elrhiarhodan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
elrhiarhodan) wrote2014-12-04 02:51 pm
elrhiarhodan) wrote2014-12-04 02:51 pm
Entry tags:
- character: clinton jones,
- character: diana berrigan,
- character: elizabeth burke,
- character: june ellington,
- character: landon shepherd,
- character: mozzie,
- character: neal caffrey,
- character: ofc,
- character: olivia benson,
- character: omc,
- character: peter burke,
- character: theo berrigan,
- crossover: law and order: svu,
- genre: abuse,
- genre: angst,
- genre: emotional trauma,
- genre: friendship,
- genre: future fic,
- genre: hurt/comfort,
- genre: violence,
- pairing: peter/elizabeth,
- type: fan fiction,
- type: longfic,
- wc verse: return and rebuild,
- white collar,
- year: 2014
White Collar Fic - Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places - Chapter Twenty-Four
Title: Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places – Chapter Twenty-Four
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elrhiarhodan
Fandom: White Collar
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey, Elizabeth Burke, Mozzie, Reese Hughes, Clinton Jones, Diana Berrigan, Olivia Benson (L&O: SVU), Section Chief Bruce (McKinsey) Original Characters
Spoilers: White Collar, all of Season 5; no specific spoilers for L&O: SVU, but set in Season 15. No spoilers for Season 6, A/U from S5 finale forward.
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: Kidnapping, torture (off-camera), rape (off-camera),
Word Count: This chapter – ~2500
Beta Credit:sinfulslasher
Story Summary: Six months after Neal disappears, Peter still has no answers and his decision not to go to Washington has had significant repercussions for both his career and his marriage.
Chapter Summary: Neal's being released from the hospital, but nothing is ever easy.
__________________
Previous Chapters: Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight | Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen | Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Nineteen | Chapter Twenty | Chapter Twenty-One | Chapter Twenty-Two | Chapter Twenty-Three
A/N: Title from Alan Hovhaness’ wind concerto, which takes it from the Old Testament. New chapters will be posted to my LJ every Thursday and to the relevant communities on Fridays.
Art bykanarek13
Sometime in Late January – Friday Afternoon
Peter hung up the phone and didn’t know if he should feel relieved or annoyed or concerned.
Neal’s primary physician, the one he’d spoken with on Wednesday, had just called to let him know that Neal was being discharged today. She’d spoken with Neal early in the morning to let him know, but he’d seemed a little freaked out and, considering everything he’d been through, the doctor thought it might be a good idea to follow up with the person who was listed as Neal Caffrey’s primary contact. That Peter was an FBI agent seemed to give him some kind of special shine in her eyes.
She had told him that Neal was now at the stage where he’d recuperate easier in his home environment. Of course, he’d need regular nursing supervision – particularly since he’d need IV antibiotics for at least another six to eight weeks. Not to mention physical and respiratory therapy and psych counseling. Neal would be given referrals and prescriptions and a hospitalist would follow up with him over the coming weeks. But the doctor was concerned about Neal’s immediate future.
She’d noted, “By this stage of recovery, most patients are anxious to get out of the hospital. Mr. Caffrey seems reluctant. Is his home situation difficult?”
“I don’t think Neal’s situation is akin to ‘most patients,’ doctor. He was the victim of a violent crime.”
“I know that, Agent Burke – and I know that he’d been held captive for six months. I just think that he’d be happy to go home and put this behind him. But he didn’t seem to be all that happy.”
Peter had cut the doctor off, thanked her and told her he’d look after Neal.
Staring at the phone, he wondered why Neal hadn’t called him. He had his cell phone. When he’d given it to Neal, it had a full charge. He also had Mozzie’s phone. And certainly, one of the nurses would have let him call from their station if both phones had dead batteries.
Maybe this was some subtle form of payback. But that didn’t make sense. He’d spent the better part of two days with Neal. They’d talked, he’d watched over him, and whatever demons had driven him to accuse Peter of abandoning him to his kidnappers that first night seemed exorcised.
