At four o'clock, Neal finally realized that Kate wasn't going to come and left.


Neal flipped the card over and over again. When he had gotten back, El had taken one look at his miserable face and asked what was wrong. Neal hadn't answered and went upstairs. Peter had followed him, reprimanding the young con for ignoring El. Neal had finally snapped at Peter and the federal agent had backed down. Neal had curled up on his bed and tried desperately to ignore the pricking at the back of his eyes. He knew he had been rude to both Peter and El and he wanted desperately to apologize.

"Hon, we need to go up and talk to him," El pleaded with her husband.

"El, he yelled at me" Peter knew he sounded like a petulant child, but he didn't care.

"Peter, you yelled at him."

"He-" Peter started to say something and El cut in.

"No. Peter, you need to go up and apologize to him."

"Neal needs to apologize to you." Peter folded his arms.

"I'll go with you" El coaxed.

"Fine. This is for you though, not him." Peter stalked up the stairs, El following closely.

"Neal? Sweetie? Can we come in?" El asked gently through the door.

There was no reply and El slowly opened the door. She felt her heart break at the sight of Neal curled on the bed, tears trickling down his cheeks and silent sobs shaking his body. Even Peter felt his heart constrict as he and El sat on either side of Neal. El gently rubbed her hand in circles on Neal's back, feeling the conman's sobs subside until he just lay limply on the bed.

"Neal. I think you have something to say" Peter began in a quiet tone. El tried to warn him, but Neal's response was faster.

"I'm sorry," he cried as he wrapped his arms around El, the tears threatening to fall again. Peter just sat there, waiting until Neal let go of El and turned to face him.

"I'm sorry, Peter" Neal said softly, quickly swiping his hand across his eyes.

"It's alright, Neal. However, you need to apologize to El and me after being so rude" Peter responded gruffly, after El prodded his arm.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you." Neal said sincerely, looking both Burke's straight in the eyes.

"Neal, tomorrow, you're going to have to come with me to work." Peter paused, "Hughes needs to know about the painting and the one from the gallery. Perhaps your friend could help us."

Neal panicked for a moment, thinking the FBI agent meant Mozzie. However he relaxed, when Peter prompted "Kate?"

"I, I don't think that's a good idea."

"What do you mean?" Peter asked suspiciously.

"Oh, I'm sure she's busy. She said they were having some sort of gala or something." Neal hastily supplied.

"Alright. But I'm sure she'd be able to meet with us for just a minute" Peter pressed, carefully watching Neal's response. The young conman maintained a neutral expression and shrugged. He was really not looking forward to this alleged meeting.


Neal used his foot to spin his chair in a half circle. He had sat at Peter's desk for at least two hours while Peter talked with his boss. And Peter, the inconsiderate federal agent that he was, didn't even provide him with a piece of paper and a pencil. So Neal was forced to find printer paper, all by himself, and use one of Peter's pens that ran out of ink halfway through the drawing.

"Peteeeer" Neal drew out the "e" as the FBI agent walked into the office. Peter raised his eyebrows at Neal's whine. He hadn't expected the young conman to be a whiner.

"What?"

"You left me alone. All day." Neal somehow managed to look like a puppy someone had abandoned on the side of the road. Peter could feel his heart starting to melt, just a bit.

"You want lunch?" Peter offered to a still pouting Neal. The kid shrugged, which Peter took as an affirmative.

Peter felt like he was dragging Neal, trailing the young conman behind him, like he was on a leash. They finally stopped at a hole-in-the-wall Chinese takeout place and Neal promptly rolled his eyes.

"Really? FBI agents eating Chinese takeout? I thought that was only in the movies" Neal commented sarcastically. Peter smirked, thinking about the stereotypical teenager behavior Neal was exhibiting.

"Here" Peter handed Neal a menu.

"Sesame chicken" Neal said, promptly handing the menu back to Peter.

"Been here before?" questioned Peter.

Neal shook his head.

"Then how-" Peter began, but he was interrupted as the cashier asked him for their orders.

"How did you know what to order?" Peter asked, as they waited for their food. Neal just smiled and shrugged.

The FBI agent rolled his eyes, thinking of how typically vague Neal was.


Author's Note: I am SO sorry for not having updated for a month+. There will be one more chapter after this one and then this story will be over. Thank you to everyone who is still reading!