Thanks again, you're reviews are much appreciated! It's so much fun to write and I have to admit that I have it in mind all the time while doing my everyday stuff. It's only located in the hospital today, but I promise that Neal will get to know Elizabeth very soon. Neal is not himself during this scene, but as you may expect that will change soon. Please enjoy! :)


When they walked through the main entrance of the hospital side by side, Peter could see the people around them staring at the handcuffs the boy was wearing. Neal obviously recognized the glances, too, and looked down ashamed. It didn't feel right to trust Neal, not after all that happened. But he felt very sorry for the kid.

Peter hesitated for a moment and then took off his jacket and placed it between Neal's wrist. The boy smiled a little. "Aww, Peter. I don't want to be associated with this brown fashion sin. I guess Elizabeth had nothing to do with your choice, am I right? She's got a fine taste." he chuckled and then added softly: "But thank you anyway, it's much appreciated."

Peter rolled his eyes in feigned annoyance but felt very satisfied inside. Why on earth was the well-being of this young criminal so important to him? "You're welcome, Neal. And believe it or not, I'm old enough to choose my clothes myself. And tell me, how do you know of my wife's taste?"

Neal looked down again, embarrassed now. "I… I don't. Just suspected it.", he mumbled.

Peter didn't believe him, not for a second, but when the boy started coughing again, he remembered why they were here and made a mental note to come back to this subject later. He went to the registration and signed him in. After that they had to wait in a crowded room full of sick and hurt people. The boy was certainly not a priority here. They sat side by side and Peter gave Neal a worried sidelong glance from time to time. Neal couldn't hide his exhaustion now and looked terribly pale. He hung his head, but nevertheless Peter could see some fine sweat beads on the boy's forehead.

"Hold on, buddy. You'll feel better soon, they'll help you here.", he said to comfort him a little, but clearly couldn't ease the boy's misery and Neal didn't react at all. He just stared at his hands. Peter watched him with concerns and waited nervously for their turn to come.

After half an hour the boy closed his eyes and before Peter could react, he passed out on the floor. Peter called for the nurse and knelt down to lift Neal up. The young con struggled in his arms.

"No…don't… touch me! Leave…me alone. Please!", he moaned and tried to kick Peter as hard as he could in his condition.

"It's all right, kid, everything will be fine. I'm just trying to help you." Neal managed to wriggle out of the agent's grasp, his eyes widened and he fighted to stay consciousness.

"No… I'm able to walk. Just… please don't touch me.", he looked at Peter, horrified and feverish.

Peter raised his hands. "Calm down, buddy. I won't touch you anymore, I promise. Everything is all right!", he said soothingly.

He could see the boy's hands trembling again and his eyes were flickering now. The nurse came and they both followed her to an examination room. Peter could see the boy's knees shaking but he refused any help.

A young female doctor with black hair in a strict braid and a brown nickel glasses entered the room. "Hello Neal, I'm Dr. Sheppard. I'll take good care of you, don't worry. Who are you, please?", She threw a glance in Peter's direction.

"I'm Special Agent Peter Burke, Mr. Caffrey is in my custody at the moment." She looked at him, completely undismayed and put Peter's jacket away.

"All right. So, take off his handcuffs, please." Peter hesitated and her gaze became a little annoyed.

"You won't hurt me, will you?", she asked Neal gently. He shook his head, clearly ashamed by the question.

"Good, I didn't expect either. So, take them off, now. They're in my way!", she ordered in Peter's direction. Peter went forward reluctantly and removed the cuffs.

"Thanks.", she said. "Now please take off your shirt, Neal." The boy looked up, horrified again, shook his head and put his arms protectively around his chest.

"No, I can't!", he brought out, tried to back away from them and started coughing again, clearly upset.

"It's all right, Neal. I just want to have a look at your chest. I can hear your breath rattling and I suppose you're not feeling very well." She sat down on the examination table and tabbed on the free space next to her. "We'll start with something easy." She pulled an ear thermometer out of her smock and held it up.

Neal hesitated and looked at Peter for a moment than reluctantly sat down beside her and let her measure his temperature. She looked at the display.

