The rest of the night Neal is plagued by nightmares. Peter gets El to agree to stay in bed and ends up just sleeping in the chair in the guest room to gently nudge Neal to half-awake before making himself comfortable in the guest chair again. He wakes with a start, realizing at some point they both must have finally fallen asleep. He looks around and doesn't see Neal. He walks by the master bedroom and spies El still in bed and notices the bathroom door is shut. Knocking on the bathroom door, he said, "Neal, you in there?" Hearing something drop, he knocks again, "Neal, you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Stupid washcloth, stupid cup." said Neal, muttering from behind the door. "Just trying to shave and get as clean as possible considering the casts and everything. Just give me ten more minutes."

Peter walks back to the bedroom and guiltily wakes El. "Morning Hun." he said, gently nudging El.

"Hey." said El, sitting up and yawning. "How did the rest of the night go?"

"About as well as to be expected. I'm considering calling Dr Rogers to see if he can prescribe anything in case the nightmares continue. Something to help Neal sleep...and selfishly, us as well." said Peter, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Neal's in the bathroom. I'm thinking it's a good morning for cereal for breakfast, which I can set up and you can have first dibs at the bathroom. If you notice him trying to take those stairs, yell for me?"

"Can do, Peter Burke." said El, giving Peter a fake salute and giggling. "Sorry think I am a little loopy from not sleeping well."

Peter laughs. "Well you are working from home today. Maybe later we can all get in a nap." he said, getting up and slipping into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. "We could all use the sleep."

Peter heads down the stairs and sets up breakfast in between letting Satchmo out and leaving a voicemail for Dr Rogers. He hears El talking to someone and heads back up the stairs. "Hey Neal." he said, "What's going on you two?"

Neal and El exchange looks. "I was just debating coming down and getting breakfast and just spending some more time alone in the guest room." said Neal, looking at El.

"And you were going to carry it up the stairs how?" said El, trying not to laugh. "If you want to stay up here and relax, go ahead. I will bring up some breakfast."

"I hate being a bother to you two. You are already both being too nice." said Neal, with a shrug. "And I'm sure I can figure out a way."

"I have no doubts you would try." said Peter, "But El is right, we can bring up some food. I get it if you want to relax as you don't look like you slept well." He chooses not to mention the nightmares, but the look on Neal's face gives away he already figures they both know.

"Fine, fine." said Neal, heading back towards the guest room. "But I could have done it."

Peter and El walk downstairs. "He's so stubborn." said Peter, chuckling a little.

"It's the very essence of Neal and you like it about him." said El. "It helps with the cases."

"He should know neither of us want him to get more hurt." said Peter, setting up a tray with a bowl of cereal, some fruit he had managed to slice up earlier, a cup of hot tea, and a glass of juice.

"I kind of get the feeling he's had to do a lot on his own, Peter, and he's just too used to being self-reliant." said El, giving Peter a kiss. "I'll take this tray up. You got less sleep than me." El heads up the stairs with the tray as Peter sits at the table, shaking his head thinking of Neal and wondering more about Neal's past. The FBI had never been able to find out much, but Peter had always made guesses Neal's childhood probably wasn't the greatest. Still thinking, he chooses to start eating his breakfast, hoping one day to know more about his partner.