(Chapter 3)

Peter was surprised when he texted Neal to find that Cyrus was at June's visiting. That didn't sound right but the man was being thorough. He hoped the con was good, the anklet still off of him and weighing more heavily in the agent's pocket as he worried about his friend being alone with a homicidal con. He had moved back towards the far edge of the house, a small museum in the next residence taking his attention momentarily as he tried not to stick out too much. He wasn't sure how long Foxboro meant to stay but this was probably the con's means of getting around being bugged. He was being rather more cautious than even Neal or his files spoke. Something was up or the stakes of whatever he was getting Caffrey to work on were high. He cocked an ear when he heard voices from around the corner.

"Yes... thank you for the tour. Much appreciated. Your friend has a lovely home. Goodbye, Nick."

The agent peeked around the corner, seeing Foxboro coming his way as he ducked into the small museum and closed the door behind him. He could hear footsteps walking past quickly outside, his eyes peering through the one window and seeing Cyrus vanish out of sight. He quickly texted Neal and waited. After a moment someone knocked on the door and he opened it to find Mozzie there.

"Mozz? Where's Neal?"

The little guy gave a sigh, leading the way out as they headed down the sidewalk to June's.

"Upstairs, Suit. Where else would he be? (just one thing after another...)"

The last bit was more to himself, Peter curious what he meant as they entered through a back gate into the house and through the dining room. Neal was pacing his room upstairs when they finally reached it, blue eyes meeting brown. Mozzie just stood casually off to the side, more a spectator at the moment than anything. The two men seemed a bit nervous despite being safe for now.

"So... what did Foxboro discuss with you. I wish we'd had ears in here."

He saw Mozzie balk at those words, Neal nodding as he offered his partner a chair and a beer as he took another glass of wine. Mozzie kept off to the side as if he were merely a shadow, both men forgetting about him a moment as they discussed the case.

"He wants me to finish up the details on a bond he's forging."

Peter wasn't surprised knowing that his partner had an uncanny ability to copy things near perfection.

"So he just wants your artistic abilities... Sounds easy enough. How did he find out you were here?"

Peter watched Neal nod back, the messy look he had going still not enough to hide the man's ability to look good despite everything. Another thing he could be jealous of but it was just another tool in his partner's arsenal. Neal had the smarts to back up the looks which always had him curious about what put him where he was. Despite the disappearance of Caffrey's father at a young age, that didn't mean he would necessarily become a crook but he had. His father had also been cop... although a corrupt one and a trigger for the younger man's escapades he was thinking the more he learned.

"Said he was being careful. Guessed June was my landlady and figured that Mozzie was a girl who slipped out the back way. I had to convince him nobody was here but that required a tour minus a few sites. Mozzie managed to disappear despite everything."

He gave an apologetic look to the little guy who'd been silently observing them without interrupting. It was a first for Mozzie as Peter turned and gave him a curious glance.

"You're awfully quiet. Are you the fly on the wall?"

He was trying to make light of things but Mozzie frowned, something akin to annoyance on his face mixed with fear.

"Cyrus isn't anyone to mess with, Suit! I didn't want Neal dead so I did what I had to and hid out of sight. If you'd been here it would have been a disaster!"

Peter knew he was right which was why he had texted first. Cyrus was being careful and it made him more nervous despite everything. Simon's summons wasn't helping either as he thought to the fact he was having to meet the man soon.

"We'll have someone watching the place. I have to go back to the office but stay here in your cover. I'll go back out the way you brought me, Mozz. Call me if anything else goes down."

He knew they couldn't put the tracker on him now so he pointed at the watch when he said the last words, saying their goodbyes as he slipped out and caught a cab back to the Bureau.

