Fic "When it rains, it pours", Parts 12 & 13
When it rains, it pours
See Chapter 1 for more information
A/N: Well, this is it! The story ends here and I hope you've had a great time reading it. Thank you for the wonderful reviews, they really were very much appreciated!
Chapter 12
Cayuga Medical Center
9.25 pm
With two extra blankets to cover him, Peter no longer felt like being a block of ice. Back in the tube he had drawn his full attention to Michael and how to rescue him. Because of this, he hadn't noticed his own hypothermia. How he had arrived at the hospital, Peter couldn't tell. Now, in the silence of his hospital room, he tried to recall the last few hours.
Water.
Lots of water.
All three of them had been thrown out into the catch basin by the blast of the water. When Peter had surfaced again, panic had filled him, because he couldn't find Michael. He had begun to dive into the water. The visibility underwater had been down to zero. After he had surfaced for the third time, he had spotted Neal, who also had called for the boy. Somehow he had been able to find him and carried the unconscious child out of the water. But the boy had stopped breathing. Immediately he and Neal had started with CPR, including mouth-to-mouth respiration. And then, suddenly, Zack and Eric had been with them and plenty of other people. After that, everything happened so fast.
Firefighters had laid the still unconscious boy on a spine board; paramedics had taken over the medical care and both he and Neal had been pushed aside. Then the paramedics had carried Michael over the slope and onto the street, where several ambulances and police cars had been waiting. The blue lights had been dancing in the dark.
In a daze, he had followed the convoy and hadn't noticed that two more paramedics had approached him. They had insisted on examining him and of course had discovered the cut on his arm. Peter remembered that he repeatedly had tried to convince them that he'd been fine and wouldn't need any further medical care thus he didn't need to go to the hospital at all. But due to his hypothermia, he hadn't had a chance and after that, everything went a bit blurry. Presumably the doctors had given him a sedative or he just had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
In any case, he had woken up in his room and after some time he had noticed a light throbbing in his right foot, but he couldn't manage to sit up. It felt like his toes were swollen, at least he couldn't move them. At the very least he could see that his foot was propped up under the blankets, but at the moment he didn't know the extent of his injuries. It was difficult to move, so he had no choice but to stare at the ceiling or outside the window. As far as he could tell, the rain had stopped. That figures.
And then, without even wanting it, he had to think of Elizabeth. Elizabeth! It was then that he realized how dangerous the whole situation had been. He began to tremble. In a way he was glad that she was in San Francisco. On the other hand, he missed her even more right now. He had to get a phone, just because he wanted to hear her voice.
Someone knocked lightly on the door, which caused him to flinch. "Yes?"
The door opened and Shelly stuck her head through the gasp. "Hey. Can I come in for a second?"
Peter cleared his throat. "Sure."
"Boy, what a night," she smiled slightly and walked towards the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Somehow...weird. Powerless," Peter said and couldn't prevent a yawn. "And tired."
"I'll be gone soon. Just wanted to see you," Shelly answered. "I hope it was okay to inform your mother? I thought it would be better if she learned from us instead of the media what had happened. She's waiting for me to report afterwards."
Well. Right. He hadn't thought of that. "Yeah, it was better this way. Thanks." To be honest, he had neither the strength nor the patience to deal with his mother right now. So it was good that Shelly acted as an intermediary. "What about Michael? And Neal? Are they all right?" Once again, he made a half-hearted attempt to sit up. Sighing, he sank back because it was too strenuous.
"Michael is doing well, considering the circumstances. As far as I know, his leg is broken and for a time it didn't look good for him because he heavily hypothermic. But now he's out of danger. His parents are with him right now."
Peter exhaled audibly. "Thank God!" He allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment. "What about Neal?" He asked again. When he didn't get an immediate answer, he opened his eyes and turned his eyes in the direction of Shelly.
She seemed uncertain and looked at him intently. "You should call your boss. I have no say in this and stand no chance against the Marshals."
"Marshals? What...? Why?"
"They have arrested your partner. There was nothing I could do about it."
Still, Peter couldn't quite follow her. "Neal? Arrested?"
"He cut the anklet. The Marshals assumed that he wanted to take the opportunity to run."
"Absolutely not!" Peter cut in and suddenly had the strength to sit up, using his elbows for support. "He helped me to save the boy!"
"I know Peter. That's what he told them. But I think they are out of sorts with him."
"Quite possible," Peter sighed. "Where is he now?"
"A few rooms away."
"Then let's go." Before he indulged himself some rest, he had to convince himself that Neal was fine. Awkwardly, he struggled with the heavy blankets and managed to free himself a little bit.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Peter," Shelly said worried and put a hand on his shoulder. "I should talk to your doctor first. Nevertheless, you have three broken toes and I'm not sure if you're allowed to get up."
This information stopped Peter for a moment. That explained a lot. "Oh." Half-sitting, he looked at Shelly. "Please. I must see him."
Shelly shook her head, sighing. "Even if you're not going to like it, but I will talk to the doctor first. But while I'm gone, you will stay put, okay? I don't want you running around here without supervision. It would be a shame if you will break something else in the meantime."
"Okay, okay," Peter grumbled and sank back into the pillow. "Can I borrow your phone? I need to speak with Reese."
...
Supported by two crutches, Peter made his way down the hall and followed Shelly slowly. A surgical boot protected his broken toes and provided that the swelling could go back. Even before they entered the room he could hear Neal's voice.
"...I can see clearly now the rain is gone..."
That caused Peter to laugh involuntarily.
"Is that him? Why is he singing?" Shelly asked irritated.
"Well...," he started and chuckled. "It's a long story. It has something to do with the painkillers. I don't know exactly why. Anyway, he seems to have a good time." After that, he nodded at Shelly who opened the door so that he could step in.
"...I can see all obstacles in my way..." Neal was lying in bed, his eyes closed and it seemed that he wasn't aware of his visitors or what was going on around him as he sang loudly. "...Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind..."
As Peter walked closer to him, he could see that Neal's right arm was in a sling. The exhaustion was clearly written on the young man's face, which was perhaps down to the fact that his left eye was almost swollen shut. The cut above his eye had been closed with stitches, not butterfly strips. "What happened to his arm?" Peter wanted to know.
Apparently Neal HAD noticed him despite everything. "Peeeeter. Heeey!" Neal slightly slurred the words.
