Welcome to the final chapter of the story I hope people review because it means a lot to me and you will see why. Loves and Hugs Bun Bun Babe want to thank my beta and my fans who review and those who read also thanks so much

Chapter 9: Showdown

Neal talked all through dinner piling story upon story making sure to keep it consistent. He made sure to make it hard for his guest to get a word in edgewise so he could keep the relationship in control. "Nick… I love this story but can I get a word in?" Pamela asked as she grabbed the wine bottle and poured two more drinks and handed Neal his fourth glass. "This should be my last glass; I do have to work in the morning and I'll be in deep trouble if I drink anymore, I would like to see you again though, and could we maybe get together this Saturday night? I'm doing a little work for a friend of mine during the day but I'll be glad to take you out after," Neal offered hoping to get to bed soon. Pamela smiled. "Well I had an excellent time tonight Nick and I hope we have some more fun together again, you are such a cutie…" Pamela said as she grabbed Neal by the front of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss before letting him go and walking out of his apartment. Neal cleared his throat and went to work on cleaning up the dishes and putting the left overs away. Once everything was done Neal grabbed the nearly empty wine bottle and finished it in a few gulps before opening other and drinking straight from the bottle as he painted and when it was done he stripped down to his boxers and got ready to turn in for the night. With his clothes all over the apartment he changed in his closet before stumbling out and into the bathroom to continue the routine before carefully stepping around his apartment as he tried not to trip on anything as he got into bed and fell asleep.


Diana walked into Neal's apartment the next morning and looked around until she found Neal on his bed. "Caffrey… let's go, we were supposed to be on the road ten minutes ago," she said yanking the blankets off of Neal. "Mmm… give them back…" Neal moaned covering his head with a pillow to block the light. "Are you hung over?" she asked struggling to pull the pillow away and tossed it aside when she got it free. Neal whimpered at the bright light as he slid out of bed with a thump and tried to crawl under his bed. Grabbing Neal's ankle Diana pulled him back out. "Get dressed in something comfortable and let's go we've got to pick up Peter before we drive four hours, now hurry up," she ordered as Neal got to his feet and made his way to his closet and came out in a pair of jeans a long sleeved maroon shirt and a leather jacket, taking his time brushing his teeth he made sure his hair looked perfect before he walked back out. Following Diana out of apartment Neal complained about not eating breakfast as he was led to the car and got into the back seat.

"We'll stop on the road," she said as she got into the driver's seat and took off to pick up Peter before they left the city. When they got to the Burke's Diana beeped the horn making Neal cry out in annoyance. Peter walked down the steps and saw Neal using his arm to hide from the sunlight. Getting into the passenger seat he looked at Diana with a quizzical look. "Hang over and from the looks of it he's really regretting it," she said with a smirk.

Peter smirked, "Neal, I hope you've learned your lesson," Peter said as they headed north out of the city. Neal soon fell asleep in the back seat to rest his body from the damage he did to it. When they finally arrived in Cooperstown Diana pulled up to their destination and turned the car off and looked at Neal who was sound asleep in the back seat. She was getting ready to beep the horn when Peter stopped her. "Let him rest, in fact give me the keys I'm going to take him to the store and get him a cure for his hangover," he said as he took the keys and got out of the car. As Diana entered the building he drove to the small market and parked the car. After waking Neal up Peter dragged him around the market ignoring his whining until he had everything he needed so when they got back to the car Peter mixed up the ingredients and handed the bottle to Neal. Trying not to gag Neal drank the spicy drink and paled right away.

"Are you trying to poison me that was terrible…?" Neal said as he took the water bottle Peter held out to him. After drinking half the water Neal sighed and put the cap back on the bottle and sighed. "You're so mean to me," Neal said with a pout. Peter smirked and leaned against the trunk of the car. "You realize that we're alone… right?" he remarked. Instantly Neal's head shot up in realization. "Can I borrow that sugar you bought?" Neal asked as he took the small box of sugar packets from the bag and the rest of his water. Peter looked away as Neal mixed the sugar and water together and walked over to the gas tank and poured the sweet syrup into the tank. "You realize Diana is going to kill you for ruining her car," Peter said as he watched Neal toss the bottle into the back seat. "I'll deal with it later," he replied as he looked up at the bright sky his head no longer bothering him.

