Knockin' On Heaven's Door
June's POV
Having not slept much the night before today wasn't the best when June decided to brew the customary coffee and get breakfast ready for her and Neal. Sighing lightly and much without her normal air she moved to the balcony and placed the plates and mugs in their rightful places on the patio table, it had become a daily ritual that she wasn't going to let die despite the feeling that it was unimportant on this day in particular.
Neal had entered in his typical fashion; he was freshly out of the shower and only partially dressed in pajama pants and a simple t-shirt. She offered of a soft smile but he had noticed she was distracted and the young man simply leaned over and placed a hand on her arm.
"Is everything alright June?"
"Yes, just one of those mornings."
"You typical don't have one of those mornings, you sure you're doing alright?"
"I didn't sleep well last night, I'm sure it will pass with some good food and better company." He was a good man and she couldn't help but feel better by his presence. She sighed again and moved to take a sip of her coffee.
The rest of the breakfast carried on much in silence, Neal looked over the newspaper she'd brought and when all was said and done she gathered everything and moved downstairs to start washing the mugs and plates. She was in the middle of doing the second mug when she heard something thump on the ceiling, craning her head in the direction of the stairs she looked up. That wasn't like Neal, usually he moved very silently and then she heard the door to his bedroom open and slam shut. Frowning she moved towards the staircase, pausing to pull a cane from the umbrella pot in the hallway.
Byron had taught her important lessons in his life, one of which was that if something appeared suspicious then it most often was. She readied the cane in her hands and waited, there was a series of thumps and then Neal fell hard on the floor at the base of the stairs. She had the urge to run to him but she held her ground, Neal looked to be unconscious and that doesn't happen by just falling down the stairs plus he was still in the clothes he'd worn on the terrace. There was a creak heard from the staircase, from that she knew they were almost in sight because the creaky step was the fourth one from the base and just behind the wall.
Pulling the cane back she waited; saw the barrel of a gun, then hands and then forearms. Finally she swung upwards and landed a solid hit in the woman's chin. She was knocked back and fell slamming her head against the steps behind her and sliding down to land feet first into Neal. When she slid to a stop June moved and knelt beside Neal, hands moving to roll him onto his back slowly.
"Neal?" She hadn't immediately noticed the blood that had seeped into his shirt from the gunshot wound to his shoulder, so when she felt the warm fluid on her fingers she was a bit panicked. "Oh dear, Neal? Come on Neal, wake up." She slid an arm under him and pulled him to rest against her chest, cradling much like a mother would a small child. Fishing into his pockets she pulled up his phone and dialed Peter.
"Caffrey you better get your ass…" June was about to respond when the young woman she'd hit with the cane pointed the gun at her, she took in a breath and lowered the phone.
"Neal?" She could hear the concern in Peter's voice and she knew that he'd find Neal, he'd help him. She wasn't afraid of this young woman, or of the woman's gun. It wasn't her first rodeo as they say.
"Neal, are you alright?" Neal was stirring in June's arms; he shifted and put pressure on June causing her to fall. When the landed he grunted and the phone went flying, Assunta fired at the movement aiming for June but taking out a rather expensive pot instead. When the phone it the floor Assunta was working on aiming at Neal at the same time he was working on wrestling the gun from her hands.