"Hey, Neal."
Shelly hesitated. "His shoulder was dislocated."
"Ouch," Peter grimaced, because he knew how painful this injury was. That explained why Neal was singing - he certainly had received painkillers. Lots of painkillers.
Neal turned his head in Peter's direction. "You found me again," he said.
"Yeah. I will always find you, right?" Peter smiled. "How are you?"
"Greeeeeeat," Neal replied elongated, looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. Then he tried to raise his left hand, but wasn't able to because his wrist was handcuffed to the bed.
"I can imagine."
"Fighting cats, trigger-happy counterfeiters. A ruined suit," Neal sighed and paused. "Ithaca doesn't like me. Can we go now?"
The smile disappeared from Peter's face. "Um, you have to stay here until the Marshals have organized a new anklet for you, I'm afraid."
"Oh, yeah. The anklet," Neal grinned crookedly at Peter. "They didn't like my action, did they?"
"No, not at all," Shelly answered.
"What do you mean?" Peter asked.
"He resisted the arrest. That's why he got the dislocated shoulder."
This statement astonished Peter. He had thought that the shoulder injury was a result of the rescue operation. He shook his head resolutely. "Neal is nonviolent."
As if on cue, Neal muttered, "They didn't want me to go with you."
"They thought he was trying to run," Shelly objected. "Why else would he cut the anklet?"
"This is nonsense. He did it to trigger the alarm so they would come to help us." At least this was the only explanation for Peter.
"Exactly. Didn't want to run. No. No. Would never leave Peter behind."
Peter nodded and was relieved as he got the confirmation from Neal. To be honest, he hadn't expected anything else. On that point, he knew Neal too well. His friend would never leave him in such a situation. What he now had to tell him, however, wasn't easy and he cleared his throat. "Still, you'll have to stay. Sorry about that. Need something?"
"No idea," Neal muttered without looking at Peter. "Do I have to go back to prison?"
"Don't worry about that. Reese spoke on your behalf. Now we just have to wait until the Marshals have calmed down."
"Reese? Really? Wow," Neal gasped surprised.
Shelly cleared her throat. "Well, that's easier said than done."
"Hmm," Neal mumbled sleepily, but nevertheless he started to sing again. Just like the chat hadn't take place at all. "...it's gonna be a bright, bright sun shining day..."
"Right now we can only wait and hope that Reese can convince them of the contrary." In this regard, he trusted his boss entirely. Although Reese had been reserved against Neal at the beginning, he had grown fond of the consultant over the years. Neal had worked hard to gain the respect and recognition of Reese. Looking at Neal, he said, "See you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okey-doke."
Peter stepped out of the hallway and waited for Shelly. "Thank you for your help."
"It's okay. Oh, and the Ford will be towed to a garage. The shop will take care of the flat tire and the cleaning. But now, you should really get back to bed."
"Fair enough," Peter nodded and didn't mind, because it was getting harder to stay on his feet. But first he had one more important thing to do. "Can I borrow your phone one last time?"
...
At the Burkes
Friday Morning
12.20 am
"Kiddos, the food is getting cold," Pamela admonished the two youngest member of the Burke family, who had gathered to celebrate the day on the large porch with a lunch. "Sit down on your chairs."
Lucy had served up a veritable banquet and it was clear how much she was pleased to finally have all family members (including Neal of course) around her. She had spared no expense to pamper her loved ones with all sorts of culinary art.
Jeremy and Amy obeyed reluctantly to their mother's command. They literally burst with curiosity of what had happened in the last two days. Therefore they constantly quizzed Bill, Peter and Neal.
About an hour ago Robert had fetched his father and brother as well as Neal home from the hospital. Each of the three was restricted one way or another in their movement and of course were the center of attention. Prior to their departure, Neal and Peter had received a visit from Eric's and Michael's parents, who thanked them relentlessly for their heroic rescue. Also various news channels had arrived, but had been supplied with only a few important facts, thanks to Shelly. The less attention, the better. For Peter, it was very important to not see his picture in the media because of his work with the FBI. It was essential to remain incognito. For Neal, well, it was a bit different, but his friend had also preferred to stay on the sideline.
Pamela, Lucy and Robert had arrived at the hospital around 8 am this morning. The ensuing conversation had been very emotional after the extent of the rescue mission had become clear. Later, when the three of them had walked with Peter down the hall to Bill's room, they had seen that Neal's room had been secured by a guard. An uneasy feeling had crept over him, because so far Peter hadn't received any news from Reese. But he didn't want to act prematurely and had hoped that Reese would leave no stone unturned to help Neal.
Supported by the crutches, Peter had stepped into his father's room and Bill hadn't believed his eyes. Again, Peter had described the events and even this time it was hard for him to stay calm. To pass time, he busied himself by making several phone calls after he got back to his own room. First he had spoken with Elizabeth. Despite the different time zones (and due to the fact that she had sent him a text to assure him that he could call her anytime) he had to hear her voice again. After that he had called Shelly to ask about the Ford and learned that the car would be brought back home later this afternoon. Next, he contacted Reese, Jones and Diana. After their doctors had agreed to their discharge, it was necessary to pack the few belongings. By the time he was done, he finally had received the call from Reese, who had informed him that someone was on the way to equip Neal with a new anklet.
The voice of Lucy brought him back to the present and he looked at her, blinking. "What?"
"I've asked you if you want some more corn bread?"
Although he wasn't hungry, he nodded and took another slice. "Thank you." Despite his exhaustion, he wasn't able to find sleep last night and now he felt whacked. The events of the past day had incessantly occupied his mind and didn't let him rest at all. Now he hoped that he would be able to sleep tonight at least. He looked straight ahead and watched his father. Bill was sitting at the head of the table, as usual. Apart from the bruised ribs and the fact that he was recovering from a heart attack, he looked very agile.
Then he looked at Neal. Unfortunately he was the one who was hit hardest, because he had to keep his right arm in the sling for the next few days. Nevertheless, the young man was full of energy and got the full attention of Lucy. The Marshals had interviewed him this morning, hoping to find a way to prove that Neal had wanted to run. They hadn't been successful, thanks to the statements of the three boys. And due to the fact, that Reese Hughes had actively intervened. At the end, the Marshals had had no choice but to leave Neal into Peter's care. After all that had happened, the Marshals couldn't afford bad press. Neal and Peter had advanced to local heroes over night. On the way home they had stopped at the menswear shop to buy new clothes for Neal once again. Like before, Neal had refused to wear some of Peter's old stuff.
