White Collar – Leverage –

Chapter 18

Peter called Diana and Clinton on the way to the hospital. They immediately offered to drop everything and come to help but Peter told them to hang fire for now.

"I don't want to raise any flags yet." Peter told them.

"Surely the more people looking for Neal, the better?" Elizabeth asked confused.

"Technically Neal has broken his parole by leaving the hospital. If the Marshalls find out they'll arrest him." Peter explained.

"But he's sick." Elizabeth said outraged.

"Not sick enough to stop him running off" Peter said grimly. Why couldn't Neal be more patient and have faith that Peter would have sorted the situation? He sighed to himself. There was no sense in getting angry about it now.

Mozzie was waiting outside the hospital when Peter and El walked up to the entrance.

"This is bad Suit." He said immediately on seeing them.

"You don't say." Peter replied sarcastically, leading the way inside.

Neal's Doctor was in the security office, reviewing the security camera footage.

"Agent Burke, I was just about to call your office. I'm afraid we seem to have misplaced Mr Caffrey." The Doctor told him. Peter wasn't happy about the casual tone.

"Well I am here now so there's no need to call." He told the Doctor, hoping that he could trick him into not making a formal report, at least for a while. It certainly wasn't going to help him get his reinstatement any time soon though. Damn Neal for doing this.

The Security Guard called up footage of Neal creeping out of his room barefoot wearing only the hospital gown. He was walking slowly and leaning heavily on the wall from time to time.

Peter sighed, partly relieved that Neal had indeed left under his own steam but partly frustrated.

"How is it none of your staff noticed him leaving?" Peter asked.

"There are only two nurses on duty at night, one was called away to help with an emergency in another ward. They are not supposed to leave the ward unattended but apparently because it was quiet she snuck out for a cigarette. I have to apologise for that and I can assure you she is being disciplined over it." The Doctor told them. The nurse looked disgusted at the news.

They watched as Neal disappeared into one of the rooms and reappeared wearing a baggy t-shirt and sweat pants, still barefoot he disappeared into staircase.

"That was 2 hours ago." Mozzie said. "This is Neal we are talking about he could be anywhere by now."

Peter nodded.

"I have staff searching the hospital to make sure he isn't still here somewhere." The Doctor told them.

"Why would he still be here?" Elizabeth asked confused.

"Mr Caffrey is suffering from quite a nasty infection and was running a fever when we last checked. He most likely isn't thinking that clearly, it's unlikely he's got far. He's already missed the antibiotic shot he was due to have at 6am, he's going to go downhill quickly if we don't get the infection under control."

Elizabeth gave a small gasp, Peter took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Mozzie looked pale faced. He probably blamed himself for letting Neal wonder off. Peter supposed it wouldn't do him any harm to feel a bit of responsibility for once.

"This is all your fault Suit" Mozzie told Peter. So much for taking responsibility.

"If it wasn't for you Neal wouldn't have been hurt in the first place. Ever since he met you, you've been nothing but bad news." Mozzie told him. Peter knew that Mozzie was just worried about Neal, but the accusation hurt because he knew there was an element of truth to it.

"This isn't helping." Elizabeth interrupted. "We need to focus on finding Neal."

Mozzie looked down at the floor, then looked up at them

"Why would he go without me?" He asked Peter plaintively revealing his real fear. That Neal had abandoned him.

Elizabeth patted Mozzie on the arm helplessly.

Peter stared at the camera screen, trying to decide what to do. Neal's life was at stake, they had to find him as quickly as possible which meant getting as many people to look for him as possible. That meant keeping Neal off the radar would be impossible. He got a sudden image of Neal just after he had got out of prison, standing on the balcony of his apartment staring out at the city as if he had never seen it before, his eyes drinking it in.

"Did they check the roof?" Peter asked the Doctor who shrugged and looked at the Security guard who answered.

"There was no need, it's kept locked. I have the only key right here." He told them.

"Where are you going?" He heard El call as he ran out of the room down the hall and ran up the staircase. He was vaguely aware of El and Mozzie following him as his feed pounded up the stairs.

