(Chapter 10)

Peter collapsed against the floor as Jared dropped him there. He barely moved, face bruised, body limp, breath shallow. A trickle of blood dripped down his lips, head lolling to one side. Gordon walked in and smiled.

"I see you had a bit of fun with him, Jared. Where are the rest of the agents?" Gordon watched the agent shrug.

"Haven't seen anyone come back yet. Besides I was too busy with our friend here. He's a tough guy. Takes a lot to break him, sir." Jared kicked Peter in the side, no sound or motion coming from him except the soft rising and falling of his chest as he breathed. Gordon crouched beside the agent and poked him in the chest, a soft moan of pain finally rising from Peter's throat. Gordon smiled.

"I don't think you did enough, Jared. Doesn't matter. They should be back with the box soon and then the real fun begins. Throw him in the back bedroom and keep an eye on him."

()()()

Neal climbed back out of the museum window and made his way back to the van. Thomas was waiting, gun waving as he approached.

"Ah, the prodigal con returns. Get in!" Thomas held the gun on Neal as he glared at him and climbed into the back of the van. Thomas shut the door and held out his free hand.

"Hand it over!" The agent watched him as he passed the bag with the box to him. Thomas glanced inside briefly to confirm what was there then made another wave with the gun, Neal turning around, back to the agent. He felt his arms and wrists securely bound as expected.

"Looks like you did good, Caffrey." Neal was about to turn back around when he sensed movement, feeling the crack of metal against his skull. He slumped to the van floor, a ringing in his ears as he heard Thomas' voice echoing into the darkness.

"Sweet dreams, con."

()()()

Neal woke up with a horrible headache and someone yelling in his ear. It was a familiar and somewhat scary voice, one he knew he should be obeying but he was still too out of it to respond to.

"Dammit Caffrey! Wake up!" It was Hughes' voice Neal heard in his head and he was starting to wonder how he was channeling the director when he remembered something. Before he had left the museum offices, Hughes had given him a small two-way receiver. He had stuck the earpiece in where it wouldn't be seen. Apparently it had remained hidden and in place throughout whatever ordeal he had been dragged through. He opened up his eyes and looked around to find himself still in the van only alone. There was something stuffed in his mouth and tape pulled over his lips so he couldn't respond.

"Mmmph mmumph!" He said hoping it would indicate what was going on to Hughes. He just heard a sigh on the other end and after a few minutes someone pulled the side door open and Jones stood there. Neal blinked, watching the agent grin at him and jump into the back, several agents behind him with guns and gear.

"Caffrey! We were wondering where you were. We saw them go in but couldn't tell if they took you or not." Jones sounded fairly casual with a hint of concern in his voice. He began to untie the consultant before helping him remove the tape and rags. Neal breathed heavy, his head still ringing with the pain of getting hit with the edge of a pistol. He was going to have some choice words with Thomas if he ever had a moment alone with the man, but first things first.

"Pe... ter? Still in... side?" He huffed as he spoke, breath coming hard as he tried to stay conscious. Jones helped him out, calling out orders in a hushed voice. Someone with a toolbox walked up and started treating Neal's head. There was a bit of blood from a gash where the skin had broke, as well as a golf ball sized knot. Neal winced at the touch of something that smelled antiseptic, memories of his ordeal coming back. He stopped the man after a moment and stood shakily, Jones helping him steady himself.

"I need to go in... side and get... Peter." He had barely said that when he collapsed, Jones and another agent barely catching him. Jones shook his head.

"You're going to rest. We have all of Gordon's men minus the one that was back here with you. We caught the driver just now when Hughes heard your voice on the two-way. We think Gordon has at least one other man in there. Who was with you in the back of the van, Neal?" Jones was helping him walk over to another vehicle just out of sight. It opened up to reveal Hughes and an ecstatic Elizabeth.

"Neal!" She hugged him gently, only stopping when he winced some from his head. El and Jones helped him to a chair and she sat beside him, his head leaning on her shoulder as she caressed his hair. She looked tired, eyes red from crying and shivering slightly from being out in the weather. Lucky or maybe not so lucky the storm had died down finally but it would make hiding their team that much harder. Peter was still a prisoner, El suffering because of it. He grasped her hand in his and looked up at her guiltily. She shushed him before he could say anything but he couldn't help himself.

"El, I'm sorry." She shushed him again, continuing to caress his hair like a mother to a sick child.

