(Chapter 8)
Neal is only just conscious, something pungent waved under his nose and making him wake up if only a little bit. He's still sweaty, face hot, body cold but he can't move. He struggles but soon realizes that something is holding him down as he gives a weak groan.
"Ah, you're awake. I had hoped to do this with less chance of getting caught but for now, we're safe. Give him the injection."
Ambassador Gravan is standing off to his right, two other burly men he thinks he should know are on either side, one with a large needle. Neal tries to resist, pulling at his bindings but the fever keeps him from doing much as they push the needle into his arm and he can feel the effects within seconds. The con starts to relax, his body limp as his head slumps back against the cold table he lays on, eyes move loosely in their sockets and he sees only a hint of where he's in: The Morgue. Part of him screams that he's in danger but the fever and drugs make him too listless to react to the warning as he glances into green eyes now hovering close to his face. Bright white teeth smile back at him.
"Tell me, Anatole or do you prefer Neal..."
The voice is quiet, calm and almost hypnotic but there's danger in it as Neal nods and feels a smile on his lips. He's reacting as the drug makes him sleepy.
"N... Nee... awl..."
The man nods at him, face blurry but for that bright cold smile and green eyes. He's seen this man before his mind trying to remember where but the thoughts slip through like grains of sand through his fingers.
"Good. Tell me where the statues are. Remember... they were golden in an ornate box with an urn."
The voice speaks slowly, eloquently enough so that it sort of has almost a poetic sing song rhythm that makes him want to remember, to answer...
"Statues... water..."
He's resisting or the memory is, he's not sure as Neal tries to answer. Someone grasps his chin and he finds himself trapped in a stare with those green eyes, they remind him of the water in Greece where he met this person before. He can't quite recall when...
"What water, Neal. Tell me where you hid the statues and then you can rest."
The voice is echoing in his head, eyes staring deeply into green depths and slowly the memory starts to form. He's cuffed in the basement of the place they had been staying in. Neal is alone but he hears voices overhead, speaking and then a door shut and they're more muffled. He's tired, something keeping him from moving much but he knows he has to get out of there. There's something he has to do.
Tunnel... there's a tunnel here. Nobody knows... but me.
Good... go in the tunnel. Where is it?
Behind the pillar. Only those that know can move it.
I see...
Neal stops, looking up at those green eyes now, something wrong as he tries to figure out what exactly.
Tell me how we got out of there, Neal. Don't you remember? I thought you were the best.
Neal blinks at those eyes, falling back into the memory, nodding tiredly as he sees himself crawl over to the pillar with the box in hand. It's a miracle he's gotten himself that far, pulling himself up to his feet and pushing on the back of it, a crack evident.
So that's how you did it... I searched that room from top to bottom. Take care of him. We're flying back to Greece now.
Those green eyes are gone, Neal staring up at the blurry form disappearing into the distance, the other two men still around him as he tries to move but can't. He can just sense them lifting him up, the straps there before now gone as he's carried towards the wall. Why are they taking him there? His mind is confused, still trying to figure out what he had been remembering. Someone else had been in his dream... Kios.
"No..."
Neal starts to struggle but he's still too tired and drugged, the men lifting him up again as he feels a sting to his arm. He's still feverish but the drugs are overpowering him as he's placed on a cold metal slab that wobbles. Something is wrapping around him, a sound like a zipper. Those green eyes appear one last time.
"Good-bye, Anatole... Neal."
Suddenly the zipper is pulled over his face, there's plastic around him. Neal panics but he's too tired to scream, a low groan exiting his lips. He hears the slam of a door, all light gone as he's left alone in the darkness. He tries to move but the bag is stifling or maybe it's the fever and drugs. Neal finally slumps back, breath hitching as a wheeze escapes his lips. The air feels thin suddenly and cold.
Return... thief. You promised to return.
Neal is in the tunnel again at the hideout in Greece but she's there now.
Take it! It's yours. You know where it is now.
She shakes her head, hovering over him in the dark space. The box is beside him but she only looks at him. He feels something press against his lips and nose, something cold. Neal chokes, his air passages blocked as he tries to fight but can't. She's there with her hand over his face, it can be no one else. He's choking, drowning it feels like, a gurgling sound barely escaping his lips before the zipper is pulled back and someone gently pulls him from the bag.
"He's alive... I told you I heard something in here!"
The person is babbling, the voices a dull roar in the background as Neal tries to remain conscious but feels that pull back into the darkness. She's waiting for him but he's so tired he can't resist falling asleep. Memories flood back into his mind as he does. He knows what happened now even though he may not live to tell it.
