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I'm sorry but I think Neal's slipping into coma
Those words were ringing in the ears of Peter and El. They could not believe that Neal instead of getting better, was slipping into coma. Dr. Collin had informed them about Neal's condition and also told them to wait for a few hours to know the final result.
El's one hand was still over her mouth in shocked expression while the other was clutching Peter's arm in a death grip. Tears that had dried up while waiting for the news on Neal had started to flow again. Neal was their family. How was one supposed to live if one of the family member suddenly leaves you for good?
She didn't dared look at Peter, she knew how much Neal meant to Peter. This news must have devastated him. She was contemplating on how to face him, how to soothe him, but then Peter spoke, his voice strangely strong.
"Dr. Collin.. I want to see him. "
Dr. Collin shook his head, " He's still in the OT Mr. Burke and we do not allow visitors there. I know I told you that I will look into it but I am sorry that it is not possible."
Peter spoke again, " I just want to see him Doctor, I promise that I won't come in the way of your staff. Please give me a few minutes, please."
The doctor thought about it before finally giving in. After all his patient's condition was poor, he could at least give the ones who loved and cared for him the chance to see him.
"Alright Mr. Burke, you can see him but only for a few minutes. "
Peter nodded vigorously, " Of course Dr. Collin, I won't take much time. Just a few minutes, that's all. "
Dr. Collin nodded and spoke, " Come on I will take you to him."
Peter turned to El and hugged her. El spoke, " Just tell him that we are waiting for him to come home, alright." Her voice was thick because of the tears.
Peter agreed, " Yes hon, will do that. He has to come back and I am sure he will." They parted and El took her seat again while Peter followed the doctor to the OT.
...
Peter wavered in front of the door. In the waiting room he had made up his mind to see Neal. He was going to go inside and give him a piece of his mind. His decision was taken and nothing was going to stop him. But now standing in front of the door, which was the only obstacle in between him and Neal, he suddenly wasn't sure about his decision.
Dr. Collin had warned him before he left him at the door. He had told him what to expect when he entered the room. The doctor had told him that right now Neal was hooked to many machines and wires in order to keep him alive. While it was all necessary, the sight always caused distress in those who were close to the patient. Peter had nodded then, telling the doctor that he was prepared for the worse but now his heart raced and his breath stuttered. He suddenly wasn't sure if he could see Neal in such a vulnerable position.
He stayed at the door for another couple of minutes and was startled by the nurse who suddenly opened the door who was equally surprised to see him standing there. Peter spoke quickly, " Oh.. I am so sorry.."
The nurse relaxed immediately and spoke smiling, " It's okay. I was just going to see the doctor to give him the report on the temperature of the patient that was recorded just seconds ago."
Peter's heart skipped a beat. " How much is it?" Fear evident in his voice.
The nurse shook her head sadly and answered, " I'm afraid it's still around 105 "
Peter gulped and nodded and the nurse left closing the door behind her, to see the doctor. Peter took a deep breath and pushed the door open again and entered.
...
Peter entered the room and instantly stopped short. The room was eerily silent except for the beeping of the machines attached to Neal. He had thought he was prepared for the worst but seeing Neal lying on the bed unconscious while many wires and tube were coming in and out of his body made Peter shudder. His heart ached painfully at the sight of his friend. Neal looked so young so vulnerable so small this way. His breath stuck in his throat. He almost, almost turned away and left but then again his eyes landed on his friend's face and he was automatically drawn towards him.
He shakily placed his hand on top of the cooling blanket wrapped around Neal , where he assumed was his arm. His eyes again went to Neal's face. His face was sweaty and flush. The fever was making itself known. A lone tear escaped Peter's eye and he didn't even raise his hand to wipe it away. He spoke with a shaky voice,
"Hey Neal.." Peter paused, " I am so sorry.. If only I had reached you in time, you wouldn't have been here. I am really very sorry kid." Peter choked on the next words, "You know that I am not good at expressing my emotions.." He waited unconsciously for Neal to say yes, Neal remained unresponsive and even though he knew that Neal wouldn't answer, Peter still was disappointed. He cleared his throat and spoke again,
"Like I just said that I'm not very good at expressing emotions. So you will have to listen to me only once because I am not going to repeat myself, okay.." Peter paused, he knew Neal was unconscious but he thought maybe, maybe if he just lectured him, Neal would get irritated and stop him. So he took a breath and continued,
"Neal, I'm kinda used to having you around kid, not a single day is spent of mine without you. You really can't leave us..me like that and go. Yes.." He chuckled softly, " Yes.. I know you can be a pain in my neck and you are proud of it but you see I'm so used to the pain now that I cannot imagine my life without it. You are family kid, and family doesn't do this to each other, they don't leave you." Peter's eyes watered again. His hand automatically reached Neal's hair and ran his his hand through them.
