A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.
forsakenfoxshadow:Thanks for the review my friend. Yes they have a lot of issues. Especially Dick. They will have to work through their problems. Clark will be an interesting experience.
Neal's POV
His head was laying on his desk. Hughes had put him on morgage fraud cases. He didn't want him in the field. Apparently he was a liability with his flashbacks.
This afternoon he was supposed to meet with Panov. It was not something he was looking forward to. He didn't want someone inside his head. In all honesty he just wanted things to go back to how they were before the treasure.
Things between him and Peter had been great. They worked cases they hung out. The older man had become one of the closest friends he had. Excluding his wacky friendship with Mozzie he had not had a real friend since the before leaving for Thailand.
Vaguely he heard the elevator ding. Expecting it to be the doctor he didn't look up.
What he didn't expect was a familiar voice ask," Dick?"
His head shot up. That voice was familiar. One that no matter what issues he was having he didn't ignore. Clark's green eyes met his blue ones.
He said breathlessly," Clark..."
All movement in the office had stopped and were now watching. They had all seen what happened the day before and were prepared for a repeat. To bad for them. He and Clark were old friends. The man had been like an uncle to him.
Clark said moving slowly towards him," When Bruce said he found you I didn't believe him at first. After a decade of being missing we had almost given up hope."
Wincing he said," I didn't want to be found, Clark. If it wasn't for Damien you would have never found me."
For good reason. It seemed everyone he cared about either got hurt or died. He didn't want to watch someone else he cared about die.
Clark said looking hurt," We searched for you. Searched for weeks running down any hint of you that we could find."
When someone like him didn't want to be found. They wouldn't be. It had been taught to him and all of his siblings from a young age by Bruce.
Folding his arms across his chest he replied coldly," I didn't want to be found," glancing around he said," We need to take this elsewhere. Come on let's use the conference room."
With a nod to Jones he took Clark up to the conference room. Peter noticed them as soon as they made it to the top of the stairs. There was a question in the older man's eyes. Neal shook his head. This one he could handle without backup.
Once they were in the conference room he asked," How much do you know?"
Clark sat back as he replied," Not much. Bruce wouldn't say much. Though I did look you up. A criminal? Why did you choose that path Dick?"
"Why not? Would you really have expected that of me? Neal Caffery was the perfect cover to hide from those who sought me."
Clark's eyes narrowed as he said," We weren't the only ones who wsee looking. Dick I'm not an idiot. Neal Caffery only accounts for your whereabouts till six years ago. Whatever you told Bruce about it it bothers him. More so than I have ever seen. What happened in the those six years?"
A dark look crossed his face. His reply was short and cold," I have already gone over this with Bruce. I'm not going over it again."
Clark's eyes widened then narrowed. The two of them stared at each other for a long moment.
He said finally," So it's true then. You were apart of Medusa."
Neal grit his teeth together angrily. Of course Bruce would have told him. The older man couldn't keep a secret from the league.
A knock on the door drew their attention. Standing he went to open the door. Morris Panov stood at the door. His eyes took in the wary body language and the new person.
Carefully he asked," Is everything okay Mr. Caffery?"
Giving Clark a cold look he replied," My adoptive father decided to call my once honorary uncle to visit. Dr. Panov meet Clark Kent. Clark this is Dr. Panov."
Clark raised his chin in greeting and said," Nice to meet you doctor. Doctor of what if I might ask?"
Knowing it was better to come from him Neal said," Pyschology. If you don't mind Clark I have an appointment to keep."
Clark looked very much like he wanted to argue. As he had done in times past he closed off his stance. He wasn't going to back down on this issue. The trust between himself and Clark was long since broken. Just like everyone else Clark had abandoned him when he needed someone. Anyone to tell him it was going to be okay. No one had been there for him and they wondered why he was so broken.
Finally he said," We will talk Dick."
It occurred to him that he might need to hide out at Peter's. If his adoptive father and uncle were going to hound him. It might be in his best interest to find a place to hole up for awhile.
Once Clark was gone Panov asked," Do you not get along with Mr. Kent?"
Shaking his head he replied," We haven't spoken in over a decade. I've known him since I was a young child. Just like with everyone else we just slowly stopped talking. When I needed them the most they weren't there. So I left."
Cautiously the other questioned," How many identities do you have?"
Without hesitation he shot back," One. I have gone my many names but i only have one true identity. You're looking at him."
"And Delta?"
"Was a mistake."
A mistake that had so far been managed since he met Peter. The older man had been his grounder. A way to keep the darkness at bay. Just like Mozzie.
