Brother: Love and Adversity - Part Three
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Teaser: That day on the roof, during the Unity Festival, that had been Peter's voice. That's why Spider-Man had sounded so familiar. M.J. thought remembering back once again to that day a year and a half ago.
Part Three
Memories and Thoughts
- O - O - O - O - O - O -
Manhattan
Mary Jane was sitting in a chair on her small balcony thinking some things over. She was so intent on her thoughts, she was missing an incredible sunset.
Harry was her friend too. She could go with Peter. Besides, Peter had told her that Harry knew he was Spider-Man.
That worried her. Would Harry's hatred of Spider-Man cause Peter to be in danger? Mary Jane knew that her boyfriend could take care of himself. But Harry had other ways that he could hurt Peter other then physically.
Hearing a small thud, M.J. turned her head toward the sound. Perched gracefully on the railing of her balcony stood Spider-Man.
Peter. It almost was still unbelievable that he and Spider-Man were one and the same. But she had to secretly admit she was glad of the fact.
"Hi," the voice was huskier then Spider-Man's voice. It was slightly muffled through the mask, but it was Peter's all the same.
That day on the roof, during the Unity Festival, that had been Peter's voice. That's why Spider-Man had sounded so familiar. M.J. thought remembering back once again to that day a year and a half ago.
"Hey, everything okay out there?" she asked.
"For now." Jumping lightly down off the railing, Peter went through the opened French door into the kitchen. It wouldn't do to have everyone in Manhattan to see Spider-Man here, or worse yet, see him here. M.J. followed him in.
This was the first time he had been in her apartment dressed as Spider-Man. Actually this was his first time in her apartment period. He couldn't come here as himself because they couldn't let anyone know that they were seeing each other.
"I'm going with you."
Peter turned around and looked at Mary Jane in surprise. That wasn't what he had expected to hear when she followed him in. But M.J. couldn't see his eyes through the white eyepieces. Removing his mask, he let her see his expression. "You don't have to come with me," he spoke after a moment.
"But I want to."
Great, she had time to think stuff over while I played the hero. "M.J., that's really nice of you to offer, but-"
"But nothing. I'm going. What airline are you using?"
Peter always thought Mary Jane's stubborn side was cute. But not this time. Didn't she understand that she could be in danger if Harry had taken that formula his father used, or if he was going to take it?
He guessed that Harry had not yet taken it. Mainly because if he hadn’t, Harry wouldn't be in the shape he was in after a car accident. He wasn't sure if he could get through to Harry like he had Dr. Octavius. But he had to try to see if he could make his former friend see reason.
"I know your worried about Harry, so am I. And if you're worried about me, I am capable of taking care of myself." M.J.'s green eyes flashed daring him to argue anymore.
Peter knew he would have to tell her what he found at the Osborn House. In doing that, he would also have to tell her about the older Osborn being the Green Goblin. And that Harry now may be following in his father's footsteps.
"We need to talk, and I think you should be sitting down when we do." Leading her to the couch, they sat down. Where to begin?
Peter decided to start at the World Unity Festival. Quickly going through that part, he told her about what happened at Jameson's office. M.J. knew that Peter stayed anonymous when he had the Bugle publish one of his pictures of Spider-Man. Mary Jane couldn't help but smiling when Peter told her about webbing Jonah's month shut.
"The Goblin sprayed hallucinogen gas at me, a nerve gas. When I came to, I was on a rooftop and couldn't move." Peter remembered the Goblin telling he hadn't removed he's mask because he respected him. But now Peter wondered on that. If the Goblin had been telling the truth, then there was only one possible explanation on how Norman found out who he was.
"He tried to persuade me to join him, to become his ally. He was going to let me 'think about it.'" Peter put his forearms on his knees leaning forward looking at the floor and not his girlfriend.
"And I…thought about what he said. With the Bugle and the city wanting my arrest because of what happened with Jameson, I wondered, 'Why bother trying?'"
Mary Jane didn't realize the extent of all the burdens he carried then, or now. Sitting up he turned and looking at her, he continued his tale.
"But that all changed the night in the alley," he said softly. She had saved him that night.
Hearing what Peter had said, Mary Jane had blink back tears she felt on her eyelashes.
"You are amazing."
"Some people don't think so."
“But you are.”
Remembering those words, M.J. could help but see that Peter had to do this alone for so long. But not anymore. If he was trying to get her to not go with him to see Harry, it was having the opposite effect.
Since Peter was still in his suit, he pulled the left red glove off his arm. Holding it up so Mary Jane could see it, he asked, "Do you remember this?"
It took a few seconds for M.J. to see a faint scar across his forearm. "Wasn't that the cut you got that Thanksgiving?"
Nodding, Peter said, "I a confrontation with the Goblin before dinner."
Mary Jane remembered all to well about that Thanksgiving. Especially on what Mr. Osborn had said, and what Harry hadn't said. "What happened with the Goblin?"
"He wanted to know if I would join him, but I refused. He had these razor bats, one of them cut me on my arm." Peter put his glove back on.
"Hence the bike messenger story. You were in your room when everyone came up before that, weren't you?"
"Yes, on the ceiling. My arm was still bleeding, and Mr. Osborn found a drop of blood on the floor. I got out of my room as fast I could and clung to the bottom of the balcony. I heard Mr. Osborn come out to the balcony to look down. Since he didn’t see anything, he left.
"So when I did manage to get back down to join everyone, I thought the cut wasn't bleeding and under control. But when Aunt May noticed it was bleeding, my spider sense starting going off."
Peter looked at Mary Jane when he said these next words. "At the time I didn't understand why, but it was warning me about Mr. Osborn."
"Because he was the Green Goblin." Mary Jane hadn't known till now, it was like pieces of the puzzle starting to fit together.
