White Collar Ficlet - Forget About Me (Don't You)

[elrhiarhodan]

Title: Forget About Me (Don’t You)
Author: elrhiarhodan
Fandom: White Collar
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Peter Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Neal Caffrey, Peter/Elizabeth
Spoilers: NONE
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: NONE
Word Count: 300 – Exactly
Prompt: #084 - Kiss
Summary: Peter’s forgotten more than his anniversary.

Originally written way back in September, 2012, for a Tropes Meme Comment Fic fest on my LJ. The trope was Amnesia. It also fills the WC100 prompt “Kiss.” For some reason, I never republished it.

__________________



“Neal, tell me this isn't happening. Please.” Elizabeth sank down into an uncomfortable chair in the small waiting area down the hall from Peter's hospital room.

Neal stood there, hands in his pockets, shirt rumpled, tie missing, and three days worth of beard darkening his face. "El - I'm so sorry. I don't know why this happened."

Three days ago, driving back from a witness interview in White Plains, Peter's car was hit by a truck. A garbage truck backing up. The damage should have been minimal - the Taurus was stopped and the garbage truck was going less than five miles an hour. Except that the airbag went off, and the cover plate didn't unhinge properly. It hit Peter square in the forehead, resulting in brain trauma.

He had been in a coma - medically induced - for those three days, but the swelling had reduced and the bleeding had stopped, so they brought him out of it. Both Elizabeth and Neal were by his side when he woke up.

Elizabeth had done her best not to break down when Peter was under, and donned a carefully happy smile as his eyes opened. She'd been warned that there could be some brain damage, but she wasn't expecting this.

"Hi, hon." El had reached out to clasp her husband's hand. They had taken off his wedding ring and it looked naked and unhealthy without it. "How are you feeling?"

He gave her a puzzled smile and just said, "I've got a bad headache."

She leaned over the bed rail and tried to press a kiss against his lips, but Peter just jerked away.

"Hon? What’s the matter?"

He gave her another puzzled look. "You're an awfully pretty woman, but do you really think you should go around kissing complete strangers?"

FIN

Comments

[turtlebaby-02.livejournal.com]

Well. That piqued my interest. lol

300 words is kinda mean! ;) But somehow, not surprisingly, wonderful.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

I used to be able to write these little ficlets all the time. Sadly, I seem to have lost that power.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Hey did it just eat my comment?! Damn...
So, as I said...

awwww poor Elizabeth! **hugs**
Though I'm sure she won't have too much trouble convincing Peter they're not strangers... ;-)
nice ficlet! :-)

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you so much!

I am certain that Peter's memory will return very soon. And even if it doesn't, who could resist El's charms?

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

^^ certainly not Peter! He would fall in love with her again and again.

[elrhiarhodan]

Exactly!

[calis-1st.livejournal.com]

So, does Neal get to kiss him next?

[elrhiarhodan]

Hmmm. Not in this story, no.

But it would be an interesting AU, where Peter's the equivalent of Sleeping Beauty.

[joy2190.livejournal.com]

NO!!!!!!!!!!

[elrhiarhodan]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joy2190.livejournal.com]

LOL

[sapphire2309]

OMG, you're evil!! That is such an evil piece of the story to leave us with!!

Oh also, it's awesome. Really, seriously awesome. Love the details about Neal's clothes, love Peter calling El an awfully pretty woman, the summary is absolutely *perfect*.

But you're also evil!

[elrhiarhodan]

Yes, well, I am evil. But you should have realized that by now!

And thank you very, very much.

[sapphire2309]

I should, probably, lol :P

:D

[elrhiarhodan]

But as long as you still love me, we're cool!

[sapphire2309]

I do love you! You snuggle me all up inside *g*

[treonb.livejournal.com]

:-( Ouch.

Though this could be a whole season arc where Peter moves to Neal's place while El tries to convince him that they're really married.

[elrhiarhodan]

Hee - if we were to go with a "virtual season" - Peter's amnesia could be the mythology for an arc.

Thank you!

[sinfulslasher]

YES!!!

You just booked yourself a job as story editor for WC VS 7, dear! *shifty*

[elrhiarhodan]

Hmmm, if it happens, I'm in.

[dennih23.livejournal.com]

Poor Elizabeth – I’m sure Peter will remember her, and if not maybe Neal should try kissing him ;-)

[elrhiarhodan]

Oh, I think Peter will remember El soon enough. If just to keep getting kisses from the very pretty woman.

Thank you!

[caseyf123.livejournal.com]

Oh, that hurts!

[elrhiarhodan]

Awwww, but I'm sure that Peter's memory will come back very soon.

Thank you!

[kanarek13]

Awwww... okay, that is evil.

But I choose to believe that they will both be kissing Peter over and over again until he finally remembers :P

[elrhiarhodan]

Awwww!

I'm sure Peter will remember soon enough. El's not forgettable, is she?

[kanarek13]

Oh, she is definitely not forgettable. And neither is Neal ♥

[reve-silencieux.livejournal.com]

Oh man... that's pretty far back! Although I suppose that's better for Neal at least. Peter hasn't started chasing him if he can't remember El.

It is funny that you can't write short ficlets anymore. What's short for you these days? 10,000?

[elrhiarhodan]

Short is about 6k, but this year, my average is closer to 10k.

:(

And thank you!

[maiac.livejournal.com]

You tagged this hurt/comfort, but ... where's the comfort? Poor Elizabeth!

Peter gets better, right?

::wibbly::

[elrhiarhodan]

Of course he does...but maybe he pretends to, just so that he can get El to keep kissing him!

[ladygray99]

Poor Elizabeth and Neal.

[elrhiarhodan]

I know, but I'm certain that things will get better soon.

[daria234.livejournal.com]

Ooh love it!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you so much!

[ladyrose42.livejournal.com]

Ouch!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

[sinfulslasher]

THIS IS NOT FUNNY.

*smishes El hard* Poor woman.

U iz evil. Make Peter remember again!

[elrhiarhodan]

Awwww - Peter will remember, eventually. It's El and Neal!

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

Excuse me Ms. My Middle Name Is EVIL, this begs for a sequel and a long one at that!

Cause you really can't leave me like this! El needs to get her Peter back and so does Neal.

[elrhiarhodan]

I'm honestly shocked at the reaction to this tiny little ficlet - I thought everyone would find it amusing.

It'll take another few kisses, but Peter will remember, of course.

[pipilj.livejournal.com]

Oh no how can Peter forget El. Hugs El, glares at Taurus.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you.

Peter will eventually remember - it's White Collar, and nothing bad lasts for long.

[eldorah.livejournal.com]

Wow, so great!!! I loved this!!

Seems I am not alone in begging for more... :)

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

This is - in my head - a one-shot story. Maybe someday, but making no promises.

[paganlowroader.livejournal.com]

Can we savor the whole Peter - Neal reset for a bit? And maybe a little Neal and El sparring for Peter's attentions. I'd love to see a feisty El pulling no punches in her campaign to win back Peter.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thanks. I really do think this is a one-shot deal. But someday, maybe - making no promises.

[embroiderama]

Oh OUCH! I choose to believe he gets his memory back. This is awesome though, great punch there at the end.