((Warning: Beating, implied rape, and many twists and turns this chapter is rated M))

Chapter 7: Rescue

Peter moved over to Neal making sure he was staying in the same spot "Neal… it's me Peter, I'm so sorry that I took so long to get here. It's going to be all right. I'm going to win that poker game and get you back home." Peter whispered trying to get some light back in his friend's eyes.

Neal looked at Peter "You're not Peter; Peter would have come for me weeks ago and taken me home by now."Neal said in a monotone voice. "Colin said the reason that Peter never came for me was because I was just a work release con and that he wasn't friends with just some person he was forced to be close to." He added as fresh tears sprung up.

"I've had dreams like this before, though never this detailed…" Neal said turning around and walking over to Colin even though he had been told to stay in that spot. "Sir… may I be allowed to go upstairs early?" He asked knowing that Colin would be upset that he moved from his spot.

Colin looked at his pet "You really are breaking all the rules tonight; I don't know what's gotten into you lately. No matter you're going to stay with me. You never know when someone might try to take advantage of you, remember I'm the only one that cares about you Baby" Colin said smirking as he led Neal to the other side of the ballroom to speak with some of the other guests.

Peter sighed as he watched Neal follow closely behind Colin. He's been pretty brainwashed by this guy into thinking that I would abandon him. So if Neal thinks I'm not me then it looks like Alex is going to have to try her hand and getting him to snap out of this. Peter thought as he found her looking at the paintings on the wall. "Don't even think about it, if you get busted for stealing then we're both in trouble." He said looking at the painting.

Alex gave a defeated sigh "I know but it's an original and worth a small fortune, but enough about that how did your wager with Traux go? Did he accept, I saw you talking to Neal after did he recognize you?" She asked

"He accepted the wager I gave him, and our fear about Neal was correct he's been heavily brainwashed into thinking that I wasn't coming for him ever. Right now he still thinks you're dead so take it easy when you talk to him and tell him how you and Mozzie planned your death behind his back and let him suffer." Peter said in a reprimanding tone. Alex looked at her friend across the room. "I'll go easy we don't need him flipping out and blowing our cover." Alex remarked keeping her eyes on Neal.


Neal drifted in and out of the conversation that Colin was having, after a moment he sighed and looked over his shoulder at Peter and Alex. They keep watching me, why do they keep looking at me. Neal thought as he turned "I'll go check on dinner, it would only be fair so you can greet all the guests. I promise to be back in ten minutes sir." Neal said in a soft voice as he bowed his head and waited for Colin to give approval. Once he was granted permission Neal walked out of the ballroom and down the long hallway to the kitchen. After speaking to the kitchen staff Neal stepped out of the kitchen to where Alex was waiting for him. "I've see you watching me with that guy, so are you going to claim to be another friend of mine?" Neal asked

Alex looked around and grabbed Neal by the arm and dragged him down the hall till they were all alone. "Neal… it's me Alex, Peter and I came here to rescue you, I know you don't believe him to be real and I know you think I'm dead and I'm sorry about that… I didn't mean for you to find me first." Alex said keep her voice down.

Turning his eyes away from Alex Neal looked out the small window beside him. "Next you're going to tell me that Mozzie is dressed like one of the butlers and Elizabeth is a drink server." Neal said trying to walk past Alex.

"You're not going anywhere, you're going to stand there and listen to me until you realize that is may have taken a while but you're going home I promise." She said talking Neal's hand in hers. He looked down at his hand. "My dreams never felt this real…so you really are here to bring me back, but how did you get here this was an invitation only party." Neal remarked he knew he still had time.

Alex nodded her head a bit "Someone here is an undercover Interpol agent they gave the invitation to their handler and it was hand delivered to Peter's house, after that it took a few weeks to get the paperwork to go through to prove you didn't leave of your own free will and Peter had to get the FBI to release your real passport." Alex said keeping her voice down.

"Tell Peter that we can't have contact anymore or Colin will get suspicious, also Colin has been practicing for the last few weeks he's determined to win this tournament." Neal said as he glanced around for any eavesdroppers.

Neal pulled away after a moment "I have to go my ten minutes are almost up. Just remember that Colin hates to lose even if he's upset with me he doesn't want to lose me just yet" Neal added as he walked away and took his spot beside Colin.

"Two minutes to spare, what took you so long?" Colin asked looking at his pet; right away he noticed a change in his attitude. He hasn't been happy like this since he got here; maybe he thinks if he's taken away by Edison that being back in the states he'll be able to escape again. Colin thought as he watched Neal avoid his gaze. "Dinner will be ready shortly and the dining room tables are set the way you wanted" Neal reported as his mind began to drift again.


