A/N: I'm sorry.

"Don't volunteer to take him on. Trust me, you'll regret it."

Peters harsh words echoed through Neal's now empty skull. It had been a few minutes since the statement had actually been spoken, but it just would not leave his mind. He was still hunched over next to his shorter friend, working on solving another riddle for Hagan, when he paused and stood up. Hagan had walked over to the mural, examining it closely, buying Neal some time to pause from his workings and think.

Why was he still doing this crazy song and dance for Hagan when the man he did it for did not even care about him?

Think about it, Neal's subconscious stated. You could easily persuade the enemy that you're on the same side. Whatever this "plan" for the Codex and mural is, you want in. It's going to lead to money eventually. Big money. No more FBI, no more Agent Burke. Finish off your sentence, and you'd have a nice place to land. To get out and away from it all.

But also remember who you did this for Neal, Neal's other half of his subconscious said. He started wondering if a little angel and devil would pop up on his shoulders. You did it for Peter and Elizabeth. You know how happy they are together. Remember the look of pure bliss on their faces when they were reunited after the Keller incident? How tight they hugged each other? The house could have been burning down around them and they wouldn't have noticed because for those few seconds, nothing else mattered. They had each other, and that was enough. Could you imagine El having to go to the prison to see her husband every day? And what about Satchmo?

Neal gave a small smile at the thought of the golden retriever. Mozzie glance over at his colleague and shook his head, chalking it up to too much stress, and deciding not to disturb his friend's train of thought.

I mean, come on, what's a dog without his owner? Granted, yes, what Peter said was terrible and he should not have said it, but he deserves to be free. You know better than anyone that he deserves to be happy. He's a hard worker, a fantastic husband, and he plays by the rules. Not to mention what a friend he is to you.

Friend? What friend threatens to send you back to prison every time he gets slightly suspicious that you were involved in a heist?

A surge of anger rushed through Neal and he dropped his paint brush on the ground. He shook his head and glanced up to see Hagan staring questionably at him. "Careful, Caffrey. Any screw ups..." He let the threat hang in the air.

Neal nodded and picked his paint brush back up and went back to work. That's when the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

A friend who cares. When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you. Peter hasn't given up on you. And just think about the sheer number of times he's taken the heat for you.

Neal nodded to himself and focused back in. So he kept working alongside Mozzie, a calm, yet determined aura set into his demeanor, although he worked at a slightly faster pace. He would finish all the tasks Hagan asked of him. He would put Hagan back where he belongs, in prison. He would get out of this, with no casualties along the way. He started this for the Burkes, and he would end it for them.

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about.