El was in the kitchen when she heard sounds coming from the front door. Why was her beautiful husband home early from work? Not that it mattered; it was fantastic to see for a change because with one thing or another, they hadn't spent too much time together lately. Maybe she could manage to make something quick for dinner so they could spend the rest of the night curled up against each other on the couch. With that encouraging thought in mind, she strolled into the living room with the biggest smile on her face. Too bad all hope of a sweet evening with her husband died along with her smile when she saw Peter dragging Neal into the house.
"You'd better stop, Caffrey! Stop struggling! You are going to stay here and that's final! I don´t care how much you cry, kick or yell!"
Peter was holding the kid – one hand wrapped around Neal's upper arm to direct him, the other hand holding a fistful of shirt at the back of Neals' collar to hold him in place. Neal pushed against Peter but no matter how much he tried, he was not going anywhere except wherever the agent was taking him.
Damn Peter and his damn FBI training!
It took several minutes to get Neal into the house but Peter accomplished his mission like he always did. El was impressed. It was a half fun, half annoying war between the two men to watch. And it was kind of hot to see too, even thought she would never, ever admit it, seeing her man in full agent mode really turned her on.
Once everybody was inside the house, the three of them stood staring at each other. Peter and Neal where busy catching their breaths, leaving El to do the talking,
"You guys are unreal, what's wrong now?"
Neal directed an angry look in her direction, which shook her a little, and then he looked away while crossing his arms over his chest.
Peter required a few more deep breaths before he could speak again, "Neal. Upstairs. Now!"
The kid sent a dark look to the agent but he obeyed the direction and headed up the stairs to the guest room.
"Honey?" El inquired with a puzzled expression.
"That kid El, that damn kid is going to cost me one early death!" Peter said as he ran a hand down his face, while accepting that it was becoming a habit. He should probably thank Neal for that later!
"Yeah," El said half joking, "If you don´t kill him first."
"I know you are joking but seriously, I'm beginning to think only one of us isgoing to make it through his four years under my supervision." Peter couldn't say for sure which one.
"What happen?" Elizabeth was concerned. In order to help both men she cared deeply for, she needed to know what was going on.
"He…. Damn! I´m an idiot!" The agent ran to the stairs and climbed them two at a time.
"Wait-what!" It was all Elizabeth manages to say before his husband disappeared out of sight. She sighed while paying attention to the noises coming from the secondfloor.
"Neal!"
Surely Neal wasn't capable of getting up to mischief in the guest room?
"Stop right there!"
Perhaps he was! The kid was going to be in big trouble, El assumed from the tone of Peter's heard the sound of…. struggling? Yes and the sounds of quick movement all over the room. And then…. a whack?
Surely not, it couldn't be? El couldn't be sure. Then she heard the same sound two more times. No mistake this time, it was undoubtedly the sound of one very mad FBI agent's hand connecting with the butt of a young con man.
Ouch! She thought.
Soon after, El heard them coming down. Peter was leading, his face was furious. One red faced Neal was struggling to keep up, like he had little choice with the grip Peter had on his shirt. They passed El and walked to the kitchen where Peter pulled a chair out before the angry man deposited Neal and not in a gentle way either.
"You will not move from there without my permission!"
Neal responded to the order with some serious pouting and by letting his head droop all the way into his shoulders.
Peter turned to his wife who had trailed them to the dining room, "Watch him!"
El raised one eyebrow. Why the hell was Peter talking to her like that? She hadn't done anything!
"I´m-I'm sorry honey," Peter back peddled, "I am just upset with Neal. I shouldn't be taking it out on you."
"It´s okay honey. I understand."
"I just need some air, would you please watch him?" El nodded "If he tries to runaway, if he move from that seat, if he blinks too much, if he even breathes too often, you call me, I'll be just outside."
