(( I so apologize for making everyone wait so long for this chapter I was stuck on parts and then I went away and now I finally finished and I hope you all enjoy this chapter and look forward to the next one, once again thanks Peppe and everyone please read or review or I might do something very bad to Neal again hehe))

Chapter 7: Convict

Peter rubbed his eyes hard as he looked at the computer screen in the back of the FBI surveillance van. Just as he let out another yawn the back doors opened as Nick climbed back in. "Here's the coffee, everyone hurry and drink it fast while it's hot, who knows how long we're going to be here," Nick remarked as he climbed into the cramped van and took his seat.

"Before you get comfortable can you explain this text message to me?" Peter asked as he handed his phone over to Nick. Giving a small chuckle Nick handed the phone back to Peter. "It's an old code that Neal and I came up with when we were kids. It looks like we both think the same way, Neal is a couple steps behind me of course I already did this," Nick remarked as he grabbed his coffee and began to drink it. Dante rubbed his eyes and looked at his cousin. "How much longer do we have to wait here until our back up shows up? You promised us back up that was better than anything the FBI could give us, so where is it?" he asked grabbing at a coffee and getting his hand slapped away by Diana who wanted the same cup. Nick leaned against the wall of the van. "Hold your Italian race horses, I got the back up and they are outside in place the moment we need them," Nick said as he looked at one of the monitors where they were watching Neal's cell phone data.

Diana leaned back in her seat and looked at the older Caffrey. "You must have some connections you only made one phone call," she remarked as she sipped her coffee. Nick laughed as he opened the van doors to let some fresh air in. "One call was all I needed, trust me this is going to be pretty exciting to see how it all pans out," he said as he looked out the back doors at the city lights. Peter looked out the doors for a moment he thought he saw movement but he chalked it up to the lack of sleep.


Neal looked around the cargo hold once more. "It really is marvelous, I've never seen something so beautiful," Adler said as he walked into the cargo hold with Alex at his side. "Neal, thank you for helping me unlock that door, now I think you and Ms. Hunter have worn out usefulness, so I think it's time to cut our losses," he said as two men blocked the doorway. Neal hobbled back a couple steps and watched as one of the men walked closer to him. "Stay away from me," Neal said as he reached behind him and felt around for a weapon. Before he could find anything the man grabbed Neal by the wrist and pulled him into his arms.

"I don't want to hurt you so stop it," the man said as he began to squeeze Neal in a bear hug. Right away Neal stopped out of fear that his ribs would break. Once Neal and Alex were detained the men walked them out of the hold and led them to the ladder. Forcing them up the ladder to the deck above the guards forced their captives down the stairs to the ground. "You know babe, I heard you over the microphone about wanting a divorce," Kyle remarked as he came out of the shadows. Neal stepped back bumped into one of the guards behind him. "Kyle… I was kidding, I don't want to divorce you…I love you…" Neal grit out with a false smile, he knew that Kyle was unstable and would turn to violence again. "Well that is a load of shit; unless you're really screwed up in the head you don't love me," Kyle spat out as he walked closer. Before he could turn his head away Neal felt a rag cover his mouth and nose.

As soon as the smell hit his olfactory senses Neal knew that the rag was soaked in chloroform and before he even had a chance to fight back Neal felt his body give into the fumes. Right away Neal felt like he was falling down a dark hole and he couldn't stop himself. Alex watched as the guard moved the rag away and lifted Neal over his shoulder as if he were just a doll. When she sensed the other guard coming close she pulled away and began to run for it. The moment she heard a gun cock she came to a dead stop. "Now that's a good girl," Kyle said as he motioned for the other guard to grab her and bring her back.

"Put them in the holding room until we're done loading everything into the truck," Kyle ordered as he put his gun away and made his way into the sub where his father was. Alex let herself be led into the holding room along with Neal. As the men left Alex walked over to the unconscious Neal and sat beside him. "Don't worry Neal I'm sure Peter is working like a blood hound to find you," she said softly as she played with his hair. Alex always felt better if she talked out her problems when she was in dangerous situations even if Neal was unconscious on some level he was still listening to her. "Next time I get an email from you I'll make sure it really is you," she added with a small laugh as she petted Neal's hair a bit.

A few minutes Neal slowly began to regain consciousness; groaning softly he looked up at Alex. "Oh my head," he mumbled as he covered his eyes to wait to get used to the light above them. "Just keep your eyes closed for a few minutes. Just let the chloroform fumes wear off and it will be fine," Alex said softly as she looked around the room for anything to use as a weapon. Neal sat up slowly and started to look around the room. "I guess we're locked in here until they are done with taking everything and putting it in the truck. That treasure should not be in their hands, it should be returned to the families of the survivors or the museums of the world," Neal said as he rubbed his head. "Those fumes must have gotten to you, you never would say that normally," she remarked as she kept Neal sitting up. "Yeah you're right… I guess I'm still light headed" Neal lied.