Leaving the market they began to make their way back to the Baseball Hall of Fame when the car sputtered and died. Neal tried hard to hide the smirk on his face as Peter called for a tow truck. After catching a ride to the meeting at the hall of fame Peter explained the car trouble to Diana and how it could take a day or more to find and fix the problem. "I just had it checked out too, well there has to be a place we can stay for the night that's not too expensive," she remarked as she walked off to the office of the Hall of Fame to get some information about lodging for the night. When she returned she held up a sheet of paper. "I got directions to a hotel just around the corner less than a block away, now I have to go take care of my car so behave" she said as she left Peter and Neal behind.

After meeting with the owner Neal looked at the memorabilia closely and studied every inch of it as Peter convinced the man in charge that Neal wouldn't steal anything and that he could go about his day. "So what do you think Neal, real or forgery?" Peter asked as he leaned over the table. "Oh they're real all right, but if they were forgeries they would be better than anything I could ever do, that's why I never got into famous forgeries they're too easy to spot," Neal remarked as he looked up. "So you don't have to worry about any of these signatures being false," Neal said as he looked back at the sheet of paper with the signatures to make sure he was correct. Peter sighed and sat down and leaned back so his head was against the back of the chair. "Good, but as soon as Diana finds out what you did you're a dead man," Peter remarked. Neal smirked and looked around the small office and found they were alone with just a single entrance into the room. "As a man soon to be dead for his actions don't I get one request?" Neal asked as he sat down beside Peter. "Fine one single request and that's it?" Peter asked interested in what Neal wanted.

"Peter…I take it you have a pair of handcuffs with you? How about once we get a room we should have a little fun, it has been a while since you handcuffed me and I know you love it, and I'm always up for something kinky," Neal remarked. Peter cleared his throat and fidgeted on the chair as he tried to keep his thoughts clean and on the case but it was a losing battle. "Something wrong Peter?" Neal asked with a knowing smirk as he went back to looking at the baseball cards as he leaned over the table to reach one of the cards across the table giving a perfect view of his backside. Peter shook his head to clear his thoughts. When Diana returned she found Neal working quietly comparing signatures as he leaned over the table a bit. "I found us a couple rooms at a hotel not too far from here… because of orders you'll be staying in a room with me Neal in your own bed, and Peter I got you a room a floor above us," she said handing Peter his keycard.


By the end of the day a third of the memorabilia had been checked and with the business hours getting closer Peter announced that they would be heading to the hotel to check out their rooms. Neal smirked and followed Peter out of the cramped office and resisted the urge to jump him. The walk to the hotel ended with Diana hitting Neal on the head with an empty water bottle to get him to quiet down about how long they had to walk. Upon arrival Neal followed behind Peter to the elevator. Just as he was about to step in he was yanked back hard. "Oh no you don't I called back to New York earlier and they said no funny business that means you two are not allowed to be alone in a hotel room. Now I have to go get a few things from the store, I'll be gone for two hours at the most and you are going to stay down in this lobby until I get back, there is no going up to the fourth floor room four thirty four at any cost," she said with a smirk. Neal nodded and waited for Diana to leave.

The moment Diana left the hotel lobby Neal walked quickly to the elevator and rode it to the fourth floor and made his way to Peter's room. Knocking on the door he barely finished his second knock when the door opened. Neal walked into the room and sat on the king size bed and sighed contently. "We've got two hours..." he remarked as Peter came over and sat beside the younger man. Neal smirked and spun around and straddled Peter's lap and smirked as he pushed his jacket off. Pulling Neal into a kiss Peter savored the feeling knowing that could be a while before it would happen again. When they broke apart Neal swayed a bit his mind flooded endorphins. Stealing used to give him the same rush until he realized a relationship with Peter gave him an even bigger rush. Once he caught his breath Neal waited until his head was clear enough to think before he spoke. "Forget the handcuffs it will take too long and I've already had to wait this long," Neal mumbled as he leaned back in and locked lips with the FBI agent.

