Jay was having a wonderful day! He and Domino were flying on clouds, racing each other on a rainbow. Yeah, this looked like some silly dream, but when two people with time to kill and wanting to spend quality time together had reality warping, they did shit like this. Plus, it was a great tool to help Domino train her new powers with fun, since that's what worked for her rather than attending online lectures on quantum mechanics. Believe Jay, the poor man tried. Hell, Tony Stark, Hank McCoy, and Reed Richards all tried.

  As they raced, having the time of their lives, Domino's eyes glinted. She bumped her cloud into Jay's, causing them to merge, leaving her on top. Both laughed as the situation turned hot. Another perk of this power was weird but amazing sex, which they could never get bored of.

  Then Jay's phone rang and the sound cut through the moment like a knife.

  Domino, surprised to see an unknown number, asked, "I thought you rarely gave out your number?"

  "I thought I did." Jay picked up the call, which connected miraculously in the Savage Land of all places. "The Doctor speaking. Who's this?"

  A weak and shaking voice came through talking too fast, words tripping over each other. "Mr. Jay, is that you? Please be you! I got your number from the card you said to call in case of emergency. Please, my uncle is hurt and we're in a hospital and the locket you gave and the doctors and..."

  Jay's expression shifted as the playfulness drained out of him. "Peter, calm down and tell me what happened very clearly."

  Peter, frustrated, said, "Could you please just come to Queens General..."

  Before he finished the sentence, a hand gently landed on his shoulder avoiding his spider-sense entirely. Peter spun around, phone still pressed to his ear, only to find Jay standing there in a smile t-shirt and shorts and another woman stood beside him in tank top and jean shorts with Black and white hair, pale skin, a black spot on her eye and hints of scarlet in her irises.

  Peter stuttered. "Wait, how? I was talking to you over..."

  Domino put her hand on Peter's shoulder. "Easy there, kid. Doc's here now. Everything's gonna be fine."

  Peter tried forming sentences. His mouth opened, closed and opened again, but nothing came out right as his brain was still catching up.

  Then Gwen came running and crashed into Peter, hugging him without looking at the strangers. Her face was blotchy from crying and her voice cracked. "Oh God, Peter. Dad told me about Ben's accident. It's so horrible."

  Jay caught enough from that exchange. He didn't need more details and walked toward the operation theater.

  The doctors were surprised to see someone unauthorized enter. They shouted at him of security protocol and sterile environment, telling him to get out now. But for the life of them, they couldn't focus on his face and couldn't remember what he looked like even as they stared directly at him.

  Jay ignored their shouting and just scanned the operation table, only to find Ben Parker lying there, chest open and heart exposed.

  After using his healing aura to scan Ben's body, Jay found it. A bullet lodged just under a major artery, millimetres from a heart chamber. One wrong move from the surgeons, and Ben Parker would bleed out in seconds.

  Jay worked as his healing aura pulsed outward. The surgeons froze mid-motion, watching as the wound in Ben's chest began to close with tissue regenerating and cells knitting together. The bullet, no longer held in place by damaged flesh, simply fell out and clattered onto the surgical tray.

  One surgeon picked it up and stared at it, then at Ben's chest, where the wound was gone and not even a scar remained.

  "What the hell?" one surgeon whispered.

  "Did anyone see..." another started.

  "The wound just... it closed. It just closed by itself."

  "That's impossible."

  "Check his vitals. Check everything."

  Monitors beeped steadily. Heart rate normal, blood pressure stable and oxygen levels perfect. Ben Parker, who'd been minutes from death, was suddenly in perfect health.

  Jay confirmed Ben was back to top health and would wake up normally with no complications. Then he walked back outside, leaving the doctors wondering what the hell had just happened. They'd be questioning their sanity for weeks. Trying to explain the unexplainable. But Jay didn't care; he had a kid to deal with.

  Peter sat in the waiting room with Gwen by his side, one hand on his arm. Domino watched from a few feet away, giving them space but staying alert. Peter stared at nothing; his eyes were red, and his hands shook.

  Jay walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Cheer up, kid. Your uncle's gonna make it. He's all fixed up and just sleeping. I have to say, he's one tough son of a gun, so no more moping."

  Gwen looked up, and her eyes widened as recognition dawned. Jay let her see his face properly since she knew about Peter's Spider-Man persona.

  Peter stood up mechanically. His face twisted in anger, grief and confusion all mixed together.

  Then he started punching Jay's chest. Over and over. Fists bouncing off Jay's chest like he was hitting a wall.