And then there was the doctor’s concerns – that Neal seemed less than eager to leave the hospital.
Regardless of Neal’s state of mind, arrangements had to be made. He called June to let her know that Neal was being released today. She was delighted by the news and promised to have his apartment aired out and ready for occupancy. Plus, she said she’d make sure that the service elevator was working – Neal was in no condition to climb so many stairs.
That task done, Peter was about to call Mozzie. Not only to enlist his assistance in getting Neal settled, but to find out if Neal had called him. He knew he was being small and mean and petty, but he couldn’t help it.
The first three numbers he tried went to various bizarre voicemail services, and as he was about to try the fourth, he was interrupted by an incoming call. Peter recognized the number and answered before the first ring finished.
“Hello, Landon.”
“Agent Burke. I trust you’re doing better today.”
“I am.” There was no point in prevaricating.
“Good. It seems as if your request for my assistance might have been a little premature.”
“Ah, then you heard that the NYPD caught Neal’s kidnappers.”
“Yes – good work by the boys in blue.”
“Make that ‘women in blue’, Landon. The cop investigating Neal’s case is female. And in any event, I know you’d pulled some strings before the arrests were made. You got all of the attorneys from the Justice Department and the Parole Commission reassigned. You did what you’d promised – you made sure that not only the worst case scenario couldn’t happen, the next-to-worst case scenario was taken off the table, too.”
“So, Caffrey’s back on the tracker, right?”
Peter didn’t want to lie, because technically, the tracker wasn’t on Neal. “A new anklet was hand delivered by my boss two days ago. Before word got out that the NYPD made arrests. I’ll make that donation tonight.”
“Don’t rush, Agent Burke. My work’s not done yet. You want Caffrey off the tracker, his sentence commuted. I still have a few avenues to explore.”
“Landon – thank you.”
“Your gratitude is noted. And appreciated. I like you, Agent Burke. You always want to do the right thing, even when it’s not convenient or comfortable. And you seem to expect the best of people. Usually, veterans of the law enforcement profession tend to be a bit more jaded.”
Peter wasn’t sure how to react to that compliment. Because how many times had he expected the worst of Neal, only to find out that Neal had met those low expectations for some very high-minded reasons?
“If you ever decide to leave the Bureau, let me make you an offer. I could use a man of your vision and talents. Someone who’ll remind me why I do what I do. That it’s not really about the scorecard or the money or the bold-faced-names in my address book.”
Peter wasn’t sure what to say except “Thank you.”
“There’s still no reason to thank me.” Landon abruptly ended the call and left Peter sitting there, feeling slightly foolish. He put that feeling away and got back to the question of what to do about Neal.
And he had to laugh. Hadn’t that be the question that he’d been asking himself for more than four years? If he wanted to find the moment when his life had irrevocably changed, he could pinpoint it down to the very second – when he told Neal he’d see him back at Sing-Sing in one week.
But nostalgia wasn’t going to answer this question. He could call Neal, but to be honest, it would be easier if he just went up to the hospital and took charge. Except there were a million things to do before he could do that. Like being an ASAC in charge of a busy FBI office. He’d been delegating almost everything to Diana and Clinton the past week, but there was work that he needed to handle himself. Tasks with deadlines and dependencies and people who weren’t Neal relying on him.
And then he remembered that Neal had no clothes, no shoes, no coat and it was a January for the record books. It was also noon on a Friday. Driving up to June’s house to fetch Neal’s clothes and then coming back downtown to fetch Neal and take him back seemed ridiculous.
Whatever his feelings about his job and the FBI, he was still ASAC of the White Collar Division and had a staff to command. He called Diana into his office.
She came immediately. “What’s up, boss?”
“Are any of the probies free?”
“They can be made free if you need something. Why? What do you need?”
“It’s technically not within the job description of an FBI agent. Even a probationary one.”
“Since when has that stopped you? Or any of us? Probies are here for a reason. To do the shit we don’t have time for.” Diana laughed. “Come on, what do you need?”
