Aunt May sat anxiously in a chair beside Peter's hospital bed, clutching his hand tightly. Her face was pale, her eyes red from hours of worry.
Mary Jane stood nearby, her arms crossed, staring at Peter's still form. The room was quiet except for the steady beep of the heart monitor.
The door creaked open, and the doctor entered, clipboard in hand. He offered a small, reassuring smile. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Parker, Miss Watson. I wanted to give you both an update on Peter's condition."
Aunt May's voice trembled as she spoke. "How is he, Doctor? Is he going to be okay?"
The doctor nodded gently. "First, let me assure you that Peter is stable. He's incredibly lucky, he survived something that could have been far worse. But there are some things we need to address."
Mary Jane stepped closer, her voice soft but urgent. "What happened to him? He looks… okay on the outside."
The doctor sighed, flipping through his notes. "While his external injuries are minor, just some scrapes, bruises, and superficial burns, the explosion caused significant internal trauma"
Aunt May interrupted, her voice rising with panic. "Internal trauma?"
The doctor held up a hand to calm her. "His organs, his lungs, kidneys, liver, may have been bruised or strained by the impact. We're monitoring him closely for signs of internal bleeding or other complications, but so far, nothing life-threatening has shown up."
Mary Jane's eyes filled with tears, but she kept her voice steady. "So… what happens now? How long will it take for him to get better?"
"Recoveries vary," the doctor said, "but assuming no complications arise, I'd estimate a few weeks to a couple of months before he's back to full strength. In the meantime, he'll need plenty of rest, a healthy diet, and gradual physical activity."
Aunt May wiped her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Doctor. You've given us hope."
The doctor smiled warmly. "Peter's young, resilient, and clearly has people who care deeply about him. That makes all the difference. Just make sure he takes this seriously,"
Mary Jane nodded firmly. "We'll make sure he listens, Doctor. Don't worry."
"Good," the doctor said. "I'll check in again later tonight, but for now, try to keep him calm and comfortable. And remember, if anything changes, call us immediately."
Aunt May managed a small smile. "Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate everything you're doing for him."
The doctor nodded. "Of course. Take care of yourselves too, ladies. This isn't easy on anyone."
With that, the doctor left the room, leaving Aunt May and Mary Jane alone with Peter, who stirred slightly in his bed.
A few hours later,
Peter's eyes fluttered open. He blinked groggily, taking in the sterile white walls of the hospital room. His voice was hoarse as he muttered, "I'm not dead, huh."
Mary Jane, who had stayed behind after Aunt May went home to rest, turned sharply at the sound of his voice. Her face lit up with relief. "Peter!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. "You're awake!"
She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as if afraid he might disappear. Peter winced slightly but managed a weak smile. "Hey, MJ. I'm okay."
But then his expression shifted, and he groaned. "Oh no… my car. It's gone, isn't it?"
Mary Jane pulled back, her relief momentarily replaced by exasperation. "Your car? Seriously, Peter? You almost died, and that's what you're worried about?"
Peter sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I accidentally got caught in the middle of a fight between Hulk and Juggernaut. I barely made it out alive."
Mary Jane leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Why didn't you use your webs? You could've gotten away!"
Peter glanced around nervously before whispering back, "I didn't have them with me."
Mary Jane's eyes narrowed. "You're kidding me."
"I'm not! My web shooters are too chunky—people would've noticed," Peter said defensively.
Mary Jane rolled her eyes, stepping back. "You always have an excuse."
Peter grinned weakly. "Yeah, well… it's part of my charm."
Before Mary Jane could respond, the TV in the corner of the room caught their attention. A breaking news alert flashed across the screen. A live stream showed a hulking figure in a rhino suit rampaging through the city.
The Rhino.
"RAGHH!!! SPIDER-MAN, COME OUT!" Rhino bellowed, his voice shaking the camera. "IF YOU DON'T, I'LL DESTROY THIS WHOLE CITY!" He tore a chunk of concrete from the ground and hurled it at the camera. The feed cut to static.
Peter's eyes widened, and he immediately tried to sit up. "I have to stop him."
Mary Jane grabbed his arm, her voice firm. "No, Peter. You just woke up. Let the other heroes handle it."
"This is my job, MJ," Peter said, struggling against her grip. "I can't just sit here while he tears the city apart."
Tears welled up in Mary Jane's eyes as she slapped him. "Please, Peter," she begged, her voice breaking. "Stay here. I've watched you get hurt over and over again. It kills me every time."
Peter froze, stunned by the raw emotion in her voice. He looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the years of fear and worry etched into her face.
"There are other heroes in the city," Mary Jane said softly. "Let them handle it. Just this once."
Peter hesitated, then slowly leaned back against the pillows. For now, he stayed.
He had stayed out of it just because of Mary Jane's tears. Her sobs had been enough to keep him grounded, to make him hesitate.
But now, hours later, the Rhino was still tearing through the city, unchecked. No heroes in sight. It was as if the entire world had turned its back, too preoccupied with their own battles to notice the chaos unfolding.
Peter sat in the dimly lit hospital room, the glow of the TV screen casting flickering shadows on the walls. The news footage showed the Rhino plowing through cars, his massive frame sending debris flying like confetti. The camera shook as the reporter's voice crackled through the speakers, her tone desperate and pleading.
"There's still no sign of any heroes," she said, her voice trembling. The helicopter's rotor blades thrummed in the background, adding a sense of urgency to her words. "Please, if anyone can hear this, we need help. My family is in the city. My kids are down there. Spider-Man, if you're watching this, we need you. *Please.*"
Peter's chest tightened. He glanced at Mary Jane, asleep on the hospital bed, her face pale but peaceful. Her hand rested lightly on the blanket, and for a moment, he was torn. But the reporter's voice echoed in his mind.
My family is in the city. Please, someone show up.
He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. Carefully, he stood, making sure not to wake her. He paused at the door, pulling out his wallet and swiping his card to settle the hospital bill. The machine beeped softly, a mundane sound that felt out of place given the storm raging inside him.
As he stepped into the hallway, the weight of his decision settled on his shoulders. The city needed him. And this time, he couldn't stay away.
🕸️🕸️🕸️🕷️🕸️🕸️🕸️
I have been rebirthed, and this is another try at writing a story. If you like the story so far, you can sub to my Patreon for advanced chapters.
Right now, we're at Chapter 19.
👉 [Patreon .com/The_Undying_One]
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the start. See you later!