  "Why? Why did you tell me not to be a hero? Why did you give me that coin? The bullet that mugger shot, instead of coming at me, deflected from the coin and hurt Uncle Ben! Why did you say to ignore others' needs for help over mine? If only I had been patrolling and stopped him before, rather than shopping for fucking comics with Uncle Ben? Why do bad things always happen to me? Why do people always need a hero to save them? Why? Why? Why?..."

  The punches kept coming, weak and desperate. Peter's voice rose and cracked. He wasn't making sense anymore, just shouting and words tumbling out in a stream of consciousness.

  "It's my fault. It's always my fucking fault. I could've stopped him. I should've been faster. I should've..."

  His voice broke completely, and the punches stopped. He just stood there, fists pressed against Jay's chest, shaking.

  "Why does everyone I care about get hurt? Uncle Ben and Aunt May were hospitalized just a few weeks ago, and now I almost lost him again. What if next time I can't... what if you're not there and I... God, what if he died? What if I lose them like I lost my parents?"

  He couldn't finish and just made this horrible choking sound.

  Gwen stood. Tears streaming down her face watching Peter break down. Watching someone she cared about, someone she loved, falling apart.

  Domino wanted to pull Peter away, but Jay signaled to let it happen and release Peter's bottled-up anger. Gwen saw the signal and understood. Stayed where she was, even though every instinct told her to go to Peter.

  Jay waved his hand, and people in the waiting room stopped noticing them. Their attention slid away and focused on magazines, phones, or anywhere else. Giving them privacy in a public space.

  Peter kept shouting. Cursing himself. Cursing Jay. Cursing the mugger. Cursing the universe for being so damn cruel. His voice went hoarse and his throat hurt, but he didn't care.

  "I'm supposed to be strong! I have powers! I can lift cars! I can dodge bullets! But I can't keep Uncle Ben safe! I can't... I can't...What's the fucking point of these powers if I can't protect the people I love?"

  He collapsed as his Knees gave out, but Jay caught him and lowered him gently to the bench.

  Peter wept with his face buried in his hands and his shoulders heaving.

  Gwen sat beside him, put her arms around him and held him while he broke. Her own tears fell silently as she pressed her face against his shoulder.

  Domino watched with her jaw tight. She'd seen breakdowns before. Mercenary life showed you people at their worst. But watching a kid crack like this, watching his girlfriend try to hold him together, it hit different.

  Ten minutes passed, maybe fifteen. Eventually, Peter's sobs quieted, became hiccups and then just shaky breathing.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  He was exhausted. Mentally, physically and emotionally wrung out. His head lolled against Gwen's shoulder.

  "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean...I didn't mean to lose it like that."

  "Shh," Gwen whispered, stroking his hair. "It's okay. You're okay. You're allowed to break down, Peter. You don't have to be strong all the time."

  Peter's eyes closed. Just for a moment, he thought. But exhaustion dragged him under as he passed out, slumped against Gwen.

  She looked at Jay, panic in her eyes. "Is he..."

  "He's fine," Jay said gently. "Just exhausted. Let him rest."

  As Jay helped Gwen adjust Peter on the bench, putting his head on her lap properly, May Parker came into the waiting room. Moving fast with panic written across her face.

  She saw Peter lying unconscious, and her face went white. "Peter! What happened? Is he hurt, too? Oh God, not Peter too..."

  Gwen's voice was steady despite her tears. "He's just resting, Mrs. Parker. He's just tired. He had a panic attack, but he's okay now."

  May's hands shook. She looked at Jay, trying to focus on his face and failing. Like looking at someone through frosted glass. She could see him, but couldn't capture details or place him. "And Ben? Have the doctors said anything? I came as fast as I could, but traffic and I couldn't find parking and..."

  Jay spoke calmly, saying the doctor's verdict was out and her husband would be absolutely fine. She should calm down and sit for a bit to breathe.

  May, confused, asked, not recognizing the face, no matter how much she tried, "Sorry, but you are? I'm just so worried and tired from running. I'm blanking out."

  Jay gave a sad smile. He glanced at Peter's neck and saw Domino's quarter hanging there on a chain. Dented as the metal warped where a bullet had hit. Where Domino's luck had changed trajectory and saved Peter's life but nearly killed Ben in the process. Luck was funny that way.

  "No worries." Jay said. "I'm Peter's friend of sorts, I guess. Don't worry too much, Mrs. Parker. Both your husband and nephew are resilient and tough. They'll both be alright."

  He turned to Gwen. "Keep an eye on him, will you? And no worries. Nobody will bother their peace."

  He left with Domino, and just as they turned a corner, they vanished without bringing anyone's notice.

