Saving Grace

Sixty Six

Ned tried to explain himself without giving anything away and was escorted out of the building, and he was sure Liz knew about it. She was probably even more hurt and confused when she found out, but there was nothing he could do.

Outside, he tried calling Happy again on his phone, now knowing the number, and, surprisingly, the man angrily answered.

"What?"

"Sir, this is serious. The Vulture-"

"Ned?" Happy says. "Again? I don't have time for this."

And then he hangs up. Again.

~~~~

Peter comes to a few moments later, knowing he should be dead when he finally figures out what happened. Then, he tries to get up, tries to chase after the Vulture, to stop him.

But he can't. There's too much weight on top of him.

Still, he tries, his panic building with every second that he can't get up. He's being crushed, and his chest constricts, his breath coming out ragged. He pulls off his mask to try to breathe better, but it hardly helps.

"Hello?!" he screams, tears pouring down his cheeks. "Hello?! Please. Please. I'm down here! I'm down here. I'm stuck... I'm stuck! I can't move. I can't..." But there's no answer.

He's going to die here.

May is going to be alone, and she'll know his secret but not because Peter told her — because they found him this suit. She'll know that he's been lying to her. She'll wonder why. She'll be hurt.

Ned is going to try to contact him, then try to find him when he never answers, and then get hurt or just feel hurt, maybe even guilty, and he'll be mostly alone too, save MJ. Liz, if she even forgives him — and Peter's certain that she's mad — will be there for the rest of the year. But it will hurt, and Peter knows what that type of hurt feels like.

Mr. Stark is going to blame himself, even when he's done all he can do. Even when it won't be remotely his fault, he will blame himself, and he will carry it with him for the rest of his life.

And Grace... Grace's worst fear will come true. And she will have no one — no one her age, no one close. No one to be there for her and hold her when Mr. Stark or Miss Potts can't or when they just don't understand. He did the very thing she made him promise not to do again, and now, this time, he's going to die.

Unless he does something about it.

He can't do that to the people he loves. He can't die here, not before he's even graduated high school, not before he gets his driver's license, not before he's said the words, "I love you," to the girl he thinks he could love for the rest of his life — and that will be a long, long time.

He steels himself, he breathes deeply. And he pushes. "Come on, Peter. Come on, Peter. Come on, Spider-Man. Come on, Spider-Man. Come on, Spider-Man!" He grunts and shouts, rising from the wreckage, getting his hands under it, pushing up.

And then he's free, and he's bleeding and coughing and tired but he is free. He takes deep breaths, then goes back and grabs his mask, swinging away.

////

Ned isn't exactly sure what he thought Grace would sound like, but it certainly isn't what he hears over the phone. Then again, it is her voicemail, so it could've been a few years ago.

It makes sense that she doesn't answer, considering it would appear to be a random number. So, Ned — now back at home after calling his mom and making up a fight that he and Liz had as an excuse — leaves a voicemail.