"Hughes?"

"We have an issue. Neal has no place to stay."

"What do you mean?" Peter asked.

"He is younger than 18 and is therefore still considered a juvenile. And we can't process him until next week, at the earliest."

"Can't he stay at the hospital?"

"No. The bureau wants Caffrey to stay at a foster home, preferably with one of the agents."

Peter groaned. He knew where this conversation was going. He briefly considered asking Jones or Diana, but he knew both of them would object.

"Alright. I'll take him. How long will this be for?"

"Only a few days or so." Hughes hung up. Peter sighed, at least El probably wouldn't mind it.

Peter hung up as well and glanced up as a doctor came in.

"Agent Peter Burke?" she asked, looking around at the faces of the people in the waiting room for some sign of recognition. Peter wearily ran a hand across his face and stood up.

"Are you Mr. Caffrey's parent?"

"He's in my...custody" Peter responded, following the doctor into Neal's room.

"I'm his doctor, Dr. Maryse Carton. Mr. Caffrey has sustained a fractured wrist and ribs, concussion, but nothing too serious. He is lucky" she lowered her voice, noticing Neal was asleep.

"Thanks. Uh, how soon can he be released?" Peter asked.

"Probably in the morning, but I will need to release him to a guardian and know that he is being cared for. His concussion is not severe, but if there are any complications, he will need to be brought back" she smiled and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.

Peter sank into the chair next to Neal's bed. The kid looked so innocent as he slept, not at all how Peter would have imagined him to look. When he had first started chasing the conman, he had pictured Neal to be at least forty and having had years to practice his "art". He was surprised and rather concerned when he found Neal to be fifteen and definitely alone.

"Neal" Peter leaned forward and spoke firmly. He wanted some answers out of the young conman.

Neal's head rolled to the side and his eyelids fluttered as he murmured something. He flinched and his head lolled back to the other side. Peter shook Neal's shoulder, but to no avail. Neal's breathing only increased and his hands clenched the blankets. Peter finally gave a light slap to Neal's cheek, the conman's eyes finally flying open to reveal brilliant blue eyes that were filled with terror.

"Neal. Look at me. Just breathe. In and out" Peter spoke firmly, and Neal tried to obey, his chest heaving in desperate gasps as struggled to slow his breaths. Peter put his hand on the back of Neal's neck and pulled him forward so that he was leaning against Peter.

Neal's shaking hands clutched at Peter's shirt and after a few minutes of huddling against the agent, he raised his head.

"Peter?"

"We're not on a first name basis yet." Peter reprimanded the kid, instantly feeling bad for sounding so harsh.

Neal shrugged, trying as much as possible to put on his mask.

"Seemed like you had a nightmare" Peter posed the statement as a question, to which Neal didn't answer.

"Answer me" Peter said firmly.

"Nothing" Neal's eyes were exhausted and dull.

"Alright, get some rest" Peter said, deciding to put the question to rest, at least for the moment. He knew he didn't mistake the relieved gleam in Neal's eyes as the kid rolled away from him, pulling the blankets over his shoulder.

"I'll be back in the morning," he said as he stood up. Peter didn't exactly think he needed to tell Neal that he would be released in the morning. Especially since he knew Neal to be extremely skilled in escape.

"Hey hon" Peter smiled as he let himself into the house. He hung his coat up and bent down to pat Satchmo who came trotting over to greet him, tail wagging and a doggy grin on his face.

"Hey, mmm…" El kissed him, "how was work?" she asked as she dried her hands on a towel.

Peter took a deep breath, and fidgeted. For some reason he could lie to almost anyone. Except for El.

"Hon, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"What?" El looked at him rather suspiciously.

"Hughes wants me to do him a favor."

"Yes?"

"Neal Caffrey's coming to stay with us."

El looked at Peter disbelievingly. He only nodded.

"Hon, that's wonderful! I'll get the guest bedroom ready. What's his favorite color? Would he prefer blue or-" Peter quickly cut her off.

"El, did you hear what I said?"

"Yes. Neal Caffrey, the teenager that I've shared at least a year of my life with is staying at our house. Oh, and for how long?"

"Elizabeth, he's a criminal."

"I know. Why else would you have been chasing him?" she looked at Peter as though he was the insane one.

Peter threw his hands up in despair and stalked over to the couch and sat down with a thump. The look on El's face softened and she went to sit next to her husband, putting a comforting hand on his back.

"Hon, what is it?"

"Nothing" Peter shook his head and smiled. He still couldn't shake that nagging feeling that there was something off about Neal.

The next morning he arrived at the hospital to find Neal sitting on his bed, feet dangling over the side.

"Morning" Peter resisted the urge to ruffle Neal's hair. Neal looked up and gave the agent a wan and fleeting smile.

"Good morning Agent Burke" Dr. Carton stepped into the room, "may I speak to you for a moment?"

Peter nodded and followed her out of Neal's room.

"I'm concerned about Mr. Caffrey. He barely ate last night and he did not sleep well last night. I will release him today, but please make sure he eats and sleeps."

"I will." Peter nodded in consensus. He turned to see Neal, leaning against the doorway, white-faced and shaky.

"Neal, ready to go home?"

TBC

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, everyone! I'm so glad you like this story. Please feel free to review!