When they pulled apart again Peter smirked. "You better hope these walls are sound proof," he remarked. Neal flushed lightly and smirked, "I don't care… but Peter before we go on can we talk about something?" he asked as he put his hand against Peter's chest. "Alright what's on your mind?" Peter asked worried about his lover but before Neal could say anything there was a loud pounding on the door. "Neal, get out here… I know what you did to my car!" Diana yelled through the door.

Peter got off the bed despite Neal's pleas to let Diana in. By the time he shut the door he heard Neal trying to get out of being punished. "If you want to punish someone then punish Peter he didn't even try to stop me," Neal remarked as he stayed on the bed where he felt safe. Peter walked over and sat on the bed. "I know why you did it but you didn't have to try and ruin my car. You know that I'm on your side and could have come up with something to keep us here but since you went behind my back I'm going to have to punish you," Diana said as she stood at the edge of the bed as she pulled a flat backed hairbrush from her handbag to use on him.

Neal paled backing further into the pillows to get away from the female agent intent on spanking him. Sitting on the bed Diana easily pulled Neal over her lap and began to spank him. Neal howled with pain and embarrassment while Diana continued to heat up his backside with her quick and hard swats. Diana continued to spank Neal, not releasing him until his backside was as red as his face. Neal quickly moved onto the bed and hid his face in the pillows, ashamed by what had just happened. Peter smirked as Diana left the room with a smile on her face. "She's gone now…" he remarked as he pulled Neal into his arms. Twisting around Neal latched onto Peter. Petting the younger man's hair Peter let Neal rest his head against his shoulder.

"I'll protect you from anymore mean hairbrushes," Peter whispered with a smirk. Neal tried not to pout at the joke. "That's not funny how would you like it if I spanked you with a hair brush it's humiliating," Neal defended as he sat back and looked into Peter's eyes. "Well if you did it then maybe, but I did enjoy watching you get punished," Peter remarked as he kept the younger man in his arms and he gave him a small swat on his buttocks. Jumping at the assault he frowned. "Not funny it still hurts…" Neal remarked with a pout. "Sorry I'll make it all better…" Peter remarked as he put his lips against Neal's neck and bit down hard using Neal's weakness against him while pinned him to the bed.

Groaning softly Neal bit his lip as Peter bit down on his neck. Neal had never told anyone about his weakness for being bitten on the neck like vampire bait. Grabbing Peter's shoulder hard and moaned loudly, arching his back Neal felt his mind go blank as Peter scraped his teeth across the bite mark. Peter wrapped his arm around Neal's back and pulled him flush against his chest. "Nngh…" Neal moaned as he turned his head away giving Peter more access to his neck. Trailing kisses up the side of Neal's neck and down his chin Peter reclaimed the younger man's lips before pulling away when they finally needed air.

Peter threw away all worries as he looked deep into Neal's eyes. "I love you Neal," he said softly hoping the other man felt the same way. Neal froze for a moment and searched Peter's face for the truth and smiled before kissing Peter and pulled away. "I…I love you too…" Neal said as he felt his heart unclenched and began to do summersaults. He wanted to confess his full feelings for some time but he had no idea how the other man felt or if this was a passing fling. Putting his head against Peter's chest he smiled. "Can we just lay here? I want to hold onto this moment in case this is a dream," Neal remarked as he shifted a bit so he was comfortable. Peter nodded and moved a bit so Neal's head was under his chin and his arms around his smaller frame protectively.


Diana rubbed her eyes as she made her way into the small café restaurant at eight in the morning, when she got there she found Neal and Peter alone in a corner booth talking over coffee. Neal looked up and smiled and slid over letting Diana sit next to him. "You look tired, I on the other hand had the best night of my life," Neal said with a smile as he sipped his coffee. "I can tell; the hickey is a dead giveaway. You might want to take care of that before you go back to work," she remarked.

