SPOILERS WARNING: when Neal is talking to his mom there are some spoilers for the end of out of the box. Just letting you know.

The two older agents, however, refused to turn away, filled with fiery determination to find Neal and arrest the sick bastard who held him captive.

Strong

Files sat on top of files on top of files as the FBI agents tried to figure out what it was that Grey wanted. Nothing could be attached to Peter or to Neal. A painting confiscated after the third rape case maybe? No, no that had been found stolen again about a week later.

Peter put his head in his hands and sighed. This wasn't right! Neal was supposed to be right here and okay by now! How could it be that his luck had run out so completely? There was obviously nothing in the files and Peter needed something else to go on. Really any kind of lead would be good but he needed one he was sure of. After all Neal's life was on the line.

Peter's cell phone began to ring. Absently Peter checked the number assuming it was El and was surprised to find that he didn't recognize the number. He considered letting it go to voice-mail but decided on the fourth ring to pick it up.

"Peter Burke," he answered.

"If I didn't know who it was why would I be calling?" Mozzie asked on the other end of the line.

"Mozzie this isn't a good time," Peter said tiredly.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Suit. Would you like me to wait? Will it be a better time when Neal is DEAD?" he replied sarcastically.

Mozzie was shocked that the suit seemed to have little regard to the fact that he was Neal's best friend. He had known Neal for forever and the suit expected him to just sit on the sidelines? Not going to happen.

"What do you want?" Peter asked finally.

"I want to know what Grey wants, same as you. I can't believe it but we are on the same side here. I have a few ideas and would check them out myself but the FBI seems to be tighter on security than it was about a year ago. Trying to cover something up, no doubt."

"What are your ideas then Mozzie?" Peter asked curious, choosing tactfully to ignore the last comment about security and cover-ups.

"Well I did manage to get a copy of Grey's entire file, no I will not tell you how, and if you look at something other than the obvious rape and murder cases you've been looking at you would know that about six months ago the FBI confiscated a very expensive watch of his.

"I did a little digging, am I really having this conversation with a suit?, and found that the watch contained, this according to HIS computer not the FBI's, a file of some sort that was very important to him. I don't know what was on it though. Any way this watch is now in possession of one Peter Burke." Mozzie heard Peter draw in a long breath on the other side of the phone.

"The watch from the evidence locker?"

"That's the one," why didn't Mozzie feel good about this?

"I sold it on ebay weeks ago."

Meanwhile

Neal woke up again in the small room he had been in the first time he woke up. He decided this would be where they would be keeping him and was surprised to find he was somewhat relieved. Inside the cell his hands weren't tied and no one came to hurt him it seemed. He still felt jittery from the picana. Peter so owed him a month off after this.

He giggled at the fact that he was thinking something like that at a time like this. It was true though! His mind wasn't focusing on one thing and kept drifting to things he hadn't though about in years.

Suddenly he was back at his mothers Funeral.

He stood to the side as the coffin was lowered into the ground. People in black surrounded him. He was one of them. The headstone wasn't real though. No, this was all a game. Any minute she would jump out at him and they would laugh because it all had to be a joke. She couldn't be dead. No. NO! NO! Sobs racked his body. A strong hand came down onto his shoulder. Neal's father's eyes were red but he wasn't crying anymore. Neal had heard him crying all last night. He didn't have any tears left to cry.

The final shovel of dirt was added to the pile on top of the coffin and Neal knew it was final. There was no chance that she wasn't dead. Really he had known all along, the chance of this being a joke of his mother's had been minuscule, if she had liked this kind of joke, if she had been that cruel. Neal heard his father let out a weak sob.

"Come on Neal. Let's go back to the house," it didn't escape Neal that his father called it the house, not our house, not home, only the house.

Neal jolted back into reality and realized he had been nodding off again. His mind still wouldn't focus though and he could swear that that was his mother over in the corner there.

Neal, she called, Neal!

"Mom? Mom what are you doing here?" he replied groggily

Neal, you can't let them break you. You have to be strong.

"I have been strong Mom! I've been being strong since you died!" suddenly he was angry at her, "Dad went off and drank himself into oblivion and I had to take care of him! Thank god he wasn't an angry drunk! I was always the one to take the flowers to your grave, clean up around the house, make money! Why do you even think I started conning people? Yeah later it was the thrill, once I had money and dad had passed away, but at first it was just so that Dad and I could stay alive after you left us! You left us!" Neal felt tears leave a trail of burning fire on his face.

Neal you have to be strong, remember that you were strong before and be strong again. Please Neal. For Peter and Elizabeth and Mozzie and Kate!

"Kate's dead mom. She's dead."

Oh, Neal.

"Go away."

The hallucination of his mother faded. Neal knew she was a hallucination and that that was a bad sign, but she was still right.

He had to be strong. Be strong and hope that Peter could find him. After all, he had been strong before.