"Pretty high. It's a wonder you could walk upright with that temperature, Neal." She looked at him sympathetically. "So, would you please take off your shirt now? I'll be as gentle as possible and will explain everything I do. You can trust me!". Neal shook his head in horror and threw Peter another glance. Dr. Sheppard followed his gaze and stood up.

"Agent Burke, may I ask you to wait outside? We won't be long.", she opened the door and looked expectantly at Peter.

The agent refused to go. "I'm sorry, but I won't leave him alone, not without any supervision.", he said sternly.

She contracted her eyebrows. "He's under MY supervision and I can handle a sick, weak and poorly thin boy, I assure you. He deserves some privacy."

Peter felt puzzled and looked at Neal. "You won't do anything stupid, will you?", he asked him.

"No, I promise.", the kid replied softly without looking up. Peter sighed.

"All right, I'll wait right in front of the room.", he said and left the room.


Peter sat down and waited for over 30 Minutes, when finally the door opened and the doctor left the examination room without Neal. She sat down next to him with a serious expression. Peter jumped up, ready to enter the room again.

"Don't worry, Special Agent, I gave him a sedative and he will soon be asleep. He won't go anywhere.", she said in a tired voice. "Agent Burke, your young villain is in a very poor condition. His whole body is covered with bruises in all shades of blue, purple and yellow and he has some nasty scars spread all over his body, too. Some of them are old, but some of them were done to him recently. I furthermore discovered a few traces which I identified as typical cigarette scars. On top of that, I'm pretty sure that some of his rips are broken and I suppose he had several other broken bones which stayed untreated in the past. We need further examinations to be certain. I'm pretty sure that he also suffers from pneumonia right now, I'll run a blood test and some x rays to prove all that. And he's far too skinny and looks malnourished. Agent Burke, Neal is a young man who has been badly abused, over many years. He let me barely touch him and was very upset in the end. I had to give him something to calm him down."

Peter looked at her, not able to answer. He knew that the boy wasn't in a good condition, but he never expected anything so severe. "But he… he will recover, won't he?", he asked, still terrified after all he had heard. "

His body will recover, yes. But his inner wounds, the ones on his soul, are very deep. It will take time, Agent Burke. And I'm not sure whether this part of him will ever recover completely. He must have suffered hell!"


Neal woke up in a white, clean and very bright room. He looked around in confusion and discovered an infusion running in his left hand. He looked to the other side and saw Peter sitting in a chair right beside him, asleep. He slowly started to realize what has happened and suddenly sat up, recognizing the handcuffs around his right wrist, attached to the bed rail and panicked. He looked around, bewildered, searching after a way to escape.

Peter woke and hurried to his bedside. "It's all right, Neal. You're save here. Just lay down, please!", he said, raising his hands again to soothe him but didn't touch him.

Neal concentrated to calm down and slowly lay back in bed, feeling very dizzy now. He felt embarrassed and childlike in his situation. How could he lose his nerves like that? He took a few deep breathes and threw Peter a sideway glance.

He knew. Neal could see that he knew what he had to show this stupid doctor. And he didn't like the pity in Peter's eyes. He didn't want to be pitied.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Peter, I didn't want to kick you. I didn't know what I was doing.", he said, as steady as possible. He couldn't look in the agent's eyes while talking.

"It's ok. Neal, I…", he began, but was interrupted by the boy.

"No, Peter. I don't want to talk about it. Just forget it, ok? I'm just an ordinary criminal that has to be punished, nothing more. Please treat me like that. Please!", he begged, his voice sounding desperately and he hated that.

Peter lowered his gaze. "I don't think I can, kid." He paused, deep in thoughts. "Neal, I'll leave now, but I'll be back in the morning. I'm sorry for that," he pointed to the cuffs, "But I have to. Additionally, there's a guard in front of your room the whole night. It's for your own safety, Neal."

He got no response. Neal closed his eyes, close to tears now. Peter stood up, unsure of what to do or to say. He walked slowly towards the door but turned halfway around.

"Neal, please listen to me. I know you're afraid and I know you went through a lot. But you can trust me. I'll help you I promise! But it won't work if you're not willing to talk." Still no response. "Take your time, kid. And think about my word, will you?" Nothing. Peter sighed and finally left the room. Neal couldn't stop his tears from falling now he was alone.