(Author's Note: Wow, I never expected for so many people to like this story! Thanks for all your reviews so far. I'm glad you are finding it interesting. A lot of you didn't want me to kill Neal, so don't worry, I don't plan to. Although you never know where a story will take you…so stick around. So here's chapter 3. As always, let me know what you think! I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Enjoy!)
"Peter!" The words tumbled from Neal's lips as he himself tumbled down, wind whipping his face. He couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't feel. Couldn't comprehend. All he knew was that he was falling. Falling…But wait, now he was sinking, into blackness and oblivion while pain overtook all of his senses.
As soon as Peter realized there was nothing he could do to stop Neal's plummet downwards, he ran back to the door of the warehouse and dashed down the stairs, taking them two at a time. He willed Neal to somehow be breathing, to be alive, although he knew very well the chances were slim. Since he hadn't jumped though, there was a possibility that he had landed in the lilac bushes, taking some of the impact from his fall. Cursing at nobody in particular for not having installed working elevators, he sprinted down the stairs, taking them two at a time while he pulled out his phone and frantically called the first person who came to his head. "Jones, it's Burke. Neal's injured. I need you to get paramedics to the warehouse on the corner of 15th and 9th. Hurry!" He hung up without waiting for a reply. By this time, Peter had made it out the door and was approaching the unmoving man.
"Neal…oh God Neal, please be alive." Neal lay ominously still. Miraculously however, he had sunk into the bushes, preventing him from being killed on impact if he had landed on the marble merely feet away. Peter couldn't feel too relieved though, because of the state Neal was in. His face was pale, eyes closed. One arm was twisted grotesquely. One leg was bent at a strange angle. His ribs were probably broken or at the very least cracked. Gently, Peter reached out to feel for a pulse. He found one. "Oh thank goodness."
Peter knew he had to get Neal off the lilac bushes, which were beginning to give way. He carefully put an arm under his neck and around his shoulders, and lifted Neal off like he would a child. As gently as possible, Peter laid him on the hard ground, cradling him and rearranging the jacket to shield him from the rain. "Neal, wake up…come on Neal, open your eyes." He was practically begging now, and tears streamed down his face. At long last, he was rewarded by Neal's blue eyes fluttering open. "Neal!"
"Wha…?" Neal looked dazed, which wasn't surprising. Almost immediately, his eyes began to close, and he began to lose consciousness again.
"Neal, you've gotta stay awake, okay? You can't go into shock." He was fearful that if Neal blacked out again, he might never wake up. Something about the urgency in Peter's voice must have kept him from slipping back into darkness. Neal's uninjured hand reached out and grasped Peter's. "Don't…go…"
"It's alright buddy, I'm staying right here. Just stay with me here. The paramedics will be here in a minute and they'll get you fixed up." As if on cue, his cell phone rang. It was Jones.
"Boss, the paramedics should be right there. I'm following behind them. What happened to Neal?" The concern and confusion was obvious in Jones' voice.
"He fell off the roof. He's barely breathing right now." And it's all my fault, Peter thought to himself.
"I'll call your wife and have her meet us at the hospital. They're taking him to Greater New York Hospital."
"Okay. Thanks, Jones." Peter hung up and turned his attention back to Neal.
"Neal, are you still there? Talk to me." At last, he could hear ambulance sirens!
"Right here…hurts…cold…" It was impossible to imagine the pain Neal was in right now.
An ambulance screeched to a halt right next to them. Two medics jumped out, carrying bags of equipment. Another two were unloading a stretcher. A few seconds later, a silver car pulled up, with Jones rushing to the scene.
"Don't worry Neal, the ambulance is here. You're gonna be alright, I promise." There was no time to dwell on the fact that this entire accident was all his damn fault. Instead, he had to release his grip on Neal's hand, moving aside so that the paramedics could get oxygen and an IV in him. Jones, looking very concerned for Neal, walked over to stand next to Peter.
"I already talked to Elizabeth. She'll meet you at the hospital. I have to get back to the office because there's been an important breakthrough in on of our cases, but keep me posted on Neal. Do you want me to drop you off at the hospital? Someone will get your car later."
"No, I have to stay with Neal in the ambulance!" Peter ran over to the ambulance where the paramedics were gently loading Neal into. "Can I ride with him?"
"Of course, you can sit with him in the back."
The hospital ride was a complete blur to Peter. All he knew was that he was holding Neal's hand, constantly reassuring him that everything was okay. Neal's eyes stayed shut the whole time.
As soon as the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Neal was rushed to the operating room for emergency surgery. Peter hadn't realized how serious his injuries were. A nurse kindly led him to the waiting area, where Elizabeth was already waiting. Elizabeth immediately threw her arms around him. "Oh honey…is Neal going to be okay?"
"I don't know El. I really don't know."
"Oh God…" Elizabeth's voice trailed off as the tears came. Peter couldn't stop the tears in his eyes either. Not knowing if the man that was his best friend, who was sometimes his brother, sometimes his son, would be leaving the hospital alive, they collapsed into chairs and waited for news.