Ten minutes later.
Neal had been injected with the first syringe and his muscle spasms had gotten more intense. It didn't contain the antidote.
Twenty minutes later.
Neal had been injected with the second syringe. He was in agonizing pain and had vomited three times. It didn't contain the antidote.
Thirty Minutes Later.
Neal had been injected with the third syringe. His pain was unbearable and he shook uncontrollably. It was not the antidote, either.
Peter raised a hand as Diana reached for the fourth. "No. Wait. Just… wait." Peter told her. She nodded and went to check on Jones, not wanting to see Neal in so much pain.
Neal's head was buried in Peter's stomach as far as the agent's ribs would allow. Although it was very uncomfortable for the older man, Peter couldn't bring himself to move.
Neal's right arm was curled around his own torso, but his left hand held the material of Peter's shirt in such a tight grip that Peter was sure he had heard the bones in Neal's hand give a small pop. He could vaguely see the side of Neal's face as he looked down at the younger man but could tell the conman had his eyes screwed shut and his jaw clenched tight. Tears rolled down Neal's cheeks, wetting Peter's shirt, and his breathing was labored. But the sound that escaped Neal's lips unnerved Peter and broke his heart. For the first time since the plane exploded, he heard Neal Caffrey whimper. Only this time it wasn't from emotional pain but physical pain. Pain that Peter agreed to put him through. The thought made him sick.
Neal wasn't this bad off before the injections. If I had just said no and found another way…. Peter let guilt twist his stomach and sting at his eyes. He was just about to get caught up in his guilt but a small, shaky voice stopped him.
"P`tr?" Neal said so quietly Peter had to strain to hear him.
"Yeah, Buddy?" Peter asked gently.
Neal shuddered and twisted his head against Peter's stomach before replying.
"Pl-please…..please m-make it stop."
Peter let his head fall back against the wall devastated. Never in his life had he felt so helpless. Here was his best friend, his little brother for crying out loud, begging him to make the pain stop, something he couldn't do. Peter was drowning in guilt when Neal spoke again.
"P`ter?" Neal asked. Peter lifted his head to look down at Neal and was surprised to find glazed blue eyes looking up at him.
"Yeah Neal?"
"Wh-what's wrong?" Neal asked as a puzzled look spread across his face.
Peter laughed. "You are the one that's sick, yet you are asking me what's wrong. Nothing is wrong Neal." Peter lied. But who was he trying to fool? Neal Caffrey and that was next to impossible.
"Li-ar." Neal accused. "T-tell me."
"It's nothing, kiddo. I'm just worried about you." Peter stated flatly as he let a hand fall onto the top of Neal's head. A tremor ran through Neal. This time the pain was so bad Neal sat straight up and screamed. Peter didn't care about feeling awkward or uncomfortable anymore. He grabbed Neal and hugged him to his chest with Neal's head falling right under his chin. With one arm holding Neal, he reached his other hand to the younger man's head and ran it though his sweat dampened hair. He looked up for a brief moment to see Diana run back into the room with a fearful expression on her face, but then turned his attention back to the conman.
"Hey, it's alright. It's alright. Just breathe. It'll be over soon." Peter coaxed. They sat like that for a couple of minutes as the spasm worked through Neal's body. Once it was over Neal let out a breath he had been holding for some time, but made no notion of moving away from Peter.
"Th-this isn't your f-fault, P`tr." Neal said as his body completely sagged against the agent as exhaustion took its toll. Peter bit his bottom lip, unable to respond.
Diana walked up to both of them with a sympathetic look then looked at her watch.
"I'm sorry…but…. We need to continue." She said sadly as tears came to her eyes as she took in Neal's appearance. Peter looked at her as she held up her hand to indicate they only had four hours left.
Upon hearing Diana's words, Neal flinched.
"No…..no. Pl-please. Don't. P`tr…please no." Neal pleaded with Peter as he curled into the older man as if trying to hide from Diana. Peter felt tears sting at his eyes when he heard Neal's plea and when Neal curled up against him, trusting him to protect him from any more harm he couldn't stop the few that rolled down his cheek.
"Listen, Buddy…I- I know this isn't easy, but I promise you it will be over soon. I understand you're hurting and don't feel well, but you have to let her finish, alright? I know you're scared, but we are right here kiddo….. I'm right here and I'm not going to let anything happen to you…. You have to trust me, Neal." Peter reassured. Neal lifted his head from Peter's chest and looked at him.
"I….do trust..you." He let his head fall against Peter's chest once more and moved his arm indicating he was willing to let Diana continue before falling into unconsciousness.
Diana walked over to the agent and consultant with the fourth syringe.
"You've been sitting there for hours, Boss. He's unconscious, so why don't you get up and walk around. Maybe help Jones or something?" She tried to encourage knowing it would do Peter some good to get his mind off worrying about Neal for awhile.
Peter sighed loudly and ran a hand over his face.
"Yeah, you're right." Diana helped Peter move Neal off of him and lay him out on the floor. Once Peter stood he stretched his back which gave a loud crack before taking one last look at Neal and going to help Jones.
Peter and Jones decided to look through some of the junk hoping they would find some type of tool to help them break out of there.
"How's Neal?" Jones asked after a few minutes.
"He's….. fighting." Peter said flatly trying to end the conversation.
"Peter…. If-" But Peter cut him off.
"We are going to get out of here, Jones. Neal will be fine. We will be fine. And we are going to catch the son of bitch that did this. End of story." Peter said sternly. "Now keep looking."
It was a long time until either man spoke. But suddenly Jones stilled as he picked up a box similar to the one they found earlier. "Uhh… Peter."
"What?" Peter asked irritated.
"Oh God! Look!" Jones said as he showed Peter the inside of the box.
"Shit!" Peter exclaimed and both men took off running into the other room.
"Diana! Stop! Stop!" Both men yelled as they made their way into the next room.
"What?" Diana yelled back startled and slightly unnerved.
"Please tell me you didn't give him the fourth syringe! Did you?" Peter asked in a full state of panic.
"Yes, just now. Why? Peter, what is going on?" She asked now fully terrified.
"Damn!" Peter yelled as he began to pick random objects up from the floor and threw them against the wall angrily.
Diana turned to Jones. "Jones! What the hell is going on?"
Jones showed her the box. Inside was one syringe labeled antidote.
"No! No, no, no, no, no. That can't be! … If that's….. then that means….that means all of those syringes were…..poison….. I …I probably killed him." Diana whispered the last part as she let shock set in and tears formed in her eyes and Jones bit his bottom lip trying to hold in his emotions.
But each agent was ripped from their emotions as Neal began to frantically convulse on the floor.
Peter was the first one to Neal. He dropped to his knees and laid a hand on Neal's head. He turned around, grabbed the syringe from Diana and without thinking stabbed Neal in the arm and released the antidote. After a few seconds, Neal became still.
"Neal?...Hey, Buddy you with me?" Peter asked as he ran his hand through Neal's hair. But Neal never moved. Peter pressed two fingers against the side of Neal's neck and felt his own heart drop as he felt a pulse that was barely there beneath his fingers. He looked up at Diana and Jones.
"We have to get him to a hospital, Now!"
AN: Ahhh! I feel so horrible for putting Neal through this! I honestly thought about deleting this whole chapter hahaha I no longer like Neal whumpage! :(... Anyway, let me know what you think!