Elizabeth sat beside Neal's bed, holding his slender hand in hers. She brushed her thumb across the top of his hand as she spoke softly to him. At first she could only muster a few words because once she would start talking a sob would break through her lips cutting her off. She sniffled a few times and wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks before fully continuing.

"Neal, honey, if you can hear me….. I want you to know that I love you." She gave a small laugh. "You stole my husband away from me for three years, while he chased you. You worry him to death, and you are going to give him gray hair before we are old. But no matter, I still love you. You are like….the son that Peter and I never had. Peter won't ever admit it but he thinks of you in that way, sometimes. Sometimes, you are like a little brother to him, and well at other times, you are a pain in his ass, but deep down he enjoys it." Elizabeth paused. She

stared at the tube snaking down Neal's throat and the tape holding it in place. Her mind was tormented with horrible possibilities of what could happen to the man in front of her. But then she quickly shook the thoughts from her mind and replaced them with memories of Neal and Peter bickering.

She was brought back to reality by a young nurse, that Neal would have no problem or protests of charming.

"I'm just here to check his vitals. Don't let me bother you." She said politely as she grabbed Neal's left wrist. Elizabeth smiled at her, but didn't say anything.

"Is he your son?" The nurse asked as she laid Neal's arm back down beside him and continued her work.

"Oh…. You could….say that." Elizabeth replied giving a small laugh.

The nurse looked at her skeptically not really following what Elizabeth was saying.

"He's my husband's partner at the FBI….. but he's become family over the last few years." Elizabeth explained. The nurse smiled in understanding and turned to leave.

"Um, excuse me…. Is he okay? I mean nothing's changed?" Elizabeth asked. The nurse stopped in the doorway.

"When your husband left, his heart rate was slightly elevated more than we would like, but now it is back down to an excellent rate. He seems very calm. Perhaps he can hear you, Mrs. Burke. Let me know if you need anything else." With that the nurse left and Elizabeth turned her attention back to Neal.

She squeezed his hand and ran her fingers through his hair for a few more minutes before standing. She leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"Neal, I'm going to go check on Peter out in the waiting room. Only one person can see you at a time, but I think Mozzie might be here. You'd like to see him, wouldn't you? We will be right here the whole time, sweetie. We are going to take good care of you. I love you, Neal. We all love you." She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and left, but not without taking one last look at her husband's consultant who had became her son.

Out in the ICU waiting room, Peter watched Neal's friend Mozzie, pace back and forth frantically. His hands shook while he muttered incoherent things that Peter couldn't make out, nor did he want to.

"Haversham! Stop. Pacing." Peter ordered.

"I can't." Was the shorter man's only reply.

"Look, you don't like hospitals. No one does, except the people that work in them. Now. Stop. Pacing." Peter said aggravated. Mozzie was about to reply but Elizabeth walked into the room.

"Um… Mozzie…. You can go see him now, if you'd like." She said quietly as she sat down by her husband. Mozzie nodded and feverishly walked towards Neal's room.

"How's Neal?" Peter asked as he leaned into his wife's embrace.

"Same. How are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm fine." She lied. Silence fell over them until Elizabeth broke it a few minutes later.

"I'm not fine, Peter. I'm scared! I'm worried. I don't want to imagine life without Neal. I can't lose him, Peter. I can't!" She cried into his shoulder. Peter wrapped his arms around his wife and held her as she cried.

"I know, Honey. I know. I am too….. I am too." Peter replied sadly.

AN: Next chapter will be Mozzie's visit! I love Mozzie... and I have a few things in store for the next chapter. Eek! It will be up later today! :D