()()()
Peter has a horrible headache when he awakes, coming to with a gasp. His eyes glance around the room but he's alone. He pulls at his right arm to rub sleepily at his eyes. He's missing something, any thought as to what makes his head ache more as he stops trying and lays back against the mattress again tiredly. He hears a quiet click of a door, turning to his left to see someone coming in, low voices.
"This is your idea? He's sleeping, Junior Suit."
The voice is familiar and he's curious why they are here, another figure a bit taller than the first behind them.
"Should I call Agent Barrigan to assist us?"
Jones, he definitely knows his voice. The other one is Mozzie. Their steps are quiet and the room dimly lit as they move closer, arguing softly.
"Is that a threat? Should I tell Lady Suit you're using her as your bluff?"
Peter is starting to grow tired of hearing them argue but there's a bit of humor in the situation despite his headache.
"I can hear you both just fine..."
There's a sudden hush in the room and Peter moved sleepily to turn on the light over the nightstand. Big mistake as he winces, headache officially worse.
"I told you this was a bad idea. Now he's cranky. I put all responsibility on this to your Junior Suit here..."
Peter watches Mozzie inch a bit backwards, Jones looking less than happy but not saying much as he holds up a hand and shuts them up.
"Why are you here... for that matter, who can tell me why I am here? I don't remember much."
Both Jones and Mozzie got quiet suddenly, more so than he would have expected for something he thought would be a simple question to answer. He heard them confer quietly before Jones moved up and took the lead.
"Peter... Do you remember that Caffrey was in the hospital?"
Jones seemed curious more than anything, Peter nodding although something about the memory made his head hurt.
"Yeah, I was visiting I think. Not sure... was this his room?"
Things were starting to come back but the more he tries to remember, the worse his headache becomes so he stopped. Jones nodded.
"Yes, this was Neal's room but something happened and someone drugged you."
The agent trailed off, looking at him expectantly but Peter had nothing to fill in the blanks with as he shook his head.
"They did? I... I just remember sitting watching Caffrey talking about something. He kept mentioning water."
Much as his memory was bad he still hadn't told anyone that Neal claimed to have been in on the original heist of the statues. If Gravan / Kios had anything to do with what was going on, he was going to protect Neal until he knew more about what had actually happened.
"Water? Uhm... not sure what that means, boss but Neal was taken. The cameras show some unidentifiable orderlies wheeling him away but we were hoping you remembered more."
Jones would have added something else but Mozzie cut in.
"So he mentioned water? Must be a location for... oh, nevermind. Forget I said anything. I was supposed to find out more about Kios. Since Neal's not here... Gravan IS Kios. His mother's name is on that water company you all were using. She's not actually an owner but he used her name as a cover for ownership."
Both agents turned and looked at him, Mozzie looking nervous as if he were under a spotlight. Peter was intrigued now.
"So, Gravan is Kios? Her name was Katsivales? Is that a maiden or married name? Jones, what did you find out?"
At least bits were coming back but they were from before the actual attack so that's probably why they were clearer in his head. The agent nodded.
"We found more or less the same info. Minerva went missing several years ago around the time of the original theft. There's no record of the theft apparently because the items were turned in. They were found legitimately by Gravan when he was in prep school... or so the records say. Mostly why it was such a great honor and how he got his in for the diplomatic spot."
Peter nodded, interested but still curious as to why he was drugged and Neal taken. His mind was still a bit off on some details as he rubbed at his temples and sighed.
"I can call the doctor if you want, Peter."
Jones was reaching for the nurse call as he gave a short nod and lay back against the mattress. He still felt pretty lousy from whatever they'd given him. Mozzie was staring at him and he knew why but Peter had no answers.
"So someone wheeled Neal away, after drugging me. When was this?"
He just threw the question out there, Jones answering.
"We found you just after 1 PM yesterday cuffed and unconscious. There was no sign of Caffrey but we got surveillance footage. No ID on the men yet or where they disappeared to. Some of the cameras were down for maintenance. I think they planned it that way. We'll find him, Peter."
Jones was trying to make him feel better but for now he just wanted to rest and wake up from this nightmare. He suddenly remembered Elizabeth, guilt falling over him for forgetting her in all the excitement. He had been gone longer than he planned, not that he could have predicted this.
"Elizabeth... how is she?"
He sat up a bit despite the headache, Jones already on his phone talking to someone as Mozzie answered him.
"She's fine. Worried about you and Neal."
Mozzie left it at that but it was obvious he had been worried about him too. Peter nodded, a bit of a smile curving his lips as he lay back again and closed his eyes. He heard echoes of voices, blurry faces before him and then a door closing.
"Suit?"
