Twenty percent chance of surviving the first 48 hours… twenty percent! 4 to 1 odds… It had rattled in his mind like a loose bolt, obscuring much of what the doctor said afterward… Peter caught something about broken ribs… 7 broken ribs, pelvic fractures, broken collar bone… shattered ankle…internal bleeding and a serious concussion… there were details… about damaged organs and blood loss but all he really understood was Neal had to hold on for two days… against long odds… but he was Neal… he would beat the odds…right?
Peter stood up and paced…his footsteps matching the rhythm of the soft hiss of artificial breathing… 26 hours in and the young man was still fighting… he tried to convince himself that meant … something. It was hard to believe his own arguments however, because the kid looked dead… there really was no other way to describe his appearance… wilted loosely into the bed, his skin the exact translucent grey white of granny's milk glass splashed with garish greens, blues and blacks… and entirely unresponsive, his heart beat never wavered… even when an orderly dropped a stack of dishes with an enormous clatter just outside the door... The longer he remained unconscious the more the doctors were concerned about the blow to his head. Moving carefully so he wouldn't accidently disconnect anything important he stepped to the bed and lifting a cool hand he rubbed the still fingers between both of his hands… trying to will warmth and life into them.
"More than halfway there…you can do this, Neal. Just keep fighting…Nathen needs you" no response… "Diana ran the DNA test…it should be back soon…but I don't have any doubts. He's yours... the kid is going to be a pain in my a** in a few years if someone doesn't guide him. You should see his drawing of the kidnapper…" he squeezed the limp hand softly "I mean it kid you need to pull out of this and see it... the boy has your talent… and your inability to sit still." Nothing… not a flicker of life.
Shaking his head he sank back in the chair… "They told me I'm too close to this case you know… and it really wasn't White Collar's area… they handed it over to Violent Crimes… I tried my best to argue but…I really don't have a leg to stand on…the agent they put in charge seems…competent… but it's not the top of her priority list…" the silent figure remained lifelessly still. Peter smothered the urge to shake his friend…he stood up again… laying a hand on the dark hair "Just hang in there and…" his voice broke then "and come back to us… you hear me." He stroked the hair under his hand. "I'm going to get some coffee… don't you even think about going anywhere while I'm gone." Peter tried to keep his tone light but…he couldn't help thinking about the only place his friend might go right now.
Twenty percent chance… 4 to 1 odds. Shuddering slightly he turned to the door with one last helpless look at the bed. 22 hours to go before those odds changed.
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She sighed as she sank into the couch…took a deep breath and sighed again. Almost 2 hours to get the little boy to sleep… and an hour and half later… just as she was getting ready for bed he woke up screaming. It took another half hour to sooth him back to sleep… Diana was exhausted… she sipped her tea thoughtfully…her mind replaying the conversation she had with the boy.
"Diana…I need to see Neal" he said abruptly the tears of his nightmare still on his face.
"Nate I don't think that's possible." She tried to sound soothing
"He was hurt wasn't he?" the little boy leveled his intense gaze on her "Is he dead?"
"Why would you ask that?" the bluntness of the question startled him
"He's your friend, right?"
"Yes"
"You've been sad since you saw Agent Peter at the hospital." He looked at her solemnly "you can tell me if he is… my great grandpa died last year so I understand."
"He's not dead, Nathen…" she drew a slow breath trying to think of how to explain the situation to the obviously bright seven year old boy. "He's not dead… but he was hurt. Badly. He's still unconscious… I promise I will take you to see him as soon as possible."
"Ok… is he going to die?"
"I don't know Nate… no one knows."
"Oh" the little boy was quiet so long she thought he might have drifted off. "Diana? I really need to see him…"
"He won't know you're there."
"He might die."
"Nate…"
"I need to see him… just in case." She sighed. "Go back to sleep Nate. We'll talk about this in the morning." He nodded
"You'll let me see him tomorrow?" his voice was getting drowsy
"We'll see…" she smoothed his hair "we'll see." The child finally dozed off.
