AN: Dedicated to @FirePixie11 for the mass of votes! :D Thank you.

Hospitals never sat right with Peter.

His stomach dropped on instinct. Too many visits to see Aunt May when she had problems. Not enough visits when he was injured and should have come. All the patients groaning in pain or screaming in the waiting room. The overwhelming smell of carnations and illness. Not to mention the mixture of cleaning products it took to keep the place sanitized. It was strong, the kind of cleanliness one would get if you bleached the entire room. With a mixture of...hand sanitizer and a heady aroma of window cleaner. Gross combination.

And the people that couldn't afford to pay their bills? The ones saying goodbye for the last time? The ones just finding out they don't have long? Their crying, anger, fear, and more all swarmed the air. It was too much.

Peter tensed as he kept up the pace with Tony, who walked ahead of him. Peter shoved his hands in his blue pant pockets and snuggled further into his green sweatshirt. "So, why are we here?"

Tony fluidly walked through the compact hall, managing to walk nearly straight without bumping into people. Not even putting a crease into his dark T-shirt and black pants combo. How? Peter didn't know. Chalk that up to one of the things Tony can do without explanation. Doctors, nurses, and patients all passed by as they weaved their way around the hall. Tony didn't bother looking back as he talked, "Ella Harper can help us."

"A nurse, though? Why not get some renowned world doctor to help?"

That statement itself earned Peter a glance from Tony. Even through his tinted glasses, he could see the feign flash of pain. "You don't trust me?"

Peter shrugged. Trusted him enough to get out of bed this morning to join this adventure. Though...he didn't get much sleep. That discovery at the breakin at Shaw Industries nagged at him so much that he only got two hours of sleep. Who needs sleep to function, anyway? Totally not Peter. Totally.

Ugh.

"I trust you. I'm curious."

A sigh danced in Tony's throat, not fully coming out. He thought about it for a moment until he replied, "We don't need to pay a fancy doctor a lot of money just to help Lilly be more comfortable. If we wanted comfort, we could do it ourselves. We need a specialist."

"How did you find her?" They needed the very best for this situation. If Tony thinks this nurse is the best shot they have, then so be it. Peter didn't have enough time to do a deep dive search into other candidates. He had way too much on his research plate. All he had were questions. Gosh. Now Peter just felt like a reporter. Two questions down, and only a handful more to go.

"Steve did some digging while substituting at Xavier's school."

"What can she do?"

"You'll see." Tony nodded to a nurse, who nodded back and gave a few directions.

Really? Tony? Knowing what hookup to have in a hospital? What did he do? Pay her off? Use his charm? Gross. Peter could actually imagine that. When Tony wanted to, he was a very smooth talker. When did he actually have time to come to the hospital to schmooze?

Eventually, they weaved around enough of the hospital and found who they were looking for. Tony stepped towards her and called out, "Ella Harper?"

The nurse turned around and looked at both of them with piercing blue eyes. Her blonde hair was neatly tied up into a bun. The lavender scrubs she wore matched her, making her eyes pop more. Her neutral expression turned skeptical before she asked, "Yes?"

Tony looked around at the busy hall. Nurses and doctors walking through. Patients. Family members. Too busy for a small conversation like this. "Can we talk somewhere quieter?"

Nurse Harper watched him and glanced around. She lowered her clipboard down to her side. "I have patients to take care of, so let's try to keep this quick."

"To the point. I like it." Tony glanced at Peter and followed her down the hall. The traffic didn't flow this far down. When she turned around to face them, Tony started with, "We came to ask for your...expertise."

It was the nice way to word it. Believe it or not. With the things going on in the world, maybe Nurse Harper wasn't known as a mutant in the workplace. Even if the mutants were accepted by some of the population, it was still difficult. Everything always was.

Nurse Harper analyzed Tony, eyes slightly squinted as she did. Even Peter couldn't read him. Tony was quiet and composed, if one could believe it. Nurse Harper's eyes widened a bit and she feigned innocence, "Any nurse can help you."

Except Tony knew that was coming. He retorted, "None of them can do what you do." Tony paused and watched as the nurse tensed up.

Ah, so no one did know her secret. Her next question would probably be the cliche how did you know that? Peter almost cracked a smile.

Tony continued, "Look, I don't want to beat around the bush more than you do. If you agree to help, I can pay you for your time. Our friend needs help."

She was quick to shoot back, "I don't examine druggies unless they're admitted."

"No-"

Peter cut in, "It's not like that. My cousin needs your help. Please."

Nurse Harper held out her hand, and Peter took it. Her blue eyes looked over him, and for a split second, Peter would've sworn on everything her eyes were gray in that moment. Her expression fell to one of sympathy, and it reflected in her soft voice as well, "Okay."