After an hour alone in the room Alex finally broke the ice. "So what drove you to the… you know?" she asked as she tapped the inner plane of her wrist. Neal looked down at his wrists and swallowed hard. "I… I stole a necklace for Adler after he promised to tell me who killed Kate, but before I could get away clean Peter caught me and put me back in prison and when I tried to apologize he just wouldn't listen and I just couldn't take it any longer so I smashed the mirror in my cell and used a shard of glass to cut my wrists," Neal said recounting the night he attempted suicide. Alex gave a weak smile and put her arm around Neal.


Kyle watched as the two burly guards carry the crates and paintings carefully out of the cargo hold and into the truck that was waiting below the scaffolding. "So what do you want me to do with that woman and Neal?" he asked looking at the gun in his hand. "Send Ms. Hunter to the Plaza with ten thousand dollars, drug her first if you have to… make sure she's out of our hair; then you can do what you want to Neal since he is your husband," Vincent said as he walked over to a painting and looked it over. Kyle moved away from the crate he was leaning against. "I think I have the perfect choice on how to make him pay," Kyle remarked as he left the sub and made his way to the holding room, collecting two more guards Kyle unlocked the door and pointed at Alex. "Get her out of here," he said as he handed a couple large wads of cash to one of the men while the other grabbed Alex by the arm and began to drag her out of the room.

Neal struggled to get to his feet as Kyle grabbed him roughly by the arm and forced Neal to walk on his injured ankle and put all the weight on it. "While your friend gets a ride to a hotel you're going to be taking a little walk with me babe… I think you might enjoy it," Kyle remarked as they left the warehouse and made their way toward the town car parked near the stacks of large ship pallets. The sounds of the night-morning filled the air, traffic began to increase on the highways and fill the air with sound pollution. Trying to ignore the blinding pain radiating from his leg Neal continued to stumble as he was dragged behind his husband.

Nick watched the external cameras and smirked "I don't think you'll want to miss this," he remarked as he led the team out of the van and pointed them toward the four moving shadows. Picking up a radio Nick pressed the button on the side of it. "Red squad move in…remember there are two hostages, proceed with extreme caution," Nick ordered as he watched the shadows around the warehouse begin to move. Pulling out his gun Nick looked at Dante and motioned for him to follow as backup. Peter stayed frozen as he watched the two men move in closer. Soon floodlights filled the area with light. "Freeze… FBI…" Nick yelled as he moved into the light with sniper rifle pointed at Kyle.

"You're not going to shoot me while I'm so close to your baby brother," Kyle remarked with a smirk as pulled Neal in front of him to use as a human shield. Nick smirked and raised his gun up and squeezed the trigger. Before anyone could blink Kyle was on the ground holding his leg in pain. "You shot me in the knee you son of a bitch…" Kyle yelled out as he breathed heavy and pulled a gun from his belt and pointed it at Neal. "Anyone even breathes wrong and I drop him like a stone," he warned as he pushed himself up until he was against the brick wall of the warehouse. Using the wall Kyle stood back up and kept his gun pointed at his husband. Neal kept stock still as he looked at his brother. Nick smirked and raised his hand up to his mouth and let out a piercing whistle, soon the area was filled with fifteen Navy Seals dressed head to toe in black and seventy-two Marines with their guns drawn.

Smirking Nick raised his gun again. "You have eighty-nine guns trained on you Grant… I dare you to even sneeze," Nick yelled as he watched his brother-in-law through his sniper's scope. "Neal back up until you feel my gun against your head," Kyle ordered. Neal moved backwards like he was ordered and closed his eyes when he felt the muzzle of the gun butt up against the back of his head. "Can I say something before you shoot me?" Neal asked softly. Kyle thought for a moment "Fine, just make it quick and make it good…" he said with an evil smirk in his voice.

Opening his eyes slowly Neal looked at his brother and gave him a nod. Then putting all his faith in his brother Neal took in a deep breath and fell straight down onto his knees. As he fell he felt the bullet graze the side of his head before it buried itself into Kyle's shoulder throwing the man back against the brick wall. Neal closed his eyes as he felt the blood trickle from where the bullet grazed his head. Before he could move Neal felt someone holding him. It only took Neal a moment to realize the person holding him was Peter. "It's okay Neal you're fine I'm right here," Peter said softly as he felt Neal grab onto his shirt and start to let out the tears he had been holding back. Peter removed his jacket to put it around Neal and pulled him closer.

