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


Chapter 14

All was quiet in the Burke household when Peter and Satchmo arrived home. Peter settled the dog down with clean water and a biscuit for the night and then headed upstairs to Elizabeth. She was sound asleep, a book open on the bed beside her. He picked it up, put her bookmark in place for her and set in on the bedside table. He showered and got ready for bed before checking in on Neal, who was snoring quietly, still curled up on top of the covers. Peter pulled a quilt out of the dresser and gently laid it over his partner. As it touched his shoulder, Neal stirred slightly and scrunched down underneath so only the top of his head was visible. Satisfied that his friend would me warm enough for the night, Peter returned to his own bedroom and snuggled up to Elizabeth. He loved her smell, and melted into the back of her neck, feeling her hair move on and off his face as he breathed in and out. He felt a familiar wave of comfort sweep over him and relaxed for the first time that day. Sighing contentedly he reveled in the knowledge that he had six more hours of bliss next to his wife before he had to wake up. Within four breaths he was fast asleep.

Two hours later, Neal's scream sent Peter and Elizabeth rocketing out of bed in a total panic.

The noise was so breathtaking, so visceral that they were both completely disoriented. Peter grabbed his gun from the bedroom safe while Elizabeth retrieved the baseball bat from under the bed. They tumbled over each other and headed downstairs, both thinking that Satchmo was the source of the anguished cry. Two steps down Satchmo charged past them as another piercing scream emanated from the guest room. In the same instant they exclaimed, "Neal!" and turned back to race toward the gut-churning sound.

Satchmo was beside the bed, barking wildly but Neal seemed to be completely unaware of him. He was kneeling on the bed, eyes wide in terror fixed on the opposite wall. Instinctively Elizabeth called out to Neal and his head snapped round to face her. His mouth opened in horror, and he pointed at Peter, the whites of his eyes growing even larger in the glow of the hall light.

"Girl!" he screamed at Elizabeth, "He's right behind you, run!"

His voice was unnaturally high-pitched and he sounded so young that Elizabeth faltered for a moment, unsure as to what to do.

"Run, Girl. Run, now!" Neal screamed again, reaching out both arms toward her.

Elizabeth stepped toward Neal and, without thinking, Peter followed her.

Neal gasped and flattened himself on the bed and half-ran half-crawled backwards, falling off the side of the bed and onto the floor. As Elizabeth ran around the bed to him he pushed himself up on his knees and grabbed her by the wrists, pulling her to him. Elizabeth yelped in surprise and pain as she fell down beside Neal. Immediately he pushed her against the wall and sat in front of her, pinning her in place while he flailed his legs out wildly at Peter who was trying to free Elizabeth.

"Get away, get away, get away!" Neal screamed as he kicked Peter so hard in his shin that he fell over, yowling.

Elizabeth could barely breathe, but she desperately croaked, "Peter, put the lights on. Quick!"

If felt as though Neal was about to push her clear through the sheet rock and into the next room. She could not believe how strong he was. Any movement she made just gave him more room to squeeze back into her. He turned around and covered her with his body, putting his hands up on the wall behind her. His breath was harsh and ragged and his chest was heaving as though he were also having difficulty breathing.

The instant the light came on Neal sprung back from Elizabeth, as if he'd been electrified, and landed with a sickening thud on the floor at the far end of the bed. It looked to her as though someone had yanked him from behind, but Peter was still standing at the door, his hand on the light switch. If Peter and Elizabeth hadn't witnessed it for themselves, they would never have believed a person could more through the air like that. Satchmo whined and buried himself under the bed.

Neal lay there curled up with his hands over his head, trembling and silent. The silence was more terrifying than the screaming. Even though she could see him moving Elizabeth was so shaken that she asked, "Is he dead?"

She looked over to Peter and tried to get up but found herself rooted to the floor. Cautiously Peter edged passed Neal and held his hand out, pulling Elizabeth up and into his arms. She could feel Peter's hands shaking as he held her and then gently maneuvered her behind him and they stepped back around to the other side of the bed.

"Go to our bedroom. Take Satchmo with you and lock the door behind you." He whispered to her.

