Trust 9

First draft.
Tell me what you think.
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Peter woke up in the backseat of a moving vehicle. He was slumped back against the seat, strapped in with a blanket over him. He turned his eyes to look around and saw two other figures in the backseat, both currently sleeping. He saw Neal Caffrey leaning against the opposite door, blanket over him as he slumped there under the seat-belt, while Lara Evans leaned against him hugging the young man's arm. Peter smiled at the scene thinking about Elizabeth and missing her.

He felt the vehicle bounce over a pot hole and suddenly a wave of nausea washed over him. Peter glanced up at the driver and realized for the first time it was Jones. He saw the agent glance back at him in the rear view mirror and pull the car over knowingly. Peter opened the door, pushing the blanket aside and fighting with the seat-belt till someone released it for him. It was Lara. He blinked at her briefly before exiting the vehicle and throwing up. Jones walked around and was helping hold the man up till he was finished and then lead him back to the car. Peter slumped back against the seat and pulled the blanket around himself as he shivered a bit. His head was swimming but his stomach at least was feeling better now. Peter felt eyes on him and turned to see Lara looking at him. Jones had started the car back up and they were on their way.

"Feeling better?" She said softly, stretching a bit as she moved away from Neal and tucked the blanket around the young man a bit tighter. Peter nodded, wiping at his mouth with his sleeve. He took a thankful sip of water from a bottle Jone's handed him.

"A bit. How is he?" Peter peered over at his friend with a fatherly look of concern. Lara smiled.

"Tired." Peter nodded, pulling the seat-belt around him again as he adjusted the blanket.

"I know that feeling. Can I ask what happened?" Her expression darkened a moment as she realized what he meant but she nodded, hands in her lap as she wrung them a bit.

"We were taken to a van. We heard sirens following and then the van stopped. The man had us all leave but you. You were still unconscious." She paused there looking wide-eyed from something that scared her. She licked at her lips nervous then continued.

"He... the man wanted to shoot you. Neal... stood in front and refused to move. I thought... but then he had us leave you in the van and made us walk." Lara paused again, turning to look at Neal with a curious expression.

"I know about his past... that Neal was in prison." Her voice was soft without a hint of expression. Peter blinked at the sudden change of topic but nodded at her, his cheeks flushing a bit.

"He was but he's not your typical criminal. Neal's been my partner for the past year and a good friend despite the circumstances." He sat up a bit more then leaned back again. His head was throbbing.

"So, you're an FBI agent? The man kept calling you "Agent" Burke." Peter nodded at her query, smiling as best he could.

"Miss Evans, I don't think Neal meant to lie to you, although he's very good at leaving things out... I'm sorry you had to get involved with all of this." He took her hand in his and looked directly at her. Lara nodded back with a smile.

"I understand and I don't blame anyone. I've seen some tense situations before with my brother... when David was an EMT. He took me on a few trips so I've seen my share of scary stuff." Peter nodded and they both turned as Jones spoke up suddenly.

"You were the one who helped Parker and Luis then?" Lara turned and nodded. Jones smiled at her through the rear-view mirror.

"They wanted to send you their thanks, especially Claire." She nodded smiling.

"Glad I could help considering what I did..." Her face turned pale but Jones shook his head.

"Luis told us what you said to him. Atleast that man is in jail now." Lara nodded turning to Peter again, his face curious.

"I'm probably going to have to make a statement anyway..." She sounded rather despondent but kept talking, looking back at Neal before she did.

"The man told me if I didn't give the agents at my house some "coffee" he made, he would shoot them. Then all of this happened and Neal... He was so angry." She looked directly at Peter, eyes pleading for something to be understood.

"I don't think he would have done it but the man just kept pushing!" She turned back and looked at Neal with an uncertain look.

"Jones?" Peter looked at his colleague for answers when his subordinate seemed a bit nervous about the situation. Finally Jones looked into the rear-view mirror and spoke.

"Neal drew a gun on the man. The clip and chamber were empty." Peter sat up straighter looking at the con sleeping in the corner, a concerned expression on his face.

"I've never seen him draw a gun... except that one time at Avery's for skeets. I'm guessing it was pretty intense?" Peter saw Jones with a serious glance nod from the front. If Neal had drawn a gun empty or not... He wondered what really happened. Lara took his arm and stared at him with that pleading look again.

"Neal told me he didn't like guns. He took the clip from me and emptied the chamber before we left the van. I had the empty gun in my jacket. It was all so sudden when he took the gun from me and..." Peter held up a hand shaking his head with a slight frown.

"It's ok. It was a stressful situation considering what he'd been through and Neal was protecting you. I know the feeling. It's not something you forget." Lara nodded with a wide-eyed expression, leaning back on the seat and glancing back at Neal. He hadn't moved the entire time they were in the vehicle, his face still somewhat pale, face relaxed. Neal looked so much like a little boy as he slept there. Peter sighed.

"I think we can agree to discuss this later and enjoy the ride back to town." Lara nodded as did Jones as they continued their drive back to the city.

(Awakening)

Jones stopped by the ER to have Peter and Neal checked out. Peter got a clean bill of health but Neal was a little dehydrated which was a concern for the doctors who wanted to keep him overnight. Peter stayed in the room with him and Lara opted to stick around for the night till she could get her truck and go home.

Neal woke up to the sound of someone whispering softly in his ear.

"Wake up sleepy head." He opened his eyes and looked around the room and saw he was back at the hospital again. He noticed someone on the couch to his right and saw it was Peter sprawled across the cushions, mouth partially agape, a soft snore escaping his lips. Someone had covered the agent with a gray flannel blanket and pushed a pillow under his head. A chair in the corner held another sleeping figure: Lara Evans. Neal made to sit up but saw Kate standing beside him all of a sudden. She pushed him back gently.

