Neal was happy, almost giddy as he walked the final two blocks to the Burke home. The weather was perfect for a fall day and the leaves were starting to change colors so he asked the cabby to drop him a few blocks away from his destination so he could enjoy the cool, crisp breeze. He had planned to surprise Peter and as long as he was on the path to the agent's house, the tracking device wouldn't go off. He fingered the two tickets in his pocket and smiled as he imagined the look on Peter's face when he told him they were going to the Yankee's game. They had literally fallen into Neal's lap but they came with a hefty price that June was more than willing to help out with.

He had never been to a baseball game though Peter had threatened many times that he was going to take Neal; the fact that Neal was initiating the deal brought a smile to his face. Things were back to normal or as close as they had been since the whole treasure fiasco and Peter's break down.

Neal stopped across the street and stared at the Burkes' home; a place he was as comfortable in as June's mansion and a place he knew he was always welcomed...even in the early hours of a Saturday morning. He knew they were home; Peter had told him they had no plans for the weekend.

He crossed the street and took the stairs two at a time. After ringing the bell he stepped back and waited.

"Neal?" Elizabeth opened the door, clearly surprised to see the ex con standing there.

"Hey Elizabeth, where's Peter?" Neal rushed in, waving the tickets in his hand. "I got tickets for tonight's game" he added excitedly, glancing around the living room.

"Neal's he not home..."

" El, I think they're ready." Mozzie walked into the living room as a dead silence engulfed them and he stared at the man he once considered a close friend.

"Mozzie..." Neal said as his clear blue eyes widened. He hadn't seen his friend since the day they found Elizabeth.

He turned to Peter's wife as his eyes narrowed in anger.

"Neal, let me explain." Elizabeth took a step closer but the ex con backed away as the tickets fell from his fingers.

"No." Neal reached for the door and started running.

"Hey hon." Peter set his gym bag down and walked over to his wife. "Is he gone yet?" Elizabeth sullenly remained silent and played with something in her hands.

"El, what's wrong?" He grabbed the tickets from her. "Wow, box seats for tonight's game. Where'd you get these?"

"Neal was here" Elizabeth whispered as Peter stood straighter.

"Was he here?" Peter asked, unwilling to say the quirky man's name. Elizabeth nodded meekly as Peter let out a loud groan. "I knew this wasn't a good idea and I don't want that man in my house." He paced a few steps.

"What did Neal do when he saw him?"

Elizabeth wiped at her face before speaking. "He turned white and just stared at me. He dropped the tickets before running out."

"He brought these?" Peter asked, once again staring at the tickets.

"He did" Elizabeth replied quietly, "and he seemed so excited to show you." Elizabeth stood and neared the window, glancing out and searching for any sign of the ex con. "I was trying to help. I had almost convinced Mozzie to call Neal and make things right." She faced Peter. "You know Neal misses him" she retorted accusingly. "I was just trying to make things right."

"I know" Peter said a few minutes later as he took his wife in his arms and his anger dissipated. "He's going to hate me" Elizabeth lamented as she pulled away from Peter and sat down with Satchmo at her heels.

"Neal will not hate you" Peter assured her as he pulled out his phone and called the younger man. It rang several times before Peter gave up and shoved the phone in his jacket.

"He's not answering" Peter muttered before grabbing his laptop and logging in. A few minutes later he sighed with relief when the tracking device showed Neal to be home.

"El, I'm going to take a shower and then I will talk to Neal."

"What about these?" Elizabeth held the tickets up.

"Tonight I'm taking Neal to his first baseball game." Peter smiled as he took the tickets and placed them safely in his wallet.

Neal stared at the text Peter had sent him.

I'll be over soon to explain and then I'm taking you to the game.

Thank you.

Explain what Neal thought miserably. Peter knew he was worried about Mozzie's well being and wondered where his friend had gone and all along Peter knew; he had to know Mozzie was spending time with Elizabeth.

Yet he needed that explanation; and he wondered silently when he had become so needy and what had happened to the person he used to be. It was the child inside, the inner most part that was hurt badly by Peter's betrayal that wrote the following.

Don't bother. I'm not going.

