Chapter 28

Sorry, it's been a while. I've started a new job and school so I haven't had time. Plus I was trying to figure out how exactly to end this fic. It was really difficult

The concept of perfect sanitization is highly overrated. The white walls, white floors, white ceilings, white beds and white sheets are not a good look for a hospital. Especially one holding The Captain America. Peter didn't even know why that became a thing. What's wrong with some distracting color? Distractions are good in a hospital setting. But, Peter supposed, it was better than the empty blackness he'd experience over the past few days.

In between contemplating the reasoning behind hospitals' style choices, Peter prayed.

He never prayed before, but he suddenly had been praying for a lot lately. He prayed for Steve to be safe. He prayed that at the very least he'd wake up. Even if he never could walk again, Peter just wants him to be alive.

Tony sat by his side, his hand a comfortable weight on his leg as the other bounced with anticipation. They've been sitting outside the operating room for some time now. At least 5 hours by Peter's guess as he notices the light from the windows begin to move then fade.

Peter had been looked over already. Though he complained the entire time, trying hard to get away to find Steve. Unfortunately, he was still weakened.

The burn marks from the electricity was fading quickly and the feeling of black gunk was completely gone. Peter felt as if he'd been a snake that shed its skin and was soft, shiny and new.

On the bright side, his skin did have an angel glow, all of a sudden. 'Very moisturized' Tony would say.

Peter brought his connected hands to his lips, biting on the tip of his thumb nail.

"Don't do that." Tony pulled his hand away, looking at him calmly. "It's a nasty habit."

"What happens if he doesn't come back?" Peter asked, his blue eyes staring off into the white nothingness.

"This is Cap." Tony folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the wall, his head falling backwards. "Dumbass is too stubborn to die."

Peter swallowed the lump in his throat. His heart felt fuzzy and nervous, his eyes red and shiny. "I want him to be okay."

"We all do." Tony grunted back, pretending to not care about the situation at all. Tony had sat with Peter the whole time after getting to the hospital and never once left his side.

"Aren't you busy?" Peter finally glanced at him.

"Yup." Tony said.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because nothing is more important than me blasting, Cap, into the next century once he wakes up."

Peter smirked. He could only imagine.

His smiled faded soon after. "Tony?"

"Hm?"

"What did you do when you lost your parents?" Peter asked. He knew some of Tony's background. It was all over the news after all, but a good reporter (or photographer) always likes the first-hand account. "You don't have to answer. I was just—."

"I drank. A lot."

"Were did you go?"

"Everywhere and nowhere." Tony sighed. "I was lost, I really was." Peter pursed his lips, looking back down at his fisted hands.

"I," Tony continued. "I wasn't as mature as you, Peter. I didn't have the same life as you. I wanted to rebel, I wanted to piss off my father, because he'd never acknowledge me otherwise. But…" He looked like he was tearing up. "I regret it. I worried my mom and I was no closer to gaining his respect."

Peter watched at Tony's eyes flickered with pain at the mention of his mother. "But I had Stane, though that didn't work out well, he was still there for me. Helped me out, despite his jealousy. But you're different. You want to do what's right. You want to try and help. That's you."

Peter blinked at the floor, gathering his thoughts. "In foster care, it was a known rule to never get attached to anyone, because you could easily be gone the next day." Peter whispered. "I never wanted to connect with you guys. I just wanted to stay out of trouble and if that meant I had to get through your training, then…" He trailed off. "I didn't want to make connections."

"Yeah," Tony cocked his head back and forth, contemplating. "Screw foster care."

Peter's lips curved only slightly upwards. "Making connections is a good thing. It gets your further, makes you stronger, and keeps you happy. Steve isn't easy to connect with, hell we all are. But Steve's pretty stoic most of the time, probably because of what he experienced in the war. He hard to approach because he's an icon and even worse to work with because he's a dictator." Peter chuckled at the joke. "But he's a good person. That's why you and Steve work so well together. You want the same things."

Peter's smile fell as well as his gaze. His shoes, which he borrowed from Clint, were a bit big. But the shiny black material gave him a perfect reflection of himself. He looked like crap. His hair was sticking up all over the place, his skin was still pale, and his body was bone thin. His cheeks were hollowed and dark which matched perfectly with his eye sockets. He looked like a hitchhiker ghost.