“Neal’s being released from the hospital today. He’ll need some clothes and shoes and a coat. I could run up to his place and get what he needs.”
“Or you could send a probie.”
“Was actually thinking about giving one of them my credit card and sending him or her to get Neal some sweats, a warm jacket and some sneakers.”
“That makes a lot more sense than making some poor kid root through Neal’s closet and get traumatized for life by that wardrobe of his.”
Peter had to laugh. “Or turn to a life of crime after seeing it.”
“Yeah. I’ll send Carter up. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and something approaching fashion sense. Though I’d pay good money to see Neal in heather-gray sweats, knock-off Chucks and a puffy coat.”
“I’ll be sure to take a picture.” It was good to joke about Neal. Especially with Diana. Which reminded him. “Is Moz watching Theo today? I tried most of the numbers I have for him, but he hasn’t answered.”
“Yeah, but I think both of them are spending the day napping. Moz was a little tired after his undercover brother role. I am going to torment him with that for a long, long time.”
“Do me a favor, when you check in with him, ask him to call me.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks, Di.”
Diana left and his assistant, Andrea, came in with a stack of files that needed his signature. “Anything urgent?”
She gave him a weary smile. “Nothing more than usual – which means all of it. Do I need to clear your schedule again?”
“Probably.”
“Hospital?”
“How did you guess?” The question was rhetorical. Andrea had been Reese’s admin since before Peter had joined White Collar. They’d a few difficulties in the year since Reese’s retirement – mostly because she’d been accustomed to working for someone who preferred the role of administrator and Peter wasn’t used to having someone try to manage his schedule. But over the past few months, they’d reached something close to a rapport. It didn’t hurt that Neal had once helped her get her granddaughter into a special art-therapy program. She’d taken the news of his kidnapping and injuries very badly.
“Please give Mr. Caffrey my best wishes.”
“I will.”
She left the folders and Carter, the probie Diana had recommended, knocked. “You have an assignment for me, Agent Burke?”
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
“What do you mean, you’re being released today?” El stared at Neal in amazement. A nurse just came in to prep him for the insertion of a PICC line he’d need for the IV antibiotics he’d have to have twice a day.
“Ma’am, you need to leave the room.”
She waved off the nurse. “Just give me a second. Neal – I’ve been here for hours, you haven’t said a word.”
Neal didn’t look at her, and Elizabeth tried not to look at Neal – or at least his bare chest, which was covered in mottled bruises and scabbed over cuts. “Look – it’s …” Neal sighed and bit his lip.
She wasn’t sure what was going on in his head, but whatever it was, it was wrong to take her anger out on him. “I’m guessing you haven’t called Peter or Mozzie or June.”
“No.”
“And I’m thinking that you don’t have any clothes or a warm coat.”
He gave her a strained smile. “Not even a pair of shoes.”
“Okay – let me see what I can do. Maybe they’ve got something at the nurses’ station or I can get you something from the gift shop.” She ignored the impatient nurse and kissed Neal on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a few, behave.”
That earned her a laugh. “I’ll do my best, but I don't know if that’s possible.”
Elizabeth headed down to the nurses' station, hoping that they might have at least a pair of sweats for Neal. Something someone might have left behind. If not, she’d head out of the hospital – this was Midtown Manhattan, the shopping capital of the world. Except that she’d left her coat, her purse and her phone in Neal’s room and until they finished the procedure, she couldn’t retrieve them.
Of course, the nurses’ station had nothing suitable for Neal, although someone offered to hunt down a clean pair of scrubs. No promises were made, though.
El was headed back towards Neal's room when a familiar figure emerged from the elevator at the end of the hallway. “Peter?” She ignored all protocol about proper hospital behavior and ran to him.
“El?”
His arms wrapped around her and something hit her ass lightly and dropped to the floor, but she didn’t care. Peter felt so damn good.
“What are you doing here?”