"Just come back Neal, just wake up, I will give anything, anything you ask for." Peter's eyes inadvertently went to Neal's lower part where he assumed was his ankle hidden beneath the blanket. " Of course the anklet stays...you and me are stuck together." He shook his head slightly and smiled sadly and continued his monologue, " You know I will also let you do that stupid hat trick of yours. You can come at my place at breakfast and I won't get irritated, I will also let you have those badges that come with the cereal boxes. You can even put your legs on top of my desk Neal, I promise I will do anything. Just come back, please." Peter knew he was talking senseless but he just wanted Neal to come back.
Peter then stared down at his unconscious friend. Neal hadn't even twitched a muscle. He remained as motionless as ever. Looking at Neal's face, Peter was wrapped up in a whirlpool of emotions. One prominent feeling that he was overcome with now was that he had always considered Neal a son he never had. Though he never admitted that aloud but in his heart he always felt that Neal was like his son. He just couldn't see his son leave.
He then did one thing that he thought he would have never done it. He bent down and kissed Neal on his forehead. Neal was so warm. He was burning up and Peter's heart ached at this. Neal's fever was not lessening and this scared him a lot. Peter stood up again and placed his hand on Neal's forehead and spoke, " Please don't leave me, son.. Please.. I love you kid.. " Neal remained oblivious and Peter couldn't take it anymore.
He then abruptly turned and reached the door and opened it to leave but then he turned back and his eyes landed on Neal's face again. " Better don't keep El waiting, son.. Don't keep me waiting.. We are both waiting for you to come home." Tears flowed down Peter's face again and he wiped them with his hand and composed himself and left.
...
Peter had again taken his seat next to El in the waiting room. They both sat with arms intertwined but Peter had laid his head at the back of the chair and closed his eyes. El didn't think he was sleeping but she let him be. After what seemed like hours Dr. Collin came back to them. He cleared his throat to gain attention of his audience. Peter raised his head and opened his eyes. He and El immediately sprang up from their chairs and waited with bated breath for the doctor to continue.
Dr. Collin's face was hard to read and Peter's heart was in his mouth as he stared at the doctor's face. The doctor smiled as he spoke and Peter's heart fluttered in hope.
" I will be blunt, Me and my staff had totally given up on Neal. His fever was increasing at an alarming rate but sometimes miracle do happen. His fever has finally broken down." Both Peter and El smiled in relief and both felt they would faint because of the happiness.
"It's still around 104 and is still high but it's going down and I am very optimistic that he will make recovery. He's still unconscious at present and will be under heavy dosages of antibiotics to fight off the infection and the fever for the next 24 hours. "
Peter nodded and asked, " Will he be alright, doctor?"
"Well .. We will know exactly about his condition after he regains consciousness and we are able to conduct tests to confirm that he has not suffered any brain damage. But personally I think he's going to make full recovery." The doctor had barely finished talking when he was suddenly wrapped up in a bone crushing hug by Peter.
"Thank you.. Thank you so much, Dr. Collin. " Peter spoke utterly thankful to the doctor for saving his friend's life.
They broke apart and the doctor smiled, " We did all we could Mr. Burke but something tells me that it was because of you that Neal's fever broke." Peter looked at the doctor confused.
"It has proven that even when the patient is unconscious he can listen to everything a person tells him. I'm sure Mr. Burke that whatever you told Neal in there, he listened to each and every word and decided to better come back to you."
Peter didn't know how to react at this so he remained silent. But internally he was thanking Neal for at least listening to him this once. He turned to his wife and hugged her. El then spoke, " He's going to be okay, honey. He's going to come home very soon. "
The doctor spoke again interrupting their conversation, " Neal's not yet regained consciousness and we are not sure when will that happen but I can assure you that he will wake up once he is ready. Also the trauma that his body has suffered might delay it. "
Peter and El both nodded. El then asked impatiently, " When can we see him doctor?"
Dr. Collin answered, " He's still in the OT. We will be shifting him to a private room in an hour. You can meet him then."
" Thank you, doctor.."
"A nurse will come and inform you when Neal is shifted. You have any other questions or doubts, you can call me. " The doctor paused and continued after he received nods of approval. " I shall take my leave now."