The moment they got to the hospital, Tony ordered him an entire buffet of the fattiest foods he could think of, some of which Peter never tried. Luckily for him, he's a stress eater, so it was easy to swallow the food by the handful. Unfortunately, the needed calories haven't completely kicked in yet.

Part of him wondered if his powers were still there. He hadn't tried them at all. Been too afraid to. What if Venom had stripped him of Spiderman? He felt so weak and he doesn't look any better. Though with the amount of food he consumed, he supposed he's worried for nothing.

"Hey, Tony?"

"Hm?" Tony answered, looking down at his phone.

"What's going to happen to Venom?"

Immediately, Tony looked up. "He will probably be staying in that canister for a long time. Why?"

"I was wondering if you could reprogram him somehow." He said shyly.

"Reprogram him?" Tony looked at him like he'd grown a third head.

"Well he is a symbiote, Osborn captured him from wherever and reprogrammed him to match my DNA. So, it could be possible to one day send him back."

"I don't know, kiddo. That's not really my area of expertise."

Peter looked disappointed.

Tony sighed. "But, I can bring it up with Bruce later. Maybe he'll have some ideas."

Peter smiled at him, hopefully. "But," Tony continued. "You don't get to go anywhere near that thing. Ever. Steve will have my head."

"Deal." He sat back with his head against the wall, breathing in and out. Calming his still wildly beating heart.

"Oh, and Peter." Tony said, not looking up from his phone. Peter turned an eye towards him. "If this doesn't work out, which it will" he paused. "Just know we would never send you back to foster care."

The room lightened, and the air became breathable. One less stress to lighten the load carried on young Peter's shoulders.

"Thanks, Tony."

Two Weeks Later

"Come on, Kiddo. It's time to go." Tony poked him in the shoulder. That past few weeks have been stressful. Summer's over and Peter's returned to school, much to his dismay. He'd much rather sit with Steve for a while longer.

Steve, on the other hand, has been a near death coma for the past two weeks. His body lay on matching white sheets. During this time, he's had nearly 7 different procedures, many of which were done horribly due to the procedure process needing to be quicker. Steve's healing ability was fast, but, unfortunately, it was healing incorrectly.

Steve's broken ribs healed in the wrong places and his skin scarred. His heart had stopped twice because of blood loss, most ending up in the body cavity. That didn't help at all. Good thing, Steve can take anyone's blood.

Finally, they got him stabilized and in bed, but he may have suffered some brain damage because of the blood loss. They wouldn't know for sure until he woke up.

Ass, Peter thought, worriedly.

"I want to stay here." Peter told Tony.

"No can do, kid. Get up." Tony pulled him to his feet by grabbing under his arms. "Let's go."

"I'm staying here." Peter stated, monotoned. He sat back down with such force the chair nearly broke underneath him.

"You've been here for hours and you have school tomorrow. Did you even do your homework?"

"I don't care." He whispered.

"Well, I do." Tony pulled him again. "Steve does too. He'll have your ass and mine if you don't go."

Peter thought about it. Steve would want him to go.

Damn. He thought. He hated having to leave. What if he woke up? For the past few weeks, Peter's been thinking about just what to say. Stewing over the words for a while. Ultimately, he found him self feeling so many emotions. Anger. Sadness. Guilt. Pain.

Damn it! He screamed in his head. Wake up already! Please!

"Fine." He stood. With one last look, Peter waved goodbye and turned. Tony lead him out the door.

Two months later

Peter hasn't visited in two days. He'd been getting back into the swing of things on the other side of the hospital walls. That includes going back to school, hanging out with Gwen and even making some new friends along the way, and even getting a real Stark Industries internship alongside Tony Stark.

He worked quite diligently. Anything to keep his mind off, Steve. He even smiled every once in a while and laughed more often. The others were ecstatic to see him getting better. But, the problem was still there, Steve still hadn't woken up.

Every day, one of the Avengers were on watch. But none got so much as a blink.

One day later

Clint watches over Steve reading some comics on his phone. He was bored as hell, but after watching so many reruns of almost everything on the horrid hospital TV, he just got bored.

He groaned. "Jeez, this is boring."

All of a sudden, Steve's body lurches forward with a might breath in.

