Past Haunts: Chapter 16

K' this one will be a little bit longer. Please enjoy and let me know what you think. :)

Ok, so what I said in the last chaps A/N still and always stands. Not ok for anyone to go through anything like this...

Enjoy:)

Warnings: -_- really guys? you should know the warnings by now...

Disclaimer: I don't own white collar, just this plot line and OC. *sigh*

No Hospitals!, Not Your Fault, and Ticklish

El was crying and held Neal as he got quiet, but Peter couldn't stop the agent in him from working. "But, if Frank was trying to get you, why didn't he do that when you weren't in the car? You could have easily been killed." Neal nodded.

"Yeah, I wondered about that all the time. I'm pretty sure he wasn't clear headed when he came up with the idea, just wanted to hurt my family, and I don't think he planned on me surviving. I just happened to be a lucky bonus. In his custody, where he could do whatever he wanted."

"You need to stop, Neal, before you collapse." El couldn't take seeing her baby like this anymore, so broken and lost and in pain- Pain!

"Neal, Honey! Your back! You need to go to the hospital-" Neal's eyes widened almost comically.

"No! No hospitals! Really! It's fine. Doesn't need stitches. No hospitals." El shook her head confused.

"But, dear-" Peter held up a placating hand to her.

"El, Neal hates hospitals with a passion. Trust me. You're going nowhere fast. But, Neal, we need to deal with your injuries." Neal knew he was right, but... he couldn't help the feelings of pain, vulnerability, and shame. He didn't want to show them how weak he was that he couldn't fight Frank off. Neal closed his faded blue eyes and nodded. He heard El sigh in early resignation and the click of her heels as she walked away to get the supplies she needed. Peter stayed next to him.

To be honest, Peter really did not want to see. He didn't think he would be able to control himself if he did; he would want to run off and beat Frank's skull in, but... That would be selfish of him. Neal was more important right now, and right now, his son needed him to be there for him and help him. Peter placed a gentle hand at the back of Neal's neck. It hurt him, when he felt Neal tense under his hand.

"Neal," He kept his voice soft and comforting, not demanding or controlling in any way. "I need to look at you. Can you please take your shirt off?" Peter could see most of the marks through the white under tank, but it still prevented him from actually knowing the full extent of it and treating him. Neal's blue eyes held resignation, and a fear that made Peter want to beat Frank Smithson almost to death with his bare hands, then throw him in prison and tell the other inmates he was a child molester. The worst part of that thought was... he wouldn't be lying.

Neal's hands quivered slightly as they reached for the hem of his shirt. He couldn't help but grimace when he stretched his back muscles to pull it off. What made all of it worse was El came back just then and had to help him get it off. Neal wouldn't meet their eyes, expecting to see disgust or anger towards him. He knew it was irrational, but at the moment it was what his brain was telling him, in Frank's voice. Neal closed his eyes when he felt El still besides him, and he started to tremble when he heard Peter's breathing become ragged and shallow with anger. He jumped slightly when an unseen hand came up to lift his chin. Peter's hand was holding him in place and forcing Neal to meet his eyes.

"Neal," Peter had to take a deep breath to keep his anger from seeping into his voice. It would only scare his son. "This... is not your fault. It's that bast- that man's fault. This won't make us leave. I promise, son." That one word made Neal want to start crying again, but he felt all dried up and unable to shed a single tear.

"Honey? I'm going to touch your back, okay?" The con man only nodded and kept facing Peter. His throat was closed off with emotions. He vaguely felt El's gentle hands running over his skin. He couldn't suppress a shudder. Her hands stopped instantly.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Neal, not sure if it was due to the lightheadedness coming from the recent emotional upheaval or just a reaction from Peter's declaration, smiled a real genuine smile, bringing an even wider one to Peter's face.

"No... it- it just tickled." El's eyebrows shot up, and she met Peter's twinkling eyes over Neal.

"That was probably not wise of you to admit, Neal," Peter warned. As he said it, El filed the information away for later.

Neal's back was littered with dark purple bruises and cuts, verging on gashes, from where the buckle dug in. It was not pretty, sure to leave some scars. El let her eyes trace over the long faded scars on Neal's skin that would be joined by the new ones. Someone hurt her baby. She knew who that someone was. That someone was going to pay.

Sooooo, a little bit longer, and not as angsty as the last chap, but still. School starts back up for me next week, so posts will probably be less...on schedule shall we say. I will not abandon the story, I promise you that. :)

This chap reminds me a little of Good Will Hunting, and if you have not seen it, I highly recommend it! It is a wonderful and heart wrenching story. :)

As always...review!

And you guys already know 'bout my offer to do prompts. :)