Cold
Fanfic by: NekoSama (aka Chris)
Category: Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Rating: K+
Summary: Peter isn't feeling well but keeps it to himself, until he collapses.
Pairings: Neal/Peter/El
Standard disclaimer: White Collar and all the characters are not mine and are used without permission. I am not getting paid for this.
A/N: Ok, this is a bit of art imitating life, and I felt like whumping on Peter. Right now the doctors don't have a clue what's wrong with me (so far my x-rays and CAT scans are clear) so I'm giving him my symptoms (severe chills, headache, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and low pulse) and since he's a strong guy who likes to protect everyone, at first he doesn't say anything. I dedicate this to MissStud who's been cheering me on, and praying for me, thanks dear.
Peter sat up in bed trying not to wake Elizabeth. He was freezing and his head was pounding again. He stared at the clock next to the bed and the numbers blared 2:43 AM. 'I need to sleep,' he thought to himself as he stumbled to the bathroom for some Tylenol.
He'd been feeling rather off for about a week now, but he figured he probably just had a bug or something. He didn't have a fever, in fact he was so damn cold. He took two of the pills and ran his hands under hot water until he had some feeling in them again.
Thankfully, Elizabeth was still sleeping when he returned to the bed. He really didn't want to worry her over nothing. It was Thursday now, so if nothing else he'd have the weekend to rest and recover from this cold.
***
"Good morning, Peter," Neal smiled cheerily.
Peter barely looked up at Neal as he came into his office. It was Friday now and he still hadn't gotten much sleep. El had pulled the covers off last night which had made him even colder, he ended up putting on two pairs of socks just to get warm. Even worse now his stomach was really bothering him, he'd given his breakfast to Satchmo when El wasn't looking. "Hey, Neal," he groaned popping two Tylenol into his mouth to stop the tempo in his head.
"Whoa, Peter, you don't look so good," Neal worried, noting Peter's pale skin.
"I'm ok. I just have a headache," he insisted.
Neal frowned. He could tell it was probably something more than that, but Jones came into the office with a case so he had to drop the subject for now.
***
"Peter, it's lunchtime, I thought we could grab a bite," Neal popped his head in to see Peter taking more Tylenol.
"That's ok, Neal. I'm not hungry, right now,"Peter muttered. All he really wanted to do right now was go home and sleep, but he didn't want to say anything, after all the times he'd told Neal to 'Man up'. Who was he to let a little thing like a cold bother him so much?
"Peter, you didn't break for lunch yesterday, you're popping Tylenol like they're candy, what's wrong? You can trust me," Neal shut the door and sat down on Peter's desk.
"I just have a really bad headache, Neal. Honest. I didn't get enough sleep last night, so I probably got some minor 24-hour thing. It's nothing. REALLY!" he insisted, placing a hand on his concerned lover's shoulder.
Neal gave Peter a once over and brushed his hand through Peter's hair. "Fine. But you're going to rest tonight, or Elizabeth will have both of our heads," he stated.
"Deal. Now, will you let me get some work done already," he shooed Neal out of his office, wishing the pain in his head would subside.
***
Peter sat on the couch waiting for El and Neal to get back with dinner. He was glad Neal hadn't said anything to El about how he was feeling, it was hard enough having Neal worrying about him. He wasn't really all that hungry, but he knew he needed to eat something to fight off whatever this cold was.
Satchmo came over and placed his head in Peter's lap.
"I'm fine," he told the dog. "Really."
Satchmo placed a paw on his leg and whined.
"Alright, I've been really tired and cold lately, but don't tell your mom," he laughed at himself. "Listen to me, I'm confiding in a dog now," he smiled and scratched Satchmo's head.
Peter looked up as the door opened and Neal and Elizabeth came in. "Hey guys," he smiled.
"Hi, honey," Elizabeth greeted him, taking her coat off.
Neal came in and set the food down on the table. "Hey, Peter, how's your head?" he asked after El went into the kitchen to get plates.
"A little better. I'm gonna go upstairs and wash up," he sighed. He made it up about four steps when the room started to spin, turn colored, and then all black.
"That's good, I'm --" Neal's statement stopped as Peter fell backwards down the stairs into him and he caught his lover in his arms. "Peter? PETER!" he shouted, his cries bringing Elizabeth running.
"Oh my God. What happened?" she yelled.
"I don't know, he just collapsed. He's so cold," Neal told her as she grabbed a phone and called 911.
"Is he breathing?" she asked, very terrified that there was something seriously wrong with the man she loved.
"Yes. But his pulse is very slow," Neal told her, the fear evident in his voice as well.
"They're on their way," Elizabeth shook as she brought over a blanket to cover Peter with.
"He told me he had a headache today, but I thought it might be something else. I'm sorry I didn't say anything, Elizabeth," Neal apologized, sitting there with Peter's head in his lap.
"It's alright, Neal. You know how he is, always trying to protect us. I'm sure he thought he just had a cold," she placed a reassuring hand on Neal's hand as they waited for EMS to arrive.
More soon...