(Chapter 10)

Peter went out into the hallway, closing the door behind him as he left Neal sleeping in their guestroom upstairs. He walked towards the stairs deep in thought. Everything seemed to have normalized to some degree since the incident in the basement three days ago. He only remembered bits and pieces, a feeling of weight having been lifted off of himself if not his spirit but not much more. His memory was pretty much a blank other than seeing his partner laying shot beside him when he came to in his wife's arms. She had looked devastated at the thought of Neal being hurt if not dead and there was something else there: Fear. He sensed her hesitation to be close to him despite her arms clinging to and finally hugging him when El realized it was him and only him with her. The feeling of helplessness left and he felt strong again; in control of his own actions but still afraid.

He had only a vague sense of what had been happening, his mind lost in trying to remember some of it as he walked down the stairs. A familiar but obvious cough drew him out of his reverie as he glanced up to see Jones sitting on the couch with Mozzie no where to be seen. The agent was looking at him curiously as he shook his head and shrugged, moving to sit down beside his colleague.

"You sure you're ok, Peter? I get the feeling there's something I haven't been told but I'm patient. Oh... Diana says hi."

Peter blinked then smiled slightly in response.

"Thanks and no I'm... well everything's the way it should be. Doubt you'd believe what really happened and not sure what I'm going to tell Hughes. Knox really messed things up for everyone."

He ran a hand through his hair, giving a sigh of frustration as he leaned back on his sofa and sensed Jones move nearby.

"Try me. I'm willing to listen if you want me to, boss."

Peter turned and looked up at his friend but wasn't sure how to explain the following month much less the last few days. Everything was a blur with the storm and his being possessed by Knox. Could he really tell Clinton all of what had progressed and still get that look of admiration and respect in return? For a moment he clammed up, debating the act when Mozzie peeked out of the kitchen. The little guy looked between the two Suits as he called them and seemed a bit uncertain about things as his eyes settled nervously onto him. Finally he spoke.

"Mrs. Suit says dinner is almost ready. I'll let Neal know."

The con man walked a bit closer to the two men flinching slightly when Peter stood and held up a hand.

"He's sleeping. Told me he wanted to rest. Let me talk to my wife and I... I'll talk to you in a moment Jones. Thanks, Mozz."

The little guy nodded stiffly, keeping his distance somewhat from him as they passed each other and Peter left the living room to the kitchen at the back of his home. Naturally he moved up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her but when she tensed up and gave a quiet gasp of fear making him pull back uncertainly. Her blue eyes looked up into his a moment then turned away towards the burners where things were bubbling beneath see-through lids. Steam rose up like an angry spirit making him tense up in reaction to his wife's nervousness.

"I'm sorry, El. I..."

He was beyond words for what had happened in the recent past but she smiled up at him finally, hugging him in a more familiar manner but still feeling tense and nervous.

"It's not your fault, hon. Give me time."

Her eyes gazed up into his honestly, searching it seemed for something hidden then relaxing. Peter hoped it was because she knew he was himself again and not Knox. The man was gone for good. He'd felt the darkness leave him when Neal had shot himself and seemingly died. The ruse had worked and he was free, Neal was no longer in danger and everyone was safe. Now he only had to fix what was broken between himself and his wife and possibly his partner. Jones seemed confident he could handle the truth but the old movie line by Jack Nicholson was running through his head. Could anyone who hadn't been involved handle the truth? What would he tell Hughes of all people. Reese was a reasonable man but even this story would sound cockamamie regardless of their relationship. El seemed to understand, squeezing his hand in hers gently before moving to the stove to stir something.

"All in due time, Peter. We'll figure this out. It will all work out... I'm certain."

()()()

Elizabeth sighed inwardly, not wanting to upset her husband but still somewhat afraid of him or what he represented. She knew Peter hadn't been the one to hurt her but she still felt a kind of trepidation around him which he felt and seemed to take personally. They were both in an awkward position knowing that he had hurt her, or at least someone possessing him had and she associated him with that injury try as she might not to.