Peter however felt constricted by the crutches he had to use on the advice of the doctors for the next few weeks. In order to elevate the foot, Pamela had put him on the other end of the table and placed another chair beside him. But what bothered him the most was that he missed Elizabeth badly and wanted to head back to Brooklyn as soon as possible. Last night he had talked to her for a long time and had explained to her in general terms what had happened. Elizabeth had been very upset (which was understandable) and had asked him several time if he was okay.
Through the hustle and bustle at the table it took a moment for him to realize that his cell phone was ringing. Luckily it was still intact and after a thorough drying full functional again. The number on the displayed belonged to Elizabeth. His mood changed abruptly. "Hey Hon."
"Hi, Hon."
Peter plainly said what concerned him the most. "I miss you."
"Aww, I miss you, too."
The connection was very bad and at first Peter feared that the cell phone had yet taken damage. He got up awkwardly and limped towards the garden, hoping to thereby improve the signal. "I'm glad to hear your voice. How are you?"
"I was so upset, I could hardly sleep."
Peter sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry about that, Hon."
"Don't be. I'm so glad that you all are doing well again and that nothing worse had happened."
Elizabeth's voice was still difficult to make out. It almost seemed to him as if she sat in a car. In the background, he thought he heard the corresponding road noise. But he didn't care right now. Instead, he turned his attention back to her voice. He walked a few steps and actually got a better signal. "I count the hours until we meet again."
"Oh, that's so sweet. You're so romantic. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're flirting with me."
Peter smiled. In his mind's eye he could picture her sitting on the hotel bed and playing with the phone cord. "And you know how much I hate flirting," he said dryly, though he couldn't stop to feel flattered by Elizabeth's words. Suddenly her voice was as clear as if she were located in close proximity to him. "I, um, I wish so much you would be here with me."
"I think I can fulfill your wish right on the spot."
Suddenly it hit him and he almost dropped his phone when he realized that Elizabeth was standing right behind him. He ended the call and turned around. "Hey," he said softly, taking a step toward her. He didn't know why, but she looked even more beautiful than usual. His heart beat wildly with joy at her sight.
"Hey," Elizabeth answered smiling. Her voice wasn't much more than a whisper. She had to blink the tears away.
Without paying attention to his aching foot, he hugged her and lifted her up so he could rotate once on his axis. "El!" He pressed a passionate kiss on her lips.
"Peter! Your foot! Let me down again," she said worried, but still couldn't resist a giggle and kissed him just as passionately.
"How...? I don't understand. How did you come here?"
"After we had talked over the phone, I had a long debate with Lucy and booked the first available flight back to Ithaca. I landed here about an hour ago. I was really lucky." She fixed her eyes on him before she spread her arms and grinned broadly. "Surprise!"
Peter could only laugh. "Oh, yeah. Surprise...you're incredible," he said delighted and kissed her again.
"Hey, people! Get a room!" Neal shouted in the background and the others started to laugh, while Jeremy and Amy rolled with their eyes.
"Let's catch up later," Elizabeth winked at him seductively and put her arm around his waist as they slowly walked back towards the terrace.
...
11.40 pm
"And, well, I knew only one thing - we needed to get out of the water as quickly as possible." The injured foot propped up on a pillow, Peter laid sprawled on the bed, shifting his weight slightly so that El was comfortable. The others had long gone to bed, but although he had previously felt very exhausted, he couldn't sleep at the moment. And so he had started to tell her the events of the recent days, starting with the drive to Ithaca, about the arrest of the Beasly brothers as well as the rescue of the children.
Elizabeth snuggled closer to Peter and put her head on his shoulder. With one hand she gently ran over the fabric of Peter's old and faded college T-shirt while she listened to him in silence.
"So much happened at once...without Neal I wouldn't have managed to free Michael. Neal cut the anklet so that the Marshals got the alarm. Of course they set things in motion immediately. After we had pulled Michael out of the water, we had been expected by the police, but back then I hadn't realized that they had been there to arrest Neal. I was so focused on Michael...I just hadn't realized what was going on."
"But that's understandable." She looked at him directly. "Michael is out of danger and both of you are doing better by now." She touched the bandage on his forearm carefully with her fingertips. "When I think of what could have happened..."
Peter felt her body shuddering briefly and pulled the blanket a bit up. "Shhh," he murmured, running his fingertips over her upper arm in order to calm her down. "Everything's fine."
"I just hope that everything turns out well in the end."
He knew what she was referring to. Reese had called again and had told them that all charges against Neal had been dropped. "It will be, Hon." To outline his words, he pressed a kiss to her temple. Nevertheless, he was still angry at the Marshals, who had been so ruthless to hurt an unarmed man. To distract himself, he changed the subject. "Have I told you that Michael is nagging his parents about my promise to take him to a Yankees game? I hadn't thought that he’d take it seriously. I just wanted to distract him."
"Which you mastered very well," she smiled, but it was obvious that she only put on an act.
It wasn't hard for Peter to realize that. And to be honest, he couldn't blame her. He had often wondered how he earned such a wonderful woman. In the last three years he had worked with Neal, a lot had happened and not every wife would have tolerated all of that. Of course there had been fights. Once she even had quarreled over a jacket of Peter’s, which he had forgotten at the dry cleaner. But they had worked it out and therefore Peter loved her even more, because he didn't take it for granted. "Yeah, it seems so. But first he has to get back on his feet, in the truest sense of the words. Then we can start making plans."
"Let's take one thing at a time. First, you too should get back on your feet, mister," she reminded him gently, but firmly. This time she was the one who lovingly kissed him on the lips. "And that's why you're going to sleep now. And no back talk, understood?"
Peter enjoyed the feel of her soft, full lips on his own and closed his eyes before he looked at her with a smirk. "Yes, ma'am."
Chapter 13
Saturday morning
10 am
After the extensive breakfast, Elizabeth, Peter and Neal stood at the car in the driveway. Their suitcases were already stowed away in the Ford. Lucy explained the contents of the picnic basket which amused Peter, but scared Elizabeth. By yesterday evening, Elizabeth and Neal had tried to get Lucy interested in the advantages of lighter fare. They had raved about steamed fish, or even worse, about meatless dishes and Elizabeth also had praised this devilish thing called Quinoa. The very thought of it made him shiver.
