Chapter 4

After the week with the Burkes, Neal was feeling good. He did a pretty decent job of keeping his butt safe from Peter's wrath. There was just that one time when he had that minor setback. He should have known better than to try and get anything over on a trained investigator? Peter had left the table to answer an important work related call. He sat with Elizabeth, obediently drinking his water with his dinner but being that Peter had left the room, one of his not so brilliant ideas popped into his head.

"Elizabeth is there any way that you could please let me have one little sip of your wine," Neal said it with his most brilliant and charming smile across his face.

"Oh sweetie, I don't think that is a great idea. Peter wouldn't like it."

Apparently, Neal was not above begging and had become very comfortable in this house. Pleeeeeeeease El, just one little sip. I can't drink any more water. I will do anything for you."

"Ok but hurry up and you owe me big time." Big mistake.

No sooner did Neal take the sip, which at the time he thought it was so worth it, the deep "Ahem" sound could be heard from the doorway. He did not even have time to blink when he felt himself being hauled over to the counter and bent over it. He saw Peter reach for the wooden cutting board that looked like a display piece and just as quick as he was over the counter, he felt the first whack of that awful instrument. "Holy shit! Are you crazy?"

"Continue to use that language and you will learn quickly how crazy I am." Peter landed five more whacks across Neal's behind all while Neal was screaming and trying to get out of his grasp. He could only imagine what it would be like when he gave him a full blown paddling. "Stay there," Peter ordered. "If you move your hands off that counter you're getting more."

As desperate as he was to rub his butt, Neal didn't dare move, didn't even chance moving his eyes that was until El was dragged into view, being hauled around to the opposite side of the counter. At that point Neal's eyes all but popped out of his head.

"Nooooo," El objected while trying unsuccessfully to pull free.

"Pe-" Neal was about to protest but the agent held up his hand and cut him short.

"For every word you say Neal, El gets one extra."

Neal shut up quick, accepting that he'd already caused enough trouble for one night and dropped his gaze to the floor so he didn't have to look into Elizabeth's eyes.

"Eyes up, Neal!" Peter commanded and waited for the younger man to comply before bringing down the paddle across the back of his wife's dress. It wasn't as hard as any of the whacks that Neal had received but still, El sucked in her breath and flinched as the heavy board landed another two times. Peter returned the board to the counter and asked, "What's the lesson here, Neal?"

The young con swallowed hard, no longer concerned about the sting emanating from his own rear end but mindful that he'd just been directly responsible for El's. Peter's question was a no brainer. "The lesson is that my actions have consequences for others, not just for myself...I'm sorry."

"El went to lift her hands off the counter to rub her rear but Peter shook his head so she continued with 'her lesson'. "Uh, I was not without fault here, I shouldn't have let you talk me into something I knew could get you into trouble. I'm sorry too sweetie."

"Alright then," Peter slapped the counter top lightly, "everyone knows what they shouldn't have done, so let's get back to the business of eating shall we?" The agent turned back to the table knowing the troublesome two would follow, which they did but not before giving their backsides a vigorous rub. Neal ran over to Elizabeth and hugged her. "I am so sorry for getting you in trouble, can you forgive me?"

"There is nothing to forgive. I got myself into trouble and it was not your fault. I am a grown woman and made a choice. Next time I will make a better choice." She hugged him and gave him a peck on his head.

Neal sat down with a slight wince and had two thoughts going through his mind. The first was that he will never allow himself to be on the receiving end of a "real paddling" and the other thought was how much he could get used to this "unconditional love." Neal paused, looking despondently at his seat, "Can we fin-"

"No, you may not finish your meal in front of the television Neal. I don't care what Renaissance super special is on. Sit down now, or I can give you a hand if need be."

"No thanks, I got it!" Neal threw himself down onto the seat; not wanting any of Peter's so called help.

El winced as she took a lot more care to complete the same action. She was after all more experienced in this department.

After a bit of squirming to find a comfortable spot, the young man picked up his glass of water and held it up towards El, "Great dinner, El, the chicken is delicious."

"Yeah," Peter lifted his beer to acknowledge the fine meal, "It really is good El."

El held up her own glass, the wine that had been at the center of the trouble. "Thank you, both of you." And when Peter looked back down, she tilted it towards Neal and smiled. Neal understood the message and was thankful, 'No hard feelings.'

He was looking forward to getting his freedom back but at the same time he was sad to be leaving. It was nice to have people to say goodnight and good morning to each day. He griped a bit at the bedtime and he didn't love drinking water with his dinner but other than that, he enjoyed the time he spent with his new family.

It was business as usual at work and no one was the wiser about the new arrangements that the partners had. Although, Neal was slightly more obedient with the clear consequences hanging over his head. One particular day, the whole team was in the conference room going over there latest case. They were referencing an old case to decide if it could be the same suspect.

"Neal, would you go down and get me the file on the old Marton Real Estate scam?" Everyone was waiting for his typical response about having people to do that so what came out of his mouth next was nothing short of a shock.

"Yes Sir," he said as he quickly left the conference room to do as he was asked.

Thank goodness he had left so quickly because Jones could not hold back any longer. "Who was he talking too?" With that, he and Diana had burst out laughing. They practically fell out of their chairs.

"I don't really see what's so funny. Don't you think I deserve some respect? Maybe you guys could take a page out of his book." Peter said as he looked to Diana and Jones and found that they were laughing even harder.

"Sorry Boss! You know we respect you and we know Neal respects you but "sir", what did you do to him?" Diana tried hard to stifle her amusement.

Peter thought to himself, "If you only knew!"