The day of the incident in question, the paramedics had checked Neal out first, fixing him up with little worry to him healing. He was feverish which was their only main concern as they hooked him up with what they had available. The storm had died down for the most part as they settled the con into the Burkes' guest room upstairs and then gotten around to checking Mozzie next. The little guy was paranoid at best about being looked over by who he considered drones of the system, but after a little bit of half-hearted arguing he gave in and they told him to stay up for the next few hours to be sure it wasn't a concussion. They checked El lastly, determining she just had a bad bump on the head as the two EMTs gave looks between themselves at the bruising on her arms. Jones showed up and gave an explanation of something that eased their minds although he had no idea what was really going on. Elizabeth had hoped Peter would tell the agent but would Clinton believe him much less herself? They would have to wait and see.

She continued to stir the contents of the pots on the stove, her mind going back to seeing her husband possessed by something dark and holding her captive and then attacking her. El shivered at the thought, moving over to the sink to wash her hands when strong arms surrounded her and she felt a familiar figure holding her. Normally she'd have reacted well, turning to kiss him but after the last month her mind was in overdrive, her body tensing up. She felt Peter's reaction to her obvious fear of his holding her, his arms loosening and finally letting go although reluctant. They had some counseling ahead of them if anything before they'd be back to what they were. It was going to be slow and gradual but they would get what they had back despite Knox and his interference.

Peter left after a moment and she felt a kind of relief that he was gone. It wasn't that she no longer loved him, just the idea she needed the space after all that had happened. Elizabeth shook her head at that. Peter was the best thing that had ever happened to her! They were the perfect couple and they dealt with things as they came up if not before. Their relationship and marriage were strong because they were honest and straight forward with one another. She smiled at the thought of how they'd met despite the voice nagging at her in the back of her mind.

He hurt you this time. What's to say he won't do it again?

Peter's a ticking time bomb. Think about what happened to Fowler...

The voice in her head nagged at her until she wanted to scream, her hand grabbing up some spices and adding them to the mixture on the stove as she distracted herself. It had to be stress from the trauma of the month, that's all. They'd get over it and she would love her husband twice if not ten times as much. Everything would work out. She nodded to herself, turning the burner low as she wiped her hands on her apron and moved out into the main living room area, catching Mozzie and Jones in low conversation that seemed almost civilized.

"Dinner's just about ready. Would you young men like to wash up and help me set the table? Mozz... Jones..."

Clinton was up and nodding as he glanced over at Mozzie who stood and nodded as well. She smiled back at them as they headed upstairs and she moved back into the kitchen, opening up the fridge and pulling out a bottle of wine and some other items. She would have to make a tray for Neal since he was still upstairs resting.

He's the reason your husband hurt you. Why do you care?

She stiffened as the thought spoke to her but she didn't... it wasn't how she felt, was it? Elizabeth didn't think ill of Neal. His heart was in the right place although his intentions were a bit misdirected at times when he did things he shouldn't but Neal was by nature a good person. She trusted him, knowing this incident wasn't his fault. Knox was the reason things went the way they did, not Neal.

Do you really believe he wouldn't leave and hurt you and Peter again? He's just a lowly sni...

Her thought was interrupted as someone walked into the kitchen and she turned to find Mozzie staring at her curiously.

"El?"

He looked worried about her but she just smiled and shook her head.

"Thinking... white or red?"

Mozzie blinked then nodded, looking at what she had on the burner and pointed at the red as he grabbed up some place settings she handed him and headed back to the small dining room area. Of course... Red is the perfect choice and Mozzie was right as usual. She started wondering if he was the reason Neal was so good with choosing the perfect wine of if he had learned on his own. She shrugged, knowing she had been thinking about something else but forgetting what as she put the white wine back into the fridge and grabbed up a few more items they needed.

()()()

Neal was dreaming but they weren't pleasant dreams. His face contorted slightly, eyes moving quickly beneath closed lids as his lips parted and moved in silent speech.

He was back in the basement but he was alone. Neal was sitting on the cold floor but he couldn't remember how he got there, pushing himself up to his feet and noticing the mark left behind on the cement floor. His hand print was dark, wet and reddish black. There was a strong scent of something familiar and metallic in the air. He didn't like the odor, reaching up to cover his nose and finding the scent coming from his hands. It was the smell of blood. Neal panicked, uncertain where the blood was from, looking down at himself and seeing his clothes splattered and smeared with it but he wasn't hurt. The con was confused, a sound drawing his attention to the stairs and the door leading to the Burkes' home. He had to go up, he was drawn towards that door but something told him he wasn't going to like what he saw.