The day before Neal had checked out of the hotel and had stayed last night at the Burkes' residence. On that occasion he had given William the books from New York and Rick as a thank you for the hospitality. Amazed Peter had watched the two as they had talked the whole evening about architecture. No way he would have thought that his father was so passionate about this topic. As usual, there seemed to be no topic on this earth that Neal couldn't talk about. In the end, Neal had suggested that William and Lucy should stop by in New York at the next opportunity, so he could show them, or rather, William the buildings that were featured in the book. Peter thought of his own promise he gave Michael. Maybe he could arrange the visit from the Andersons and his parents at the same time. This way, the men could go to a Yankees game while the women went shopping in the city.
Bill took Peter aside. "I wish you a safe journey." He hugged him gently, as his ribs were still sensitive to the touch. Also the crutches from Peter made it difficult to embrace freely.
"Thanks, Dad," Peter replied nodding. "I'm glad you're feeling better again."
"Oh," Bill waved his hand, after they had stepped back. "Bad weed grows tall." His voice was cheerful, but his expression wasn't.
"I hope we meet again soon, but then not in the hospital," Peter grinned. "You have to take better care of yourself, Dad. And cut down the workload." He knew that this topic was sensitive, since he also tended to often work overtime. But the past few days had shown him how quickly life could be over. He had become aware of the fact how many sacrifices Elizabeth had had to make while he often tried to track down criminals, pulling an all-nighter more than once.
"Your mother says so, too," Bill nodded. "And I think I have been very lucky this time and don't want to tempt my fate anymore. As soon as I get the okay from my physician, we will start planning our holiday. I'm really looking forward coming to New York." He looked at Neal who still vividly discussed with Lucy, very likely about food. "What a nice young man. He told me everything you've done for him and is full of praise for you." The pride in his voice was clearly recognizable. "He said that you showed him how it feels to have a family. And that he trusts you a 100 percent. You are his role model." Bill put a hand on Peter's shoulder. "I'm so proud of you, son. About everything you've accomplished. Not just for Neal. You achieved so much in your life and I know that I haven't told you this often enough."
At these words, Peter had to swallow. It was quite natural for him to help those who were in need. For this reason, he had joined the FBI. But so far, he hadn't considered how others would think about his work. "I...I don't know what to say to that," he confessed frankly and had to clear his throat before he spoke again. "Thank you." This time, he hugged his father and patted him approvingly on the shoulder. "You've made me the man I am today. You've always had faith in me and supported me. I think we can be proud of each other," he chuckled.
Next, Peter said his goodbye to Lucy, which wasn't as easy as expected. She seemed to be close to tears as she stood in front of him and laid her hands on his chest. "I was so happy that you came here. All of you. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"That goes without saying, Mom." He looked down at her. "I've told Dad earlier that he has to take better care of himself and I think he came to the realization." With a quick glance at Bill, who had switched places with Lucy and now talked with Neal and Elizabeth, he added, "I hope he will stick to the instructions from his physician when he starts with the rehabilitation next week."
Lucy smiled briefly. "I'll do my part. Neal and Elizabeth will help me at the beginning when it comes to convert the diet. Though you know your father. He's more of a meat and potatoes type of guy."
Peter nodded. He's not the only one.
"Elizabeth told me that you have changed your eating habits as well?"
"Um, well, a little bit," he answered hesitantly, because to be honest, it had been his mother's cooking skills that he had loved the most while he had stayed here.
Lucy took a step back so that she could look at him better. "And you'll call immediately when you're back home, okay?"
Peter felt like a teenager. "Yes, Mom."
"Can you drive with that kind of cast?"
"Of course-"
"Not at all," Elizabeth interrupted him and leaned against his side.
"And who is going to drive then? Neal can't move his shoulder."
"I will." Her voice left no space for speculations.
Nevertheless, Peter tried to dissuade her from her plan. "Hon, that's an almost six hour drive. Neal and I can take turns. Like we did when we came here. No problem."
Elizabeth plant herself in front of him, crossing her arms. "And now both of you are injured." She didn't continue, but looked intently at Peter.
For a moment Peter stared at the ground, and then sighed. Although he knew better than to mess with his wife, he said, "Hon, it's not like I have a cast on the foot. I-"
"We could take the plane," Neal intervened, apparently fearing for a fight between the two.
But Peter didn't like the thought of flying back at all. The seats were too small, the row space too short and he had to elevate his foot from time to time. "No, no plane," he said while he tried to come up with a solution. After a few moments, he hung his shoulders. "Fine," he finally gave in, even if he didn't like the idea. It wasn't that he thought of Elizabeth as a bad driver. No. He just don't wanted to impose her to the long drive back. Reluctantly, he gave her the car keys and then hobbled around the car to the passenger side.
"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked.
Frowning, Peter stopped short and looked at her. "What do you mean?"
She pointed to the back seat. "You should sit in the back. This way you can lift your leg."
"But I-?"
Neal just finished putting the last items into the car and stepped up to Peter. "Peter, you are aware that you don't stand a chance against Elizabeth, aren't you?"
...
1.15 pm
It wasn't long after they had continued their journey after a short stopover, that Elizabeth remembered the CD which they had found in the picnic basket. "Oh, hey, let's listen to Jeremy's CD."
Neal rummaged in the basket and pulled out the CD and inserted it into the CD player. Shortly thereafter, the first beats of the song, Neal laughed as he recognized the song from Ke$ha. "How thoughtful of Jeremy. Don't you think, Peter?"
Peter sighed and rolled his eyes as he tried to sink into the seat. "This will haunt me for the rest of my life."
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"Lucky you!" Neal said with a silly smile on his face. "It's good that nobody filmed you. The video would be a highlight on YouTube."
"Neal! What are you talking about?" Elizabeth repeated her question curiously, but didn't let the road out of her sight. Instead, she glanced at the rearview mirror.
"Oh, nothing important," Peter replied, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. He quickly threw a warning glance at Neal and hoped that his friend would not dwell on the subject.
"Believe me, Elizabeth, there are no words to describe it," Neal said amused and was still delighted. "You should definitely buy a Wii."
