A/N: Another short one. I'll update again soon.

Beta Credit: Thank you to the ever-patient Mam711

I don't own White Collar and all mistakes are my own.

Chapter 10: Threat

El nodded. "When he came to say goodbye, I drugged his wine."

Peter looked at Neal apologetically.

Neal nodded. "The last thing I remember is leaving the office party to go say goodbye to El. I woke up here thinking I'd been kidnapped by an enemy of some sort, and then El walked in."

Peter shook his head despairingly. "Honey, what am I supposed to do?"

El looked at Peter. "Protect him. Stop him."

Peter frowned. "Neal's not the one who needs protecting or stopping—you are."

"Peter," Elizabeth explained softly, "he'll get killed or arrested and thrown into some harsh prison. It doesn't matter where he goes; he helped you guys—he'll be killed as a traitor. This is also the only way to stop him from victimizing people. He was all set to return to crime—you know that."

Peter realized Elizabeth had risked her own freedom to protect Neal and his would-be victims.

He looked at Neal who was still sitting casually as if they were talking about the next time they were going to the movies. "Neal, you don't seem all that bothered."

Neal bit his lip. "I nagged Elizabeth to let me go plenty, Peter, but she's as stubborn as a mule; the only reason she even took my advice to call you was because you were worried about me."

Peter felt helpless; he honestly had no idea what to do.

Neal sensed his train of thought. "Peter."

Peter looked sharply at Neal. "Yes?"

Neal leaned forward and spoke with concern, "Elizabeth needs protecting and she needs help; the stress is getting to her."

Peter responded, confused at Neal's concern, "Neal...?"

Neal rolled his eyes. "Come on, Peter. It's Elizabeth."

Peter knew that Neal most likely cared too much for Elizabeth to want her to be arrested; he looked into Neal's eyes and saw only unyielding concern.

"If you're happy to pretend none of this ever happened..." Peter trailed off, before turning to El at her protest, "El, you can't keep him."

Neal straightened intently. "Peter, the last thing I want is Elizabeth getting into trouble, for this or any other reason."

Peter started to nod but then El stood up and moved purposefully to the door before turning with a determined look in her eyes. "Peter, if you let him go, I'll turn myself in."

Neal and Peter both turned to stare at El in shock; she'd managed to threaten them with the one and only thing that might stop Peter from setting Neal free.

El gazed at the men silently for a few more seconds before leaving.

Peter stood. He had a torn expression, and Neal jumped up, exasperated. "Peter—she's bluffing!"

Peter looked at Neal, still shocked by El's words.

"Peter, let me go, she's only bluffing; once I'm out there she'll realize that I can take care of myself," Neal insisted.

Inwardly, Neal cursed his situation again; no matter what, it seemed El could get one over on him without so much as breaking a mental sweat.

Peter looked down then back at Neal. "Neal—I know El."

Neal, who knew what was coming and was growing angrier by the second, turned his back.

"She's bluffing," Neal growled, "no one would turn themselves in."

"Neal," Peter spoke tersely, "I know El; she doesn't bluff."

Neal took a deep breath; he didn't want Elizabeth in prison any more than Peter did, but he was ninety percent sure that El was playing both of them. Neal decided to change tack. He forced himself to maintain a calm tone and a steady gaze.

"Even if she isn't bluffing and she did turn herself in, I'd just have to say it's not true. I'm the victim; the worst-case scenario is the police think El's craving attention."

Neal watched Peter closely, looking for a sign of acquiescence but Peter's mouth thinned; he'd made a decision and Neal seriously doubted it was one he'd like. He decided to try one last time.

"I will do my damnedest to ensure people know that El did not kidnap me."

Peter shook his head. "El's event planning, it can't take those kinds of allegations."

Neal stared at Peter, inwardly incredulous that Peter could be so calculating, but he knew what Peter said was true; the last thing El's business needed were stories of kidnapping or insanity swimming around the owner.

Even so, Peter denying Neal's freedom because of the integrity of a business of all things—it just made Neal angry. He gave Peter his most venomous glare and uttered his next words with a hiss. "Get out!"

Peter glared back at him threateningly; but then he remembered that Neal couldn't exactly storm out.

"Fine; I need to talk to El anyway."

Peter walked out, shutting the door behind him, preparing to go after his wife and demand that she return to her senses.

Neal sank to the bed and kicked angrily at the chain. He really hoped Mozzie would find him.

A/N: Please don't shoot the Burkes. I need them for the rest of this story.