One of the Best

Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to Jeff Eastin and USA Network.

A/N: You guys are amazing, and I thank everyone who has taken the time to review this! For those of you who really liked the dream, hang on, the next chapter will reveal more!

Chapter 9

Neal heard a soft voice talking to him. The voice was encouraging him to open his eyes; telling him he was going to be ok, although Neal wasn't sure quite sure what was wrong to begin with. He realized someone was massaging his hand and running their fingers through his hair; he didn't want it to stop. The voice was starting to become more insistent he open his eyes and Neal became afraid something really was wrong. He tried to open his eyes, but it took him several attempts before they fluttered open. He was momentarily confused by the darkness, but then his eyes adjusted enough to see a small light somewhere above his bed giving off a soft glow.

"Neal, hey, I'm over here."

Neal's thoughts were interrupted by the same voice and Neal turned his head toward the sound. He recognized the dark haired lady from earlier.

"Hey."

Neal responded, although it was barely a whisper. He squeezed her hand wanting to say more, but he couldn't think clearly enough.

"We think you had a bad dream, but Peter and I are here with you. You're safe. Ok?"

Elle motioned to Peter and he appeared at her side, so Neal could see he was still here.

"I don't remember your name."

Neal whispered, squeezing her hand again.

"I like your voice though… I could hear your voice."

"My name is Elle and your name is Neal."

Elle moved a stray curl away from his face so he could see her better.

"Do you remember Peter from earlier?"

"Yeah, he has a badge."

Neal mumbled, so Elle leaned closer to hear him.

"He says we work for the FBI. I don't…I don't remember."

"It's ok. There was an accident. You were hurt, but the doctor says you're getting better."

Elle gave him a reassuring look and continued to massage his hand.

"What happened?"

Neal wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he couldn't help asking since he had absolutely no idea what was going on. Peter stood up and leaned a bit closer to Neal's bed so he could look Neal in the eye while he talked.

"We were working on a case, and you were hit from behind by some falling plastic tubing. We've caught the guy we think is behind the scam we were investigating, but we're still not sure if he had anything to do with your accident."

Neal saw a look in Peter's eyes that troubled him. Neal felt there was something more there, something Peter wasn't telling him. He realized he felt some sort of connection with Peter, but he just couldn't figure out what it was. Peter had said they were partners, but was that all? No, he felt something more; something innately protective about the way Peter had looked at him, almost like Neal was his son, and somehow Peter had failed him.

"Neal?"

Elle's voice shook him out of his thoughts.

"Are you remembering something?"

Neal didn't want to tell her yet about his thoughts on Peter because they seemed jumbled and unclear to him. He needed a chance to sort things out in his mind so he turned his head to stare at the wall and away from both sets of eyes.

"I just was thinking about what Peter said."

Neal paused for several moments, and both Peter and Elle could envision the wheels whirring in his head. Finally Neal looked up and locked eyes with Peter.

"Was someone trying to kill me? I don't remember what we were doing there. Why would someone want to kill me? What have I done?"

Peter had seen Neal's expression change the moment it occurred to him that someone might have been trying to kill him. Peter also noticed the heart monitor had increased in the regularity of its beeps. He knew he needed to calm Neal down before he had a panic attack and Peter would be forced to alert one of Neal's nurses to help; neither of them would be happy with Peter. He just wanted to tell Neal everything was going to be ok, but he wasn't sure he believed it himself.

"Neal, we aren't sure what happened, but no, I don't think anyone was specifically targeting you, I think this was just a horrible accident. I don't think you're in any danger."

Peter wasn't sure what else to do; how else to explain it, so he just let Elle continue to hold and massage Neal's hand, hoping it would be enough for now.

##

Peter's phone began to vibrate, and he grabbed it off his holster immediately, looking at the caller ID.

"Diana, I am so sorry, something came up at the hospital. I'm leaving right now."

Peter clipped his phone back in its holster, and leaned down to kiss Elle.

"I have to go. I was supposed to meet Diana and Jones. They have a suspect in custody."

Peter looked down at his watch. 4:30 am.

"Oh, great. Can it possibly be this late? No wonder Diana was upset."

He hadn't meant to say it out loud, but Elle looked up at him with an understanding expression.

"Go!"

Peter looked down at Neal, an apologetic expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, Neal. I have got to go; this guy is our best chance to figure out what happened. I'll stop by later to check on you. I swear."

"It's ok, I believe you. You need to do your job. I'll still be here."

Neal watched him go, wondering why Peter had seemed upset he had to leave. He was an FBI agent and it was his job to track down criminals. Neal got the feeling that for some reason Peter felt guilty for letting his job take importance over talking to him. Neal noticed when he asked Peter if someone was trying to kill him, Peter had switched from the authoritative voice he had used previously to a much more sympathetic tone; it was more of a protective fatherly sort of feeling, and it made Neal feel much more comfortable around Peter than he had previously. Neal was finally coming to the realization Peter wasn't here just for information as he had thought at first; he was here because they were partners and quite possibly good friends.

##

Neal hadn't said anything after Peter had left, but he had seemed to relax and she thought he had fallen asleep. Elle loosened her grip on his hand; trying to let go without disturbing him. She was startled when his grip tightened; not wanting to let go. He turned his head to look at her; wondering what she had been trying to do. She figured now was as good a time as any to tell him what she had been thinking about.

"Neal, there's something I need to tell you."

Elle was afraid this might upset Neal, but she knew she needed to clear things up before they went any farther.

"Neal, I'm not your mom. You called me that a couple times when you first woke up. I..I've always wanted to be a mom, but it just never happened, so…so I was pretending I could be your mom because I knew you needed someone. I didn't want you to be alone."

She looked over at Neal, but he wouldn't look at her.

"I know."

It was said with a lingering trace of defeat in his voice.

"You know?"

"I was just hoping she had come back for me, that she…she still loved me, but I…I couldn't remember what she looked like at first, and I was hoping she had found me. I thought she loved me; she said she did. She made me feel safe when I was with her, like…like you do. Then I remembered she had beautiful, long blond hair. I remember it always tickled my face when she kissed me on my cheek before she tucked me into bed."

Neal stopped as if caught in this one memory, but then he looked up at Elle with a tortured expression.

"But…but one day she just left and…and she never came back. I think she stopped…she stopped loving me. Please…Please don't leave me like she did."

Neal felt tears running down his face, and then realized Elle was wiping them away as he was in no condition to do so himself.

Elle wasn't sure if she should be relieved or upset knowing Neal had remembered this. She also felt angry because some women who had children had no business being mothers and other women who would be wonderful mothers didn't have any children. There was so much injustice in this world and Neal represented only a tiny fraction of it.

"Neal, just because I'm not your mom doesn't mean I won't love you like one. I don't know what happened with your mom. I'm sorry she left, but I'm here now; and Peter…Peter looks after you like a son. You're not alone. You're part of our family."

"I know… I can feel it…I feel safe. Thank you."

Neal responded slowly feeling the sense of belonging he had always yearned for. Elle stood up releasing Neal's hand, and Neal reluctantly let go. She stretched her arms and legs from sitting so long.

"Now… I'm going to the nurses' desk to find an extra blanket. I need to get at least a few hours sleep, even if it's on the floor. I'll be right back, ok?"

Elle looked at Neal to make sure he understood she wasn't leaving for good. Neal nodded his consent and was asleep before she had left the room.