()()()

Much as Peter knew he wasn't invested in Neal the way everyone thought, the man was still his partner. If something happened to him there'd be so much paperwork to fill out and various other issues it was best to just protect him until he knew what it was Simon was up to. He still had to find this "evidence box" that had been mentioned by Ellen on her video. He knew enough to outfox his uncle for something more than the usual stakes. At worse he just wanted to do his own thing, comfortable with his life or as Mozzie would say: Going Native. Elizabeth hadn't been part of his plan but he wasn't willing to give up her or the life they'd made so far during his assignment. Neal was a whole other matter he would have to deal with in his own time. He hadn't been happy leaving the consultant without a tracker but he knew Neal trusted him enough to stay put and call if something came up in most cases. Mozzie watched the con as well usually informing him in his own way of Neal going to extremes so all his bases were covered for the meanwhile. Once had had everything squared in his head, Peter's thoughts wandered from the current case to his uncle's mystery note. It was still crumpled up in his jacket pocket as he sighed and wondered about how to meet up with the man after such a long time. Peter would avoid the meeting if he could but the emails and note meant Simon was in a mood and had something up his sleeve so there was no denying him a visit. He paid the cabbie when he finally arrived home, walking up the few steps to his door and pushing his key in. He could hear voices inside, his wife and another person speaking. The other person sounded vaguely familiar and male.

"Yes, he was a precocious boy and... Peter..."

He stopped in the doorway, glancing over at the two figures sitting on the sofa and realized El was talking to his Uncle Simon. From the looks of things the man was regaling her with false tales of his youth. Just like his uncle to be a showboater and act the loving relative. Peter put on his own mask of loving nephew, moving over to hug the man and then his wife who whispered quietly: "He just showed up. Why didn't you ever tell me about him?"

El sounded intrigued as Peter shrugged, smiling still as El went to get them some snacks and more coffee. Simon was watching him curiously from where he stood, motioning in a quiet way for them to sit. His uncle wore an expensive suit, something that reminded him a lot of Neal only the younger man had more integrity despite his choice of trade. Simon had risen to his position through anything but, his tenacity intriguing Peter but not the means the more he worked on his own terms. Maybe he was going native but he still wanted to get an arrangement where he had more control over his life as he waited to hear what his uncle wanted from him.

"So... any news? Have you watched the video yet?"

Simon wasn't one to dawdle and his first thoughts were his first words as Peter had figured. He was starting to reconsidering why he ever liked the man as he shook his head.

"Not yet. He's being cautious as I expected. This is a lot for him to take in so he's actually being careful after what happened with Ms. Parker."

He thought about Ellen trusting him when he told her he was going to get Neal from the island safely. He had convinced her it was for the best and she had believed him. It had been a hard sell at best and El had helped as she always did. His wife was a miracle worker when he was at his wits end about how to draw in people. He loved her for that skill and her smarts. He watched his uncle deep in thought, taking in each of his words and analyzing them. Did he know he was lying? After a moment Simon nodded thoughtfully, giving him a curious glance.

"Let me know first thing what is on the video once you get a glimpse. We suspect Ms. Parker had some evidence to prove his father innocent. That would be... well it would be most unusual if it were to come to light, Peter."

The man stood, giving him another fake hug like they were the closest of relations when that was far from the truth. Peter hugged him awkwardly back, looking up to see El coming back, a query on her face.

"I apologize, Elizabeth. I must be going. Urgent business pages me. Rain check on dinner?"

El looked between them but they were acting the happy uncle and nephew as she nodded and smiled back.

"Anytime, Simon."

They walked the man to the door, Peter glad his uncle was finally going. He was going to use the evidence for his own means and possibly to get out of his deal with Simon if he could. He no longer cared one way or the other about helping Simon and his group but wanted to continue as he wished, El and him alone without any more assignments. Maybe they could move to another city or state? He could be reassigned to somewhere a bit more suburban with a yard in the back for Satchmo to play in. They watched Simon leave and El smiled at him, apparently unsuspecting of his relationship with the man. Sometimes she was too innocent and naive and he felt badly for tricking her but he loved that about his wife and it helped to ground him. That at least was real in all the deceit and games he was forced to play.

"He seems a very nice person. Why haven't you introduced us before, Peter?"

