Left Waiting

AN:// Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews, and messages! (:

It may unfortunately be a while until I update as the holidays are nearing and things are starting to get busy again, however if I have time I will try to update as soon as possible. Even now it's late in the morning and I can't wait to go to sleep. (: I wish you all a happy holiday and thank you all for following the story thus far. (:

"Neal?" Here I was standing in the middle of New York City, trying to locate one deceiving man, and here he was, finding me. "Where the hell are you, Neal." I growled into the line. It was frustrating that he could so easily find me, yet I would spend months trying to even locate a lead. We had gone through his car and found his clothing, even his damnable hat-oh yeah it was there. What bothered me the most was how warm it was, the distant smell of his favorite cologne still lingering.

I heard him breath into the phone, as if he was struggling with words. "Neal, don't hang up." It was the first time that I had heard from him since the incident, since all of our promises were broken. I wasn't going to let this chance get passed up. "Talk to me Neal."

I listened as he exhaled. Why wasn't he saying anything? He was the one who called me.

"Fine, I'm hanging up." It was a bluff; I was just hoping he couldn't tell.

"No!" the line barked at me. I knew that I should be tracking the phone call, but honestly I needed a word with him. I needed a second just to talk to him. I looked around Lauren was staring at me but I just gave her a nod and headed back to my car.

"Neal. Where are you?"

"I'm not-I'm not telling you." I heard him bang something in the background, something smashing. Neal cursed slightly under his breath, he had to be in a phone booth, I could tell because of the number he called from and the surrounding sounds.

He still had to be close, but how close exactly?

Maybe I could find him. Maybe we could make things right.

"Neal, tell me where you are. I will come get you; we can figure this out-"

"I have nothing to figure out! I know what I'm doing, Peter."

"Do you, Neal? Do you really? Because I think you are one head strong person and obsessing so hard over Kate that it's blinding your judgment! You have run away from your problems again, Neal! You're not solving them, your making more!"

"Screw you, Peter."

The phone disconnected. Neal, had hung up on me.

I clenched my teeth together. "God!" I wanted to throw the phone out the window, but then I had an idea.

I had to call back. If anything someone would pick up and I could find out where the phone booth was located.

I could find Neal.

It rang once before someone picked up.

"I don't want to talk to you, Peter."

"Then why did you pick up?" I had to admit; I was sometimes surprised that Neal was a con artist.

"Shut up, Peter."

Even though the statement was rude I knew that he wasn't going to hang up, just yet at least. "Neal, why did you run?"

"Why did you spank me in public."

It wasn't even a question, it was a plain bold statement and an answer all in one; I could feel my anger rise, but I was trying to suppress it. "You know exactly why, don't play like you don't know."

"You promised."

I could feel a part of my brake at that. His words seemed hurt and sincere, I knew that he had been hurt… but so had I.

"So did you, in case you forgot."

"It didn't give you a right to do what you did." Neal's voice got agitated. "It wasn't even legal."

"Actually you're wrong." Before he could hang up I had to get my word in. "You were released into my custody, full custody. You have lost a lot of your rights." The guilt from before had stayed… and now that I had the chance, I had to get it right. "I'll give you one thing, Neal. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. I'm sorry that you felt I betrayed you and went back on my promise, but you pushed me."

It was silent for a moment before Neal responded his voice seemed distant and dull. "And I'm sorry I have to go back on my promises, Peter. I'm free now, and I'm going to find Kate."

What was it with this girl? Why couldn't he just see what he had and come back, Kate was a lot closer then he even realized. "Neal, you will never be free. If you run, you will run forever. Is that free to you? No, it's not. Come back now Neal, don't you get it? I'm going to find you if you don't; you're going to get caught."

"Come back? Why would… No, Peter. I can't rot in jail. I won't do it. I won't."

"I won't let them take you back, Neal. I'll get a lawyer, we can work things out. Just tell me where you are... we can be partners again."

I thought that I had won him over there, I thought that he would tell me where he was… I thought maybe I was going to get my partner back again.

I was wrong.

"Kate is the only partner I'll ever need." The words stung more than they should have. I had come too attached to him, I couldn't seem to let go. "I don't trust you anymore."

"You're never going to find Kate!-" I knew this time when I didn't get an answer Neal was gone.

I couldn't even call back because he never hung up, just left me waiting.