Hey! Here is chapter 7!

I didn't really like it a few hours ago but now I do and I can't really take credit for it! I got a lot of help from ButtermilkCavalry! Thank you very very much! I was kinda blocked on this chapter and you gave me some great advice!

I hope you'll all like it! Please tell me what you think!

Peter didn't really care about the road during his ride to the prison. He couldn't stop thinking about the last time he had seen Neal, one week before. Peter had spent all week reliving that moment, seeing Neal's face when he had told him he wasn't gonna get out yet. The con man had been so disappointed... Peter had felt guilty then and even more now. He couldn't find any good reason for not seeing his friend during this whole week. He had even had a fight with El about it. Although Peter had tried to minimize Neal's pain, his wife had been worried sick about the young con artist and had went to visit him behind Peter's back. When the agent had gotten home that night he had found her on the couch, crying.

"Hey honey, what's the matter?" Peter tried while sitting next to her.

She turned a tired face to him and whispered "How can you leave him there?".

Peter had frowned first, then it had hit him "You went to see Neal?". He put an arm on her shoulders, pulling her closer.

She cuddled up to him, still crying and shook her head.

"Neal? I don't know… More like a shadow of Neal. You… You shoud've seen him, Peter. He was limping, he had bruises all over his face and God knows where else.. I intended to see Neal, but all I saw was a stranger." She suddenly looked up to him and her eyes bore a silent reproach. "You're an FBI agent, how can you leave him in that hell? There has to be something you can do… or are your friends' badges just good looking accessories?"

"El...", Peter started. He didn't know what to say. She was being unfair but he understood her, he felt the same way; what was the interest of having FBI friends if they couldn't even get Neal out? "I'm doing everything I can honey..."

She sat back on the couch. "I know, I'm sorry... It's just... He's hurt Peter... We can't leave him there..."

Peter hugged his wife tightly. "I know... I know."

~o~o~

Peter parked his car right in front of the prison. He was afraid Neal wouldn't even agree to see him. The agent closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose so hard it almost hurt, he just wanted his thoughts to stop spinning. He had to go. He had to see Neal. That's what mattered. Peter finally got out of the car and walked toward the prison. His stomach twisted into a knot and every step made it harder for him to breathe. He was afraid that Neal would be in worse shape than the last time he had seen him, even if he didn't want to think about this possibility. He didn't want to imagine but his brain refused to stop showinghim images of Neal in a pool of blood.

The agent finally arrived at the visiting room. There was a guard behind him who motioned him to sit down and wait. Peter did so, trying to focus on something else than Neal's shape for what seemed like forever.

Almost an hour later, the door finally opened and Neal stepped in, a guard holding him upright. Peter let out a soft gasp. Neal was a mess. His face was bruised, his suit was soaked in blood and his hands never stopped shaking. But what worried Peter most was the man's behavior. Neal's shoulder were slumped, he walked carefully, and not just because he was limping. It seemed as if he was afraid of everything around him and like an overcautious animal he even watched the floor right under his feet. And there were his eyes. Neal's eyes didn't look at Peter or at anything else for that matter. He didn't seem to be able to focus on one thing alone, his gaze constantly straying over the room. At the same time they were dull and missing their usual glimmer. The guard guided Neal to the bench in front of Peter and the con man sat down quietly, still avoiding to look at Peter. When the guard finally left and closed the door Neal just let out a soft "Hey".

"Neal?", Peter tried to get Neal's attention, but the con man didn't move. The agent started to get worried.

"Yeah?", Neal finally drawled. He tried to smile but his hurt face only allowed him to make a weird grin. Peter got up. He just wanted to get to his friend, giving him just a little bit of comfort.

"Don't!", Neal shouted. "Don't come near me Peter.", he said with a softer voice, finally raising his head.

The agent took the time to look at his face now and it was not only bruised, his lower lip was still bleeding. "They just did this to you", he said.

"When they saw your name on the visitor list they thought I had talked to you..." Neal answered simply. "I think it's better to stay as distant as possible... I said you were coming out of professional reasons."

"Neal..." Peter started, not knowing what to say next. It was so hard to see his friend hurt and not being able to do anything about it. The agent sat back and slightly touched Neal's hand; "I'm sorry Neal.", he said softly.

The young man jerked back, still trying to avoid Peter's gaze "Don't touch me Peter. Please." He seemed so close to his breaking point and Peter didn't know what to do.

"Okay, I'm sorry.", Peter started, as casually as possible. "I came to tell you that I tried everything I could to get you out but you won't be free for almost two weeks more. Eleven days, Neal, that's all… You only have to make it through eleven days. I'm sorry, Neal.

Neal simply nodded. "It's okay." The con man closed his eyes for just a moment and Peter wondered if his friend was blinking away tears. When Neal started talking again his voice was husky, almost broken. "Don't worry, Peter. It's not as if I'm your responsibility, right?"

Peter could see that his friend was trying very hard to keep a strong facade but when he looked more closely he realized something was kinda off. Neal was still avoiding his gaze and the con man shrugged slightly every now and then, obviously embarrassed by something that Peter didn't get. And then it hit him. Red eyes, shaking hands... When he added those symptoms to the weird way Neal was acting he could only think about one thing and he didn't want to.

"Neal?", Peter started in disbelief, "Did you take something?"

"I think I should go." Neal answered, straightening up.

"Neal! Answer me!" Peter shouted. He knew he already had his answer but didn't want to believe it. Neal was already at the door, knocking to call a guard when Peter got up. The con didn't look back and when the door opened he just left without another word.

"NEAL!", Peter called one last time but he didn't get any answer and the door just closed in front of him. Neal was gone.

Thank you for reading! Please leave a little review. I'd love to know what you think/want/hope... Pretty pretty please!