  May sat heavily in a chair and stared at Peter sleeping on Gwen's lap. She was too tired, too scared and too relieved to think about what it meant.

  Gwen stroked Peter's hair and whispered, "I've got you, Peter."

  Peter woke to fluorescent lights and the smell of disinfectant. His head pounded, his throat hurt, and his eyes felt swollen.

  Gwen was still there.

  "Hey," she said softly. "You're awake."

  Peter sat up, and everything crashed back. The phone call, Jay appearing, the surgery, Uncle Ben and his breakdown.

  Oh God. His breakdown.

  He'd hit Jay, screamed at him and blamed him for everything. Fell apart in a hospital waiting room like...

  "Uncle Ben?" His voice came out rough and raw from screaming.

  "He's completely fine. The doctors are calling it a miracle. They can't explain it, but he's stable. They're saying he'll be discharged tomorrow."

  Peter's relief was so intense it hurt.

  "And your..." Gwen hesitated. "How are you feeling? After... everything?"

  Peter thought about it. The anger had faded only to be replaced by exhaustion and shame. "Like shit. I shouldn't have hit him like that. I shouldn't have lost control."

  "He let you. That guy could've stopped you if he wanted. Pretty sure he's, like, insanely powerful."

  "That's what makes it worse." Peter looked down at his hands. The same hands that had punched a man who'd just saved his uncle's life. "I was such an asshole. He saves Uncle Ben's life, and I beat on him like it's his fault."

  "Pete, you were having a breakdown. People aren't exactly rational during breakdowns." Gwen squeezed his shoulder. "And from what I saw, he understood. He let you get it out. That's pretty decent of him, actually."

  Peter fingered the quarter around his neck. The dent was visible and deep. Proof that Jay's gift had saved his life and had done exactly what it was supposed to do.

  But Uncle Ben had still gotten hurt. The bullet that should've killed Peter had hit Ben instead. There was a lesson there about how nothing came free and how even good things had costs.

  "He told me family comes first," Peter said quietly. "During that talk. He said I couldn't save everyone, and trying would destroy me."

  "Sounds smart."

  "But how the hell do I do that? How do I choose?" Peter's voice cracked. "If I'd been patrolling like I wanted, I could've stopped that bastard before he ever got to Uncle Ben. But Jay said I should focus on being a kid first. On living my life. On my family."

  Gwen was quiet because she didn't have easy answers. "I think... maybe it's not about choosing. It's about balance. You can be Spider-Man. You can help people. But you can't forget about the people who love you in the process. And Pete... you can't be everywhere at once. You're not God. You're just... you."

  "Balance." Peter tested the word. "That's harder than it sounds."

  "Everything worth doing is." Gwen smiled. "But you're not doing it alone. You've got me. You've got Harry. And apparently, you've got the Power Broker's phone number, which is absolutely insane, by the way."

  Peter huffed a laugh despite everything. "Yeah. That's pretty damn insane."

  A nurse appeared in the doorway. "Peter Parker? You can see your uncle now."

  Peter stood quickly, Gwen right beside him. They walked down the sterile hallway, following the nurse to Ben's room.

  Ben was awake and sitting up in bed with May beside him. He looked tired but healthy and sitting there like nothing had happened.

  "Uncle Ben!" Peter rushed forward.

  "Easy, tiger." Ben smiled, opening his arms. "I'm still a bit sore."

  Peter hugged him carefully, mindful of his power. May joined them, wrapping both her boys in her arms. They stayed like that for a long moment. A family that had almost been broken, now held together.

  When they finally pulled apart, Ben studied Peter's face. "You've been crying."

  "I thought you were going to die," Peter said, voice breaking again. "I thought I'd lose you."

  "I know, son. I know." Ben's hand cupped Peter's cheek. "But I'm fine. We're all fine. That's what matters."

  May wiped her eyes, though her hands still shook. The fear was still fresh from the memory of that phone call, of rushing to the hospital, of thinking she might lose Ben again. It would take time for that to fade. "When I got that call from the hospital, when they said Ben was in surgery, I thought... I thought..."

  "But I'm here." Ben squeezed her hand. "We're all here. Together."

  Peter noticed something then. The way Ben looked at him like something clicked for him.

  "Uncle Ben?"

  "Peter, we'll talk later. About a lot of things." Ben's tone carried meaning. "But right now, I just want to be grateful. Grateful for whatever miracle happened in that operating room and for my family."

  Peter nodded.

  Gwen stood in the doorway, giving them space. Peter caught her eye, and she smiled. Warm, genuine and made his chest tight in a completely different way.

