Chapter 3: Winding Back

Mozzie stood in the doorway to Neal's apartment looking at his friend who was currently hanging off of Peter like a scared cat. "Neal you probably don't remember me, but it's me Mozzie your best friend." Mozzie said as he walked into the apartment and closed the door behind him.

Neal released Peter and stood there. "So you're my friend? That is interesting" Neal said as he walked over and shook Mozzie's hand, just as their hands touched Neal had a sense of familiarity.

Peter rose from his chair and looked at the two con men. "Haversham, can I talk to you for a moment?" Peter asked as headed out the doors to the terrace. Mozzie nodded his head and followed the agent; he closed the door behind him.

"Spill Haversham, how many enemies does Neal really have. Someone tried to kill him last night and when they figure out he's still alive they will come back for him. Neal knows something or knew something that he wasn't supposed to and this information is worth attempted murder." Peter said as he kept his back to the view of the city.

Mozzie stood his ground "Well that number has started to rise since he started to work under you. How can you assume that it's someone from Neal's past? Now that he's the poster boy for the FBI now. He's in more danger than ever. " The older man said looking at Peter.

Both men stood like statues staring at each other. Peter had never really trusted what Neal's friend ever said but deep in his heart he knew Mozzie might have been right about Neal being in danger all the time. He wasn't a FBI agent he was just their consultant and even then they put his life at risk multiple times just so they could arrest others like him.

"Look I'm sorry, maybe you're right… I'll look into a few things, I promised Neal I would stay for a while so if you're going to stay, just don't mention Kate's death. He doesn't need that kind of pain right now." Peter said as he moved toward the doors that led back into the apartment.

Neal was walking around his apartment looking at the books and other trinkets that lined the shelves on the wall. When his eyes fell on the empty Bordeaux bottle he felt drawn to it. Just as his fingertips brushed against the bottle he saw the images flashing in his mind. Images of a beautiful woman flashed though his mind. "Kate…?" He whispered softly as Peter and Mozzie walked back inside.

After Neal had convinced his friend that he was fine Mozzie bid the other two men farewell as he left for the day he promised to return when Neal was alone. Peter watched his partner as he sat across from him. "Neal, have you begun to remember anything yet?" Peter asked watching his partner.

"No not yet, everything is still really blurry to me." Neal lied as he rested his elbows on the table and folded his fingers in front of his face. Peter smirked "Neal I chased you for four years I know when you're lying to me, So let me guess you started to remember things about Kate" he deduced the smirk not leaving his face at all.

Neal sat up, his eyes open wide. "Yeah… I mean I think it was her I'm not sure." Neal said being honest. "Peter, thanks staying with me for a while, I don't really remember you but it means a lot that you're staying here with me for a while." Neal said as he moved his hand to rub his forehead.

Peter looked at his partner "Why don't you get some rest, the doctor said that you should take it easy on your first day out of the hospital."He said "Your nightwear is in the third drawer down in the dresser over there and your robe is draped over the footboard of your bed" he added remembering the time when he had spent a few days when he and Elizabeth had the wiring redone in their home.

The ex con walked into his bathroom and changed into a pair of silk pajama bottoms and his robe he brushed his teeth before walking out of the bathroom and going over to his bed. Peter walked over as Neal pulled the comforter up to cover himself. "I'll be checking up on you after work every day until you're cleared to come back to work. Now is there anything you want to ask me before I go? " he asked.

With a shake of his head Neal put his head down on his pillow and fell asleep right away. Peter smirked as he pushed some loose strands of hair out of Neal's face before leaving the apartment. When he got back to his car he looked down both sides of the street for a moment before getting into his car and starting it up. As he drove away he kept an eye on the people shopping and walking around.

When Peter arrived home he crashed on the couch till his wife returned from work. "Hey honey how's Neal?" she asked as she sat down and curled up beside Peter. Letting out a loud sigh Peter put his head back "He's good, his memory is still fuzzy about a lot but in time he should remember everything." Peter remarked as he put his arm around Elizabeth.

