Disclaimer: White Collar and the characters borrowed for this story are the creative property of Jeff Eastin. This story was written and shared solely for the enjoyment of other White Collar fans. No copyright infringement is intended.

Forged Friendships

Chapter 3 – The Big Flirt

Somehow, despite all the tubing and equipment, Neal appeared to look a little more comfortable. He was wearing a fresh gown and now lay positioned on his side, pillows wedged behind his back to keep him from turning. The front of his hair was damp and lay in wavy ringlets across his forehead. Elizabeth was relieved to see that someone had taken the time to clean most of the dried blood from his bangs. His swollen cheek was facing upward, eyes framed in dark shadows and lashes smoothed with an oily gel. Elizabeth lowered the bedside railing and gently placed her hand against his cheek tracing its' contour with the back of her fingers. He felt warm against her touch.

"Neal, I am back to stay with you for awhile. The nurses made us leave for a few hours, but I am back now. Peter is meeting with Agent Jones upstairs but he will be back as soon as he can. Your nurse said you need to try to wake up." Neal stirred a little at the sound of Elizabeth's voice and mumbled a soft "umm". She continued gently stroking his faintly flushed cheek and whispered soft words of encouragement.

Time seemed to crawl by as El watched Neal sleep, periodically finding herself entranced by the repetitive sounds of the monitoring devices. Her attention was quickly diverted back to Neal as he again drew in a huge gasp of air though his mouth, rolling his chapped lips under and kneading them against his teeth.

"Oh Neal, don't do that. You're going to make them sore," she squeezed a dab of lip balm onto her fingertip and smoothed it across his parched lips. He stirred again, licking at his lips. Elizabeth felt as if her heart was pressing upward in her throat at the sight of him in such a weakened condition.

Neal turned his head slightly and his eyelids twitched as a quiet murmur escaped his lips. "Come on Neal, open your pretty blue eyes for me. There is a whole floor of nice nurses that would love to have you flirt with them," Elizabeth coaxed.

Neal's eyelids lifted slightly and quickly closed against the bright lights. "Oh come on ya big flirt. You can do better than that", she teased. He turned his head toward the voice and drew open his swollen eyelids to meet Elizabeth's comforting gaze. "Hey, sleepy guy, you're finally back. We've all been worried about you."

His response was low and raspy, "W..wher am I?"

She cradled his cheek in her hand. "The hospital in ICU. Neal, you were attacked and left on our doorstep. Do you remember anything that happened?"

He tried to lift his head and examine the room but the slight exertion made his head swim as he was becoming ever more aware of the pain that seemed to engulf his body. His gaze slipped wearily back to Elizabeth.

"No," his voice trailed off as he grimaced. "H-hurtz a lot. Umm … ccc-ould I have some w-wa-water … so th-th-thirsty," he spoke through parched lips that felt pasted in the corners.

Elizabeth picked up the cup of ice chips and spoon from the tray table. "I'm sorry, sweetie they said that you aren't allowed to drink just yet. But you can have a few ice chips." She lifted his head and fed him a few chips of ice from the spoon. He relished the cool sensation of the ice melting in his mouth.

"How was that? Some more?" He nodded as she slipped a few more chips past his pale colored lips. "The nurses stressed that drinking at this point in your recovery could cause you to vomit. And quite frankly, your stomach is currently held together with a whole lotta stitches and prayers. "

Neal swallowed the melting ice and softly responded "Liz-bet, thh-ank you." his heavy eyelids drifting downward, "D-jou jus call me sw-sweet? Th-thought that waz reser-ved for P-peter." "Don wan him jel-us."

Elizabeth pressed her lips to his forehead and softly kissed him, turning her cheek against his forehead. "You rest, Peter will understand. Birthday Boy." She pulled the railing back up into place and pressed the call bell for the nurse.

Neal's day turn nurse got up from her chair at the nurses' station and quickly crossed the hall to room 811. Elizabeth met the tall thin nurse in the doorway.

"Hello Mrs. Burke, my name is Crystal, did you need something?"

"The other nurse, I think his name was Stephen, said that I should let them know at the desk when Neal wakes up. He was awake for a few minutes and spoke to me but it seemed to take all his strength just to swallow a few ice chips. I touched his forehead and it feels like he is running a fever."

Crystal stepped inside the doorway, removed her lab coat and hung it up next to the sink. She smiled reassuringly at Elizabeth, "Mrs. Burke, please try not to worry. The fact that he was awake and coherent is a very good sign. A fever isn't uncommon following surgery." She dispensed some soap onto her wet hands, "Sometimes, it is just a reaction to all the medicine or even just from the trauma." She toweled her hands dry, "Please wait out here and I will take a look at him."

Elizabeth looked down at the floor. She knew that Vanessa would have allowed her to stay but she didn't want to cause any problems or embarrass Neal so she waited patiently outside.