"You're safe Neal… I promise," Peter said as he kept Neal close and rubbed his back until he calmed down. "I want to go home…I'm tired and hungry," Neal said softly as he kept his face buried against Peter's shoulder. "We're going to go soon," Peter reassured as he waved Nick over to help him stand Neal up. "But first you're going to the hospital to get checked out and get some pain medication and crutches, then back to my place where you can sleep all day and eat what you like," he added as he put his arm around Neal's waist. Neal wanted to argue but he was too tired and he knew that Peter would be mad if he said no.


After six minutes the ambulance arrived and Neal watched as the EMTs put Kyle in the back of the ambulance. When the female EMT came over and asked if he wanted to ride with Kyle he looked at Peter before shaking his head. "No… but you should get him to the hospital soon," Neal said before the woman left. As the ambulance left Neal watched as the backup moved into the warehouse and began to search the area for Vincent. Diana and Jones walked over with Nick and Dante both FBI agents looked shocked at the backup that had been pulled together. "How did you manage to get the Marines and the Navy Seals here?" Diana asked as she looked at Nick.

Just as he was about to answer an older man walked over and looked at the group. Nick and Neal saluted the man as he came closer. "Boys… staying out of trouble?" he asked as he came to a stop in front of the group. "No sir…" they replied with a smile and dropped their salute. Diana and Jones looked at each other trying to figure out how Nick and Neal knew the man. "Well I guess my work is done here now give me a hug before I go," Tobias said as he stood in front of his grandsons. They both hugged their grandfather quickly before pulling away. "See you later Grandpa, we'll come to visit when we can," they said at the same time. The agents were shocked when they heard that the brothers were related to the older man.

"Wait what about that crazy text message you sent to Nick? What did Add Bell minus D plus MR mean? " Jones asked trying to wrap his head around everything. Nick and Neal laughed. "It meant Admiral Bell as in Admiral Tobias Bell, our grandfather," Neal explained with a smile as he moved back to Peter and let him hold him up. Two hours later after the Marines and Seals had cleared the area and deemed that Adler was in the wind Neal agreed to go to the hospital to get checked out. Peter told his people to go home and take the day off, when everyone had finally left Neal looked at the morning sky above New Jersey as he stood beside Peter. "Hey…don't I get a good morning kiss?" Neal asked as he put his arms around Peter's neck and held onto him. "I think you deserve a kiss for being so brave after being shot at by your own brother," Peter said as he put his arms around Neal's waist and pulled him into a kiss.

When they pulled apart Peter put his forehead against Neal's and sighed softly. "Come on I want you cleared by a doctor before I take you home to sleep," Peter said as he walked over to where his car was hidden and drove it back to where he had Neal sitting. After helping Neal into his car Peter looked at the ex con for a minute. "Peter, do you want to kiss me again?" Neal asked with a sly seductive smirk even though his cheek and body still hurt from Kyle's abuse. Peter reached over the armrest and brushed his thumb against Neal's broken cheek carefully. "After… I know what you're trying to do and you're still going to the hospital to get checked out," Peter explained before pulling his hand away and starting his car up. Neal sighed and watched as Peter drove out of the dock area and passed the FBI car watching the warehouse from the street to make sure the truck didn't leave.

"Peter, are you sure the treasure is safe?" Neal asked as he looked at the vanishing warehouse in the passenger side mirror. Glancing at Neal Peter smiled before he reached over and took Neal's hand in his. "You know what… I don't care if it's safe or not I only care that you're safe. Someone could steal that treasure right now and I wouldn't even bat an eyelash because I know my treasure is safe," Peter admitted. Neal felt his chest tighten. "I think that's the most romantic thing I've ever heard you say to me, even if it's a little cheesy," Neal said with a true smile which made Peter laugh a bit as they pulled up to the hospital. Once he found a spot in the parking garage Peter brought Neal inside and pulled a few strings with his badge to get Neal looked at by a doctor. After they were able to wrangle a doctor Peter hovered as he watched the doctor check Neal's broken cheek. "Agent Burke could you take a step back, I can't really examine Mr. Caffrey with you breathing down my neck," the doctor remarked as he helped Neal remove his shirt so he could check his ribs.

Neal shivered as the doctor's cold hands touched his ribs carefully. "Well they aren't broken but I do need to tape them up to keep you from injuring them more," he said as the nurse handed him the bandages and the tape. Once Neal's ribs were bandaged up the doctor moved down to Neal's ankle and checked it. "Well this is very swollen and most likely a hair line fracture of the bone, the reason for so much swelling is because you haven't been elevating it properly and icing it, if you stay off of it for a couple days and keep it iced the swelling will go down and it will begin to heal," The doctor said as he wrote a prescription for some pain killers for Neal to take.