Elizabeth started to speak but Peter put his fingers to her lips. In doing so he became aware that he was no longer holding his gun. He had dropped it when Neal kicked him and now he looked about desperately to locate it. His gut tightened in fear as he saw it lying just inches from Neal's hands. There was no telling if Neal was spent or about to leap into action again. He was caught between needing to get Elizabeth away from harm and going for the gun. He turned back to his wife and mouthed, "Go!"

He watched as she silently backed away, her eyes locked on his. Satchmo had wriggled out from under the bed, and walked beside Elizabeth, his body pressed against her leg. "Come on buddy," she whispered as she bent down and pulled him into her bedroom with her. He looked back mournfully at Peter, reluctant to leave his master unprotected.

As soon as he heard the bedroom door click shut Peter turned back to Neal. He crept over him and ever so slowly reached down to get the gun. He could feel his pulse thumping against his neck and sweat dripping down his back. Neal didn't move at all, other than the shaking, and Peter slowly let out his breath in relief as he picked up the gun, stepped back over Neal and quickly padded back to his own bedroom. He tapped on the door and as Elizabeth opened it he pressed the gun into her hands.

"Lock this away now, before one of us gets hurt."

He couldn't bear the thought that they had come so close to someone getting shot in the mayhem. If Neal had got hold of the gun in his state of mind he would surely have shot Peter, maybe even Elizabeth, on accident. Elizabeth closed the door and he heard her opening the safe and putting the gun inside. She joined Peter out in the hall as he stood looking over at Neal and wondering what to do next.

"I'm afraid to touch him in case I set him off again. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack in there." Peter said as their shoulders touched.

Elizabeth slipped her hand in his. "I've never heard screams like that before. It was like something out of a horror movie, only much worse. I can still feel my heart pounding."

Peter turned to his wife drawing her toward him, protectively putting his arms around her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked as he stroked Elizabeth's hair.

"More shaken up, although I'm sure I going to have some ugly bruises come morning." She reached up and put her hands on either side of Peter's face with a concerned expression.

"What about you? That was one hell of a kick to your leg. I thought he might have broken it."

Peter reached down and pulled up his pajama leg to reveal an enormous bump. It looked strangely unreal, as though he had had a golf ball transplanted beneath the skin. A deep purple bruise had already started to form.

"Wow, that actually looks as bad as it feels!"

"Oh, hon. Should I get you an ice pack?" Elizabeth asked as she covered her mouth in shock.

"No, not now. I want to get Neal sorted out first."

Peter stepped back into the room and went over to Neal. He was no longer shaking and his hands were now on the floor beside his face rather than over his head. His breathing was back to normal and he looked for all the world as though he were just taking a nap on the floor. Cautiously Peter crouched down beside him, wincing in pain as he bent his leg. He gently placed a hand on Neal's shoulder and shook him a little.

"Neal, buddy. You okay?"

"Hmmm?" Neal replied groggily.

"Wake up, Neal. It's Peter. You okay there?"

Neal rolled onto his back and squinted up at Peter. Slowly he turned his head to look around the room, stopping as his gaze fell on Elizabeth who was standing in the doorway. He gave her a sleepy smile and then turned back to Peter.

"Did I fall out of bed?" he asked, half-awake.

"Yeah, something like that. How about you get off the floor and we all go downstairs for some coffee?" Peter ruffled Neal's hair and smiled at him.

"Okay then." Neal replied pleasantly, blissfully ignorant of the chaos he had just caused.

Satchmo came trotting over to him and nudged his nose into Neal's hand. Neal laughed and petted him.

"I'm sorry, Satch. Did I wake you up?"

Elizabeth laughed at the understatement and moved over to squat beside Neal who had pushed himself up so he was sitting against the dresser. She held his hand and kissed him on the cheek.

"That's nice." Neal said dopily. "Do I get one from you too, Peter?"

"No, no kiss from me, Neal." Peter laughed, and pulled his friend up from the floor.

"Okay then." Neal repeated in the same sing-song tone of voice.

Peter smiled and put his arm around him as he guided him out of the room.

"How did I get over there?" Neal asked as they headed toward the kitchen.

"Long story, bud. Let's get that coffee first, huh?" Peter replied.

"Okay then."

Elizabeth giggled as she reached for the coffee pot.


TBC

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