Electricity ran through Peter's arms and up his spine. A nervousness, more or less. Hours had passed as they waited for Nurse Harper to finish her shift and get there. If he had known they had to wait for her to come to the tower, Peter would have stayed asleep. Or, well, tried to. If his dreams let him. Peter stared at his reflection in the window in front of him. Were those circles under his eyes? Gross. No, they couldn't be. Maybe? Did he really look that bad? And that pale? Jeez, no wonder why his students called him a vampire sometimes. When his eyes adjusted to see Lilly on the bed, still as a corpse, a shiver ran through him.

All he wanted was his cousin back. Alive. Well. Awake. Seeing her hooked up to a lot of machines and a life support system put him on edge. The air in his lungs left him, and he inhaled quickly to capture more. He crossed his arms to keep himself from hyperventilating as memories floated through his mind.

For the first time in a long time, Tony looked scared as the sentinel towered over him on the battlefield. Brown eyes wide as he tried to crawl backwards on his injured leg. He was bloody. Beaten. Three sentinels and one giant red villain had been too much for them. They were severely unprepared, especially when they saw an infinity stone embedded into the main sentinel. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

Lilly jumped in front of Tony, shielding him from the blow. She tried to wriggle away as it grabbed her head. The screams...god, the screams that erupted from her throat contained more pain than Peter could ever show. The stone glowed an immense orange color, and once the screaming faded, faded away. Peter's heart dropped at the same time Lilly hit the ground.

When Peter came back to reality, Nurse Harper was already examining Lilly. He stared in on them from the big window, his muscles twitching impatiently. The door was closed. Ella had her back towards them, but even Peter could tell she froze when she became puzzled. She lay one hand on Lilly's arm and cocked her head to the side.

Peter's jaw clenched for a moment. He had to focus. Not torture himself with what happened. Peter whispered, more for himself than if the nurse would hear. He wasn't sure if his voice would be steady. "Do you think she's able to see what's wrong?"

"I'd bet on it." Tony crossed his arms as well. He never tore his eyes away. Since the incident, Tony always held a good poker face. Never wavering. Maybe it was for the others so they could remain strong as well. Maybe it was all he could do to not feel guilty. The pause and pain in his voice were clear as day, "How will she explain it is the question."

Ella Harper turned around and waved them in. She scrunched her nose for a second, blue eyes darting back to Lilly. Pick and choose between questions...what would the avengers answer to is the question. "What happened to her?"

Tony stood close, leaned nicely against the wall behind them. "Hoping you could give us your findings first."

Nurse Harper chewed on her lip, debating on what to do. "It's easier to show you." She held out her hand to Tony. "Link hands."

At first, Peter watched as Tony went in for a joke, but stopped himself. Definitely not the time. It would have lifted the mood if it was just them two here...but someone who wouldn't understand? No. Good on Tony for maintaining some seriousness. Peter linked hands with Tony and watched as the nurse put her hand on Lilly's arm.

Lilly's body lit up in different colors. Reds, blues, some purples. If Peter had to guess, it dealt with infrared light. Heated spots were shown in red. Blues were cold. Purples danced all around in her body. Pain areas? Bruises? Interesting. What else could the nurse see?

Nurse Harper spoke up, taking Peter out of his thoughts, "Her body functions are normal. Some parts are still healing. Hell of a fight, I guess."

That part caught Tony's interest. "She's healing at a regular rate?"

"Would she normally not?"

So it not only took her soul. It took her powers. Everything. But...how? Was the stone really that powerful? They had seen what a few of the other stones had done in the past, but... Peter glanced over at Tony, eyebrows scrunched upwards, his oak eyes showing the fear that took hold. Something that powerful was extremely dangerous.

And it was in the entirely wrong hands.

Tony's hand shook slightly in Peter's grasp as he tried not to look at him. Emotions would take over, and in front of the nurse? That's something they would not want to do. If one broke, the other would too, and then the flood gates would open. Tony questioned his voice low, "Anything else?"

"This part worries me." Ella touched Lilly's head, and a whole new set of lights came up. Light blues, whites, and purples surged in little bursts around her head, almost like tiny fireworks. "The neuron activity in the brain is low. Barely enough to sustain life."

Tony dropped his hands to his sides. He turned away and stared out of the window into the hallway. There was no reflection on the glass. "Can you keep her body functioning?"

Nurse Harper watched him. Her ocean eyes examined him, trying to see what he was thinking. Feeling. How he was going to react to her answer. And perhaps how he was going to react to her next question. "What happened to her?"

"You answer my question, I'll answer yours."

Ella's eyes darted over to Peter. Examining his reactions instead. "Yes. But the longer she's under, the more unlikely she is to be okay if she wakes up."

Peter could see Tony nod in the corner of his eye. They had expected that. Tony replied, his voice monotone, "Got into a fight with a bad guy. She saved me. I'll spare you the nasty details."

