Peter Finally Wakes Up

When Peter opened his eyes again, he was no longer on the farm where he met with Logan and the Professor. He was in a bedroom, a well furnished one. This had to be Reed's safe house that the professor was telling him about. Peter expected to be in a lot of pain as he sat up, but there was nothing. He even hopped out of bed, and still no pain at all. Peter stumbled as he walked over to the door where there was a full length mirror. He was surprised to see the boy looking at him back didn't have a scratch on him, not even a bruise. Peter looked over at the other side of the room, and in a chair sleeping by his bedside was Kitty. She likely never left his side while he was out. Peter smiled at the thought, and then took a deep breath before walking out of the bedroom. He could hear people talking in what was a very large living room. In there was a cluster of people, but at the center was Reed and Sue as they were discussing a plan. Also in the room was Doctor Stephen Strange, the Professor, Scott, Ben and Johnny. Sue was the first to notice as Peter slowly walked into the room, and before Peter fell over, Reed reached out with both arms and grabbed him. Reed moved him over to one of the couches and laid him down. Doctor Strange was the first to move as he leaped out of his chair and walked over to examine the young boy, and he looked back at Reed with a shocked face.

"This is unbelievable," Strange said to him.

"I'm fine," Peter said, "Just a little weak, that's all."

"He's not kidding," Strange confirmed, "He's almost completely healed up. No bruises, no broken ribs, nothing."

"How is that possible?" Sue said, looking back at Reed. "Is this another one of Spider-Man's hidden powers?"

"Not this time," The professor said as he moved closer to everyone.

"What do you know professor?" Reed asked.

"About a year ago," Xavier started, "A villain known as Mysterio used his powers to exchange Peter's brain with Logan's. They lived in the other person's bodies for almost two days before their minds could be swapped back. I'm starting to suspect that the exchange had more effect on them than originally thought."

"Continue," Reed said, "What does this have to do with Peter's healing?"

"That is Logan's mutant power," Scott answered, "Regeneration."

"It appears Peter has inherited this power from Logan." The professor added.

"What about Logan?" Sue asked, "What did he get out of it?"

"Ever since the swap," The professor answered, "We noticed a change in Logan as well in the battle simulator."

"That's a total understatement," Scott said, "Not only did he seem stronger, a lot stronger, but that smug bugger started to show an uncanny ability to dodge attacks there is no way he shouldn't have seen coming. It was as if he had some sixth sense that was telling him what was coming, allowing him to get out of the way."

"Peter's Spidey-sense," Reed concluded, "That's one hell of a trade."

"You're telling me," Xavier agreed, "Someone did this to torture them, and in the end all it did was make them both stronger and much more dangerous. Peter's regeneration appears to be a little slower though. Logan would have healed from all this in less than an hour. Slow regeneration is still better than none, as I suspect Peter will make a full recovery before the end of the week."

"That's cool," Peter said, "But why am so weak?"

"You've had nothing but intravenous fluids for three days," Strange answered, "I'd chalk your weakness up to hunger and dehydration."

"I agree," Sue concurred, "We need to get him something to eat."

"I'll take care of it," Strange said as he used his ring to open a portal.

He walked through the portal into what looked like a hospital kitchen, and seconds later he came back out with a tray of food. Strange then placed the tray beside Peter as the portal behind him fizzled out.

"Not gourmet, but it will be easy on your stomach," Strange told him, "Tomorrow you can go back to normal foods."

"Thank you," Peter said.

It was at this point when Kitty came out of the bedroom as she noticed Peter was gone. She saw him in the living room and walked over to him and sat down by his side.

"Are you alright?" She asked him.

"I'll be fine," Peter told her, "Just a little hungry."

"Here, let me help." Kitty said, as she took the lid off his plate and helped him eat. While Peter didn't need someone to mother him, he was still feeling very weak and let it slide.

"Thanks," Peter told her, "Just glad to hear you're good too."

"I was fine," Kitty replied, "You on the other hand looked like crap, well you did a few days ago."

"I didn't mean to scare you," Peter said, eating what she fed him. "I'll try not to do it again."

"You better," Sue scolded him. "I had no idea that happened between you and Logan. That had to be weird."

"It was," Peter said, "I kept accidentally stabbing myself with those claws."

"Thank goodness you could heal," Reed noted, "You gave us all a fright, Mister Parker."

"I'll be fine," Peter said, chewing on more food. "This is actually pretty good."

"Man you are still a little spaced out," Kitty said with a laugh.

"Maybe," Peter said, "But I'm just happy to be awake."

"So am I," Kitty said, smiling.

When Peter was finished eating, Reed used his arms to make a mobile gurney that he used to move Peter back to bed.

"Thanks for your help," Peter whispered, as he sat back down on the bed. "You don't have to do that."

"I like to do it," Kitty replied.

Before Peter could respond, she leaned over and softly kissed him.

"That was cool," Peter said, smiling.

"Just rest up," Kitty told him, "We can do that again later."

Peter was still week, so he fell asleep rather quickly. Kitty stayed by his bedside, like she had done before. No one dared to ask her if she wanted to leave. Not even Ben. Stephen Strange checked on Peter again before leaving the room and closed the door behind him.

"He'll be fine," Stephen said as Reed, "But the fact he was hurt this much was appalling. I told Stark that to his face earlier this week."

"How is he faring?" Reed asked, aware of how bad Magneto went on him.

"He's recovering well too," Strange answered, "And he'll have a lot of time to reflect on what he's done."

"This kind of conflict isn't what any of us want," Reed said, "We need to try to quell this before anyone else gets hurt."

"I seem to be speaking well to both sides," Doctor Strange informed him, "I'll do what I can to get everyone to the table to talk this out. I'll hold the meeting at my sanctum if I have to."

"Not a bad idea," Reed said, "If you can get them to agree to it, the professor and I will attend."

"I'll see what I can do," Strange said, as he opened a new portal. "I'll pay Fury a visit on his hellicarrier."

After Strange was gone, Reed walked back into the living room where the Professor and Scott were still speaking to one another.

"Is everything alright?" Reed asked.

"It is," Xavier answered.

"We're going to take off for a while," Scott informed him, "We'll try to keep in touch if we can."

"We'll take care of Kitty," Reed told them, "I have a feeling she isn't going anywhere."

"Thank you," Professor said as a different portal opened in the living room. "We'll be back later. Until then, Good luck Doctor Richards."

"To you as well," Reed called out as he watched Xavier and Scott walk through the portal and then it was gone in a sharp flash.

"That's definitely one way to travel," Ben said, looking back at Reed. "Why can't we jump around like that?"

Reed laughed and let it slide as he went back to his own work. He was still in the living room looking at something as Peter came walking back out after everyone had already gone to bed. Reed was going to jump up and grab him again, but the could tell that Peter was already walking better this time.

"You're looking better," Reed observed.

"I feel better," Peter confirmed, "I need to talk to you."

"Alright," Reed said, closing his laptop. "About what, Mr. Parker?"

"It's about Mr. Stark," Peter said sitting down in a chair beside Reed, "The fight we had at the bugle doesn't make any sense. He was so angry, so out of his mind. That's not the Stark I know, and neither is the guy who attacked the academy. There's something wrong with him."

"What tells you that?" Reed asked.

"It's my Spidey sense," Peter explained, "It was going off differently both times. As if it wasn't the same person. Something just isn't right."

"I believe you," Reed said, as he was scratching his chin. "Let's put our heads together and figure this out."