I can't tell you how sorry I am for taking me so long to get back with you….. I'm SOOOO SORRY . Also if you're a beta and you at least like where my stories go… I need you…

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With the house almost empty, Elizabeth's mind was racing…. She was beyond tired; her body was only working on adrilin. Each time she managed to get a quick 5 minute nape, Zoe would decide it was time for her to get up, and Joshua wasn't helping the situation either, he was cut off….. Elizabeth couldn't get him to open up and talk about what had happened at the construction site. Each time she tried to talk to him about it, he would only tell her he wanted his daddy and run and get his baseball glove that Peter had given him a month earlier, cradling it as he would his favorite blanket.

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At first Neal thought that Larson must have shot Peter again, he tried to cover him as shots rang out between Larson, his men and the FBI.

Neal held Peter tightly to his chest, and when the shooting stopped, he tried to pick Peter up again, but his legs felt heavy and he wasn't able to stand. Jones quickly came over, pushing Neal back down to the ground.

"Neal, let the medics look at him."

"No there's no time, we have to get him out of here."

"Neal" Jones paused….pulling Neal back away from Peter so the medics could come in.

"Neal your hurt,"

It wasn't until then that Neal finally felt the pain.

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At the hospital Neal felt like he was in a dream. The pain was there, but his concern for Peter was greater. The doctors and nurse kept poking at him, trying to give him commands but all he could do was keep looking at the room to his right as he watched the ER staff quickly work on his friend.

xxxxx

When he woke the first time, Elizabeth was softly running the tips of her fingers through his hair.

"Hey sweetheart we've been worried about you… June's been by a few times, Mozzie even came for a quick visit.

Neal was confused, he didn't understand why he was in a hospital, the last thing he remembered- was that he was trying to protect Peter.

At first he didn't say anything, he just looked around with a dazed looked until Elizabeth finally broke their silence.

"You were shot Neal, the bullet almost shattered your pelvis, the doctor thinks you'll be ok, but it will be a long recovery… I'm just glade alright."

Her eyes were red rimmed, she looked even worse for wear than the last time he saw her. He was afraid to ask how Peter was or if he was even alive, but he had to know."

"P…Pet…er..."
"Shhhhh…let's just worry about you right now…."

"T..ell mee…..I havvve to …..know"

Tears flowed from her eyes.

"He's here in ICU… he's just down the hall …they needed more test, so they kicked me out…he has a high fever, so we just have to wait and see."

Neal found himself drifting again; he tried to stay awake, but the harder he tried, the faster he seemed to fade back into the darkness.

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Neal wasn't sure how many times he drifted in and out, each time was only for a few moments.

The last time he woke, he wasn't sure, but he thought that his stomach was on fire. And when he tried to move the pain from his hip made his whole body shutter. His movements must have sounded an alarm, because it wasn't long until a nurse came in asking him if he would like more pain medication.

As he waited for the nurse to come back, he was surprise to see Elizabeth walk in instead.

"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

Neal's voice was still rough

"Little better, Peter?"

"He's much better, once his fever broke and his infection started clearing up, they moved him to another floor, doctor said that once you woke up, they would move you in there with him. (Smiling) He's awake, but only for brief moments.

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The next day, the doctor finally approved Neal to be moved. As he was brought in, Peter's appearance made his heart sink. Elizabeth was there holding his hand, and softly brushing his hair back from his face, or where his face should have been. For the first time Neal, took in Peter's full appearance. His face was extremely swollen, bruised and cut. There was a large red mark across his throat, and his chest was had a large blood stained bandage across it. Neal didn't think he could take anymore and was thankful a thin sheet covered the rest of his body.

After the nurses had him situated, Elizabeth came over to give Neal a hug.

"How's he doing?"

Elizabeth smiled, but evidence of her building tears was all too clear to Neal.

