![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
rabidchild.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
whitecollarhc
With the BIG CLIFFHANGER in the season 3.0 finale, we thought a good topic for our first ‘fest would be: KIDNAPPING!
Does Moz think he’s been abducted by aliens? Almost certainly.
Did Neal have some post traumatic stress after being kidnapped by Ryan Wilkes in “Front Man?”
Does Moz think he’s been abducted by aliens? Almost certainly.
Did Neal have some post traumatic stress after being kidnapped by Ryan Wilkes in “Front Man?”
Or maybe Peter has El “abducted” by Diana and Neal in advance of her surprise birthday party?
Or just…Neal/Peter being held by Bad Guys Unknown results in sweet, sweet lovin’.Or something.
The possibilities are endless.
Rules:
(ganked from
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ariadnes_string’s Running Hot Fever Meme, and I hope she doesn’t mind…) 1. Prompts should have kidnapping or abduction as an element – you can request any or all aspects of this scenario from planning to aftermath. Other than that, be as inventive as you like about the different cases. Any and all pairings and ratings allowed. No RPF/RPS though, please.
2. One comment per prompt, please. Comment to this post with your prompt, characters or pairings and other preferences. All genres/pairings are welcome. Crossovers welcome. You can also state your desired rating and content, though you don't have to. However, some people like non-con with their kidnappings, some people don’t, so it may be a good idea to state what you don’t want right up front.
Example A:
“Elizabeth, Keller. Tag to “Countdown”
El escapes from Keller’s clutches on her own – how did she do it? Maybe she seduced him? Maybe she beat the crap out of him with her ninja-like skills? No rape, please. Any rating.”
Example B:
“Neal/Peter. Potential triggers in prompt!
Aftermath of a fuck or die situation where Peter is a white hot ball of rage. How does it affect his relationships? How do they get him the help he needs? Any rating – be as explicit as you like.”
3. PLEASE WARN FOR TRIGGERY CONTENT. Given the subject matter, there may be any number of triggers in a prompt or a fill, so be thoughtful and warn for them, if you please.
4. We understand that not all of us are writers – you can leave as many prompts as you like even if you can’t fill one, but one prompt per comment, please. If you've got a few, do a separate comment for each separately.
5. Your prompts can be as short or as detailed as you’d like.
6. Scroll through the comments and when/if you find a prompt you like, write a fic in reply to the comment.
7. More than one fill to a prompt is totally acceptable, and is, in fact, encouraged. The more fic, the better! Don’t feel you can’t write to a prompt if someone has also specified that they plan on it – the more the merrier.
8. When filling a prompt with your comment-fic, put ‘FILLED’ in your subject line and then anything else you want, i.e.: a title if you have one/part numbers/rating/warnings. It helps with compiling the master list.
9. When filling, feel free to post to your own journal and post a link here. We know how frustrating the 4300 character limit can be, believe us!
10. Anonymous posting is enabled, but we will delete anything rude or disrespectful of authors, characters or prompts.
11. NO SPOILERS for unaired episodes, please. Given that we’ve just concluded season 3.0, we’re assuming everyone’s seen it by now, however.
12. NO CHARACTER BASHING. Or rudeness in general. What would your mother think?
13. Do feed your authors by telling them how much you like their stuff! They’re awesome.
FAQ:
* Yes, if your fic gets too long for a comment-fic, you can comment with the link to it at your LJ.
* As for a timeframe - this post will be open for prompting for as long as you peeps like. We’ll have additional ‘fests coming later in the year – let’s hope our first one is a success. In any case, it will stay open indefinitely for new comment-fics and comments/feedback.
* If you would be so kind as to pimp this on your own LJ’s, we’d be much obliged!
Any other questions? Feel free to PM me or comment on this entry.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Part 3a
Date: 2011-09-01 06:00 am (UTC)"Not a whole lot to work with," Neal murmured. He too was looking around the room. When he didn't see anything useable, he dropped his head back onto the pillow and closed his eyes. He swallowed with effort, as if he were fighting back another tide of illness. "I think the only way out is the door."
Peter had to agree, although fighting their way out with Neal in such a weakened condition was not a good idea. Neal, for his part, was barely hanging onto the conscious world. His breathing didn't sound any better to Peter, and if anything, Neal seemed to be weakening instead of getting better.