Once he was done the doctor handed the prescription to Peter and looked at the nurse. "Could you please get me some cotton balls and iodine," he said as he put some gloves on. "I'm just going to clean this head wound, it looks like it will be. Now this might sting a bit," the doctor warned as he started to clean Neal's head wound. Neal pulled away and whimpered at the pain. When the doctor was done Neal got up from the bed and used Peter to keep from falling over.


Peter kept Neal close under the excuse that he was helping him walk to the car. The moment they were alone he moved his hand lower down Neal's back as he helped him into the car. "I'm taking you home now," he said as he started to close the door. "Peter…can we go back to June's everything I need is on one floor and you can keep me company," Neal said with a smile. "I'll take you to June's under the promise you stay there. I have to get you a new anklet and that could take a couple hours. So you have to stay in bed and keep your ankle elevated," he said as he closed the door ending the conversation. Neal smiled as he turned the radio on the moment the engine turned over. Peter ignored the music as he drove through the city and to June's mansion.

Parking his car he helped Neal out just as June's maid was coming outside for the paper, after a quick greeting Peter helped Neal up to his apartment. As they walked through the door Neal looked around at his old apartment and smiled at the view. "I missed this place so much," he said as he moved away from Peter and limped heavily over to his bed and dropped down on it, the bed sucking him into the soft mattress. "I called June when you were in the hospital the first time around and I told her that you were coming and she had the place dusted and cleaned up just for you," Peter said as he walked over to the bed and sat down on the end of it. Sitting up Neal looked at his ring before removing it and dropping it into a small vase on his nightstand.

Moving closer to Peter and being careful not to jar his ribs or ankle Neal slipped his arms under Peter's and wrapped his arms around the other man's chest. "I saw how you looked at the doctor when he had his hands on me…you were jealous, I like that side of you… I also like how you called me your treasure, it almost makes me want to give up being a con artist," Neal whispered in Peter's ear. "Almost… well then what would make you give it up forever?" Peter asked truly interested in what Neal had to say. "That's going to stay a secret…" Neal whispered as he began to pull away. Peter turned around and found Neal resting against his pillows and giving a yawn. "You're tired, you need to sleep it's been a long night," Peter said as he helped Neal remove his shoes.

"I'm… not tired… but I will change my clothes so I'm more comfortable," Neal said as he tried to keep awake. Undoing his shirt buttons and removing his shirt Neal got off of his bed and limped over to his dresser and grabbed his second favorite pair of pajama bottoms and removed his pants and boxers before attempting to put his pajamas on. Peter chuckled as he watched Neal struggle for a few minutes before getting up and helping Neal put his pants on. "Alright get onto your bed and let me prop your leg up properly and get some ice for you," Peter said as he walked over to the couch and grabbed a couple extra pillows and quickly propped Neal's ankle up and made sure he was comfortable.

Neal sighed softly and leaned back against his pillows while Peter looked for an ice pack in the freezer. "Neal…" Peter called as he turned to look at the younger man. Right away Peter noticed that Neal had fallen asleep. Walking over to the bed Peter put the ice on Neal's ankle and kissed him softly. "I'm not really asleep you know," Neal said as opened his eyes. "I just wanted to see if you would kiss me," Neal said with a smile. Peter chuckled and sat down on the bed. "Is there anything I can do for you to make you feel better?" Peter asked as Neal moved over and cuddled against him. "Could you move the TV over to my dresser at the end of the bed so I have something to do while trapped in bed," Neal said as he moved away from Peter and dropped onto the pillow and crossed his arms across his chest.

Peter laughed as he got off the bed and moved the flat screen with ease to the dresser and set it up so Neal could see. "I'll go and get your painkillers and some crutches to help you get around," he said as he got up from the bed and pulled his keys out of his pocket. "Sit and stay there until I get back," he warned as he left the apartment.

After waiting at the pharmacy for an hour for Neal's prescription and crutches he was finally able to return to Neal's apartment. When he got there he found Neal standing at his easel painting. "Neal you're not supposed to be putting weight on your ankle, get into bed right now," Peter ordered as he pointed at the bed. "Peter…it's so boring to just lie in bed and I got the urge to paint," Neal said as he put another stroke of paint on the canvas. Peter rubbed away the headache that had formed the instant he saw Neal standing. "I don't care… get back to bed right now," the agent warned. Neal put his paint brush down and put his paints away in his box before hobbling back to bed. "This is so annoying…" Neal groaned as he got back into bed and put his foot up. "How long do I have to take it easy?" Neal asked as he picked the remote up and turned the TV on. Peter shrugged as he got the pills out for Neal. "A couple weeks most likely," he said with a smirk.

