Gwen pulled her stethoscope from her ears as the main door to F.E.A.S.T burst open and two people barged in carrying a lifeless Spider-Man. Her heart sank into her stomach as she watched Miles take action and clear a table off quickly. They lifted Peter onto the table where he groaned, clutching his side.
She moved towards them as Miles assured Dr. Michael's that there were no other doctors at F.E.A.S.T and that they were his only options.
"Gwen is a nurse." Miles assured causing her to look up from Peter's side quickly. "A nursing student." She added, turning her attention back to him. "We gotta stop meeting like this, Ace." She whispered, feeling tears sting at her eyes. He seemed worse this time and the first time they'd met she was sure he would die. Peter could only groan in response.
Gwen helped the others the best she could - stabilizing him on the table. After almost an hour Dr. Michael's turned to her, "He'll live, but he needs rest." She felt the tears she'd been fighting slide down her cheek as he walked out of the main room quickly. As if on cue, and as stubborn as his aunt, Spider-Man pushed himself up into a sitting position with a groan; clutching his side as he stumbled off the makeshift gurney.
"Hey, take it easy." Gwen whispered as he fell to his knees beside her, breathing in deep as pain radiated through his body. There was no time for easy. She put her hand on his side as he turned to her - looking at her through his mask. "Where's May?"
His voice was weak and she didn't know how much more he could take. Gwen wiped her tears with her free hand; helping Peter to his feet.
She helped him walk to a side room where his aunt was laying in a hospital bed. Her skin was pale and she groaned with an unseen pain.
Although they barely knew each other Gwen wrapped her arm around Peter's waist; holding his broken ribs and providing any kind of comfort she could manage. May was dying.
"They say she could go at any moment."
They looked into her room a moment longer before Peter turned to leave; clutching his ribs he made it three steps before falling to his knees.
"Where are you going?" Gwen asked, moving to his side. "I need to find Otto. He has the antiserum." Gwen helped him up as he turned to her - searching her face through his mask. "I don't know if I can beat him."
X
Gwen looked up from May's bedside as Peter limped into the room holding the antiserum. He had beaten Dr. Octavius but at what cost?
Dr. Michael's took the vial from him; pouring some of the contents onto a disc as he analyzed it through a microscope. The room as eerily quiet - except for the continuous beeping of the monitor hooked to May. Gwen slipped her hand into May's as she watched Peter pace the floor.
"It's viable," Dr. Michael's assured after what seemed like days, startlingly Gwen as she looked up at Peter. He closed the space between himself and the doctor. "We'll need the entire sample as a base to produce more doses."
"How long will that take?" Peter asked, his voice failing him. He knew - as soon as the doctor hesitated that May didn't have enough time. "A few hours. Maybe a day."
Peter turned to May, standing beside Gwen as she let his aunts hand slip from hers.
"What if we use it to cure someone right now?"
Dr. Michael's frowned, letting his gaze fall. "Then there won't be enough to cure the others."
Peter looked out into the main room of F.E.A.S.T; it was full of sick people infected by the Devil's Breath, not to mention half the city. Dr. Michael's stood - motioning for Gwen. "Well give you a few minutes." He assured, glancing back at May before taking his leave. Gwen stood quickly - wiping at her tear streaked face as she gave May's hand a final squeeze and turned to go. Peter stopped her, causing her to look up at his covered face.