END
See Chapter 1 for more information
A/N: Well, this is it! The story ends here and I hope you've had a great time reading it. Thank you for the wonderful reviews, they really were very much appreciated!
Chapter 12
Cayuga Medical Center
9.25 pm
With two extra blankets to cover him, Peter no longer felt like being a block of ice. Back in the tube he had drawn his full attention to Michael and how to rescue him. Because of this, he hadn't noticed his own hypothermia. How he had arrived at the hospital, Peter couldn't tell. Now, in the silence of his hospital room, he tried to recall the last few hours.
Water.
Lots of water.
All three of them had been thrown out into the catch basin by the blast of the water. When Peter had surfaced again, panic had filled him, because he couldn't find Michael. He had begun to dive into the water. The visibility underwater had been down to zero. After he had surfaced for the third time, he had spotted Neal, who also had called for the boy. Somehow he had been able to find him and carried the unconscious child out of the water. But the boy had stopped breathing. Immediately he and Neal had started with CPR, including mouth-to-mouth respiration. And then, suddenly, Zack and Eric had been with them and plenty of other people. After that, everything happened so fast.
Firefighters had laid the still unconscious boy on a spine board; paramedics had taken over the medical care and both he and Neal had been pushed aside. Then the paramedics had carried Michael over the slope and onto the street, where several ambulances and police cars had been waiting. The blue lights had been dancing in the dark.
In a daze, he had followed the convoy and hadn't noticed that two more paramedics had approached him. They had insisted on examining him and of course had discovered the cut on his arm. Peter remembered that he repeatedly had tried to convince them that he'd been fine and wouldn't need any further medical care thus he didn't need to go to the hospital at all. But due to his hypothermia, he hadn't had a chance and after that, everything went a bit blurry. Presumably the doctors had given him a sedative or he just had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
In any case, he had woken up in his room and after some time he had noticed a light throbbing in his right foot, but he couldn't manage to sit up. It felt like his toes were swollen, at least he couldn't move them. At the very least he could see that his foot was propped up under the blankets, but at the moment he didn't know the extent of his injuries. It was difficult to move, so he had no choice but to stare at the ceiling or outside the window. As far as he could tell, the rain had stopped. That figures.
And then, without even wanting it, he had to think of Elizabeth. Elizabeth! It was then that he realized how dangerous the whole situation had been. He began to tremble. In a way he was glad that she was in San Francisco. On the other hand, he missed her even more right now. He had to get a phone, just because he wanted to hear her voice.
Someone knocked lightly on the door, which caused him to flinch. "Yes?"
The door opened and Shelly stuck her head through the gasp. "Hey. Can I come in for a second?"
Peter cleared his throat. "Sure."
"Boy, what a night," she smiled slightly and walked towards the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Somehow...weird. Powerless," Peter said and couldn't prevent a yawn. "And tired."
"I'll be gone soon. Just wanted to see you," Shelly answered. "I hope it was okay to inform your mother? I thought it would be better if she learned from us instead of the media what had happened. She's waiting for me to report afterwards."
Well. Right. He hadn't thought of that. "Yeah, it was better this way. Thanks." To be honest, he had neither the strength nor the patience to deal with his mother right now. So it was good that Shelly acted as an intermediary. "What about Michael? And Neal? Are they all right?" Once again, he made a half-hearted attempt to sit up. Sighing, he sank back because it was too strenuous.
"Michael is doing well, considering the circumstances. As far as I know, his leg is broken and for a time it didn't look good for him because he heavily hypothermic. But now he's out of danger. His parents are with him right now."
Peter exhaled audibly. "Thank God!" He allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment. "What about Neal?" He asked again. When he didn't get an immediate answer, he opened his eyes and turned his eyes in the direction of Shelly.
She seemed uncertain and looked at him intently. "You should call your boss. I have no say in this and stand no chance against the Marshals."
"Marshals? What...? Why?"
"They have arrested your partner. There was nothing I could do about it."
Still, Peter couldn't quite follow her. "Neal? Arrested?"
"He cut the anklet. The Marshals assumed that he wanted to take the opportunity to run."
"Absolutely not!" Peter cut in and suddenly had the strength to sit up, using his elbows for support. "He helped me to save the boy!"
"I know Peter. That's what he told them. But I think they are out of sorts with him."
"Quite possible," Peter sighed. "Where is he now?"
"A few rooms away."
"Then let's go." Before he indulged himself some rest, he had to convince himself that Neal was fine. Awkwardly, he struggled with the heavy blankets and managed to free himself a little bit.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Peter," Shelly said worried and put a hand on his shoulder. "I should talk to your doctor first. Nevertheless, you have three broken toes and I'm not sure if you're allowed to get up."
This information stopped Peter for a moment. That explained a lot. "Oh." Half-sitting, he looked at Shelly. "Please. I must see him."
Shelly shook her head, sighing. "Even if you're not going to like it, but I will talk to the doctor first. But while I'm gone, you will stay put, okay? I don't want you running around here without supervision. It would be a shame if you will break something else in the meantime."
"Okay, okay," Peter grumbled and sank back into the pillow. "Can I borrow your phone? I need to speak with Reese."
...
Supported by two crutches, Peter made his way down the hall and followed Shelly slowly. A surgical boot protected his broken toes and provided that the swelling could go back. Even before they entered the room he could hear Neal's voice.
"...I can see clearly now the rain is gone..."
That caused Peter to laugh involuntarily.
"Is that him? Why is he singing?" Shelly asked irritated.
"Well...," he started and chuckled. "It's a long story. It has something to do with the painkillers. I don't know exactly why. Anyway, he seems to have a good time." After that, he nodded at Shelly who opened the door so that he could step in.
"...I can see all obstacles in my way..." Neal was lying in bed, his eyes closed and it seemed that he wasn't aware of his visitors or what was going on around him as he sang loudly. "...Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind..."
As Peter walked closer to him, he could see that Neal's right arm was in a sling. The exhaustion was clearly written on the young man's face, which was perhaps down to the fact that his left eye was almost swollen shut. The cut above his eye had been closed with stitches, not butterfly strips. "What happened to his arm?" Peter wanted to know.
Apparently Neal HAD noticed him despite everything. "Peeeeter. Heeey!" Neal slightly slurred the words.