She was hugging him close at they closed the door and walked over to the sofa to sit, the food and coffee she had brought waiting for them. The scent and aroma made him realize he was hungry. He was going to have to head back to the office soon for some reports but for now he was free to give his wife some attention and sit down for a momentary break.

"He's a busy man. I'm lucky I see him although he likes to send me word off and on. What is this? It smells delicious."

He wanted to forget about his uncle, redirecting where his wife was suddenly preoccupied talking about these small finger foods for her next event and feeding him. For a moment he could forget his assignment and everything else and just concentrate on being Peter Burke, husband.

()()()

The rest of the day was quiet, Peter having gone back to work reluctantly. He needed to let Hughes know about Neal being sans anklet but having the GPS watch. He'd assigned an agent to keep lookout outside without being obvious at June's. Last thing they needed was Cyrus to hurt Neal before they brought the man in. Finally he was able to get back home, enjoying a dinner for two with his wife on the back patio when the doorbell rang. El glanced at him but he could only shrug, not expecting anyone as he went to answer the door.

"Neal..."

Peter glanced around uncertain what was going on as his partner smiled weakly at him, eyes looking beyond him to where El was smiling from the back door. The agent moved aside, letting Neal inside as the younger man made a slight bow of his head to El and they stood there quietly a moment.

"Sorry to interrupt... just had to talk to you about something."

Neal looked less than comfortable, Peter ushering him in before he took a quick glance outside then closed the door behind them. Elizabeth brought them some coffee, chit chatting a moment before leaving them to speak as she went upstairs to give them privacy. Once it seemed they were alone, Satchmo watching them from his pillow by the sofa, Neal sat down on the sofa with the agent and spoke quietly.

"I... I think I know where the evidence box is. Mozzie found a trace on it."

His partner sounded both sure and uncertain all at once, a kind of pallor over him but with a flush to his cheeks as if he were scared and excited. Mozzie had found out where the box was already? He knew the guy was resourceful but if Simon and his people were watching them, did they know about the con man's research? Would he give them... him away to his uncle? Peter was worried but he managed to hide the sick feeling he felt and smiled as he patted his friend on the shoulder.

"That was fast. Where does he think it is? Maybe I can get to it without anyone knowing."

Peter felt a bit of excitement almost as he thought about having this box before his uncle did. Simon would have to do what he said and let him out of his deal so he could live his own life. For a moment he wasn't thinking of his partner's life or situation as all the possibilities swam through his thoughts.

"Mozzie isn't certain but his research says... DC."

There was a look on the younger man's face, something in those blue eyes that told him they were thinking the same thing: Kramer. Hadn't he been all too eager to get his grubby hands on Caffrey? This would explain why. Perhaps he had his own angle to work out with Simon and the rest of the cabel behind this all. He frowned, nodding at his friend as if to agree without speaking.

"Don't worry. I'll look into it... unofficially. Maybe it was moved here. Things get moved around all the time. Right? Tell Mozzie to be cautious how he seeks that box."

He watched Neal blinked back, surprise on his face evident before he nodded as if seeing what he meant.

"You think someone knows something, Peter? I... need to know what's in that box. Sam might know something..."

Neal sounded sure if anything to find the box and confirm it with Sam but like the video, the less eyes the better so he shook his head.

"Don't... We still have to know what's in the box before we share it with anyone else and how much do you know about Sam? Maybe it's not really him, Neal. Don't do anything rash."

He was trying to protect... no, why would he protect Neal? He was just a means to an end. Someone he'd become used to having around to throw ideas against but not really a friend. Peter threw that aside a moment realizing how selfish he was being but it had always been about finding a way to get out from under Simon's thumb. He liked being an Agent but if he could leave and go do something a little less dangerous with El, he would do it in a heartbeat. This was about getting one over on Simon so he could be free. That was it. Neal was secondary. The consultant gave him a nod of his head and a sigh.

"I... ok, Peter. I won't talk to him about it. I promise."

