(Chapter 4)
Neal rolled over and looked at the door. He had been moping around the guest room of the Burke's for the past week. Correction, he had been hiding in the guest room for fear of doing something wrong. He didn't want to compromise his friendship with Peter, dream or not.
Elizabeth didn't seem to understand why her husband was acting oddly and this hallucination that involved him playing Peter was becoming slightly uncomfortable. He didn't want to be cruel to El but she wasn't Kate. He liked her, he found her fascinating but she belonged to Peter. She was more a sisterly type to him.
Neal sighed, glancing at the door again before he rolled over and curled up under the covers. He wasn't ready to deal with anything but maybe… it wasn't fair to Elizabeth. She wouldn't know why her husband was acting this way or why he was sleeping in the guest room. Peter wouldn't do this. He sat up and pulled the covers aside, rolling out of bed and standing up.
He wasn't sure why, but Neal grabbed up some clothes and made his way to the bathroom. It was an odd sensation staying here although he had done it before. Neal locked the door and showered, quickly dressing afterwards. He exited and made his way downstairs looking around. Elizabeth was no where to be seen. Neal was almost thankful for that at the moment, noticing Satchmo staring at him. He glanced at the dog who sniffed curiously then gave a little whine.
"Hey boy." He reached to pet the dog but Satchmo moved back slightly, his whining a bit louder. Neal backed off, holding out his hand palm up.
"I know… I smell different. I'm not your master, Satchmo. It's Neal." He continued to speak softly, holding out his hand till the dog moved closer and licked his hand.
"Good boy. I guess if nobody else knows it you would. You know I'm not Peter." He pet the dog, scratching him behind the ears before he stood and walked into the kitchen. Neal looked around in the fridge finding some fresh sandwiches. He sniffed at them and discovered they were deviled ham. He put them back and grabbed a small Tupperware full of fruit, closing the fridge and munching from the bowl. It was then he found a note on the table.
"Dear Peter,
I left you your favorite sandwiches in the fridge if you feel better. I needed to go into work for a little bit but I will be home soon. Call me!
El"
Neal smiled at the note, a guilty feeling making him close the Tupperware and replace it. Peter should be here, not him. He had no right to replace his friend. He sighed, looking back as he heard Satchmo whine again and turn, running out of the kitchen as if excited by something.
"Hey boy… Satch?" Neal wondered what made the dog act so weird when he heard the doorbell ring. Neal froze, making his way to the front door, the huge lab waiting by the door staring patiently, happily almost. He watched the dog, walking over to the door and peering through the peep hole. He was startled by the view.
Neal turned and walked away from the door, pacing in the den nervously. He heard Satchmo whine and scratch slightly at the door. Neal turned and saw the dog staring at him as if waiting for some action.
"Ok, if you want me to let him in I will but I don't know who he is even if you claim to." Neal felt kind of stupid talking to a dog but at least it knew who he was. He pet the dog, moving him aside as he slowly unlocked and opened the door.
()()()
It was awkward if nothing else. Peter had taken a cab to his house and looked from the outside longingly. What would El say when he told her who he was. He wanted to let her know. Whoever that man was with her, he was not him. It didn't take long for Peter to ring the bell. It took only a few minutes the sound of Satchmo whining just inside the door. He heard the bolt unlocked and then he saw him.
They just stared at one another, blue eyes meeting brown. Peter saw the man who looked like him staring curiously if not cautiously back. Satchmo licked at his hand and whined, Peter looking down at the yellow lab, petting him.
"Hey boy." Peter felt the dog push against his hand and then pull on it in a familiar fashion. He blinked seeing a reaction from the other man, the man that looked like him.
"Looks like he wants you to walk him, Neal." Peter said, brown eyes staring at him.
"I guess. So, where is El?"
"El? She had some errands to run."
They continued to stare till Peter finally let Neal inside. Neal walked into the den and looked around, his expression that of someone coming home. Peter watched his partner cautiously.
"How is June?"
"She's doing fine."
They were quiet again, Neal continuing to look around the house as if searching for something. Peter sat down on the sofa, the young man following soon after.
"How is your cold?" Neal looked at Peter curiously, the agent shrugging.
"For now, ok. I've been sleeping in the guest room. I didn't want El to get sick." That comment brought a sigh of relief it seemed from Neal, Peter noticing.
They sat there uncomfortably till there was a sound of someone opening up the door and El walked in.
"Neal? I didn't know you were going to come by." She saw both men sitting on the sofa and smiled although it seemed a bit forced. She hung up her coat and dropped her purse and keys by the door on a small table. Neal stood up and walked over to say hi, hugging her lightly while Peter sat and seemed unsure of something.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Neal. How is June?" She hugged him back, looking over at Peter curiously. He finally rose as if remembering something and moved to hug her when Neal moved aside. She looked unhappy about something but quickly hid it.
"June is good. She was asking how Peter was so I came by to say Hi. Maybe I should leave…" Neal sounded a bit uncertain but he stayed nearby, his blue eyes gazing at her.
