Jones looked up from his magazine when the unfamiliar young doctor stepped into the room, tensing for trouble, but he couldn't quite hide his grin when Neal smiled at her as brightly as he could manage. She was cute, the agent admitted to himself. A slender woman with caramel toned skin and midnight eyes, long hair in tiny braids pulled back in a large French braid, she met the greeting with a compassionate smile.
"Mr. Caffrey," she said gently "I'm Dr. Mitchell, I am your Neurologist…"
"Neal." He offered his right hand though the movement made him wince and the word was muffled by the mask.
"A pleasure to finally meet you. I have not been in since your surgery… while your other doctors dealt with other matters that were of more pressing concern. Dr. Wilson has, however been keeping me apprised of your condition."
"Ok?" Neal hesitated, Jones noted… he's not sure he wants to hear what she's going to say. Pushing the mask aside he plunged in. "So you're… here to tell… me about… my…my spine. I would… appre…ciate that. Everyone has…has been… avoiding… my questions."
"I'm sure that is frustrating…we … your medical team felt it would be best to avoid discussing your situation with you until you were better able to tolerate the stress. Your body has been through a tremendous amount of trauma…" her words made Neal chuckle painfully.
"I noticed…" he swallowed, his eyes reflecting the memories. He visibly shook himself to continue. "but you were… called in… for my …spine …right?"
"Among other things… yes." She nodded. Jones noticed the flicker in blue eyes…
"Other things?"
"There is a possibility the burns on your arms may have caused nerve damage… and of course oxygen deprivation is…" she paused, apparently searching for a gentle way to explain.
"Not good?" Neal supplied with a grin that radiated to brightly to Jones.
"No it's not." The doctor chuckled as she lifted his right hand carefully "Can you move your fingers… one by one?" Neal complied with a sigh.
"But my back…?"
"We'll get to the spinal injury in a moment." her eyes locked on his calmly "First I need to assess your general neurological condition." Neal rolled his eyes and Jones suppressed a chuckle. The room was quiet… for exactly thirty seconds.
"Is it … permanent?" the agent flinched at the desperation in his friend's voice. The young woman sighed, looking at the file in her hands a moment.
"I don't know." She admitted and met his eyes again "it is too soon to know that with any certainty… We will know a little more after my examination this morning."
"Then let's… get started… shall we…?" Jones offered the other man what he hoped was a reassuring smile as the doctor shook her head and moved confidently around the bed, asking questions clearly intended to determine his mental clarity, though how she could do that while he was on so many drugs, Jones couldn't say. When she lifted his feet checking the pulse at his ankles, it was an odd relief to see him flinch slightly as her fingers touched the burns… she continued pricking his toes and legs gently, shifting the limbs carefully. When she was finished expectation seemed to fill the room.
"Well…?"
"Well it appears severe hypothermia prevented any substantial brain damage…"
"Gathered that…"his smile earned him one in return "And my… spine…?" his voice barely trembled
"You have some feeling which is encouraging…but you have no movement at this time…"
"So you… don't know…"
"I think you will regain some movement… it is hard to determine how much at this point… I will schedule the physical therapist to stop by tomorrow. We will start slowly and see where you end up. Neal it is important that you be patient with yourself. Your body… and your mind, have a lot to recover from." He nodded quietly… it was better than no hope, but it was a long way from a promise of complete recovery.
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
"Agent Burke?" Miranda's voice through his phone gave away nothing "I have the results back."
"and?"
"And… you were right Michael Scott is also a paternal match for William Woodbridge. We can request a more in depth test but… it will take weeks, maybe longer to come back.
"Thanks but I'm pretty sure we all know which one is actually the boy's father."
"Most likely." She sighed "I may have jumped the gun on my assessment of Mr. Caffrey."
"Just a little bit."
"You said he is in the hospital?"
"Yes." Peter frowned uncertainly.
"How long will he be there, do you think?"
"I'm not sure." His gut hesitated to tell her more "Why?"
"I need to assure the well-being of the minor."
"Will is staying with me and my wife while Neal recovers." He paused "he is being taken care of well. I'm sure Elle… my wife would let you inspect our home if you need to."
"I see… thank you Agent Burke. I'll be in touch." She disconnected quickly.
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
Walking into the room he was surprised to find his friend not only awake but propped up against the bed reading… the mask replaced by a simpler oxygen tube… though the effort it took to hold the book with his weak, burned arms was obvious. The call from Miranda Wallace had confirmed what he already knew… Peter sighed, wondering what exactly he should say to Neal. Every explanation he thought of seemed awkward… and almost cruel.
"Hey."
"Hey" Neal looked up, letting the book sag against his legs. Peter sat in the chair still trying to think how to say what was on his mind.
"You look better?" he said "no mask…"
"I … kept pushing …it off… to talk." The young man gave a one sided shrug "so they… gave me… this… when I'm awake…"
"In other words they couldn't stop you from pulling it off to talk so they…"
"Adapted?" he grinned "The ability… to adapt… is a useful skill…" he gasped for a moment "I'm doing… them a …favor"
"Neal."
"Peter"
"Your lungs need time to heal."
"I know …but I'm…ok."
"Right, which is why you can't get out more than two words at a time."
"I'm getting… there."
"I know." he shifted slightly in his chair… he patted his friend's knee absently, his mind drifting back to Miranda's call. The moment of quiet grew too long.
Neal said softly "just tell … me…"
"What?"
"You have… bad news. Just tell me…"
"Not bad really. Just complicated."
"When is any…thing simple…?" he grinned and Peter found himself smiling back. Taking a deep breath he plunged in.
"Miss Wallace's results came back today."
"And…?'
"Kevin Grant also tested as Will's father."
"So that… means…" a look of shock crossed his face before blue eyes turned away to cover his thoughts the only way he could in his current condition.