As dinner ended Neal stood up as Colin did he looked at the guests and met Peter and Alex's eyes. Colin looked at all of his guests and smiled "Now I would like to invite you all back into the ballroom for the beginning of my third annual poker tournament." Colin said as he watched his guests rising from the table and walking toward the ballroom.

Neal walked over to the window and sat on the ledge and watched as the guests sat at their pre arranged tables. Now I wish I stole something to eat when I was in the kitchen before, I can still smell what's left of dinner and it's making it worse. Neal thought as he fidgeted on his seat. He watched the staff walking around serving drinks, Neal watched as Colin downed his second drink of the night. Depending on how this night goes I need to be careful with Colin and his drinking. Neal commented in his mind knowing that when Colin drank too much that it wasn't a good thing.

Colin spoke with the guests at his table and played cards, as he placed his bets he watched his men walking around the room watching for cheaters and to make sure that his pet stayed put for once.

Soon the tournament began, Neal watched as chips were tossed into the pot and drinks were poured. Does Peter even know how to play poker? Neal questioned as he tried to keep his mind off his empty stomach. The multiple conversations going on were starting to get to Neal. After a moment of readjusting himself on the ledge to be comfortable Neal watched Mari across the room keeping records of the winners and losers of the game.

Peter seems to be doing quite well, I thought he was terrible at poker, he must have practiced though maybe it helps that Alex is in that dress it keeps a lot of the men too busy. Neal thought as he looked at Colin's table and saw the older man wasn't doing so well. Making sure to wait till he was blocked from Colin's view Neal waves a server over and grabbed the young man by the arm. "Bring me something small but filling, I haven't eaten in days, I swear I won't tell" Neal whispered using his charms to plead for food.

The server nodded and made his way to the kitchen and came back with a napkin wrapped over a couple triangle turkey sandwiches. Neal smiled and grabbed the sandwiches and ate them quickly. Motioning for the food to keep coming Neal started to feel fuller and smiled.

Looking up from his poker hand Colin saw Neal speaking to one of the servers, looking back at his hand he saw it was a lost cause, after a moment he folded and excused himself for a moment and made his way over to Neal. The ex con swallowed the remnants of the sandwich before his owner crossed the room.

"You were eating without permission Baby you know what that means" Colin said grabbing Neal by his hair and dragging him out of the ballroom. Looking to the side Neal could see Peter watching him with a worried look.

As they made their way upstairs Neal noticed two guards had flanked them and walked up the stairs with them. Colin walked into the master bedroom dragging his pet behind and throwing him onto the bed. "You two are ordered to keep him right there if he moves then beat him but keep him breathing. I'll be back in two hours after the first game. Now stay there Baby" Colin said rubbing his thumb against Neal's cheek before leaving the room and heading back to the poker game.

Neal looked at the two goons watching him and sighed as he sat up on the bed making sure that he didn't move from the bed. Two hours alone in a room with two guards who have been clearly been drinking. Neal thought as he looked at the two men once more before moving to the edge of the bed and putting his feet on the floor. "I'm going to change, Colin said I couldn't leave the room not that I couldn't change my clothes" Neal said as he stood up facing Colin's right hand man and tried to con his way into getting what he needed.

"Mr. Traux said you were to stay put, you don't like to listen to him do you, and now you think you can order us around. Maybe we should train you better." Tony said as he moved forward and grabbed Neal by the throat and pushed him back onto the bed, and using his own legs Tony pinned Neal's against the side of the bed so he couldn't move.

Right away Neal could feel his terror rise to the surface as he tried to pull away from the man that had him pinned against the bed "You were told to keep me on the bed not to attack me" Neal pointed out as he felt the hand on his neck get tighter. Neal reached for anything he could use as a weapon. When he couldn't wrap his hand around anything he used his fist to punch his attacker in the head and face.

Tony snarled and released Neal's throat and punched the ex con in the face causing Neal to wince in pain as his cheek throbbed with pain. "You hit me again and I'll break your face so badly no one will want you," Tony hissed as he motioned with his head for the other guard to leave the room.

Neal whimpered in pain as he grabbed the sheets and tried to pull himself free. Using as much strength as he could Neal pulled his bruising legs from under Tony as far as he could. "Where the hell do you think you're going?" Tony asked as he flipped Neal onto his stomach and held him down and smirked.

Digging his nails into Neal's thigh Tony pulled his hand up slowly cutting Neal's thigh and making him cry out. Neal struggled under the weight of the hand on his shoulder that was holding him down. Chuckling loudly Tony slowly released Neal's thigh and ran his hand up Neal's leg. "You better not say a thing to Colin; it's your fault when you're dressed like that" Tony hissed as Neal whimpered louder.


