Author's Note: Hello guys! Well here is the next chappie. Enjoy! And once again, sorry for the cliff hanger in the last chapter. It might take a little longer this time for me to update because my senior year of highschool just started and I already have a crap-load of homework that they are dishing out so yeah... Oh and if you guys are wondering why I'm being so mean to Neal its because I was trying to draw him and it took me almost 20 different tries before I decided to threaten him with this story and guess what happened? Yep. He finally behaved and I've got him drawn =)
The sickening crunch on the other side of the com link followed by a cry of pain, shock and fear was almost enough to put Peter in a panic. There was the sound of grunts and groans from both the car and the con artist. Then there was silence, a very long silence.
"Neal?" Peter called to his friend desperately. "NEAL!" He was met with silence.
"C'mon Neal answer me." He begged, "please." The only answer that he got was silence.
"Jones, Diana where is Neal located?"
"He seems to be in the Ravine next to the highway." Jones replied a couple of minutes later.
"Grab your gear and someone tell the Little Guy (Mozzie). We're also going to need Jack when we get there so go tell him to pack his medical bag." Peter shot through the orders, already on his way out the door.
Ten minutes later Diana, Jones and Jack met Peter at the van. Peter stood at the driver's door and got in. Once he was sure everyone was buckled he shot through the parking lot and onto the road.
The rest of the drive to the crash site was silent, everyone was uptight and nervous. Diana was looking out the window, Jones was staring at the floor as if it were the most fascinating thing on earth and Jack was rifling through his med-bag.
Peter slowed to a stop when the beams of the headlights revealed fresh skid marks. The outline of the Hummer's skeleton was still smoking as the vehicle sat like a silent specter. The broken headlights winked on and off, cutting through the darkness like a beacon.
The team quickly clambered out of the 'bus' and Diana started snapping pictures of the scene. Jones went over and studied the Hummer and the path that car had taken with a frown. Peter and Jack were leaning over the edge of the ravine, flashlights searching the area. Peter exclaimed something and pointed.
A black Ford Mustang had its rear end sticking out of the top of a tree, hazard lights flashing. "Damn it Neal…" Peter breathed the words as he realized his friend's precarious predicament.
"Jones, hook me up." Peter ordered as he pulled the harness over his body. Jones gave him the thumbs up and Peter started the slow climb down.
Peter had just climbed into the tree next to the car when there was a loud crack and the car slammed down into a lower branch. The branch snapped in half and the Mustang plummeted to the ground. The front end of the car crumpled even more and the car struck the ground on its back.
Burke cussed and quickly scrambled through the branches of the tree and dropped to the ground before walking over to the wreck. Crouching on his hands he peered under the car only to realize that Neal wasn't under the car.
He cast his gaze around wildly, searching for his consultant and friend. Peter found him some time later, sprawled on the ground.
Peter gasped and fought the urge to retch when he saw his friend. A big section of metal from the beaten and broken Mustang impaled Neal through the gut and pinned him to the ground.
At first it didn't look like Neal was even breathing but when Peter got closer to his colleague he saw Neal squint through the bright light of the flashlight beam. There was a weak and barely audible, "Peter?"
"Neal…" Peter couldn't get his voice to work properly. He went over and knelt next to his friend, hands shaking.
Neal squinted and breathed a weak "Peter?" He heard an answering "Neal" and he allowed a small smile to grace his face.
Warm arms slid around his body and Neal groaned as he was lifted up and then the upward motion stopped and he was lowered back down. It took Neal a few moments to realize that Peter had put his head in his lap. He blinked up, "Magic ankle tether?" Neal asked slowly, having to force the words out.
Peter nodded and replied with a misty eyed, "Yeah Neal, magic ankle tether."
Neal grunted something that sounded like, "bout time Pete."
Peter cuffed the younger man in the back of the head gently and felt Neal give a small and silent laugh. The laugh turned into a coughing fit that left Neal gasping for breath. "Calm down buddy." Peter coaxed, rubbing small and gentle circles along ex-con artist's upper chest.
"Don… don't m-make 'e la-ugh." Neal choked the sentence out between pained gasps. His body shivered as the wind lashed across ground and Peter unconsciously drew the young con artist closer to his chest.
