Thank you all for the awesome response to this fic. It actually makes me anxious *chuckles nervously*. I really hope that this fic lives up to ur expectations :)

Special hugs to Caprice, coffeebean, guest1, No1butNeal, NealFan ( sorry it took long to update) and the Guest reviewers. Cannot thank you all enough for ur lovely reviews :)

Sorry for delay. Hope you are not angry at me :)

...

The ride from the warehouse to the hospital was tense to say the least. After Peter made sure that Neal had settled properly in his seat- yes, even though Peter was beyond angry at the kid, he was worried too, he had taken the drivers seat. As soon as he himself had settled in, his eyes landed on the dangling cuffs. His fingers curled around the steering wheel harshly as anger once again rose inside him, his finger nails almost digging into his palm.

Neal's eyes zeroed in on the cuffs too and he cringed. He knew he had disobeyed Peter but he was not even for a second, going to regret his decision. His heart still rose to his mouth as he remembered seeing the fire burst out in the warehouse. No matter how much angry Peter was at him, Neal knew that he would disobey him again and again if needed. After all, it was Peter's life that was on line. Every harsh word of Peter's rang into his ears as he thought about the events that followed. Neal closed his eyes, fearing that if they remained open then those God damn tears would betray him and start rolling out of his eyes. Plus, he didn't know how to face Peter.

Peter whose entire attention was on those dangling cuffs simply shook his head in disgust and turned on the engine, and drove the car away from the dreadful warehouse to the nearest hospital. Peter kept his eyes trained on the roads ahead avoiding to look at Neal while Neal on the other hand still kept his eyes closed.

He just wanted this damn day to get over. He just wanted to crawl into his Winter Wonderland's bed and sleep forever. Winter Wonderland. He choked on a sob as he thought about his room. He knew they were going to the hospital right now. Peter needed to get checked out. But then where was he supposed to go after the trip to the hospital? Back home with Peter or was Peter going to finally dump him off the road? After all Peter saw him as nothing but a criminal.

He was definitely hurt by Peter's words but he wasn't mad at him. It was only because of his stupidity that Peter was so mad. But then another thought came to his mind. What if Peter had always meant those words? What if Peter had always considered him as a criminal? He shivered and squeezed his closed eyes to stop the waterworks.

...

Peter parked his Taurus in the parking lot of the hospital. He didn't spare a glance at Neal and got out, and started walking inside the building, obviously believing that Neal would follow suit. And Neal did. He followed Peter into the hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

Peter had been lucky as his injuries weren't that serious. Even though he had sustained a head injury, miraculously he didn't suffer any concussion. The various cuts and bruises were cleaned and bandaged. The smoke had cleared completely from his system and after being thoroughly checked out, the doctor was satisfied that his skin wasn't burned from anywhere.

Neal wasn't so lucky. He too had sported various cuts and bruises. The doctor had taken care of them accordingly. His right arm was suffering from minor burns which the doctor had cleaned and bandaged it. The doctor had assured Peter that there wouldn't be any scarring. The major injury that Neal had suffered was his broken wrist. After the proper treatment, he came out of the room wearing a cast and a sling and walked up to Peter who was waiting for him in the waiting room.

Peter's glare intensified upon seeing Neal's injured hand in the cast and sling as if clearly blaming Neal himself for his predicament. Neal actually stook a step back when he saw the anger in Peter's eyes.

Peter just shook his head. "I'm sure those gems are worth all this." He bit out sarcastically.

Neal stared at Peter. Never had he seen such raw anger inside him. All this was his fault. He shouldn't have gone back into that awful warehouse. These thoughts just seemed to keep replaying in his mind. He opened his mouth to apologise once again, "Peter.."

But once again Peter didn't let him talk and if he noticed that Neal was calling him Peter, he didn't show it.

"Let's just go home, alright," He ran a tired hand through his hair. "El must be worried about us. I don't have my cell too."

Neal simply nodded and followed Peter out of the hospital to head home. His stomach dropped as he thought of the word Home. He wasn't sure if the Burke house was his home anymore. Surely, Peter was taking him back there so that he could tell Mum..El about the entire thing and then kick out of the house.

...

If the drive from the warehouse was tense, then the drive from the hospital to back home was just as tense, only that it somehow felt increased ten times more.

Neal had once again resorted to keep his eyes close. No use keeping them open and seeing Peter's stone cold face. Peter didn't utter a single word this time too and the heavy uncomfortable silence was killing him. Eventually he fell asleep as the day's events took its toll on him.