The young con seemed relieved almost by the command as if he had been fighting with the doubt of who Sam really was. Peter had no intel on the man other than a hint in some files he had worked with Ellen and James, Neal's father in the past. He was still working on figuring out the man's angle and why he was here. Neal seemed happy to have someone from his past or that knew of his past in his life after Ellen died. Something made Peter's throat tighten. The woman had trusted him and he had brought Neal back although with a bullet wound in the leg but something about her trust came back to him now and made him feel a bit of remorse. This wasn't what he wanted or needed right now. It was going to be El and him and nobody else if he could help it. Much as he liked Diana and Jones, they could go on their way alone. It was only Neal who really was his problem at the moment but he would fix that once they had the box.

"Thank you Neal. Now go home and rest. We still have Cyrus to worry about. Ok?"

The con nodded, showing him the watch as they both smiled slightly at the reality of it and said their goodbyes. His dinner was getting cold he thought but Neal had come to him, heart on his sleeve. The young man trusted him implicitly it seemed and that for him was a relief. El came down after he'd locked the door again and Caffrey was gone.

"Who's Cyrus, hun?"

He turned to see his wife at the top of the stairs coming down slowly with a curious look on her face. He didn't want her involved in anything dangerous. He'd had her kidnapped once and break into a house down the block because she thought someone was a crook. They were but she had nearly been hurt again playing cops and robbers with Neal and Mozzie. They were a bad influence on her already willful manner but he loved her for that if only she weren't so driven to follow on the two con's leads. He sighed, shaking his head.

"Case we're working on. Let's go back and eat dinner."

He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the lips to distract her as she nodded back in quiet acquiescence. He could see she was still curious about this Cyrus person but he didn't want her involved and Neal wouldn't tell her. He cared for his wife in his own manner like they were family. They wouldn't tell her about the evidence box. That was his trump and also dangerous in its own way. He told El nearly everything but this was not something she should be involved with. He would solve this case, find the box with Neal and Mozzie's help, get himself out from under Simon's control and leave. They would travel and find somewhere quiet to live without pesky con men to lead them on.

()()()

Neal couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about everything. His past, something he had wondered about for decades was coming back to revisit him. He had only told Peter a bit, having seen Sam once to discuss who he was to Ellen. He had to tell the agent, his friend, but for now he was keeping that to himself not even sharing the news with Mozzie yet. His inner thoughts and feelings were conflicted at best and he could see that Peter was distracted in his own way by the case they were working. Cyrus was not someone you ignored or turned your eyes away from. The man was a devil and he could just as easily turn on your as be your best friend while you were useful. So far he was proving to be the latter so the crook wasn't putting him on any hit lists.

"And here I thought you were the honest sort of criminal."

Someone tsk tsk behind him, the motion too quick for him to react as something hard hit him from behind and he was dragged out of sight of the street and any passersby. His vision was blurry, the world swirling some before it focused enough for him to see Cyrus overhead looking down at him with a dark expression. Two other goons were holding him as his so called friend smiled at him without remorse.

"Taking up with a Fed. Not something I'd have thought you'd stood to but I've been told by a very reliable source... you are a snitch, Halden."

He was about to protest but a punch to his stomach and face shut him up, pain where he'd been hit and a throb as Neal started to realize he was in trouble. Someone pulled his arms back behind him tightly, duct tape obvious as it was pulled over his mouth and something was pressed over his nose. It smelled sickly sweet before he slumped and passed out, Cyrus speaking softly.

"We'll send a text to his Fed friend tomorrow to let him think he has some info. We need them both gone."

()()()

Neal woke up sometime later, his head felt like it was filled with cotton, his mouth dry as he tried to lick his lips and found something in the way. He was groggy, eyes opening slowly to a dimly lit room as he came to and took a glance around at the bare stone room he sat in. He was staring at the floor initially, blue eyes rising gradually to look around the whole space without moving his head but a little. His body ached some and he realized he must be bound in a chair as his thoughts became clearer and more coherent.