"It means the odds against him being your identical twin are astronomical." Peter said it aloud…
"My brother… is? I still…still… have… a …br… brother" he gasped before it turned to a deep cough.
"You need to calm down" the older man rose quickly unsure how to sooth his friend "Neal you need to breathe…"
"r-right…" the younger man made a valiant effort to slow his frantic respirations…
"I'm going to put the mask back on."
"No…I'm … ok." His wheezing breaths were beginning to slow.
"I should have waited to tell you."
"No!" falling back against the pillows he managed a small smile "I want… to… know."
"Are you sure…"
"What's … he like…?"
"You…" Peter offered a teasing smile to cover his worry "with a gun."
"Carries… a gun…?" Neal's expression faltered
"Neal…"Peter hesitated "It comes with his job description." He was met with raised eyebrows. "He's a CIA agent."
"License… to kill?" the kid was grinning mischievously now but he couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes.
"I didn't ask… figured it was better if I didn't know."
"Prob…ably" he rolled his shoulders thoughtfully "what else…did you …find?"
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
Neal lay his book aside… he had been reading the same chapter for over an hour. His swirling thoughts made it almost impossible to concentrate. It was getting dark outside his window, not that it mattered much… his days seemed to all blend together lately.
He shifted as much as he could without help and sighed.
A brother… he always suspected he had a brother once but to have it confirmed… to know he was still alive… it was strangely overwhelming… and worrisome. Neal desperately wanted to meet him but… his family had a way of hurting him. Would Kevin deceive and betray him like James had… or would he be distant like his mother… forgetting he existed more often than not? Would he, a sworn federal agent even acknowledge him… "No one actually wants an evil twin?" he thought grimly. Peter said Kevin refused to meet him for his safety but what if…
Peter… he hated keeping secrets from Peter. Not that he couldn't, of course. He had done it many times but it always ate at his conscience like very few things did. Diana was right of course, there wasn't any reason to bring up his dream to Peter. Bringing it up would only hurt his friend. It wasn't fair to look him in the eye and tell him "I know you told Davis to stop when he was trying to save me." Not there was no reason for that since Diana told him it was only a moment of weakness… or hopelessness. The fact was, he shouldn't remember it at all. From what everyone said the only way he could remember was… he shuttered at the thought, but he did remember and he wished he could hear Peter say he hadn't really given up him… he really hated keeping secrets from his family and the painkillers in his system didn't make it any easier…
Painkillers he would most likely need for a long time… the burns…his spine. At least the doctor hadn't said there was no hope but, even a significant recovery… best case scenario, most likely left him shuffling along with support, crutches or a cane. Neal swallowed hard at that thought. Even if he recovered full use of his legs, he was under no illusions… his back would be painful, possibly extremely so, for the rest of his life. Would he be able to take care of William on pain medication and crutches… he gulped.
William who was not his but already felt like he was… His little nephew, that thought would take some getting used to… not just a sweet little boy, but family. Real family. G** he hoped he didn't hurt that baby like his family always seemed to. Maybe Kevin would take him… his own father was probably the better option for raising him. Unless Kevin turned out to be like their parents…
A brother… he had a living twin brother… it was surreal. his thoughts began the circle again.
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
"Hey hon," he answer the phone cheerfully "I'm on my way home right now." It was actually true.
"Honey I need you here right now." He heard the tears she was holding back.
"What's wrong? Are you ok?" his imagination supplied him with unwanted images. Elle and Will hiding while Dennison's men searched the house for them. Followed by one of the thugs holding her at gun point forcing her to call him.
"There is a woman here. She's trying to take Will."
"Is her name Miranda?"
"Yes… she says we don't have custody… and we are keeping him illegally."
"Tell her I'm on my way. Ask her to at least wait for me."
"Ok." She whispered. He disconnected and drove faster.
Entering the house he found Elle on the couch clutching the small boy to her. Miranda sat in the arm chair watching them closely. Surprisingly she did not look smug or triumphant. Rather she looked resigned and … regretful.
"Agent Burke" she greeted as he entered. "I am really sorry about this"
"But you still intend to take him."
"Unfortunately, yes." She smiled apologetically
"Taking him from a place he feels safe and loved" Elizabeth broke in "to at best a new place and new people to get used to… just because we don't have the right paperwork."
"I'm afraid it is more than that. Mrs. Burke, we were not informed of a kidnapping and serious injury of the child and his official caregiver. We were not informed of a change in custody and address… It appears you have been good to him but my hands are tied…"
"I'm sure they are Ms. Wallace." He couldn't quite hide the sarcasm in his tone.
"Agent Burke, my supervisor was inclined to charge you and your wife with kidnapping…" she sighed. Elizabeth gasped and Peter froze in shock. "I managed to convince her that your failure to communicate was probably just an oversight due to the stress of the situation. She is however adamant that the minor be removed from a 'clearly dangerous' environment. Hopefully the child will soon be placed with his father permanently and foster care will only be a brief solution."
"I see." He managed "will Neal still be allowed to see him… he is apparently his uncle."
"Hon, you aren't going to let her take him, are you!?" she gripped Peter's arm desperately.
"I have to. We don't have much choice Elle." He took her hand gently "if we fight they will take him by force. Think of William… how traumatic that would be for him. Being dragged away like that."
"But Neal didn't want him to go to…"
"I know." He smiled at her "and I'm sure his lawyer will get William out of the system as soon as possible." Her tear filled eyes focused on his face "Why don't you go give Mr. Haversham a call right now and get him working on it." she gave him a small understanding smile in return.
"I think that is an excellent idea, agent Burke" Miranda said "but for the moment I do have to take the boy."
"I understand. Just promise me Neal will still be able to see him."
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that."