This is a little late, but I started school on Monday and I apologize for not getting this up sooner. But...I love you(: Review if you'd like..please :)

Title :: Neal's Secret - Chapter Two.
Disclaimer :: Got nothin'
Summary :: Trust is questioned between Peter and Neal when someone Neal knew gets brought up. Neal's trying his hardest to hide something, Peter just has to figure out what it is.

Neal walked through the door of his loft, slamming the door shut. Mozzie - so didn't - jump from his seat at the table. "Neal?" He asked, turning around. Questioning eyes meeting the other's. Why was the man was back at home, hadn't he just left for work?

"Hey Moz." Neal immediately apologized. "I'm sorry I scared you."

The shorter man shook his head, dismissing the action and looking back down at the few hundred piece puzzle on the table. "Ha, I wasn't scared. I don't get scared."

Neal smiled at the back of him, knowing that he jumped when the door was clsoed. He walked over, sitting at the table. "Why are you home so soon?" Mozzie asked, glancing up at his friend. "Peter sent me back." From Neal's tone and the distant look in his eyes - not to mention the slamming of the door, which never happens - Mozzie knew not to press the subject. When Neal wanted to talk, Mozzie would be there to listen - they both knew that. Now just wasn't the time. He was obviously still too angry about the situation and Moz didn't ask questions, he never did. Regardless of how much he wanted to. So Mozzie went back to putting his puzzle together and Neal sat quietly, watching in amusement as Mozzie's silent frustrations grew when he couldn't get the right pieces to fit where he wanted.

-x-

Peter was seated at his desk, staring down at the file with disgust. He didn't know what to think, what to do, how to handle this. The break-out had to have had something to do with Neal, he could feel it. He just didn't know how - yet. The circumstances were just too convincing. It was his ex-cellmate for crying out loud.

He felt angry. Okay, maybe not angry, just...upset, disappointed, maybe mad at himself for not seeing something like this coming. He thought he was getting through to Neal. He thought Neal finally saw that there were other ways to live in this world. He had hoped things had changed. He felt disappointed, but most of all...he was hurt. Hurt that - if Neal did have something to do with it - he went against him, went behind his back. He used Peter as leverage. That's what hurt.

How could he look past this? He couldn't just let this kind of thing go. Hughes was all over him when the case came in. Concerned that they hadn't been watching Neal close enough - that they shouldn't have trusted him in the first place.

That wasn't true though. Peter did trust him, against better judgement and Neal trusted him, against his own better judgement. That's how they worked.

Peter slammed the case folder closed, his mental fight becoming annoying. He glanced away from his desk for the first time in a few hours. It was getting dark out now, he had to go and talk to Neal about this.

-x-

Neal felt anxious, the last four or five paintings showed that easily. Mozzie watched silently from the table, sipping at June's perfectly aged wine, as Neal worked fast on his artwork - something he didn't normally do. Neal liked to take his time, it's how he relaxed. However, today was different. He was fuming, upset. How could Peter think he had something to do with this? How could he? He hadn't done anything! He'd been good these last few weeks. Atleast, he thought he was being good. Peter barely let him even explain anything. Just kicked him out and told him to go home. He didn't believe him when he said he had nothing to do with it. It was ridiculous. Just completely ridic-

"Neal." Mozzie called, half worried his friend's tough brushstrokes would rip right through the canvas. Mozzie's voice pulled Neal from his thoughts and he immediately calmed down. "Sorry." He whispered, placing the brush down and slowly walking away from the easel.

"Neal. You know I'm here to listen. I'm not going to make you tell me what went on within the half hour you were at work today. But, I'm going to reinforce that you can. Why don't you get some sleep. I'll come back in the morning." Mozzie proposed the idea. Neal met his eyes. "Thanks Moz." He said sincerely. The other man stood from his chair, giving him a smile. "Seriously though Neal, relax and sleep." He calmly ordered before exiting the loft.

Neal stood in the silence for a few moments, staring at the painting before him. It wasn't his best work and Mozzie was right. He needed to relax. He cleaned his hands of the extra paint and turned to walk towards his bed until a knock on his door caught his attention. It couldn't have been Mozzie again, he'd just walked out. Neal swallowed hard, wondering who it would be.

"Neal, open up." Peter's voice came through, making Neal a bit more angry. He had nerve showing up here now. He knew they would talk out of the building, he knew that Peter would stop by, he was just hoping it would have been tomorrow.

Another knock. "Neal, come on. I know you're in there."

Neal quickly opened the door, making eye contact with the Agent. "What?" He asked with a glare fixed on the man before him.

"We need to talk." Peter stated. Neal stared at him for a few moments, contemplating whether or not he should let the other man in. "I didn't do this Peter." Neal defended himself quickly again. The Agent sighed, looking down. "You don't believe me." The pain in Neal's voice hurt Peter to the bone.

"What am I supposed to think Neal?" He noticed the hurt that flashed through the con's eyes before he could hide it away. "You practically lived with the guy. He broke out, almost the same way you did."

Neal shook his head. "Think what you want." Neal tried to keep his voice steady and sound more defiant than he actually was. "But, I didn't do this. I need to sleep. Go home." Neal quickly shut the door, dismissing the rest of the conversation. Peter caught the waver in his voice. "You better show up to work tomorrow." He called through the door, trying to act angrier than he was - like Neal.

The conversation ended there and Peter headed home, questions filling both their heads for the rest of the night.

This wasn't going to be easy.

-x-

So, there's Chapter Two. (: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I just skipped out on doing my AP Advanced Algebra homework to write this :) I love being back in 'school'. Haha. Night Guys! Review pwease.