"That's not really an answer."

"Are you prepared for the real one?" He shot back, a hint of anger reflecting in his tone. This time, Tony's whole body tensed. His breathing sped up a little bit more. The memories must have been flooding back to him.

Peter answered for him, "He took her soul. Our guess, anyway. She hasn't woken up since." The last sentence caught in his throat, and agonizingly, he managed to spit it out without his voice cracking. Point for him. But...his heart ached immensely in his chest. If only he would have been quicker in the incident, maybe everything could have been different. Maybe it wouldn't have to be Lilly lying there in the bed.

"Her...soul?" Ella said slowly. Very slowly. As if she were trying to figure out what those words meant. She looked down at her hands as her eyes slowly widened. Being a mutant, she knew anything was possible. This? Someone's soul being taken right out of their body? Peter could see the horror take over her expression. "That's impossible."

Tony spoke up, "Not anymore." He set his hands on the window sill in frustration. Or, perhaps, to steady himself. Peter couldn't read Tony as much as he could other people.

"We need you to monitor her until we can fix this. Please," Peter begged, eyes wide and pleading as he stared at Ella. They had a hell of a lot to do, but it would ease his mind to know they had a nurse there to help. Especially if she could read what was happening in her body naturally.

Ella seemed to consider it, then quickly shook her head. She tore her eyes away from her hands and stared downwards towards the ground. "They aren't going to let me take any time off at the hospital."

"All we ask is just a daily check up. Before or after work. Do you have a car?" Tony turned his head towards her and looked at her from the corner of his glassy eyes. Huh. So all of this was about to make him break. Peter stopped himself from making eye contact with him. One of them tearing up was enough.

Nurse Harper shook her head once more. "I take the subway."

"I can arrange a car to take you. If you agree, of course."

Ella peered back down at Lilly. There was no hesitation this time. "I'll do it."

Peter had to hold himself back before he ran to hug her. His muscles flexed and he crossed his arms again. Relief flooded through his body, relaxing most of his muscles. Most. His brain still ran with possibilities on how to fix all of this. "Thank you."

She remained silent for a long moment, simply staring at Lilly. Nurse Harper's face fell and her lips formed into a frown. Peter barely could hear her voice as it came out in a near whisper, "Do you think she's scared?"

Tony finally turned around, his eyes bright white and clear again. He nodded towards Ella, even though her back was to them. "You tell us. Is she feeling anything?"

"My powers don't work like that." She ran her hand along Lilly's arm and watched her body. Almost like she was looking for something. "The body is recovering and holding on... But I imagine she's not feeling anything at all. Or thinking, for that matter. Simply just...being."

"Good. I'm scared enough for the both of us..." Peter trailed off. He watched Lilly take small breaths and felt the ache in his chest grow. She had friends to get back to. A family. And there was nothing they could do to fix it.

After a few hours of research, Peter paced the lab barefoot. Up one wall, on the ceiling, and back down the other in one giant circle. He tapped and prodded at the tablet in his hand, frustration oozing out of his actions as he yearned to throw it across the room. He had nothing. Not one thing. Nothing on the sentinel plans.

Shaw Industries was very concerned about information getting out. For good reason, of course. Evil companies always had the best security. Nothing on how Red Onslaught even got that big, or who he was. Steve wasn't sharing anything, but he clearly knew who he was. He hadn't really been talking to any of them for the past few days. That hurt in itself, but he knew Steve was going through a lot. Heck, they all were.

That thought trailed into another. Some people weren't in pain over this because they didn't know. Peter's mind swam with questions as he called a number on his phone. Ugh, what would he say? Would he tell everyone? No one? What would they think? Would they try to help the avengers? Or really, what was left of the team? His thoughts were cut off completely when someone picked up on the other end.

A deep, gruff voice responded, "Yeah?"

No hello? How are you? Jeez. Guess Logan only saved that for Lilly. Peter sucked in a breath and started with the first thing he thought of, "I have a weird question to ask, and I ask that you please do not question it."

Logan seemed to think about it in his own menacing silence. "Shoot."

Here goes nothing. "Lilly told me you had a crazy time with some sentinels a while back. How did you stop them?"

"I didn't. Fought against them, but it wasn't enough. None of us were enough." Logan paused and exhaled loudly. A sigh? Perhaps. "We got lucky. That's it."

Okay. Not that helpful. Maybe something else. "Do you know anything about Shaw Industries?"

"What have you gotten yourself into?"

"Nothing to worry about. If you're worrying, that is." Peter closed his eyes and grimaced. Was that a no? And why did asking questions feel so horrible all of a sudden? "Do you know anything about it?"

"No."

A sigh left Peter. Great. Back to square one. It was worth a try. "Thanks anyway."