Peter glanced at Neal after parking his Taurus in the parking lot of their house and sighed deeply. The kid was asleep. Peter could tell that by his evened out breathing. He didn't even stir when the car stopped. The kid must be very tired. He thought absent mindedly. Now that Neal was asleep, Peter thought that it would be okay to actually look at the kid properly. In his anger he hadn't taken a proper look at the kid then at the warehouse and the hospital.

Peter's heart ached as he took in Neal's appearance. Neal's hair was shooting out in all directions and was covering his forehead too. His face was marred with various cuts very similar to his. The bandage on his right arm was peeking out from how Neal was slumped to the door. Peter's eyes then landed on Neal's broken hand and he shivered.

Thanks to whoever was watching out for them tonight, Neal had escaped death pretty much fairly. A broken hand was much better than dying any day. As Peter continued to look at Neal, his heart and soul were increasingly filling with guilt. The brutal slap and the harsh words that he had spoken came rushing to him like a punch in his gut. A very hard punch that leaves you aching and gasping for breath.

No matter how much angry he was- is with Neal, the kid didn't deserve that. But then seeing Neal disappear into that damned warehouse and the fear that coursed through him while he tried to reach the place and then the sight of the fire and smoke that filled up the entire place, his helplessness to reach Neal in time and then the blast, and Neal being thrown out of the burning building.

All these chain of events had left Peter so fearful. He was damn sure that Neal was already dead when he was thrown into him. His heart was pounding was so wildly at the time that he thought it was going to burst out and shatter into a million pieces and his entire body shook in fear.

But then the kid had let out a strangled cry of pain which meant that he was alive. Peter had never been so relieved in his entire life. But then the relief that he had felt quickly turned into rage once he was sure that the kid was alive and as he realised that he could have still lost his son. Then he saw Neal smiling. That had only fuelled his anger but somehow Peter had quelled some of that anger. Then the kid kept talking- casualness in his tone and then he turned to face him but then Peter's eyes had went towards Neal's hand- the kid was pocketing something- something that was shining and that had been the final nail.

Neal had been telling him about going into the warehouse to check out the gems when they were in the car before Peter had left him. And then the way Neal had reacted upon seeing those gems in the warehouse and then-when he was seated on the ground next to his Taurus, Peter had arrived at his own judgement that Neal had gone back to that burning building just for those gems. And just the thought that Neal did something stupid like that- risk his life for those gems, made Peter boil in anger.

He slapped the kid hard across his face even before he could realise what he had done. But then his anger completely took over him for him to think straight and he lashed out at the kid. Spoken such unforgivable words. Had called him a criminal. Peter's heart clenched. No matter what Neal did, he shouldn't have said those painful words. He closed his eyes as tears welled up in them. He took a deep breath and opened them, blinking furiously to clear his vision and straight away focused on his sleeping kid.

Great.

Looking at Neal like this with his injuries, Peter's anger once again started resurfacing. He was sorely tempted to check Neal's pocket. What was so special about those gems that the kid had risked his life for? He sighed heavily. No, he couldn't do that. His anger had caused him to say and do harsh things. Things that could never be forgotten and forgiven. He would ask the kid about it again but this time he will keep a rein on his words. He also decided that after all was said and done, he would apologise to the kid.

"Neal..."

He gently shook the kid's shoulder to rouse him from sleep, finally deciding to leave the car and head home. Neal didn't stir so Peter shook him a little harder. Neal was startled awake and his eyes started flickering in every direction. They finally rested on Peter's face and everything came back to him and his stomach dropped.

"Yeah..." He asked shakily.

"We are home." Peter replied gruffly. Inside his heart was racing. The kid looked so distressed. He knew he was the sole reason for that but now was not the time to talk about it.

He exited the vehicle and walked around the car just in time to see Neal struggling a bit to get out of it.

"Come on."

Peter said and he helped Neal out of the car. Both stood there awkwardly for a few seconds. Peter was first to move as he walked away from Neal towards their house and Neal silently followed.

...

El was worried sick about her two most important people. She had finished the meeting earlier than expected and returned home. She then got busy with preparing the dinner. After preparing the meal she passed time by reading magazines and watching TV. But then as the clock ticked by and Peter and Neal still didn't come home, she began to get anxious.

She tried calling on Peter's cell again and again but every time she got the same message that the number was unreachable. Her anxiety was increasing with each call that she kept making. Somehow her worry seemed more inclined towards Neal. She couldn't explain it but her heart was racing in fear whenever her kid's face came to her mind.

