By Moonlight (P.P + M.J)

40. Strange

The newcomer knelt down beside Jack's still body, and he assessed the situation. Peter was too spellbound to ask who he was. He had come from nowhere. He had literally materialized from thin air! How does one even do that?

"Multiple lacerations across the torso, bullet imbedded in the right pectoral and calf muscle, and another in the trapezius. Just missed the heart, between the lungs. All ribs are broken, spinal column cracked in four places, vertebrae is fractured," the stranger observed, looking over Jack with a stern, calculating gaze. He leaned back and sighed, "surprisingly, he's not dead. But, he is dying."

"Can you do anything for him?" Peter asked, his voice hoarse as he wiped some stray tears from his reddened eyes. Relief washed over him when he heard that Jack was alive.

The newcomer pursed his lips, looking down at Jack. He did another light inspection of the lycan's wounds and straightened up. He took off his gloves and his cape departed from his shoulders, floating casually behind him. He then held his arms out toward Jack. He performed some weird gestures with his hands, which Peter noticed to be horribly scarred. The golden object that hung from his necklace then opened, revealing a shining green jewel. A row of similarly colored rings surrounded the stranger's arm, and he began to turn the biggest circle, positioned in the palm of his hand, counter-clockwise.

Peter couldn't believe what he was seeing. Somehow, Jack's wounds were beginning to close, sealing up like zippers on a jacket. Gash after gash, they each healed, leaving only a bloody outline in their place. But the werewolf still didn't move, and that worried Peter. The stranger's brow furrowed as he concentrated, focusing until all Jack's injuries were gone. The only marks that remained were the two bullets wounds in his chest. Even the bullet the cop had put in his leg had popped out, clattering to the ground.

The mystery hero sat back, and the green rings around his arm dissipated. Peter watched Jack, waiting for his eyes to open. His right eye was no longer swollen shut, and he waited to see those glowing blue orbs.

"H-How did you do that?" Peter asked the stranger, looking up.

"Study and years of practice," he replied simply, putting his gloves back on as he watched the state of his patient.

"How did you find us?" Peter inquired, keeping his eye on Jack, leaning over to support the lycan's head with his arm.

"I saw what was happening on the news, and I came in time to see you two jump. I heard you calling for help..." he responded, he looked at Jack with an expression of pity, "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

There was a moment of silence. Both of them were waiting to see if Jack would wake up. Peter began to despair, thinking that maybe this time Jack was gone for good. He looked at the stranger and he looked like he was meditating. The web-slinger realized that he didn't have his mask on, so lying about his identity was pointless. Nevertheless, he reached out his hand for a handshake.

"Peter Parker."

"Dr.Stephen Strange," he replied, and they shook hands.

"Ugh, I've had enough of doctors," Jack suddenly groaned, and Peter looked down at his friend. Pure joy coursed through his system, and he threw his arms around the lycan's neck in a hug. Jack grunted in pain, and Peter quickly pulled back. Panic replaced his happiness when he saw that Jack's wounds were starting to reopen.

"The silver," Jack muttered, and he grimaced as every gash started to come back. Dr.Strange watched him, stroking his chin and unsure about what to do.