A/n: Thanks for all the reviews! And for those who have been asking I do plan on Neal telling Eleanor about Kate, just not yet ;]
I don't own White Collar just the little mistakes here and there!
Eleanor woke to the morning sun warming her face. A dull ache echoed in her head, a small reminder of how much she drank last night. Neal was asleep beside her, his arm wrapped around her body loosely while her head rested on his bare chest. Out of all the possible ways the night could have panned out, she never expected to end up here. She didn't regret it, in fact she embraced it. Eleanor laid there for a while listening to his heart beat and watching his chest rise and fall with every breath.
Gingerly lifting her head, she glanced over at the clock on the night stand. It was almost nine thirty. Letting out a soft sigh, she carefully wormed her way out of Neal's embrace and slipped on her dress. As quietly as she could she gathered up her shoes, scribbled something down on a spare piece of paper, and exited his apartment. A smiled played on her face as the cold morning air swept around her. She couldn't remember ever feeling this happy. Not even the dark grey clouds could put a damper on her mood.
"Where to?" her cabbie asked grumpily.
"Good morning!" she replied cheerfully. "186 14th street please." The cabbie gave her a strange look through the rearview mirror before shrugging his shoulders and driving off into the morning traffic. Eleanor sat back in her seat and watched the buildings pass by, humming to herself. Nothing could ruin today, nothing.
After a long hot shower and a quick change of clothes Eleanor was back out in the chilly morning air. The frozen grass crunched under her weight as she shifted uneasily back and forth. Deep breaths. She told herself as she stared at the headstone in front of her. Just take deep breaths; everything is goin' be just fine if you just breathe. Bending down she placed a bouquet of deep red roses on the cold ground.
"I miss you every day." She whispered softly.
"Those are beautiful." said a voice from behind her. Eleanor stood up and turned around to find Neal, bundled up, standing in the morning light.
"I didn't think you were going to show." She said a smile growing across her face.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world." He said wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"I'm glad you came." She said her fingers entwining with his as she turned to look at Danny's headstone once more. "It means a lot."
"For you Ellie, I would do anything." he said smiling down at her.
"He would have liked you." she said gesturing to the headstone. "He always had a fascination with the wrong side of the law."
"The wrong side of the law?" Neal asked raising his eyebrows.
"Ok let me rephrase that, he always found your particular profession intriguing. Does that sound better?"
"Much better." He said kissing her head. "It's cold, want to go grab a coffee?"
"Coffee sounds wonderful." she said as they began walking. A thought had dawned on her. Maybe after last night, Neal might just open up to her. Maybe, just maybe. "You know…you owe me an explanation." she said treading lightly.
"A what?" he asked with a small chuckle.
"An explanation. I let it go at the hospital but after last night I think I deserve a straight answer."
"About what?" Neal asked looking at his shoes.
"About why you broke out of prison the second time."
"I recall answering that question." He said deflecting with a charming smile.
"No you said it was just a momentary lapse in judgment, that's not an answer."
"Sure it is."
"No Neal it's not." Eleanor said coming to a stop. Was he being serious? After everything last night, after she spilled her heart out, he was still going to deflect?
"Ellie…" Neal began looking up at her with guarded eyes.
"You know what Neal, save it." She said angrily letting go of his hand. "I don't know what I was thinking, I should have known."
"Should have know what?" Neal asked his brow furrowing.
"I should have known that you wouldn't tell me the truth!" she yelled getting angrier and angrier. "Even after everything last night, I somehow knew this would happen! I mean do you even know how hard last night was for me? And I ask one simple thing, just one little question and what do you do? Deflect! You hide behind that god damn smile! But you're a con man, I guess that's just who you are!"
"Ellie please…"
"How can you expect this to work if you won't tell me the truth?" she asked her tone softening a little. "Do you even want this relationship to work?"
"Of course I do Ellie," he said his mask slipping to show a very torn, broken man. "But I...I can't tell you."
"Why not Neal?" she asked tears stinging her eyes. "Why can't you tell me? What happened that was so bad that you can't tell me? Talk to me Neal. Maybe I can help you!"
"I'm sorry Ellie…" he said softly his voice trailing off. Eleanor could feel her heart breaking. Just her luck. She should have seen this one coming. After all she did fall for the con man. Her happy mood had completely evaporated leaving her feeling empty. She didn't want to be here anymore. She didn't want to see those damn eyes of his. She just wanted to be alone. Turning on her heel she began to run. She could hear Neal call after her, but she didn't care. She reached the sidewalk and without looking ran out into the street.
She didn't see the car rounding the corner. She didn't hear Neal's blood curling scream or the screech of tires. She didn't feel the impact of the car as it hit her dead on. She felt like she was flying, soaring above the world without a care. Then she landed. Hard. Her head made contact with ground with a sickening crack. Her vision grew blurry, her breath caught in her throat. She felt a pair of hands stroke her head gently. Then she heard a voice.
"Ellie!" Neal cried. "Ellie can you hear me?" Eleanor tired to say yes but her voice wasn't working. She felt so tired, she could feel her eyes lids begin to droop. "No, Ellie stay awake. Come on, you gotta stay awake!" her eyes closed and the impending darkness wrapped its welcoming arms around her, Neal's pleading voice slowly fading away.
"Ellie…"
Tell me what you think!
