Some Wounds Run Deep
Chapter 4
AN: Again, this chapter may be a little OOC for some of you. But I can see Peter having the reaction he had. Sure, he's seen bad things on the job. But he could use his 'professional detachment.' He didn't know those people. He knows Neal.
June was allowed into Neal's room after his surgery. She had had to 'remind' them who had donated a wing to the hospital. But it was well worth it, even if the sight in front of her troubled her greatly.
The active, young man she knew was lost in bruises and machines. Huge angry black and purple bruises stood out on his face and chest under stark white bandages. And his small, lean frame was made to look even smaller by the number of machines around his bed. He looked lost in a mass of tubes and wires.
June reached through the mass and brushed a soft black curl off Neal's forehead. She then leaned down and lightly kissed his uninjured cheek. "You are going to be alright, Darlin'. We just need you to wake up." June whispered in his ear. "Please be alright." She muttered as she pulled a chair up beside Neal's bed and sat down. She then snaked her hand, again, through the wires and tubes to hold his.
June could not believe the story El hold told Reese. She had trouble seeing Peter hurt Neal. She had trouble seeing him attacking Neal. And she knew, in her heart, Neal would never had hurt El. He's just not a violent man. Neal would prefer to charm and talk his way out of trouble. She sighed, shook her head, and looked at the young man she had come to care a great deal about.
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El's anger flared anew at her husband when she entered Neal's hospital room. It hurt, deeply, to see someone she cared so much about, someone she considered a friend, hurt so badly.
El didn't have to tell Peter how she felt. All he had to do was to look at her face. Peter looked at Neal. He saw the bruises and tubes. But mostly, he saw the ventilator. The idea of the machine terrified him. To actually see it in use, on Neal, Peter backed himself up against the wall. He felt as if he would throw up. Then he felt as if the air in the room has just gone stale. He made a beeline for the door. He stopped just outside in the hall. He took a deep breath, and waited for the feeling of nausea to pass.
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A couple of days later Neal opened his eyes, immediately regretting the action. He still had the mild lingering throb of a headache. And now the bright light of day was assaulting his eyes. He groaned and turned his head. The two women in the room were immediately on their feet. Elizabeth saw Neal turn his head away from the light and quickly pulled the shades. June slipped her hand into his and talked to him. She hit the button for the nurse.
Neal was surprised to see El. The last he remembered…well, he didn't remember a lot. His head was still hurting. He closed his eyes again, and opened them, sure he was hallucinating.
"Elizabeth?" Neal asked, unsure of himself.
El nodded and took his hand. "I'm here, Sweetie."
"El?" Neal was still unsure. He didn't know why he would be in a hospital either. But he would save those questions for later.
Elizabeth took his hand and put it to her face. "I'm right here. I'm okay."
The nurse chose that moment to walk in. She ushered both women out the door. Elizabeth took that time to update everybody on Neal's status.
El and June were allowed back in twenty minutes later. Neal looked a lot more alert. El knew his headache wasn't gone. Even the overhead lights were hurting his eyes. But she had needed to know one thing.
"Neal, honey, I told Pe…." El was about to say 'Peter' but she was not sure if that was a subject to be talking about right now. "The FBI has me under protection ever since I told them what you said. They aren't taking any chances. There is an agent standing guard outside this room right now." El paused. "But, Neal, you never said who was after me." El stated. She hoped she wasn't pushing things, and the thought of someone being after her or Peter terrified her. Besides all that, Neal had just woken up.
"The dog bite…." Neal replied.
El looked at Neal. "What?"
"Satch." Neal said.
El thought for a moment. "The guy Satch bit?"
Neal nodded.
"That was the guy?"
Neal nodded, again.
"You're sure?"
He nodded a third time. Neal fell asleep as Elizabeth exited the room to tell Diana and Jones the latest.
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The man Neal named was picked up in less than 48 hours. The man had talked to several people. But they had backed out when they found out who the target was. No one wanted the FBI on their ass. He finally found two guys willing to do the job for him for a couple grand each. It appeared his pride had been wounded when Elizabeth had fooled him into thinking his wound was infected. And then her escaping had only added insult to injury. He had wanted to get a little revenge. They could not charge him, since no crime was committed. They scared him so badly he started confessing to other crimes he committed, crimes that did earn him some actual jail time.
Peter paced the floor back at his home. Two days had passed since Neal had woken up. He had told El to go on to the hospital after she had left the police station. And she had been going regularly since. The agents assigned to her protection detail following her. They then took turns standing outside the door to Neal's room and following everywhere else she went. The detail was called off when the man was finally jailed.
Peter was thrilled that Neal was awake. He was happy that Neal was able to tell her exactly who was after her. And he had wanted to get into the car about a million times and drive himself to the hospital, but he was afraid. Peter didn't want to upset Neal, if Neal remembered. And Peter didn't want to see that look of fear, possibly hatred, in Neal's eyes if he did.
Peter made up his mind. He grabbed his coat and left the house. He had to know where he stood with Neal.
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Peter stopped just outside Neal's door. He had had a discussion with Neal's doctor. And Peter had given the doctor the short version of what had happened. The doctor initially suggested that Peter delay his visit by a couple more days, until Neal was stronger. But he could tell Peter was anxious to talk to the young man. The doctor gave his permission, but only if Neal agreed to see him.
The doctor spoke to Neal and Neal agreed to see Peter. But Peter could never have anticipated the reception he would receive.
"Hi, Neal." Peter said, unsure of himself as he stepped into the room.
"Why don't you trust me?" Neal demanded.
"Neal, I…." Peter was a little shocked by Neal's question.
"You really think I would hurt Elizabeth!" Neal stated. "Really?"
"Neal…I didn't know it was…I just reacted." Peter explained.
"Get Out!" Neal hissed.
Peter stood, staring.
"Get…Out!" Neal said, raising his voice.
Peter turned and left. He had his answer.
El was astounded. She had no idea how Neal was going to react, what he was going to say. But she had not expected that. She cast a glance back at Neal before walking out the door.
Peter sighed and looked at his wife when they got to the small waiting room at the end of the hall.
"He's angry, I know…but he…." El said. She understood Neal's anger, but this WAS her husband.
Peter shook his head, stopping her. "He's right. He has every right to be angry. I know he wouldn't hurt you. I know that. And I…I can't ask him to trust me. I can't expect him to." He then started to turn and walk away.
"Hon." El pleaded.
"I could have killed him, El. I could have killed him." Peter said, his voice shaking. "I don't know what would have happened if I had. I don't know what I would have done."
El didn't know what to say. She had never seen Peter look so tortured, or so lost. She said goodbye to Neal and followed Peter home.
TBC
END NOTE: I thank you all, again, for following this story. I'm glad it's not too OOC you can't enjoy it. But I do have a problem. I have not addressed the question of jail time for Peter because I am not sure if he would lose his job if he were to be jailed. I know Neal, for example, cannot be an FBI agent because of his conviction. Does it matter if it's a misdemeanor versus a felony offense? If Peter is convicted of his assault on Neal, could he lose his job? I know, I may be over-thinking this. But since it is so OOC in some respects, I want it to be as right as possible in others. I looked online, but can't find the answers to my questions. If Peter would lose his job, I have another issue I have to come up with an answer to.