Colin watched the other contestants drop like flies, when he looked across the room at Peter he saw the pile of poker chips beside him. It looks like he really is a good player; it looks like my Baby might have a new owner soon from the looks of it. Although it doesn't really matter Neal is really becoming a pain. I should check on him soon though. Colin thought as he shelled a few hundred in chips.

Peter looked up when he got the feeling someone was watching him and saw Colin looking at him. He's been watching me since he brought Neal upstairs, I need to find Neal and make sure he's alright. Alex is across the room gathering information from the other women who aren't playing. I need to get word to her so she can go find Neal and make sure he's all right. Peter thought as rubbed the side of his nose hoping Alex saw it and knew the meaning.

Watching Peter for any signs from she saw the sign and excused her-self to use the restroom. Moving up the stairs to her and Peter's room she looked behind her to see if she was being followed. When she was sure she was alone she made her way toward the master bedroom. Before turning the corner Alex grabbed a small candle stick and held it behind her back as she walked up to the man standing guard by the door.

"Excuse me but I'm lost again, this is just such a big place, can you show me how to get to the south wing?" Alex asked with a very charming smile. The man nodded and walked past Alex and began walking to the corner when they were near the small closet Alex struck the man with the candlestick and dragged him into the closet as best she could. When she was sure he was in she shut the door and made her way back to the bedroom at the end of the hall.

Alex took a deep breath and gripped the candle stick tightly in her hand as she slid into the master bedroom silently. Right away she saw Neal pinned under the burly guard. Hold on Neal. Moving behind the bed Alex held up the candle stick and stuck him on the back of the head.

Dragging himself off the bed Neal curled up into a ball on the floor and put his arms around his legs. Alex crouched down and looked at her friend. "Neal you have to get up I'm going to take you to my room." She said helping Neal to his feet and letting him lean on her as she helped him out of the master bedroom.

As soon as they crossed the threshold of the room Alex and Peter were sharing Neal felt his self control shatter. "I want to go back home now, I want to go home right now" Neal cried as he fell to his knees. Alex helped Neal to the bed and let him crawl under the heavy comforter.

"Neal, don't worry Peter will be will be up here shortly after the game is over tonight" Alex said as she sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed Neal's back in small circles. Watching Neal's prone form Alex started to hum the music from the amber music box that Neal had searched for. He's a wreck now, Peter is not going to like this, and this could blow our cover if he goes after Colin for this. Alex thought as she kept rubbing Neal's back until she was sure he was asleep.


Peter watched the staircase for Alex's return, after forty minutes he began to worry. Not wanting to blow his cover Peter stayed seated and played through his worry. Only an hour and a half left before I can go look for Neal. Peter thought. As the last hands were put down and the chips collected the remaining players sighed in relief that they were still in the running for the next day.

Colin looked at the ranking chart on the wall and saw he was not in the top ten. After collecting his winnings for the evening he made his way upstairs to see his pet. As he turned the corner Colin saw one of his men rubbing the back of his head and started to stand up. Not bothering to listen to the man's explanation Colin rushed into the master bedroom and found his right hand man unconscious on the floor.

Letting his anger get the best of him Colin kicked the man in the arm until he woke up. "Where the hell is Neal and why are you in this position?" Colin growled out looking around the room for evidence of where Neal could be.

"I don't know, he got away from me, all I was doing was teaching him to behave…" Tony said as he fixed himself before standing up and rubbing the back of his head as it still bled a bit. "I apologize for my actions sir I had too much to drink but that tramp was asking for it." Tony said as he sat on the bed.

Giving a wicked smile Colin looked at his right hand man he before looking around the room "Tony, why don't you join me out on the balcony for a moment," Colin requested as he walked outside, Once he stepped out onto the balcony he slipped a small caliber handgun out of its holster and kept it hidden behind his back as Tony walked over by the railing. A cool breeze off the ocean blew the leaves of the trees all around them carrying the salted air into the mansion.

"I never gave you permission to touch my pet no matter how he was dressed," Colin smirked "You gave me many wonderful years, but I don't take others touching my property very well. I never really learned how to share well with others as a child," Colin remarked as he pointed his gun at Tony. Realizing that his life was in danger Tony jumped over the railing and landed on the ground below ignoring the throbbing pain in his legs. Not wanting to look behind him Tony began to run for the beach.

Colin pointed his gun at Tony and pulled the trigger, when he saw his former right hand man fall into the dirt. It's a shame he was a good man but he crossed the line, Colin thought as he walked back into his bedroom. As he looked around the room for clues Colin thought back as he tried to come up with any idea where Neal could have run off too.