She lifted her head and his mouth met hers in a kiss that she’d needed for months. The noise of a busy medical floor faded into nothingness as everything that had been wrong in her world righted itself.
Peter reluctantly lifted his mouth away and she stared at his lips, bemused.
“Hon?”
The love in his voice was a balm – it made her believe that whatever missteps and mistakes they’d both made the last six months, they could overcome them. “Hon.” She rested her head against Peter’s warm, strong shoulder, completely unconcerned that they were standing in the middle of a busy hospital floor.
“I’m glad you’re here – but I didn’t think you were coming in until tomorrow.”
“I needed to see you. And …” El licked her lips, suddenly nervous. “I needed to see Neal, too.”
“Yeah.” That single word conveyed an epic of understanding.
“We have a lot to talk about, hon.” El stepped out of the way to let a gurney pass and nearly tripped on something. “What?” She looked down and saw a pile of bags at her feet.
Peter bent to pick them up. “Sorry, hon. They’re releasing Neal today and he needed some clothes and stuff.”
She let out a bark of laughter. “I know. I was on the hunt for something for him to wear.”
Peter sighed and stared down the hallway. “I wish I knew what was going on in his head. Neal didn’t call me – his doctor did.”
El took a few of the bags from him. “I know what you mean – I’ve been here since eleven and we’ve been talking, but he didn’t say a damn thing about being released. I only found out a few minutes ago, when the nurse arrived to put in a PICC line. She’s in there with him now. ”
“His doctor said that she thinks that Neal doesn’t want to leave.”
El thought about that. “It makes sense, in a way.”
“It does?” Peter seemed confused.
“Yeah, hon, it does. Right now, the hospital’s a safe place. He doesn’t have to deal with anything more than healing. There’s no danger here. No external danger, at least.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.” Peter smiled down at her. “Welcome home, Mrs. Burke. I’ve missed you.”
El rested her head on Peter’s shoulder, happier than she had been in nearly half a year. “I’ve missed you, too.”
TO BE CONTINUED
Author:
elrhiarhodan Fandom: White Collar
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Peter Burke, Neal Caffrey, Elizabeth Burke, Mozzie, Reese Hughes, Clinton Jones, Diana Berrigan, Olivia Benson (L&O: SVU), Section Chief Bruce (McKinsey) Original Characters
Spoilers: White Collar, all of Season 5; no specific spoilers for L&O: SVU, but set in Season 15. No spoilers for Season 6, A/U from S5 finale forward.
Warnings/Enticements/Triggers: Kidnapping, torture (off-camera), rape (off-camera),
Word Count: This chapter – ~2500
Beta Credit:
sinfulslasher Story Summary: Six months after Neal disappears, Peter still has no answers and his decision not to go to Washington has had significant repercussions for both his career and his marriage.
Chapter Summary: Neal's being released from the hospital, but nothing is ever easy.
Previous Chapters: Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight | Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen | Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Nineteen | Chapter Twenty | Chapter Twenty-One | Chapter Twenty-Two | Chapter Twenty-Three
A/N: Title from Alan Hovhaness’ wind concerto, which takes it from the Old Testament. New chapters will be posted to my LJ every Thursday and to the relevant communities on Fridays.
Art by
kanarek13Sometime in Late January – Friday Afternoon
Peter hung up the phone and didn’t know if he should feel relieved or annoyed or concerned.
Neal’s primary physician, the one he’d spoken with on Wednesday, had just called to let him know that Neal was being discharged today. She’d spoken with Neal early in the morning to let him know, but he’d seemed a little freaked out and, considering everything he’d been through, the doctor thought it might be a good idea to follow up with the person who was listed as Neal Caffrey’s primary contact. That Peter was an FBI agent seemed to give him some kind of special shine in her eyes.
She had told him that Neal was now at the stage where he’d recuperate easier in his home environment. Of course, he’d need regular nursing supervision – particularly since he’d need IV antibiotics for at least another six to eight weeks. Not to mention physical and respiratory therapy and psych counseling. Neal would be given referrals and prescriptions and a hospitalist would follow up with him over the coming weeks. But the doctor was concerned about Neal’s immediate future.