"Have you told him about Kate or are you waiting to tell him?" She asked looking at her husband. Peter sat up "he doesn't need that kind of pain right now, its best if he takes his time remembering everything on his own. I'm going to head to June's every day after work to check on him." Peter said rubbing Elizabeth's arm as she cuddled closer.

For a few days Alex had been keeping tabs on Neal, she watched him walking around the neighborhood and spending time with his landlady and his fed friend. Alex kept her back to the street as Peter's car left June's mansion again after his visit with Neal; she turned when he was at the end of the street. Apparently he still doesn't remember anything Alex thought as a black town car pulled up beside her.

She climbed into the car the soft leather brushing against her legs and arms. Across from her was the same man she feared more than respected. "That handler of his was checking out the neighborhood again as he left looking for anyone watching. I don't think he saw me. Neal still hasn't returned to work…" Alex said as the car pulled away from the curb.

Spencer rubbed his chin in thought "Well he was struck quite hard in the head, it's only fair to assume that his amnesia wouldn't go away this soon, which means we have more time than I thought, he is still a liability to our freedom though." He said lowering his hand.

"After you are dropped off Ms. Hunter I will no longer need your services" Spencer said smirking as he tapped the window that divided the car.

"You can drop her off here" he said as the car swept through the traffic to the open curb. Alex didn't look back as she climbed out. She slammed the door with as much force as possible before walking off to be alone. Looks like I have to play along for now, if I don't I'll either go to jail or I'll end up in an empty lot and I won't be as lucky as Neal. Alex thought as she began to walk home. On the way she decided to window shop to make herself feel better. When she was bored she picked a few pockets on the rest of the way home.

When she finally got home it was late. She had walked quite a distance and she was ready to sleep. Alex put her purse down and removed her shoes, her feet were killing her, walking into her small kitchen she had a feeling she wasn't alone. Alex moved cautiously over to the island table in the middle of her kitchen. The handle of her gun was barely showing from her purse as she reached for it. Just as her fingertips brushed against the handle she heard movement in the dark living room.

Moving into the living room Alex felt her heart thudding against her ribcage. She pointed the gun into the dark room as she moved forward. With her free hand she felt around for the closest lamp. She wrapped her fingers around the switch when she turned it the switch clicked but the room stayed dark, every fiber in Alex's body screamed at her to run. Turning quickly Alex kept her hand tightly wrapped around her gun as she made a dash for the door.

Before she could even make it to the kitchen she heard someone behind her, Alex readied her voice to scream. Before she could even open her mouth she felt a heavy cord around her throat. Tears immediately sprang into her eyes as she dropped the gun and reached behind her to try and fight off her attacker.

"No…please" she choked out as the cord was pulled tighter. Alex began to gasp for air as her nails clawed for skin or hair. After a moment she began to feel lightheaded. She felt herself on the edge of blacking out from lack of air. "Help…"she croaked tears were flowing down her face as she struggled to breath.

I'm scared…I don't want to die Alex thought as the darkness took over. Her heart began to beat erratically pumping the last of her oxygen though her body, before her lungs were completely empty.

"It's nothing personal; I just can't have loose ends running around where the feds can get to them. Remember its just business." Carson said as he tightened the cord till he felt her go limp. He carefully removed the cord and threw it aside as he lowered Alex's body to the floor carefully; he positioned her on her side. Moving quickly he locked the door behind him as he left the apartment.

When Spencer knew he was far enough away he pulled out a burn phone, he dialed nine-one-one "I would like to report a body, 1504 West 50th street apartment 308." Cason said hanging up as the dispatcher on the other line began to ask his name. Disappearing into the darkness Carson flagged a cab he climbed in and gave the driver his address.

Neal had woken from another nightmare the apartment was dark, when his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness he was able to make out a lamp on the nightstand. Reaching over he turned the light on and blinked as he looked at the empty apartment. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful. "Peter must have gone home… wherever that is" Neal mumbled to himself as he grabbed his robe off the foot of his bed. Peter had been staying there till fell asleep in the early evenings so he could get some sleep. He had been doing it for the last three days since Neal still had trouble falling asleep.