Neal let his eyes slide shut, now that Peter Burke was here everything would be alright. He was awoken by a rough shake and he yelped as a jolt of pain shot through his body.
"Sorry Neal, but you can't go to sleep yet buddy. I know you're cold and that you hurt but stay with me for a little bit longer." Peter's voice broke in the middle of the sentence and he cleared his throat. He continued to rub small circles on Neal's upper chest. The younger man winced when Peter's fingers grazed over one of many sore spots. "Sorry." Peter apologized hoping that Neal would understand the deeper meaning to the apology.
Neal nodded sleepily and blinked at Peter. He understood what the apology was really for. Sorry for making you go undercover, even though I knew that you really didn't wasn't too. He shivered again and sighed.
The clouds that roiled across the sky grew and stretched. The moon that was-while trying valiantly- failing in its task of lighting up the night and getting rid of some of the darkness gave a gentle sigh and gave up. The world around was plunged into darkness and the wind howled savagely. Forks of lightning spun delicate tendrils and intricate designs across the night sky as the clouds groaned and released a torrential flood of rain mixed with a sleet-like substance.
Jones shook his head in disappointment; the ravine's cliff was to slick to scale down safely. He looked over at Jake and shook his head. It was a no-go. Not even the fire department or rescue searchers would attempt a rescue this difficult with the weather and conditions this volatile. "Boss," he called Peter using the walkie talkie he had insisted on taking with them.
"Yeah?" Peter's voice sounded worried.
"We aren't going to be able to get to you in this muck."
There was an audible sigh. "Well, at least Caffrey isn't by himself."
Jones nodded. "What's his condition?"
There was a long pause and Jones wondered if Peter had heard him. "Hooked bait."
Hooked bait. It was a fishing term; the bait that was put on the hook never had a very good chance of surviving. If Peter was implying that Neal was hooked bait then there was a good chance that the con artist wouldn't survive the night.
"Boss, I'm going to lower a remote control down the cliff to you, its going to be at the very base where there aren't any trees. I need you to get it."
Peter sighed softly. Damn it, he thought in a helpless frustration. "Neal, I need to go get something I'll be right back. I promise."
He settled Neal down; doing his best to ignore the pained cry the motion procured and got up. A hand shot out and grabbed Peter's ankle in a tight grip. The panicked look in Neal's eyes struck Peter. He was surprised to say the least; Neal never showed too much emotion. Not normally anyways. There had been the time when Mozzie had decided to play the middle man and then there was Kate. Peter shook his. "Neal, I'll be right back, I promise."
He moved away from Neal and into the night.
Peter picked up the remote and pushed the button on the walkie talkie. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Look up. Do you see the light?"
Peter squinted through the rain. "Yes."
"Good, it's a drone. Use the remote to guide it too you."
Peter nodded before saying, "Ok."
Fifteen minutes later Peter reached up and caught the small aircraft as it glided into his arms like an eager child would run to their parent's arms. "Got it."
"Press the x button on its side, under the wing."
"Ok, did that."
"Now hit the square button and let go of the drone."
Peter followed the directions and let go of the plane. He half expected it to fall and break but the plane's little engines revved to life and the craft flew up and out of sight.
Jones reached out and grabbed the drone as it flew towards him. He hit the off switch and began to load the plane with supplies. Diana loaded the excess supplies onto a mother plane and gave the Mama the coordinates of the smaller drone. When Jones gave her the "ok" Diana released the plane and it joined its smaller version. The two planes went into a dive and were soon lost from sight.
"Sending two drones back at you Peter." Jones told his boss.
"Alright. Do you want me to keep them with me?"
"Yeah, use the remote to guide the smaller one and the Mama will follow it."
Peter nodded. "Roger that. Over and out."
Neal groaned with another shiver and looked around. Peter had been gone for a long time now and Neal was getting worried. There was a snap and he froze. There was a low whuffing noise as something inhaled deeply, followed by a snort as the same creature exhaled violently.
"Peter?" Neal's voice was small and his mouth went decidedly dry.
There was another crunch from Neal's right and he turned his head in that direction. He raised his eyes a little and froze when he saw two large and clawed paws. There was another deep inhale and Neal prayed silently.
Author's Note: Yes, another cliff hanger, but I do have to keep you guys interested soo… I'll update soon!