"Hey, Neal."
Shelly hesitated. "His shoulder was dislocated."
"Ouch," Peter grimaced, because he knew how painful this injury was. That explained why Neal was singing - he certainly had received painkillers. Lots of painkillers.
Neal turned his head in Peter's direction. "You found me again," he said.
"Yeah. I will always find you, right?" Peter smiled. "How are you?"
"Greeeeeeat," Neal replied elongated, looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. Then he tried to raise his left hand, but wasn't able to because his wrist was handcuffed to the bed.
"I can imagine."
"Fighting cats, trigger-happy counterfeiters. A ruined suit," Neal sighed and paused. "Ithaca doesn't like me. Can we go now?"
The smile disappeared from Peter's face. "Um, you have to stay here until the Marshals have organized a new anklet for you, I'm afraid."
"Oh, yeah. The anklet," Neal grinned crookedly at Peter. "They didn't like my action, did they?"
"No, not at all," Shelly answered.
"What do you mean?" Peter asked.
"He resisted the arrest. That's why he got the dislocated shoulder."
This statement astonished Peter. He had thought that the shoulder injury was a result of the rescue operation. He shook his head resolutely. "Neal is nonviolent."
As if on cue, Neal muttered, "They didn't want me to go with you."
"They thought he was trying to run," Shelly objected. "Why else would he cut the anklet?"
"This is nonsense. He did it to trigger the alarm so they would come to help us." At least this was the only explanation for Peter.
"Exactly. Didn't want to run. No. No. Would never leave Peter behind."
Peter nodded and was relieved as he got the confirmation from Neal. To be honest, he hadn't expected anything else. On that point, he knew Neal too well. His friend would never leave him in such a situation. What he now had to tell him, however, wasn't easy and he cleared his throat. "Still, you'll have to stay. Sorry about that. Need something?"
"No idea," Neal muttered without looking at Peter. "Do I have to go back to prison?"
"Don't worry about that. Reese spoke on your behalf. Now we just have to wait until the Marshals have calmed down."
"Reese? Really? Wow," Neal gasped surprised.
Shelly cleared her throat. "Well, that's easier said than done."
"Hmm," Neal mumbled sleepily, but nevertheless he started to sing again. Just like the chat hadn't take place at all. "...it's gonna be a bright, bright sun shining day..."
"Right now we can only wait and hope that Reese can convince them of the contrary." In this regard, he trusted his boss entirely. Although Reese had been reserved against Neal at the beginning, he had grown fond of the consultant over the years. Neal had worked hard to gain the respect and recognition of Reese. Looking at Neal, he said, "See you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okey-doke."
Peter stepped out of the hallway and waited for Shelly. "Thank you for your help."
"It's okay. Oh, and the Ford will be towed to a garage. The shop will take care of the flat tire and the cleaning. But now, you should really get back to bed."
"Fair enough," Peter nodded and didn't mind, because it was getting harder to stay on his feet. But first he had one more important thing to do. "Can I borrow your phone one last time?"
...
At the Burkes
Friday Morning
12.20 am
"Kiddos, the food is getting cold," Pamela admonished the two youngest member of the Burke family, who had gathered to celebrate the day on the large porch with a lunch. "Sit down on your chairs."
Lucy had served up a veritable banquet and it was clear how much she was pleased to finally have all family members (including Neal of course) around her. She had spared no expense to pamper her loved ones with all sorts of culinary art.
Jeremy and Amy obeyed reluctantly to their mother's command. They literally burst with curiosity of what had happened in the last two days. Therefore they constantly quizzed Bill, Peter and Neal.
About an hour ago Robert had fetched his father and brother as well as Neal home from the hospital. Each of the three was restricted one way or another in their movement and of course were the center of attention. Prior to their departure, Neal and Peter had received a visit from Eric's and Michael's parents, who thanked them relentlessly for their heroic rescue. Also various news channels had arrived, but had been supplied with only a few important facts, thanks to Shelly. The less attention, the better. For Peter, it was very important to not see his picture in the media because of his work with the FBI. It was essential to remain incognito. For Neal, well, it was a bit different, but his friend had also preferred to stay on the sideline.
Pamela, Lucy and Robert had arrived at the hospital around 8 am this morning. The ensuing conversation had been very emotional after the extent of the rescue mission had become clear. Later, when the three of them had walked with Peter down the hall to Bill's room, they had seen that Neal's room had been secured by a guard. An uneasy feeling had crept over him, because so far Peter hadn't received any news from Reese. But he didn't want to act prematurely and had hoped that Reese would leave no stone unturned to help Neal.
Supported by the crutches, Peter had stepped into his father's room and Bill hadn't believed his eyes. Again, Peter had described the events and even this time it was hard for him to stay calm. To pass time, he busied himself by making several phone calls after he got back to his own room. First he had spoken with Elizabeth. Despite the different time zones (and due to the fact that she had sent him a text to assure him that he could call her anytime) he had to hear her voice again. After that he had called Shelly to ask about the Ford and learned that the car would be brought back home later this afternoon. Next, he contacted Reese, Jones and Diana. After their doctors had agreed to their discharge, it was necessary to pack the few belongings. By the time he was done, he finally had received the call from Reese, who had informed him that someone was on the way to equip Neal with a new anklet.
The voice of Lucy brought him back to the present and he looked at her, blinking. "What?"
"I've asked you if you want some more corn bread?"
Although he wasn't hungry, he nodded and took another slice. "Thank you." Despite his exhaustion, he wasn't able to find sleep last night and now he felt whacked. The events of the past day had incessantly occupied his mind and didn't let him rest at all. Now he hoped that he would be able to sleep tonight at least. He looked straight ahead and watched his father. Bill was sitting at the head of the table, as usual. Apart from the bruised ribs and the fact that he was recovering from a heart attack, he looked very agile.
Then he looked at Neal. Unfortunately he was the one who was hit hardest, because he had to keep his right arm in the sling for the next few days. Nevertheless, the young man was full of energy and got the full attention of Lucy. The Marshals had interviewed him this morning, hoping to find a way to prove that Neal had wanted to run. They hadn't been successful, thanks to the statements of the three boys. And due to the fact, that Reese Hughes had actively intervened. At the end, the Marshals had had no choice but to leave Neal into Peter's care. After all that had happened, the Marshals couldn't afford bad press. Neal and Peter had advanced to local heroes over night. On the way home they had stopped at the menswear shop to buy new clothes for Neal once again. Like before, Neal had refused to wear some of Peter's old stuff.
