Chapter 6: Flight

Three days later and Neal wished he had said no to Peters offer. Of course, he has good arguments for doing it now, but does it have to be ´now´ now and not ´later´ now. Neal looks at the doctor. A special one for animal shifters (a mix between a human doctor and a vet). He would laugh if he wouldn't fear getting violently sick on the floor the second, he would open his mouth.

Peter is with him, but it doesn't really help. El had offered to come too but Neal didn't want her to see him like that. The agent explained why they are here and Neal hated the pity in the man's eyes. They look at him expectational.

Of course, he has to shift now. So, the doctor could look at the damage and fix it if possible. The word ´if´ isn't helping his case but he would try. Not because he wants to shift and fly around or whatever everyone else does with their animal form, the only reason would be to get rid of the pain. Neal get´s up, looks one last time at Peter before he searches for the feather inside of him and takes it.

The pain is blinding like the last time. The doctor seems to try not to hurt him but even breathing hurts. Neal is lifted onto the table and the doctor checks his wings. The dislocation is fixed after taking in his consent. It hurt and the screaming call of his animal form is heard on the outside of the door. After that he is getting an x-ray to see what bone have to be said. They decided that it would be better for Neal to be sedated for it and Neal was thankful for the blessing darkness.

As Neal wakes up, he finds himself wrapped up and in less pain. Peter is waiting next to him, he must have made a sound because Peter looks at him, smiling softly. "They fixed you up, moved all the bones into the correct place." Neal looks down on his body. His wings are pinned to his body, they look a bit ruffed up but strangely right in their position. "Like the doctor told you, you will have to stay in your animal form for the next three weeks. After this the bones should be healed up and you can turn back to let your arm heal." Neal nods. What else can he do. Speaking is not in his ability catalogue right now. "We can go home now, the doctor just wanted you to wake up."

After a last check up they leave. Neal in a basket, seated on a cushion and Peter carrying him. The FBI had heard about this and Hughes had told them to do it as soon as possible. Neal would rest at the Burkes house for the time his bones are healing (human and animal) and he would go to the office with Peter as a falcon so no one could say Neal is in any danger to get away.

The first day was strange, every one looked at him but at the end of the three weeks as Neal started to feel much better, he started to sit on Peter´s shoulder just to annoy him. With every day Neal became more comfortable in his animal form. There was still pain in the beginning, but he learned that being like that doesn't mean someone would hurt him.

Ther was an incident as one of the FBI agents form another department made a cruel joke about him being a flight risk and someone should cut his flight feathers to make sure the criminal wouldn't run. To everyone's surprise Peter stayed were calm. He took Neal from his shoulder and placed him very carefully into Diana´s hand. Peter is always careful with him and Diana holds on to the falcon in surprise. But she saw Peter´s eyes and takes Neal far away from what will be happening in a second. Under her hand she feels the fast heartbeat of the bird. Neal is afraid that someone would take this comment seriously. The punch Peter got on the other agent broke not only the nose but also gave the man a very black, swollen-shut-eye. Hughes who became a witness to it didn't seem to mind as he heard the full story and put in a complaint against the agent.

A silent Peter, is a dangerous one.

The day before Neal and Peter would go back to the doctor Hughes gave Neal a new anklet. One for his animal form. It fits him perfectly and surprisingly Neal doesn't mind. It is more of a sign that he is accepted. He is wearing two now and that's ok. At the doctor's office the wrappings that hold his wings in position got taken off and after the check up Neal turns back into his human form.

Now Neal had to get his human bones to heal. Another four to five weeks of desk duty, only difference is now that he has to work. He had to do muscle training for his wings, and he might be able to fly again. Later in the car Neal told Peter that he never flew. Not once in his life.

"And you think that's a good idea?" Neal looks at Peter expecting something more than a shrugging of his shoulders. "Fine, but if Satchmo things he is getting bird for dinner, I´m out of here." Neal huffs and walks out of the back door into the back yard. El and Peter follow him. Satchmo stays inside. Looking sorry for himself locked behind the door and trying to get out with his big brown puppy eyes. "So, how are we doing it?" Neal asks.

"I thought we start with you moving your wings and El and I throw you. We will catch you, but your wings get a feeling for being in the air. I mean we can´t just push you from a tree or whatever mother birds do to their children." Peter gets in position at one end of the yard.

"Don't worry sweetheart, we will catch you and he will be very careful." El looks certain that this will work.

"Ok but Peter come closer, I want to start with a shorter distance." Peter nods and now he and El are five meters apart. Neal looks at them and shifts. He got better at it. He still has to search for the feather but it doesn't hurt anymore. Neal opens his wings and flaps them twice before he looks up at El. She knees down and lifts him up under his open wings. They all have become very comfortable with him as a falcon for three weeks. El faces Peter and throws Neal into the air.

Neal opens his wings fully and tries to fly. He feels the wind under the feathers and how his wings try to hold on to it, but Neal isn't strong enough. Before he can even get close to the ground Peter catches him securely in his arms.

"Not bad for the first time. Again." Neal would like to roll his eyes at the agent but in his animal form it has not the effect he wishes for. Despite having the feeling of being bad at it. He tries again. And again. And again.

Peter stands next to Neal on the roof of the FBI building. "Are you sure?" He asks and looks at Neal. They are alone up here. "If you fall, the way down will be a long one."

"We should have done this days ago. I am more a hands-on guy." Neal shifts and Peter steps closer lifting the falcon up. Two months, it had been two months since Neal shared his secret and just over a month since he tries to build up his strength to fly. Now his reckless CI wants to jump/fly down a skyscraper. If Peter had any doubt that he wouldn't just got and look for another building he would lock him in a holding cell. But Peter knows Neal, better being a part of it.

"Ready?" The bird nods and Peter pushes the elegant animal into the air. The wings open automatically and the current that pushes the air up around the tall building takes Neal high up in the air. Peter keeps his eyes fixed on the dark spot on the sky. Wondering what it must be like to fly, to finally be free of the ground. It had hit him weeks ago that the peregrine falcon is the perfect animal for Neal.