Crystal scanned the monitors beside the bed making a mental note of Mr. Caffrey's vital signs, she was pleased to see they were remaining stable. Her patient appeared to be resting comfortably but did indeed feel warm to her touch. Removing the temperature probe from its' charging stand, she lightly slid it across his forehead and down his neck, trying not to disturb him. Turning the probe over, she was surprised to see it was reading above 102.

As Crystal reached to recheck the measurement, Neal jerked awake flailing out and grabbing her by the wrist, knocking the probe from her grasp. Crystal placed her free hand carefully against his injured shoulder. "Mr. Caffrey, I need you to calm down now. You're going to pull out your IV."

Neal's eyes darted frantically around the room. Who was touching him? Why was he feeling such searing pain? "Mr. Caffrey, please lay back. You're going to cause yourself more harm. You are in the hospital. Do you remember?"

A sheen of sweat was now noticeable on his brow. Neal released his grip on her wrist as his glassy eyes eased back into focus.

Crystal removed her hand from his shoulder, "I'm sorry Mr. Caffrey, I didn't mean to wake you so abruptly. The temperature probe must have felt very cold against your skin. You are running a bit of a fever."

He stared up at the young attractive nurse with the neatly upswept blond hair. Trying to hide his embarrassment at his reaction, he cocked one eyebrow upward and attempted to flash a sheepish grin.

"Well, aren't you the charmer?"

"M a l-little off my game."

Crystal lightly patted his arm and chuckled as she placed her stethoscope against his chest, "You should be required to have a license to flash those eyes. Now try to take a deep breath for me … and again."

Just the simple act of breathing was excruciating and he tried not to grimace.

She lean over the railing and slid the scope in between the pillows and his bare back. Neal flinched as the cool instrument pressed against his skin.

"Now breathe in as deeply as you can."

Neal coughed dragging in a painful breath, "Uhmmm" he moaned squeezing his eyes tightly closed and biting down on his lips. He could no longer hide the pain that burned across his abdomen and side and he let out a gasp.

Crystal quickly looked over at Neal's face. "Mr. Caffrey, are you experiencing a great deal of pain?"

Neal bleakly nodded his head up and down.

"Try to relax. You are on a Morphine drip that gives a constant dose of medication. Now that you are awake, you can give yourself additional doses as you need them. It will only allow you to self-administer three doses in a half an hour. When you are having pain like this, press this button and wait a few minutes. If the pain doesn't subside, then press it again and wait." She clipped the cable to his sheet and placed the button in his hand.

"Do you understand what I am telling you?" Neal nodded and pressed the button.

"I know that you are very uncomfortable and I am sorry that we can't take all the pain away," her tone sincere and caring.

"I am going to have to turn you in order to examine your incisions for signs of infection. How is your pain level now? Is it tolerable?"

Neal held his eyes clamped tightly shut. "Sstill hurtz a lot"

"It's okay to press the button again. Mr. Caffrey, are you still with me?"

" Th-think m gonna be sssick!"

Crystal placed the small curved basin under his chin and gave him pillow to hold as she elevated the head of the bed. Neal's stomach heaved but to no avail. Crystal pressed the intercom button. "Is Stephen out at the desk?"

"This is Stephen. What do you need?"

"Please bring a syringe of 2.5 mg Compazine to room 811 for Mr. Caffrey. There is a standing order in his chart. Also, page Dr. Turner and tell her he is running a fever of 102.6"

Crystal placed her arm behind Neal's back. "Try breathing slowly through your mouth." Neal swallowed hard and attempted to hold the pillow to his throbbing stomach.

In a few minutes, Steven entered the room with the syringe of Compazine. He checked Neal's ID band as he wiped the IV port with an alcohol swab."

"Mr. Caffrey, this medicine will calm your stomach and may make you a little sleepy."

Neal's grimace softened, "s-s-sorry for all the fuss"

"Stephen, can you help me turn him onto his back?"

Neal drew his eyes open, "P-leas don move me."

Crystal took his hand, "I'm sorry but we have to find out what is causing this fever. Do you want your friend to come in and be with you?"

"Iss El here?"

"She is waiting out in the hall. Stephen, please ask Mrs. Burke if she would mind coming in while I check his incisions."

Elizabeth really didn't want to see what was under the bandages but she told herself she could do this for Neal. She entered the room and smiled at Neal. "What can I do to help?"

Crystal explained, "We are going to roll him onto his back and you just need to keep him company."

Crystal went to the other side of the bed and positioned Elizabeth's hands behind Neal's back for support as she pulled the pillows free and slowly turned him onto his back.

"There, nothing to it. Are you feeling okay?"

Neal nodded.

Crystal folded the sheet down to Neal's waist and loosely tucked it in around his hips as she pulled the gown up exposing his chest.

Neal tried to look down at his chest, "Wan Yu to know, m not us-u-ally sso easy."

El smiled and stroked his hair back. "It's probably best if we don't look just now." Her words went unanswered as Neal had drifted off into a medicated sleep.