"Rest, Neal. You're safe now." She sounded tired, her voice sincere but he knew she wanted Peter back safe. He wanted her to have him back safe. Neal shifted slightly, standing up unsteadily as El looked at him. Jones turned to see what he was doing but he held up a hand.

"I uhm... need to go into the woods if you know what I mean. Be right back." Jones glanced at him suspiciously but nodded after a moment.

Neal eased himself out of the vehicle, head still swimming. He passed a few other agents he knew and didn't know, making his way into the bushes and then back around to the opposite end of the cabin. In his black clothes Thomas had given him he blended in quite well, hitting the back window and glancing inside. He saw two figures in the room both with masks, one of them had a suit on and when they turned, he saw the mask looked like Peter's face. Thomas! Neal felt a raw hatred growing inside him, the other masked figure had a white mask, possibly Jared. He was about to do something when he heard the quiet rush of agents approaching the cabin. Someone threw a tear gas bomb into the front window and another into the back. Neal cringed a bit, wondering how this would damage the cabin Peter had inherited.

"FBI! WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED!" Neal heard the voice yell through a megaphone as he covered his face and watched the figures inside the back room. Nobody had noticed him yet so he snuck over to the window and started to climb inside, tear gas billowing out as he coughed, pulling his collar over his mouth and nose. He saw the two masked men, but they didn't see him in the confusion. The one he thought was Jared turned, pulling Thomas with him when he saw Neal. It was too late though, Neal jumped him and socked him in the face. The mask flew off revealing it was indeed Jared, the agent stunned. Neal grabbed the gun from Jared's holster and held it on Thomas, looking at the mask of Peter over the agent's face. He could feel the anger of everything that he'd been put through and held the gun on the man.

"Where is Peter?"

()()()

Hughes and Jones suspected Neal went to find Peter on his own, calling an early attack on the cabin. He warned them to be watching for Peter and Neal, causing as few casualties as possible. The team swarmed in, a couple of agents staying with Elizabeth in the vehicle. She worried, watching the activity on the screen with the two agents. She wondered if Peter was safe, worrying about Neal. He was impulsive and she knew he must have gone back inside.

"We have Gordon and the box but no signs of Agent Burke or Caffrey." The voice sounded like Jones with Hughes in the background. Elizabeth was listening as much as she possibly could, the agents responding as necessary.

Suddenly they heard gunshots. Jones came back, the sound of a gun cocking in the background.

"Gunshots in the back of the cabin. Going to investigate."

()()()

Neal held the gun on Thomas, the agent looking a bit worse for wear, mask still in place. It was Peter's face but not Peter. Neal felt himself cock the gun, the agent moving towards him slowly, unsteadily in the fumes of the acrid tear gas.

"Stop where you are! Where is Peter?" He felt his fingers tightening on the trigger despite himself, but the figure kept moving towards him slowly. Neal didn't back up, he just felt his finger tightening more on the trigger.

"Thomas! Tell me where Peter is!" He moved forward, gun aimed at the masked figure. He almost had the trigger pulled all the way back when he saw something strange. He turned on his heel and shot, hitting another figure. The figure fell to the ground and gasped, a curse leaving their lips. It was Thomas. Neal looked at the man grasping at his shoulder. If that was Thomas then... Neal approached the masked figure and pulled the mask off revealing Peter. His friend's eyes were dilated nearly black, lips covered in tape which explained why he hadn't spoken. Neal dropped the gun, hugging his friend.

"Peter?" He pulled the tape from his friend's mouth and saw the agent smile at him drunkenly.

"You saw..." Peter's voice was barely audible, the agent collapsing against him. Neal held his friend in his arms, looking up as the bedroom door flew open revealing Jones and crew. Neal froze.

"We found Burke and Caffrey." Jones moved forwards and helped Neal with Peter as the other agents took Thomas and Jared into custody. It was over. Finally over. Neal let Jones and another agent lead Peter and himself out of the room. There was an ambulance waiting, two stretchers available as he watched Peter placed on one. Neal was eased onto the other one. He kept his eyes on his friend as they were carried away. He watched Elizabeth run to Peter's side once they were outside and hug her husband. The agent was only semi-aware of her presence, El walking with the stretcher as they were pushed into the ambulance. Hughes made sure she was able to ride along with them, patting the young man on the shoulder before he was put inside the same vehicle.

"Good work, Caffrey!"