Alex seemed to have the same thoughts, but she still told them everything she knew about the layout. She had an excellent memory and an eye for detail that almost rivaled Neal's. "There was some issue with the warehouse...they thought something was going to explode. They blindfolded me and dragged me out of here, but I kept track of where we went. We really aren't too far from the exit. Go out the hall, take the first left, go left again, and then they turned right. That led us right outside."
She fell silent, apparently reluctant to talk about the next events. Neal interrupted her by twisting onto his side, his face a mask of pain and fear. "Here, it's all right..." Alex soothed, rubbing Neal's shoulders, brushing his damp hair from his face as he gagged. Peter held Neal's trembling body as he vomited over the edge of the bed. This time it was little more than yellow bile. It didn't seem possible for Neal to be any weaker, but as he collapsed back against the pillows, unconscious once again, Peter realized that they were running out of time.
"We have to get out of here," Alex said, her eyes bright with worry. She smoothed Neal's hair away from his face as she sat in silent thought. Peter could practically hear the wheels turning in her mind as she came up with a plan. He felt that familiar mix of admiration and dread he always got when Neal was up to something. These two were so bright. It was a shame they'd wasted so much time wrapped up in messes like the music box.
"You have an idea?" he asked. Alex nodded, a serious expression on her face. "I don't think you're going to like it," she warned, but before she could say anything more, the door opened once again.
This time Vincent Adler entered the room, with several of his hired hands. His gaze swept over them dispassionately, though his eyes lingered on Alex a few seconds longer. Peter had a feeling that this was part of the story he was missing from Alex.
"They said there were some complications," Adler said. He looked annoyed. "What's the problem?"
"The problem is that your goons gave Neal an overdose," Peter said in a dangerous voice. "You need to let us go. He needs medical treatment. It's not too late to back away from this, Adler."
Adler had ventured farther into the room, along with his other men. He wrinkled his nose at the mess on the floor and the smell of sickness lingering in the air. "If he's too sick to get up, then you'd better hope his mind is still in working order, Agent Burke. I need his skills. Until I get what I want from him, none of you are going to leave."
The former businessman looked around the room. "I suppose you really can't stay in here, with the way things are. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared for illness, so your new accommodations won't be so nice. Come along, then. Neal needs time to recover."
"And if he doesn't?" Peter asked, already certain of the answer. Adler merely shrugged and smiled, and motioned his thugs forward. One grabbed hold of Alex, the other went to take Peter's arm. Neal was lifted with rough force from the cot. The younger man dangled limply in the arms of the thug. There wasn't even a flicker from Neal, and Peter's heart sank. Neal was in big trouble unless they got him out of here soon.
Re: Part 3b
Date: 2011-09-01 06:13 am (UTC)---
The group shuffled out into the hallway. Neal didn't wake at all, even with all the jostling. Peter didn't know much about drugs, but he did know Neal's continued, deep unconscious state was not a good sign. Peter kept a close eye out for any opening or weakness in his captors, but he held back for the moment. He didn't want to risk his own life, along with Alex and Neal's over a foolish bid for freedom.
They started down the hallway, going in the opposite direction of where Alex thought the exits might be. They weren't blindfolding anyone as they were moved. Final destination Peter thought bleakly. He'd always hated those movies. If he got out of this...
Behind him, he heard a grunt. Everyone turned in time to see Alex ram her foot down hard into her guard's foot, at the same time she brought her elbow up into his teeth.
Peter was simultaneously impressed and horrified as he watched Alex dart away. He didn't think this had been part of her plan -- at least he hoped it hadn't as one of the men tackled her to the ground.
"Don't even think about it," Adler hissed at him as Peter took an unconscious step forward. He wanted to help, but the gun in Adler's hands stopped him cold. He was forced to watch as two men towered over Alex and struck her across the face. There was no need for such brutality, but that didn't seem to cross any of their captors' minds as Alex was punched and kicked several times. She slumped to the floor, her long hair hiding her face from view, but even from where he stood in the hallway, Peter could see a few drops of blood spatter onto the floor.
"Enough," Vincent said when the goon lifted his arm to strike Alex again. "Take her to their new room. And don't let her escape again." Adler's voice was cold as he looked his henchman over. Alex was dragged to her feet and pulled along the hallway, blood dripping steadily from her face the entire time.