Peter had assured her that the stakeout was not at all dangerous and that was the only reason that she allowed him to take Neal with him. But the foreboding that something bad had happened was making her crazy with worry. She then called at the Bureau but almost everyone had left by that time and the agent who was just leaving, received the call. He assured El that no calls or emergency had come up. El reluctantly agreed to it and disconnected the call.

And that was half an hour ago. She was now pacing anxiously, waiting for any news on her family. Suddenly she heard the doorbell ring. Her heart jumped to her throat. She trotted off to open the door without another second of the delay.

As soon as she opened the door, her heart started pounded loudly in her chest as her fears seemed to have come true. Both Peter and Neal were looking so dishevelled. And their faces marred with various cuts and bruises. And why the hell in the world was Neal in a cast and a sling?

"Peter?" She choked up on the word and she was already moving away to give room for Peter and Neal to enter.

Peter gave her a tight smile as he entered. "First let me just get settled on the couch, El. Will tell you everything later. I'm really tired." He replied as he walked towards the couch and sat down heavily on it.

El started to follow him but then noticed that Neal was still standing there at the door awkwardly. She frowned.

"Neal, honey, come on in." She gestured with her hand with a sweet warm smile on her face even though everything about Neal's posture was screaming at her that something was seriously wrong.

Neal didn't move and didn't say anything. His entire body was numb. Looking at El smile so warmly at him made him remind of that time when he had first seen her at the hospital. How much had changed since then. He couldn't help but remember all those moments that led them all to this very moment. His lies, Peter and El's love for him, his father James, Max, the truth being finally out, James trying to kill him in this very own house and then Peter and El adopting him.

All this events were playing in his mind like a video player plays a video. He shuddered involuntarily. What would have his life been, if he hadn't come into the Burkes lives? James would have surely made his life more and more hellish. He wouldn't have found his happy ending at all.

He gulped.

He suddenly wasn't sure whether he actually got his happy ending. After his father's death, everything was going so well and perfect. He was so happy. He couldn't imagine his life without Peter and El.

A chill ran down his spine. He was about to find out soon what that life might be like because he was sure that Peter was not going to let him live here. He was going to experience how his life would be with no parents in his life after all.

Something shifted in him. What was he thinking? He was destined not to have a happy ending. He should have known that his life wasn't going to be good forever. Something was always bound to happen that was just going to spiral his life downhill. Today was just another example of that. If that was what the Burkes wanted. Then he would gladly move out of their home and their lives.

He had been submerged so deep in his thoughts that he never saw Peter leaving the comfort of the couch and coming up to him, and that El was now standing beside him, her warm hand on his shoulder, calling him out.

"Neal?"

...

Looking at Neal standing there obviously lost in some thoughts which were clearly paining him, El's eyes flicked towards Peter. Her husband's head had been laid on the back of the couch and his eyes were closed. She called out softly, "Peter?"

Neal still move from his position. Peter on the other hand opened his eyes and twisted himself enough so that he could see his wife. The moment their eyes met, Peter knew something was wrong. His eyes instinctively turned towards Neal. He swallowed painfully.

He had just assumed that the kid would follow him into the house. Peter was just so very tired and wanted a good nights sleep. He knew that he had the impending talk with Neal but then he'd decided that it could wait. After all, the kid wasn't running off anywhere. But then how could he have forgotten. This was Neal. The kid must be having second thoughts about everything after those ruthless words that Peter had thrown at him. Now that they were home, Peter knew what the kid must be going through, specially with El going on full mother hen mode. All the anger dissipated on seeing his son like that.

He just hoped that the consequences of his actions wouldn't alter anything in their happy life.

He shook his head on having such negative thoughts and was out of the couch in a flash and was in front of the kid within seconds. Neal was lost somewhere in his thoughts. El looked at him with worry but Peter just shook his head and mumbled, "Later."

El nodded and came up beside Neal and placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently. "Neal.." But Neal didn't respond and continued to be elsewhere.

Warning bells started ringing in El's mind. Something awful had happened in the stakeout. But what? She turned her gaze towards her husband who was standing there with exact same expressions.

"Neal.." El tried out once again. This time she shook the kid's shoulder a bit harder. It seemed to do the trick as Neal finally startled from his thoughts. He blinked slowly as if trying to be sure that he was right where he was. His head automatically turned towards El's warm hand and then his eyes trailed to her kind face- kind face that was marred with concern and worry. He forced a smile.

He then turned towards Peter. Peter who was standing in front of him. When did he get out of the couch? Neal was totally expecting Peter to glare daggers at him just what he had been doing the entire time. He frowned because Peter was looking at him with compassion...with sympathy? No.. Not sympathy. Pity.

Neal swallowed. His face hardened.