Opening his mouth to argue Neal was silenced by Peter's hand as he answered his phone, when he was done with the call Peter looked at Neal. "That was Diana, the warehouse just erupted into flames just as the agents arrived to take the treasure to the FBI evidence warehouse, that's not the worst part… the truck is gone, there was no sign of it in the wreckage," Peter said as he tossed his phone onto the couch with such force it bounced off the cushion and landed on the floor. Neal got up and hobbled over to his lover and put his arms around him. "I pray who ever took that treasure runs fast and far because you're going to find them I know it… I just wish it was me… those were the best four years of my life," Neal remarked before kissing Peter and leading him to bed.


Neal walked into the office on his crutches after another long talk with his six divorce lawyers and Kyle's four lawyers. Nick and Dante looked up from their reports. "So how did it go?" they asked loud enough for everyone to look up and wonder what the outcome was of Neal's meeting. Neal smiled as he stood up straighter. "Its official Kyle and I are no longer married; he backed down finally after two months and signed the papers," Neal said as he made his way over to his desk and put his leg up on the other chair beside his desk. "Nick could you get me something to drink, you know with my crutches I can't carry anything," Neal said as he rubbed his leg a bit. "I know for a fact that you don't need those but I'll let you milk it for as long as you like but con someone else to get you things," he said to his little brother. Neal smiled and looked up at Peter's office and smiled at him. Peter smiled he knew that Neal had been successful in his meeting.

Walking out of his office Peter went to Neal's desk and handed him a folder. "I know you hate it but you might see something I haven't on this mortgage fraud," Peter said as he watched Neal open the folder and gave a small smile at the love note that Peter had left him. Taking the note out Neal put it in his pocket and began to look at the file even though he knew there was nothing wrong with the case. Bored beyond anything Neal began folding paper into origami until he had at least a couple dozen swans, butterflies and flowers littering his desk. Peter walked over and saw how bored his lover looked being tied to as desk with his injury. "Come on there is no reason you have to stay here, I'll take you back to June's," Peter said as he helped Neal to his feet and walked slowly with him until they were at the car.

"El and I are going to San Francisco for the weekend. We're going to be leaving tonight, so can you handle being on your own for two days and not break any laws that could get you thrown back in prison?" Peter asked as he helped Neal into his car. Neal thought for a moment "I think I can manage to keep out of legal trouble for a couple days," Neal said before closing the door and forcing Peter to walk around the car to get behind the wheel of the car. When they got to June's Neal hopped out of the car and walked up the steps without using his crutches. "Neal! Did you lie about still being injured?" Peter asked as he rushed after Neal. "Not at all… I'm still taking it easy on my ankle," Neal explained as he smiled as he unlocked the front door and led his older lover inside and up the stairs to his apartment.

Peter was annoyed that he had been conned so easily. "Neal we're going back to work right now…" Peter said as he grabbed Neal by the arm. Neal smirked as he closed his apartment door and leaned against it. "I'm not going to move, besides if we go back now we'll have to do work… but we can stay and enjoy the view and enjoy the fact that June isn't going to be home today until eight and right now it's only nine in the morning," Neal said as he grabbed Peter's tie and pulled him against his body and kissed him passionately. Peter smirked into the kiss and pulled Neal as close as he could. When air became necessary Neal pulled away and put his head against his door. After catching his breath Neal smirked and held Peter's tie up showing that he had managed to remove Peter's tie without him noticing. "Give it back Neal… we're going back to work right now," Peter said as he put his hands on door beside Neal's head.

Ducking under Peter's arm Neal lightly limped over to his bed and leaned back on his hands in seductive way. "Come on Peter it's good to skip work every now and then, besides it's been a really slow day so far," Neal said with a laugh. "Neal it's only nine in the morning of course the day is going to start off slow…now give me back my tie I'm going back to work," Peter said as he walked over to Neal and held his hand out. "Peter, can I ask you something?" Neal asked being serious for a moment. "Yeah Neal, what's up?" Peter asked as he sat down on the bed. Neal looked at Peter and kept from looking into his eyes. "I…I…wanted to know… you know what forget it, it's not really important so here is your tie," Neal said as he handed the tie back. Peter pulled his tie out of Neal's hand and threw it on the floor before turning to Neal and put his hand on Neal's chin and forced him to look up. "I said forget it Peter… I don't want to talk about it anymore," Neal said as he pulled away from Peter and started to get up from the bed.