She’d noted, “By this stage of recovery, most patients are anxious to get out of the hospital. Mr. Caffrey seems reluctant. Is his home situation difficult?”
“I don’t think Neal’s situation is akin to ‘most patients,’ doctor. He was the victim of a violent crime.”
“I know that, Agent Burke – and I know that he’d been held captive for six months. I just think that he’d be happy to go home and put this behind him. But he didn’t seem to be all that happy.”
Peter had cut the doctor off, thanked her and told her he’d look after Neal.
Staring at the phone, he wondered why Neal hadn’t called him. He had his cell phone. When he’d given it to Neal, it had a full charge. He also had Mozzie’s phone. And certainly, one of the nurses would have let him call from their station if both phones had dead batteries.
Maybe this was some subtle form of payback. But that didn’t make sense. He’d spent the better part of two days with Neal. They’d talked, he’d watched over him, and whatever demons had driven him to accuse Peter of abandoning him to his kidnappers that first night seemed exorcised.
And then there was the doctor’s concerns – that Neal seemed less than eager to leave the hospital.
Regardless of Neal’s state of mind, arrangements had to be made. He called June to let her know that Neal was being released today. She was delighted by the news and promised to have his apartment aired out and ready for occupancy. Plus, she said she’d make sure that the service elevator was working – Neal was in no condition to climb so many stairs.
That task done, Peter was about to call Mozzie. Not only to enlist his assistance in getting Neal settled, but to find out if Neal had called him. He knew he was being small and mean and petty, but he couldn’t help it.
The first three numbers he tried went to various bizarre voicemail services, and as he was about to try the fourth, he was interrupted by an incoming call. Peter recognized the number and answered before the first ring finished.
“Hello, Landon.”
“Agent Burke. I trust you’re doing better today.”
“I am.” There was no point in prevaricating.
“Good. It seems as if your request for my assistance might have been a little premature.”
“Ah, then you heard that the NYPD caught Neal’s kidnappers.”
“Yes – good work by the boys in blue.”
“Make that ‘women in blue’, Landon. The cop investigating Neal’s case is female. And in any event, I know you’d pulled some strings before the arrests were made. You got all of the attorneys from the Justice Department and the Parole Commission reassigned. You did what you’d promised – you made sure that not only the worst case scenario couldn’t happen, the next-to-worst case scenario was taken off the table, too.”
“So, Caffrey’s back on the tracker, right?”
Peter didn’t want to lie, because technically, the tracker wasn’t on Neal. “A new anklet was hand delivered by my boss two days ago. Before word got out that the NYPD made arrests. I’ll make that donation tonight.”
“Don’t rush, Agent Burke. My work’s not done yet. You want Caffrey off the tracker, his sentence commuted. I still have a few avenues to explore.”
“Landon – thank you.”
“Your gratitude is noted. And appreciated. I like you, Agent Burke. You always want to do the right thing, even when it’s not convenient or comfortable. And you seem to expect the best of people. Usually, veterans of the law enforcement profession tend to be a bit more jaded.”
Peter wasn’t sure how to react to that compliment. Because how many times had he expected the worst of Neal, only to find out that Neal had met those low expectations for some very high-minded reasons?
“If you ever decide to leave the Bureau, let me make you an offer. I could use a man of your vision and talents. Someone who’ll remind me why I do what I do. That it’s not really about the scorecard or the money or the bold-faced-names in my address book.”
Peter wasn’t sure what to say except “Thank you.”
“There’s still no reason to thank me.” Landon abruptly ended the call and left Peter sitting there, feeling slightly foolish. He put that feeling away and got back to the question of what to do about Neal.
And he had to laugh. Hadn’t that be the question that he’d been asking himself for more than four years? If he wanted to find the moment when his life had irrevocably changed, he could pinpoint it down to the very second – when he told Neal he’d see him back at Sing-Sing in one week.