"Oh! Shit!." Clint flies backwards of his chair, falling on his back. His phone flying in the opposite direction. Luckily he was quick enough to catch it before it broke on the hard tile floor.

"Jesus, Steve. I have three more payments on this…" He paused, blinking. "Holy shit! Steve!"

He pushed himself up, running to Steve's side. Steve's eyes were blown out, nearly white. The color returning quickly to his face.

Clint came over to pat his back. "You okay, man?" He asked. Rubbing his upper back. Steve trembled with quaking fear.

Steve quickly patted over his stomach and chest. No hole. His breathing decreased, and he toppled backwards onto the mattress, sending it colliding into the wall. The heart which was rapid, decreased too, coming to a nice rhythm.

Steve grabbed hold of Clint's arm, holding him in place. Clint's eyes filled with slight confusion, but he stayed there, unmoving. Steve brought his other hand to Clint's collar pulling him down. Not completely being able to catch air. He choked out "Where's, Peter?"

"He's fine." Clint forced him to release. "You've been out for a while."

"How long?" Steve let him go.

"Oh," Clint began to count on his fingers, jokingly. "Just about two months."

"Two months?" He squeaked. His throat sore. He couldn't believe it. Two months? Well… at least it wasn't 70 years.

"Yeah. Peter went back to school and the others are out doing… something, I'm sure."

"School." Steve repeated.

"Yup. He's doing well as always. No black goop getting in the way." He winked. Steve laid his head back in relief and just focused on the breath. "Speaking of which," Clint added. "I should probably call him and the team… and probably the doctor too."

Steve just gave him a thumbs up and fell back into a deep sleep.

"Whoo!" Peter hopped down the stairs at the front of school. He'd heard the news, Steve woke up! He was coherent, and Peter had to see him.

Gwen quickly followed him. "Peter!"

"Come on, Gwen!" He grabbed her hand. "You've got to go faster."

They ran into the street, Peter not even caring to look, nearly being taken out by a moving vehicle. "Peter!" Gwen chastised, still being dragged along. "You've got to be more careful."

"Who cares about that?" He dodged passing pedestrians and booked it down the subway station. "My dad's awake!"

"Dad!" Peter called coming down the hallway, fast. Gwen close behind. His footsteps echoed and his voice even more so. He weaved his way around gurneys, people and health equipment. Nothing is going to stop him.

"Sh!" He ran into Natasha, her body blocking his path. "This is a hospital, Peter."

"Sorry, but—," he tried to look around her through pockets over her shoulder. Though, he didn't dare go past. Natasha would destroy him.

"I know." She calmed him, putting her hands on his shoulders. "The doctor's looking him over, first. Let him have his space."

"It's been two months, Natasha." Peter complained. "They've had plenty of space."

Gwen came up and grabbed his hand. "Come on." She pulled. "Let's go sit."

Peter looked over at her for the first time. Her hair was a mess and her face was tomato red. Sometimes he forgets his stamina. "Sorry, Gwen."

She glared for a moment. "Now."

With one last glance at the hospital room door and a small glare at Natasha. He followed Gwen to the waiting room seats.

It was an agonizing hour just staring at the same white wall he stood at 2 months ago. That time he was praying, begging to Steve to be alright. Peter didn't quite know the damage though. He couldn't imagine what it felt like to be stabbed massively through the chest, but it probably didn't feel great at all.

Plus, there was a slight fear in him that maybe this would cause Steve to return him like a bad Christmas gift. Yes, he knew that was overreacting, but since he caused so much more trouble than he's worth, he wouldn't be surprised.

His leg bounced in anticipating and pure energy. His adrenaline pumping quickly. He hadn't been visiting recently, he wondered if Steve knew. But, the others thought he needed to get his life together first. He didn't want to disappoint, Steve after all.

Within these two months, he'd been going to a special secret superhero therapy. It made him feel okay. He was good with okay, at least until Steve would wake. He also began school, which made his life feel normal. He still went out on patrols. Felt like Steve would want him to.

The "real" Stark Internship was going really well. He'd traveled around the state, helping Tony do pretty much everything. It kept him away from the hospital. Which although that sounds selfish, made him feel less anxious.

Basically, he filled his life up so much, he couldn't return. Not like that first few weeks where he slept here constantly.