Grabbing Neal by the arm Peter pulled him back with such force that Neal fell back against his bed flat on his back. Moving quickly Peter climbed over Neal and pinned his arms down over his head. "I'm not letting you up until you tell me what you were going to ask me in the first place, Peter said as he tightened his grip on Neal's wrists and kept him pinned down. Neal looked up for a moment before turning his head away. "It's a stupid question that will just complicate things between us and I don't want that to happen ever again," Neal said as he kept his gaze turned away from the agent straddling his waist. "Just ask the damn question Neal, I promise I won't get upset no matter how stupid the question is," Peter promised as he slowly released Neal's wrists. Neal pondered for a moment trying to find the right wording for his question. After a minute Neal sighed and closed his eyes as he spoke.

"I have two questions actually, my first is, I know you say you love me and you may mean it but I wanted to know… after my four years are up I'll be free from the anklet, does that mean that our relationship will end?" Neal asked as he watched Peter's face. "My second question is; what am I to you?" Peter sat up quickly and nearly fell off the bed as he tried to figure out how to answer the questions. "Neal you are so important me, and after you're anklet will been taken off we're still going to be together I'm not going to leave you just because you aren't FBI property anymore. It doesn't mean I won't love you any less, as for what you are to me, you're Neal…my treasure and I love you," Peter said softly.

Neal swallowed the lump in his throat as he turned his head away and felt his eyes water up at the passing thought of what he wanted most out of life. It only took Peter a second to notice Neal's change in his demeanor. "Neal what's wrong?" he asked as he leaned over and looked into Neal's eyes searching for the truth. Neal looked at Peter and watched him every little twitch of his facial muscles as he looked at Neal in worry. His chest tightened to the point his ribs ached. "How can you do this to me? I'm the one who is supposed to be the charmer…but you always make my chest tighten when you look at me like that, I've never felt this way with Gabe or Kate, I know it sounds selfish but I want you…not just today but every day I want to go to bed at night beside you and wake up in the morning before the sun rise and watch you sleep. I would suffer eternal boredom at a baseball stadium so you could be happy, after the game I would cook you dinner and wash it down with beer or expensive wine. During the week I would make you deviled ham for work even though I despise it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love you too… and it's getting to the point where I don't want to share you anymore," Neal admitted his cheeks turning red from embarrassment.

Getting to his feet slowly Peter found his tie and slowly put it back on. "Neal…you know that I'm married…not to mention that if the FBI found out we were together you would go back to prison and I would be either demoted or worse fired," Peter said as he tried to let Neal down from his fantasy life carefully. Neal nodded as he sat up slowly, "I know… I'm going to stay here; I kind of want to be alone right now…" Neal said as he climbed fully on his bed and rolled away from Peter. Watching his young lover Peter petted his shoulder softly. "I'll see you when I get back Monday stay out of trouble I don't want to fly back Saturday night to bail you out of prison," Peter said as he tried to kiss Neal goodbye only to get the cold shoulder. Sighing Peter left the bedroom area and went to the kitchen drawers and grabbed the cooking knives and the couple steak knives in the drawer before leaving the apartment.


As he left Peter stored the knives in his trunk and went back to work and doubled timed it to finish his backed up paperwork so he could leave early and catch his afternoon flight. Just as he was about to start on another file Peter looked up when Nick knocked on his door. "My brother just called and told me you stole his knives; care to explain your odd robbery?" Nick asked with a smile. Peter sighed and motioned for Nick to shut the door and come in. "Your brother just told me that he is so in love with me but that he doesn't want to share me with Elizabeth anymore and when I told him that it couldn't happen he gave me the cold shoulder and I was worried we would have a repeat of what happened in prison so I took his knives since June isn't home right now," Peter said as Nick sat down.

"Well then, thank you… I don't want to lose my brother to his own whirlwind emotions, what Kate did to him once she got her claws in him really screwed him up. You're good for him, especially after everything he's gone through from Kate's death to his relationship with Kyle. Neal needs stability and you give that to him, so now he's acting selfish because he's afraid to lose you after his four years are up, so before I go I'll just say one more thing, you spend a lot of time with Neal at work, stake outs and on your dates, so I hope you think this all over while you're gone this weekend. Well, I have to get going lunch with Cat you know," Nick said as he left Peter's office.

Peter sighed and pulled his cell phone out and dialed Neal's number before hitting send, after two rings he was transferred to Neal's voice mail. Sighing he hung his phone up and dropped his phone on his desk. He ignored my call… I guess I will talk to him Monday morning when I pick him up for work. He thought as he got back to work. Twenty minutes later Peter picked his phone up again and dialed his wife's number and waited for her to answer. "Hey hon… I was just about to call you my sister wanted to know if you wanted to know if we were leaving before three today or not." Elizabeth asked as she finished typing up a wedding plan for her workers to follow while she was gone. Peter thought for a moment, "I can be done before three today so I will pick you up at work in twenty minutes," Peter said as he started to shut down his files on his computer before grabbing his coat and getting ready to leave.