"Not yet. You're still weak. Rest." He nodded reluctantly looking at her and smiling. Kate stared back with a blush.

"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" Neal shook his head with a grin.

"I... I'm glad you're here." She blushed again and smiled.

"I told you I'd be here. Now, rest." Neal felt his eyes closing, his body warm and relaxed. She brushed his hair gently as he fell back to sleep. It seemed like only a few minutes passed and he woke up again. Kate was gone but Peter remained asleep on the sofa. Lara was missing from the chair but the sound of water running from nearby let him know someone was in the bathroom. The door opened after a moment and Lara stepped out. She gave a little stretch and yawn before noticing Neal was awake. She blinked then smiled softly and walked over.

"Hi..." Lara said as she pulled a chair up and sat down by the bed. Neal nodded his expression guarded as he remembered what happened.

"They said you could go home today." Neal nodded again noticing he was still wearing the clothes the man had given him. He thought about what he'd done and everything that had occurred to cause it. He felt a hand on his arm and saw her smiling at him.

"The past week has definitely been the most interesting since I moved here." She gave a little chuckle.

"David would have said I was telling tales if he heard what had happened to me." Neal smiled and held her hand.

"Kate used to like hearing my stories about things I did." Lara smiled at him and nodded.

"I'm sure your exploits on Wall Street were spectacular." Neal blinked at her then saw the grin on her lips and a wink. He blushed.

"Yeah... Uhm about Wall Street..." She held up her hand and shook her head.

"It doesn't matter. From watching Agent Burke, I know he trusts you and the concern you show for others, that's all I need to know." Neal smiled and turned as he heard a quiet groan from the couch. Peter was waking up. Lara peeked over the bed at the agent.

"I'm going to find some coffee. Want anything?" Neal shook his head as she stood and left the room. Peter sat up, rubbing at his eyes sleepily as he pushed his feet to the floor. Neal locked eyes with his friend as the agent looked up at him.

"Hey... You look better." Neal nodded.

"You too." Silence hung in the air around them. Peter pushed himself up to his feet stiffly and limped over to the bedside. He seemed concerned about something but sat down in the chair and smiled.

"El said she'd come back to pick us up when they released you. We got the Taurus back. It was parked in a field not too far from Lara's farm house." Neal nodded feeling the chitchat was keeping them from talking about other stuff. Maybe that was a good thing.

"Good. I never got to thank El for those sandwiches." Peter nodded rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Neal, thanks." His voice was to the point with no chiding in it. Neal nodded dumbly.

"Sure... uhm... what are you thanking me for?" He looked confused a moment but Peter just smiled.

"Just cause. Where's Lara?" He glanced around the room. Neal pointed at the door.

"Coffee." Peter nodded, stifling a yawn as he leaned back in the chair. He looked less tired Neal thought.

"So..." The agent stopped and stood, walking around the small room before coming back and standing beside the bed.

"Yeah..." Neal followed with his own monosyllable, both men looking uncomfortable. Peter snapped his fingers.

"June called. She was worried about you when El called her that first night after they found me. She's got your room waiting for you." Neal nodded again, hands clasped across his chest.

"Peter... " Neal's voice sounded tiny, quiet all of a sudden. He saw the agent turn and look at him.

"I... You know I hate guns." Neal didn't say much else and apparently that's all he had to say as Peter squeezed his arm.

"I know. If you want to talk about it..." He left the comment open and Neal shook his head.

"Maybe later." Peter patted the young man on the head in a fatherly manner, smiling and sitting back down.

"I'm still on leave for another month till they evaluate everything and see if I'm ready to go back. Have to visit with the Bureau shrink." Peter made a face and crossed his arms over his chest. Neal sighed.

"Need someone to sit in with you as a friend?" Peter blinked.

"It's a trick right? Find out if I cry or something? No I will not get all girlie with my feelings infront of you Neal." Neal held up a hand, expression mock seriousness.

"Fine... I was just trying to show you a little sympathy in your time of need. Give you a shoulder to cry on if you need one." Peter grumbled at the young man something about "jail" then shook his head.

"I do not need a shoulder to..." He paused as the door opened and Lara and El walked in. Peter stood up and walked over to his wife and hugged her. She smiled back and gave him a little kiss.

"Someone's feeling better. How are you Neal?" Neal nodded sitting up a bit more as they walked in. El hurried over and helped him, fluffing the pillows up behind him. Peter grumbled a bit although he wasn't very serious about it.

"You're babying him, El. He's an adult. Neal can fluff his own pillows." She turned and glared at him slightly. Lara just watched the scene and seemed to be trying to hold back a laugh.

"You sure you're not related? You could be brothers." Neal and Peter looked between themselves and shook their heads simultaneously.

"Related? I'd gnaw my foot off first." Peter said with a smirk but not after El gave him a playful swat on the back of the head. Neal laughed, ducking as Peter made to muss his hair again.

"Lara, no they aren't related. They just act like two year olds when they're together." El rolled her eyes sarcastically mouthing: "You know they really like each other." Peter and Neal noticed what she said and simultaneously blurted out:

"No, I don't...Hey... stop it..." Lara just chuckled, leaning back on the wall to stay up.

"Seriously, Peter... sit down already and Neal, stop encouraging him." Both men nodded with straight faces but not before Neal had stuck out his tongue at Peter and Peter had made a kind of "zoom to the moon" sort of gesture.

"Now, the doctor said you can go home Neal once they come check on you in a few minutes." Neal smiled and looked about as happy as he could.

"I can't wait. Get back to June's, visit the park..." Peter coughed.

"Don't forget about your little accessory. I'll be by to drop it off for you soon." Neal frowned with a mumble.

"Kill joy"

(The End)