A/N: I've got no idea where this one came from, I started out with one idea, and ended up with a totally different one. And despite my desperate attempts to refrain from it (personally, I'm a little bored with mentioning her) Kate reminiscing is included. Anyway, on with the story. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If you think my work even compares to that of the amazing Jeff Eastin, you have problems.
Warning: Spoilers for Pilot, Free Fall, Out of the Box and Withdrawal.
Word Count: 514
Happy reading!
Jail was a very, out-of-character time for Neal. For a person who was usually so energetic, social, charming, you could say his personality took a one-eighty.
Besides Kate's visits, he barely talked, not seeing the need to make conversation with prison guards, who, after four years he'd (hopefully) never see again, or inmates that he would no sooner work with than Al Capone. Most were more Keller's style, or Wilkes'. Mozzie had visited once (amazing both himself, and Neal), but only to ensure his friend hadn't yet been replaced by a governmental clone while the real Neal Caffrey was being dissected in the CIA's top secret laboratory. The only other person Neal said more words to than absolutely necessary during those 1,371 days was Peter Burke. The agent stopped by a few times in the first year, interrogating Neal about all the crimes the FBI hadn't had enough evidence to even bring to trial. Eventually, Burke accepted that the con wasn't going to confess to anything, and gave up.
It wasn't exactly that he was purposely distancing himself, more like instinct. Neal had been hurt enough times before he even reached adulthood, he began to subconsciously not let anyone close.
Kate was the first person in over ten years that he'd wanted to tell all his secrets to. The bars on the walls around him were proof of just how well that turned out. The more Neal isolated himself in his own little prison world, the more dependant he became on just seeing Kate's face every week, hearing her voice, in order to keep sane.
By the time 45 months had passed, with Kate saying "Adios," escape was the only option. He needed to get out.
The next three months or-so, after Peter had yet again captured the elusive con artist (not that it was too difficult the second time), Neal was a lot more like himself. Seeing the outside world again, even if only for a few hours, was enough to put him back in synch. Still, being released to work for his former nemesis (and find Kate) was a relief.
During the Le Joyau Précieux Diamond Heist case, Neal was far too concerned with proving his own innocence and lack of Tulane's to absorb that he was back in prison. Then he was out in less than a week's time, no need to process.
But those four long months after the plane explosion, it all came back. The repetitive, brainless schedule; the constant dreary mood that plagued the federal walls. It didn't help either that his girlfriend had just died, after he almost destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to him: Peter's friendship.
That realization was the turning point in his decision to re-accept the work-release Peter offered. Kate was gone, there was no future to have with her. But Neal could still continue his new life. His life as June's tenant, Elizabeth's friend, Diana and Jones' colleague, and most importantly, Peter's partner.
A/N #2: Hope you all get a chance to watch the new episode tonight! I've been stressing about it all day-well really the past two weeks, after watching the promo on the eighth, but that's beyond the point. If you can, leave me a review so I know I didn't butcher this too badly! ;)