GREAT PAINS

An: This picks up right at the end of Season 4. This is my version of the continuation of the story, with a heap of shameless Neal whumpage/angst thrown in, just because it makes me a happy, happy girl. I hope you enjoy.

Welcome Back ccluvshorses101! I'm glad you got your computer issues resolved. Thanks for your beta skills.

And, as always, thanks to all of you who read, review, and alert.

"How much more is Peter supposed to give up for you, Neal?" El asked. She had just gotten the news her husband had been arrested, all because of James Bennett.

Neal shook his head. He really did understand her anger, her disappointment. "I just…I didn't know…."

"I know you didn't, Neal." El sympathized. "But the fact remains James is your father. You brought him into our lives."

"El, I…I'm sorry." Neal replied.

"You know, Neal, there are time when sorry just is not enough." El glared at him. "This is one of those times."

El stood in her doorway, barring entry. "I just…please leave, Neal. Please…just go." She didn't even give him an opportunity to respond. She just closed the door.

El stood behind the door, hidden by the curtain. She saw the hurt look on Neal's face. She then watched him walk away as she wiped tears from her eyes. She knew he was hurting, too. She knew his father had betrayed him. And she could never imagine how that felt. But her priority was Peter, and he was in big trouble. Trouble she was not sure anybody could get him out of.

WC WC WC WC WC

Neal stood staring at the Burke's door for, he didn't know how long. He had not been terribly surprised El had closed him out. He knew El, and probably the White Collar Division, would lay this at his feet. He was not responsible for his father's actions. They all knew and understood that. But the fact remained; he had brought the elder conman, as it turned out, into all their lives. Neal sighed, turned, and walked away.

A couple of hours later, Neal had a plan. It was a dangerous plan, one that might cost him his life. But at this point, he really didn't feel like he had a lot to lose. He had lost it all already. But, at least, he would be able to repay Peter and El for the trust, kindness and friendship that they had shown him.

WC WC WC WC WC

"What do you want from me? What…what do you want?" Neal asked James. Neal had found James easily enough. Neal had thought he might try to stow away on a passenger/cruise ship, and he had been right. James had joined a line of passengers getting ready to board a ship. James had been spotted by agents who had been staking out these ships and the plan was quickly set into motion.

"I got what I need, Neal." James said. "I got proof that Ellen was a liar. That's what I got. That report, her report…." James shook his head.

"She didn't lie." Neal replied. "And if she had, it must have been a damned good one. You ended up in jail, didn't you?"

"You really, really want to know what I want, Neal?" James replied, smugly. "I plan on letting your…friend take the fall for murder. That's what I want. That bastard, the senator, didn't deserve to live. And I get to kill him, and not have to go to jail, …all the better." James looked thoughtful for a moment. "And I needed to find out exactly what, if any, evidence Ellen had against me. I had to find out what you knew." James paused. "Ellen didn't know I was Sam. She had no idea." James grinned. "I have changed a lot since my cop days. I was sporting a few gray hairs, and I had put on a few pounds. When I finally got back in touch with her, I realized that I could make her think James was dead. And if James was dead, there would be no reason for her to keep the evidence, no reason to pass it on to you. So, I tried to get her, well Sam tried to get her, to destroy the evidence. But no, she had to give you some sort of key." James said, sarcastically. "I didn't know what she had done with the evidence. I didn't know what type of evidence she had. It could have been anything. I was surprised she had written a report. I mean, she could have been thought to be involved, guilt by association. She was my partner, after all. To say something like that, in writing, she really was risking a lot." James shook his head again. "And that videotape you showed me, I had no idea it even existed." James sighed. "She had to die. She just…when she decided to share that information with you, it…it sealed her fate. And it kind of sealed yours too."

Neal looked down at his chest. There was a spot of red staining his white dress shirt. He watched, for just a second, as the spot got bigger. He knew he had been shot, but he felt no pain. He then looked up at his father, in surprise, before his eyes slide closed and he collapsed to the ground.

TBC