"Hun, you two will get through this." said El, "And he doesn't want you to go the rest of your life blaming yourself if he said he doesn't blame you. You didn't do that to him." She gives Peter a hug. "Don't forget you're a good man yourself, Peter Burke, and me, Neal, and everyone else knows that."
"It's my duty to keep him safe, El, it's part of the deal." said Peter, playing with his fork and his food. "And I failed."
"And you will from now on." said El. "Even if you have to move him into the guest room permanently. Now eat your dinner, we watch a little TV, and you can check on Neal before bed. You have a good excuse with the tray anyways."
"Good point." said Peter, feeling a little more relieved with El's words. He knew he would definitely have to make this all up to Neal even if Neal didn't blame him, though he did still feel guilty. He takes a bite of food and swallows it. "Good lasagna as always."
El smiles at Peter, worried about Neal herself and the couple eats their dinner. She sends Peter to the living room to catch a bit of a game while she cleans up, letting the process keep her mind busy. She finishes up, lets Satchmo out and back in, and curls up with a book next to Peter, just happy they are both safe and at home and that Neal is safe upstairs. Maybe it wasn't much, but it was enough for now.
An hour later, Peter flips off the TV and stretches. "I think I'll go fetch the tray." he said before heading up the stairs. Knocking on the guest door and not getting a response, he opens the door to find Neal asleep sitting up. It doesn't take more than a few seconds to realize Neal had likely not easily been able to move out of the position he was in. He moves the sketchpad off of Neal's lap, getting a glimpse of the sketch Neal had been working on and smiles before closing the pad and sitting it on the nightstand. Neal wakes with a starts as the pad is moved.
"Hey Peter." said Neal sounding apologetic. "Sorry I think I fell asleep." He stretches and grimaces. "I keep forgetting moving is bad."
"It's fine, it's been a long day. You need rest." said Peter, adjusting the pillows behind Neal so he can easily slide down into the bed, knowing Neal would likely stay in that position than ask for help. Neal could be way too stubborn. "I just needed to pick up the tray. I brought up a pain pill in case you wanted it...it's on the nightstand. Need help with anything before I go?"
"No I got it." said Neal, realizing he had fallen asleep with the TV on and finds the remote in the bed and flips it off. Barely even thinking on it, he swallows the pain pill on the nightstand as his ribs protest movement. "Think I will just go back to sleep though."
"Sounds like a good plan." said Peter, happy to see Neal not argue on the meds. "I'll leave you be. Goodnight Neal."
"Goodnight Peter." said Neal, as Peter left with the tray, passing El who had come up to get ready for bed. She peaks in and says goodnight before heading to the master bedroom as Peter takes the tray downstairs, unloads the dishes into the dishwasher, starts it, and walks back upstairs to bed.