No... I won't look. I... can't look.

He was talking to himself, shaking his head but his feet walked of their own accord towards the stairs and upwards slowly but surely. Neal couldn't resist but he wanted to, each step making the chill up and down his spine that much more frigid.

Don't... want to. Please...

Finally he watched his hand reaching up for the door knob to open it...

"Neal, relax! It's just me."

He found himself staring around uncertain where he was for a moment as the voice spoke to him. Peter sat beside him on the bed, his hand hovering over his forehead where he must have been checking his temperature. Neal saw he was grasping the agent's hand hard as he let go and tried to think what he'd been doing. He had been dreaming about something but what it was he had forgotten the moment he woke up. His pulse was still racing, heart beating fast but Peter was talking to him about something so he tried to calm down and concentrate. An aroma hit his nose as he became more awake and he heard his stomach growl in response which made Peter chuckle softly.

"I guess that answers my question. Let me help you sit up and I'll put the tray on your lap."

Peter helped him by fluffing up the pillows behind him until Neal could sit up comfortably. The agent placed a tray across his lap, a wooden one like you see in fancy hotels or something to eat breakfast in bed. He figured El must have bought it as he looked down to see a bowl of what appeared to be fresh miso soup with chives and those crunchy things on the side from the Chinese restaurant. There was also a small plate of pork dumplings and some hot buttered rolls. His mouth was watering.

"El didn't cook this did she? This looks delicious!"

Peter added a couple of items he'd put off to the side which included a glass of water and a glass of juice.

"We ordered it for you... long story. For now though we have water and this top notch grape juice. Vintage Welch's straight out of the jar."

Neal rolled his eyes but nodded thankfully.

"I don't mind long stories... does it involve Mozzie and having too many thumbs?"

Peter shook his head.

"Nope. Something went wrong with the recipe and we had to send Jones home early. He got sick and we figured it had to be the food so we ordered in after that. Mozzie went with Jones, strange as that sounds. I'm sure he'll be fine. El was worried someone else would get ill so she had me order Chinese. Eat up!"

The agent gave a yawn as he spoke, covering his mouth as he leaned back in the chair by the bed. Neal took a small spoonful of steaming soup and took a sip. It was more than delicious but with a subtle odd after flavor he couldn't ID.

"This is good, Peter. Peter?"

The agent had dozed off in the chair, eyes mostly shut and turned downwards as he slumped slightly where he sat. Neal put down the spoon and reached out to nudge his friend.

"Peter... go to bed if you're... sleepy."

He'd barely poked his friend and partner when Peter's body slumped further, sliding off the chair and collapsing onto the floor. Neal was still in pain but he eased the tray off his lap, laying it beside him on the bed as he moved to check his friend. It had been a long last few days so maybe Peter had just fallen asleep from the exhaustion? He slid closer and finally found himself on the floor beside the unconscious agent. Peter was breathing fine, pulse slow yet normal but he wasn't reacting like a sleeping person. He was acting like someone who'd been drugged. Neal nudged him again, opening up one of the agent's eyes and seeing large dilated pupils. Peter HAD been drugged. Dammit! Something was wrong here as he moved to remove the IVs and get up to his feet. He needed to call for help, stumbling towards the door as he saw the stairs and had second thoughts about trying to go down them.

"El?"

She would be home wouldn't she? Peter said El was here. How long had he slept? He was trying to think when he heard footsteps coming towards him, the creak of the stairs alerting him. There was something off, a cold feeling coming over him as he moved back and away from the stairs and back towards the guestroom. Neal didn't know why but he locked the door behind him as he moved back to nudge his friend and try to wake Peter up.

"Peter... wake up. Peter..."

The creak of floor boards was more obvious now as quiet slow steps eased towards the guest room from outside. Neal had a very bad feeling, jumping slightly when the doorknob twitched then turned slowly before sticking. That's right, he had locked it so they should be ok.

"Neal? Why is the door locked? Peter are you in there?"

El? Neal was surprised to hear her voice as he rose to answer the door then paused. That cold feeling was still there as he reached for the knob and stopped. It turned and rattled as someone tried to enter.