"Kid, before you hang up..." Logan's voice lowered and softened, "How is Lilly doing? I've been trying to call, but she's not picking up. Ever. I don't know what I did this time."

No. Oh no. Peter didn't even consider seeing who was trying to contact Lilly during this whole situation. A pain hit Peter in the chest, twisting in his skin and insides like a knife. It hurt even worse that he even thought it was his fault for the silent treatment. Despite the pain, Peter didn't want to worry him. Especially when Logan had barely gotten lucky with defeating the sentinels the first time. He's dealt with enough. He'd find out eventually when the broadcasts hit, but by then, Peter hoped Lilly would be awake. Hoped with everything in his being. Peter mustered up his calm voice, "She broke her phone. New one should be in soon. She's doing fine. Just keeping busy."

There was a short silence before Logan responded, "Thanks."

Logan hung up.

Peter groaned and tossed himself onto a sofa against the wall. Logan didn't believe him. Or barely managed to. He couldn't tell. It didn't matter. They were in such deep crap that they were practically swimming in it. Typical week for the team, or one of the worst? Ugh. Peter's question was muffled as he talked against one of the soft pillows, "Jarvis, do you have anything?"

Jarvis' voice spoke up over the speakers in the lab, "It appears that Shaw Industries has ties to the Hellfire Club."

"What ties?"

"I'm not sure. There are more encryptions here. It could take a while."

"Take as long as you need, buddy. Email me your findings, please." Peter mulled it over. Hellfire Club? What does that have to do with the sentinels and Red Onslaught? Maybe Red Onslaught was a mutant? No. That didn't sound right. Peter chewed on the thought as he walked out the door. He had to get ready for a date.

Peter's date went well. They had a nice dinner. Now, they were taking a walk down the street. Well, Peter assumed it was nice, anyway. He hadn't been mentally there. His mind was too clouded to focus. Thinking about the masked villain from the other night. The work he had to do the next day for his students. How Nurse Harper was going to help them. How he had to help Lilly. Too much was going on in his life. On top of that, he had completely tuned out of what Hallie was talking passionately about. Jeez, how did he manage to make conversation during dinner? Maybe it was awkward.

God, please not let it have been awkward.

Hallie kicked a rock on the sidewalk and watched it skip ahead of her. She sighed contentedly, "Okay, well, I have to take the bus home."

"Let me go with you. You know. Walk you to your doorstep and everything." Oh no. Did he have to be so awkward? Just walk her to her doorstep? Gah, if Peter could run away from this conversation, he would. Heck, maybe a car could just run him over. The whole sentiment was gentlemanly, but the way he said it...came out way too creepy for his liking. Ugh. Why couldn't he have said to make sure she got home safely? If he said anything now, he would just fumble.

There was a small giggle that rose from Hallie. Peter didn't dare look her way. He would have turned a crimson red. Hallie replied, "No, it's okay. I have an errand to do before I go home."

Come on. Salvage this. Come on. Peter relaxed the tenseness in his shoulders and looked over at her with the calmest expression he could muster up. "I'll see you around, then?"

"I'd like that." Hallie smiled sweetly, her deep blue eyes catching Peter's. Her long brown hair trailed down, beautiful and straight against her dark red long sleeved dress. She stopped in her tracks and stepped a bit closer.

Actually, a lot closer.

Oh no. She's doing this. Now. Of all times. Going for the kiss.

Should he be awkward about it? Calm? No. He couldn't contain it. Fear? Was it fear?

Yeah.

It chilled him to the bone. Caused goosebumps to rise on his skin. His heart rate sped up, and not in a good way. It caused his head to ache and pound. Peter flushed of color as Hallie moved in closer. His hands began to sweat. Actually, his whole body began to sweat. A lot.

What was he supposed to do? Ruin the moment? Say something? Kiss her back? All of those answers sounded horrible! Was he ready for this? Thoughts crossed his mind. Memories of Gwen and what happened. The fear that ate at him caused him to second guess this whole situation. He couldn't handle that much pain again. Definitely not.

The thought alone was enough to make him pass her lips and kiss her on the cheek. He whispered, a small and remorseful smile gracing his lips, "Goodnight."

Peter used all of his energy to force himself to walk away. To not see her, what he had assumed to be, a fallen expression. Confusion in her eyes. Doubt. Perhaps some remorse of her own. It was better to not see it. The pain in his body was enough.

A text message popped up on his phone. Peter took his brown jacket off and relished in the cold breeze. He finally clicked on the message and saw it was from Tony.

Mutant attack.

Along with it was an address. It had to be the same culprit the team encountered earlier. Or maybe the mysterious new girl? No. He hoped it was Red Onslaught. He wanted nothing more than to take him down for what he did. Peter ran a few blocks down into an alley to change and webbed up his backpack onto a wall before slinging away.