Peter looked over and smirked at his work. "Neal's got a thing for being…" Peter stopped when Neal covered his mouth with his hand. Smirking Peter kissed Neal's palm and waited for Neal to pull his hand away. Neal smirked and went back to drinking his coffee. "I finished the work yesterday, so I guess that means we have to head home?" Neal asked acting dejected. "Yes we have to go back, how else do we get paid?" Peter asked smiling as Diana rolled her eyes and slipped away to check out of the hotel. When they were getting into the car that had been dropped off earlier that morning, Neal pulled his agent into the back seat and snuggled up against him.

"If you two even start having sex in my car I will separate you," she warned as they left the parking lot and making their four hour drive home. Neal closed his eyes and enjoyed the time together. By the time they reached Manhattan Neal was dead to the world his head resting on Peter's shoulder. Smiling Peter shook Neal awake. Groaning Neal opened his eyes and looked around and saw they were outside of the FBI office. Neal wanted to pout but decided against it as he followed Peter upstairs, he tugged at his jacket collar to hide the hickey on his neck as he sat at his desk as Peter walked by and went to his office to begin his paperwork.

Neal yawned and started on his own report and when he was done he emailed it to Peter. He then sat back in his chair and put feet up on his desk before putting his hat on his face to get a little more rest. "Excuse me I'm looking for Agent Burke," Neal sat up and lifted the hat off his face and swallowed hard. "Sara…um… he's up there," Neal said pointing toward the agent's office. As the redhead walked away Neal groaned and put his hands over his face and wished he was dreaming. Jones walked over and looked at Neal. "You know her?" he asked as Neal uncovered his face. "Yeah… I know her; she has been after me for a while for a painting I allegedly stole or so she thinks… so this isn't going to be good is it?" Neal asked. Jones shook his head. "She's going to be work with us for the next two weeks so get used to her being here," Jones said as Neal resisted the urge to pout.

After Sara finally left, Neal walked into Peter's office and shut the door and leaned against it. "So you and Sara are you going to be able to work together right?" Peter asked as he leaned back in his chair. Neal bit his bottom lip and nodded. "Yeah I can do it, she's the one holding the grudge, she can't get over the fact that I allegedly stole a painting and she never caught me like you did," Neal remarked with a thousand watt smile. "If she had you would be sleeping with her right now every chance you got," Peter remarked a hint of jealously in his voice. "Doubt it…she doesn't have your ass or those great looks, besides does she look like the type to risk her career for someone like me?" the ex con asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "No she doesn't, well if that's been settled we still have work to do…Jones told me there is a stack of mortgage fraud cases just calling you name and when you finish those you can go home," Peter said looking at the ex con. Neal gave a fake smile as he left the office and went back to his desk where the files were waiting.

As soon as he sat down his phone went off. Seeing the name on the caller ID he quickly left the office and made his way past the elevators. "Agent Carr… it's nice to talk…of course… no I understand I'll be there in four minutes," Neal said before he hung up and slid into the elevator when he was sure no one was watching and rode down to the lobby before heading to the coffee shop. Walking to the table in the corner Neal sat across from Agent Carr and lowered his gaze and turned his head to hide the hickey on his neck. "We want Adler and you're wasting time, get in contact with him and bring him to this city now or kiss this contract with us goodbye, oh and I know that you didn't read the fine print but if you don't bring Adler to us in the next two weeks the contract becomes null and void. We will also pull your work program and put you back in jail for the time you owe and add years for anything we deem fit like fraternizing with an FBI agent when you were warned to stay away. Did you really think I won't notice that massive hickey?" she asked placing a copy of the contract on the table.

Grabbing the contract Neal read it over and felt his stomach drop. "You tricked me…Peter will-" Neal was cut off by the contracted being pulled from his hands. "If you say one word to Agent Burke not only will he be fired but I'll make sure he is blackballed so he can't even be a school security guard. Now I have to go but I expect to hear something soon from you very soon," Agent Carr said as she grabbed her coffee and left. Getting up from his seat Neal borrowed a pen from the barista and grabbed a flyer and returned to his table and started to sketch a message to Peter, when he was done he folded the paper and returned the pen. "In about four minutes a man is going to be coming in here, give him this and this," Neal said as kneeled down and cut his anklet and handed the blaring plastic jewelry to the annoyed young man before taking off and hailing a cab.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket he called Pamela. "Pamela… its Nick I need to meet with him as soon as possible," Neal said as he gave the cab drive his destination. "Nick… Mr. Adler will be in the city tonight, he told me if you were to call to tell you to meet him tonight after six on the High Line by the Thirtieth Street entrance… don't be late," she said before hanging up on Neal. Putting his phone away Neal got out of the cab and made his way into the department store and headed for the men's section.


