Delayed Responsibility

Chapter 1:

Neal decided he had heard enough. He couldn't take more and his eyes were welling up with tears that threatened to fall as he saw everything he once believed in shattering. Ellen's words were more than what he could take, and the truth was crushing him. He hates his mum, Ellen and most of all his dad. The man he thought was a hero, the man he wanted to become like, the person he looked up to. He was a murderer, a traitor, a corrupt cop. It was all a big lie.

Danny found himself in his room weeping ,no his name was Neal not Danny. Danny is the boy who believed all those lies. He himself was a big lie. His real name was Neal, Neal Bennett ,no, he won't be named after his father who was a murderer. He decided to be called after his mother. Neal Caffery, the name was charming and that was good as Neal decided to make Danny Brooks a thing of the past. He won't be a part of the WitSec anymore. He can't hide any more. If his father wanted to kill him let it be as nothing mattered now.

No, one thing mattered. He remembered those ocean blue eyes staring at him, the dark beautiful hair and the dazzling smile. He couldn't leave Grace ,she was his everything . He couldn't stand the idea of her crying for losing him. He couldn't imagine himself without her. He can't just leave her and go no matter how tempted he was. But he just couldn't live with those people who lied to him about everything. He couldn't stand all those thoughts so he decided to do the one thing he thought was a solution. He went to Grace.

It was Neal's eighteenth birthday and he was going to spend the morning with Grace. It was already 12 and they were supposed to meet at the park by 10. Neal was certain that Grace would still be waiting for him , mentally making up a dozen of excuses for being so late. He knew how much she loved him ,and truth was he loved her even more.

He saw her silhouette from his car and after parking, ran towards her. Her bright smile and the kiss she gave him on his year streaked cheeks made him dread what he was about to tell her even more. He couldn't leave without her, but he couldn't live there for one extra moment. The delighted "Happy Birthday My Man" brought him back to reality. He knew she noticed he was crying but didn't talk. However, his cracked false smile was more than she could take.

"Hey", she said affectionately but he couldn't miss the angry broken look that made his stomach churn.

"How dare you fake your smile Dan. What are you hiding from me?"

"Let's talk in a more private place Grace." He said hesitation obvious in his voice.

"Shall we?" He said pointing at the car.

With a nod Grace followed him and entered the car, concern filling her eyes. "What's wrong with Dan?", She thought. She loved Danny with all her heart since the moment she saw him. They have been friends many years ago that they don't really remember how it started. Danny was more than a person she loves, he was also her childhood best friend.

"G, I'm sorry to ask you this, but can I trust you?"

She knew something was off and she was determined to help Dan, so she said, "Of course Dan , what's wrong?"

He hesitated. He was about to turn her life upside down. He was about to ask her to either escape with him or let him go away promising she'll never wait for his impossible return. He might break her heart and he couldn't stand that. He couldn't stand breaking his Grace.

Words were stuck in his throat, but she gave him that look that he couldn't resist, so he said," G, what I'm going to say now is a huge secret. Promise me it'll always stay a secret."

"Well Danny, I promise, but please tell me what's bothering you so much?"

"Well then, brace yourself. Ummm, my name is not Daniel G ... it's Neal!"

She looked at him and her eyes did the talking. "Stop kidding Daniel Brooks, you almost got me a heart attack",they screamed.

"Hey," he tried to sound more serious "it's the truth G. Have you heard anything about WitSec before?"

"Of course I did." She frowned, "But what does this have to do with your suddenly changed name."

"My real name is Neal Bennett, but since I was 3, I've been placed in WitSec under the name Daniel Brooks. I was told my dad died a hero, but it showed up we are hiding from him. He was a corrupt cop ... a murderer."

Neal's eyes were wet and sparkling with tears that started spilling from them like a running stream. He wanted to be strong for Grace, but she was his weak point. Around her, Neal was vulnerable. He couldn't control himself, and he hated that.

Grace was trying to soothe him. He could feel her hands wiping his tears while she mouthed some consoling words. He let himself cry in her warm passionate embrace.

The words seemed to struck Grace. She's never felt sorrier for Danny. No Neal , he said his name is Neal. It must have been terribly hard for him to learn such awful truth. She let her emotions lead her and embraced him as he wept like a little baby, his hot tears covering her clothes.