Diana shook her head wondering what she had gotten into… the boy was without question Caffrey's son …DNA test or no DNA test…what possessed her to volunteer to take the boy in she had no idea…but she had agreed to protect him and she intended to see it through… Agent Ariana Valdez had been hinting at turning him over to Child Services since she took over the case yesterday. She seemed inclined to believe the kidnapper got what he wanted and would leave Nate alone now. She was a good agent Diana knew but she did not like the woman… Maybe it was the way she carried herself as if social interaction was an inconvenience or maybe it was the way she had taken the case file absently and dropped it onto a pile of files with a little arch of her eyebrows and a longsuffering sigh, like it was insignificant… but she rubbed Diana the wrong way.
Peter didn't agree… he said his gut told him to keep the boy close and protect him, so here she sat. She would insure his safety as long as she could… hopefully before Valdez insisted they give him up Neal would be awake and able to give them something more… concrete. She studied her tea… there hadn't been any news on that front. Of course in this case no news was good news… still she wondered how Neal was doing…
She finished her tea and stood up. Even though it was her own apartment she moved to check the exterior. She peeked out the front door before double locking it. She checked each window before moving to the French doors. The small balcony lay in deep shadow as she checked the latch. Something caught her eye… a shadow moved across the alley. The dark figure of a man on the fire escape… Diana felt his eyes on her and pulled back sharply reaching for her weapon… another look. The shadow was gone but his presence lingered in the night. She shivered.
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Nate flicked the thumb stick making the RC robot spin in circles. Then twisting it back and forth he made the toy dance across the floor… he watched it move smoothly but even though he was glad Diana let him go home and pick up some of his favorite things, his mind just wasn't on playing. He couldn't help it… his thoughts kept wandering back to the man that saved him… the man that might be his other dad. The last time he saw him, Neal was boosting him up to a high window and giving him instructions on how to get away. The man smiled at him reassuringly patting his ankle as he scrambled over the sill.
Two days ago Diana promised she would take him to the hospital to see Neal but she still hadn't. Every time he brought it up she looked at him with that awful expression… and changed the subject. She just didn't understand that he needed to see him… even more if the man was going to die… that meant he might not have a chance to do what he needed to do… Mama would be so disappointed if he didn't… he dropped the remote forgetting about the toy entirely.
If Diana wouldn't take him then he would go himself. He just had to figure out how to get there… He hadn't traveled across the city alone that much but he was sure he could figure it out…
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Peter planted his feet firmly staring down the sharp faced woman. Agent Valdez glared at him.
"I need to speak to him as soon as possible"
"He's still unconscious."
"I'm aware how protective you are of your consultant… you would tell me if he was awake, right?"
"Why are you behaving like Neal is a suspect…" Peter leaned back against the wall trying to put her at ease… "He's the victim, remember"
"The boy's said the attacker told him Caffrey is a murderer."
"You want to interrogate him?" all attempts at placating the woman forgotten he straightened abruptly. "Based on the word of a man who kidnapped his son and nearly beat him to death… are you insane?"
"I didn't say he's guilty… but I would be remiss if I didn't ask about it?"
"He has never been violent… everyone knows that"
"Do we? Do we really know that?"
"I think it's time for you to leave." He glowered darkly at the woman… "You will not be talking to Neal any time soon."
"I am required to take his statement as soon as he is able… you cannot keep me away."
"He isn't awake Valdez… he may not wake up do you understand that?"
"And that is unfortunate…"
"Why because you can't pin a murder on him if he doesn't!"
"I'm not saying he intentionally killed someone but if he was even involved with someone who did…"
"He wasn't. Get out!" he growled turning away and stalking back into the hospital room.
Peter sank in to the chair he had occupied the last four days with a deep sigh. Neal didn't stir… remaining as ashen and utterly lifeless as he had since the first day. Dr. Sanders said this morning that every day he remained this way his chances of a full recovery dropped further, and that woman… his face twisted with anger… how dare she. His frown deepened
"Neal I know you are not a killer… but… not everyone knows you like I do… D*** it! You need to wake up!" his phone buzzed softly… Peter glanced at the screen… Diana. He slipped quickly into the waiting room to call her back. When she answered her voice carried an intensely worried note…
"Boss? Nate is missing…"