So, we're at the hospital. glad people seem to be liking it so far... review and let me know what you all are thinking!

Chapter 11

Sitting, with the beep of the heart monitor in his ear, he stares blankly at the man lying prone in front of him, eyes open and glazed. The monitor speeds up as more pressure is added to the right arm knife wounds.

"Don't do that. You're hurting him." The medic just glanced over. As his arm was still outstretched, Peter was sitting in line with his hips. His eyes didn't move from his friends face. The sound of his voice brought Neal's eyes over to him. A faint smile flickered on his lips.

oOo

Drawing up to the hospital broke the harmonious atmosphere of the ambulance. And Neal's heart rate shot up. Peter grabbed his left hand, down by his side, running by the stretcher, remaining in Neal's sight. This gave a point to focus on as he was wheeled through different peering eyes. Going into the trauma room, Peter was torn away from his side, his eyes still open.

Standing outside the door, trying to see in, he felt – not for the first time since this started – useless. His team hadn't made it there yet and he knew he couldn't leave him alone, not now, not here.

A hand landed softly on his shoulder, but he still flinched. The small female nurse pulled her hand back quickly, smile plastered on her face. She was staring at him for a moment before asking if he was Peter Burke, and that his wife was upstairs asking if he was there yet. Torn, he looked back at the closed door, Neal injured on the other side. Seeing this, the nurse told him she would tell him the minute anything changed. So he followed her to see his wife, glancing back at the friend he felt he was leaving behind.

oOo

The nurse walked him into a small room, made bed and hospital issue gown. El wasn't there, Neal wasn't there, he shouldn't be here.

"Thought you were taking me to my wife?" Staring blankly at the woman behind him, his breath is stopped by El rushing into the door frame, and suddenly, he forgets everything else.

"Oh my god, honey," she takes two strides forward, wrapping him in a hug, then whispers in his ear, "I'm so glad you're ok, I thought I was going to loose you."

Drawing back, he looks at her. She looked tired, her eye black and blue. She was wearing a standard issue FBI sweatshirt and training bottoms. But she was still beautiful, just what he needed after what he had seen. Neal. His head snapped back to the nurse,

"Where is he, can I see him?"

"They're working on him now, you stay here, get checked out and I'll update you when I can." With that the door closed. Leaving more silence.

He stepped back, falling on the bed. She saw his figure was slumped, eyes haunted. She didn't know what happened, where he had been, and she wasn't sure she wanted too. But, seeing him like this, she knew she had to understand. Sitting beside him, she wrapped her arm around his shoulder. He flinched slightly at first, but soon relaxed. They sat like that until the doctor came in.

He wore his white coat, over hospital scrubs. His hair was dark and wavy, square glasses perched on his nose. He looked nice, serious and exactly who you want in a situation like this. He pulled a chair close to the pair and sat.

"Mr and Mrs Burke I presume?"

The couple didn't say anything. They took each other's hand, steadying themselves for what was to come.

"I was down in the ER with Mr Caffery, he is now going into surgery. He sustained multiple injuries covering his entire body, but I'm guessing you already know that. We'll start at the top." He opens the folder in his lap. Peter felt like he couldn't breath, he knew how bad it looked, but he also knew hearing it was going to make it real, documented.

"Mr Caffery sustained a superficial head injury. No symptoms of long-term damage have been detected and it looks as though it will stay that way, he is lucky in this respect. Minimal contusions on the neck cause us to be extra vigilant, but they too look superficial and no true cause for concern." The couple could tell he was leading up to what was really happening, just easing them in. The doctor was about to begin again when Hughes appeared at the door, knocking before letting himself in. His white shirt was stained with blood.

He motioned to the other chair, silently asking if he could sit, doing so after Peter nodded, then nodded for the doctor to continue.

"His left shoulder has some pulled muscles and significant bruising. This will heal easily over time. His right shoulder on the other hand is a bit more difficult. It has at least one broken bone and limited blood supply. It also caused nerve damage for the limb which, if not treated correctly, could cause paralysis. This is worst case, but I want you to be prepared for the outcome."

His three listeners were silent, a shocked look on their faces. He waited to let it sink in before starting again, "He has 8 broken ribs in total, one pierced the left lung but it wasn't enough to cause serious damage. His spleen is ruptured, and as he wasn't at the hospital soon after, it will have to be removed. His chest, abdomen and lower back has traumatic bruising and we will have to keep an eye on this for complications. His left leg has deep bruising and, although not broken, will need to be stabilised in a brace for three weeks. The left ankle had some serious burns which reached the bone in certain areas, the wound also became infected due to... ill treatment will we call it." He stopped there, looking up at Peter, who obviously knew he meant how Neal was restrained when they were found.

He noticed the doctor hadn't said anything about the knife wounds on Neal's back and forearms, but he supposed they weren't life threatening. But he still wanted to know. The only thing stopping him was El, she didn't know, and he didn't want to bring it up in front of her. Glancing at Hughes, he saw his eyes were closed and head was resting on the wall behind him, absorbing the information given, picturing Neal in his head how he last saw him. These thoughts were interrupted by El.

"When do you think we can see him?"

"He'll be in surgery for the next couple of hours, they will repair internal damage, as well as reconstructing the shoulder and removing the scarred tissue in the ankle. Afterwards him will be taken to the ICU, only family is allowed to visit but considering his medical records, you sir will be granted full access."

It took Peter a second to realise what the doctor had said, "What about his records?"

"He has you registered as his next of kin and medical proxy."