Peter opened up his eyes, Mozzie looking down at him worriedly.
"I'm fine. Thought I remembered something for a moment."
They both turned as Jones walked over with an excited look on his face. He was pulling the cell from his ear as he gave them both a look that made them think he'd won the lottery.
"They found Caffrey. He was... well, let's wait for the doctor and maybe we can all go there."
()()()
It didn't take long for Peter to get checked over. Tired as he was he wanted to see Neal if he could, Dr. Argas agreeing. He was also getting over a little bit of a bump of the head, mostly how the orderlies had gotten to both the agent and partner. He apologized profusely but it was obviously not his fault if someone hit him over the head. He had no involvement with what happened, surveillance proving the point, according to Jones and crew. So after a bit of discussion, Peter was wheeled to a room in the OR area. It was the most security they could offer when Neal had been found so that's where he lay, on a cot near one of the operating theaters. Peter stood and moved closer to the unconscious con, his friend looking still and pale as death despite the doctor saying he was doing better.
"He still has a fever but not quite so high now. If not for the toxins in his system, I might suggest an ice bath to help lower his temperatures but that would only allow the remaining poison to take hold further. We have him on a drip of antibiotics and some buffering agents for the toxins themselves. He still has a bit of a fight I'm afraid."
Peter nodded, the doctor leaving them as Jones and another agent stood outside as guard and Mozzie pulled up a stool. Everyone was better, even Samantha but Neal... why was he still sick?
"Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal. (South)"
The agent turned and looked at the con, curious why he would say such a quote but then it occurred to him. It fit Neal. He took things to heart and it bothered him that as much as he tried to do right, wrong would come out of it. This time, he wasn't the one at fault... technically.
"It's not his fault, Mozzie. Even..."
He wanted to say what he knew but didn't want to with the others around. Jones didn't need to know or the doctor. Mozzie put a hand on his shoulder and nodded in silent acknowledgement.
"He has to fight this on his own, Peter. Everyone has to fight these things on their own."
()()()
Neal thought he must be in Hell, watching the woman in the tunnel staring at him as he started to drown, the water covering him. No, she wasn't there. That was wrong. Neal had gone into the tunnel alone, the passage closing behind him as he stumbled almost drunkenly in the darkness, the heavy box in his arms. Then he felt the wetness rising around him and slowly he realized that the tunnel, his only means of escape was filled with water. It hadn't been the last time he was there, his drugged mind paralyzed as to what to do. He held onto the box but the water grew higher as he went ahead and finally he had to drop it, his nose filling with water as he took a large gulp of air and felt along the passage. It was entirely filled with water now and he wasn't sure he could make it, eyes seeing nothing but darkness and then a pull as the tide or something pushed him up and through another crack in the wall. There was a rushing of water now and he lay at the foot of a minor fall only underground where there had been no water before. He was soaked through, shivering but managed to find his way out and not far from the building he had been held in. He was free...
His eyes popped open, a hand gently pushing him back down as he tried to sit up. Brown eyes met his and slowly he felt a relief wash over him.
"Peter?"
Neal hugged his friend, Peter wrapping his arms around him as he clung to the man who had become both his friend and maybe a bit more: Family. It wasn't awkward, something making him glad to see the agent and know he was ok.
"Hey..."
Peter gently pulled away, both men holding onto the other's arms. There was a relief in his friend's eyes as Neal felt a smile curve his lips.
"I remember, Peter. I have to tell you what... I remember."
The agent nodded, holding up a hand as he looked back to see Jones and company still there. Much as he trusted his junior, this was still a very sensitive matter.
"Mozzie was here. We spoke. I found a picture of someone in Kios' file."
He left it open to interpretation, a confused look on Neal's face then a wide eyed expression that let him know he knew.
"I'm sorry, Peter. I have no reason to lie about what happened."
Neal would have gone on but Peter put a hand up telling him to be quiet.
"Later. Rest for now. Everyone's well. I'm told El was waiting to hear news about you. June stopped by. She said Samantha is doing better."
He felt a relief at those words and nodded, some of the pain and guilt leaving him but he had still been the cause of it all. It didn't make him feel better knowing he had done this. Peter put a hand on his forehead and smiled.
"Your fever is going down. Rest."
Neal tried to obey but he wanted to tell Peter everything now. He remembered what happened although the curse was still there to haunt him. Even with his epiphany, his fate was sealed. He would die but if he could return things to where they belonged... Gravan. He had made him tell. He had to let Peter know as he reached up and grabbed the agent's arm.
"Gravan... he knows. He made me tell where it was."
