Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA Network and Jeff Eastin.
Chapter 16
Peter's immediate response was panic. Had Neal and the girl been sure that they had killed the same guy? After all it was six years after he had kidnapped them. Had they recognized him and gone after him? He had to know that they hadn't made some awful mistake.
"Neal, are you certain you killed the right man? After six years how could you be sure it was him?"
Neal lifted his head and looked at Peter, with a puzzled expression.
"Of course it was him. Who else would it be?"
"Well five is very young, Neal, and after six years of not seeing him you could have mistaken someone else for him."
"But we saw him every day." Neal still seemed confused.
"Oh, god!" Elizabeth exclaimed and immediately covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Peter in horror.
Peter didn't understand what Elizabeth had just come to realize. She took Neal's hand and softly asked.
"Neal, are you saying that you and the girl were held by this man for six years before you killed him?"
Peter looked at her aghast before turning to Neal for confirmation.
"Yes."
It was one simple, small word, but it completely changed everything that Peter had ever believed or felt about his friend. On a good day, Neal was a lovable rogue, a smooth conman with a heart of gold. On a bad day, a selfish brat who could infuriate Peter and leave him feeling mad or jealous, ready to throw the younger man back in supermax.
For a moment Peter thought he might faint, he could hear his heartbeat and the room started to tilt, but he managed to pull himself together before it took him over. He looked back at Elizabeth and saw that she was crying. Both hands were now over her mouth. Neal, having withdrawn his, rested his head on the table again. At a complete loss for words, Peter put his hand on Neal's back.
If he thought this would be a comfort he was mistaken. Neal gasped at the contact and immediately shrank away, pushing himself closer to the table. Peter quickly withdrew his hand and watched horrified as Neal began to breathe in rasping gulps. Suddenly he sat upright, panicked and grabbing at his throat, pulling his tee shirt away from his neck as he struggled to breathe. Neal's eyes started to water, and he was clawing at his shirt, his face growing red as he tried desperately to take in air.
"Peter, I think he's having a panic attack!" Elizabeth yelled as she jumped up and ran to the pantry. She grabbed a brown paper sandwich sack and pushed her fist into it, then crushed the top around her fingers to make a hole for Neal to breathe into. She guided it onto Neal's mouth and nose while holding the back of his neck.
"Neal, sweetheart, try to breathe into this," she instructed in a trembling voice.
Peter looked on helplessly as Neal unsuccessfully tried to catch his breath. Finally, with one huge gasp Neal pushed his head against Elizabeth's hand, his eyes rolled back until only the whites showed, and he passed out. Peter caught him as he slumped down in the chair and hauled him onto the floor.
"Open the back door!" He instructed as he dragged Neal over the kitchen floor in an attempt to get him closer to some fresh air. He laid him flat and pulled up his tee shirt to see if he was breathing while he put his other hand to Neal's neck, checking for a pulse.
"Is he breathing, I don't see his chest moving?" Elizabeth asked, her voice rising in panic.
"I don't think so. I can feel a pulse, but it's very faint"
Peter quickly stripped off his own tee shirt and, balling it up, put it under Neal neck so that his chin was tilted upward. Then he bent down with his cheek next to Neal's mouth but couldn't feel any air coming out. He opened Neal's mouth then covered it with his own. Pinching Neal's nose, he breathed deeply into the young man's mouth. He pulled away and watched Neal's chest rise, then fall before giving him another breath. Neal remained unresponsive. Peter tried again and, on the third repetition, Neal gasped and started to breathe for himself.
Peter sat back on the floor, leaning against the opened door. Elizabeth looked at him and smiled lovingly.
"Peter that was amazing!" she said in awe.
Peter smiled back wanly, exhausted as the adrenaline gave way to the shakes. He had to admit he had impressed even himself. He caught Neal under the arms and lifted him into a seated position, pulling his tee shirt down and leaning him against Elizabeth's comforting arms while he put his own shirt back on.
Neal opened his eyes and seemed surprised to find himself in Elizabeth's embrace.
"What did I do now?" he moaned.
"Nothing sweetheart. Everything's fine," Elizabeth cooed as she pulled Neal closer, still looking at Peter in admiration. "Let's call it a night and get you back up to bed."
Together they walked Neal back and tucked him in. Peter dragged the recliner from their bedroom into Neal's while Elizabeth brought him a quilt.
"I don't need a babysitter!" Neal said in an offended tone.
"Oh yes you do, buddy." Peter laughed, in relief. "I'm not leaving you here, so you'd better just settle down and go to sleep."
Neal huffed and turned onto his side, facing away from Peter. He heard Elizabeth kissing Peter and then going back into their room. He would never admit it, but he felt a huge comfort at knowing Peter was in the room with him. He closed his eyes and within seconds Peter could hear him breathing heavier as he drifted off to sleep.
God only knows what's in store next. Peter thought to himself as he too fell fast asleep.
TBC
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story or added it to their alerts/favorites. Thank you also lstuds (aka Comma Queen) for the beta graft work.