"Neal, Peter? Hello?"

It was El speaking but something felt wrong as he pulled his hand back. It was just Elizabeth, right? Neal didn't understand why he felt afraid to open the door but he did as he thought back to his dream and realized this was exactly the same feeling. The door had to stay locked. They were safer that way. He heard a groan from Peter, turning to check on his friend when suddenly the door exploded throwing him backwards as splinters of wood and bits of metal from the knob bombarded the con as he hit the far wall, sliding to the floor more achy than before. His eyes moved up to see what or who had caused the door's destruction, a gasp coming from his lips. Suddenly a lithe but strong hand grasped his chin and made him look into their blue green eyes. Their stare was icy and emotionless but the face was one that normally was so much kinder.

"El?"

He coughed out the word but she just smiled coldly down at him, something cool pressed against his temple in her other hand. It was a gun.

"Didn't think you could get away that easily, Snitch? We have unfinished business... you and me."

It was Elizabeth's voice but Knox was speaking through her, the scent of cigarette smoke emanating off of his friend's wife although he knew she never smoked. Knox had managed to take control of her but how, the con didn't know. He winced slightly as she... IT cocked the gun.

"She was confused, tired and angry. The perfect combination of elements for a possession. I don't even think sweet Elizabeth's certain of her love for poor Peter anymore. Shame..."

Knox was really pushing the dramatics while making Neal feel helpless with the gun pressed up against his temple. If it had been another person, Neal may have made some attempt to overcome them but it was Elizabeth. Neal would only hurt her if he fought Knox which was obviously why he'd used her in this manner. Neal cursed inwardly, looking at her to see where his friend and biggest cheerleader was. El must have been ambushed to be taken in by this thing.

"Stand up, Neal. Tie him up!"

Elizabeth threw some zip ties at him, Neal nodding in defeat as he obeyed and tightened the ties around Peter's wrists from behind. Once he was done, El had him carry the agent out of the room and down the stairs. She gave him a set of keys.

"Carry him out to the car, Neal. Put him in the trunk then come back here. If you don't obey me, she's dead."

Knox smiled menacingly at him through Elizabeth's eyes, her hand raising to her temple as she pressed the cocked gun there. Neal nodded helplessly as he took his friend out to the Taurus and opened the trunk. He lifted Peter up into the space and made him comfortable before closing the door and trudging back reluctantly into the Burke Residence. Elizabeth smiled coldly back at him as she pulled the gun from her temple and wrapped her arm around him, weapon pushed out of sight into his ribs.

"Look like you have me captive or I'll kill her right here, right now."

Neal flinched at the coldness of her voice but nodded in defeat. Knox had him where he wanted. Neal held her as if he had her prisoner as they both left the house and he appeared to push her into the car. People on the street were watching now, some of them pulling out their phones to call the police probably. He cringed at the thought of someone thinking this was his doing but who would believe him? He was an ex-con and Knox had the perfect disguise. Neal did what he had to, getting into the driver's seat and pulling out into traffic quickly, tires squealing in protest as he held down the gas and took off.

"So obedient. Elizabeth was right, you will do whatever it takes to keep your friends safe. Now... drive to where it all began, Snitch. We end this now."

()()()

Peter woke up to a killer headache, the feeling he'd been drug evident. It was when he tried to move he felt off, arms pulled back and bound with what felt like a zip tie. Not to mention he was in a dark space that felt like the trunk of a vehicle. The scent of gasoline and exhaust filled his nose, the agent struggling to free himself and figure out exactly what was going on. He heard muffled voices not too far away, moving himself closer to the source to hear better.

"Did you really think you had gotten rid of me? I have a trick or two up my sleeve, snitch. How will your friend like you when you're accused of killing his wife? Maybe I'll kill them both, then you'll have nobody but that little paranoid friend of yours. He'll be in for a surprise when he thinks I'm you."