He left it at that, tired and exhausted from his experience. Neal felt the darkness still, that woman wrapping her cold arms around him and the feeling of drowning in her grasp. She would be back. Peter looked down at him worriedly then back at Jones. Mozzie had left for a bit to find out what had happened to Gravan / Kios as his own crew worked on what he had Jones pass along. Neal trusted them all to help him do the right thing.
"He's probably long gone by now if you told him... Neal, you're coming home with me. Ok? Hold on a moment."
()()()
It took some convincing of both doctors considering Neal had run away before. Peter swore it had been Neal's need to fix things that had made him run, Hughes showing up to put in his own two cents. It took some effort but finally everyone agreed, now that Neal was getting better and his blood work was looking better. They practically had a working hospital in the Burke home, one more patient wouldn't hurt, not to mention all the agents still watching them. Jones volunteered along with a few others to stay on just in case Gravan decided to come back.
"Peter... a word."
Reese pulled him aside, Neal asleep in the OR as he moved to talk to the older agent. He was asking a lot of his boss to trust him after everything but now that Gravan had been revealed, maybe things would go better.
"OPR isn't happy about this situation. They want Caffrey in a more secure facility but I am trusting you on this he won't run."
It was a question although it wasn't worded as such. Peter nodded back assuring Reese as the man put a hand on his shoulder. There was more, he could feel it.
"This isn't just about Neal running, is it Reese? You're afraid Gravan would come back after him if not myself? We have security on June and plenty at my place. All of Dr. Argas and Dr. Manus staff checked out; He's not coming after us... trust me."
Hughes gave him a look, eyebrow rising but took Peter at his word. It would be hard to explain more and make Caffrey's situation any better much less his own.
"Fine. Just be safe and let me know when you get home. I have Tanner to deal with and a few other details to iron out with OPR. I... I wasn't going to tell you this but, Angelos is dead. Mysterious circumstances but we're checking into it. Tanner is having a fit our only witness is gone to prove anything we found is true."
Reese ran a hand through his hair and look less than happy as he continued to whisper to him.
"The Greek Embassy says they don't know his whereabout and technically they don't have to tell us under international law. He's protected, criminal or not. They seemed surprised by what we told them but seem uncertain what to do until they figure things out for themselves. At least... that's what we've overheard through the wire. They aren't talking to us anymore."
Peter didn't know how to react, shocked as he turned and looked back at his friend and partner. Neal was sleeping for now but this wasn't good for any of them. Gravan was free, no idea where he could be other than some feverish ravings from Neal he hoped were true. He nodded to his boss, Reese squeezing his shoulder before turning to leave.
"Watch your back, Peter. I'll be in touch."
()()()
It wasn't until after Midnight that they left the hospital. Peter called El, telling her that he was fine and Neal was found. She was happy they were both ok and that Neal was good but mostly she missed him. Jones and company escorted them by SUV to his house, Neal curled up beside him in the backseat with a blanket and pillow. The agent was a bit worn out but he was just glad to be going home. He leaned back and slept some, his thoughts turning to a dark scene. Something felt off as the dream progressed and he saw that woman again. She was smiling coldly at him, dark eyes glittering at him in the darkness.
Who are you?
She just stared at him as if he hadn't spoken, a chill washing over him.
No matter what he's done... he deserves a second chance. Neal...
He couldn't finish, a cold hand around his neck as her face was suddenly before him, dark eyes staring into his.
You trust him?
Peter could only nod, no hesitation as she slowly let go and stared at him curiously. There were no words, the woman pointing at the water nearby. He hadn't noticed the shoreline until now as it slowly formed within the darkness. Something was washing up and down in the surf where her finger pointed. Peter moved closer to see what was there and blinked, eyes widening. He ran forward towards the figure in the surf, his arms pulling them from the water pale and still.
Neal?
The con didn't move, wet and cold in his arms as the surf hit against him. Peter shivered, shaking his friend and trying to wake him.
Neal!
Peter came to, glancing around and finally remembering he was going home. He turned to see Neal beside him on the seat still asleep although he was shifting slightly, a quiet murmur from his lips. He moved closer to pull the blanket over his friend and felt his forehead. It was still warm and beaded with sweat from what fever remained.
"No... take me."
Neal was having a nightmare, his face twisting up a bit as Peter gently squeezed his partner's shoulder. It was almost immediate, the younger man starting to relax and grow quieter until he was asleep again. Something about this whole incident, the case everything was starting to make Peter suspicious there hadn't been some kind of "curse" placed on his friend if not him. He thought about the origins of the item in question and sighed. In ancient times they would have thought as much but this was modern day. Curses didn't exist and Peter knew that.
"Boss..."
He glanced up as Jones peeked back at them, nodding at the agent before his eyes fell back to Caffrey.