But nostalgia wasn’t going to answer this question. He could call Neal, but to be honest, it would be easier if he just went up to the hospital and took charge. Except there were a million things to do before he could do that. Like being an ASAC in charge of a busy FBI office. He’d been delegating almost everything to Diana and Clinton the past week, but there was work that he needed to handle himself. Tasks with deadlines and dependencies and people who weren’t Neal relying on him.
And then he remembered that Neal had no clothes, no shoes, no coat and it was a January for the record books. It was also noon on a Friday. Driving up to June’s house to fetch Neal’s clothes and then coming back downtown to fetch Neal and take him back seemed ridiculous.
Whatever his feelings about his job and the FBI, he was still ASAC of the White Collar Division and had a staff to command. He called Diana into his office.
She came immediately. “What’s up, boss?”
“Are any of the probies free?”
“They can be made free if you need something. Why? What do you need?”
“It’s technically not within the job description of an FBI agent. Even a probationary one.”
“Since when has that stopped you? Or any of us? Probies are here for a reason. To do the shit we don’t have time for.” Diana laughed. “Come on, what do you need?”
“Neal’s being released from the hospital today. He’ll need some clothes and shoes and a coat. I could run up to his place and get what he needs.”
“Or you could send a probie.”
“Was actually thinking about giving one of them my credit card and sending him or her to get Neal some sweats, a warm jacket and some sneakers.”
“That makes a lot more sense than making some poor kid root through Neal’s closet and get traumatized for life by that wardrobe of his.”
Peter had to laugh. “Or turn to a life of crime after seeing it.”
“Yeah. I’ll send Carter up. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and something approaching fashion sense. Though I’d pay good money to see Neal in heather-gray sweats, knock-off Chucks and a puffy coat.”
“I’ll be sure to take a picture.” It was good to joke about Neal. Especially with Diana. Which reminded him. “Is Moz watching Theo today? I tried most of the numbers I have for him, but he hasn’t answered.”
“Yeah, but I think both of them are spending the day napping. Moz was a little tired after his undercover brother role. I am going to torment him with that for a long, long time.”
“Do me a favor, when you check in with him, ask him to call me.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks, Di.”
Diana left and his assistant, Andrea, came in with a stack of files that needed his signature. “Anything urgent?”
She gave him a weary smile. “Nothing more than usual – which means all of it. Do I need to clear your schedule again?”
“Probably.”
“Hospital?”
“How did you guess?” The question was rhetorical. Andrea had been Reese’s admin since before Peter had joined White Collar. They’d a few difficulties in the year since Reese’s retirement – mostly because she’d been accustomed to working for someone who preferred the role of administrator and Peter wasn’t used to having someone try to manage his schedule. But over the past few months, they’d reached something close to a rapport. It didn’t hurt that Neal had once helped her get her granddaughter into a special art-therapy program. She’d taken the news of his kidnapping and injuries very badly.
“Please give Mr. Caffrey my best wishes.”
“I will.”
She left the folders and Carter, the probie Diana had recommended, knocked. “You have an assignment for me, Agent Burke?”
“What do you mean, you’re being released today?” El stared at Neal in amazement. A nurse just came in to prep him for the insertion of a PICC line he’d need for the IV antibiotics he’d have to have twice a day.
“Ma’am, you need to leave the room.”
She waved off the nurse. “Just give me a second. Neal – I’ve been here for hours, you haven’t said a word.”
Neal didn’t look at her, and Elizabeth tried not to look at Neal – or at least his bare chest, which was covered in mottled bruises and scabbed over cuts. “Look – it’s …” Neal sighed and bit his lip.
She wasn’t sure what was going on in his head, but whatever it was, it was wrong to take her anger out on him. “I’m guessing you haven’t called Peter or Mozzie or June.”
“No.”
“And I’m thinking that you don’t have any clothes or a warm coat.”
He gave her a strained smile. “Not even a pair of shoes.”
