A/N: Thank you everyone who has reviewed so far. Everyone's positive comments made me write faster. I love Reviews, they totally make my day and inspire me :) I've also edited this chapter thanks to some advice I received in the reviews. Thank you, the guest for giving me a heads up on what was medically incorrect with the story. Also, many thanks to Fierce queen for pointing out and explaining a few discrepencies with some characters personality.
An extremely worried June Ellington made her to the information desk at the hospital, even worried sick she managed to look graceful as she questioned the receptionist for the whereabouts of her tenant and almost son. She hadn't been at her house for the past few months since her daughter got pregnant and she went to live with her in a quaint little house a few hours outside New York. Neal had assured her that it wasn't a problem and after giving her a loving hug and bestowing a kiss on her cheek, bade her farewell and told her extremely heartily that he hoped she would enjoy herself.
That's why when her housekeeper called her in near hysterics in the morning claiming that "Mr Caffrey was just taken to the hospital, madam!" she had rushed over to see what exactly was wrong. She was directed to the fourth floor, where the ICU was.
With a heavy heart she approached the waiting area, making her way to the few people she knew. There was Diana, looking pale and seeming like she wanted very much to throw up. Then there were Peter and Elizabeth who looked like they had just reached their destination mere minutes ago.
"What happened?" June directed her question towards Peter who seemed like the obvious choice, being Neal's' handler and best friend.
To her shock, he looked embarrassed as he whispered "I'm sorry, but I don't know what happened."
Clinton Jones chose that very moment to make his way to the odd group from what looked like inside the ICU.
"What's going on, Jones? What's wrong with caffrey?" June was rather surprised when Peter addressed Neal with his last name but she forgot all about it when she heard Jones reply.
"He just flat-lined. He was convulsing or something and then his heart stopped beating." Jones said rather numbly as lowered himself on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs hospitals were incomplete without as June let out horrified gasp. What had happened in the month she had been away to make peter refer to Neal by his last name with a coldness she had not expected from him to be ever associated with the younger man. And what exactly was wrong with Neal?
WCWCWCWCWC
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.
Turn around and repeat.
Diana had been pacing in the waiting room for fifteen minutes straight after hearing the horrifying news about Neal. She had been wearing down the carpet in the waiting area, although- she mused- it was really ugly so her pacing making it fade a bit would actually be helping the décor.
She snapped out of her thoughts when she saw a young doctor coming her way.
"Family of Neal Caffrey?" she inquired and they all rose to greet her.
"How is he, doctor?" June asked, slightly breathless. Diana had noticed the close relationship between the landlady and her tenant
"Mr Caffrey is in critical condition. He was admitted to this hospital with an extremely high fever of 105 degrees and severe is dehydrated and malnourished and we have started an IV to help sort out that particular problem. We gave him antibiotics to combat the pneumonia but he went into anaphylactic shock because he is allergic to that particular drug. He flat-lined but we got him back pretty soon so we're expecting no brain damage. Our main concern right now is his fever, its too high and we haven't been able to get it down. It caused him to have a seizure right now and we had to restrain him to prevent him from hurting himself." Dr Ayesha, as her name tag identified her, stated matter of factly but still rather gently.
"Seizures?" Peter inquired, feeling nauseous.
"Yes, when the body's temperature gets too high it can mess up the brains function causing seizures."
"What did you say about brain damage, doctor?" June asked rather timidly.
"When someone's heart stops, the brain's blood supply is often impeded which may resulting brain damage since oxygen will not reach the brain in such a case. Though, that's really unlikely in Mr caffreys case since we managed to revive him pretty quickly." The brunette replied, adjusting the stethoscope around her neck.
"Can we see him?" El asked, a bit hesitantly.
Dr Ayesha smiled in reply "You may. Though one at a time and not for more than a minute each. He needs his rest."
The group nodded and followed the Dr into the Intensive Care Unit. Diana trailed behind them, she was the one who had found Neal in the morning after all and the memory of his face still haunted her.
Diana swallowed the lump in her throat as she saw the reactions of the Burkes and June, when they saw Neal for the first time. El clutched onto her husband's arm, tears falling down her face. Peter visibly paled and swallowed convulsively. June swayed till Diana reached out and put an arm around the older woman's shoulders.
Peter went in first, they all knew he was Neal's best friend so they let him go first without question. Though he just stood and stared at the con-mans still form for a few seconds before hurrying out.
El went in next, whispering comforting words to the pale form while holding his hand.
Neither Diana nor Jones went in, they had already seen Neal and they were too embarrassed by their actions from the past two weeks.
June went in and held neals hand, talking soflty to him. When the doctor motioned for her to leave, she stroked his hair and gently kissed his burning forehead whispering "come back to me, darling."
But Neal Caffery was deaf to the world as he lay quiet and unmoving, his pallor matching the white sheets he lay upon.
A/N: okay, so I made June's daughter pregnant because I thought that there was no way Neal could have fallen sick if June had been around to take care of him. Did this chapter meet your expectations or was it a disappointment. Please let me know. Reviews are welcome.