Neal powered his phone off and quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He couldn't hide, not with the damn tracking device on his ankle, but he wasn't going to sit around and wait for Peter to show up.

"Neal, get in the car." This was the third time that Peter had circled the block and he was having a hard time keeping his anger at bay. Neal had been wandering, almost aimlessly, for nearly two hours and Peter had spent half that time trying to persuade his partner to stop long enough to listen to him. He spotted a parking space and quickly pulled in and then chased after the younger man.

"Neal." Peter grabbed his arm and quickly spun him around so they were face to face. "Stop acting like a child and listen to me." Maybe not the right words but they seemed to have the desired effect as Neal's gaze rose and he met Peter's eyes.

"That hat looks ridiculous" Neal muttered as he eyed the baseball cap Peter was wearing.

"Nice to know" Peter said, "Because I have one for you in the car."

"Not going" Neal spit out as he tried to get free from Peter's grasp.

"Neal, just hear me out. Please" Peter slowly released his grip and motioned for Neal to follow him towards the car. Once seated inside Peter reached into the back and tossed a Yankee's baseball cap onto Neal's lap.

"Don't worry its new" Peter said as Neal fingered the embroidered letters. "Are you ready to listen to me? Neal, it's not what it seems."

"Did I see Mozzie at your place?"

"Yes you did."

"Did you know he was there?" Peter nodded yes.

"Then it's everything it seems." Neal reached for the door as Peter grabbed at his arm. "Neal, please...listen to me." Sighing loudly Neal settled back against the seat, a signal to Peter that his partner would at least hear him out.

"That night I had the break down Elizabeth didn't tell our families so she was alone at the hospital and Mozzie just showed up." Peter glanced Neal's way but the younger man wouldn't meet his gaze. "He's become Elizabeth's confidant during this and there was nothing I could do."

"You could have told me."

"No I couldn't" Peter quickly said. "I wasn't happy with the situation but I can't tell Elizabeth who to see. Neal if it makes you feel any better he rarely talks to me and I try to go out when I know he'll be a around."

"Why?" Neal shifted his body slightly so he could see Peter's face.

"Because I feel I'm betraying you" Peter quietly answered with a slight shrug.

"You are" Neal spit out angrily. "You could have told me he was ok."

"I suppose" Peter admitted. "But if you knew you would have confronted him and I'm not sure what would have happened. Elizabeth needed him a t a time I couldn't fully be there for her."

"I could have been" Neal put forth

"No you couldn't" Peter countered. "Until I worked out my issues you couldn't be at my place or around me."

"But Mozzie took the treasure and I was the one you tried to kill" Neal whined in such a child like manner that Peter did a double take to make sure it was still Neal sitting next to him.

"Neal, you are my friend, he is not. I expect nothing from him but I expected more from you and I still do. You should have told me about the treasure long before Keller took Elizabeth."

"You still should have told me." Neal wouldn't let that go so Peter finally gave in.

"You're right and I'm sorry. Can we move on?"

Neal's hands stilled as he turned and gazed out the window. Peter reached over and briefly squeezed the younger man's shoulder. "Neal, I know Mozzie misses you and helping out on our cases. Knowing my wife, she'll fix things between you two." After a few minutes, Peter broke the silence. "Neal, are you ready to go to the game?"

"Yeah" Neal answered as he adjusted the cap on his head.

Peter was still beaming as he pulled up to June's house. The game was thrilling with a Yankee comeback win and Neal had enjoyed himself much to his own surprise.

"Just wait until they make the World Series" Peter said excitedly. "You won't believe how the atmosphere is."

"Isn't there a saying about counting your chickens..?"

"They'll make it" Peter repeated. "Neal thanks for the tickets. I've been meaning to ask you..."

"They're not stolen" Neal interrupted with a slight smile.

"I wasn't going to ask..."

"Yes you were" Neal interrupted again. "And June loaned me the money" Neal added before Peter could ask

"Thank you" Peter said again. "And tomorrow you're coming over for dinner, Elizabeth insisted."

Neal nodded. He was half way out of the car when he stopped and faced the agent. "Tell Mozzie I miss him ok?"

"I will" Peter replied but Neal was already out the door and didn't hear him.