After a few minutes it dawned on him where his pet would be. Colin left his room and came face to face with Peter. "So you've returned to the scene of the crime, my pet has gone missing and I noticed your girlfriend leave the ballroom so I know you have some idea of where my pet is hiding." Colin said his gun still in hand. "I want you to take me to him….NOW!" Colin ordered as he slowly brought his gun up to train on Peter.

Peter held up his hands with protest. "Hey, don't be pointing that thing at me; I was going to my room when I heard a gunshot and came to investigate. And when I enter I find you with a gun in your hand accusing me of stealing your pet," Peter cried indignantly.

Colin lowered the gun as Peter's words made sense to him. "I apologize, but I have just learned of a possible rape of my pet by one of my guards; I've got to find Baby and see if he was hurt. The gunshot you heard was of me chasing the guard off the property. It's amazing what one little gunshot do to can make quick work of a pain. We won't have any trouble from him again." Colin said with a smirk.

Peter tried to keep his emotions at bay at the mention of rape and Neal but it was an effort. "Your pet and my wager might have been raped…and even if he wasn't that type of experience might take him right over the edge. I'm willing to keep him as a wager, but you have got to sweeten the deal a bit since he might as well be considered damaged goods," Peter said as he kept the emotion from his voice and treated this all as a business deal.

The fact that Peter didn't show any emotion as he talked about Neal as a thing and not a person brought Colin to ease and he holstered his gun at once. "I think something can be arranged…what did you have in mind?"Colin asked. Peter thought for a moment as they walked out of the room "what about a partnership in your black market business…that way you could still be able to visit your pet whenever you liked." Peter said with a warm conning smile. Colin smiled "Done…I would be part owners in Baby as much as you are in my business," He said as he shook Peter's hand.

"Now all we have to do is find Baby and see what medical aid he needs," Colin said with concern, but Peter knew that the concern only went as far as what he could get out of Neal then true concern for him.

"We can split up," suggest Peter. "You search this end of the mansion," pointing away from his room, "and I'll search the other end…" Peter said as he began to walk away from Colin's side. Colin agreed and went off to search for his missing pet while Peter waited a few minutes to make sure Colin didn't look back before he ran towards his. Peter made a beeline to his room and opened the door.


Alex jumped at the sudden opening of the bedroom door. "Peter, you scared me half to death, we have to make that call to the waiting agents on the boat. Neal needs to get out of here now," Alex said as she tried to get up from the bed only to feel Neal hold onto her arm still.

"It's okay Neal I'm just going to talk to Peter" she said comforting her friend enough to get him to let her go, and once she was free she pulled Peter across the room "We have to call in the back up right now because Neal isn't going to be able to sneak out without breaking down. It was a miracle that I got him into this room before he broke down." Alex whispered as she took another glance at Neal's curled form. "All right I'll make the call" Peter said as he walked over to the window and looked out at the small boat in the distance.

Neal whimpered and looked over the edge of the blankets at his partner. "Peter… I want to go home now; if Colin finds me in here he's going to beat me and he'll hurt you" Neal said as he hugged the pillow his face hidden behind the pillow. Peter moved over to the bed and sat down beside Neal "We're going to get you home soon the Interpol agents will be here as soon as I call them. I know you're going to want to change before they get here. I'll let you borrow some of my sweatpants, now I know you want to go home right away Neal but first we have to make a stop in Rome." Peter said softly as he looked at his friend.

"I don't want to go to Rome, I just want to go home Peter… I've been here for a month I'm sick of Italy." Neal said softly as Alex walked over with the sweatpants from Peter's overnight bag. She gave him a small smile as he took the pants from her. Just as he pulled the pants closer there was a loud knock on the door. Freezing in mid reach Neal hid under the blankets. Alex rushed over to the door "Yes can I help you?" She asked as she pulled the door open a bit.

A young woman carrying a small pile of towels smiled at Alex "I'm here to bring you some fresh towels. Ms. Hunter… I also need to speak with Mr. Edison." The woman said as she pushed her way into the room. "Sorry I took so long to get here" she apologized as she walked around the room with a small device to scan for bugs. When she found them she made sure to cover them before turning to Peter with a smile.

"It's such a lovely day today…" She said making small talk. Alex walked over and looked at the woman "Excuse me, but who are you?" Alex asked looking at the woman dressed like a maid. With a small laugh the woman turned to Alex "Margret O'Malley at your service, I'm an undercover agent for Interpol and you are Alexandra Hunter; black market buyer and seller, you are also supposed to be dead. Now I've contacted my superiors and they will be on the island in an hour while Colin's men take the first round of losers from the poker game back to the mainland." She said smiling.