"Neal?" Peter took in the sight in front of him. Neal's close were torn and dirty. His hair was a mess and he had dried blood caked to his face, but Peter's eyes landed on the blood seeping through Neal's torn white shirt. Peter took a cautious step towards Neal, who was swaying dangerously. "But you're supposed to be dead?" Neal tried to smile.

"Surprise, I'm not." He swayed even more and placed a bloody hand on the wall, to hold himself up. Peter holstered his gun and closed the distance between himself and Neal. He pulled Neal's arm over his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist. Peter half carried half drug Neal to the bed. He laid him down gentle and pulled out his cell. Moments later June was at his side. She gasped when she saw Neal.

"Neal?!" Neal smiled weakly at June.

"Sorry, for breaking in."

"Oh, Neal. You know my home is always open for you." She grasped his hand.

Peter poked and probed at the bleeding wound on Neal's abdomen.

"You're going to need stitches."

"Call Moz. He can do stitches."

"Neal what you need is a hospital." Neal shook his head.

"No hospital."

"I'll make you a deal. Tell me the truth about everything that has happened in the past year and I will not take you to a hospital."

"Deal." Peter pulled his phone out again and called Mozzie. He didn't say who Mozzie was working on, but he told him it was urgent. Next thing Peter knew, Mozzie was by his side with a doctors kit. Mozzie froze when he saw Neal laying on the bed.

"But...you're..."

"I'll explain, Moz." Mozzie smiled.

"I don't care, you're alive. That's all that matters. Now let me stitch you up." Peter watched as Mozzie stitched Neal up. Peter was still in a state of shock. He was still trying to wrap his mind around Neal being alive.

Peter woke to the blinding sun. He was confused for a moment. He sat up and his eyes landed on Neal's sleeping form. He smiled, last night was not a dream. Mozzie was sound asleep on the couch next to him and June was in the little kitchen making some coffee. Peter stood and walked over to June. She smiled at him and handed him a cup of coffee. She motioned for them to go out onto the balcony. After they sat, Peter spoke.

"I can't believe it."

"I know. I thought we had lost him forever." Peter nodded. Soon Mozzie joined them. He quietly sipped on his coffee. The three sat in silence.

Neal opened his eyes. Pain flared in his side, but he pushed it aside, he was finally home. He sat up slowly and shuffled outside.

Peter looked up when he heard movement, he flew from his chair and to Neal's side.

"You shouldn't be up, you should be resting."

"Just help me to the chair." Peter rolled his eyes and helped Neal into a chair at the table.

"Ok, you're sitting. Now keep your end of the promise." Neal looked at the ground.

"Before I start, I want you to know, that faking my death was not my idea. It was the F.B.I.'s." Peter's brow furrowed.

"You mean the F.B.I. ordered you to fake your own death." Neal nodded.

"They were worried that the Panthers would find out about me and then in turn fins out about you. So they told me to disappear, until it was clear."

"Why didn't they tell me?"

"To protect you."

"Ok, spill. Where have you been this past year?" Mozzie was getting anxious.

"This past year has been hell. It all started the day we took down the Panthers..."

To Be Continued