(Author's Note: I'm sooo sorry I took forever to update! I've been super busy, but I finally finished this chapter. I'm not sure if I should end it here or not, so please let me know in your awesome reviews (which I'm really glad you write)! So without further ado…chapter 7!)

Neal was confused. He drifted in and out of a strange sleep for days. Sometimes, when he looked over to his side, he saw Kate sitting next to him. Neal tried to reach out to touch her, to know that she was there, Kate vanished. What? He wanted to speak, to ask someone what was going on, but he couldn't. Actually, there wasn't much he could do. Neal felt like his body was being weighed down by an invisible force, preventing him from opening his eyes, or moving around.

Neal couldn't really understand what was going on around him. One time, he felt himself coughing violently, while there was a horrible pain in his throat. He felt like he was choking, but then fell unconscious again. All the while he thought of Kate. His beautiful Kate…tears fell soundlessly down his face, and Neal felt a gentle hand brush them away.

"Mr. Caffrey is making slow but steady progress. He has been doing well since we took out the ventilator." Standing outside the hospital room, Dr. Bradley sounded pleased with how Neal's recovery was going.

"When do you think he'll be able to come home?" Elizabeth Burke asked, looking more relieved than she had in 3 weeks.

"Right now, I think we can release him in a week or so, depending on if he regains some more of his strength. He will be on crutches for a while though, and he'll need to come in for physical therapy once a week."

"Okay, thank you Doctor." The two Burkes said goodbye to Dr. Bradley as he went to another patient's room, then entered Neal's room, taking up their usual place on either side of him .

Neal certainly did look better. His face, although still marked with a few cuts and bruises, looked a little less pale than before. He was even awake, although his eyes still looked dazed from the medications, and of course, the loss of Kate.

After the nurses had removed the ventilator, he had been able to speak a few sentences, but was just too weak to do anything more. Now, a few days later, he smiled at them and said, "Hi guys."

"Hey Neal, how are you feeling kid?" After learning that Neal was improving a lot and could be released soon, Peter sounded very enthusiastic.

"Little better…still really tired." Although Neal's eyes were open and comprehending, he still sounded completely exhausted.

"Well I've got some good news for you. You're getting out of here in a week!"

Neal seemed to perk up a little, looking more awake. "Really? Good timing…miss June's Italian roast."

Peter and Elizabeth exchanged glances, neither one wanting to break it to Neal that they and June had decided it would be best if Neal recovered at the Burkes', where there were two people who would be able to lift him if there was an emergency.

Luckily, neither of them had to explain this to the younger man lying on the bed, as he had already drifted to sleep murmuring, "Miss you…Kate…"

Elizabeth looked worriedly at Peter. "Peter, how are we going to get him over Kate? Especially with his medications…" Her voice trailed off.

"I don't know, El. But we'll get him through it."

They both sat in silence then, until June had come to stay with Neal, making sure Peter and Elizabeth went home to get some rest.

Now, a week had passed and Neal was set to leave the hospital soon. While Peter and Elizabeth discussed a few things with the nurses, June sat with Neal in case he woke up.

"June?" Neal feebly tried to lift his head up to see the older woman sitting by his side.

"Hi, Neal dear. Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah…still kinda dizzy. Can't wait to go home, miss the coffee." Neal smiled weakly.

"Actually sweetie, we're going to take you to Peter's house so you can get better there, okay?"

"But…"

"I'm sorry Neal, but if anything happens to you, Peter and El can help you. Plus, you won't be by yourself." June spoke kindly, but firmly, knowing that Neal would probably try to charm her into changing her mind. This time however, he complied.

"Oh, alright." Neal seemed too tired to try to arguing. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, because Peter, Elizabeth, and Dr. Bradley walked in, with the doctor rolling a wheelchair.

"Hey buddy, you ready to go home?" Peter had a smile on his face.

For a moment, Neal thought about the scene before him. There were three people in front of him, who all cared about him and wanted him to recover. He was going to go to a house with two people who would help Neal if he needed it, and would protect him.

Slowly (and rather painfully) trying to sit up, and aided by El and June, he smiled back and softly said, "Yeah."

(Author's Note (again): So…should I end it here? Let me know what you think!)