Eventually he heard it from down the hall. The door opened at the doctor walked out. He spoke a few words to Natasha. Although Peter couldn't pick up all the words, the doctor's voice seemed pleased. Eventually he heard heels clicking down the hallways. He didn't even need to see Nat, to know she was coming to grab him. He stood up immediately, long before she reached him.

"Peter?" He heard Gwen call, but didn't react.

He walked past Natasha, nodding with a small smile. Then walked into the room.

"Peter." Steve smiled.

Without much thought or any words, Peter nearly hopped onto the bed, hugging Steve tightly.

"Dad, you're alive!" He felt himself getting giddy.

"So are you." He replied. Hugging back tightly. "You've gotten big."

"You've been out for a while." Peter pulled back. "I thought you died!"

"Guess so." He shrugged. "I think I scared Clint when I woke up."

"He said he landed on the floor." Peter laughed.

"And dropped his phone." Steve added.

"Tony has the video."

They laughed for a while. Afterwards, Steve took Peter's hand, rubbing his arm. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay." Peter moved over to sit on the hospital chair.

"No more Venom?"

"No more Venom." Peter confirmed. "Tony and Bruce have been working with it though."

"So, it's not dead?" Steve gripped his wrist harder.

"Don't be mad." Peter shrugged. "I asked them not to destroy it."

"Why?" Steve questioned.

"It was stolen from another planet. Odds are if they can just undo the programming Osborn had done, they'd be able to send it back."

"I don't know." Steve sighed. "It didn't work well with Ultron."

"But they aren't trying to save the world this time, just one thing." Peter argued. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Steve didn't seem convinced, but he didn't argue further either. Instead he pressed the button to get up to an upwards position.

"How are you feeling? What did the doctor say?"

"He says I'm fine. No hole, no anything. I can leave tomorrow."

Peter smiled. "That's great!"

"What did happen after I—uh," Steve paused.

"Got molested by black goop?"

"Yeah."

Peter relayed the entire story, everything he remembers. Even things that happened in his own mind. He didn't mention Uncle Ben though, that was for himself.

"Where's Osborn?"

"In SHIELD custody. He probably will be there for a while."

"Deserves it."

"Most people that try the whole "take over the world" thing do." Peter laughed.

"You know, it's still interesting how he knew your parents the whole time."

"It's not that shocking to me." Peter shrugged.

"Why's that?"

"Because I didn't really know my parents. I don't even think my Aunt or Uncle really knew too much. It's not surprising that someone did."

"Aren't you curious as to why?"

"Well, now I am." Peter confirmed. "Not really before."

"That seems odd."

"Never really needed to, I guess. It's not like they could help me or were coming back. I barely even remember them. I only recently remember the night the dropped me off. I do, however, appreciate that they cared for me. They got me out of a situation and I'll honor that risk, just like Uncle Ben's."

"How come you seem like a wise old man?" Steve teased.

"Been through a lot of shit." Peter smiled.

"Language." Steve coughed, but laughed anyways.

"Thanks." Peter said, shyly. "For everything. For finding me, for making me dinner, for worrying about me. It's been a long time since I've felt that." He looked at Steve, in the eye. "I'm glad I met you.'

"Still believe in that whole 'no making connections' thing?"

"Nope. Those connections made me stronger. I beat Venom because of it. And if it hadn't been for you, I never would have learned that certain connections can hold strong even as you grow. They don't have to break apart or get lost or even forgotten."

Steve smiled. "I told you I believed in you, hot shot."

Peter smiled back and got up to hug his father again. "Thanks for believing in me, Dad. I'm glad I 'connected' with you." He giggled.

There was a long, comfortable silence between them. Steve simply rubbing Peter's back.

"So tomorrow, right?" Peter asked, pulling back again.

"We get go home."

I did not expect to be writing this two years later. I thought about giving it up several times, but now that it's done I am so proud. Yes, there is a lot of errors and decisions I made in the past would not have ended happening now, but I am proud that this is completed. I'm thinking of epilogue, but don't get your hopes up. I will, however, being going back and editing just so that it's cleaned up.

I really truly hope that you all like it. Thank you so much for everyone who has stuck with me for so long! You guys are truly inspirational and gave me energy to keep this story going.

Thank you all so much!

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