(Chapter 4)

The ledger still sat on the dining table where he'd seen it before. Neal pocketed the book before Mozzie could see it as they took Satchmo for a walk, watered and fed him. Afterwards they ordered some take out from down the street, picking it up on the way to the hospital. El looked happy if not sleepy when she greeted them, a smile on her face.

"Neal... Mozzie, thanks for taking care of things. Peter's still unconscious. The doctors aren't sure what he has but they're thinking possibly some kind of meningitis now."

She looked ready to cry, Mozzie letting her hug him despite his usual shying away from touching muchless hugging and sentimentality. Once they had calmed down a bit and taken turns visiting Peter, they started on the food. El picked at hers as did Neal with Mozzie being the only one who seemed to have an appetite.

"I don't think I've slept much the whole time I've been here. Dr. Munroe keeps telling me to go home but I told him I'm fine. Peter needs me here."

El sounded more worried than he liked, Neal giving an inward sigh as he thought about why his friend might be hurting. He excused himself after a while, finding a quiet spot to look at the journal and the evil looking brand in the back. That burnt figure and words seemed to fill him with a cold chill as he pushed the book back into his pocket, going for a short walk through the hospital when he found a visitors area with a copy machine. They only needed the pages inside the book and not the actual ledger... right? He thought about it a moment before he finally came to a decision. If it meant Peter was better, he would put the book back despite his better judgment and just keep a copy for their case. Peter would understand.

()()()

Neal went in early the next morning to work, tired by the time Diana and Jones showed up, the two agents looking at him curiously.

"Hey Caffrey, what are you working on?"

Diana was asking him about his task but he was nearly done, the ledger thick with pages but he kept it hidden acting like he was just doing grunt work.

"Mortgage fraud cases Peter assigned me from before. My report from the Korsa case is on your desk."

He kept it casual, maybe too much so, his mask a bit thin as he felt more tired than usual. Jones seemed to notice, both agents staying nearby as he stopped copying long enough to engage them. They finally left him alone for their own tasks and he was able to finish his covert attempt to copy the book and pocket it again. Neal felt more fatigued with a hint of dizziness, blinking tiredly when he heard a voice talking to him out of thin air.

Tick Tock! Your friend is wasting away and you dally here. He must not be much of a friend if you refuse to save him.

The domovoi was smiling at him with yellow jagged teeth, dark eyes watching him from behind a shelf of case files. Neal didn't know what to think, glancing around but other agents passed and didn't seem to see the little decrepit man near him. Was he the only one who saw it? He spoke quietly afraid someone would see the thing or better yet think he was nuts.

"Promise me he'll be safe once I return the ledger."

Neal waited for the thing to nod back, a satisfied look on its face as he grabbed up the copies of the book, walking it up to Peter's office and locked them in a drawer. The little man followed, up the stairs and back down and out as Neal left on the premise he was going to call El to make sure she was ok and to check on Peter. Diana grunted a response to him, looking over his report and not at him as he went down the elevator. He felt uncomfortable with the domovoi so close, a warmth washing over his face as if he were flushing at the cheeks. His palms felt clammy as he finally made it to the lobby and left in a hurry. He hailed a cab and gave the address for Dmitri's place, the little man beside him all the way. Things were feeling warmer, his sweaty hands holding the ledger nervously. The domovoi touched his hand with cold gnarled fingers that made him shiver and give a slight gasp despite himself. Normally Neal didn't get frightened but this... this was far different than anything he'd had to deal with before. The creature laughed.

I feel doubt in you. Do not cross me. Friend or not of my master, I will make you pay.

The taxi couldn't stop soon enough as Neal paid, practically darting from the vehicle to the now boarded up building. Police tape surrounded the area, slapping in the breeze as he waited for less eyes and ducked underneath heading for the back entrance. The domovoi followed, actually showing up ahead of him as he rounded the corner and it smiled at him slyly.

Breaking into my master's home to return what was his. Not the best approach but I will forgive this trespass if you return the book.

The thing's voice grated on him but he nodded, using a lock pick to get in through a back door and slipping inside. The old brownstone was quiet but for a hint of sound from the city just outside. The lack of sound made every creak and groan of the floor boards of the old building seem like more than just that. Neal's face was warm, flushed he thought as he wiped sweat from his forehead and shivered from the clamminess of his own hands. He wiped them nervously on his pant leg as the con moved stealthily through the empty building finally finding himself upstairs where Dmitri's room was. The safe was still open, his hand reaching into his pocket and pulling out the ledger. It felt smooth in his fingers, almost slick against his bare skin but that could have been from the sweat on his palms.

Return it... and your friend will heal.

Neal turned to see that the domovoi was perched on a chair looking at him expectantly. He was thinking about the chance he was taking with stealing evidence, considering what Diana and Jones would say much more Peter if he was here. His face felt warmer as he continued to hold the ledger hesitantly and considered what to do. He paused as he felt a buzz from his jacket pocket. He held the ledger under his arm and pulled out his phone, pushing it shakily to his ear.