Peter however felt constricted by the crutches he had to use on the advice of the doctors for the next few weeks. In order to elevate the foot, Pamela had put him on the other end of the table and placed another chair beside him. But what bothered him the most was that he missed Elizabeth badly and wanted to head back to Brooklyn as soon as possible. Last night he had talked to her for a long time and had explained to her in general terms what had happened. Elizabeth had been very upset (which was understandable) and had asked him several time if he was okay.
Through the hustle and bustle at the table it took a moment for him to realize that his cell phone was ringing. Luckily it was still intact and after a thorough drying full functional again. The number on the displayed belonged to Elizabeth. His mood changed abruptly. "Hey Hon."
"Hi, Hon."
Peter plainly said what concerned him the most. "I miss you."
"Aww, I miss you, too."
The connection was very bad and at first Peter feared that the cell phone had yet taken damage. He got up awkwardly and limped towards the garden, hoping to thereby improve the signal. "I'm glad to hear your voice. How are you?"
"I was so upset, I could hardly sleep."
Peter sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry about that, Hon."
"Don't be. I'm so glad that you all are doing well again and that nothing worse had happened."
Elizabeth's voice was still difficult to make out. It almost seemed to him as if she sat in a car. In the background, he thought he heard the corresponding road noise. But he didn't care right now. Instead, he turned his attention back to her voice. He walked a few steps and actually got a better signal. "I count the hours until we meet again."
"Oh, that's so sweet. You're so romantic. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're flirting with me."
Peter smiled. In his mind's eye he could picture her sitting on the hotel bed and playing with the phone cord. "And you know how much I hate flirting," he said dryly, though he couldn't stop to feel flattered by Elizabeth's words. Suddenly her voice was as clear as if she were located in close proximity to him. "I, um, I wish so much you would be here with me."
"I think I can fulfill your wish right on the spot."
Suddenly it hit him and he almost dropped his phone when he realized that Elizabeth was standing right behind him. He ended the call and turned around. "Hey," he said softly, taking a step toward her. He didn't know why, but she looked even more beautiful than usual. His heart beat wildly with joy at her sight.
"Hey," Elizabeth answered smiling. Her voice wasn't much more than a whisper. She had to blink the tears away.
Without paying attention to his aching foot, he hugged her and lifted her up so he could rotate once on his axis. "El!" He pressed a passionate kiss on her lips.
"Peter! Your foot! Let me down again," she said worried, but still couldn't resist a giggle and kissed him just as passionately.
"How...? I don't understand. How did you come here?"
"After we had talked over the phone, I had a long debate with Lucy and booked the first available flight back to Ithaca. I landed here about an hour ago. I was really lucky." She fixed her eyes on him before she spread her arms and grinned broadly. "Surprise!"
Peter could only laugh. "Oh, yeah. Surprise...you're incredible," he said delighted and kissed her again.
"Hey, people! Get a room!" Neal shouted in the background and the others started to laugh, while Jeremy and Amy rolled with their eyes.
"Let's catch up later," Elizabeth winked at him seductively and put her arm around his waist as they slowly walked back towards the terrace.
...
11.40 pm
"And, well, I knew only one thing - we needed to get out of the water as quickly as possible." The injured foot propped up on a pillow, Peter laid sprawled on the bed, shifting his weight slightly so that El was comfortable. The others had long gone to bed, but although he had previously felt very exhausted, he couldn't sleep at the moment. And so he had started to tell her the events of the recent days, starting with the drive to Ithaca, about the arrest of the Beasly brothers as well as the rescue of the children.
Elizabeth snuggled closer to Peter and put her head on his shoulder. With one hand she gently ran over the fabric of Peter's old and faded college T-shirt while she listened to him in silence.
"So much happened at once...without Neal I wouldn't have managed to free Michael. Neal cut the anklet so that the Marshals got the alarm. Of course they set things in motion immediately. After we had pulled Michael out of the water, we had been expected by the police, but back then I hadn't realized that they had been there to arrest Neal. I was so focused on Michael...I just hadn't realized what was going on."
"But that's understandable." She looked at him directly. "Michael is out of danger and both of you are doing better by now." She touched the bandage on his forearm carefully with her fingertips. "When I think of what could have happened..."
Peter felt her body shuddering briefly and pulled the blanket a bit up. "Shhh," he murmured, running his fingertips over her upper arm in order to calm her down. "Everything's fine."
"I just hope that everything turns out well in the end."
He knew what she was referring to. Reese had called again and had told them that all charges against Neal had been dropped. "It will be, Hon." To outline his words, he pressed a kiss to her temple. Nevertheless, he was still angry at the Marshals, who had been so ruthless to hurt an unarmed man. To distract himself, he changed the subject. "Have I told you that Michael is nagging his parents about my promise to take him to a Yankees game? I hadn't thought that he’d take it seriously. I just wanted to distract him."
"Which you mastered very well," she smiled, but it was obvious that she only put on an act.
It wasn't hard for Peter to realize that. And to be honest, he couldn't blame her. He had often wondered how he earned such a wonderful woman. In the last three years he had worked with Neal, a lot had happened and not every wife would have tolerated all of that. Of course there had been fights. Once she even had quarreled over a jacket of Peter’s, which he had forgotten at the dry cleaner. But they had worked it out and therefore Peter loved her even more, because he didn't take it for granted. "Yeah, it seems so. But first he has to get back on his feet, in the truest sense of the words. Then we can start making plans."
"Let's take one thing at a time. First, you too should get back on your feet, mister," she reminded him gently, but firmly. This time she was the one who lovingly kissed him on the lips. "And that's why you're going to sleep now. And no back talk, understood?"
Peter enjoyed the feel of her soft, full lips on his own and closed his eyes before he looked at her with a smirk. "Yes, ma'am."
Chapter 13
Saturday morning
10 am
After the extensive breakfast, Elizabeth, Peter and Neal stood at the car in the driveway. Their suitcases were already stowed away in the Ford. Lucy explained the contents of the picnic basket which amused Peter, but scared Elizabeth. By yesterday evening, Elizabeth and Neal had tried to get Lucy interested in the advantages of lighter fare. They had raved about steamed fish, or even worse, about meatless dishes and Elizabeth also had praised this devilish thing called Quinoa. The very thought of it made him shiver.