"He's doing better. He's suffered from heat exshtion, so it's difficult right now to control his temperature, the doctor says that he'll get better with a little time and they are keeping him hydrated. He was shot in the upper right chest, stabbed, and even strangled. He's still in and out, but each time he wakes up, he's more lucid. (Still fighting back her tears, trying to smile) like you….. He just needs a little time."

Neal took her hand "Elizabeth I'm so sorry. This is all my fault"

"Neal…. you didn't do this….. Larson did….Jones said we'll never have to worry about him again."

"He's dead?"

"No… he's up stairs, he was shot during the shootout, but Jones says he'll live….Hughes said the ADA has requested no bond, and he's is going away for life."

At that moment Peter started to stir, and Elizabeth turned her attention to him.

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It was another 4 days before Peter was alert enough to carry on a conversation that was more than 6 words at a time. Neal was restless, and he felt helpless, he wanted up out that bed, but Doctors had told him he would be there for 6 to 8 weeks, and would only be allowed out for therapy.

Each day he watched Peter get stronger and stronger and with each day that passed, Neal wanted nothing more than to tell Peter he never knew Kate had stolen money from Adler, but the time never seemed right.

The day that Peter was finally being discharged, he decided he would tell him, but Elizabeth had arrived a little early to let Joshua see Peter for the first time in almost 2 weeks. Watching his friend with his family, Neal felt like he was intruding, not only on this moment, but in Peter's life. He felt like every time he was there with Peter and Elizabeth, he caused them pain, pain that they would have never had, if it wasn't for him. Neal wanted nothing more than to get up and run.

xxxxx

Peter was setting up, holding Zoe, while Elizabeth had taken Joshua with her to sign him out.

Neal watched as Peter was smiling down at the new angle in his life when he finally spoke up and broke Neal's thoughts of running.

"It's probably a good thing you're stuck in that bed."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've seen that look before Neal…. you don't know what to do with yourself so you want run away."

"Peter… I don't belong here"

Peter carefully got up, walking over to his friends bed.

"Neal, you do belong, believe it or not… you have us, Mozzie, June…..and hey who knows…one day… maybe this….(Peter handed Zoe over to Neal). Neal just set there in silence…. getting lost in the baby blue eyes that starred up at him so innocently.

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Being stuck in the hospital for weeks at a time, with no one to talk to was killing him. Mozzie had left town for a few weeks, and Neal would almost count the minutes waiting for Peter to get home from work, pick up Joshua and come and visit him.

Getting to know Joshua, it didn't take him long to notice Mozzie's influence the kids life. When his daddy wasn't looking, Joshua would show Neal things that his uncle Mozzie had taught him. But after they would leave, Neal was left with nothing more to do than think, think about his life, his future, and his friends.

The afternoon of his discharge, Neal was happy it was Peter and Joshua who came to take him home to June's. Walking still hurt a little, and walking up the steps to his apartment was hard. Inside his apartment for the first time in what felt like years, Neal was happy to be home. He set down at this kitchen table to rest a bit, when Peter and Joshua came in, carrying Neal's bag. Peter joined him at the kitchen table, while Joshua took right to exploring Neal's apartment.

"You know we never have talked about the case."
"Peter… I promise….Kate never told me…."

"hmmmm…you know…..a few days ago Elizabeth received a package at the house. It was a letter from Dalton school …it seems that Joshua and Zoe have already been accepted with a full scholarship."

"Ah Peter that's great."

"hmmm…yeah but Neal….we never applied to Dalton… you wouldn't know anything about that now would you?"

For the first time, in a long time….Neal flashed his famous smile

"Peter….I have been locked away, unable to get out of bed for 7 weeks now…"

"That's what I thought…(Peter stood up, smiling down at his friend)…Joshua…..come on buddy….Momma's waiting for us at home."

xxxxxxx

As soon as they left….. Mozzie came out of hiding.

"It sounded like the suit got the package"

"Dalton?"

"Oh yes….it's one of the best"

"And college?"

"Oh there expecting another package soon."

FIN