"Neal... Where are you?"

Mozzie's voice was its usual anxious paranoid self, Neal feeling his vision graying some as he tried not to succumb to whatever this feeling was. His hands were slick with sweat, more beading on his forehead. He licked his lips and swallowed hard, his throat felt dry and constricted.

"Dmitri's. It wanted the book back so... I made a copy and..."

He was going to say more, throat tightening up as his tongue suddenly felt thick in his mouth. It was hard to breath, legs shaky, vision tunneling as a cold evil laugh came from the other end of the room.

Doubt is the enemy. You've had the ledger too long and I sense your debate. You and your friend will suffer for stealing from my master.

The domovoi lunged at him, causing him to drop the phone and ledger as he fell back and hit his head against the edge of the safe door, slipping to the floor stunned. He gave a weak cry, more a breathless gasp as the thing sunk its teeth into his arm and Neal felt something akin to venom entering his system. His eyes started to roll back, mouth gaping for air but he couldn't breathe through his constricting throat. A tiny voice called to him from nearby but he couldn't respond.

"Neal? Neal? Answer me! Dammit... I'm coming over..."

()()()

Peter didn't remember much from his visit with Neal. He'd been feverish, seeing a little old man in the corner staring coldly at him. He glanced down at his arm, seeing the bite and bruising growing up his arm. It was mottled and grotesque, hurting some when he touched it. The doctor had been there for only a little bit or maybe he had been out of it and time had seemed shorter than it was as he woke in an out of consciousness. El was worrying over him, keeping him hydrated. At some point he was alone, resting when he felt the cold hands on his neck again, opening his eyes to find the little man perched on his chest and trying to strangle him. He struggled weakly, unable to cry out but for a choked gasp as his body flailed and fought to breathe and be free of the demon. Finally El had come in, trying to calm him but she didn't seem to see the little man on his chest, her eyes on him only and then turning briefly to the cell in her hands as she called 9-1-1 and their doctor. Then everything had gone dark as he passed out.

It was an endless, timeless period he spent in the darkness, a tightness in his chest and throat. Was the little man still strangling him? Was Elizabeth ok? He didn't want her hurt but so far his wife had not seemed to see the little old man nor had his partner. At least, he was pretty sure Neal didn't see the figure. Still his friend had looked pale when he had visited, something in his blue eyes saying he'd seen something and had come to make sure it wasn't true. There had been a sense of fear in the con man's eyes and Peter knew now that maybe it had to do with his health and worry. He wanted to be certain, ask his partner why he had looked fearful but in this darkness he could do nothing but float listlessly around in a half-awake state of mind.

Mozzie... calm down. Tell me what's wrong.

It was Elizabeth's voice, concern in her tone as he listened to the disembodied voice pass through the ether to his trapped mind.

Mozz, call 9-1-1 then call me back, ok? I have another call, call me back. Hello? Diana... no, I haven't... Mozzie just said that Neal called him. Something's wrong...

Peter listened to the faint conversation as he faded in and out of what little consciousness he currently had. A deep sense of worry washed over him. Neal was in trouble? He had to help his partner but he didn't know how as he felt himself stirring in the darkness.

I don't know where Neal is but Mozzie does.

His wife was apparently talking to Diana now he guessed as Peter tried to wake and do something to help. A low groan filled his ears and he wondered who was in pain until he felt his body shift, followed by another groan and he realized it was himself.

Hun? Diana, let me call you back. I think Peter's waking up.

Elizabeth's voice sounded relieved and excited with just a hint of worry as he felt a familiar hand on his arm and then the same wrapped around his right hand. It was warm and comforting, a hint of smile curling his lips upwards as he felt himself coming to. His body ached the more he became conscious but Peter ignored it although a little voice in the back of his head told him he was going to have one heck of a hangover and he did as he opened up his eyes. The view was blurry, gray around the edges threatening to take him back to darkness but two blue eyes stared back and slowly he could focus some on the face and the familiar smile.

"Hun... can you hear me?"

His wife spoke softly, lovingly as he tried to talk but found something in his mouth keeping him from doing so. He wanted to speak but she soothed him with a touch to his forehead, gently smoothing his hair.

"Shh... You have a breathing tube in your mouth. Just nod your head. I already called the doctor."

El kept close, smoothing his hair and Peter relaxed, swallowing as best he could with the tube in his throat and nodding, eyes looking languidly up at her and then back at the ceiling. He wanted to sleep but something had woken him and for a moment he couldn't remember what. He just wanted to sleep, his head aching.

"Mrs. Burke... I see he's woken up. Just nod if you feel any discomfort Mr. Burke and point to where it hurts. Can you do that for me?"