Before heading out, the FBI agent glared at Neal, who was staring at the table in front of him. The kid didn't need watch the agent to know with unquestionable doubt that Peter was sending him a look that said, 'Behave or I will kill you when I get back!'
As soon as they were alone, El made a move to find out what the hell wasgoing on between these two.
"Sweaty? What happen?"
Neal didn't respond. The kid didn't even acknowledge El.
"Honey why is Peter so angry?" she tried again.
Neal continued to stare at the kitchen table.
"Neal what were you doing upstairs that Peter… that Peter… well became so angry?"
Neal's face turned bright red but he continued to maintain his statue like state.
Elizabeth was losingher patience really fast."Neal you don´t want to talk about it?" She waited for a few moments but there was still no response coming from the young man. "Okay if you don´t want to talk to me that´s fine, but would you please lookat me while I talk to you."
Again there was no response.
"Neal Caffrey! Look at me right this instant!"
Neal turned wide blue eyes to Elizabeth. He had never seen her so mad!
Impressive!"Good… thank you." El continued in a softer voice. "You know I can't helpyou if you don´t talk to me."
Neal was taken in by Elizabeth's motherly tone. Maybe this was becoming a trend - this whole parental Burke scenario. Pity everyone had failed to inform him! Anyway, Neal kept the thoughts to himself and remained silent.
After several minutes Elizabeth give up "Alright have your way then."
A few minutes later, Peter came back inside the house, calmerthan earlier but still quite angry with Neal.
"Hey honey, do you feel better?"
"Yeah thanks," Peter said without much confidence. "Did he behave?"
"Yeah…mmm…can I see you in the liven room?"
"Sure." He knew pretty well that his wife would be full of questions by now. "Neal, do not move your butt from that chair!"
"Honey, what is going on? Why did you drag Neal into our house?"
"It's because of the case we are working on, El. We found out that the guy we were investigating wants to take revenge of Neal and Mozzi for some job they did a while back that went wrong."
"Is he dangerous?"
"Yes he is honey. Since yesterday, Neal hasn't heard a thing from Mozzi. We suspect that maybe the guy is holding him somewhere and wants to use him as bait to entice Neal out."
"Oh my god!"
"So, I informed Neal he was off the case and..."
"And he didn't take that too well?"
"No he didn't," Peter scoffed. "I sent him to a safe house to protect him but…"
"He ran away?"
"Yes, he ran in order to find Mozzi. As soon as I caught up with him…thank you electronic monitoring anklet…I brought him back here so I could keep an eye on him."
"And he was not okay with that."
"No he was not. But this is for his own safety, so I don't really give a damn if he is okay with this or not."
"And what happen upstairs?"
Peter could sense his angry boiling as he recalled, "I discovered him half wayout of the window!"
That explained a lot! "So you…?"
"Yes…I smacked his behind a few times," Peter responded defensively.
"Okay…" El accepted it better than last time, "but what's up with the talking? Why isn't he saying anything?"
"Ummm... well…" Peter hesitated.
"Honey?"
"He was complaining the whole car ride and I…I'll ask him to be quiet."
"You asked him?" Surely not!
"Okay I may have told…I yelled at him to shut the hell up," Peter blurted out rather guiltily.
"And now he is…?"
"Throwing a little tantrum yes."
"And what are you going to do about?" Dare she ask!
"I don't know…I guess the same thing that you do with a kid, ignore it until he grows tired of it?"
"Alright if you think that's the best…. I´ll go out to get us something for take it easy on Neal, he is just worried about his friend, that's all."
"Yeah I know, but he has to trust me and our team. They are going to findMozzi, I guarantee it."
"I believe you hon," El kissed her husband on the top of his head as she headed for the door, "but…please don't kill him while I'm out okay?...Okay?"
Peter looked away, unable to give an honest response.
"Peter!"
The agent sighed deeply before offering a compromise, "I'll try but I can´t promise you anything."
Oh dear! This was going to be one hell of an interesting night!
A/N thanks to colakirk.