He realized that El was right, and maybe Neal did deserve a second chance.


Peter didn't hesitate to drive straight to the hospital. After getting a barely conscious Neal settled in the front seat, Peter noticed how violently Neal was shivering. The conman's face was white and his lips had a bluish tinge. His slim fingers were still curled in the same position as they had been when he had grasped Peter's shirt.

"El" Peter promptly broke El's rule of never calling during an event.

"Peter, this better be important." He could hear how harried she sounded and immediately felt bad for disturbing her.

"It is. Neal's sick and I'm taking him to the hospit-"

"I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes." El didn't even wait for him to finish his sentence.

The FBI agent had gotten to the hospital in record time. He'd had to carry Neal bridal-style into the hospital, the conman fighting to stay conscious. Several doctors and nurses had swarmed around Neal's prone form and in a matter of seconds the conman had been whisked away and Peter efficiently steered away.

He was sitting in the waiting room, filling out the forms one of the nurses had handed him when El came running in.

"Hon" El's voice was muffled in Peter's shoulder as she hugged her husband.

"What happened?" she asked as they sat down.

"He ran and I found him and he was sick, so I took him here." Peter looked so bewildered and lost that El hugged him again.

"He's gonna be okay" Peter mumbled. He felt El nod against his shoulder, her arms tightening around him.

"Family of Mr. Caffrey?" a doctor stepped in to the room, carrying a clipboard.

Peter and El stood up, Peter shakily introducing himself as Neal's father. He felt El squeeze his hand as he said that.

"Mr. Caffrey is doing as well as could be expected after being out in a storm. However, he has pneumonia and we'd like to keep him here for a few days," the doctor's tone was accusing, as though the Burkes could have kept Neal from running out in the rain. Peter started to mutter and growl, but El squeezed his hand.

"Can we please see him?" El asked.

"Follow me."

The doctor ushered Peter and El into the room. Both froze as they saw Neal. The young conman's face was as white as the sheets and as the Burkes hurried forward, he raised his head a few inches off the pillow and let out a harsh cough that shook his thin frame.

"Neal, sweetie!" El immediately started mother-henning Neal, smoothing his hair back and talking quietly to him. Neal smiled a little bit at this, but El could still see how much it hurt. Peter was a little more hesitant, settling instead for a seat on the edge of Neal's bed and a gentle hand wrapped around Neal's wrist.

"Hey" Neal rasped and winced as his throat protested.

"Shhh…Neal don't try to talk." El soothed him. Neal shook his head desperately and insisted on trying to sit up, El and Peter both moving to support him.

"'m sorry" Neal mumbled, his head drooping against Peter's shoulder.

"For what?" Peter asked, keeping an arm around Neal's waist.

"Running…I didn't mean to. I just got scared and-" Neal was cut off as Peter awkwardly wrapped his arms around the kid and pulled him close.

"It's okay, Neal" Peter said, running one surprisingly tender hand up and down Neal's back. Peter felt Neal shudder and start to sob. Bits of incoherent words and "sorries" tumbled from Neal's lips as he trembled and cried against Peter's chest. The FBI agent kept up a soothing litany as he held Neal.

Finally Neal quieted, his exhausted sobs tapering off to hiccups. Peter glanced down as Neal's eyelids fluttered shut and his breathing evened out. He lay Neal back against the bed, El tucking the blankets back over him. Peter gently brushed his thumb over Neal's cheeks, wiping away any excess tears.

"Peter, don't you think one of us should stay with him?" El asked softly.

"Yeah, I'll stay" Peter volunteered, running a hand over his tired face.

"Hon, go down to the cafeteria and get a cup of coffee. I'll stay with him," El gently insisted.

Peter nodded and slowly made his way to the door and paused to look back at El, settled in the chair beside Neal's bed. For the first time in years, he thought about how amazing a mother El would be.

El smiled sadly as she watched Neal sleep. She moved a few strands of brown hair out of his eyes. His face was so innocent and El wondered how a teenager as young as Neal had gotten caught up in crime.

~TBC (not for another week)


I'm sorry for this being so short, but I wanted to get it up because I'm going to be unable to do any more chapters for at least a week! If you have any ideas you'd like incorporated into the next few chapters, please let me know!