Note: Neal does use the F bomb quite loudly in this chapter. I do try to avoid swearing in my stories but if I feel the need for them is justified I will. Neal will try to use swear words later in the story only for Peter to reprimand him for doing so.

Thank you for all the reviews, favorites and followers. It really means a lot that you guys keep reading it. Thank you again!

I feel like Neal has done nothing but sleep in this story and Peter is a little ADD. I also really hate how much of a douchebag Hughes is in this story so far. He is one of my favorite characters on the show so I don't know why I am writing him this way.

Sorry about the late/short chapter. When I went to post it on Wednesday (I think it was, or was it Tuesday?) was having some problems. Of course when that went away my laptop, the only computer with the chapters on it decided to act up and not work. Thankfully it was just a virus that we could isolate it. It just took a few days.

Did you ever notice that we, typically, say "the hospital" instead of "a hospital"?

Enjoy

-.-

Chapter 3

-.-

Peter stirred. He had fallen asleep on the sofa. It was a nice sofa, overstuffed, and very comfortable.

Crap, Caffrey!

Opening his eyes, Peter figured he would be alone but the radiating heat at his side, and the dark mop of hair on his shoulder told him otherwise.

At some point during Peter's nap the kid had curled up next to him. His head was on Peter's shoulder, the blanket held tight and tucked up to his ears. Sweat beaded on his brow and soaked his hair.

"Caffrey?" Peter said nudging the boy with his arm.

All he got in response was moan as the boy nuzzled his face between Peter's shoulder and the sofa.

"Neal!"

"I'm cold." The boy mumbled.

"You don't feel cold." Peter said, reaching for the thermometer. "Neal I'm going to take your temperature again, okay?"

"Mrmmm." The boy's mumble was cut off as he coughed into Peter's shoulder.

Peter cringed, not appreciating being coughed on. He slowly, and cautiously, took the boy's temperature. A little worried at how easily Caffrey was accepting of it. A complete 180 from earlier.

At the beeping of the thermometer, Peter looked at the reading and swore. 103.2 was not good.

"Peter?" Hughes' voice called out as he let himself into the safe house.

Hearing his boss' voice, Peter was able to break through some of his worry clenching at his heart. "In here Hughes." Peter used the now dry washcloth to dry the boy's brow. "Please tell me he can go to the hospital now? Because I'm going to take the kid to one regardless."

Hughes walked into the living room at just the right time to witness Caffrey nestle even closer to Peter, at this point he was practically in Peter's lap. "He sure has you wrapped around his finger."

Peter glared at his boss. He was wrapped around nobody's finger…. Except maybe El's. Ah, hell. Who am I kidding? I am definitely wrapped around El's finger.

"Are you sure it's actually him?" Hughes's asked sitting down on the other side of Caffrey and bringing Peter back to the present.

"Yeah, he knew about the cards." Peter said wiping the washcloth down the boy's sweaty neck.

Hughes nodded. "And you're sure this isn't some kind of plan to get out the Ruticker case?"

Peter was about to answer when Neal spoke, angrily. "Right here you know? I can actually hear you."

Hughes smirked. "You've got a track record of getting away with lies. You'll have to forgive me for being cautious."

The boy growled before lunging at Hughes. Peter was barely quick enough to grab the boy who still fought against him. "I can assure you, sir, that I did not willing stay in a room in complete darkness, for who bloody knows how fucking long! For whoever knows how long, because I had no way of telling time, all I had to eat was white fucking bread and peanut butter! You fu-"

Peter clamped a hand over the boy's mouth as he was finally able to pull the boy to his chest. "Was that really necessary?" He said glaring at his boss once again.

"We still don't have any proof."

"Mrrmph!" The boy yelled from beneath Peter's hand as he fought to get out of Peter's arms again.

"Regardless, the kid is actually sick and needs a doctor." Peter said getting up, dragging the coughing kid with him. "Wha ever happened to innocent before proven guilty?

Peter could tell Hughes was about to say something before Peter felt something wet and gooey on his hand making him let go of the boy.

Immediately the boy's knees buckled and he fall back down on the sofa short of breath.

Grabbing the washcloth to wipe the green phlegm off his hand, Peter asked. "You alright Neal?"

"Dizzy." The boy answered, weakly, as he tried to steady his breathing.

Worry grabbed Peter's heart and gave it a tight squeeze once again as he picked the boy up, still wrapped in the blanket.

"I'll drive." Hughes said moving to open the front door.

A little taken back, as the offer seemed entirely different from his boss's earlier behavior, Peter nodded.

As Peter passed him in the doorway Hughes talked again. "And your right Peter, I'm sorry."