Chapter 3

Neal had been sent home. And he had willingly gone. He was still shaking when he had gotten there. Jones and Diana had volunteered to take him when Peter had told him to go. They were happy to get away from the scene. It had been hard to see Sam and Dean like that. And they had only seen the brothers loaded into the ambulance. Peter had told them to then go back to the office. If he needed them again he would call.

But Peter hadn't called. He hadn't called anybody. And he knew Neal, Diana and Jones would be awaiting word. He didn't feel like he could leave El alone, even long enough to make a couple quick calls.

El looked up at her husband and wiped her eyes. "Go ahead; go make your phone calls." She said. "I'll go wait out in the waiting room for you."

"You're sure?" Peter asked.

El nodded. She took another look into Sam's room. And she stopped and looked, again, into Dean's room as they passed. El took a seat in one of the waiting room chairs as Peter tried to find a quiet spot to make his calls. He finished both calls quickly. First, because he was worried about El, and second, he didn't really have a lot of information to give.

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Neal nearly jumped when the phone rang. He went to his door and called down to June. She had said she wanted to hear what Peter had to say about Sam and Dean.

"How are they?" Neal asked, dispensing with the formalities.

Peter took a moment. He could tell Neal was thinking the worst, and he didn't know how much he could do to allay the conman's fears. He could almost hear the guilt Neal felt in his voice.

"They made it through surgery." Peter sighed. "They're both still unconscious. They're just…we got to see them, just briefly." He then told Neal something he had not told El. But first he made the conman swear to keep the secret. "I heard the Marshals talking…" Peter paused; he hadn't expected this to be so hard. Seeing Sam and Dean in those hospital beds had done something to him. He realized he was feeling pain for people he didn't realize he had even considered friends. His voice cracked a little. The agent hadn't expected that either. He covered it quickly by clearing his throat. "Dean's…Dean's in a…he's in a coma." Peter paused, again, his heart went out to Neal. He could only imagine what the young man was going through. He knew how close the three men had become. "The Marshals…the doctor was telling them that the bullet had come within inches of Dean's heart. And Sam, he's…he's taking his time waking up. They said…the doctors felt like he should be awake. There's talk of going back in, doing exploratory surgery."

"Oh, my god, Peter! Oh my god." Neal replied, his guilt washing over him like a wave. "This is…this is my fault. I should have…I could have made them stay here. I should have stayed here." The C.I. said pacing. "I should have just called you, Peter. I should have just called you! What the hell was I thinking?"

"Neal, they would have…." Peter started.

"No, Peter! I almost got my friends killed. They might still die." Neal struggled as his voice cracked. "This is all my fault!"

"You are not to blame for this. El is not to blame for this. Dean Winchester is one pig-headed SOB. He does what he wants to when he wants to."

"El…." Neal started. "What?"

"She's blaming herself for this, beating herself up, in fact. She sent you the text that should have come to me." Peter said.

"That was an honest mistake." Neal said. "She didn't know they were in town. I didn't know they were coming. They just stopped in to see me for a few hours. Luckily, or unluckily, I had the day off."

Peter nodded, even though Neal couldn't see him. If Neal had been working Sam and Dean wouldn't have been there. They wouldn't have known. And the NYPD would have handled the situation, alone.

"I gotta get back to El, Neal. Please talk to June for me." Peter requested. "Oh, and Neal…they'll be okay." He said and hung up.

Neal nodded as he hung up the phone. He then turned to June and told her the whole story, everything, not matter how hard it was for him to repeat it. June had been kind enough to invite the brothers into her home. And she had come to care a great deal for them. She deserved to know everything that was going on.

June was unable to speak for a moment. She blinked and tears fell from her eyes. She could not imagine the two men the way Neal had described them, Dean in a coma, Sam hurt nearly as badly, both fighting for their lives. It was hard for her to believe, to wrap her mind around.

June tried to distract herself. She started thinking out loud. "I'll have Carlotta clean their rooms and wash and pack their clothes that way everything will be ready for them, if…no, not if, when they come back." She paused and looked at Neal. "Because they are coming back, right Neal?"

Neal nodded. He went to June and hugged her as she started to cry all over again.

TBC