Neal was numb.

His body took on a tingling sensation the moment his eyes fluttered opened. The only movement he could muster was a slight twitch of his fingers. Anything beyond that was impossible for the ex conman. He moved his eyes around the room and found he was in a small, empty room. He tried to wrack his brain for an explanation as to why he was here and where exactly "here" was, but he couldn't find one. The last thing he could remember was riding with Peter, Diana, and Jones, to arrest a suspect. Panic arose in the young man and he took a nervous, deep breath or at least tried too. It felt as though his throat was only as big as a straw and he began coughing. He screwed his eyes shut as pain erupted in his chest and spread throughout his body. Suddenly he became aware of his body being lifted and held into a sitting position and a comforting hand on his back.

Mozzie was woken up by the sound of choking.

Neal. The name caused his eyes to snap open and he reacted swiftly. He lifted Neal from laying down with his head in the bald man's lap into a sitting position and rubbed his back in attempt to help the younger man. He held Neal up with his other arm as he realized Neal was too weak to sit up by himself and spoke to him.

"Come on, man. Just breathe. Take slow breaths, Neal. That's it. Easy, Buddy." Mozzie encouraged as Neal's breathing became more relaxed.

Instead of choking, Neal was now wheezing, but both men knew that was as good as it was going to get. Neal felt himself being lowered back down to the floor. He felt the side of his head rest on something soft and opened his eyes to see the material of a button up shirt. He followed the buttons up and his eyes met concerned ones behind square glasses.

"Neal?" Moz asked.

"Y-yeah…Moz… It's...me." Neal replied with slight smirk that was quickly replaced a grimace as the pain in his chest throbbed with the pulse of his heart.

"Oh, okay good. I wasn't sure at first." Mozzie replied sarcastically. "It's not everyday I awake to the sound of you choking." Mozzie watched as Neal's lips turned into a faint smirk and knew a witty remark was about to come but he stopped it.

"I am asking if you are okay."

Neal weakly looked up at his best friend. "I'm…..fine, Moz. J-Just…tired." He wheezed.

Mozzie rolled his eyes at the predicted response.

"Neal….for once will you just tell me the truth. You were just kidnapped from the hospital. You were on a ventilator! And in a drug induced coma!" Mozzie explained frantically, before calming down.

Neal stared at the older man drowsily. "I... My chest hurts….and it is kind of hard to breathe. But I promise, Moz, I'm okay. Really."

Mozzie gave a sigh in response. He laid a hand on Neal's head but became even more concerned as he felt heat radiating from his friend's forehead.

Neal closed his eyes as he felt Mozzie's cool hand against his burning skin. He didn't like lying to Mozzie, but he knew his friend would only freak out if he told him how he truly felt. His chest didn't hurt. No, to say it hurt, was an understatement. It took all he had not to cry out in pain in front of Mozzie. He had done quite well until the pain in his chest became unbearable. He buried his head into Mozzie's stomach as his slender hand weakly grasped the older man's shirt. He felt Mozzie's hand in his hair in an awkward sort of way, but comforting nonetheless. Neal began to wonder where Peter was before he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Mozzie took a deep breath, but regretted it as he looked down at his wheezing, unconscious. He was unnerved by the mere fact he was able to take a deep breath but his friend couldn't. His mind began to wonder over ways to get the duo out of their current predicament and Neal back to the hospital, but his thoughts were interrupted as a person came through the door holding a gun.

Mozzie eyed the weapon pointed at Neal and himself then looked at the person holding it. His jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Of all the people that would want to do this to them, never in a million years would he have expected this.

AN: I'm sooooo sorry for how long it has been! College is consuming my life! But I promise I will finish this story as well as Your Criminal's Keeper...! I know this is a short chapter but I wanted to give you guys something just to let you know I haven't given up on this story! My plan is to update within the next two days! Crossing my fingers I get to! Anyway, review and let me know what you think!

Oh! Today I bought a fish (bc it is the only pet we can have in our dorm) and I named him Mozzie! :D ... Just Sayin`! hahaha