Chapter 9

Sunday morning was beautiful and Neal woke early and went out on the terrace. He was exhausted emotionally as well as physically. The emotion of finally giving up his search for Kate's death had hit him hard as he cried into Jack's chest and then Jack's solution to his emotionally distress had been the physical labor of washing windows and June's car.

Neal had to admit that after all of that labor he had slept peacefully, something he hadn't been able to do in the months after Kate's death. Maybe giving up his vengeance was all that was needed. He still wanted to be a part of finding Kate's killer but now he was willing to work with Peter to accomplish it.

"Beautiful day isn't it," remarked Jack as he came in behind Neal.

Neal turned around to see Jack and nodded, "yes, this is what I like to do early in the morning…watch the sunrise if I can."

"How did you sleep?" asked Jack.

"Wonderfully…you know I think this is the first time since Kate's death that I didn't dream about the explosion…some nights it seems that I'm aware of it happening and others I relive the whole terrifying thing…but last night it was a peaceful dream…remembering when I first met her," explained Neal.

"Thank you, "he added, "I think you had something to do with that."

Jack smiled as he gave the younger man a brief hug, "how about some breakfast? June sent me up here to see if you were awake and would like to join us?"

"That would be great," replied Neal as he pulled on a robe and went down with Jack. It was a totally different Neal that joined June and she was pleased at the change and greeted him lovingly.

"Dear Neal it is so nice to see a smile on your face and know that you really mean it," greeted June.

"June I am so sorry for my behavior of late…it really wasn't me and I promise not to show it to you again," he greeted her with a hug and a peek on the cheek.

They were having the best of time when Jack happened to glance at his watch and announced, "Neal you need to get ready…we are going to church today. June has invited us to join her this morning."

"Church; Jack I don't do church!"

"You will do it so much better if you are not squirming on the pew," replied Jack pointedly.

"Why would he be squirming, Jack?" asked June smiling.

"Because if he doesn't change his mind and act civil during church he will feel my hand to his butt," Jack replied bluntly much to Neal's embarrassment as his face blushed.

"There's no need for that Grandpa, I'll be pleased to go," amended Neal as he stood up to head back upstairs to get ready.

Neal was a little anxious as he knocked on the Burke door for lunch later that morning but was the picture of cool by the time El answered the door and let them in. It was an act as not to alert El of what Peter planned on doing after lunch.

"I'm so glad that you could come to lunch Neal…jack," greeted El as she motioned for them to enter.

"I won't miss one of your meals for anything," Neal replied gallantly before giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Where is Peter?" he asked anxiously.

"He's out on the porch waiting for you," she replied as she bit her lip with worry.

Neal nodded and forcing himself to move went out to confront his 'big brother.' "What are you doing?" Neal asked a minute later.

"What does it look like I'm going?"

"Freezing your butt off in front of that grill," replied Neal honestly.

Peter gave him a look that said, 'don't push it, kid,' before replying, "El thought that the steaks would taste so much better grilled then cooked inside…I'm sure she didn't realize the temperature outside when she requested it."

"Of maybe it was her way to be sure that you had cooled off sufficiently before you tear into me later," suggested Neal.

Peter looked up and taking in just how scared and worried Neal looked agreed, "You might have something there."

"Have you cooled off?" asked Neal.

"Yes, and not a minute too soon since the steaks are ready and we can go in," he replied as he took the steaks and placed them on the tray before heading in.

"El the steaks are ready and I'm hungry," he yelled as he came in.

"Peter!" scolded Elizabeth as she took the steaks from his hand and pushed him and Neal from the kitchen. "Go to the table lunch is just about ready."

Neal was nervous and it showed as he was constantly up and down bringing food and drink to the table anytime it looked like it was needed. He kept El from being the perfect hostess by assuming her job of getting up whenever the dishes ran low; even though he seldom stayed seated long enough to eat his own lunch.

Neal kept up a steady conversation with everyone to show that he didn't have a care in the world but his family knew differently. Neal wasn't eating and to turn down anything El made meant only one thing…he was scared; scared about what was going to happen as soon as lunch was over most likely but for the same reasoning that Peter thought probably not.

El felt that what scared Neal the most was that he might have lost the companionship he had with Peter because if what he had done but removing the tracking anklet and by stealing the gun he thought that Peter wouldn't want him as a partner, or even as a kid brother again.

When Peter could stand it no longer watching Neal delay the obvious he said, "Come on kid, let's get this over with," and led the way to a seldom used basement.

Neal reluctantly followed Peter downstairs and walked into a scarcely

furnished room. "What do you do down here?" asked Neal nervously.

"Well, I thought that this would be the best place for our discussions," replied Peter.

"What no more intense discussions over the dinning room table?"

"Well, El hasn't had a chance to empty it yet," replied Peter with a smile.

"I'll go up and help her," offered Neal as he started back up the stairs, eager to do anything to delay the spanking he knew he was going to get.

