And now, back to Peter's point of view.

It's been a month since Quicksilver sacrificed himself to save the world. It's left an impact on The Avengers. A memorial service was held in his honor. Pietro's father; Magneto was none too happy about his son's death obviously. He practically blamed Wally for Pietro's death, and was ready to crush him with something large and magnetic, ensuring that Wally would send a postcard to Pietro in heaven. If it weren't for the intervention of Professor X, Wanda, and Vision, Wally's goose would surely be cooked. Needless to say, the Justice League have a bigger enemy to worry about now. It seems after M'gann escaped from Black Manta, she dumped Lagoon Boy. And now, she and Conner reconciled. Something tells me they're gonna get back together. Dick told me that Tim and Cassandra (Wonder Girl) are now dating. Call it a life's too short kind of thing. I'm happy for them. As for me, true believer? After Pietro died, I decided now was not the time to ask Barbara out. It was just too soon.

Anyway, I just got off work. After we saved the world, and the Main 6 made it back to Earth, I immediately started working for Tony Stark on Monday. He knows I'm part of the team, and is willing to give me flexible hours when it comes to certain missions. Plus he pays me a lot more than Jameson ever did. Jolly JJJ was such a cheapskate. Back to the subject, I got back to the apartment I was sharing with Harry. Once inside, I got to the kitchen. I was about ready to microwave a frozen meal. Such is the case when you and your roommate are bachelors. Right as I opened up the freezer, my phone rang. Now who could that be? I picked it up and saw it was... Batman??? "Hey Bats, what's up?" I asked. "Parker, are you alone?" Batman asked on the phone. "Yeah, I just got home from work and was about to microwave some dinner," I said, "what's the good word?"

"Your frozen dinner's going to have to wait," replied Batman, "Joker's escaped Arkham. And Barbara called for backup." Uh-oh. "Sounds like more than a coincidence," I said. "It isn't," said Batman, "I want you to suit up, go to Gotham, and check up on Barbara, see if she's alright." I looked for my suit and said, "Roger that Batman. Can you text Barbara's address to me?" Batman replied and said, "of course. Get there as soon as you can. Over and out." I got my suit on, and the minute I put on my mask, Batman texted me Barbara's address. That should be easy to remember. I put my clothes, wallet, and keys in my backpack. Once I was ready, I got out of the apartment, and swung all the way to the Zeta Tube in Queens. I ordered the Zeta Tube to teleport me to Gotham. It got me there, saying, "Recognized, Spider-Man: B07." I then swung all the way to Barbara's apartment. Since this was an emergency probably, I decided to just open the door, and went inside. I went into the living room, and saw it was a mess. There was a bullet hole in one of the pillows, and the couch looked bloody. "Barbara? You in here?" I asked, looking around. I then saw an unconscious Barbara laying in the middle of the floor. She was wearing a yellow buttoned blouse, her right sleeve was torn off. She was wearing a tan grey skirt, and it looks like her black flats fell off, because she was barefoot. I ran to her, having her face front as I said, "Barbara? Can you hear me?" She's breathing... Good.

Barbara then groaned, "P...Peter...?" I took off my mask and said, "Yeah, it's me Babs." She slowly opened up her eyes, and I helped her sit up. "What are you doing here?" Barbara asked, rubbing her head. "Batman told me you called for backup," I said, "he wanted me to check up on you. Are you alright? What happened?" I was unknowingly holding her hand. "Oh God... I remember what happened... I remember..." Barbara said, sounding terrified, breathing faster. If I didn't calm her down she was probably going to hyperventilate and have an anxiety attack. "Take it easy Barbara, breathe with me," I said, "just tell me what happened as best you can." Barbara calmed down and said, "Dad was visiting me... we were having hot chocolate... Suddenly, someone knocked at the door... I thought Dad ordered some pizza... I opened the door to find Joker was outside with a gun ... I closed the door to stop him, but then... Oh God, he shot Dad in the throat... he was gagging, so much blood... He mouthed that he loved me... Then Joker took my father and knocked me out... last thing I remember was calling for backup before Joker smacked me with his gun. I blacked out after that." I could see the look of terror in her eyes. "Barbara, it's okay," I said, trying to comfort her. "My dad is dying, Peter. I doubt it'll be okay," said Barbara as she glared at the floor, "I was so desperate to keep my dad safe I didn't even do anything to stop Joker..."

"Some things are beyond our control," I said, "did Joker say anything important when he attacked? We both know how much he loves to hear the sound of his own voice." I helped her stand up. "He said he was targeting me, not Dad. Said he's topping the bill," she said, "whatever the hell that means... He told his cronies to call Crane... I don't know why..." Crane? As in Scarecrow? "What if that clown is trying to do to your dad what Scarecrow did to Dr. Banner?" I asked. Barbara gave a look of dread, then said with guilt, "Oh God... It's my fault my dad's dying... I'm going to go save him." I hate that Barbara's beating herself up. Reminds me too much of myself when I was younger. "Well if you're going to save Jim, I'm coming with you," I said, "besides, someone's gotta help you carry Jim to the hospital. All jokes aside, as your friend, we're doing this together, as a team." Barbara smiled and said, "thank you Peter. I appreciate that. Give me a minute to change." She then went to the bathroom to change. I put my backpack on a chair and called out, "Hey Babs, you mind if I leave my backpack here? It's got my clothes and wallet." 

