Someone Else's Door - White Collar - pre-P/E/N - fever, touch 2/2beggar_alwaysMay 16 2011, 18:41:07 UTC
The door banged open and Neal would have fallen off the couch in shock if Elizabeth hadn’t tucked the blanket in tight around him. He groaned as his entire body throbbed in protest at the movement.
“Neal!” a voice that sounded like a very angry Peter shouted. Before Neal could work up the energy to respond, quick footsteps and the sound of a slap against fabric came from the direction of the door.
“Don’t you dare wake him, Peter Burke!” El hissed. Neal realized his flail apparently hadn’t been as pronounced as it’d felt - they didn’t know he was already awake. Neal squinted across the mostly dark living room to make out the shadow of the Burkes standing near the door.
“Wake him? He was supposed to be back at the Bureau hours ago!”
“Back at the Bureau? Peter, tell me you did not send him out on some sort of mission today. He’s sick!”
“He was fine...”
“His temperature was 103 when he got here!” Neal didn’t exactly remember Elizabeth taking his temperature, but he figured he should take her word for it.
Peter was silent for a moment. “Is he okay?” he asked eventually, sounding vaguely concerned. Neal watched the taller shadow turn toward the couch.
“He will be if you let him rest,” Elizabeth told her husband. “I’m sorry I hit you.” Peter chuckled quietly in the dark.
“You barely tapped my jacket,” he dismissed. “And you were just looking out for Neal.”
“Someone has to,” Elizabeth muttered. Peter sighed.
“I know, hon,” he said. “He did good work today, despite being sick. It’s just been awhile since he ran off on his own.” It was El’s turn to sigh.
“Well he came here and that’s good enough for me. Go on upstairs; I’m just going to check on him again.” Peter’s shadow headed for the stairs while Elizabeth’s moved toward him.
“You can come upstairs too, if you want,” Elizabeth said quietly as she perched on the edge of the couch near his hip. It really didn’t surprise Neal that she knew he was awake. He sighed happily as her fingers stroked through his hair again. It was a tempting offer. Very tempting.
“I think I’ll save that adventure for some time when my skin doesn’t hurt,” he croaked. Despite the darkness, he could make out the smile on Elizabeth’s face.
“I’m gonna hold you to that, Neal,” she promised. She bent down and pressed soft lips to his forehead and straightened his blanket as she sat back up. Neal smiled at the gesture. “Get some rest. If Peter so much as tries to kick you out of here before I’m satisfied you’re better, I’ll threaten to invite his mother for a weekend visit.” Neal tried to laugh and ended up coughing instead. “Actually, I might do that anyway. She’d love you. It’d drive Peter crazy!” She sighed again as she stood.
“Good night, Neal.”
Neal smiled in her general direction, heavy eyelids already drooping shut again.
Re: Someone Else's Door - White Collar - pre-P/E/N - fever, touch 2/2ariadnes_stringMay 16 2011, 19:56:55 UTC
oh my goodness, that is the sweetest thing ever! I love it when Eliabeth is awesome like that (when is she not?), and know Neal loves to be fussed over then he's sick. Thanks so much!! XD
“Neal!” a voice that sounded like a very angry Peter shouted. Before Neal could work up the energy to respond, quick footsteps and the sound of a slap against fabric came from the direction of the door.
“Don’t you dare wake him, Peter Burke!” El hissed. Neal realized his flail apparently hadn’t been as pronounced as it’d felt - they didn’t know he was already awake. Neal squinted across the mostly dark living room to make out the shadow of the Burkes standing near the door.
“Wake him? He was supposed to be back at the Bureau hours ago!”
“Back at the Bureau? Peter, tell me you did not send him out on some sort of mission today. He’s sick!”
“He was fine...”
“His temperature was 103 when he got here!” Neal didn’t exactly remember Elizabeth taking his temperature, but he figured he should take her word for it.
Peter was silent for a moment. “Is he okay?” he asked eventually, sounding vaguely concerned. Neal watched the taller shadow turn toward the couch.
“He will be if you let him rest,” Elizabeth told her husband. “I’m sorry I hit you.” Peter chuckled quietly in the dark.
“You barely tapped my jacket,” he dismissed. “And you were just looking out for Neal.”
“Someone has to,” Elizabeth muttered. Peter sighed.
“I know, hon,” he said. “He did good work today, despite being sick. It’s just been awhile since he ran off on his own.” It was El’s turn to sigh.
“Well he came here and that’s good enough for me. Go on upstairs; I’m just going to check on him again.” Peter’s shadow headed for the stairs while Elizabeth’s moved toward him.
“You can come upstairs too, if you want,” Elizabeth said quietly as she perched on the edge of the couch near his hip. It really didn’t surprise Neal that she knew he was awake. He sighed happily as her fingers stroked through his hair again. It was a tempting offer. Very tempting.
“I think I’ll save that adventure for some time when my skin doesn’t hurt,” he croaked. Despite the darkness, he could make out the smile on Elizabeth’s face.
“I’m gonna hold you to that, Neal,” she promised. She bent down and pressed soft lips to his forehead and straightened his blanket as she sat back up. Neal smiled at the gesture. “Get some rest. If Peter so much as tries to kick you out of here before I’m satisfied you’re better, I’ll threaten to invite his mother for a weekend visit.” Neal tried to laugh and ended up coughing instead. “Actually, I might do that anyway. She’d love you. It’d drive Peter crazy!” She sighed again as she stood.
“Good night, Neal.”
Neal smiled in her general direction, heavy eyelids already drooping shut again.
“G’night, El.”
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