around him, and Peter had left to save MJ without coming back to check on Harry. He thought he was doing the right thing by giving Harry space. Just like he thought he had been protecting him by not revealing what happened that night his father died or that Peter had been the guy behind the mask.
"Harry had a slight relapse that required the board to hospitalize him for observation for a few days. He appeared to come out of it all right, but that is why the board is hesitant to allow him to assume too many responsibilities at OsCorp. From what I understand he receives the rest of his stock shares at the age of twenty-five and at that point would have controlling interest. I imagine they would prefer he not be in the condition to assume control if he is not stable.” Dr. Griffin sighed, as he gave Peter a concerned look. “Harry is a good kid. I’d rather he not be pushed too far just so some stuffy old guys in business suits can keep control of the company.”
“I need to go look for Harry. If he’s fallen asleep some place I want to know he’s okay. Thank you, Dr. Griffin, I won’t betray your confidence.”
Peter excused himself from the lab and went in search of Harry. The car was still parked outside, but Harry was no where to be found at OsCorp. Peter checked his watch and realized he needed to be on patrol, but he wasn’t sure what to do about Harry. Perhaps it was time to give in and call Connor. He had a feeling Connor may have an easier time tracking Harry down than Peter would. Though it didn’t help that some of the offices and labs at OsCorp were locked and only Harry had the keys to get into them. Not even security had access. He could be in one of those rooms…sleeping. Hopefully, just sleeping, and not hurt.
Peter picked up his cell phone and dialed Connor’s number. He told Doctor Griffin he wouldn't betray his trust, but he wasn't sure he could keep this from Connor. If Harry was in trouble the last thing Peter wanted to do was make it worse by keeping more secrets.
Now that Peter was aware that Norman appeared in ghost form, he was more convinced than ever, that Harry was too vulnerable to be left alone at OsCorp. It wasn't just Peter who worried about Harry Osborn at the plant. He'd heard mumbling about a secretary who was sent home in tears because Harry yelled at her a couple of days before. That wasn't like Harry at all. Some of the other technicians and doctors were making throw away statements about how much like Norman Osborn that Harry was turning out to be. Peter couldn't see it, not really. Sure Harry was determined to make this project a success, but he had reasons that the other people were not privy too. If they understood his true motivation then they would stop comparing his friend to that maniac Norman.
Peter had convinced himself that it was the enhancement drugs that turned Norman Osborn into a monster. It wasn't until Harry explained what had happened in Greece that Peter got the clear picture of what Norman had been like. He wasn't just an emotionally abusive and neglectful father. He'd been a mad man who had no value of human life. A man willing to do anything to be successful and excused his behavior by swearing the ends justified the means. Harry wasn't like that though. Peter knew that Harry Osborn valued human life more than just about anyone Peter had met before. Harry was the guy who handed the homeless people hundred dollar bills and gave them business cards to contact the realtor he hired who buys out buildings in New York to turn them into rent controlled apartments for people who need help getting back on their fate. He was the guy who volunteered to read to little kids, and most of the time didn't want the press to know he was there because he just wanted to hang with the kids. Harry wasn't a monster.
"Parker, what are you doing here?" Dr. Griffin asked, breaking Peter's train of thought. He tilted his head and studied Peter who gave him a sheepish look. "Don't tell me Osborn has you working weekends too."
"Sometimes. I was supposed to meet him to go over the test results from yesterday's experiments, but I haven't seen him around." That was a little unsettling, actually. Harry had always been one of the most punctual people that Peter knew. He'd seen the Mercedes parked outside in Harry's usual spot, but Harry hadn't been in his office or the lab where they were supposed to meet.
"I haven't seen him and I've been here most of the day. You sure you guys didn't get your wires crossed?" Dr. Griffin looked up from his paperwork and frowned. "Unless he fell..." He let his words trail off.
"Unless he fell? Fell? What are you talking about?" Peter demanded. Harry had a habit of being accident prone, but it was normally drug and alcohol related.
"I'm sorry, Parker, I'm not at liberty to talk about it. I've already said too much."