"Be careful with her," Adler hissed. "I need her alive. You, help her, carry her if necessary" Adler said to Peter. Peter knew it was to keep him from trying to pull anything, but he was secretly grateful that he'd be able to help Alex. She was swaying on her feet, barely able to stand, and she was reluctant to put pressure on her left ankle.
"I've got you," Peter said as he let her lean most of her weight on him. Alex squeezed his arm in silent thanks. Her hair was still covering her face, and as they walked, Peter brushed it away so he could see the damage. He hissed in sympathy when he saw the split lip, the black eye, the bruised, swollen nose.
"It's not so bad," he said, even though it really was. He continued to murmur encouraging nonsense to Alex as they made their way down the hall, to the new room. When they reached the door, Peter was shoved in. He stumbled, taking Alex with him, and they crashed to the floor in a heap. "We'll be back for you later. See to Neal," Adler commanded as the door slammed shut and was locked.
Peter sat up, mindful not to jar Alex. She hadn't moved yet, and Peter wasn't sure if she was just gathering herself or if she'd passed out. He looked around the room and breathed a sigh of relief. Neal was already in the room, stretched out on one of three sleeping bags. "Well, that didn't go quite as planned," Alex said in a muffled voice as she slowly sat up. Peter helped her, concerned when she gasped and winced as his hand grasped her shoulder.
"Why did you do that, Alex?" Peter asked. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her so she could hold it up to her nose to stem the flow of blood.
"Thanks," she murmured. A small devious smile crept over her battered face. "I wasn't expecting things to be that bad but..." She reached into her shirt and pulled out a cell phone. "I did manage to get us a phone."
----
The last parts will be up later. :-)
Re: Part 4
Date: 2011-09-02 05:38 am (UTC)Fortunately, Alex was already stirring back to consciousness, and he rested a hand on her shoulder to keep her from sitting up. "Careful. Let me help." He didn't want her to sit up at all, but the blood from her nose was draining back into her throat and he didn't want her to choke. He ended up guiding her to the wall and let her lean up against it for support.
"What --?" she asked, looking dazed. She touched her lip and winced.
"You fainted on me," Peter explained with a sympathetic smile.
"I passed out? I never do that!" Alex slurred indignantly. Her lip was still bleeding and was puffed up badly, and he was certain her nose was broken.
"I think it's allowed when you're hurt like this," Peter said with dryly. He noticed that she was shaking and he shrugged out of his jacket, placing it over her. "I'm going to call for help. Try to stay awake for me. I need to check on Neal."
"Ok," Alex responded, her voice muffled as she wiped the blood away from her nose. Peter was already dialing Diana's number as he made his way over to Neal. Neal looked up at him with confused blue eyes, and he reached up to grasp Peter's hand.
"Peter...P'ter...we're trapped!" Neal clutched at Peter, fearful and disoriented. Peter ran his hands through Neal's hair and squeezed his hand, hoping to impart some comfort.
"Hang on, buddy. I'm calling for help," Peter soothed. The phone clicked and Diana started to speak.
"Diana!" Peter said, before she had even finished her greeting. "We're using a phone stolen from the captors, so I don't have much time. You need to trace this call and get an extraction team out here as soon as possible. And send medical; Neal and Alex Hunter need immediate medical treatment."
"We're tracing the call now. Boss, what happened?" Diana asked. He could hear a lot of noise in the background. Peter could imagine the scene very well; the whole office would be in motion now that he'd re-established contact with them.
"We were drugged. Neal's having some sort of reaction to it," Peter explained, partially distracted when Neal started tugging on his shirt sleeve. "What, Neal?"
"You look worried," Neal mumbled. A goofy smile lit up his face, his distress from earlier forgotten. "I can sing for you, make you feel better."
"Oh no," Peter groaned. He recalled more clearly than he wanted to what Neal's drugged singing sounded like. It was off-key, and it was loud. Peter did NOT want their kidnappers to burst in on them and find the cell phone. "Shhh, Neal. I'm fine. Don't sing."
Neal pouted and started humming under his breath. Peter absently patted him, then checked his pulse. It was still too low, and Neal was pausing too often to drag air into his lungs.
"We got a location," Hughes said over the line. "We'll be there in fifteen minutes. Are you injured?"
"No, I was drugged but it's wearing off. Neal was drugged as well, but his pulse is low, and his breathing sounds strange," Peter took a breath to calm himself. "Alex Hunter is another kidnap victim. She has a head injury and a broken nose at the very least. Neither of them are in good shape."