It was Elizabeth talking, her voice muffled by car noises but it was certainly his wife speaking. She sounded off, her tone dark and menacing as he'd never heard her before. This was not his same loving wife the more he listened to the mostly one-sided conversation. Neal said very little but it was obvious what was going on as Peter lay back and tried not to curse aloud. Knox had taken over Elizabeth's body. It explained so many things considering the past few days. Neither of them had slept much so they were vulnerable... El was most of all with what had happened between them. She had fallen under that man's power at some weak moment as he had. Peter sighed to himself, feeling around the trunk till he found what he wanted and cut himself free. Knox didn't know a lot of things but if he expected to kill his wife or himself and blame it on Neal, he had another thing coming.

()()()

Mozzie was heading back to the Burke residence, walking around the corner when he saw Neal coming out with El wrapped in his arms. Actually now that he looked it seemed she was afraid and he was holding her prisoner but that couldn't be right. He hid behind a nearby staircase to a neighboring home, watching people point and make sounds of surprise as they pulled out their phones. He heard them muttering things like "Call 9-1-1" and realized what it looked like to those that had little knowledge of the situation. It was then he saw what was really happening, a slight glint of metal inside Elizabeth Burke's hand just out of sight and pushed into the younger man's back. The agent's wife looked to be in danger but it was really Neal. He cringed knowing this act would bode badly if it was what he thought it was. Something stunk and he knew Elizabeth would never hurt Neal so Knox must be involved somehow.

"Guess I need to pull that ace out of the hole now."

He sighed as he muttered to himself and watched as Neal pretended to pushed El into the car and lock the door and then slide into the driver's side and take off in the Taurus. He wondered where the Suit was, sneaking over to the Burke door and finding it still open as he slipped inside and closed it behind him.

"Anyone home?"

It was quiet, Satchmo staying with some friends of the Burkes so the dog didn't come as he normally did to lick Mozzie's hand. Not that he liked dogs or anything but he had come to expect it as he searched around the home and found signs of a struggle up top in the guest room. The bedroom door was obliterated, only part of the side frame attached to the hinges which were barely hanging on still attached. Splinters of wood were everywhere as he looked for any signs of what he had seen to be truth. Knox had taken over Elizabeth. It explained so much as he pulled out his cell and dialed a number with a reluctant sigh.

"Agent Barrigan, FBI."

()()()

Neal pulled the car behind the building now under construction. This was where it had all started the day he bumped into Knox in the elevator at the FBI offices. The man had taken him here and led him inside the empty incomplete building and everything that could go wrong had. He had nearly lost his friend and partner and it looked like he would lose two of his best friends, if not family in the world. He swallowed hard as the thing that posed as Elizabeth Burke smirked at him holding a gun at him just out of sight.

"It's a shame you have a conscious but you'll lose that once we merge into one. You'll be the battery I drain to take control and live a while longer until the next big change. You're just another stepping stone into my career of crime."

Knox was full of himself, hubris defined which meant he might be able to fool him again if he could think of a way that wouldn't hurt El. She smiled at him knowingly.

"Thinking of ways to overcome me? Don't... I'll just as soon kill her and smash the car with all of us in it. You'll live but your friends won't. Think of your 'keeper' back in the trunk. A crash would kill him if it was planned just right."

Elizabeth laughed a dark menacing laugh which made him shiver as he cowed to the man. Knox meant what he said and Neal didn't doubt it as they exited the vehicle and he made to open up the trunk. El's hand touched his and pushed it away from the button.

"Leave him for now. I think you and her need a little alone time, snitch. Shall we?"

He watched as Elizabeth pointed the gun outwards and they both exited the vehicle, heading into the building. Knox continued to smile but all he could see was El doing things she would never do and it made the con ill to his stomach.

"Move it already before we get any visitors. I want to make sure we're alone when this happens."

Neal nodded his head silently. He wanted to say more but what could he say? The man was obviously powerful if he could control people at will. It was by sheer determination he'd fought him off but now he was at his wits end. El was the bait / lure now. She would die to make Knox immortal and keep Neal subservient to the man's will. His hands were tied he realized as he looked up and saw they were in the same space as before. Knox waved the gun around and smiled.

"Wonder why I chose this spot originally? I'll tell you..."

Neal let him talk waiting for some sign of weakness he could use to free his friend and get her safely away. If Knox took him, he would atleast free El first.

"The original owner had this place built according to the laws of the book. It was meant to bring in excess energies from those living in it to the maker and thereby power his experiments. It hurt a few before he realized his error and fixed his plan. He rented to young people only which is why this building failed up until now. The young will return to this place, then I can come and use those energies again as I had when I originally constructed it."