"Of course Dr. Collin.." Peter spoke.
...
The Burkes after spending an hour and half waiting for some nurse to come and take them to Neal, didn't think they could wait any longer than they already had and were about to get up go to the reception when a nurse came into the room and spoke,
" Mr and Mrs Burke, the patient has been shifted to a private room. It's down the hall on the left, room no. 406. But please one at a time."
Both Peter and El rushed to see Neal. Though they knew that Neal was still comatose, they just couldn't wait to see him and confirm that he was alive. They had to see it for themselves. They reached the said room and Peter gestured El to go in first.
"Honey, you go in first. I have already seen him. I am sure you want to see him desperately. "
El hugged her husband and spoke, " You sure, hon? You don't want to go in first?"
"I am sure El, you go." El nodded and broke away from her husband and entered the room.
...
Peter was sitting again on the hard chair just outside Neal's room when he spotted Agent Diana Berrigan come in his direction along with two other officers and the one man he hated extremely right now. James Bennett.
Diana came a step forward and spoke, " Boss.. You wanted me to bring him to you first, so he's here. " Though Diana hadn't a slightest clue about why her boss Peter Burke had ordered to bring James Bennett here but she thought that things were going to turn ugly pretty quickly.
Peter Burke bolted from his chair and came and stood right in front of James. It took every ounce of strength in Peter not to plummel James right then and there. Instead he curled his fingers tightly and spoke in a tight voice,
"Hello James."
James Bennett snorted, " Just cut the pleasantries Peter. Why the hell am I here? Don't tell me that you wanted to gloat over this little victory of yours.." He paused and his eyes bore into Peter's. So much hatred oozed from them. Apparently Diana had not informed James about Neal being rescued and at present was being treated in the hospital.
He thought he was caught because of his stupidity. He hadn't been careful when he went to the park to collect Neal's wealth. He thought that the FBI team had caught him because of the murder he had committed, in which Peter had gone to jail instead of him. Agent Diana Berrigan was quiet the entire ride to the hospital. She hadn't told him about anything at all. So he was genuinely surprised when he was brought here in the hospital.
Peter remained dead silent and just stared back at James.
"Answer me Peter! " James shouted. " Why the hell am I here? And why in the world are you at the hospital? Aren't you supposed to be hunting your pet?"
Peter's gaze sharpened, " Neal is not my pet , James!" He gritted his teeth.
James scoffed, " Oh please! He's not even here. So just drop the fake affection act in front of me. I'm not Neal, I know what your real intentions are."
Peter asked in a deadly calm voice, " And what do you think are my intentions?"
"Hah! I'm not liable to answer you. And now I will take my leave. I have no interest in listening to your monologue about how you succeeded in catching me. No jail can keep me for long, Peter! " James growled and turned around to be led away to the van again but Peter's voice stopped him.
" Why did you do this James? Why? Don't you even care in the slightest?"
James turned back and looked confused. He asked, " What are you talking about Peter? "
Peter shook his head and spoke, " Neal.. I'm talking about your son Neal. Why did you do this James? You kidnapped your own son and then left him at the mercy of the one person who hated him most in the world..Keller."
Peter had finally come to know about the entire kidnapping. Jones had interrogated Keller and Raees and both had confessed about everything. Though Jones did mention that Keller and Raees both looked too pleased with the way whole thing went Peter thought it was entirely James fault in the first place that Neal had suffered this much.
Keller had admitted that he had struck a deal with James and planned the whole kidnapping starting with kidnapping Leonard's son Joe first. Peter was infuriated by learning about all this and was determined to see to it that both Keller and his goon rotted in prison and would make sure they would never escape.
James' face again twisted in anger, " Neal is my son! I can and will do whatever I want. Who are you to question me?"
"Your son? Well.. You certainly don't treat him like one, otherwise you wouldn't have sold him to Keller." Peter's voice was hard.
"So what? So what if I left him with Keller. It's not like he can't defend himself. He's a conman, I am sure he must have conned his way of of that place by now."
Peter was getting frustrated with each passing second, " You never cared, did you?"
James laughed, " Really Peter you amaze me with your act, do you seriously think I am gonna fall for this? And why the hell do I have to care about Neal? It's not like he's dead now, is he?"
Anger flared in Peter and he suddenly grabbed James' arm and dragged him into the room where Neal was lying unconscious. Diana followed them in.
...
El was running a hand through Neal's hair and murmuring softly to him. She was telling him to wake up soon so that she could take him home and take care of him when suddenly the door flew open. She was startled to see Peter come in dragging Jame with him. She gasped softly but remained seated in the chair next to Neal's bed.