Elizabeth smiled, "I'll call her and tell her we're on our way, so how did Neal take it that we're going away for the weekend?" she asked as she started to write an email to her sister. Peter paused for a moment. "We need to talk about Neal on the flight…I need help dealing with him," Peter said as he left his office and waved goodbye to everyone as he entered the elevator. Elizabeth sighed softly, "What's he done now?"She asked worried that Neal had done something illegal again. "He hasn't done anything…yet, it's more like what he wants," Peter remarked as he looked at his reflection in the elevator door hoping he could spare the long talk for later. "Well what does he want?" Elizabeth asked as she packed her laptop into her briefcase.

Taking a moment Peter thought for a moment before speaking. "He wants something he can't have…something we need to talk about this weekend when we get a chance," he said hoping his wife would be able to understand what he was trying to say. "All right then, we'll talk this weekend about how Neal wants you all to himself," she said with a smile. Peter gaped for a moment that his wife knew that Neal wanted him all to himself. "You two make a good couple… if you want to be with him then I won't stand in your way, but if you want to talk about this more this weekend we can," she said very understandingly before hanging up. Peter shook his head with a small smile before pocketing his phone.


Neal groaned as he rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. Grabbing his phone off his bed Neal felt tempted to call Peter to hear his voice before he left on his trip. After realizing it sounded like he was obsessed with Peter, Neal put his phone away and slowly got up from his bed. As he walked toward his hallway that led to his bathroom he heard a knock on the door. Cautious at first Neal walked over to the door and opened it slowly. "Alex…what are you doing here?" Neal asked as he opened the door more and let her into his apartment. It didn't take Neal very long to realize that Alex was carrying a bottle of wine. "What's the wine for?" he asked as he closed the apartment door.

"I thought we could celebrate, and I wanted to apologize for just disappearing two months ago I had… things going on," Alex said as she put the bottle on the table and grabbed a couple glasses. Neal stood there for a moment. "Uh, can I ask what are we celebrating?" Neal asked in a perplexed tone as he took the wine from Alex and pulled a corkscrew out of his utensil drawer, laughing softly Alex took the bottle to moment the cork popped out of the bottle's neck. "We're celebrating being alive after our ordeal and your new status as being no longer married to that creep Kyle," she said as she poured two glasses of wine. Neal smiled and took the glass offered to him and held it up and looked at it and swirled the wine in the glass and sniffed it before trying it.

Alex smiled "There is also another reason I came here today, I wanted to give you this key," Alex said as she pulled a key on a chain from around her neck. "Think of this as gift for all the hard work you did to get it and payment for your suffering," she said handing the chain over. Neal looked at the key then over at Alex. "Before you hurt yourself trying to figure this out, this is a key to a storage locker within your radius with some of the greatest treasure that hasn't been seen since the Second World War," Alex said with a smile. Neal looked at the key in his hand and closed his fingers around it.

Looking at his hand Neal opened it and put the key around his neck. "So you're the one who stole the treasure, I had a feeling you did it but I never said anything," he stated as he sipped his wine. Alex smiled and worked on her glass of wine. "So what do you plan on doing with the treasure now that it's all yours?" she asked curiously. "I'll hold onto it for now for a rainy day just in case I need some money for a quick getaway. If Peter found out I had it he might think I stole it," he commented with a smile. Alex laughed softly as she finished her glass of wine and poured herself another glass. Neal chuckled and finished off his glass then poured another. "You know I should take it easy with the wine but it's been a while since I have had a good drink," he commented with a smile.

By the end of the first bottle Neal abandoned his wine glass and grabbed a new bottle from his selection and opened it before drinking right out of the bottle. Alex had moved from the table to Neal's bed. "Neal your bed is so comfortable…come join me…" she called waving him over. Neal walked over to his bed and kept the bottle from tipping over as he climbed onto his bed. Laughing at Neal's stumbling Alex sat up and took the wine from him and took a long swig. "Do you want to know something…? I'm not wearing anything under this dress," Alex said with smirk.

Quirking his eye brow Neal looked Alex over before taking the wine bottle from her and finishing it off. "I should go… put this in the kitchen…" he mumbled as he tried to get off the bed only to be pulled back onto the bed. "Don't worry you don't have to tell Peter, it could be our little secret," Alex whispered as she put her finger to her lips. Neal smirked and leaned back against his pillows. "Did you come here with a purpose?" Neal asked trying to think clearly through his hazy mind. Alex smiled as she crawled up and put her arms around Neal and kissed him. Not thinking of any repercussions Neal kissed back.