Neal blinked in disbelief. This man was the original owner? How long had he been jumping bodies to get to this point and still be living? There was a keystone in the corner he noticed as he tried to figure out a way to free Elizabeth. It read 1860.

"This place is a battery? How does it work?"

He watched Knox blink back at him although he was really looking at El but he could imagine the crook in her place, her facial expressions more him than her own. She looked thoughtful, pushing him over to a nearby post and holding him at gunpoint.

"Curiosity killed the cat but you'll not tell a soul. Stay still and maybe I will tell you."

The tone of voice had deepened and lowered making his skin crawl as the man posing as Elizabeth bound Neal's arms around the post and behind him until the con couldn't move but a bit, the cement structure poking him in the back as he was forced to kneel there, his ankles bound so his body was hugging the post. He was far from comfortable and apparently that's what Knox wanted.

"All trussed up like a holiday bird. Perfect! Now... to answer your question. You wanted to know how this place worked?"

Neal shifted to get himself more comfy as he nodded in feigned interest. He just wanted to keep the man talking, hoping he'd hear a weakness in the conversation he could use. He had to free Elizabeth before Knox caused anything bad to happen to her, something Neal would die to prevent if he had to. For now Peter was safe so he could concentrate on freeing El and himself.

()()()

Peter felt the car stop at some point, his body rolling around in the back as he held on to what he could. He heard muffled voices and the car vibrate some as the doors opened and closed. When voices neared him he froze, pulling his arms behind and beneath him to hide the fact he wasn't tied up.

"Leave him for now. I think you and her need a little alone time, snitch. Shall we?"

The agent listened as footsteps moved away, fading into the distance until all he could hear was the regular sounds of the city muted around him. If anything he had to get out of the trunk and the car. It wasn't hot enough he would be suffocated from heat but he had to get out before Knox decided to do something about him. Luckily the car had a few options the crook may not have thought about as he inched his way towards the rear of the trunk and pushed against something with his hand. It took a bit of work but he had the flap opened, a small bit of seat that was meant to help if you needed to grab something from the trunk or put it away directly from the back seat. Very handy and right now extremely useful if he could squeeze through said opening and escape. Peter knew Neal or El would fit just fine but he was a bit wider on the shoulder as he eased forward and finally got his head and shoulders through, arms over his head as he continued to snake his way out and finally got to his waist. His hips were stuck in the opening but that was ok as he saw something useful within arm's reach. He pulled the item closer with some effort and dialed a number on the cell as he held it to his ear.

"Jones..."

Peter opened his mouth to speak, drawing a deep breath.

"Clinton... it's Peter. I need you to help me. Call Diana in and I will tell you both the whole story. I need help. Get Mozzie if you can but nobody else. Meet me that the building where this all started, ok?"

He heard silence and then an intake of breath and he could almost imagine the agent nodding.

"No problem boss. Be right there."

He rarely used the agent's first name but he knew it would get attention considering the situation and he was stuck in his car, wiggling out of the trunk through a small space into his backseat. He sighed, hanging up the phone and nearly jumping as someone tapped on the window beside him and he turned to see someone he least expected there: Mozzie.

"Mozz? What the..."

Peter wondered how the little guy knew where he was but felt it was better he didn't know as he reached as best he could and opened up the back door. Mozzie glanced at him curiously and then at the hold he was stuck in.

"Tight Squeeze. I'm sure Neal would have made it through or El..."

His mind was obviously distracted as Peter tried not to get annoyed by his comment.

"Mind helping me here? There's a trunk button in the glove compartment..."

Mozzie blinked then nodded as if understanding as he reached around and opened the front door, sliding into the front seat and popping the glove box open. He felt around til they both heard the familiar "pop" of the trunk opening and he slipped out again.

"I'll push as hard as I can unless you want to squeeze back in."

Peter shook his head.

"Just push."

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Odd but humorous ending to this chapter but more to come. So what do you think of everything so far? I think I've been influenced by a certain movie or two for this story. One of them was "The Hidden" and also "The Fallen" where someone jumped from body to body. It was a weird movie but scary.