Chapter seven: Brotherly.
After Guinevere took a quick shower she left quickly. Neal found it strange but didn't question her. She was quiet. Neal sat at his desk and Guinevere was sitting on the stairs with one of Neal's sketch pads, looking up every once and a while at him, but them quickly back down at the paper.
He could tell she was waiting for something but she wasn't talking. She would shrug her shoulders or give a one word answer. Guinevere would look over her shoulder to Peter's office but turned back to the sketch pad.
Peter told them that they were both off the case. If they went anywhere Peter was suppose to be with them. They weren't aloud to leave the building with out an agent and an agent was suppose to stay with them at their houses and apartments.
Peter was waiting for someone to tell him anything about Julian Larson. He wanted to find this guy badly. He was sure to find Neal sooner rather then later and Peter wanted him sooner. Peter could see Neal sitting at the desk, board and Guinevere by herself on the stairs.
Jones got Peter all the files that he could find on Guinevere. He started looking through it and was amazed at how normal she seemed. Grew up in what seemed like a happy house hold. Father was a mechanic, mother worked with special needs kids. Did a lot of volunteering and charity with her brother and sister. She went to medical school for two years after high school.
But for the last six years she seemed to be a ghost except for the warrant and being wanted for questioning in several different thefts. He was surprised to read that most things were guarded with locks that even the most skilled locksmith couldn't break.
It was getting late and Peter was going to bring them home, He decided to bring them to his house, like El said. After hours of sitting around the office Peter grabbed his coat, his and Guinevere's car keys and walked into the main lobby.
"It's time to go home for the night," Peter stated. Guinevere went to grab her keys but Peter lifted them out of reach. "You're both staying with me." He stated. Guinevere laughed.
"Yeah right," She smiled. "Give me my keys." She said reaching for them again but she couldn't reach them.
"I'm serious," Peter said sternly. "I packed you a bag last night." He said to Neal. "This is the safest thing to do." He stated.
"So can I at least drive my car?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest.
"I want you fallowing at least three seconds behind me or you're going to jail!" He threatened.
"Of course, Captain." She said sarcastically. Peter turned annoyed and began to walk.
"Guinevere, lay off a little." Neal said about her bad attitude. She shook her head.
"The things you don't know, Neal." She answered.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Neal question.
"Nothing." Guinevere said breaking eye contact first.
"Let's go!" Peter yelled.
Peter kept glancing in the review mirror to see Guinevere's car. He was done with playing games. When lives start being at risk it's not a game anymore, he thought to himself. Neal sat next to him quietly, starring out the window.
"Your friends a real piece of work." Peter said. Neal smiled.
"She's always been complicated," Neal answered. "She hated me when Kate first introduced us." Peter looked to Neal with a smirk.
"Wasn't a fan of your charm?" He asked raising an eyebrow. Neal just sighed.
"No." Neal explained. "The way she acts now is way better then when I first met her. She would've sold me for the right price." He said with a laugh.
"What changed?" Peter asked.
"Her brother died," Neal said sadly. "Criminals aren't very family associated." He said truthfully. "Her brother stayed in contact with her, even took her in when she needed. He died in New York and ran to me and Kate." He said. "Kate said that's the closest she'd ever had to a sister and I guess it is for me too. Her and Kate would laugh about nothing and talk on the phone for hours. I started teasing her and she would tease back."
"So," Peter said quickly glancing at Neal. "She's better?" He questioned. Neal looked at him with a smile.
"The last time I saw her was before I went to jail," He started. "She needed me to copy something for her..." Peter interrupted.
"Forge?" Peter said raising an eyebrow and looking in the review mirror.
"No, just a copy," Neal corrected. "She actually thanked me!" He said surprised, just like he was when those words. "She's just Guinevere. She doesn't stay in places very long because she doesn't like being attached, she doesn't hold on to anything very long. She may stumble but she picks herself up and keeps running." Neal stated.
"She's attached to you," Peter pointed out. "I honestly don't expect that tracker to stay on her ankle very long. I went through her files, some of the cases she's been linked to, I would love to know how to got into safes." Peter stated pulling into his driveway.
"Me too," Neal said shrugging his shoulders. "If she even did it at all, that is." Neal said getting out of the car. Guinevere parked in front of the house and watched the two get out of the car before doing the same.
Her cell phone was in her hands. She took a deep breath and fallowed them into the house. Peter knew that El was in bed so he made she that they were all quiet.
"There's a guest room upstairs," Peter said. "I'll go get some blankets and a pillow for the couch." He said walking up the stairs.
"You take the guest room." Guinevere said sitting on the couch looking at her phone. Neal looked at her curiously.
"Waiting for a special call?" He asked. She looked up at him covering the phone with her hand.
"I have twenty missed calls, just within these last couple days." She stated.
"All different clients?" Neal asked silently. Guinevere nodded.
"I, um," She sat back and looked up at him. "I don't think I want to do this anymore." She said. "I'm thinking that when I'm done helping you, I'm leaving."
"You always leave." Neal said before he could stop himself. Guinevere turned her head away. "I didn't mean..."
"No, you're right," Guinevere sighed. "I was thinking France?" She said changing the subject, something else she was good at. Neal decided to play along too.
"I like England better." He said sitting down next to her. "You don't have to run if you don't want to and you don't have to steal. You can stay, make a home." She shook her head.
"I can't live here," She said sadly turning her head to look at him. "I hate this place, it reminds me of Ryan." Guinevere said saying her brother's name emotionless. "And you remind me of Ryan." Neal knew that she didn't mean that against him. "You act a lot like him."
"You better call," Neal said teasingly. Guinevere turned to him with a smile at his playful tone. "Everyday!" He said over emphasizing it leaning closer to her. Guinevere pushed him away playfully.
"Why would I want to call you everyday?" Guinevere went to stand up and Neal grabbed her arm pushing her into the couch. She tried to slip out but Neal quickly pined her down by her shoulders. "Oh my god! Get off!" She said with a laugh. "You really do remind me of my brother."
"Why?" Neal asked with a grin. "Because I always win?"
"No because your breath stinks!" She shoot back. Neal gave a mock hurt look. Guinevere swiftly turned Neal, quick enough that he didn't expect it and now she was pinning him down with a grin. "And easily distracted." She said proudly.
"Oh," Peter said then clearing his throat. "Am I interrupting something?" Guinevere turned her head and Neal sat up and looked over the couch to see Peter standing on the stairs holding some blanket and a pillow and El was behind him. Guinevere and Neal looked at each other.
"You always get me in trouble." Guinevere said sitting to the side of Neal, who stayed laying down.
"I have that effect," Neal answered. "I get myself in trouble too." Guinevere shook her head.
"Here's the blankets for the couch." El said taking them from her husband and giving them to Neal. "Would you like me to show you the guest room, Guinevere?" She asked.
"Thank you, but, Neal's going to take it." She said and shook his head.
"No." He said.
"Yeah, you..." Guinevere started but Neal quickly stood up and threw her over him shoulder and started heading up the stairs. "This isn't fair!"
"It's not suppose to be, Gwen." He said tossing her onto the bed. "Goodnight." He said turning to leave. Before he walked out the door he asked "You trust me, don't you Guinevere?" He questioned her suddenly. She sat up indian style and nodded.
"I guess so." She answered.
"Well, you don't regret meeting me right?" He asked raising an eyebrow looking at her.
"Everyday." She teased. Neal smiled turning around and shutting the light off. Guinevere watched the door close. She began examining the tracker. Within minutes she took a few different tools out of her bag. The tracker popped off, she looked at it and placed it back on her ankle. "I'm such an idiot." She said to herself angrily.