"STOP…Neal let's not delay this any longer," pleaded Peter.

"I'm just scared," admitted Neal.

"Scared? Of a spanking?"

"No…of losing you," Neal whispered.

"Losing me? Why? Am I going somewhere?"

"I just figured that after all I've done you wouldn't want me any longer; as your partner or an m-member of y-your f-family," replied Neal as the last part came out in a sob.

Peter was at his side before Neal could say anything else and pulled him into an embrace. "Who said anything about me replacing you as a partner or a kid brother? If I tried the later El would kill me…I'm sorry kid but you are stuck with us just as much as we are with you."

"You mean that?"

"Neal, I know your family life wasn't been the best but in our family we don't throw you back when you make a mistake or two," explained Peter as he hugged Neal.

"But how can you trust me after all I did?"

"It won't be easy for you to regain my trust; I guess it will be something that you will have to work on…but trust me when I say this now…I love you, kid and there is nothing you can do to stop that love. We will fix this and then you can work on regaining my trust," promise Peter as he held the younger man tightly; the individual he sometimes considered to be a wayward son or a kid brother.

After Peter had assured Neal that everything was okay between them Neal dried his tears and said, "Thanks peter, I thought I had screwed up too much this time and you wouldn't want me any more. Your assurance and explanation eased the anxiety," and turned to go back upstairs to Peter's amusement.

"Neal…we aren't finished yet," called Peter, "it was a good try though."

Neal replied sheepishly, "Well it was worth a try."

"Good try kid; now get into position," added Peter as he pointed to the only table in the room. "Drop your pants and boxers and bend over," he ordered sternly.

Neal looked up sharply at the order of dropping his boxers as well. He as expecting loosing his pants but knowing that he would be receiving his punishment on the bare caused him to pause. He didn't say anything knowing that he was deserving of this punishment. He had strayed way too far this time and knew that the punishment was expected but just not on his bare backside.

Neal closed his eyes at Peter's approach and felt the comforting and familiar hand on his back just before he felt the first line of fire visit his backside. "Yeooowww…P-Peter!" he cried as another lick landed right next to the first and came to the painful conclusion that this was neither the paddle he expected nor the belt that he hoped it wouldn't be…this was worse…this was Jack's strap and he tried to straighten up only to have Peter's hand push him back into position.

"Owwww…owwww…owwwww…yeowwww…owwwww…owwwww," Neal cried with each lick.

Peter then paused to explain, "I'm sorry Neal but this time it was more serious; your removal of the tracking anklet could have landed you back in prison but to have a loaded gun in your possession would have kept you there. I don't know if I could have gotten you out and if I did you probably would have had extra time added to your sentence and for this kind of trouble your punishment has to be more severe…thus Jack's strap!"

With the explanation out of the way Peter resumed and placed lick after lick on Neal's backside making sure not to hit too hard and not to break the skin and soon Neal's cries changed from yelps to deep throated yells and sobs as his backside and upper thighs took on a reddish and more painful hue.

It way only after Neal broke down and really sobbed that Peter stopped and pulled Neal into a comforting embrace letting Neal cry on his shoulder all the while as he rubbed his back. It was a gesture that has been repeated so many times when a father had to punish a son.

"I-I'm s-sorry Peter," sobbed a repentant and chastised Neal as he continued to cling to Peter for comfort.

"It's over kid, your slate is cleaned once again; but can you try and keep it like that a little longer next time," Peter asked as he tried to add a little humor into the situation.

Neal sniffled as he formed his reply. "I'll try but the next time I stray promise me that you won't use that strap on me," whimpered Neal as he took a step backwards.

"That's all up to you, buddy," replied Peter. "Now let's get you upstairs and into bed."

Neal leaned over to pull up his boxers and yell with pain, "Yeooowwww, I can't…hurts too bad!"

"Let me help you," Peter said as he came to his rescue and gently pulled up his boxers optioning not to try the pants. "Neal step put of your pants and we will go with you just wearing the boxers," he instructed as he pulled the dress pants free. and then with a yelp with each step Neal took they made their way upstairs and eventually to Neal's bed room.

The bed had been pulled back, the inviting and cool sheets looked wonderful to Neal as did the glass of water and two pain killers next to it which he took at once. Peter helped him out of his clothes leaving him only dressed in a t-shirt and boxers and with more cries Neal slipped into bed rolling immediately on to his stomach before closing his eyes.

He sensed Peter moving closer to the bed and cracked an eye to see his surrogate 'big brother/father' moving a rocking chair next to his bed and sitting down. "I thought I would just sit here until you fell asleep," Peter said as he noticed Neal watching.

"Peter, am I still grounded?"

"Well, since that was June's decision I guess you had better ask her, but I will put in a good word for you so that when you are able to sit comfortably again the grounding will probably be lifted as will your curfew."

"Thanks, Dad," replied Neal as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep secure in the knowledge that he was safe because Peter was there for him and no matter what he did he wouldn't leave him.

The End