"mmmph..."

It was a quiet muffled grumble, more from the headache the chloroform caused. He was remembering something of what happened as he glanced around the space again and saw a window he could squeeze through and possibly escape if he were free. They had bound him with rope and duct tape not something he could get out of easily but he had a few tricks up his sleeve as he dug into the back seam of his pant where a small razor for such an occasion was hidden. It wasn't anything a metal detector would find since it was ceramic and something special Mozzie had found for him a while ago in his arsenal of interesting finds. He felt the blade in his hand, thin and cool despite being next to his body and used it to cut at his bonds. Peter was in danger if not Elizabeth. Cyrus had obviously followed him but something he said made Neal think the crook had been tipped off. Who knew about his meetings other than their department and Mozzie? There was no one else he could think of as he felt his wrists finally go free and was glad they had left him totally alone. He pulled the tape from his lips, taking in a deep breath to wake himself before cutting his legs loose from the chair and taking a moment to stand up. The room was weaving around him or maybe he was just dizzy, either way Neal had to get his bearings before heading for the window. It was a tight squeeze but he could do it as he used blade to cut away at the seams around the pane and remove it. He pushed the blade into his pocket, removed the frosted glass and dragged himself with a quiet huff and low groan of effort up to and through the tight space.

"I'm sure the agent will come willingly once we send the text. If you can bring his pretty wife too, extra points."

They were close by but out of sight as he heard Cyrus talking. He was in a little alley behind some empty residential complex. It looked to be under construction when he took a quick glance up and down before heading away from the voices and made his way out a doggy gate and onto a main throughway. It was early morning, maybe 1 AM. He saw a cab and waved it down feeling in his pockets to find he still had his ID and wallet. He wasn't sure where he was as he slipped into the taxi and tried to collect his thoughts.

"Where to buddy?"

The cabby had a bit of a Brooklyn accent so maybe he wasn't too far from Peter but that didn't mean much in NYC.

"What side of town am I on? I'm a bit lost."

The driver gave him a curious look but smiled, possibly taking him for a drunk tourist.

"Prospect Heights. Where did you need to be?"

Neal's head was fuzzy as he tried to think straight but his stomach was about to give up on him so he opened up the door and ran out, throwing up in a nearby bush. He heard the driver calling to him, someone running up beside him and helping him up once he'd finished vomiting. Neal wasn't sure what to say, the cabbie nodding at him understandingly.

"I'll take you to the clinic up the street. They're 24 hours. Come on buddy..."

()()()

Peter woke up to a sound he could only describe as a car coming to a sudden squealing stop outside his home. He wondered who was doing such a thing at... He looked at the clock with bleary eyes and saw it was just about 4 AM. The agent rolled over, feeling for his wife but that side of the bed was empty making him wake up a bit more to see where she might have gone.

"El?"

He pulled on his robe from the end of the bed as Peter sat up and rose to his feet to see where his wife was. Sleep was still evident, his hand rubbing at his eyes a bit as he turned the corner and found the bathroom door open, the interior dark. There was a light on downstairs as he headed for the first floor and saw the front door open ever so slightly. Something told him this was wrong, his gut kicking him that he should be alert as he neared the open door and saw the outer door was wide open, the cold night air creeping in as he patted over in his bare feet.

Peter ducked behind the open door, hearing gunshots outside as he tried to see what was going on and heard voices nearby and the sound of the car from before taking off in a hurry. Someone lay on the pavement at the bottom of his stairs but he couldn't see who but he saw a quick peek of the car leaving. It was a dark blue SUV with New York plates that had been blanked out and a busted window, cracked but not broken. He was about to get up and check the scene when he heard someone sobbing, a soft sound but one he knew well.

"No!"

The agent slipped into some old sneakers he'd left next to the doorway, walking quickly down the steps towards the prone figure and his wife who was coming out from behind the stoop. She looked afraid, shaky as he watched her move closer to the figure he could now see much clearer.

"Neal? Elizabeth... what happened?"