"He's my best friend, Dr. Griffin. If something is wrong with Harry then you need to tell me what it is so I can help him." Peter's tone bordered on anger and desperation. He felt slightly ashamed when he saw how uncomfortable Dr. Griffin looked. Harry always spoke highly of Mitch Griffin and called him an old friend. One of the most valued employees at OsCorp. Peter had no right to alienate one of Harry's favored employees. "Please, if he needs help you have to fill me in."
"Parker..Peter, I'm worried about Harry. He's been working a lot of hours lately and there is a lot of pressure on him to succeed with this project. He doesn't have a history of reacting well to stress, and well he came to me..."Dr. Griffin approached Peter, leaning on the lab table between them as he dropped his voice. "I'll need your word this stays strictly between us. I'm breaking confidentiality here and it could cost us both our jobs, as well as Harry's friendship."
"You have my word," Peter vowed as he felt his heart racing. Something was wrong with Harry. How could he have missed this?
"Harry came to me because he worried about passing out at random times, waking up, and not remembering falling asleep or the hours before he passed out. I told him that I would run some tests, but I urged him to get some rest. He's always been a bit fragile, you know, ever since he was a kid and had that overdose. I would advise his father to take it easy on him, but Norman didn't believe the medical reports. He believed that a little trip to drug rehab would fix Harry up, but I saw the medical reports. Harry's mind...he needs to take it easy, Parker. I don't believe working at OsCorp is a wise choice for him."
"He's blacking out?" Peter whispered as his hands squeezed the ends of the table. He knew about the drug overdose when Harry was a teenager. Harry told him about how the doctors didn't think he'd survive it. That he was supposed to have taken too much LSD to ever fully recover, but Harry beat the odds. He was so proud of beating the odds because it had pleased his father. That was why he was allowed to go to public high school and live back at the penthouse. Norman let him out of the hospital and gave Harry a chance to prove himself. Harry never mentioned that he had lingering affects from the overdose. He never mentioned that stress could... "When did they start?"
"As far as I know recently, but Harry has been a bit off since his father died. Did something happen six or seven months ago?" Dr. Griffin asked as Peter struggled to breathe. "Are you all right?"
"What? Yes, of course. Six or seven months ago?" Peter knew what happened six or seven months before. The mask came off. Harry had stumbled back and dropped the dagger. He'd looked like his entire world had crashed around him, and Peter had left to save MJ without coming back to check on Harry. He thought he was doing the right thing by giving Harry space. Just like he thought he had been protecting him by not revealing what happened that night his father died or that Peter had been the guy behind the mask.
"Harry had a slight relapse that required the board to hospitalize him for observation for a few days. He appeared to come out of it all right, but that is why the board is hesitant to allow him to assume too many responsibilities at OsCorp. From what I understand he receives the rest of his stock shares at the age of twenty-five and at that point would have controlling interest. I imagine they would prefer he not be in the condition to assume control if he is not stable.” Dr. Griffin sighed, as he gave Peter a concerned look. “Harry is a good kid. I’d rather he not be pushed too far just so some stuffy old guys in business suits can keep control of the company.”
“I need to go look for Harry. If he’s fallen asleep some place I want to know he’s okay. Thank you, Dr. Griffin, I won’t betray your confidence.”
Peter excused himself from the lab and went in search of Harry. The car was still parked outside, but Harry was no where to be found at OsCorp. Peter checked his watch and realized he needed to be on patrol, but he wasn’t sure what to do about Harry. Perhaps it was time to give in and call Connor. He had a feeling Connor may have an easier time tracking Harry down than Peter would. Though it didn’t help that some of the offices and labs at OsCorp were locked and only Harry had the keys to get into them. Not even security had access. He could be in one of those rooms…sleeping. Hopefully, just sleeping, and not hurt.
Peter picked up his cell phone and dialed Connor’s number. He told Doctor Griffin he wouldn't betray his trust, but he wasn't sure he could keep this from Connor. If Harry was in trouble the last thing Peter wanted to do was make it worse by keeping more secrets.