Running his hands up Alex's sides Neal slowly undid the zipper on the back of Alex's dress. Sitting up Alex undid Neal's shirt and smirked at him. "I've always loved this tattoo it makes you look very sexy," she said with a smile. Neal smirked "Yeah… I was going to take it off but it grew on me," he commented as he held back the urge to say that Peter also enjoyed it. Removing his shirt and throwing aside Neal rolled over and pinned Alex against his bed. "I thought you were gay?" Alex asked pushing a strand of hair off of her face. "I'm Bi; there is a huge difference you know…" Neal corrected as he leaned over and kissed her neck.

As soon as the dress was off Neal looked Alex over and smirked. "You still have that scar from Russia…you know it makes you look very rugged," Neal remarked as he ran his fingers over the faint scar on Alex's shoulder. "I don't have anything planned this weekend maybe I should stick around, it's been a while since we've spent time together," she said with a smirk.


By Sunday night Neal fell onto his freshly laundered bedding alone, he used the excuse that he had work in the morning and he needed his sleep. Sighing loudly Neal listened to the rain pattering against the glass doors. On the verge of sleep Neal heard his cell phone buzzing on the nightstand. Grabbing his phone he connected the call without looking at the caller ID. "Hey Peter…" Neal said with a smile as the feelings on loneliness began to build in his chest.

"Nope, sorry babe… it's just me, so how is life do you miss me yet?" Kyle asked with a chuckle. Neal shivered as he sat up. "How did you get this number I changed it after our divorce," Neal remarked as he got off of his bed and walked toward the fridge. "Oh now Neal you know that I have connections, and might I say, you are looking good, I can't even tell that your cheek was broken in two places. Neal froze and looked at the windows and the dark skyline. Kyle laughed over the phone "Now don't be so scared babe, I forgive you for divorcing me and I'll take you back," Kyle said a heavy smirk in his voice. "You're never going to get away from me ever, I've been watching your every move you've made," he added.

Soon the apartment was peppered with gunfire. Neal screamed and sat up in bed; looking around the dark apartment he realized he had a nightmare again. Breathing heavy Neal looked around the dark apartment and found he was alone in the apartment, rubbing his eyes hard to remove the remnants of the nightmare from his memories. Looking at the clock on his phone Neal groaned at how early in the morning it was. Falling back against his pillow Neal let his eyes adjust to the light of his cell phone screen as he typed out a lengthy text message to Peter about his nightmare. After waiting two minutes he got a response from Peter saying he would come over right away. Getting out of bed slowly Neal walked around his apartment turning a couple lights on.

When Peter arrived Neal was on the verge of falling asleep. "You look tired, you should get back to sleep," Peter said as he led Neal back to his bed and made him lie down. "You didn't have to come over Peter, I know you just got back from your trip today and-" Neal was cut off by Peter's hand over his mouth. "It's okay, did you really expect me to stay home after you told me you had a nightmare of Kyle gunning you down, I told El about it as she insisted that I come and make sure you were alright, and I missed not seeing you this weekend," Peter remarked as he propped himself up beside Neal.

Neal smiled. "So how was your trip anyway did you have fun?" he asked hoping that his confession Friday morning didn't ruin anything between them. "Do you really care about the trip?" he asked as he watched Neal crawl closer and put his arm over his chest. Neal shook his head and put his head on Peter's chest. "Well I'll tell you the truth, I told El what you said and we talked about the future for the three of us. And we decided that it's my choice in the end of who I want to choose," Peter said as he looked down and found Neal had fallen asleep.

As the sun broke over the city Neal rolled over and found his bed empty. Thinking that it had been a dream that Peter had come to him in the night and giving a soft sigh Neal sat up and slowly got out of bed and came face to face with Peter and a plate of eggs and toast. "I called in and said we would be a little late, I wanted you to get some more sleep and get a good breakfast," he said as he sat Neal at the table so he could eat. "This just what I wanted from you, I just wish you had stayed in bed with me so I could hold you longer," Neal remarked as he started eating. Peter sat across from Neal and looked at him. "What do you remember about last night?" Peter asked calmly. "I remember the nightmare and you coming over and then you said something but I started to fall asleep so can you tell me again?" he asked with a smile.

Rolling his eyes Peter grabbed a slice of toast from Neal's plate. "I told you that I spoke to El about you, me, her and the future. She said that it was my decision in the end, and before you ask, no I haven't decided yet on what I want to do," he said as he got up from the table and headed for the apartment door. "I have a suit in the car I'll get it to change before we go," Peter said before leaving the apartment and coming back in a minute Peter found Neal outside looking at the city skyline with a cup of coffee in his hands. "I'm going to shower before we go," Peter called as he headed for the back hall. Smirking Neal walked back inside and left his coffee on the table. "I'll join you," Neal said with a smirk as he followed behind Peter.