The doctor wasn't their usual one, the man a little younger and closer to their age as Peter blinked then nodded, pointing at his head and then his mouth. The man smiled softly and chuckled slightly.

"Yes, we had to put that in when you seized before. Seems you're breathing ok on your own now but let me give you a quick once over and we'll talk about removing that tube."

After what seemed the longest twenty minutes of his life, Peter saw the doctor smile and nod, two nurses showing up as El moved aside and they started to remove the breathing tube.

"Cough for me... easy... cough again..."

Peter did as he was told, the doctor a little too cheery for his liking but he was alive wasn't he so the man must know what he was doing. El was watching from the side as he kept his eyes on her until the tube was pulled out completely, a wet cough almost a gurgle coming from his throat. He hacked a little, the nurses quickly adding breathing tubes to his nose and sitting him up a bit in bed to help ease the pressure. El was back at his side when the doctor motioned for her to return, the two nurses busy doing this and that for him as Peter tried to speak.

"D... Do... Doc... ok... n... n... ow?"

His voice was raspier than he liked but he could speak if just barely. El held his hand in hers, stroking the back of his gently as the doctor talked to them.

"You've been very lucky, Mr. Burke. Do you remember acquiring anything unfamiliar in the last few days? Maybe eating at a new place?"

The doctor's words confused him a moment, uncertain what the man was trying to ask him as he glanced over at Elizabeth who looked a bit worried herself. She seemed more aware of what the doctor was asking but shook her head, looking at him a moment.

"Our regular physician came to look at him and said he was just sick with Strep. He had a high fever and we thought... thought it might just be a bad case of that ravaging his system. Peter..."

She looked at him a little longer as if asking something but Peter was still confused or maybe it was the continuing disorientation from being asleep for so long and the illness. He gave a shrug, sitting up a bit as he tried to answer.

"Are you... saying I mi... ight have been... poisoned?"

It occurred to him that's what they meant but it wasn't something he had thought about before, his eyes looking down at his wrist and seeing that the bite looked more like a rash now. His skin was less mottled than it had been when he had originally found it. Since nobody else had seen the little gnarled man, he figured it was either a hallucination from his fever or some other symptom if he was poisoned. Dmitri's men were all locked up so who would have had the means? He noticed the doctor nodding, moving closer to reply.

"We found some high levels of mercury and digitalis in your system along with the strep. Your doctor was right to treat you for the latter but bloodwork would have shone him that you'd also been poisoned. I already talked to your colleague Agent Barrigan and Agent Hughes about this. They are looking into the details but now that you're awake, do you have any recollection as to where you may have touched or ingested something suspicious? The rash on your arm and your fingers indicated superficial chemical burns and a hint of tannins."

The doctor's words weren't comforting but they made Peter realize where his problems had started and why. His eyes widened and he nodded, looking at El and then at the doctor again. Things were beginning to make more sense now as he became more conscious.

"I think I have an idea. I need to... contact someone from the FBI. I can't give any more details because it deals with... an ongoing case but they will... contact you with more info once forensics gets involved. Thanks."

The doctor nodded at him, telling him he was going to be fine. Apparently his reaction was minor in comparison to what it could have been. They were left alone and El gently moved his head to face her.

"Hun... what's going on? How did you get poisoned? He said you may have eaten or touched something. I don't understand..."

El wasn't really asking him more than trying to figure out how he was sick. Peter was still uncertain if his hunch was correct although his gut told him he was going in the right direction as the ledger filled his thoughts.

"Something to do with that last case... I need to talk to Neal."

Suddenly he felt a need to contact his partner, a feeling of dread washing over him. Neal was at their house when he was sick and he had a bad habit of getting into things and in trouble. In this case it was the ledger and although it was ok for Neal to look at it, if he did he might get sick too if Peter's hunch was correct. El was silent, her hand squeezing his as he glanced up to find her eyes watching him with concern. If Neal didn't touch the ledger, which he was hoping for, then he could take it to forensics for testing.

"Peter... hun... Neal's... before you woke up I got a call from Mozzie. He said Neal was in trouble and he wanted me to call the FBI. I don't know what's going on but he sounded upset. I told Diana about it. She was asking where Neal went. He was supposed to be at work..."

His wife sounded more worried than usual about their friend and now he remembered what had woken him up. He had been listening to his wife talking about Neal. She had been talking to Mozzie on her cell then switched to a call with one of his fellow agents. He sat up a bit straighter, wincing from the pain his body felt. The poison and strep had made him feel weak, his chest tight and sore as he coughed and hacked. El patted him on the back, offering him a cup of water which he took thankfully.

"Neal's in trouble? What happened?"

The look El gave him as she shrugged filled him with more worry and concern. Where was Neal? Why had Mozzie called his wife? Maybe it had nothing to do with the ledger but his gut told him everything was connected.

"Call Diana for me, El. I have to find out what's going on."

()()()

Author's Note: The plot thickens!