Right, on to this one. I'm currently working on chapter 23… I was on a roll! Let me know what you all think… I really appreciate it! It's gonna be longer than I thought… don't normally like the aftermath… but it's flowing sooo… xx

Chapter 14

By the time El came back with the water – having taken as much time as possible – the men were stoic on the sofa. It was clear that the night's sudden turn of events had had an effect on all three of them, Neal still in pain and scared to move, Peter still seeing himself pointing his gun at his terrified friend, and the glass was shaking in El's hand, making the water slosh around.

As she made her way over, Peter snapped out of his daze, giving her a sad half smile. The glass hitting the table was loud in the hollow silence and Neal's head snapped up, his knee jerking away from the noise.

"Sorry," she felt bad, seeing his eyes rapidly scan the room, never looking her in the eye.

"Neal, you ok? I'm so sorry. We just... we just reacted. We shouldn't have... it WON'T happen again, I promise." But no response met him.

oOo

That night ended quick. Something simple was cooked and by half past seven Neal was making his way to bed. He had hardly said anything, except to say he was fine, they weren't to worry. As soon as he was up, closed the door, and couldn't breathe. He had managed to keep it in for so long, the overwhelming pain of emotion swelling to unbearable limits in his chest. He slid down the door, facing it, feeling his back hurt as he slightly hunched forward, hand on the door handle to keep balanced. The air was coming out in ragged bursts, going in just the same. Tears stung his eyes. His chest heaved and body shook. The pent-up emotion of not just tonight but the day as well was overtaking his body, his mind. And there was no way to stop it.

Once Neal had gone upstairs, Peter let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. How had his relatively good day drastically changed. The guilt was gnawing at him. El was still shocked, he saw her look sideways at Neal during the silent meal, asking if he was ok at seemingly random intervals. Whereas he just sat there, barely eating.

"Do you think he'll be ok?" Her question surprised him. These were the first words she had spoken to him since they were on the path.

"I can't believe it happened. All so fast. So sudden. I... I can't..." He felt the lump in his throat get the better of him. Sitting on the sofa he put his head in his hands, feeling El walk a bit closer.

"I just got a fright, I mean after everything. I... I tried to tell you as you went past..."

"I know, I know. I thought they were back, thought you were scared. I... I didn't even think about him. Neal being here, it didn't even cross my mind. I just thought about you." His voice was shaking again. How had he done it? El walked beside him, sitting down and rubbing small circle into his back. She looked up at the ceiling, trying to think of what to say when it occurred to her, she didn't hear Neal walking about. He would be going to the shower around now, but no footsteps were heard. Peter felt her stop moving, looking at her and then following her gaze upwards to the silent floor above.

oOo

When he woke, his heart was racing. The left hand spread out on the bed in front of him was shaking slightly. The room was dark, no light outside except the faint street light streaming through the window. The clock said 2.18am, and he was still in his clothes from the day before. As he moved his arm from a right angle down beside his body, a small grunt edged into the silence. The hot burn of the shoulder movement, straining his back. He remained face down, scared to move again.

Peter lay awake as the clock ticked its way through the night. El went to bed not long after Neal, he a few hours later. He had sat down stairs staring at a black tv screen, sliding into bed near midnight. He wanted to look in on Neal, but thought better of it. And still the clock ticked.

He was up early and down in the kitchen making breakfast as El ran into the living room.

"Arg... I'm late already. Completely forgot I had an early meeting to talk about damage control from the... the ah break in," she didn't look at him, rushing to the door, throwing a good bye and wave over her shoulder, muttering as she went. As Peter looked out after her, he saw Reese approaching the house.

"Peter. Sorry for dropping in unannounced," his voice was calm but stern as he entered the open door, Peter closing it behind him, "but thought it be best to visit... considering." His expression was grave and he looked tired – no, exhausted.

"Of course, sir, would you like anything to drink, eat?" Hughes gave a curt shake of the head, and lowered into a dining room chair. He shrugged his heavy overcoat on to the high chair back, leaving his suit intact. His expression flat.

"How is he?" The sentence was short and hushed, almost as if he was afraid to ask. He was looking down at his clasps hands on the table in front of him, Peter sitting at a right angle, back to the kitchen.

"I don't know. I mean, we didn't really talk last night, and he hasn't come down yet. I'm almost scared to ask..."

"I understand. That's why I'm here, to tell you to take the morning off... I mean you can have the whole day, but thought you wouldn't want to. You need to talk to him... make sure he's ok..."

"I will, thank you. And no, I'll be in later. Just got to sort some things out..."

"Ok, good, well... be nice. I should be going. I'm going to talk with the teams outside, make sure it doesn't happen again, just wanted to pop in and..." His fare well was cut short by movement coming down the stairs, causing both men to stop their rising from chairs, heads looking towards Neal appearing at the foot of the stairs. He looked awful, hair a mess and the same clothes as yesterday. He was obviously startled to see not just Peter but Hughes, he stopped in his tracks.

"Ah, Caffery, glad I got to see you before I left," he stood, walking over and nodded to the consultant as he passed, a brief glance at his right shoulder, looking up at Peter and raising his eyebrows. His hand patted the younger man's elbow, causing a small jump, and exited the house with no more to say.