  May looked at Gwen, then at Peter and saw something pass between them. A mother's understanding was all she needed to know there was more to this story.

  "Mrs. Parker," Gwen said quietly. "Would you like some coffee? I think there's a cafeteria on the second floor. Give these two some time alone?"

  May hesitated, looked at Ben, then at Peter and finally nodded. "That sounds good. Thank you, Gwen."

  They left, and the door closed. Peter and Ben sat in the hospital room.

  Late afternoon light filtered through the hospital window. Peter sat in the chair beside Ben's bed. The room was quiet except for the distant sounds of hospital life, of beeping monitors, voices in hallway and hum of air conditioning.

  "I was terrified," Peter admitted. "When I saw you were hurt, I thought it was my fault. That if I'd been paying attention, if I'd been patrolling instead of shopping for stupid comics..."

  "Then you would've missed spending time with me." Ben's hand found Peter's. "Peter, you can't be everywhere. You can't prevent every bad thing. All you can do is your best. And your best includes taking care of yourself and the people who love you."

  "That's basically what Mr. Jay said."

  "Then this Jay sounds like a smart man." Ben squeezed Peter's hand. "Peter, I know something happened. Something more than a random mugging. The doctors were talking about a miracle. About impossible healing. And there was a man here, someone they couldn't quite see clearly."

  Peter's throat tightened. "Uncle Ben..."

  "You don't have to explain everything right now." Ben's voice was gentle. "But I need you to know something. Whatever you're involved in, whatever responsibilities you've taken on, I'm here. Your aunt is here. We'll support you. But Peter, you're still a kid. You're still my nephew. And sometimes, it's okay to let other people help carry the weight."

  Peter felt tears building again, but this time from overwhelming love for this man who'd raised him. Who'd taught him right from wrong. Who, even now, after nearly dying, was worried about Peter's well-being.

  "Uncle Ben, there's something else." Peter's hand went to the quarter around his neck. "The bullet that hurt you. It was meant for me. This quarter, it deflected the shot and saved my life, but..."

  "But hurt me instead." Ben's expression was understanding, not angry. "Peter, look at me. I'd take a hundred bullets if it meant keeping you safe. That's what family does. We protect each other."

  "But I almost got you killed. Don't you get it? My life, whatever the hell I do, puts you and Aunt May in danger. Maybe I should just... maybe I should stop. Maybe I should give up being Spider-Man before someone really dies because of me."

  "Stop?" Ben's voice went firm. "Peter, listen to me. These extraordinary abilities you have, whatever path you're on, it's part of who you are. You can't just turn that off. And I wouldn't want you to. The question isn't whether you use your gifts. It's how you use them. And part of that is knowing when to step back. When to let yourself be a teenager instead of carrying the world on your shoulders."

  Peter nodded, unable to speak and overwhelmed.

  Ben pulled him close again. "I'm proud of you, son. Proud of the man you're becoming. The hero you're trying to be. Just promise me one thing."

  "Anything."

  "Don't carry it alone. You have people who care about you. Use them. Trust them. Let them help. And Peter... don't let guilt destroy you. What happened today wasn't your fault. Bad things happen. That's life. But you survived, and so did I."

  Peter pressed his face against Ben's shoulder. Like he was five years old again. Like the world wasn't complicated and terrifying and full of impossible choices. "I promise."

  They stayed like that until May, and Gwen returned.

  When Peter finally left with Gwen, walking through the quiet corridors, he felt lighter. The guilt was still there, but underneath it all was hope.

  That night, Peter lay in his bed at home. Aunt May had insisted he come home, eat, and rest. Uncle Ben would be discharged tomorrow, and everything would go back to normal.

  Peter stared at the ceiling. Thought about Uncle Ben's words about balance, choosing family and just being the friendly neighbourhood hero instead of trying to save the world.

  His phone buzzed. It was a text from Gwen.

  [You okay?]

  Peter smiled and typed back.

  [Getting there. Thanks for today. For everything.]

  [Anytime, Pete. That's what friends are for. Though... I think we both know we're more than friends now, right?]

  Peter's heart skipped. He stared at the message for a long moment, then typed:

  [Yeah. We are. And Gwen? Thank you for being there. For not running when I lost it.]

  [I'm not going anywhere, Peter Parker. You're stuck with me.]

  Peter smiled, warmth spreading through his chest.

  Friends. No... more than friends.

  He had more than he realized.

  Peter closed his eyes and finally slept, the dented quarter resting against his chest as a reminder that luck, love, and family were all complicated, messy, and worth fighting for.