"Do you know your location inside the building?" Hughes asked.
"No...I don't know," Peter admitted. "There are at least five armed men, along with Vincent Adler. We'll keep our heads down. Just hurry!"
Neal suddenly rolled onto his stomach and he vomited more bile. Peter shoved the cell phone into his pocket and helped support Neal until he was done. Neal curled up against Peter's chest, miserable and groggy. Peter held him carefully as another round of illness tore through the already weak young man.
The wait seemed interminable. Neal faded in and out of awareness, sometimes hallucinating, other times frighteningly aware of where he was. Alex was growing less and less responsive, and Peter was finally forced to drag a confused Neal across the room so that he could keep a closer eye on both of them.
The sound of gunfire startled all three of them, but it was the best thing Peter had heard all day. They were saved.
Re: Part 4
Date: 2011-09-02 09:11 am (UTC)Re: Part 4
Date: 2011-09-02 05:48 pm (UTC)Re: Part 4
Date: 2011-09-02 01:39 pm (UTC)And check you out -- making me cheer for Alex! Love her take-one-for-the-team/lift the cell phone move. Although - ouch.
Poor Peter's going to deserve some TLC himself when this is all said and done -- nursemaiding not one but two compromised criminals.
Re: Part 4
Date: 2011-09-02 05:51 pm (UTC)And check you out -- making me cheer for Alex! Love her take-one-for-the-team/lift the cell phone move. Although - ouch.
I just took what they did in the show and made it more like if it were prime time instead of on sunny USA network. ;-)
Poor Peter's going to deserve some TLC himself when this is all said and done -- nursemaiding not one but two compromised criminals.
Peter will get some lovins. Everyone will. I supplied the hurt, now the comfort part comes along. \o/
Re: Part 5a
Date: 2011-09-03 05:56 am (UTC)Alex backed away from Adler as best she could, but something was wrong with her left leg, and she couldn't get to her feet. Peter threw himself at the goon going after Neal. He had to delay the men until the extraction team found them. He grappled with his opponent, and narrowly dodged tripping over Neal, who seemed to be unconscious again. Distracted by his efforts to not harm Neal, Peter wasn't quite able to dodge a blow to the jaw. It sent his head reeling and he fell to the floor hard, the world dimming as he fought to remain awake.
Through the haze he heard an infuriated bellow, and something skittered across the floor and stopped right by his outstretched hand. He blinked and reached for the object out of instinct. Peter recognized the cool steel of a gun even before his vision cleared. He heard Adler shout, "Stupid bitch," and realized Alex must have knocked the weapon out of Adler's hands. Peter reached for the gun and he rolled when he heard a familiar click behind him. The bullet the goon shot at him missed by millimeters, and Peter knew he had no choice; he saw an opening and shot the goon in the shoulder before he could get another shot off.
Time seemed to slow as Peter turned his attention towards Adler. Alex was still fighting him, and Adler was struggling to get something out of his pocket. It was another gun, smaller than the one Peter held, but no less deadly. Adler pointed the weapon at Neal. No choice, if there had been any others.
"Alex, down!" Peter shouted. Momentarily distracted, Adler released his grip on Alex and swung around to point the weapon at Peter. In that moment, everything came into sharp focus as Peter focused in on his target. Adler's finger tightened and...
Peter pulled the trigger.
The bullet seemed to travel for forever before it hit Adler, dead center. Heart shot. Instant kill. The man who had turned so many lives upside down and destroyed so many people was dead before he even hit the concrete floor.
Just then, the welcome faces of Diana and Jones came into view. They hovered at the door for only a moment before they and the rest of the team poured into the room. "Building is secure, Boss," Diana said. Peter nodded as Jones checked Adler for a pulse.
"I had to do it," Peter said. He felt a little numb, a little relieved that it was over. And he felt a new kind of terror at how easily and quickly he had ended another person's existence, even if it was Vincent Adler.
"I know," Diana said. She held out her hand, and Peter wordlessly handed her the gun he'd just fired. Two shots. Lucky shots. The relief crashed over him in a wave that was just a bit too over-whelming. His legs buckled, and he would have fallen if Jones hadn't been there to catch him.
"We've got it now, Peter," Jones assured him. He helped Peter over to a waiting stretcher. The room was full of people, and Peter belatedly realized how many of them were medical personnel. "We'll take it from here."
"I know," Peter said. He leaned back on the stretcher and felt some of the tension drain away. "Good job, Jones."
