Note: It may look like this is pre-slash to some of you, but I'm just trying to make it funny. I like the Peter/Neal bromance, but not slash. (not that there's anything wrong with that.) But if you want to look at it like that, go ahead, I'm just not going to take it farther than the jokes.
Thank you sblack78 for helping me out of my rut and for you're support. I would not have thought of having Peter find food. Sometimes plot Bunnies attack me and then just leave me with a half finished story. Those naughty bunnies!
Enjoy! Thank you everyone for you're support! Reviews make me smile!
Peter woke to the only voice that he has heard for the last two days. "You know, this is pretty weird," Neal said.
Peter opened his eyes to see that they were still huddled together with Peter's arm wrapped around Neal, and Neal's back to him. "I won't tell if you won't," Peter said and snuggled closer just to bug Neal.
"Ok, I think that's enough spooning for now," Neal said and slowly pulled away and sat up.
Neal's hair had fallen across his forehead in a way that made him look so young and innocent. One of which Peter knew from experience was not true. His hand was above the wound on his leg again and Peter could see the lines of pain on his face.
"What?" Neal asked and Peter hadn't realized that he was staring.
"Nothing," Peter said.
Neal sighed and closed his eyes for a second. "You want to check on the wound," he said matter-of-factly.
Peter didn't want to disturb the wound and hurt Neal, but he had to see if it had gotten worse. And they should probably clean it too. "Yeah. We should clean it too."
Neal just nodded and offered his hand.
After checking on the wound to see that it looked about the same, and cleaning it, they moved up the stream a little to avoid the now muddy water, and replenished their thirst and cleaned up a bit.
Peter decided that he needed to broach the subject of food to Neal now. "Neal, I'm going to have to go and try to find something to eat. We can't go much longer without food."
Neal nodded in agreement. "And I'm guessing that I can't come," he said, more of an answer than a question.
"Yeah. I don't want to leave you, but I don't really see another way," Peter said remorsefully.
"I'll be fine. I won't go anywhere. It's you we should be worrying about. You could get lost," Neal replied with feigned seriousness.
"I don't think I'm going to get lost," Peter told him.
"Ok, just don't make me wait up. You know I get worried," Neal said and winked. Peter just shook his head at his CI's antics. "So, how are you going to hunt? You said you can't catch a squirrel."
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm going to look for some edible plants first, but if that doesn't work, I might try to hunt with rocks or sticks."
Neal just looked at Peter as if waiting for the punch line.
"Seriously Neal, people hunted that way long before guns came around."
"Yeah, but they knew what they were doing. I'm not sure you do."
"Well, it's better than doing nothing," Peter said, thinking about himself not Neal, but a flash of sadness and maybe a little anger came across Neal's face, but was gone just as fast. "I didn't mean it like that. I was talking about myself, not you. I know you can't do anything," the moment the words left his mouth he wish he could take them back, too. "That's not what I meant. What I meant to say-"
Neal held up a hand to silence his friend. "It's ok Peter, I understand. I know I can't do much, but I can sit around while you get us some food."
"I would have to see that to believe it," Peter said good naturally. "Is there somewhere you want to sit while I'm out?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, back over there." Neal pointed downstream a little, about where he fell asleep the night before. "It's close to the water and has some rocks to lean against."
Peter nodded and helped Neal up. They slowly walked over to one of the rocks by the water and Peter helped Neal back down, but didn't sit down himself.
Peter took in the sight of his CI and sighed. His eyes were pinched shut and his breathing was fast and shallow. The small walk took a lot out of him.
Neal opened his eyes and turned his gaze to Peter. "You can go. I'll be fine," he said. "Get something good." He smiled at Peter.
"Ok, but don't get into any trouble," Peter said as he pointed a stern finger at Neal.
Neal feigned innocence. "Me? I would never get in trouble, Peter," Neal said and winked.
"I guess that's the best I'm going to get to a promise... Well, I guess I'll see you," Peter said and walked off, a little awkwardly.
Neal was a man of action, he always has been. Watching from the sidelines was not what he did. So, about ten minutes after Peter left, Neal thought he was going to die of boredom before the infection or hunger could finish him off.
He tried to come up with games with the sticks and rocks around him, but without anyone to play the mind numbing games he came up with he decided to skip rocks across the stream. Unfortunately it was only about three feet wide and he ran out of rocks he could reach fairly quickly.
Either boredom or fatigue soon claimed Neal and he fell into a light sleep.