"Sure, go ahead!" Barbara called back. Less than a minute, she came back wearing a black and yellow Batsuit. "Is that a new suit?" I asked as I put my mask back on. "Yeah, it is. Come on, let's go!" Batgirl replied. We then got out through the window. We then went around Gotham. Batgirl then called Batman, saying, "Batman, the commissioner. Where is he?" Her voice was dripping with guilt. "I don't know Barbara," replied Batman, "I've been on a wild goose chase trying to search for the Joker. Where's Spider-Man?" Batgirl gave me the phone and I said, "I'm with her Bats. We're going to find Joker's hideouts. He's gotta be around somewhere." Batman said on the phone, "Very well. I'll let you know what progress I've made so far. Godspeed to both of you." He then hung up. For the next three hours, Batgirl and I looked for Joker, wherever various hideout he was at. We were at a warehouse district when my stomach growled. Batgirl looked at me and asked, "Did your stomach just growl?" I shrugged and said, "I didn't get to eat dinner. Bats called right when I was ready to microwave my frozen meal." Batgirl chuckled and said, "Maybe when we're done, I'll take you to Big Belly Burger. My treat." She smiled at me and I said, "Thanks Babs." Few seconds later, Batgirl's phone rang. She put it on speaker and she said, "Batman, you got anything?"

"Bullock lit the Bat Signal. He gave me tickets, with compliments from The Joker himself," stated Batman. "Tickets to where?" I asked. "Arbuckle Amusements," said Batman. "The old abandoned theme park?" Batgirl asked. "That's the one," confirmed Batman, "perhaps I could text you the address, not for your sake, but for Spider-Man's sake. Something tells me that he's not familiar with the amusement park." I chuckled and said, "You'd be right Bats. As soon as you give us the address, I'll swing Babs to the rendezvous." Batman said on the phone, "Very well. Be careful you two. Batman out." I set my webbing up and said, "Alright Babs, hold on tightly to me. This is going to be a bumpy ride." I put my arm around her waist, and Babs held on tightly to me. I then used my webbing to swing around Gotham. Babs giggled and said, "If these were different circumstances, I'd say I'm having a lot of fun swinging with you Spidey." I gave a look of curiosity and asked, "Why's that amusement park in particular abandoned?"

"Arbuckle Amusements was infamous for its abuse and mistreatment of their so-called freakshows," said Batgirl. "Yikes," I said, "that explains a lot. But Arbuckle Amusement sounds like the perfect place Joker would hide out in. Though the X-Men would find the word freakshow a very derogatory word." Batgirl nodded and said, "I'd believe it. Especially since the X-Men are good people." I still swung around Gotham with Batgirl holding on to me, until a few minutes later, we made it to Arbuckle Amusements. We saw Batman there. "We're here Batman," said Batgirl. Batman nodded. "Is it just me, or is there Amusement Park music playing?" I asked, curious. "You're not the only one that hears it Spider-Man," said Batman. We moved closer and closer. We could see the theme park was vivid and lively. We saw Joker and his minions who look to be like your generic freak shows that you see at the circus or the theme park taunting Commissioner Gordon. The commissioner was under a lot of stress. He was butt naked and inside a cage, moaning in pain. Batgirl glared, gritting her teeth. She looked ready to kill The Joker. "Batgirl, stay focused," ordered Batman, "I'll deal with Joker. You and Spider-Man rescue your father." We nodded, slowly sneaking up. A few minutes later, we were up and close. Batman pointed at Joker and bellowed, "JOKER!!!!" The yell was so loud, it scared Joker's freakshow minions to where they ran away. Joker smiled and said, "Batsy. I see you brought the brat and... Spider-Man? What are you doing with these no fun bats?"

"You underestimate these guys, Mistah J," I said, "they can be pretty fun at parties. Plus they invited me to a pizza party. Seems they like my jokes more than yours. Though it seems I'm looking at the biggest joke right now. It's you, puddin'." Joker laughed and said, "you know something Spidey? You're funny, I like you. That's why when I'm done with these bats, I'm going to kill you last." I pretended to be offended and gasped dramatically, "Why Joker! Did you just plagiarize Commando? Shame on you! You'll be hearing from Arnold Schwarzenegger's lawyer sometime soon!" Joker laughed and Batman lunged at him, attacking. As the two foes fought, Batgirl and I went to the cage that Commissioner Gordon was in. I used my spider strength to break open the cage. "Commissioner, are you alright?" Batgirl asked with concern. Jim's eyes dilated with fear. It was the same dilated eyes that Batgirl and I saw on the Hulk when he was under the Scarecrow's influence. I noticed that his bullet wound in the throat was sewn shut. "S-stay away f-from m-me!" Jim stuttered, his voice hoarse. "Got an antidote?" I asked. Batgirl nodded and said, "Always." She then got out a needle with what contained the antidote to Scarecrow's fear toxin. She then stuck the needle into Jim's arm, and in a few seconds, he was breathing normally. "Commissioner, are you alright?" I asked. "Batgirl? Spider-Man? Where's Batman?" Jim asked. Batman was right behind us. "Right here Jim," said Batman as he covered Jim with a blanket. "Barbara... Is my daughter alright? Have you seen her? I got gassed with Crane's gas... Saw pictures of Barbara... getting violently murdered..." James broke down. Batman hugged him. "It's alright... Your daughter's alive... Listen, Batgirl and Spider-Man are going to get you to a hospital. You need medical attention," he said. Batgirl and I helped him up on his feet and I asked, "Can you walk?" His legs were wobbly.  "I can," said Jim, "but Batman... The Joker... when you get him, I want him brought in, and I want it done by the book, you hear?" Batman nodded and said, "I'll do my best." He then ran into the old abandoned Funhouse, which was where Joker ran off to. "By the book, you hear?" Jim called out, "we have to show him that our way still works!" He reminds me of George Stacy. We then helped Jim get to the Gotham Emergency Room. We called for a medic, and a doctor came in to take care of Jim. We then got outside, waiting for Batman.