He knew it was his fault that he had gone into that warehouse. But then Peter should have let him explain his reasons. But no, Peter never let him utter a word. And then he treated him like a bug that needs to be crushed. Now he was looking at him with pity. How could he?

Did Peter actually think that he was going to reduce into some whiny jerk. He thought that by pitying Neal, he was doing him good? If they wanted to just throw him out of the house, they may as well just do that but Neal didn't require their pity. He was surviving very well before them and he was sure that he could survive now too. If they didn't want a criminal within their household then so be it. His heart was aching as these thoughts ran wild.

"Neal, sweetheart, you are scaring me."

El's voice once again broke into his bitter thoughts. He looked away from Peter and turned slightly to face El.

"I'm sorry, I guess I'm just tired." Neal replied, his voice actually sounding very tired.

El smiled again but Neal knew that it was forced. Neal knew she wanted to know about everything that happened after he and Peter left home but he just didn't have the courage to do. And it seemed that Peter wasn't in the mood to talk about it either.

"It's okay, honey. Why don't you just come inside and rest a bit, huh. I'm sure you must be starving," She forced a chuckle. "I made those tiny hens that Peter calls it so fondly."

On hearing Peter's name, Neal's face paled. He flicked his eyes towards him and saw that Peter was offering him assuring smile. Assuring about what, Neal wasn't sure and now he didn't care.

El too noticed the instant reaction of her kid at the mention of Peter's name. Something had happened and that something was connected to Peter. Her eyes met Peter who shook his head imperceptibly letting her know that now was not the time to discuss anything because everything about Neal was scaring the hell out of him.

El nodded. "Come on, baby, let's get you settled."

Neal smiled and was surprised that it was genuine. But then the smile always came to his face whenever El called him baby. He actually found it very cute. Even though he was sixteen, he still loved it.

Instead of going itowards the hall, El led him into the kitchen and Peter followed.

Neal and Peter got settled in their usual seats. El filled up their plates and took her place too. The dinner was really strained. While Peter and El pretended to eat, Neal on the other hand just pushed his food around in his plate. No amount of coaxing from El could get him to eat. Not that he wasn't hungry but his stomach was just too queasy because of today's events. Whatever few bites that he did eat were sitting heavily in there and he was trying his damnest best not to throw up.

"Neal, honey, why aren't you eating? Doesn't it taste good?" El asked one more time just to get Neal to talk because he was unnervingly silent.

Neal looked up from his plate and gave a smile that didn't reach his ears. "No. It's perfect. Actually I'm really retired. Just need to sleep it off."

El smiled in return too but it was genuine. To let Neal know that it was alright. Whatever was troubling him would be alright. Neal looked away. He couldn't let it happen again. If he was supposed to leave then he wasn't going to melt into El's warmth.

"It's okay, sweetheart. Why don't you head back to your room and rest." El spoke and Peter chimed in, "Yeah, buddy. Get some rest. It has been a very tiring day."

Neal once again looked up from his plate and gazed first at Peter and then El. "I.. I can go to my Winter Wonderland?" He asked skeptically. Wasn't Peter supposed to throw him out?

El frowned. "Of course, baby. Why would you even ask that? Go on." She replied with a assured smile.

"Okay.." Neal said. He wasn't going to complain about sleeping in his Winter Wonderland, even if it was for only one more night. He put his fork down and got up. Suddenly he was hit by a wave of dizziness. He swayed and the next second he found Peter and El on his either side.

"It must be the meds." Peter said knowingly when he saw El whose face was marred with worry. El nodded.

"Peter, why don't you carry him upstairs?" El suggested.

"Of course, El." Peter replied but then Neal instinctively moved away from both of them.

"I'm fine. Really, guys. No need to carry me." Neal purposely kept his eyes on El, avoiding Peter at every cost. He knew Peter didn't want to carry him, only offering it because El had told him to, so he decided to save him the trouble.

He completely missed the hurt look that was etched on Peter's face.

"Neal, honey?" El questioned. If it was never clear to her that something was going on between Peter and Neal, this sealed it.

"I can manage, really." Neal assured her.

El looked at Peter who nodded reluctantly. "Okay, sweetie. You go to your room and get some rest." El replied.

"Thanks," Neal smiled in relief and started to walk away in the direction of his room. He was really tired and still a bit dizzy. But then he stopped and turned to face Peter and El to wish them good night just out of habit.

"Good night," he paused as if thinking and then continued and it broke El's heart. "El. Peter."

And Peter realized it only too late how much his grave mistake had affected Neal as tears welled up in his eyes.

...

I know it just got worse but I promise it will get better :)