PREVIOUSLY: When high school student Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, he gained the proportionate strength, agility, and abilities of the arachnid. More importantly, he learned that with great power comes great responsibility.

After he had already revealed his secret identity to the United States Government per the Superhuman Registration Act, Peter found himself at odds with Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, and his registration agenda. The decision to leave Stark's side made Peter a fugitive, forced into hiding in a sleazy motel with his wife, Mary Jane and his Aunt May.

Returning to the motel one evening, after the conclusion of the super hero civil war, Peter was met by an attempt on his life. He acted quickly enough to save himself and Mary Jane from harm, but the bullet meant for him instead struck Aunt May. Frantic to save May's life, Peter rushed her to the hospital. Not knowing how else to help her, he resolved to do the only thing he could: hunt down the men responsible. Little did he know, though, that the trail leading to the shooter would also lead right to the man who took out the hit.

Peter only knows of one person with a bottomless checkbook: Tony Stark. Swinging through the city, he makes his way to Avengers Tower. Arriving there, he tries to get in using his old access code but it no longer works. Deciding that he doesn't care, he simply breaks into the building by pulling out a whole window from its frame. Inside the building, Tony Stark is informed that someone has breached the security perimeter; he transforms into Iron Man. Peter has made his way through the ventilation system and drops down into a large conference room. Suddenly, a swooshing noise is heard and before Peter can react, he is tackled by Iron Man, and carried outside the building. As Iron Man takes them away from Avengers Tower, Peter covers up Iron Man's jet-boots with webbing, forcing the tin man to drop them off, rather roughly, into a nearby alley. As they get back on their feet, Iron Man calls Peter crazy for pulling a stunt like that and tells him that he is under arrest, aiming one of his repulsor gloves at him. Peter calls Iron Man a fool for pointing his repulsor glove at him, since it overheated during their descent and could potentially be more harmful to Iron Man than Peter. Iron Man asks if he is willing to bet his life on it. Peter replies that he is and punches Iron Man with all his strength. Iron Man retaliates by using his uni-beam at maximum power, thus blinding Peter. Not knowing what else to do, Peter decides to simply shoot as much webbing as he can produce toward the light. When the light finally fades out, he looks up and is stunned to see Iron Man completely webbed up and unable to move.

Peter approaches Iron Man, who defiantly tells Peter that he is only delaying the inevitable. Peter tells him to shut up and punches him in the gut. Then, wanting to talk to Tony Stark face-to-face, Peter rips Iron Man's helmet off, exposing Stark's face. He then tells Stark that it is his fault that Aunt May is dying. Peter trusted Stark to protect his wife and aunt after he revealed his secret identity to the world. But now, Aunt May is lying in a hospital bed, on the brink of death, and she is on the verge of being transferred to the charity care ward because they – meaning he and MJ – can no longer afford normal medical care. Stark apologizes to Peter, claiming that he didn't know about Aunt May having been shot. Peter replies that he does not want his pity, or his apologies; he wants him to do something about it, plain and simple. Tony argues that he cannot help him because of his status of fugitive from the law. Peter retorts that Tony's beef is with him, not his aunt, and Peter knows Tony cared for her all the time when she lived in Avengers Tower. Peter wants her to have the best care money can buy, while he tries to find someone who can help her. He does not want her to die so he needs to buy time and he wants Tony’s help to buy her that time or else. Tony replies that Peter is in no position to threaten him into helping him, prompting Peter to explain that it was not a threat. If Tony doesn't help him to buy her that time, she is going to die in some charity ward somewhere. Peter asks Tony if that's really what he wants. Tony once again apologizes and tells Peter that there is nothing he can do without compromising his position. His repulsors back online, Tony frees himself from the webbing and explains to Peter that any help he would give could be tracked back to him and he therefore could be held liable for aiding and abetting a wanted criminal, which would undermine everything he has been trying to build since the war. Lifting off, Tony tells Peter that he is free to go back to Aunt May, so he can be there with her in the end; however, the next time they cross paths, he – Tony – will take Peter in, May or no May. Having said that, he flies off. Peter screams after him but Tony is already gone. Pissed off, Peter destroys Iron Man's mask, which laid on the ground beside him.

Tony returns to Avengers Tower and makes his way into the kitchen. There, he grabs a bottle of water out of the fridge and looks at an old picture of him and fellow Avengers, including Peter. Jarvis, the Avengers butler, shows up in the kitchen and asks Tony if he wants him to prepare a late supper for him. Tony replies that he is fine and prepares to send Jarvis on his way. But he has a change of heart and asks Jarvis if he could do something for him.

A short time later, Peter returns to the hospital and reunites with MJ who informs him that there are still no changes in Aunt May's condition. She also lets Peter know that Dr. Fine is running out of options to stall her transfer to the charity care ward. Unless they come up with money right there and then, they won't have any other option but to let the hospital move her. Peter admits that he cannot stand not being able to help her out when she has been there for him his entire life, helping him constantly. MJ tells Peter that it's not his fault and that there is nothing else he can do. Peter explains that money is the issue and admits that he's willing to go as far as obtaining money illegally if it saves her; he's already a wanted criminal anyways. He then goes on explaining that he would sell his soul if he thought it would help her. As he says that, a voice interrupts him and says that selling his soul won't be necessary. Turning around, he comes face-to-face with Jarvis, who is pretending to be Aunt May's cousin. Jarvis plays his part well until he sees Aunt May lying in her hospital bed, hooked to a bunch of machines (Jarvis and May dated when the Parkers lived in Avengers Tower). For a second, Jarvis almost loses his cool, seeing her like that, but as Dr. Fine is seen coming down the hall, he gets back in the groove and continues to play the part of her cousin. Jarvis tells Dr. Fine that he wants Aunt May to receive only the finest care and hands him a check worth two million dollars. Dr. Fine instructs the nurse accompanying him to take Jarvis to accounting. As Jarvis is taken there, Dr. Fine congratulates Peter on "pulling it off", prompting Peter to answer that he won't be able to go back a second time to ask for more. Dr. Fine explains that it won't be necessary and that they will make sure that Aunt May is comfortable in her last days. Peter argues that they are not her last days and that she is stabilized but Dr. Fine explains that there is no chance of survival for her. Peter disagrees but Dr. Fine replies that there is nothing humanly possible to stop her from dying. Peter retorts that in the normal world, there is probably nothing they can do to help her; however, in the superhero world, things are different and he is confident that he'll find someone who can help them. As Peter and MJ leave the building, Dr. Fine feels bad for them, as they are so convinced that Aunt May is going to pull through.

Peter kisses MJ, tells her that he loves her, and swings into the night. He vows to find a way to help Aunt May, even if it means storming the gates of hell itself.

To be continued in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24.