Looking a bit surprised, Peter nodded.
M.J. continued. "He was in big hurry to leave after your story. Then…that's why he went after your aunt, then me. Because he knew."
"I'm not sure why he went after you, I mean, at first because I didn't think anyone knew about my feelings for you. But Aunt May told me everyone could see them."
Something else came to Mary Jane's mind. Peter's message on her machine that night. "And the phone message you left?"
"I was trying to warn you, without saying too much, but by then it was too late. He answered the phone. I got him to tell me where you were.”
Mary Jane unknowingly shuddered. That night on the Queensboro Bridge was one she didn’t like to think about. That one and now the night on the prier. But the prier held different emotions for her.
But M.J. couldn’t hear the thought going through Peter’s mind. It was one that had haunted, and still did, haunt Peter’s dreams. Can Spider-Man come out to play?
Another thought came to mind. Now with Harry, the words could turn back into a reality. Trying to push that foreboding thought away, Peter continued. "After what the Goblin, or rather Mr. Osborn did, I didn't want you to get hurt."
Frowning, she remembered what Peter said a week ago, then at the that day at the cemetery, Mary Jane asked, "What about Harry; why didn't you tell him the truth?”
"Because I promised Mr. Osborn I wouldn't."
"Well, I guess it's too late for that now. I'm still going with you." Mary Jane didn't think she wanted to find out how Mr. Osborn aka the Green Goblin had died.
"M.J., I just-"
"And I told you, last week in fact, that I'm willing to face anything with you."
Peter remembered what Aunt May said about letting Mary Jane making her own decisions. But damn, he didn't what her to be pawn for Harry to use against him.
"Is it that I can't worry about you? I know you can handle robbers, muggers, and mad scientists, but I worry about you too."
Sighing, Peter knew he shouldn't let her come with him.
Almost as if reading his thoughts, M.J. continued. "I'll be careful," giving him a mischievous smile, "after all, I have my superhero stalker with me."
Standing up, Peter hesitantly said, his voice filled with defeat, "Okay."
Mary Jane jumped up and threw herself to hug him, but it caught him off guard. They both fell backwards. Peter landed on the floor, which didn't really hurt, but got some of the air knocked out of him.
"Oops,” she laughed lightly, “I thought you had better reflexes then that, Tiger."
"I normally do." Peter smiled up at her.
"Thanks for catching me." Mary Jane's voice was quiet. She didn't make a move to get off of him. Her heart started beating like a runaway train.
Seeing desire in Peter's eyes, M.J. closed the space till their lips touched. The kiss was passionate like it was a week ago, and before.
Since they had been dating for the past week, their relationship was still very new. There seem to be an understanding to wait for any intimacy. But waiting wasn't on either of their minds at the moment.
Unfortunately the moment was broken by the wail of sirens.
Both of them wanted to ignore the sound, but Peter's spider sense began slowly pounding in his head. Breaking the kiss, he swore quietly. The sirens outside got louder in reply.
Mary Jane would have laughed at what Peter said, if it had been a different time. Without a word she got up. What was there to say? She had walked into relationship knowing she would be second place. Spider-Man would always come first with Peter. The city's needs were more important. But damn, couldn't they have timed it better?
Now back on his feet, Peter took his mask, which had been on the couch and started to put it back on. But Mary Jane stopped him halfway down.
Putting her hands over Peter's, she gave him a quick kiss. "For luck." She pulled the mask down until it joined at the neck seam.
"Thanks, I don't think I'll be back tonight. I need to talk to Aunt May." His voice was once again muffled under the mask. But he wasn’t lying, he had to let his aunt know where he was going and what was going on with Harry.
But right now the city’s needs weren’t completely on his mind. He wanted to stay, but he knew he couldn’t. He wondered if Mary Jane regretted her decision to be with him. If she ever decided to go, what would he do?
Pushing the negative thoughts away, he looked for some paper. Seeing it, Peter jotted something down. After that he walked toward the balcony, but stopped and turned to Mary Jane. He stared at her for a minute, but then shot out a web line and was gone.
Mary Jane felt her heart tighten. She had no idea what Peter’s expression had been on his face. Closing her eyes, she sighed weary and walked to over to see what Peter had written. Picking up the pad of paper, she saw that it was the information for Peter's plane.
With one more look at her balcony door, out into the city, she turned toward her room to pack. And prayed that Peter would be unharmed from whatever threat the people of New York were facing tonight.
- O - O - O - O - O - O -
Elroy
Rubbing his weary eyes, Dr. Ivan McKinnon signed off on the last patient’s chart. Working in the ER was draining, but he didn’t mind it. Well, most of the time. Saving lives was important to him. But there were some days that didn’t seem to happen.
Looking at the clock on the wall; 5 a.m. He quickly headed to the locker room. He had to get home to get some rest. Sometime soon he and Cait had to go and look at a rental car.
Trying to drive his sister to and from the hospital would be impossible to do with their work schedules. But luckily Ivan was off today. Which meant that Cait could use his car for her shift later this morning.
Heading home, Ivan remembered some of the talk from the fourth floor. The guy Cait had hit woke up. But from what Ivan heard from the other doctor, he didn’t stay awake long, and want back to sleep.
Driving home as fast as he dared within reasonable speed, his mind remembered some things he’d almost forgot.
One was, the guy, Harry Osborn’s his friend, Peter Parker, had phoned him back saying he was going to be here some time today. So, Ivan sighed, I may have drive Cait to work. I had said I’d pick him and his girlfriend up from the airport. No doubt they’ll want to go to the hospital. I’m only doing this for Cait to ease her worry and guilt.
Now Ivan’s morning, make that most of the day, was basically shot to hell. He had to wonder if he could get any sleep before the fun began.
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