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Chapter 26
"What do you mean?"
Peter had thought it, but El asked it. He knew exactly what it meant.
"The guys in the holding cells are on these sheets, which means they aren't the ones who took you and those men are still out there."
oOo
Peter and Hughes were in the living room, going over what happened during the shooting. Neal sitting outside on the decking. He liked it out there. It was peaceful. Safe. Although feeling physically better than he had for days, the memories brought on by the night's sleep and the mug shot made his brain feel muddled and dis-jointed from the world around him. He knew taking the pills was what everyone wanted, so he had. His eye wasn't hurting any more, back only painful if he moved to quickly. But his emotions were all over the place. He didn't even notice El coming out the back door and sitting down. Not until the chair scrapped across the ground.
He jumped. She saw, even though he tried to hide it. She had brought out coffee, sliding his over.
"Thought you might need this."
"Thanks." The air was cold and his breath fogged as he spoke.
"You must be freezing, do you want a coat or anything?"
"No. No, it's fine." They sat looking over the garden, the odd agent barely visible at the bottom.
"Look Neal, I feel I have to say this," he looked at her as she took in a deep breath, "I want to apologies."
"What? Why?"
"For how I've been acting towards you. I know I haven't been the most welcoming. I haven't been treating you fairly, especially when Peter was shot. He told me what you said, about how you thought he was dead because I hadn't called."
"That's not what I meant, I completely understand..."
"I should have called, let you come really. I just... I knew there was something you both were keeping from me, and after everything... I was angry. I felt as though you both were not wanting to trust me..."
"No, it wasn't..."
"I know, it wasn't your fault, I'm not blaming you but..."
"I told Peter telling you would be best but..."
"You did?" She looked surprised, and confused again.
"Yeah... but he thought it was best not to say anything, considering..." He noticed the hint of annoyance in her expression, obviously he said the wrong thing. Before he could try to make it any better, Hughes and Peter walked through the back door, still talking to each other.
"So I'll head back to the office. Fix out some stuff and we'll get cracking on this as soon as."
"Call me if you need me to come in..."
"No, no. Probably for the best if you stay clear for a while... 'til things blow over anyway." Hughes glanced at Neal as he said this, causing the younger man to bow his head to look away. Hughes grimaced, he hadn't meant to make the kid feel worse. The shooting wasn't his fault, but it would be stupid now to think these new developments weren't influential in how Peter acted. "Ok, I... I better be going." He turned to go back through the door, almost making it through...
"Hughes?" The voice was small and gentle, barely a whisper. Most unlike his usual confidence. Hughes turned his head towards it, looking his consultant in the eyes, once again seeing the hurt and fear in those eyes, one healthy one turning dark green, "Yeah?"
"Thank you. I mean it." He swallowed the lump in his throat, waiting to see if there was going to be a reply.
"Just focus on getting better." He tapped the door frame with his fingers, glancing at Burke and walked into the kitchen, his agent close behind him. As he reached the front door, hand on the door knob, he turned. "He isn't doing so good. Isn't doing good at all." He looked into Peter's eyes and saw the same thought reflected back at him.
"Yeah, I know. He... he's struggling."
"Take this. For him... and you. El as well, obviously," Peter took the card, reading the doctor's name on it, nostrils widening slightly and pinching the bridge of his nose. "The FBI will pay for it, I'll make sure."
"Aren't we insured anyway?"
"Yeah, you and El. Both covered by the agency, as much as you need. But not him."
"What? Why?"
"He's still a ward of the state, it changes things. I checked, his insurance just covers eight sessions. That won't be enough... we both know it." Peter stared at him, nodding eventually, putting the card in this trouser pocket.
"What if it... what if it takes a while? You know... with Neal? If he's out of action for a longer time than they think he will be... considering they don't know it all? I mean... will they send him back?"
"No. No, I promise you, I won't let that happen. I'll make sure he has all the time he needs. He won't be made to do anything he doesn't want to or deserve to have done. Ok? I promise."
Peter was at ease slightly. To know his boss was on not only his side but Neal's too allowed his heart to beat slower. The thought of Neal being put back in a cell because of what they had done... it wasn't going to happen.
"Right Peter, I will be in contact soon to tell you what's happening... look after him." He gave a small smile, opened the door and left. Peter watched after him as he got in his car.
