As promised people, another quick update. :)
He sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair besides the bed, staring at his friend. The doctors had said that he was fine now, just sleeping, but the number of tubes connected to his body seemed like as if they were sucking the life out of him. He looked so pale, the black curls falling on his forehead emphasizing his lack of color. But sleeping so peacefully, he looked so young and vulnerable that Peter couldn't help but place a protective hand on his head. He gently pushed Neal's hair back surprised when Neal turned slightly in his sleep, leaning into the touch.
"Pet'r?" Neal's eyes fluttered open. He tried to get up, the heart rate on the monitor increasing, but Peter gently pushed him down.
"Yea buddy, it's me." Peter soothed the young man while trying to hold him down. "Relax, I've got you."
Neal slumped back on the pillow, and closed his eyes, tired. Then they fluttered open again and he looked up at Peter, alarmed. "El…?" he couldn't continue but his eyes asked the question for him, begging Peter silently.
"El's fine, Neal. That bastard had left her gagged and bound in our basement." Peter answered, sitting back down. "She's at home, with guards for protection." Neal closed his eyes at that and turned away.
"I didn't… do it." Peter could barely make out the whispered denial. Neal turned towards him again, "I know you won't believe me… but I didn't- "
"I know you didn't Neal." Peter cut him off, taking one of his hand in both of his own. "I told him that you'd died to get him to talk and he gloated to me about how he had you set up to take the fall."
"If you knew I didn't do it… then the treasure?" Neal looked confused for a minute and then nodded and looked away.
"Neal, I should have told you…" Peter started.
"It doesn't matter." Neal cut him off, still not looking at him.
"Yes it does!" Peter couldn't help but raise his voice. He pushed the chair away and stood, running a hand through his hair. He started pacing across the room, then stopped and turned, surprised to find blue eyes staring at him intensely. "Fine, I was angry at you for not telling me about the treasure, and worried about El, but that isn't an excuse for not telling you that I had switched the treasure… I should have trusted you Neal, that's what partners are supposed to do…" Peter's voice broke; he could feel tears welling up in his eyes.
"Peter, I don't blame you for not trusting me" Neal's voice sounded tired. "I should have told you about having the treasure."
"Yes you should have Neal, but everyone's allowed one big mistake." Peter smiled at the young man. He sat down and took Neal's hand in both of his again. "But you proved where your loyalties lay when you didn't run with Mozzie and chose instead to stay here."
"So that means you're not arresting me?" Neal looked at him, blue eyes surprised yet hopeful.
"No kiddo, I'm not." Peter leaned in and ruffled his friend's hair. "Keller is in prison on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, and tonight the whole world would be pleasantly surprised to know that the FBI located the long lost Nazi treasure when they called in an anonymous tip." Peter grinned when the con man smiled. Neal suddenly grew serious.
"But will you forgive me?" he looked at his mentor. Peter looked down at his hands.
"Neal, these past days have made me realize that I'm not much of a saint myself. I had always been behind you for not trusting me and keeping things from me, but lately I haven't been practicing what I so diligently preach." Peter held up a hand to stop Neal from interrupting. "The fact is that I have always expected too much from you, first by giving you hell for trying to find Kate, then by not trusting you even after all that Adler put both of us through. I guess I have never been much of a friend." Peter didn't know where the words were coming from. He usually was very bad at all this, but after Neal's most recent brush with death, he was starting to feel that it was way past time that he had a long talk with the man. To tell him what he meant to Peter, to tell him how he didn't mean to push him so hard, that he only wanted what was best for Neal. Maybe it was the effect of the hospital, or maybe it was Neal's fragile state, Peter felt an overwhelming affection towards the young ex con.
"Peter, I really am sorry about not telling you about the treasure." Neal said softly, blue eyes sparkling with tears. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me, for the first time in my life, I'd actually felt like as if I belonged. I would prefer to go back to prison if you can't trust me." Tears were coursing down his cheeks now.
Peter leaned forwards and brushed them off with the back of his hand. "Neal, you're not going to prison. Not till I'm alive anyway", Peter smiled at the ex con. "And about the matter of trust, both of us will work on that from now onwards OK?"
Neal nodded, and then smirked. "You know you have quite decent bedside manner. I am pleasantly surprised." Peter glared at his friend, pretending to be hurt.
"The things you don't know about me could be made into a long list."
"Hmm… you make the list, I'm going to sleep. Tired…" Neal said, closing his eyes. Peter smiled and got up from the bed. Neal must have sensed the movement because his eyes flew open. "Pet'r?"
"Yea I'm right here, Buddy." Peter said, sitting in the chair.
"Oh, good… Don't go…" Neal seemed to relax and closed his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere, son. Not without you anyway." Peter said softly, pulling the blanket up to Neal's chin and tucking him in.
Three months later: White Collar Unit, FBI, New York.
Peter stood at the head of the table, around which the whole FBI unit was seated "Alright agents, lets solve this case right here, right now. We know that Mr. Anderson couldn't have left his multimillion dollar business to his brother…"
"Because of the known dispute that was ongoing between them when he died." Neal interrupted him.
Peter looked at him and nodded. "Yes, but Mr. Anderson's brother, Reed Anderson, does not have the motive…"
"As he is terminally ill with cancer." Neal completed for Peter. He started pacing. "He has also recently married…"
"This young woman who has suddenly started showing undue attention to a very old man." This time Peter cut him off, watching the young man walk.
"And Reed is completely smitten with her and will probably leave her everything once he has died", Neal agreed.
"So you think.."
"If it means that she'll inherit millions then yes…"
"Also Mrs. Anderson's brother…"
"Was suspected of forging those bonds…"
"And is therefore a good forger…"
"So we have our culprits?" Neal asked.
"Yup, good work people. Case closed." Peter nodded at everyone before looking at his CI. "Neal, c'mon there's this museum where they are hosting this weird display of…"
All the agents sitting at the table stared as Mr. Caffrey flipped his hat on his head and held open the door to Agent Burke who walked out, shaking his head before following him. This was the fifteenth time a case had been closed by Mr. Caffrey and Agent Burke. Alone.
Author's Note: So this is it. The End. It really was amazing writing this story, especially with all the encouragement and praise of those who reviewed.:)
Please tell me what you think? I really love to find out what people like or dislike about my writing... So please take out some time and review, I will be eternally grateful :)
