I still have a scene from the episode, but I did come up with quite a bit of my own stuff! Exciting!

And now we start getting into darker territory.

Please review and let me know what you think! But! please read the story before commenting that it's not worth reading. XD

A few days later …

Making love to Kate was … a revelation. In an impetuous, petulant fit he had had slept with Alex, but however exciting, in the end it was just sex between two people wanting to use each other.

Then, early that evening as Neal held her closely in the aftermath, absently stroking the violet band around her neck, Kate began to cry. Alarmed that he had somehow hurt her, he hurriedly asked what was wrong. "It's … it's my master," she wept.

Helpless anger swept through him, and he stopped his caresses on her neck. "What's wrong?"

"You … you know the color of my collar."

Of course he did. The shade between purple and white meant that, while Adler occasionally used Kate for his sexual pleasure, her true value lay in working for him as any other employee, running errands and doing secretarial jobs. He hated that she was so objectified, and in fact that despised the entire system of slavery—so independent and free to do whatever he wished himself, he could not imagine being so confined without going insane.

"He's been … strange lately. Humiliating … me," Kate whispered, tears dripping onto his wrist. "Sometimes violent, even."

Neal sat up and clenched his fists on the blankets, furious. How could anyone bear to hurt Kate, as delicate and gentle as she was? What could he—"Run away with me," he said suddenly. It would mean the end of everything he had worked for the last few months-his and Mozzie's scheme to get rich quick—Adler would doubtless chase after them for the rest of their lives using his limitless resources—the police would never let them rest—if they were caught, the penalties would be dire for both of them—but what else—

Kate turned over and leaned into his shoulder, hiccupping, looking up at him in alarm. "We couldn't possibly do that! We can't run forever, and Master would … he would …" her face went white at the thought. "He can be cruel," she finished softly.

Neal thought quickly. "I could … I could buy you," he suggested desperately, although they both knew her price was far beyond his means. In addition … one of Adler's business partners had shown disturbing interest in Kate, and Adler had rebuffed even him. But, if he was successful in what Mozzie and he had originally planned, he could have it all—money beyond his wildest dreams, and Kate, all of it. Unfortunately, although he retained Adler's high opinion, Neal couldn't ever be quite certain where he stood with the wily billionaire, and time was running out without guarantee of a winning outcome.

"I'll do something," Neal promised. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."

She nodded, eyes huge and wet.

A few days later …

Kate laughed merrily that morning, and Neal, hoping that her improved mood meant an improved situation, laughed with her. She stretched like a satisfied cat as he lay above her, breathing hard. "I want more …"

He smiled down at her. "You're insatiable," he chuckled, burying his face in the side of her neck.

"… pizza," she continued, making movements to indicate that she was getting up.

"What?" Neal groaned in a muffled voice, pretending to be hurt at this blow to his manhood.

"We still have a margarita left over from last night," she pointed out as she rose from the bed, pulling the sheet with her.

"Hey—who says you get the sheet?" he protested as he was left sprawled on the bed completely nude.

"I get it," she giggled.

He rose as well and his eyes swept over her glowing complexion and the exaggerated hint of curves beneath the flowing fabric. "Wow," he commented in honest appreciation.

"Nick—the neighbors are watching," she warned lightly.

Neal turned in a full-frontal posture and waved carelessly. "Oh … hi neighbors. Shall I give them a show?" And he did exactly that until Kate dropped a hat on his head. "Oh! I get a hat!"

Kate, smiling, joked, "There. Now you're presentable." Her appraising glance took him in.

He grinned and looked down at himself. "You like that?"

At the time, he didn't realize that he would never be so carefree, so hopelessly in love, again in his life as in that moment.

The nightmare that would haunt him for years to come began late that evening. He and Kate lay in bed together. Of course the sex was wonderful, but Neal was content just to be close to her. He slowly woke, slowly becoming conscious that someone else was in the room. He jolted awake, heart thudding, the blanket sliding down to his waist.

Adler sat comfortably in a chair flanked by two menacing bodyguards, simply … looking at the occupants of the bed. "What the hell—?" Neal burst out, the vulnerability in his unclothed state unmistakable.

The man shrugged, raising a glass of wine in salute. "Well, you didn't expect to get Kate all to yourself, did you?"

Neal stared at him, loathing the man in a way he knew was apparent, and very unwise, considering the situation. Beside him, Kate stirred but did not wake. "What do you want?" he spat.

Adler smiled the oily snake smile Neal had seen him use on so many others when he knew he had the upper hand. "I expect a return on my investment. I have spent so much time on you, Neal Caffrey."

Neal started violently at the sound of his name coming from Adler's lips.

"And I was, I believe, very generous in allowing you to indulge in your pretty romance with my slave. But if you wish to continue …" Adler left the sentence unfinished, but his intent was plain. "I should enjoy myself as well."

"Go fuck yourself," Neal hissed. "I'm not your slave!"

Kate roused. "Neal—what's wrong?" she asked sleepily, at first not seeing Adler as the moon was streaming in only dimly into the room. She gasped in terror when her gaze fell on him and the two men looming over them.

"If you insist. And you are correct. You're not. But Miss Moreau … she's another matter."

At a signal from Adler, the huge bodyguards moved forward and closed their giant hands onto Kate's arms, preparing to pull her forcibly from the bed. She screamed piteously and Neal's efforts to free her did nothing against the men's unshakable strength. Seeing that he was only hurting her further, without thinking Neal leapt from the bed, naked, and raised his hands in surrender, eyes flickering in concern from her to Adler in a murderous rage.

"Fine! Tell me what you want me to do. Just … don't hurt her."

Adler sighed in boredom. "I told you already. Or at least, you should know, bright boy that you are."

Throughout it all, Adler looked on this most private of activities between Neal and Kate as a very interesting performance. The young man did his best to shield his love from the indignity of exposure, but in fact, Neal didn't realize which of them Adler was watching.