“Okay – let me see what I can do. Maybe they’ve got something at the nurses’ station or I can get you something from the gift shop.” She ignored the impatient nurse and kissed Neal on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a few, behave.”
That earned her a laugh. “I’ll do my best, but I don't know if that’s possible.”
Elizabeth headed down to the nurses' station, hoping that they might have at least a pair of sweats for Neal. Something someone might have left behind. If not, she’d head out of the hospital – this was Midtown Manhattan, the shopping capital of the world. Except that she’d left her coat, her purse and her phone in Neal’s room and until they finished the procedure, she couldn’t retrieve them.
Of course, the nurses’ station had nothing suitable for Neal, although someone offered to hunt down a clean pair of scrubs. No promises were made, though.
El was headed back towards Neal's room when a familiar figure emerged from the elevator at the end of the hallway. “Peter?” She ignored all protocol about proper hospital behavior and ran to him.
“El?”
His arms wrapped around her and something hit her ass lightly and dropped to the floor, but she didn’t care. Peter felt so damn good.
“What are you doing here?”
She lifted her head and his mouth met hers in a kiss that she’d needed for months. The noise of a busy medical floor faded into nothingness as everything that had been wrong in her world righted itself.
Peter reluctantly lifted his mouth away and she stared at his lips, bemused.
“Hon?”
The love in his voice was a balm – it made her believe that whatever missteps and mistakes they’d both made the last six months, they could overcome them. “Hon.” She rested her head against Peter’s warm, strong shoulder, completely unconcerned that they were standing in the middle of a busy hospital floor.
“I’m glad you’re here – but I didn’t think you were coming in until tomorrow.”
“I needed to see you. And …” El licked her lips, suddenly nervous. “I needed to see Neal, too.”
“Yeah.” That single word conveyed an epic of understanding.
“We have a lot to talk about, hon.” El stepped out of the way to let a gurney pass and nearly tripped on something. “What?” She looked down and saw a pile of bags at her feet.
Peter bent to pick them up. “Sorry, hon. They’re releasing Neal today and he needed some clothes and stuff.”
She let out a bark of laughter. “I know. I was on the hunt for something for him to wear.”
Peter sighed and stared down the hallway. “I wish I knew what was going on in his head. Neal didn’t call me – his doctor did.”
El took a few of the bags from him. “I know what you mean – I’ve been here since eleven and we’ve been talking, but he didn’t say a damn thing about being released. I only found out a few minutes ago, when the nurse arrived to put in a PICC line. She’s in there with him now. ”
“His doctor said that she thinks that Neal doesn’t want to leave.”
El thought about that. “It makes sense, in a way.”
“It does?” Peter seemed confused.
“Yeah, hon, it does. Right now, the hospital’s a safe place. He doesn’t have to deal with anything more than healing. There’s no danger here. No external danger, at least.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.” Peter smiled down at her. “Welcome home, Mrs. Burke. I’ve missed you.”
El rested her head on Peter’s shoulder, happier than she had been in nearly half a year. “I’ve missed you, too.”
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It's really sad to think of Neal as someone afraid of his own shadow, but completely realistic after all he's been through.
I hope Landon finds a way to get him off the anklet for good and I hope that this is the beginning of restoring Peter and El's relationship.
Is it next Thursday yet?
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Thank you so very much!
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With the two of them working together, I am sure they can help Neal deal with his fears.
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Yes, they will be instrumental in getting Neal to better.
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Then, the reconciliation that's starting between El & Peter - yes, yes, yes. With those two in tandem, Neal will be well taken care of! I am glad to see the healing taking place with their relationship. (The one thing I dislike about this season is the total rush we're seeing here. It's like we're rushing to a cliff edge and I don't like it. :( )
There is more I want to say but it escapes me at the moment. Really looking forward to seeing the next chapter!
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Oh, poor Neal. It's not just that he's afraid of being out in the open. He's afraid to trust. He can't ask for what he needs. It's a good thing his family anticipate his needs!
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