It was kinda ridiculous how fast it went from 'I am fine', to: 'I am tired,' during the ride to the doctor's office. Neal had thought it all thru. Spending another day in bed, pulling out the 'kicked puppy' card while Sara will come to him, for taking care of his poor hand. Even if he knew it felt wrong it was still a nice prospect. A smirk escaped from his lips than eyed the frowning agent behind the wheel; Peter looked really worried.

'I am a bad person; I definitely go to hell now,' where Neal's thoughts. 'I am conning a friend.' The smirk and that tingly feeling in his stomach when he thought of Sara taking care of him just disappeared in an instant.

This was Peter…

Uncomfortably he shifted in his seat to straighten himself up.

"You are cold." Peter suddenly said, and broke the silence that was going on for a little while now. The agent obviously talked about his shivering shoulders. Neal didn't even know he was shivering until now. He didn't feel it either. All he felt was guilt. Peter was really, for real, worried about him.

He didn't have the chance to say anything back because Peter was already fumbling with the car heater. "You're quiet," Peter also noticed.

"Hm."

Doubt. Not only on his little plan to milk this one out for a longer weekend with feeling guilty but also because… Neal might be suffering a bit more from his little accident, without even know it. This was the moment the little angel and devil would appear on each shoulder and convince him what to do now.

"Neal," that warm voice again. And just like that, the angel won.

Neal flexed his hand and noticed nothing had changed. Hand still felt odd. His eyes darted around.

His concern, that sneaked up on him during lunch, appeared once more. Eyes darted around the inside of the Taurus. Then Neal gave a sigh as he tried to relax his shoulders. Then he noticed they were all cramped up. His injured hand was kind of cold, indeed.

"Guess I am cold," Neal answered in total truth this time. He decided to 'not con' his best friend or any other he liked. Not even himself for a change.

That got him another stare from Peter. It was hard not to smile at him, because Neal felt a bit bad.

"Listen... I wasn't that tired, Peter. Well, I was. But not because of this silly thing." He showed his hand by lifting it up. Now his fingers really trembled. Neal frowned.

It became even worse during this ride. Peter must've noticed this too.

"We are almost there. Then I will give you a ride home." Neal's eyes grew big for a second. But he managed to hide his confusion.

"No, that's not really necessary. The doctor would probably take my blood pressure and tell me to never do it again. I am fine, really." Peter shook his head at that.

"Don't be like that, Caffrey. Who do you think I am? I know that you are capable of faking things. But I saw what you did there. You are worried as well. Besides: you really do look like crap, for a change and I know you can't fake that." Neal bit his lip, a bit overwhelmed by his handler's parental tone. There wasn't even a slightest joke coming out from his own mouth, now. A small nod and a soft: "Okay," was all he could do now.

Right when the car stopped at the doctor's office Neal once looked up at his handler. "I don't have to get a shot, right?" he asked. But then blinked his eyes, visibly swearing at himself, for showing his fear for the doctor's office. Peter just chuckled. Finally his stern and concerned frown disappeared.

"No, Caffrey, I don't think so. Like you said: Blood pressure and a warning."

In the waiting room, Peter tried to hide his grin when Neal's eyes grew bigger every time an assistant came towards the waiting room and call a name. After one half an hour, Neal had settled down and started to read a car magazine when the same assistant walked towards them. "Mr. Caffrey?" Neal blinked up, his pupils blown by this startle but easily got himself under control by seeing the nice dressed woman.

"That's me," he smiled as he got up from his chair to shake her hand. His numb (and also domestic) hand was propped up in his pant pocket. Peter was just at his side when Neal wanted to walk with her into the examination room. "Erm, Peter. I can take it from here, okay. I'll meet you back here. I am sure it is nothing, right?" Neal smiled his greatest smile end Peter was seriously thinking this one through. "What? You don't want me to go up there by myself? Are you afraid I bail out of this? Come on. Read that magazine. I am sure there are some delicious soups in there." Just like that, Peter flopped back in his seat, Neal was a grown-up man after all. He didn't need him in there, Neal deserves some privacy.

After spending a long 30 minutes with the bearded doctor, Neal finally got out of the room with a bandage on his pols and a lollypop in his mouth. Peter was actually getting a bit worried and was about to storm in the room if it took any longer.

Neal looked fine, anyway. That was good. Although a bit paler as before. Neal grinned at him anyway and walked over to him.

"He did the whole blood pressure thing. I am fine. Nothing is wrong. It's just the adrenalin pumping through my veins. The tremors will pass eventually. And I got a sucker. Grape flavor, Peter. Makes my tongue go blue." Peter just didn't know what to say when Neal showed him his blue tongue.

"What are you, like five?" Peter asked annoyed. Neal smiled again, than swayed. "Wow, Easy there. What the hell happened there? I saw a nurse running into your room? I almost convinced myself you threw up or something." Neal's smile faded a bit. His cheeks flushed instead.

"Oh, I didn't. They only punctured me with a needle to get some blood. Then fainted. But everything is fine now. All I need to do is to go home, take it easy and wait for the blood results." Peter had let go of his partner's arm when the young man started to walk towards the exit. He was fine now. Now Peter was smiling again. Only, you Neal. Only you can act like that and get a sucker after.

When Neal got home safely Peter couldn't just leave him without asking if needed something. Neal just shrugged and pointed at his bathroom.

"I don't know. Maybe a new light bulb? Come on Peter, don't be like this. I am just going to work on a few files you gave me and drink a lot of apple juice, like the nurse said. I will be fine in a few hours. Then I grab a cap and join you back in the office." Peter gave him a stern look, opened his mouth while pointing a finger on him, but didn't get any chance to say something back because Neal's phone buzzed.

"Oh, hold that thought," Neal said when he saw the ID on the screen.

Peter gave a sigh…

"Sara…. How is your Latte? Sounds… creamy. Well… Not exactly... Oh hold on a sec," Neal put his hand on the phone while glaring at his handler. This time he shot him a stern look. "Do you mind?" he asked annoyed. Peter was shocked that Neal turned his back on him and walked over to the balcony while he stayed there by himself…

Peter didn't know what to think. First he was pissed, at some point. Then confused… but after giving it another thought while looking up at his partner's happy smile while talking to Sara, he started to chuckle fondly.

He stayed for a little longer. Only to hear Neal brag about his numb pinky. He was well aware of leaving the 'fainting part' out on this version of the story. But a well… It was kind of cute, seeing the young man acting needy to a woman like that. He was in love. For sure.

Good for him, Peter thought to himself. He deserves it.

He got back to the office, called El for a small conversation about dinner plans and that was basically it.

Neal, only little aware of Peter's leaving, stayed on the phone for less than… hmmm… a quarter? Maybe? He had a great start of the week so far.

And he wasn't talking about his weird accident.

…

End!

…

AN: I finished it. Done and over with.. I think? Let me know if you need more...

X

Josie