"No, no… we were going to have lunch. I can make you some Chicken Salad sandwiches. I already made some of Peter's favorites." She smiled again although it really did seem forced as she moved away from them both and walked over to the kitchen. Neal stared after her with a certain longing, Peter watching him.
"What's wrong with El? What did you do?" It was a sudden comment as Neal turned and glared at Peter. The agent flushed looking uncertain.
"I… I didn't do anything." Peter sounded so young all of a sudden and Neal so much more mature. He sighed.
"She's unhappy. You did something. Damn this dream… if I could I'd just…" Neal paused realizing he couldn't say that even if he really was Peter. He saw the fake Peter look at him.
"Dream? It's a nightmare. I want to go back to my apartment." Peter sounded very young and almost petulant, his mannerisms that of someone familiar. Neal looked at him a moment.
"I don't know who you are, but…" He stopped when Elizabeth came back in, looking between the two men curiously. Neal smiled but Peter looked as if he were going to be sick. She looked uncertain but smiled and placed a tray on the table.
"I have a few of each sandwiches. Pick your favorite." She scurried back into the kitchen and brought out a pitcher of what looked like lemonade. Peter and Neal went to sit and sat at opposite ends of the table.
Neal grabbed up a sandwich, sniffed at it and took a happy bite. He smiled broadly at Elizabeth and grinned.
"This is the best sandwich ever. Thank you El." She was smiling despite herself and nodded.
"Thank you, Neal but uhm… I thought you didn't like deviled ham." She looked somewhat confused which grew when she saw her husband sniffing unhappily at a deviled ham sandwich and grabbing up a chicken salad sandwich.
Neal stared at the sandwich but continued to eat.
"It's ok. I like anything you make, El." He smiled back continuing to eat the sandwich and looking over at Peter as if realizing something.
"Alright… " She seemed confused by what was going on but went with it as she grabbed a sandwich of her own and joined in on the feast.
()()()
Neal leaned back against the sofa, looking up as Peter stared at him. The agent sat beside him and stared curiously, looking back to see if they were alone.
"I know you're not who you seem to be. You can't be." Peter's voice was soft, a hushed whisper. He saw Neal glance coolly back at him.
"And who do you think I am?" Neal's tone was curious, a wry smile on his lips. Peter continued to size him up.
"I don't know but I have ideas despite this being a dream. Maybe if I figure this out, I'll wake up." Neal started at that, the smile growing to a laugh.
"If anyone's dreaming, it's me. So what is your theory, Einstein?" Neal sounded even more sarcastic than normal, Peter smirking back.
"Well, when I got shot in the chest somehow I felt guilty that my partner was killed even after I tried to save him so… now I'm dreaming I'm him. I can't think of any other explanation for it." Neal sat up straight looking at the agent, eyes narrowing.
"Shot in the chest? I was shot in the head. Neal?" Neal put a hand on the agent's shoulder and stared into those brown eyes really looking to see who was there. Peter stared back also curious.
"Peter? But how?" They looked at one another realizing suddenly what had happened. Neal scratched at his chin in a curiously Peteresque manner. He grinned.
"Wow… so you're me and I'm you. What an odd dream. If only I was really talking to you." Neal leaned back and sighed, Peter shaking him.
"But is it your dream or mine? We can't both be conscious of what's going on and yet we both seem to be aware. What does it mean?" Peter was wide eyed, brown eyes glittering. Neal gazed back at him.
"True… You're avoiding Elizabeth to save my feelings and I avoided Mozz to save yours." Neal saw Peter stare at him.
"Why would you avoid Mozz? How is he?" Peter seemed unusually interested in the little guy which made Neal grin.
"He said he had info about something I figured you should hear. I didn't want to break what little trust you two have even if this is a dream. I guess that's why you've been hiding in the guest room." He looked a bit worried but Peter nodded back.
"Yeah. I couldn't reciprocate when El kissed me. Uhm…" Peter blushed making Neal stare back at him with a little frown.
"I hope not! Still… How do we fix this? There has to be a reason you're me and I'm you, Neal." Neal sighed, even though he was really Peter he was unable to figure out what this leading to or why. He saw Peter give a kind of a-ha sort of moment.
"I was dreaming about the accident. I thought I heard your voice wishing I was ok and I was hoping you were ok. What if that caused us to swap places?" Peter's voice sounded more like Neal's all the time.
"Hmmm… like Freaky Friday? I don't know about that. I'm still under the impression this is one big nightmare and I'm going to open my eyes and find myself in the hospital. Jones found us. I know that much. I could still be unconscious." Neal scratched at his chin looking a bit uncertain but nodding.
"That has to be it. I'm still in the hospital in a coma. The bullet knocked me out cold. Only explanation." Neal seemed happy with that, Peter looking confused.
"Ok, but if you're dreaming, what about me? I feel like I'm awake too. I can't be a figment of your imagination. I must be in the hospital as well. I got shot in the chest." Neal poked at his chest although he looked like Peter.
"How do you explain that?"