They were both beside the young man now, a wound evident where he'd been shot in the upper left shoulder and had hit his head on the railing as he fell to the ground. The wound wasn't bleeding much but he could see his partner was wearing the same clothes from the day before, something Neal Caffrey never did unless something had happened. Elizabeth was close to panicked but trying to be calm as she cradled the young man's head against her lap, still dressed in her robe and warm pajamas. Peter was still trying to figure out what was going on.

"They... I was opening the door to get the paper. Satchmo ran out past me before I could say anything so I went to bring him back in. I was just about to come back in when that car drove up. It happened all so quickly..."

Her voice was quiet... almost inaudible as tears rolled down her cheeks but she wasn't sobbing, just breathing hard and doing her best to be strong as Peter started to put the pieces together.

"El... hun..."

He was feeling a bit of anger at the young man before him. Elizabeth had been placed in danger because of him. Much as he tried not to let those feelings arise since the last attempt, Peter was seething inside as he glanced down at the hurt unconscious consultant before him. El hugged him with one arm, shaking her head.

"Someone grabbed me before I could call out but He... Neal saved me, hun. Peter... he came out of nowhere and pulled me out of danger. Who... who was in that car?"

He was holding her, his arms wrapped around his wife as he worried about Elizabeth's safety and realized that as much as he thought he knew Neal Caffrey, the young man was proving far more unpredictable in a good way. Still, he suspected this had something to do with Cyrus so maybe his good thoughts weren't justified. This was Caffrey's fault wasn't it?

"Let me get my cell. I'll call 9-1-1..."

Peter left his wife reluctantly, her arms gently holding and cradling the con in her lap as she removed her robe and lay it over him, using the belt as a compress against Neal's shoulder wound. He went inside, going to the phone nearby and dialing quickly.

"Yes... we have a man down. Someone was shot in front of my home. Yes... that's the right address. He's hurt badly... please hurry!"

Peter waited for them to get the info and tell him they would be there soon before he hung up and ran upstairs for something to make the con more comfy for now and a first aid kit. He had barely grabbed up said items when he heard his cell phone by the bed ringing and went to grab it. He pushed it to his ear as Peter went back towards the stairs and headed down.

"You think you're so smart, Agent Burke. Next time I'll shoot to kill your lovely wife..."

He froze, ice filling him with dread as he realized who was talking on the other end. Peter felt himself breathing hard, spots in front of his eyes as he sat on the steps and had to catch himself a moment.

"Cyrus Foxboro..."

It was hard to say anything else, his eyes just seeing past the door through the curtained windows to his panicked wife holding onto the con he'd been saddled with. Peter had played his part and now this?

"You know me? Good. I don't take well to traitors or snitches. I will kill him and then you and your lovely wife will be next."

Peter wanted to say more, his teeth grinding one another when he heard the line die and realized he'd lost his chance. He threw the phone into his robe pocket as he got up on shaky legs and made his way out of his house and to his worried wife.

"You were gone a long time... what's wrong?"

He saw the panic and worry growing in his wife's eyes and shook his head smiling but not happily.

"The ambulance is on its way. I had some issues finding the first aid kit. I guess I didn't leave it where I thought last time."

Peter gave a shrug, El nodding back as she accept his answer. He wasn't going to worry her more or air what he'd been hiding from her all this time. Even if it wasn't Caffrey's fault, the young man was a con and things like this were bound to happen and they had. How much more could he take before El was really hurt or... widowed. He had to find that evidence box and get out from under Simon and leave. They would go far away and he could forget about Neal and New York. They both could. He helped his wife bandage and wrap the con's shoulder and his head wound, a shallow gash on his forehead. It would require stitches from the look of it as Peter sighed and thought what could have happened. El wrapped her arms around him and leaned on his shoulder as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

"He'll be ok, Peter."

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Neal is hurt and we're seeing that maybe Peter doesn't care as much as he should about the young man. The next chapter will get into more of what happened and add more whump and conflict. Stay tuned!