She asked, "Peter..honey.." But Peter ignored her and came and stood on the opposite side of the bed and forced James to stand next to him.
He whispered harshly, " Look at him James, just look at him. What does he look like to you? Is he alive? Or is he barely clinging to life? "
James was stunned to see his son lying in the bed in the hospital in very bad condition. He had never imagined that he would be seeing his son so soon after he had met him the other day, or was it just yesterday? He thought. He knew what he had done. He knew Keller was dangerous and yet he had walked out of the house leaving his son there despite the fact that he knew Neal was in no condition to fight back.
But he didn't feel remorse. He had never felt remorse when he had killed that cop and never had felt remorse when he left his son when he had shot the senator. He was saddened by this fact. But then he was brought out of his musings by Peter's voice.
" What kind of a father are you James? Who does this to his own son?" Peter's voice was filled with pain.
James turned sharply at Peter. Though he didn't care about Neal , he wasn't going to let outsiders taunt him about it. " I repeat again Peter, Neal is my son. I will decide how I want to treat him. "
El spoke, " How can you say this James? Just look at him, look at your son." She pointed to the unconscious and unaware Neal. " He's such a loving man. He has a heart of gold. How can you be so cold and cruel? How can a parent be so indifferent?"
James faced El and spoke coldly, " Oh now, you will give me advice on how to treat my son? You yourself don't even have a child and you think you can advice me?"
Peter growled, " Leave her out of it, James!"
"Yeah okay, I will leave her out of it. So then what? You will teach me how to be a good father? " James mocked.
"Maybe I will. Neal deserves a father who can actually treat him like a son not not some money lending machine. Who actually loves him. " Peter replied.
"Hah! You mean to say that it's you who actually loves him like a son?" James asked in disbelief.
Peter nodded, " Yes James, I love him just like a father should. Not like you who sold him out for money. Look at him.. He deserves the worlds happiness and what did you give him? Pain and only pain."
James spoke ferociously, " You listen to me Burke, Neal is my son. I will not stand here and let you brag about how much you love him. I know this is all an act. Neal will see it one day too. And you know what? If I want I can kill him too and you won't be able to do anything about it!
Peter lost all control and even before James could understand what was happening, Peter punched him hard across his face and he lost his balance and dropped to the floor, breathing heavily and his nose bleeding.
Peter bent down and grabbed him by his collar and spoke coldly, " Nobody .. You understand..nobody can even think about hurting my son and get away with it." He punched him again. This man had hurt Neal and in return he wanted to inflict just as much pain.
Diana who was silently watching the conversation rushed towards Peter, " Boss.. Boss.. Stop it.."
El too rushed to Peter, " Stop it, honey.. He doesn't deserve your anger too."
Peter controlled himself and spoke dangerously to James, " If you ever come near my son, trust me James, that will be the last day of your life."
...
It had been over a week since he had punched James. Neal's fever had gone. Neal had woken up several times in last week but he wasn't coherent at all. He was totally out of it. Every time he woke up he couldn't remember what he had talked about the last time. He had not even registered Peter and El being there with him. The ventilator had been removed and he was recovering well. The doctor had ruled out any brain damage. So now they were just waiting for Neal to wake up and be coherent enough of his surroundings.
Now after a week Peter had taken the now familiar seat. He had been sitting there for an hour and Neal had just slept. He glanced at Neal who was still sleeping. He yawned and closed his eyes and involuntarily fell asleep. He woke up after half an hour and was surprised to see blue eyes staring at him. Peter jumped from his seat and approached Neal.
"Neal! You are awake! Let me call the doctor! " Peter spoke quickly and then rushed out of the room to call Dr. Collin.
Neal stared at the retreating back of Peter. He was still not thinking coherently. Memories of the past few days came to him in bits and pieces. He remembered Peter being there when Keller had held him. He remembered Peter not doing anything to help him. He remembered his dad's words that he was worthless, he meant nothing to Peter.
Tears formed in his eyes and he shut them tight. When he had woken up and seen Peter there sleeping in the chair next to him. His heart had warmed at the sight. He thought that if Peter was here then he was definitely for him. That he cared for him but then Peter woke up and left quickly even before he could process what he was saying. His dad's words rushed to him again and he thought that he was worthless after all. That Peter was here because he had to watch out for Neal who was a criminal. He was not here because he cared about his friend. Tears flowed through his shut eyes as he thought that he was well and truly alone..