Menagerie - A collection of Short Stories and Drabbles in the world of White Collar. (I don't own anything but I do like playing with the characters when I can.)

Drabbles #11 - Wrong Place, Wrong Time

(whump, friendship, hurt/comfort)

oOoOoOo

He woke up to find himself handcuffed at his left wrist to the metal bar of a hospital bed. His head ached more than he could ever imagine as he tried to sit up, laying back when nausea threatened to overcome him.

The sound of a door opening to his left made him turn as he saw a doctor in white lab coat and blue green scrubs enter, clipboard in hand.

"Ah... I see you're awake. Good. How are you feeling?" The doctor sounded more cheery than he thought he should as he looked down at the handcuff and back up at the doctor.

"Confused. Why am I cuffed to this bed? Did I do something wrong? I don't... remember anything." His head continued to ache but he just bit the inside of his cheek unable to do much more. The doctor seemed to notice, walking over to a shelf and grabbing some pills. He also grabbed a small disposable cup from a nearby dispenser and filled it with water.

"Take these. They'll make your head feel better. You have a nasty bump on your temple Mr. Watkins. You're very lucky it wasn't worse." The doctor had him take the pills then started to check his vitals, eyes and reflexes.

"Everything seems ok. I've already called your friends to pick you up. The Marshall's were looking for you but I told them they had to wait till I knew you were well. They will be here shortly."

He nodded at the doctor uncertain what to think. Watkins... was that really his name? It didn't sound right but if that was his name...

"Doctor... my name. You called me Watkins... is that my first or last name? I don't remember." He blinked up at the physician who stared curiously back at him.

"Elmer Watkins. That was the name on the ID in your wallet when they brought you in. Maybe that bump was a bit harder than we thought." He seemed uncertain about something then the rattle of the cuff as he moved brought the doctor's attention back.

"I apologize for the cuff but security insisted when we saw the anklet. Now I realize you were wearing it for other reasons. We have an officer outside for your protection. Page me if you need anything."

The doctor smiled patting him on the shoulder before leaving, the cuff still in place. He sighed, looking around the room and seeing a small paperclip on the bedside table. He didn't know how he knew but he sat up and grabbed the clip, bending it in a certain shape then forcing it into the cuffs till he hear a quiet 'click' as it unlocked and he was free.

Elmer sat up, pulled the blankets aside and stood up. He saw clothes in the corner on a chair. He got up unsteadily on his feet, the room swaying a bit before he was able to get his balance and make it the 3 or so feet. He pulled off the hospital robe and started to carefully dress in what appeared to be a comfortable pair of jeans and black turtle neck. He sat down on the small sofa in the room to pull on his socks, the anklet giving him trouble. It was beat up, the little light on it off as he glanced down at it. He had the odd feeling that it should be green if anything but he didn't know why. Elmer shrugged as he managed to fit the sock through the anklet and got the other one on then pulled on a pair of nice black suede loafers that were with the clothes before he stood again with some effort and looked around for a way out.

He quietly opened the door and peered out to see the officer busy reading the paper. He closed the door again trying to figure out how to get away. He noticed the bathroom door in the corner and opened it up. Another adjoining door was inside on the opposite end. He locked his side and then exited the other to a different room. It was empty as he quietly passed through and made his way to the main door. He took in a deep breath, felt a smile on his face as he casually stepped out of the room and made his way down the hallway. The cop didn't look up or call out as he confidently made his way to the opposite end and turned the corner out of sight.

Elmer was relieved, searching his pockets for anything to help him remember when he found a wallet in the back pocket. He opened it up to find receipts, cards but nothing with a picture. There was a temporary ID card but still no picture as he looked at the name which read Elmer Watkins on all the items. He sighed, something about the name not ringing with him but it's all he had at the moment. He pushed the wallet back into his back pocket and made his way out of the hospital. It was late afternoon and he wasn't sure where he was going. His mind was a total blank as to who or what. He started to hail a passing cab when a dark sedan swerved up instead.

"We've been looking for you."

A man had rolled down the window and was looking at him curiously as he tried to figure out what was going on. He was about to step away when he saw the gun and froze, something in him telling him he didn't like guns and being still was probably the best move.

"Yes... you must be him. Boss didn't have a picture but you fit the description: Tall, dark haired with a dark shirt and jeans... anklet too. Come on, Snitch. Boss has been looking to talk to you."

Elmer started to back up when he heard the gun cock and stopped.

"Don't make me shoot an innocent person..."

He looked around to see people milling in the hospital entrance, children, mothers, fathers and the elderly. He finally nodded, the back door opening and he slipped inside another man with a gun in the interior.

"Good man. I knew you'd see things my way. Close the door!"

()()()

Peter was happy when they'd found Caffrey. He'd heard someone had been taken in with a gunshot wound matching his partner's description. The anklet on him had gone offline so when he heard the news he rushed from the Bureau offices and made his way to the hospital. The agent part of him was wondering what trouble Neal had gotten himself into this time but another part of him thought about the gunshot wound. Was he hurt badly? Was Neal going to survive? The doctor had only called because he was listed in the man's wallet as next of kin. Funny, why would Neal list him as next of kin? Wouldn't Mozzie fit that qualification better?

He sighed, walking into the ER and the reception to ask about his partner. The nurse there directed him to a room and doctor as he thanked her and hurried along. He didn't see a guard on the outside of the room as he entered the room number and blinked.

A man with short dark hair and blue eyes blinked back at him from the hospital bed. The man's face paled and he sat up.

"Did Arnie send you? Oh my... he's going to kill me isn't he? Please... I won't talk. That's why I ran. I decided it wasn't worth snitching. I swear! I won't tell a soul what I know. I'll... I'll give you money!"

Peter blinked at the man, reaching in to grab his badge when the guy gave a little strangled cry of fear, pulling at his IVs and trying to leave the bed. He held up his badge and opened it up showing it to the man.

"I'm a Federal Agent. My name is Peter Burke. I must have the wrong room. They told me my partner was in here with a gunshot wound." He started to think he must have the wrong room, turning to leave when the man coughed to get his attention.

"You're his friend... the man I was talking to. You're in his wallet. I traded because I wanted to get rid of my identity... You're a Federal Agent? Oh shit!"

The guy looked afraid suddenly, Peter staring at him and then it clicked. The man's arm was wrapped up where he had been shot and the man had an anklet like Neal. It all made sense now.

"What's your name? They have you listed here as my partner..."

Peter was looking at the bracelet around the man's arm and the chart on the end of the bed which both read "Neal Caffrey." The man was nothing like Neal except for hair and eye coloring.

"E... Elmer... Wat... Watkins."

(TBC?)