"Neal, ready to go home?"
Neal wandered aimlessly around the bedroom that Peter's wife, El, had said was "his". He ran his fingers over the edge of the windowsill, while staring out at the street. He noticed the sketchpad and pencils someone had thoughtfully left on the nightstand. He assumed that the thoughtful person had been El. Peter didn't exactly strike him as the person to put such a personal touch in the room.
"Dinner's ready, Neal!" he heard El's voice call.
Neal slowly made his way down the stairs, his hand hovering above the banister as he paused before a picture of a much younger Peter and El. He smiled sadly, his parents had never been that happy.
He forced a cheerful smile as he sat down at the kitchen table.
"This looks great" Neal said enthusiastically as El placed a bowl of steaming soup in front of him. She looked at him sadly, not at all fooled by his tone of voice or slightly exhausted smile.
He lifted his spoon to taste the soup, but noticed Peter's eyes fastened on him like a hawk focuses on a mouse. Suddenly not so hungry, Neal put down his spoon and cleared his throat.
"So, Peter, what happens to me?" he asked.
"Well…you're coming in to work with me tomorr-" Peter stopped as his phone rang.
"Not at the dinner table" El said sternly and pointed towards the living room.
Peter nodded in apology as he picked up and walked away.
"Hughes?"
"Sorry to call so late, but there's a complication. Neal can't stay with you, OPR is demanding that he is put in a federal prison" Hughes' tone was apologetic but firm. Peter sighed and sank onto the couch.
"I thought he was still considered a delinquent" Peter hissed, taking a glance over at the kitchen table where Neal was sitting with El, a bright smile lighting up his face.
"He is, but due to the severity of his crimes OPR wants him in a maximum security. Someone from OPR is coming over to get him."
"Tonight?" Peter asked incredulously, "They do realize that Neal just got out of the hospital?"
"I'm sorry Peter. I pulled every string I could, but there was nothing I could do. The best I got was for Neal to be put in isolation. At least he won't have to share a cell."
"But-" Peter tried to speak.
"Goodnight Agent Burke." Hughes' tone was hard.
"Who was it?" El looked up as Peter came over to the table.
"Hughes. Neal, uh, there's something I need to tell you." Neal put down his spoon and looked at Peter expectantly.
"OPR is demanding that you are out in a prison." Peter watched worriedly as Neal's face paled and he swallowed hard.
"When?" Neal's voice cracked. Suddenly he was the fifteen year-old kid, not the talented conman.
"Tonight. They're sending someone over now."
Neal bowed his head as El and Peter looked on sympathetically. The silence was broken by a sharp knock at the door. Neal's head jerked up in terror.
El walked over slowly to the door and opened it, Satchmo trailing behind her.
"Is Neal Caffrey here?" an agent rudely pushed past El, stepped on Satchmo's tail, ignoring the dog's yelp, and stalked into the house.
"Yeah" Neal stood up shakily.
"Neal, I-" Peter stepped forward.
"Let's go. We don't have all day." The agent glared at Peter and El. Satchmo growled threateningly at the agent who grasped Neal's arm and more or less dragged the conman out of the Burkes' house.
He shoved Neal into the car, slid into the car next to Neal, and slammed the door closed. Neal couldn't see the driver's face clearly, but for some reason he looked vaguely familiar. Suddenly the driver pulled the car over and Neal tensed.
"Neal. How nice to see you again."
Neal groaned. He knew now why the man's face had looked so familiar. He was Vincent Adler, one of the men who Neal had worked for.
"What do you want, Adler?" Neal tried to make his voice sound cold.
"That canvas you had with you. Where did you put the real one?"
"You'll never get it" Neal spat venomously.
Adler only laughed and motioned to the man sitting next to Neal. Before Neal knew what was happening, the man had pressed a sickly-sweet smelling cloth over Neal's nose. The young conman struggled, but his vision went blurry, then black and he slumped sideways, unconscious after a minute.
"Peter! How could you let them take Neal like that!" El demanded angrily.
"El, hon, I had no choice, you should've heard Hughes."
El shook her head and turned away from Peter. Even Satchmo turned away from Peter with a reproachful look in his eyes.
"It wasn't my fault. I-" there was another knock at the door.
El stalked to the door and jerked open the door to admit a tall, scowling man.
"Agent Garrett Fowler. Is Neal Caffrey here?" his tone was polite, but business-like.
"Who are you?" El demanded before Peter even had a chance to speak.
"OPR. We were sent to arrest Neal Caffrey."
"But-"
"OPR was already here. They already took Neal" Peter wrapped a comforting arm around El's shoulders.
"No they didn't" Agent Fowler flashed a badge at Peter.
El and Peter shared an alarmed look.
"Are you sure?" El queried.
"Yes."
"I'm calling Hughes."
"Hughes. I have an issue. It seems Neal is not with OPR."
"What do you mean?" Hughes' voice was suspicious.
"There was a man who…" Peter told Hughes the entire story.
"Alright. I'll call OPR. Make it your priority to find Neal." There was a click as Hughes hung up.
TBC
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