Panov moving slowly so that he track every movement placed his hand on his shoulder. Then he was led to the table. Once they were both sitting they didn't say anything. Just stared for a long moment.
With a sigh Panov said," You call him a mistake but he is very much a part of you. Just as you are Neal Caffery, and David Webb. You are Delta leader of the top Medusa team."
Neal couldn't help but flinch. He hated what he had done for the sake of revenge. There were days he wished he never met Alex Conklin. That the war had just been a terrible dream.
Life didn't work like that though. The decisions he had made effected him. Even years later. Nightmares plagued his dreams. With the anniversary of his wife's death coming up it was a wonder they weren't worse. Compared to when he first returned they were mild.
As if reading his thoughts the doctor said," You're having nightmares again," it was not a question still he nodded," Alex told me how violent they used to be. It's dangerous for someone to wake you. Is it not?"
Neal mumbled not meeting the other's eyes," They are warned against waking me. For their own safety."
Panov cocked his head to the side considering him. This doctor was so strange. He expected it to be hard to speak to him. For the other to demand answers to questions that he didn't want asked. Instead it was mostly confirming what he already knew.
Neal couldn't help his own confusion as he asked," Why are you asking these questions? You are different from any other doctor that I have talked to."
Mostly shoved down his throat by Alex. That man was insistent that he at least try to talk to someone. Not that they lasted longer than a session. Two at most.
A gentle look crossed the others face as he answered," If I tried to force the answers out of you you would never trust me. I want you to trust me. To come to me if you are having an issue that you can't handle on your own. So I will start small. We will get to the more difficult issues but not until you are ready."
Neal didn't have much of a choice but to accept the man's words. This doctor confused him to no end. Was this why Alex wanted him to be his doctor? Because he wouldn't force him to speak about something until he was ready?
It was hard for him to wrap his head around. He certainly wasn't used to having so many people give a damn about his mental health. Usually it was buck up and keep fighting. It was the same when he lived with Bruce. Just maybe he could give this guy a chance. It would be a matter of watching and seeing how the man reacted.
The rest of the session continued like that. Easy but loaded questions. Ones that he only gave half answers to. Not quite ready to trust the other with any secrets. Upon leaving the conference room he noticed that Clark was still there. He was talking excitedly with Jones.
Neal growled at the sight. The last thing he needed was someone else finding out about him being Dick Grayson. Peter finding out was bad enough. If he had any say in the matter he would not be returning to that life. Being a vigilante was not in his plans.
Panov touched his shoulder causing him to flinch violently away. Wild eyes met calm hazel ones. Both hands were now in his line of sight. It took several seconds for his racing heart to calm.
He muttered," Sorry."
Panov replied softly," It's okay Neal. I should not have startled you. You truly are like Echo when he first started his sessions."
Upon processing his words Neal's heart sped up again. Echo... The man had been his right hand during their time in Medusa. He had been the first in their team to return to the states.
It was a surprise to hear that he had sought help. Like Neal he was extremely independent. Not wanting to rely on anyone but themselves. To rely on another could bring death to them. So they learned to rely on themselves and themselves alone.
Hesitantly he asked," How is Echo? I haven't spoken to him since we returned to the States."
Panov smiled as he said," Echo is doing well all things considered. He still has a session once a month. I know he was worried about you when you disappeared. Maybe you should let him know you are okay."
Without a second thought he pulled out a notepad and wrote his number. Being able to talk to his friend again would be good for his mental health. There were some things you could not tell anyone else. Not because they didn't want to help you. It was that they wouldn't understand.
Panov said gently," I'll make sure he gets it. Do you need anything before I leave?"
He shook his head no. For a moment the doctor hesitated. It was like he wanted to say something. Whatever it was they would never know. The doors below opened and Kramer walked in.
Neal's shoulders tensed and his eyes hardened. If it wasn't for that bastard he wouldn't be in this position. The man saw him as nothing more than a lowly asset. A tool to be used but not heard. Neal would rather go to jail than be his ci.
When Kramer saw him standing there with the doctor he smirked. It took all of his self control not to flip the man off. Would there be another incident in the office? That would make two days in a row.
Peter walked up next to him. Neal could feel the older man's anger. It made him glad that it wasn't directed at him. Peter had a legendary temper that no one wanted to have directed at them. Neal still remembered the punch that he received.
Peter said nodding to the bullpen," Go, Neal. I'll handle Kramer."
He opened his mouth to argue but a sharp look from the older man made him shut it. Trust he reminded himself. Trust was the key to his partnership with Peter.