Peter was caught off guard as Diana came into the office. "Caffrey cut his anklet…at the coffee shop down the street," she said out of breath. Peter jumped up from his chair and rushed out of the office in hopes of catching Neal. When he got there he had the key ready to shut the anklet off. After receiving the anklet and the flyer Peter looked at the drawing before returning to the office and began to bark orders about locating Neal. When he had a moment he sat down at his desk and began to look at the drawing as Diana walked back in. "What is that?" she asked going around and looking at the drawings. "It's a message from Neal…he left me one before, this rabbit here is him and this cat is Agent Carr. If I'm reading this right, and I really hope I am, then Neal is under contract with Agent Carr. But this fox…I have no idea who that's supposed to be but..." Jones rushed into the office. "Caffrey was spotted outside Macy's on Thirty-Fourth Street getting into a cab," he said. "That's right by Grand Central and Port Authority… but if Neal is on the run why didn't he go to Penn station its right there…" Peter thought aloud as he tried to follow Neal's train of thought. Pulling his cellphone out Peter sent another text message to Neal; he had been trying to get some answers with no luck for some time. Putting his phone on his desk it began to buzz with a text. Grabbing it he flipped his phone open he read the message. 'Not running away, we need to talk, two minutes.' Quirking his eyebrow Peter looked up at Jones. "Did you get any news from Caffrey?" Jones asked wondering

'We need to meet in person' Peter typed back hoping that Neal would give him the respect to talk face to face.

After a minute a reply came to his phone 'Meet me where the lion protects the tomes… come alone' Peter shook his head. "No he's not responding… maybe he threw away his phone, I'm going to go check something out," Peter remarked as he left the office and made his way to the New York Public Library's main branch. When he got there he looked for any sign of Neal and saw him standing at top of the stairs. Walking up to the younger man Peter dragged Neal inside and brought him to a study room in the basement.

"Neal… what's going on what are you doing with Agent Carr?" Peter whispered as he got close. Neal turned around. "If I tell you anything it will end badly for you, I know what I'm doing and I'm doing it for you and me," Neal said as he started to walk away. Peter grabbed Neal's arm and pulled him farther into the room. "If you go out there you'll be caught and be sent right back to jail and I'm not letting that happen to you," Peter said as he pulled Neal to a chair and sat him down. "Stay right here and don't move for a couple hours at least," he ordered. Neal nodded and looked at the agent. "Peter, thank you for trusting me," he said as he leaned back in the chair. "I don't trust you and that's why I'm warning you, if I hear one word about you being spotted again I'll put you in jail myself and I'll make sure Diana brings her hairbrush," he remarked as he saw Neal flinch. "I'll stay for now, but I have to be somewhere tonight," Neal said as he stayed seated to please Peter.

Sighing loudly Peter sat in the open chair next to Neal's and grabbed a hold of Neal's hands and held them in his. "Whatever it is you're doing tonight I want you to be safe…I'll be in touch later to tell you when you can leave…" Peter said as he stood up and let the ex con's hands slip out of his before he left the room and made his way back to the office. The moment he got back he pulled Jones aside. "Track Neal's cell phone I want to know where it is at all hours, but you can't tell anyone else you're doing this for me," Peter ordered as he went into the conference room to bark out new places to search for the ex con.

Waiting until enough time passed Neal pulled his phone out and called Agent Carr. "I have a meeting for tonight on the High Line by 30th street at six," he said as he left the study room and walked out of the vast halls of knowledge and walked into the sunlight. I'm sorry Peter but if I stay in there for too long it just makes it easier to be found…Neal thought as he walked down the sidewalk and blended in with the rest of the people on the sidewalks unaware that he was being digitally followed by his boyfriend.