Once he tied the belt around his waist Neal started to turn lights on around his apartment till the room was filled with warm light. As he walked over to the easel folded up in the corner. When he had it standing and affixed with a large mounted canvas he found his paints and set them out.

Grabbing the pallet he placed the colors he needed and picked up a brush. Without a second thought Neal began to paint, when he started to get warm he removed his robe and tossed it onto the couch. The blank canvas had already begun to explode in color. Heavy reds and oranges covered most of the canvas. To Neal the canvas looked like his nightmare of an explosion, he tried to wrack his mind to figure out why he was having dreams about an explosion.

When Neal felt his wrist get sore he stopped and looked at the painting. There was a large blank portion. Walking around the room Neal looked at the blank space he knew something belonged there but he couldn't figure out what went there.

Before Neal could even pick up the brush again there was a soft knock on the door. Neal walked over and opened the door. "June? What are you doing up?" Neal asked opening the door up more to his landlady.

June looked at the young man "I heard you walking around and I wanted to make sure that everything was all right." June said as she took a seat at the table. She looked at the painting. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

Neal moved to an open chair and sat down "I still can't remember much but little memories or faces keep flashing in my mind. That… what I painted I don't remember at all and there is a piece missing still." Neal said letting out a sigh.

"I can't remember this Kate person, at all no matter how hard I try I think I see her face but I'm not sure. I started to remember Peter and Mozzie. Maybe speaking to them helped." Neal said rubbing his forehead a bit to combat the oncoming headache.

June looked at her tenet and friend "Don't force it, when you're mind is ready you'll remember everything." She said softly. "Why don't you try to get some more sleep Neal…you look tired" June remarked as she noticed the faint dark circles under Neal's eyes.

Nodding his head in agreement Neal made his way over to the bed when he put his head back down on the pillow he instantly felt tired again. "Goodnight June" he mumbled into the pillow. "Goodnight Neal" she whispered back with a smile as she left the apartment and walked back to her room.

Peter had been up for hours he was reading over a few cases that he knew he needed Neal's help with. There was one case that they had just started before Neal's attack.

Six heavily insured paintings had been stolen from a private residence to many the case looked like a cake walk, there was no forced entry and everything was too perfect it had to have been an inside job. Peter knew better it was way too perfect and Neal agreed with him. Peter was so engrossed with the file he almost didn't notice his phone going off till he saw the blinking light out of the corner of his eye.

"Burke" Peter said answering his phone. On the other end of the phone Hughes sighed as he sat in his office.

"Peter, I was just about to leave when I got a call from a local Leo, they have a body and it seems the apartment they were sent to is filled with quite a few items on the hot sheets as stolen artwork and other items that fall under our category." Hughes said as he looked at the file on his desk.

Closing his eyes for a moment Peter held back a yawn. "Sir, I'll get on it first thing in the morning, has the body been identified yet as someone we're after?" Peter asked leaning back in his seat.

Reese sighed "The body was identified as Alexandra Hunter, now I know Caffrey has history with her so I'll leave it to you to tell him. Is he at you're place now?" Hughes asked as he reached forward and closed the file.

"No… he's at June's" Peter said as he got up from his chair he grabbed his car keys and stuffed them into his pocket as scribbled a note to Elizabeth before he left the house and got into his car, before he realized it he was driving to June's in the dead of night. "I'll tell him in the morning, I should go sir, yes I'll be in on time" Peter said hanging up as he pulled up in front of June's dark home.

Peter was worried; he had feared that something might have happened to Neal. When he got out of the car he ran up to the front door and rang the doorbell multiple times till the older woman was there in her bathrobe letting him in.

"Peter is everything all right?" June asked as she followed Peter up the stairs to the second floor. Pausing slightly Peter sighed "I need to speak to Neal right away." He said as he made his way to Neal's apartment. He saw Neal sleeping in his bed. Taking in a deep breath Peter walked over to the bed and shook Neal awake. "Neal… Neal get up we have to talk" Peter said.