"Yeah, Jones?"
He still felt tired but good he would be home soon, everyone safe and sound. Gravan was probably half a world away digging up whatever Neal had given him directions to. Much as that irked Peter he was glad it was over and Neal was safe. Past was the past even if he didn't know the details. He wanted to forgive Neal whatever he had done. The con had promised to tell him and he believed that but a part of him didn't want to know. The less he knew the better he could protect his friend but sometimes it was good to know what he was dealing with. He felt a struggle between the agent and friend in him and Agent Burke was giving him a pretty good run for the money why he should know.
"We'll be there soon. How's Caffrey doing?"
Peter nodded back, Jones smiling in relief. Everyone was worrying over their colleague and friend, Neal a part of their lives now. Even Jones with his no nonsense military background thought the con deserved his second chance. Hopefully that would happen and the next two years would go smoothly.
()()()
It was not much later they were home, Peter feeling like he hadn't been there in months even though it had barely been over 24 hours since the incident. It was Sunday now but early, lights on as Jones and himself supported the barely conscious Neal between them, Elise and Dr. Manus meeting them with two other RNs who helped lead the con upstairs to the guest room. Neal was set up with an IV, vitals checked before Peter felt he could leave his friend. Jon told him to go visit with his wife, he would watch Neal as Peter nodded and left. He closed the door to the guest room, walking to his own bedroom and quietly entering. An RN he didn't know was there, sitting in a chair by their bed, Elizabeth sleeping comfortably. She looked better, her face less pale than it had been when he left on Friday. Had it only been a day since then? The RN spoke to him quietly, telling him she was doing much better before leaving him alone. Peter was glad to be home, curling up beside his wife and kissing her on the forehead, her skin cool to the touch. He saw her smile and soon two blue eyes were staring up at him.
"Hey, Hun."
Her voice was raspy but she looked and sounded so much better than she had, Peter hugging her close as she wrapped her own arms around him and they kissed.
"Hey, Hun."
He just held onto her, lying beside his wife on the blanket, her arms around him as he felt exhaustion hit him. He still had some tiredness from the drugs he'd been given and now that he was able to relax, it hit him hard, El gently stroking his hair as he started to sleep. He was only conscious of her throwing a blanket over him as her lips kissed his and he fell asleep.
()()()
Neal felt the familiar squeeze on his shoulder and relaxed, fear easing from his body but he was still afraid. The dream had been anything but nice, a nightmare as he watched those he loved hurt while he was forced to live on. His burden to bear as he cried out but she wouldn't listen, telling him the gods would only find vengeance against him live or dead.
"Peter?"
He was up, looking around the room but realizing where he was immediately as he lay back and relaxed. It had been a dream. Nothing more. He had to keep rational. Curses didn't exist. Everyone was safe. Peter was safe. At worse Gravan would come after him he hoped but the man was half a world away now looking for something he revealed in a fevered drug induced state. He was honest in such states even if he wished he wasn't so he had probably remembered what he didn't remember consciously. That much was truth. He felt the tug of the IV as he moved, looking at the quietly dripping bag suspended on a pole nearby. He was still warm, wiping at his forehead and feeling the last residue of fever that wouldn't leave. If he was at the Burkes home, then Peter would listen to him now. He wanted to tell what he remembered while he remembered it.
"Mr. Caffrey?"
Neal glanced up as he realized someone was at the doorway. He hadn't heard them come in, the door still open as the man he remembered vaguely as a doctor walked towards him.
"Dr. Manus... right?"
The man nodded, sitting beside him and smiling. Neal wasn't sure what to think as the man gently felt his forehead and pulled out a digital thermometer.
"Open up..."
Neal obeyed, waiting while the thermometer took his temp and finally beeped. The doctor took the the device and read it with a content look on his face.
"You're at a steady 100 now. Better than the 104 before. I think you'll be better soon, Mr. Caffrey. Are you thirsty? I can have my assistants bring you something."
The doctor was being kindly, Neal shaking his head.
"I'm fine. How is El... Peter?"
He felt a certain trepidation, his memory fuzzy but he knew Peter had been with him. There had been talk of Elizabeth being much better. He hoped it was a truthful memory. The doctor smiled and nodded.
"They're both fine. Peter wouldn't leave until I told him you were doing better. Now he's sleeping comfortably. Been a long day for everyone. Rest. You'll see them soon, ok?"
The doctor patted him gently on the shoulder, leaving him alone to rest as Neal thought about everything and realized rest was what he needed. There was always tomorrow.
oOoOoOo
Author's Note: Took forever (and I've been off) so more to come. Excitement galore!
