The story is going to get quite dark for a few chapters :( Don't say I didn't warn you!

The phone rang, dragging Peter Burke out of his deep thoughts. He checked his watch hastily: 12AM.

"Hello?" His voice was weary and low. The usually upfront, quick-witted agent had been reduced to a helpless man.

"Peter?" A raspy voice asked.

He cradled the phone close to his ear to ensure he was hearing correctly.

"Elizabeth!" He cried out as a surge of happiness filled his gut. He found himself springing upward from his chair, restless with anxiety.

"Keller let me go." Elizabeth said tonelessly.

"Did he hurt you? Where are you?" The words burst out of Peter's mouth as a smile began formulating on his lips. She was safe. His wife was not at the mercy of Keller's hands. Not anymore.

"No he didn't. I'm fine Peter. I'm at a payphone at New York Harbor. But Peter-"

"Thank God El. I was worried sick. I thought that bastard had-"He prevented himself from going further. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I was terrified El. I thought I was going to lose you. The mere thought of it…. it almost destroyed me." Peter was tearing up and he quickly brushed the tears away with the back of his hand. His eyes scanned the room to ensure no one had spotted their boss crying. Suddenly, a nagging sensation tugged at Peter. Didn't she say she was at New York Harbor? He dismissed his sinking feeling and continued speaking.

"Agents from our unit are posted at the harbor. They're supposed to watch out for Caffrey-"

"Peter." Elizabeth's voice wavered, as her demeanor slipped. She couldn't control the well of emotions that were trembling inside her, ready to explode within a matter of seconds. She found her voice again, and pushed herself to speak further-for Neal's sake. "Neal offered himself to Keller, In exchange for my freedom. He's been taken. Oh God I… give me a second honey." Elizabeth stopped speaking, as the tears started streaming down her face. She looked around, emptily at the crowd. A child cried out in the distance, as a mother scolded her kid. Two couples passed together, their hands entwined in each others. In the distance sirens could be heard. A breeze fluttered past her, tugging at her shirt. A stranger laughed from afar. She closed her eyes. Once again, Elizabeth pressed the phone to her ear. A deathly silence followed on at the other end.

"He's on a boat. I heard Keller speaking; he said the boat's name was Arabella. I never got to see how it looked from the outside… but Neal's there. "Elizabeth was calm again. She believed in her husband. She trusted him with her life. She trusted he would find Neal.

On the other end, Peter was deathly white. He looked around the room wildly. All of his colleagues' eyes were on him, watching his every move. An agent mouthed, Are you ok?

He ran his hands through his hair, and nodded. Neal what have you done?

"We're on it. Jones is on his way now." Peter sat back down, gut-wrenched at the sound of Elizabeth's heavy breathing. He knew his wife. She was trying to keep calm in a situation that provoked emotional breakdown.

"We'll find him Elizabeth. I promise." He added. Peter was going to find him. He owed the consultant his life. His wife meant everything to him. She was his whole world. The fact that Neal had sacrificed himself, for Elizabeth's safety… Peter suppressed the urge to smile. Neal was known for doing the most spontaneous yet fiercely loyal things. He knew what this was. The consultant was trying to make amends- he was trying to tell Peter- I am loyal. I do care. Of course he couldn't ignore the fact that Neal had the treasure. He had committed a crime, and it really was his responsibility and his job to put the young man behind bars. Yet as a friend, Peter was somewhat reluctant. How could he possible arrest Neal and tell him, "Thanks for saving my wife- oh by the way you're most likely going to get a life sentence for stealing the Nazi Plunder."

No. Peter couldn't think about what he was going to do, what he was going to say-he had to ensure Neal was in one piece. Knowing Keller… Peter shuddered. Keller was going to torture Neal into revealing the location of the treasure. It was his job to make sure Neal survives this.

"I'm coming to pick you up El. Stay put. I love you" He said softly.

"I love you too. See you soon. Oh and Peter?"

"Yes?"

"I trust you."


Keller stood before Neal, grinning wildly.

"I'm going to play us a song. I know it so happens to be one of your favorites."

Neal knew it was going to begin. He eyed Keller with clear hatred. Instinctively, He tried rotating his raw wrists in a manner which would loosen the friction between rope and skin, yet it was hopeless. He swore under his breath, in frustration.

Keller wore white gloves and a wife beater. He was ready to inflict pain on his victim. Neal watched him listlessly as he plugged his ipod into the speakers and pressed play. The calming song began, Chopin's Nocturne.

The melancholy melody flooded the cabin as Keller picked up a tool that resembled a pincer. The piano notes echoed in the distance as he shifted closer to his prey.

Neal had heard about this man, Jake, an art forger who had attempted to steal a Peter Paul Rubens masterpiece from Keller. A week later, Jake was found dead. His face had been so deformed that apparently the FBI had to run a DNA test to ensure it was him.

"Where is the treasure?" Keller asked quietly.

"Go fuck yourself"

Keller grinned at his response and slowly walked up behind Neal. He reached out for one of his hands. Neal struggled, yet it was useless.

"Do you know what I'm going to do?" Keller asked, with an amused tone.

"You're going to use that device in some horrific way? Let me guess-"

But before he could finish his witty sentence, Keller clamped the device on his fingernail, and tore it off.

Neal let out a blood-curdling scream, tears of pain streamed down his eyes. His hand felt as if it were on fire. He gasped for breath as wave of nausea consumed him. He closed his eyes and groaned loudly.

Keller walked over in front of him.

"The song's about to finish. Shall we play it again?"

Hang in there Neal, a small voice echoed in his mind as Keller pressed play again.