Chapter Thirteen

"I knew he was going to be trouble. You don't have what it takes to be a 'Master', Neal, you've got too much heart. Are you at least safe? I can..."

"Mozzie, stop talking." Neal interrupted. "It's not me, it's him. Peter is dying."

"Dying?" Mozzie repeated surprised.

"Cheng beat him within an inch of his life and I haven't made things any better by having him working for me all day. How he even stayed standing this long is beyond me. Mozzie, there is so much blood."

"Blood?"

"His back is torn open." Neal fretted. "I don't know how he hid it so well, but he is near death now. He must have a serious infection, he's radiating heat and delirious. He's passed out at the moment but when he wakes he's going to be in agony. I kept thinking that he looked like he was in pain, but he kept deny..."

"Neal, calm down."

"Calm down? What am I going to do? I can't just stand by and let him die."

"I knew you were going to get attached to him." Mozzie sighed sadly. "Just another reason I was so afraid when you told me you'd brought an Animula home."

"Mozzie you have to help us." Neal begged.

"Well, you certainly can't take him to a hospital they won't treat an Animula, and the Market is out of the question they'd just arrest you. I'll have to find you a vet that has some...discretion. I think I know someone who knows someone. It will not be an inexpensive house call."

"I don't care. I need him here as soon as possible."

"I'll find someone." Mozzie assured.

"Thank you."

"Neal, don't drop your guard around him, a wounded animal is far mor..."

"I can take care of myself, just find me a vet, Mozzie."

Neal hung up the phone before Mozzie could protest further. Neal was not about to admit to Mozzie that Peter had already tried to attack him once. Looking at Peter now he doubted that he had the strength to try anything like that again, at least not at the moment. Not wanting to believe Mozzie that Peter could actually pose a threat Neal dismissed his previous actions to pain and fever induced psychosis.

Neal looked at the crimson gore that had soaked through Peter's shirt and realized that if he didn't do something about it now that the blood was going to dry the cotton to his injuries and make things even worse. Leaving Peter for a moment Neal went across the halls to get the set of guest towels that he kept there. Stepping into Peter's bathroom Neal froze when he caught sight of the broken mirror. Reaching up and touching the spider web pattern Neal could easily imagine the amount of pain and frustration that must have accompanied the powerful strike to the sturdy glass.

"Push anyone hard enough and eventually they will push back." Neal said sadly. "I just can't believe you didn't reach that point a long time ago."

Feeling increasingly sick to his stomach Neal gathered up an armful of towels and returned to his own apartment to set them down on the bed next to Peter. Going into the kitchen he retrieved a sharp pair of scissors. Neal brushed his hand against Peter's temple to see if it would wake him. He wanted to avoid startling him while removing the shirt, however Peter stayed locked in the unnatural sleep.

"I hate blood." Neal cringed.

Gritting his teeth Neal lifted up the back of Peter's shirt to cut it open. Peeling the sticky cloth away from Peter's skin Neal sliced up through the back until he reached the collar when he had to work a little harder to cut through the tie. Realizing that he wasn't going to be able to pull the shirt out from under Peter without making a mess Neal just cut up each side and removed the back of the shirt in two pieces. Removing the cloth carefully revealed a shocking amount of damage. Feeling queazy just looking at the slash marks cut into Peter's shoulders Neal swallowed against the taste of bile.

"You didn't have to suffer silently for the past two days." Neal informed Peter pointlessly. "What did you think my reaction was going to be if you'd just told me? Did you really think I'd send you back to Cheng as 'damaged goods'?"

Realizing that had probably been exactly Peter's fear Neal shook his head sadly. Unsure of where to start Neal retreated back into the kitchen and filled a large bowl half way with cold water and set it on the chair next to the bed. Placing the towels along Peter's sides to try and soak up some of the mess Neal took a clean wash cloth and dipped it in the water to try and start removing some of the blood that was still slowly dripping from the angry wounds.

Trying his best to not touch any of the actual lacerations Neal gently started cleaning away the gore. It didn't take more than a few minutes before he had to return to the sink to change out the water. Exposed to the air the cuts began to clot and the bleeding slowed down significantly. Slowly making progress Neal revealed that there were six diagonal gashes across his shoulders that were obviously fresh, what Neal wasn't expecting to find was four others that had started to heal over that he guessed were a few weeks old. Clearing more of the stain away gave Neal a view of the dozen or so older marks that had faded into scars. Putting down the blood soaked wash cloth Neal traced one of the healed scars with a heavy heart.

"Soulless or not no one deserves this."

Neal pressed the back of his hand against Peter's forehead and still found it unnaturally warm. Getting some more clean water Neal used a clean cloth to try and help bring down his fever. When Neal moved the cloth to the back of Peter's neck he whimpered as nightmares invaded his restless sleep. Remembering that Peter had reacted negatively the last time he'd been touched across the back of the neck Neal lifted up the cloth and inspected the area. There was a distinct mark about half and inch wide and two inches straddling Peter's spine at the base of his neck.

"A collar did that, didn't it?" Neal asked rhetorically. "When they say it's 'humane' do they just mean that it's more humane than beating someone until they pass out and need a month to recover?"

Getting increasingly angry over Peter's obvious mistreatment Neal carded his hand into Peter's hair in attempt to offer him some small amount of comfort even if he wasn't capable of being aware of it. Even though he remained unconscious Peter's breathing did slow slightly at the compassionate touch.

"Although I get the feeling you'd choose a physical abuse over even just the threat of a collar every time. Which is a terrifying thought..."