By four Peter decided to check on Neal, pulling up his cell phone data he found him seventeen blocks from the library near the edge of Central Park. "Damn it Neal…"Peter hissed as he watched the dot walk down the sidewalk toward Columbus Circle. Calling it an early day Peter left the office and made his way to the High Line unaware that Diana and Jones were following him. Parking in the park garage near the High Line Peter sat and watched the clock on the radio. As the numbers ticked closer to six Peter picked up the drawing Neal left him and continued to study it unaware that Neal was having a meeting with Agent Carr.

"I want the contract to be honored the second he's arrested, and I want the mark on Peter's record expunged," Neal said as he strapped on the bullet proof vest and put the hoody he bought back on. Agent Carr nodded "Fine, but this only happens after he's in jail," she remarked as the van they were in came to a stop below the meeting spot. Neal adjusted his clothes to hide the vest. "The microphone is in the vest and we'll be listening to everything and when you deem that he is safe enough to arrest you'll say the code phrase and that's it," she said as she looked at the clock and saw it was ten minutes to six. Shoving Neal out of the van she shut the door and went to the waiting seat. Neal bit his tongue and made his way down the street to the stair case unaware he was being followed. Climbing the stairs Neal looked around like a rabbit coming out of its hole.

After a moment he spotted the man he was looking for and walked toward him. "Neal… it's good to see you again, I take it you've gotten your memories back?" Vincent asked as he pushed his jacket open a bit showing the handle of a gun. "Yeah…I remember everything," Neal said keeping a good four feet between them. "Well that's good…so why did you want to meet me after you went to such extremes to escape me earlier. You have a reason for meeting in such an open area?" he remarked as he took a step closer forcing Neal to take a step back. "I just thought we should meet is all," Neal said keeping his eyes on the other man.

Vincent smirked as the sunset made the sky burn with the last few rays of light. "Neal don't treat me like an idiot; I know that the FBI wants to arrest me, and I know they wouldn't send you here without some sort of protection like a bullet proof vest… but you know who probably isn't wearing one right now?" he asked as he pulled his gun out of his belt and looked at it. Neal shook his head unsure of the other man's train of logic. Vincent lifted the gun and pointed it at Neal making him freeze before he moved the gun forty degrees to the right and pulled the trigger twice. Neal jumped at the noise and looked behind him and felt the color drain from his face and his heart feel like it fell out of his chest.

"Peter!" he yelled rushing over and dropping to his knees hard on the concrete pathway. In the last of the failing light Neal could see the blood soaking into Peter's shirt. Stripping off his hoody he shivered at the cool air and balled up the cotton hoody and pressed it hard against the two bullet wounds. Hyperventilating Neal tried to control his shaking arms. "Agent down… I repeat agent down…starry night… damn it someone get up here!" Neal screamed hoping the agents in the van were listening. Vincent walked up behind Neal his shoes clicking on the stone. Aware that he was in danger Neal grabbed Peter's gun and spun around and pulled the trigger until the clip was empty. Just as Vincent's body hit the ground the agents from the van arrived and began calling for an ambulance. The other agents kept Peter awake and held the hoodie down as the ambulance got closer.

Agent Carr walked over and stopped when Neal turned to her the gun empty pointed at her. "Neal…it's okay…" a voice said coming up behind Neal and taking the gun from him. Looking up Neal saw Diana and started to shake, struggling to catch his breath as the bullet proof vest restricted his breathing. Crouching down she pulled the vest off and threw it aside as she pulled Neal into her arms as the paramedics arrived and rushed to help Peter. They saw it was a lost cause with Vincent. One paramedic came over to Neal and checked him out. "He's in moderate shock and should go to the hospital to be completely check out; we're taking the agent to St. Luke's on Amsterdam," he said as they rushed Peter down to the street level and into the ambulance and turned the siren and lights on before rushing off into the slowly darkening city.

Ok everyone here is the deal I'm going to make it so you help me write the first chapter of the next story by the amount of reviews

0 revivews- angsty character death

1-4 reviews- peter survives but in a coma for a while

6+ reviews- super happy cute fun story ( just kidding it will be a real good chapter)