"Good boss," was Jones reply. Peter smiled and closed his eyes. It was really over. He could rest.
---
A little over an hour later, Peter was propped up in bed in the ER, an IV of something-or-other stuck in his arm, and two butterfly bandages on his cheek. He was slightly battered and dehydrated from the kidnapping, but he had no serious injuries.
Rest, fluids, and light food were the recommended treatments, which was why he was munching on cheap peanut butter crackers instead of a cheeseburger. He sighed, but decided he was grateful to be alive.
Hughes had already stopped by to tell him he was on administrative leave pending an investigation into Adler's death, and to inform him that he was scheduled for the mandatory two weeks of counseling. He was not looking forward to it, but it couldn't be helped. He hoped they'd let Elizabeth see him soon. After his exam, he'd been questioned. Elizabeth had been asked to wait outside, but now he wanted -- no needed -- to see her.
Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-03 06:08 am (UTC)"El!" Peter was not one to weep at any little thing, but he couldn't quite hold back the tears as Elizabeth wrapped him in a careful hug. He was just so tired, and he couldn't get the image of Adler's last, startled expression out of his mind.
"Peter. Oh, Peter. They told me what happened. I'm so sorry, sweetie." Elizabeth held him tightly. Peter clung to her and let the familiar sensation of her arms around him to comfort him. He needed this; he needed her so much right now.
"How are Neal and Alex?" Peter asked after he had regained a bit of his composure. Elizabeth settled herself on the edge of his bed and laced her fingers through his.
"Neal is hanging on. He's very sick, but he seems to be responding to the treatment. He was awake for a few minutes but he fell asleep almost immediately. The doctors are concerned but they don't seem overly worried."
"And Alex?" Peter asked. Elizabeth rubbed her thumb lightly over his knuckles, a sure sign that she wasn't happy with what she was going to tell him.
"She's got a quite a few injuries. They're all minor," Elizabeth added hastily when Peter looked alarmed. "But her recovery will take time." Elizabeth stopped talking and raised Peter's hand up to her lips. "Why don't you try to get some sleep? The doctors will release you in a little while, but you need to rest first."
Peter nodded, suddenly exhausted beyond belief. He had a feeling Elizabeth had glossed over her reports on Alex and Neal, but he found he didn't have the energy to pry the information from her. He wasn't sure he could handle it anyway. He felt...hollow and fragile, like the least little thing could shatter him. Sleep would be good.
"I'll stay here beside you," Elizabeth promised him. Peter squeezed her hand in response. Within seconds he'd drifted into an uneasy, but fortunately dreamless sleep.
Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-06 04:30 am (UTC)Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-08 06:51 am (UTC)Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-06 12:54 pm (UTC)Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-08 06:52 am (UTC)I know I went a little farther into Peter and Alex whump than you would have wanted, so I will try to make that up in Part 7 with some more Neal angst and comfort.
How does that sound? :D
Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-08 12:54 am (UTC)Re: Part 5b
Date: 2011-09-08 06:53 am (UTC)Re: Part 6a
Date: 2011-09-08 06:47 am (UTC)Somebody touched his arm, his shoulder, and a voice spoke to him. He felt weighted down, and something sharp and burning bit into his left arm. He couldn't move it. Bits of memory assailed him; being druggd, men with guns, handcuffs, a sense of being trapped. Trapped. He was trapped! Confused, panicked, he flailed out in an attempt to dislodge the person holding him down. Stinging pain halted his movements, confused him even more. What was in his arm? He had to get it out. His fingers brushed against the invasive object and he gasped as the tender skin throbbed and burned. Tears burned his eyes, clogged his throat, but he forced himself to open heavy eyelids so he could see what was digging into his flesh.
Through blurred vision he saw the needle entering his skin. Drugged. He was being drugged. He had to stop it! Peter closed his fingers around the thin tube that fed into his arm, and was almost successful in his efforts to yank it free, but a small, cool hand got in the way. Another hand rested on his chest, light enough to not cause pain but strong enough to keep him from sitting up. For a moment it seemed as if his captors were winning, and then, above the pounding of his heart and the frantic beep of some machine, he heard her. "Peter. Peter. It's ok. You're ok. Shhh, it's ok."
He blinked away a few more tears and looked up at the person speaking. A woman. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth holding him down. It was Elizabeth keeping him from tearing out the IV line. Peter grasped at her hand, desperate for the contact, desperate to have something solid to hold onto.