The day before Neal had checked out of the hotel and had stayed last night at the Burkes' residence. On that occasion he had given William the books from New York and Rick as a thank you for the hospitality. Amazed Peter had watched the two as they had talked the whole evening about architecture. No way he would have thought that his father was so passionate about this topic. As usual, there seemed to be no topic on this earth that Neal couldn't talk about. In the end, Neal had suggested that William and Lucy should stop by in New York at the next opportunity, so he could show them, or rather, William the buildings that were featured in the book. Peter thought of his own promise he gave Michael. Maybe he could arrange the visit from the Andersons and his parents at the same time. This way, the men could go to a Yankees game while the women went shopping in the city.
Bill took Peter aside. "I wish you a safe journey." He hugged him gently, as his ribs were still sensitive to the touch. Also the crutches from Peter made it difficult to embrace freely.
"Thanks, Dad," Peter replied nodding. "I'm glad you're feeling better again."
"Oh," Bill waved his hand, after they had stepped back. "Bad weed grows tall." His voice was cheerful, but his expression wasn't.
"I hope we meet again soon, but then not in the hospital," Peter grinned. "You have to take better care of yourself, Dad. And cut down the workload." He knew that this topic was sensitive, since he also tended to often work overtime. But the past few days had shown him how quickly life could be over. He had become aware of the fact how many sacrifices Elizabeth had had to make while he often tried to track down criminals, pulling an all-nighter more than once.
"Your mother says so, too," Bill nodded. "And I think I have been very lucky this time and don't want to tempt my fate anymore. As soon as I get the okay from my physician, we will start planning our holiday. I'm really looking forward coming to New York." He looked at Neal who still vividly discussed with Lucy, very likely about food. "What a nice young man. He told me everything you've done for him and is full of praise for you." The pride in his voice was clearly recognizable. "He said that you showed him how it feels to have a family. And that he trusts you a 100 percent. You are his role model." Bill put a hand on Peter's shoulder. "I'm so proud of you, son. About everything you've accomplished. Not just for Neal. You achieved so much in your life and I know that I haven't told you this often enough."
At these words, Peter had to swallow. It was quite natural for him to help those who were in need. For this reason, he had joined the FBI. But so far, he hadn't considered how others would think about his work. "I...I don't know what to say to that," he confessed frankly and had to clear his throat before he spoke again. "Thank you." This time, he hugged his father and patted him approvingly on the shoulder. "You've made me the man I am today. You've always had faith in me and supported me. I think we can be proud of each other," he chuckled.
Next, Peter said his goodbye to Lucy, which wasn't as easy as expected. She seemed to be close to tears as she stood in front of him and laid her hands on his chest. "I was so happy that you came here. All of you. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"That goes without saying, Mom." He looked down at her. "I've told Dad earlier that he has to take better care of himself and I think he came to the realization." With a quick glance at Bill, who had switched places with Lucy and now talked with Neal and Elizabeth, he added, "I hope he will stick to the instructions from his physician when he starts with the rehabilitation next week."
Lucy smiled briefly. "I'll do my part. Neal and Elizabeth will help me at the beginning when it comes to convert the diet. Though you know your father. He's more of a meat and potatoes type of guy."
Peter nodded. He's not the only one.
"Elizabeth told me that you have changed your eating habits as well?"
"Um, well, a little bit," he answered hesitantly, because to be honest, it had been his mother's cooking skills that he had loved the most while he had stayed here.
Lucy took a step back so that she could look at him better. "And you'll call immediately when you're back home, okay?"
Peter felt like a teenager. "Yes, Mom."
"Can you drive with that kind of cast?"
"Of course-"
"Not at all," Elizabeth interrupted him and leaned against his side.
"And who is going to drive then? Neal can't move his shoulder."
"I will." Her voice left no space for speculations.
Nevertheless, Peter tried to dissuade her from her plan. "Hon, that's an almost six hour drive. Neal and I can take turns. Like we did when we came here. No problem."
Elizabeth plant herself in front of him, crossing her arms. "And now both of you are injured." She didn't continue, but looked intently at Peter.
For a moment Peter stared at the ground, and then sighed. Although he knew better than to mess with his wife, he said, "Hon, it's not like I have a cast on the foot. I-"
"We could take the plane," Neal intervened, apparently fearing for a fight between the two.
But Peter didn't like the thought of flying back at all. The seats were too small, the row space too short and he had to elevate his foot from time to time. "No, no plane," he said while he tried to come up with a solution. After a few moments, he hung his shoulders. "Fine," he finally gave in, even if he didn't like the idea. It wasn't that he thought of Elizabeth as a bad driver. No. He just don't wanted to impose her to the long drive back. Reluctantly, he gave her the car keys and then hobbled around the car to the passenger side.
"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked.
Frowning, Peter stopped short and looked at her. "What do you mean?"
She pointed to the back seat. "You should sit in the back. This way you can lift your leg."
"But I-?"
Neal just finished putting the last items into the car and stepped up to Peter. "Peter, you are aware that you don't stand a chance against Elizabeth, aren't you?"
...
1.15 pm
It wasn't long after they had continued their journey after a short stopover, that Elizabeth remembered the CD which they had found in the picnic basket. "Oh, hey, let's listen to Jeremy's CD."
Neal rummaged in the basket and pulled out the CD and inserted it into the CD player. Shortly thereafter, the first beats of the song, Neal laughed as he recognized the song from Ke$ha. "How thoughtful of Jeremy. Don't you think, Peter?"
Peter sighed and rolled his eyes as he tried to sink into the seat. "This will haunt me for the rest of my life."
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"Lucky you!" Neal said with a silly smile on his face. "It's good that nobody filmed you. The video would be a highlight on YouTube."
"Neal! What are you talking about?" Elizabeth repeated her question curiously, but didn't let the road out of her sight. Instead, she glanced at the rearview mirror.
"Oh, nothing important," Peter replied, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. He quickly threw a warning glance at Neal and hoped that his friend would not dwell on the subject.
"Believe me, Elizabeth, there are no words to describe it," Neal said amused and was still delighted. "You should definitely buy a Wii."
END