A/N I couldn't help myself, I had to write something for Countdown and this is what popped into my head.

His mind was all over the place. He couldn't focus. He heard what Diana and Jones were saying but it wasn't registering. His mind was spinning and he closed his eyes against it all. He couldn't take it.

Just when he thought he would lose it, he heard a voice. The only voice that could get through to him. The only voice that could ground him.

"Peter."

He opened his eyes and turned to see Neal standing by the door. He said the only thing in his mind.

"He took my wife."

As he stared at the young con it was like two sides of him were at war. Part of him wanted to be angry with Neal and to blame him for what Keller did. It was because of his actions that Keller had kidnapped his wife.

But there was also another part of him, the part that had come to care for the young man as a friend and even family, that just wanted to cling to the young man for the support and comfort that only he could provide.

The two sides fought with each other for supremacy and at the moment Peter wasn't sure which side was stronger.

As he stood there other thoughts began to pop into his head. The part of him that wanted to blame Neal couldn't ignore the fact that the young con, regardless of his actions, wasn't completely responsible. He hadn't taken El, Keller had.

Then something else occurred to him. If Keller just wanted the treasure from Neal why take El? Sure Neal cares about her but Keller could have taken someone closer to Neal, like Sara or Mozzie. He would have still had leverage against Neal without earning Peter's wrath. But no Keller didn't just want to torture Neal he wanted to hurt Peter too. He wanted revenge against Neal for beating him and revenge against Peter for putting him in prison. After all Neal hadn't done anything to make Keller kidnap Peter a few months ago. No this had as much to do with Peter as it did with Neal. Keller wanted to hurt them both. Something like this had been waiting to happen ever since Keller escaped prison. The treasure was just the catalyst.

As these realizations clicked in his brain some of his anger lessened and the part of him that still cared about Neal began to win out.

Neal could see the battle going on in Peter's eyes and when he saw the anger subside he stepped forward until he was right in front of Peter. Then he reached up a rested his hands on Peter's shoulders and locked eyes with him. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. They knew each other better than anyone else. A world of communication passed between them and Peter could see the deep sincere apology there.

He also saw a fire, and a deep determination burning in those blue orbs, as well as a promise. A promise that they would get El back safe and Keller would go down.

This was one of Neal's rare moments of honesty. No defection no half-truths, just one-hundred percent honesty and a plea to trust him and Peter was surprised to find a large part of him still did. Even after all the doubts and suspicions it was still there. He reached up to grip Neal's arms holding onto him for dear life.

Neal saw that strength and fire smoldering in Peter's eyes again as if he were drawing it straight from Neal. There was a tiny hope there too, in those brown eyes, as well as belief... and trust.

In that moment both men knew it would all turn out. Yes they had some issues to work out and it would take time but that little bit of trust told them that it was still possible and that everything could be alright again.

Neal had told Mozzie that he had a life here, and as he stared into those trusted brown eyes, they told him he still did.

And Neal knew he had made the right choice.