"El...El!" Peter said her name as if it would ward off the gut-churning memories. He'd shot two people. One of them had died. His hand trembled over Elizabeth's and he squeezed down harder, hard enough that it had to hurt but he couldn't make himself let go. Peter didn't understand why he was like this, why the panic wouldn't let go of him. The situation had been bad, but it wasn't the worst scenario. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."
"You're coming down off the drug," Elizabeth explained, her voice gentle. Her hand rubbed a soothing pattern on his chest before moving up his neck and to his cheek, where she wiped a stray tear from his face. "It'll wear off."
That made sense. Peter released a breath of air and reluctantly uncurled his fingers so that he was no longer crushing El's hand. She smiled down at him and bent to press a kiss to his dry lips.
"Ready to go back to sleep?" she asked. Peter nodded, his eyes suddenly heavy. He felt drained, empty now. All he wanted now was to sleep until he was stronger. His wife moved to sit in the chair beside his bed, but even that distance seemed too far. He selfishly wanted her right beside him, and even though he was barely coherent, even he could see the wan, tired look on her face. Peter tugged gently on her arm, drawing her closer to the bed.
"Lay beside me," he suggested, and rolled his head to look at the empty spot beside him. "I can move over a little. There's room."
Elizabeth eyed the space with some skepticism, but she didn't argue. She climbed up beside him, careful not to jostle him too much so he wouldn't hurt the arm with the IV in it. It was a tight fit, even with her on her side, but Peter felt better by having her so close.
"Better?" Elizabeth's voice tickled his ear, soothed him as his mind started sinking back to sleep. She slipped an arm over his shoulder, and he pressed a sleepy kiss against the soft skin in answer to her question. "Go back to sleep, sweetie. I'll be here with you."
Re: Part 6b
Date: 2011-09-08 06:49 am (UTC)Elizabeth stirred beside him and opened her eyes, a small smile on her face. She returned his kiss but before she could speak, someone cleared their throat. A nurse was peering into her his curtained cubicle. She grinned at them with amusement when she saw that she had their attention. Peter and Elizabeth exchanged guilty grins. They'd been caught.
Peter managed a sheepish smile at the nurse as she approached his bed. "We're probably breaking all sorts of rules, aren't we?" he asked while she checked his IV and chart.
"Never mind that," she said with a wink. "I won't tell if you won't. How are you feeling, Peter?"
"Almost good as new," he responded. He felt steady, more capable and in control of himself. The tiredness still clung to him but the grogginess was gone at long last. "When can I get up?" Now that his mind was cleared of the fog, he wanted to check on Alex and Neal.
"We'll have you up and out of here in no time," the nurse promised. In less than a half hour, the IV was removed and he was changed into a comfy pair of track pants, a t-shirt, and a zip hoodie. He finished lacing up his shoes and tried to stand.
The drug may have been wearing off, but it was still affecting him. His body felt odd and heavy, and he wobbled on shaking legs. He would have planted himself face first on the hospital floor if El hadn't managed to grab his arm and pull his listing body back onto the bed.
"Four hours of sleep wasn't enough. You are not walking," Elizabeth grunted as they fell awkwardly together. "Stay put," she warned him as she went to get the nurse. The two women were back in short order, and they quickly decided that the wheelchair was the best option for him.
Peter fiddled with the silver tab of his hoodie, impatient to be on his way. He tried to tell them he was fine, but no one was interested in his opinion. So he sat and sulked until at last the nurse was ready to let Peter walk the two steps to the chair. She hovered the entire way, much to Peter's annoyance.
It would have been nice if his body was more cooperative to prove his point, but it wasn't, and he sank into the wheelchair with a huff of air. "Can we go, please?" Peter asked. He wanted to come across as impatient and grouchy, but in truth he sounded tired. Stupid drugs.
"You can, but remember, only two minutes to see Miss Hunter," the nurse warned him. "We wouldn't allow you to see her at all, but your wife seems to think you'd be impossible if we didn't let you peek in on her."
Peter shot Elizabeth a glare, but then his shoulders dropped. She was probably right. El just smiled pleasantly at him, but he was pretty sure that she rolled her eyes at the nurse as she started to wheel him away.
That was fine. He was ready to see how Alex was faring, and then he needed to check in on his partner. Elizabeth was evasive about Neal's condition, and that worried him. He had to see Neal for himself. He had to make certain that he was all right.
