Chapter Two

"Neal!"

"Peter, no! Wai..."

Neal jolted awake to what he could have sworn was a gun shot, but when the noise repeated itself it was nothing more than someone knocking on the front door. Panting heavily Neal's skin crawled with the feeling of cold sweat that slicked his skin. Sitting up Neal dragged his hands through his drenched hair as he tried to shake off the haze that lingered in his head from the nightmare that he couldn't quite remember but instinctively knew he'd been having.

"Neal?" Peter's voice came through the door.

"Yeah, hang on." Neal replied in a weary tone.

Untangling himself from the sheets Neal swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Only wearing the bottom half of his pajamas he looked around for the shirt. He recalled having been wearing it when he went to bed, but he wasn't quite sure what had happened to it during the night. Sitting on the edge of the bed he found the matching silk shirt among the sheets. When he put it on he discovered that the front was torn open from the neck half way down the shirt.

"Not again." Neal muttered as pulled off the ruined shirt.

Neal spotted a plain white shirt draped over one of the dinning room chairs. Getting to his feet Neal's right knee instantly buckled, unable to correct his balance in time he hit hardwood floor. Landing on his shoulder Neal managed not to cry out as a jolt of pain lanced down his arm. Sitting on the floor Neal tried to straighten out his arm that was cramping. He managed to extend his elbow but his wrist remained curled in with his ring and pinky fingers contracted into a painful claw against his palm.

"Neal?" Peter asked concerned through the door.

"Coming," Neal growled through his teeth "just give me a second."

Using his left hand Neal forced his fingers out flat and worked on releasing his wrist. The muscles protested with a few spasms before finally relaxing. Getting back to his feet Neal shook his hand out while he retrieved the white shirt from the chair. He pressed his hand against his shoulder until he reached the door and then made a point of leaving it alone. Taking a deep breath he painted on a smile and opened the door.

"Hey," Neal greeted "I thought you were taking the day off."

"You okay, Neal?"

"Peter, I can't even begin to describe to you how sick I am of hearing you ask me that."

"Sorry, but you look like you've been ridden hard and put away wet...literally."

"It's been a rough morning." Neal admitted as he self-consciously rubbed at his forearm that was still sticky from the night sweats.

"Morning?" Peter repeated with his brow furrowed. "Neal it's four in the afternoon."

"Really?" Neal looked around as if that would help him reorient to the time. "Well it was a late night testing the museum."

"That was two nights ago."

"I know. My circadian rhythm is delicate." Neal shrugged. "Why are you here? Do we have a new case?"

"No. Well, yes, but that's not why I'm here. Can I come in?"

"Of course, sorry." Neal stepped out of the way so Peter could step inside. "What's going on?"

"Sit down, Neal." Peter said gently.

"Okay, now you're just making me nervous."

"You can't be half as nervous as I am." Peter said half jokingly.

"Peter, seriously, what is going on?"

"I got orders from the top considering your parole."

"I'm going back to prison?" Neal asked fearfully. "After everything I've done to hel..."

"No, Neal, not prison." Peter assured. "Approval came through to take you off anklet."

"Really?" Neal instantly brightened. "When?"

"Today. Right now in fact."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"This isn't an unconditional release." Peter added. "I'm still your handler, you will need to check in with me over the phone daily and in person at least once every three days."

"Do I still have a radius?"

"For now they ask that you stay within New York state."

"I can't believe this." Neal smiled.

"Neither can I."

"What do you mean? This certainly didn't just come out of the blue. I know they denied you when you asked for my early release two months ago after..." Neal paused unable to finished the sentence. "After everything that happened. You must have been the one pushing for this, right?"

"...of course." Peter replied after a brief hesitation. "I just didn't think anyone was listening."

"Bark loud and long enough and someone is bound to notice. I can't thank you enough for this, Peter."

In his excitement Neal thew his arms around Peter in an enthusiastic embrace. Peter accepted the affection for a moment before pushing Neal away. Peter put his hands on his hips and stared at Neal. Neal could see in Peter's expression that he had some reservations about the new arrangement, but Neal was determined to prove to him that he could walk on the straight and narrow for at least long enough to be granted a full release.

"Do not screw the pooch on this one, Neal."

"I won't, I promise, Peter."

"I'm serious. You so much as bend the law half a degree and I don't know what will happen to either one of us. I'm putting a lot on the line backing you on this."

"I know, and I'm ready for this. ...I need this."

Peter regarded Neal silently for a moment before he nodded slightly. Reaching into his jacket Peter pulled out the folded paperwork and a pen. Taking the document over to the table Neal read over the fine print. As Peter had already explained he was still a ward of the state and Peter would act as handler while Neal continued to assist the FBI as a CI. However he would no longer be monitored and he was free to move about the city as he pleased whenever he wasn't actively working a case.

It wasn't the same as true freedom, but he was more than happy to agree to it for now. Neal signed the papers and handed them back to Peter. Pulling the dinning room chair out Neal propped his foot up on it. Once again Peter hesitated, but in the end he fished the small magnetic key out of his pocket and offered it to Neal.

"Oh no," Neal shook his head "you put it on there, you should be the one to take it off."

Peter managed a smiled and leaned over to release the magnetic lock on the anklet. Removing the anklet Peter slipped it into the large side pocket of his jacket. Neal rubbed at his newly naked ankle. He'd had the tracker off plenty of times in the past few years, but this time felt very different. Putting his foot back on the floor Neal looked around as if seeing the apartment for the first time.

"I don't even know what to do first." Neal smiled.

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"Take a shower and brush your teeth."

"That bad, eh?" Neal chuckled.

Peter answered by taking a step back. Neal laughed at him and pounced on him with another friendly hug that Peter instantly worked to escape from. Neal released him without much of a fight. After a brief moment of silence Peter headed towards the door. Neal followed him over. Peter opened the door but before he stepped through he turned back to Neal.

"Congratulation, Neal." Peter said sincerely.

"Thank you."

"If you need anything..." Peter left the rest unspoken.

"I know." Neal nodded. "Thank you, Peter, for everything."

Peter nodded once again. He looked like he was going to give Neal one last warning about behaving, but he kept quiet and simply left. Neal closed the door and stared out over his apartment. He had not been keeping it as clean and orderly as he usually did, it wasn't a serious mess or anything, but it wasn't his usual state either.

Resolving to clean it up later Neal headed for a much needed shower. Once clean and dressed Neal reached for his cell phone. Picking it up he instantly dropped it as his hand went numb. He had almost forgotten about the damage for a moment. With his shoulder suddenly blazing in pain he retreated to the bathroom. Shaking four pills out of the orange bottle he skipped the water and just chewed them. Instantly feeling better Neal went back out into the living room to retrieve his phone. He had to dial four different numbers, the first three having been disconnected, before he finally got an answer.

"Hey, Neal." Mozzie greeted.

"Mozzie, get over here, right now. We're going out."

"Out? Where?"

"I don't care, just as long as it's at least two point five miles away."