"Where to?" Jones asked, starting up the car as Diana crawled into the back behind Neal. "Are we going to the bureau to file reports first?"
"No, to the hospital. Neal needs to go to the hospital I'll call El and see if she can meet us there." Peter couldn't force himself to look back at Neal. He hated, *hated what he had done. How long would it take for Neal to trust him again? Glancing down at his phone, he dialed Elizabeth's number. Right now, more than anything, he needed to hear her voice.
Neal's head shot up at the mention of the hospital. He also noticed that Jones had removed Peter's handcuffs, but that didn't bother or scare him as much as he thought it would. No, no, no! They would see what Peter had done to him, and then Peter would be in so much trouble! They might actually arrest him. He could lie about how he'd gotten hurt, but then he'd be in trouble with Peter. Wouldn't it be worth it, though? Peter may get upset with him, but at least they wouldn't take Peter away. Peter didn't belong in prison. No, prison was for bad people. *Like me. He could hear Peter talking on the phone with Elizabeth, and heard Mozzie's name mentioned. Would he lie to Mozzie? No, he couldn't. But then, Mozzie would be angry at Peter for what he'd done. How could he explain it to him? Peter had to do it. But how could he explain that Peter needed to continue doing it?
"Yea, hun. I'll see you real soon, then." Peter's voice was shaky. Neal didn't like how broken he sounded. He waited until Peter was off the phone before he spoke. "Peter?"
"Yes, Neal?" Peter turned to look at him. He looked like he was trying not to cry again. Neal hated to think he could be the reason for it. "Peter, I don't think going to the hospital is necessary.." He started, choosing his words carefully. "I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about… what happened."
"I need you to go to the hospital, okay? For me. That's where you'll get the best care. And I want you to tell them what happened, okay? No lying to try and protect me. Deal?"
Neal nodded his head. Disagreeing with Peter didn't even cross his mind. No lying! Oh, but what if Peter got in trouble? He could lie to them, and Peter didn't have to know. Neal remembered the rules: "For each lie, I'm going to strap you twice. And for every time you steal, It'll be three." If he lied to Peter, though, and Peter did find out? "If I find out you've done either and not come to me, I'll beat the shit out of you, and then I'll strap your hands."
Surely Peter would understand if he did it to protect him! But… rules were rules, weren't they? He needed to follow them. Why was this so hard?
"Neal?" Diana's voice snapped him from his thoughts. "Neal, come on." She was trying to coax him from the back seat. Were they at the hospital already? Slowly, he crawled out behind her. We'll be in as soon as we park the car." Jones called back, before Diana pushed the door closed.
Neal followed her inside, and stood silently as she checked him in to the ER. "Diana?" He tried, as he followed her to the waiting room chairs.
"Yea, Caffrey?"
"I don't want Peter to go to prison. If I tell them what he did to me… are you going to arrest him?"
"No, Neal. Keller made him do—whatever he did to you. Nobody's going to be upset with him for that, okay? And Neal, nobody's upset with you, either. Do you understand?"
Neal stopped, staring down at the chair. Oh. He'd almost forgotten he wasn't allowed on the furniture. It was a good thing he'd remembered, because Peter was just walking in.
"Neal Caffrey?" Neal startled at his name, turning to see who had said it. Apparently it was the nurse, who seemed to be waiting on him. He turned to glance at Peter, waiting to see what he needed to do.
"Go ahead." Peter encouraged him, keeping his distance. "Do you want me to come?"
Neal shook his head, wringing his hands anxiously. "I want you to come, just… a bit later?" Peter didn't need to see how much damage he'd done. And when they asked him who had done this to him, he needed to lie. And Peter couldn't be there for that.
"Do you want Diana to go with you?" Peter asked, keeping his voice soft. He hated to feel relieved, but he wasn't sure he could look at what he'd done to Neal without being sick.
Neal nodded, glancing towards Diana. "Will you?"
"You got it." Diana stood, going to follow Neal as he was led to the back.
The nurse guided them into an examination room, nodding towards the bed. "You may take a seat, mister Caffrey."
"I'd rather not, if that's alright." Neal played with the corner of the blanket between his fingers, attempting to distract himself. Imagine if Peter found out that he'd lied and gotten on the furniture, too!
"That's just fine, then. Now, do you think you can show me where your injuries are? Where are you hurting?"
Neal glanced back over his shoulder at Diana, taking in a breath. "Uh, my—my back. And.." He held out both hands, showing her his palms.
Taking one of his hands to get a better look, the nurse shook her head. "What happened to you? What caused this, honey? Who caused this? I'm going to need to see your back, too."
Neal began unbuttoning his shirt, doing his best to ignore her questions. If he didn't answer, that wasn't lying… right?
Allowing his shirt to slide off his shoulders, Neal discarded it onto the bed. He did his best not to shy away as the nurse ran her fingers over his back. "Who did this to you? Who is hurting you, dear?"
Diana was doing her best to keep a neutral face as Neal turned to look at her. She was trying so hard not to see the marks that ran down his back. She was sure she didn't want to see whatever the nurse had seen on his hands. "I did it to him." Diana said, meeting the nurse's eyes. This way, Neal didn't have to lie, and he didn't have to worry about Peter getting in trouble. "It was, um… something new to try in bed, you know? We're sort of into that kinky stuff, I guess you could say." She decided it had been worth it when she saw Neal's smile. He was trying hard not to laugh.
"Is that true?" The nurse asked him, looking skeptical.
"What can I say? I, uh.. I like it rough." Neal said, failing miserably at hiding his amusement.
"Well, I would recommend going easy next time, okay? This just seems… a little extreme." The nurse glared at Diana, heading to the door. "I'll be back with some supplies."
As soon as the door was shut, Neal turned to look at Diana again, his smile still there. "Diana.."
"No worries. You're welcome." Diana gave him a smile. Maybe everything would turn out alright after all, maybe.
So, two updates in one weekend. What?! Glad you all are enjoying it so far. You review, I update. It's a win for everyone ;) Sorry I didn't get to Mozzie and El this chapter. Next chapter, I promise!