Re: Part 6b
Date: 2011-09-08 10:37 am (UTC)Re: Part 6b
Date: 2011-09-09 05:19 am (UTC)Re: Part 6b
From:Re: Part 6b
From:Re: Part 6b
Date: 2011-09-29 12:04 am (UTC)Re: Part 6b
Date: 2011-09-14 10:44 pm (UTC)Re: Part 6b
From:Re: 7a
Date: 2011-09-28 05:39 pm (UTC)"She was a little confused and was agitated. The only way she was calm is if I was around," Diana gave a little shrug. "Christie says she'll sleep until morning, but I think I'll camp out here anyway. She shouldn't have to wake up alone."
"No, she shouldn't," Peter agreed. Alex looked worse than before. The bruises were deep reds and purples now. He must have really been unfocused to not realize just how bad things had gone for her. Her arm was in a splint, as was her ankle. The worst part was her breathing; even in the drugged sleep her breaths were shallow. "Will she be all right?" Elizabeth had told him Alex would be fine, and he believed her. He just needed to hear it again.
"She'll be fine, boss," Diana assured him. "But she has a laundry list of injuries, everything from cracked ribs to torn ligaments and some internal bruising. She may need surgery in a day or two for her nose and for the ligament in her ankle. We'll know more in the next day or so."
Alex twitched on the bed and let out a soft sound of distress. Whatever disturbed her wasn't enough to rouse her, however, and in a few moments she settled back down. Elizabeth waited until Alex was resting before she spoke. "We should probably go, sweetie. Let Alex and Diana get some rest."
"Right," Peter agreed. "I need to see Neal. Keep me posted?" he asked Diana. There wasn't anything he could do for Alex right now, and he was anxious to see his partner. Diana's face softened.
"Yeah, go see Neal.If anything changes with Alex, you'll be the first one to know." Diana promised. Peter gave Alex's hand a small pat before Elizabeth wheeled him out of the room.
---
Peter sat beside Neal's bed and watched the slow, rhythmic rise and fall of of his chest. The heart monitor was steady and reassuring. Aside from the usual wires and IV, Neal had a cannula to give him extra oxygen. The young man was pale, but the blueish tinge to his skin and lips was gone, and the hand under Peter's was warm.
A nurse entered the room and checked Neal's pulse and listened to his heart. "This is your partner?" he asked Peter. Peter blinked, startled from his thoughts when the nurse spoke to him. He looked from Neal's still face back up to the understanding gaze of the other man.
"Yeah. He's my partner. And my friend," Peter said. The nurse gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I thought so. Would you like to stay with him? He's beginning to show signs of coming around. It may take a while, but he'll get there," the man explained. "You can rest in the chair here, as long as you promise not to make any field trips."
"He'll really be all right?" Peter couldn't shake the image of how lifeless Neal had seemed in the warehouse. Adler's face flashed in his mind. Peter cringed and hunched over. Elizabeth rested a hand on his shoulder. The contact helped him focus back on the room.
The nurse was explaining that Neal was still weak. His system had been over-loaded and he was lucky he hadn't lapsed into a coma or stopped breathing. Neal needed rest for a few days but everything looked good. There were other words that washed over Peter without any real meaning. All he knew or cared about was that Neal would be fine.
Now he just had to wait for Neal to wake up so he could be certain of that fact for himself.
---
Neal shifted on the bed and mumbled something Peter couldn't quite make out. Neal had been drifting in and out of sleep for a while now. When he was awake, he was coherent enough to know where he was and who Peter was, but the drug had knocked him on his ass, so to speak. The moments of awareness were getting longer and more frequent -- and the closer Neal edged to full consciousness, the more clingy he was getting. Right now his fingers were gripping Peter's sleeve, and even though he was still out of it, he didn't seem inclined to let go.
Re: 7a
Date: 2011-10-02 10:24 pm (UTC)Re: 7a
Date: 2012-04-27 06:05 am (UTC)Re: 7a
From:Re: 7a
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2012-12-31 12:18 am (UTC) - ExpandRe: 7a
From:Re: 7a
Date: 2013-05-09 01:26 pm (UTC)Please let me know if you have made the sequel.
I hope Neal is still clinging even when he is coherent enough that he iz being clingy but can't help himself. I love embarassed Neal. He would be so adorable!