Author's Note: Hi guys! Thank you for sticking with me so far. I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. Those of you who are waiting for an update on the Transformers story: When The Past Catches Up; I'll update that pretty soon. So please hang in there for that story. Anyhoo my disclaimer is in the first chappie so if you want to read it look there. There is going to be a good bit of Neal OUCH in this chapter so be warned. Enjoy!

Ooc: This chapter occurs one week after chapter 1

If you could die of embarrassment Neal was pretty sure he would be dead. Being stripped down to your boxers while trying to keep your dignity wasn't the easiest thing to do. The men had instructed him to remove his clothes so the medical examiner could examine his injuries and to asses his health. The man was poking and prodding at the injuries that were spread across his body. He hissed sharply as the man measured the depth of the shoulder injury. Why is this guy even measuring it? Neal thought exasperatedly before choking back a whimper.

"What is your verdict Harry?" Charles' voice boomed as he walked into the room. He came over and slapped Neal on the shoulder as if he were greeting him as an old and trusted friend. Neal winced and staggered forward slightly. Suddenly a voice whispered into his ear and he jumped before he realized that it was Peter's voice. Neal forced himself not to answer his friend and kept a straight face. Thank goodness, he thought, they must have gotten the com link to work. They would be able to find him. He was going to get of here alive.

Charles walked around Neal, swinging a large hammer in his hands. Neal stood still and waited. He knew what was coming and braced himself. The hammer swung and connected with his lower back. It was a kidney shot. Neal tried to choke back the cry of pain and it ended up sounding like he was about to hurl. He dropped to his knees and was rewarded with a solid blow to the ribs. He gave a strangled scream as the blow broke off a couple of his ribs.

Just as he straightened back up the hammer slammed into the same area. Neal chocked his breathing hitching as the ribs were driven into his organs. He coughed and a wet gurgling sound came from his lungs.

Mr. Eckert left the room and motioned for his men and the doctor to follow him. Neal sighed in relief as they all left and slumped against the wall. His breathing was growing increasingly labored and each breath was agony.

Even though the ribs hadn't punctured his lungs the fact that they were broken would make breathing hurt anyways. Neal hoped that Peter was still at the other end of the com link and that help would arrive soon. He didn't know how much more he could take.

There was a crackle and a burst of static before the line became clear. Peter winced when he heard something collide with flesh and then Neal's cry of pain. Jones' grip tightened on his pencil until the writing utensil snapped in half. He cursed and threw it in the trash can before grabbing another one.

There was another pained cry and Peter growled angrily. There was a silence before a resounding thud echoed through the speakers.

"Neal?" Peter called the younger man's name through the com link. When there was no reply he called the ex-con artist's name out once more "NEAL!"

A startled and weak "Pete?" came from the other end of the com link. Neal sounded horrible and Peter could tell that his friend was having trouble breathing.

Peter would have to keep Neal talking until they could pin point his location and get him to the hospital.

"Neal, I need you to keep talking to me buddy." Peter told his partner.

There was a snort on the other end of the line and Peter could picture Neal rolling his eyes. "So I'm s'posed to look like a schizophrenic freak?"

"Yeah Neal, the freak part shouldn't be too hard for you to pull off." Peter answered sarcastically. He was met with silence. "Neal?"

"M'ere." Neal's voice was slurred and he pulled in another ragged breath. It was obvious to Peter that talking was taking a ton of effort and energy from Neal.

"Hang in there bud." Peter encouraged as he motioned to Jones to see if it were possible to track a com link. Jones shook his head in a negative.

Neal felt his eyelids slide shut and almost jumped a foot in the air when a loud and commanding "NEAL CAFFERY!" screamed through the com link. Must of dozed off, he thought sleepily. What is so bad about a cat nap? Neal wondered.

"I'm still here." Neal answered drowsily. He wanted nothing more than to sleep and to let the darkness make the pain go away.

The smell of smoke wafted into the room from under the door. Neal inhaled as deeply as he dared (because of his ribs) and closed his eyes in frustration. Why the heck is Eckert burning down his own house? Neal wondered. He gave a small shrug to himself.

"…al are you still with me? Neal!" Peter's voice broke through Neal's thoughts and he groaned in annoyance.

"Kinda busy Petey." Neal answered as he looked around the room for a way out. The smoke was starting to get thick and Neal's eyes were watering.

"What does that mean?" Peter asked worriedly.

"Can't really explain that right now. Just let me think." Neal snapped as he watched the smoke go through a part of the wall. There had to be an opening or a weak link in the wall which was causing the smoke to waft through. With a small groan Neal struggled to his feet and looked at the wall determinedly. He surged forward and slammed himself into the wall. He gasped in pain as his shoulder connected with the wall and staggered back. Using his other shoulder Neal slammed into the wall again. This time there was a loud crack and a portion of the wall tumbled down. Neal crowed in delight and pumped the air with a fist.

There was a questioning, "What the hell are you doing?" from Peter.

"Depends on what you mean by that Peter." Neal quipped smartly as he stepped into the hole that was in the wall. He hissed as he was forced to bend over in order to avoid a pole.

He coughed and almost screamed as his body doubled over immediately in response. The muscle spasm of the cough had been bad enough but the searing agony that coursed through Neal's body when it doubled over was enough to make him think of knocking himself out. But that would mean burning to death and that option really didn't appeal to Neal.

"Neal?" The ex-con artist rolled his eyes in exasperation when he heard Peter call his name again but didn't answer.

It took Neal another fifteen minutes to get out of the house and by the time he did the amount of smoke that he had inhaled was making him nauseous and kept causing horrible coughing fits. He stumbled over to a nearby car and broke the driver's window. Neal unlocked the door and hotwired the car.

The powerful engine of the 2010 Ford Mustang roared to life and Neal allowed a satisfied smile to wash over his face. "NEAL damn it, answer me!" Peter sounded absolutely furious as well as scared.

Neal had been ignoring his partner for over twenty minutes now and Peter had been screaming in his ear for the entire time. "Peter, seriously quit screaming at me." Neal groaned as he gunned the car forward. "I've got a killer headache right now."

Peter felt like strangling the consultant and forced his voice to be calm. "Neal I need you to tell me what you're doing now."

"Driving a black 2010 Ford Mustang." Neal replied, voice tight.

"Where to?"

"I don't know where I am exactly, but I am defiantly moving away from the house."

Peter mouthed "Where's Neal?" too Diana and she quickly pulled up his location thanks to the tracker anklet.

"He's headed towards the main highway. In our direction."

Peter nodded in relief. "Good job Neal, get onto the highway and follow it for about 35 miles and then take the exit. Once you're there we'll give you some more directions. Ok?"

"Got it."

Neal was exhausted and he was surprised that he was able to stay awake. He checked his mirrors often, afraid that someone might be following him from the house.

He never saw the red Hummer that came roaring down the highway. The SUV slammed into the Mustang from the side. There was a sickening crunch and Neal's car went flying. The Mustang crashed against the guard rail and flipped over the side of it. The steep ravine on the other side opened is giant maw, swallowing the car and its passenger whole.

Author's Note: Yes, I know cliff hangers are evil, but this really was the best place to leave off. I'll start writing the next chapter immediately.