The door to the roof had a massive chain and padlock attached, the padlock was hanging open. Peter pushed open the door, holding his breath.

For second he thought he had guessed wrong and then he saw the figure standing at the edge of the roof.

"Neal!" He called. Neal turned to look and then to Peter's dismay he stepped towards the ledge.

El and Mozzie gasped behind him.

"Stay here." He ordered and slowly made his way over to Neal slowly so as not to spook him. As he got closer Peter could see Neal was sweating in the chill morning air.

"Don't come any closer." Neal said, he didn't sound like himself, he sounded afraid

Peter nodded holding his hands up

"It's me Neal." Peter told him trying to sound reassuring, though his heart was racing. "We were worried about you."

"Peter?" Neal asked confused.

Peter nodded and took a step forward, thinking to take Neal's arm. It was a mistake, the movement startled Neal, he took a step back, swaying dangerously close to the edge, he put a hand out and stabilised himself on the low wall.

"I don't want to go back." Neal said looking around urgently, as if for an escape route. Peter wasn't even sure he was really aware where he was.

"I won't let them send you back, I promise. We have a deal remember, you still have another two years on your contract." Peter told him reassuringly, resisting the urge to leap forward and drag Neal back. Neal clearly wasn't thinking clearly and it was a long way down if he fell. Peter had to find some way to convince him. He turned and gestured to El and Mozzie to join him.

They came forward slowly.

Neal watched as they came up, but didn't move, which Peter took as a good sign.

"Neal, Sweetie, you should come inside, let us take care of you." El told him in a mothering tone.

He looked at her as she spoke but his eyes kept flickering to Mozzie.

"It's going to be okay mon frère." Mozzie told Neal.

"Mozzie?" Neal asked, taking a step towards them.

"You can trust the Suit this time." Mozzie told him. He looked at Peter again.

"I promise Neal I won't let them put you back in Prison." Peter told Neal. He just hoped it was a promise he could keep. He looked Neal in the eyes. "Do you trust me?" He held out his hand

Neal paused for a minute and then slowly made his way over to them. El wrapped her arms around him and Peter wrapped his arms around them both before they got Neal back down the stairs and safely back into his bed.

They took it in turns to stay with Neal over the next week. There were no more escape attempts and Neal seemed to be sleeping better and making a speedy recovery. In between Peter convinced the hospital staff to speak to the papers about the hero who saved them. Neal's Doctor, feeling guilty about Neal's escape attempt was particularly complimentary, talking about how Neal had ignored his own injuries to save the staff and other patients.

Peter relieved Mozzie one morning and caught Neal reading the paper one morning.

"You are reading that thing again?" Peter teased.

Neal grinned. "I am the hero who saved the hospital and a certain FBI agent despite being badly injured you know."

Peter stopped smiling and turned serious. "Yes, you did." He told Neal honestly.

"Thank you for this." Neal told him. "You know I wasn't really thinking clearly before. I wasn't planning on running, not really, it was just instinct. If I have to go back I won't blame you." Neal told him.

Peter nodded. "I was called into the office today. They wanted to have words with me about the publicity." He told Neal.

"I'm guessing they weren't happy with you?" Neal asked smiling wryly.

"No they were not happy with me, but with all the publicity they are going to overlook it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge. "They reinstated me." He told Neal triumphantly.

"Does that mean…" Neal trailed off, he couldn't bring himself to say the words. Peter grinned and reached into another pocket and tossed Neal another badge. Neal flicked it open it was his FBI Consultant's badge.

"As soon as you get the all clear from the Doctor you are back working for me." Peter confirmed.

"Where did you get this?" Neal asked confused and pleased at the same time.

"I thought it was my turn to pick your pocket for a change." Peter told him delighted at Neal's reaction.

"Thank you Peter." Neal told him and Peter knew he wasn't talking about the badge.

"Thank you. For saving El and for making my life more interesting." Peter told him.

"That's a Chinese curse you know." Neal commented.

"Well I wouldn't have it any other way." Peter replied.

The End.