Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA Network and Jeff Eastin.
Chapter 12
Peter and Neal rode the elevator to the parking garage without a word. It was clear to Peter that Neal had finished his performance and was doing everything he could to now hold himself together. As soon as they entered Neal had moved as far from him as was possible in the enclosed space. He leant against the wall, his arms and legs crossed. It didn't take a degree in psychology to read the body language. Stay Away!
Elizabeth was the touchy feely one and Peter felt extremely uncomfortable. He was praying they would make it to the car before the floodgates opened. He had comforted Neal as best he could earlier and it had seemed to help Neal at first, but from the second they had exited the holding cell Neal had become increasingly distant, figuratively and literally.
Just get him into the car. Just get him into the car.
When the car locks beeped Peter let out a gasp. He hadn't realized that he was holding his breath. Never had he been so soothed by simply sitting back in his car seat. As he switched on the ignition he let out a long sigh, the purring engine accompanying him. He looked over at Neal who had strapped himself in and then leant his head against the cool glass of the side window, his eyes closed. The stretched seat belt only accentuated how he was separating himself from his partner.
Peter knew Neal would put up a fuss but he needed to be upfront with him about what was going to happen.
"Neal, you're coming home with me. We'll stop by June's so you can get a change of clothes for tomorrow but then you're spending the night with Elizabeth and me, okay buddy?"
"Okay." Neal replied quietly.
Shit! What do I do with that? Difficult Neal, argumentative Neal, challenging Neal; those I can deal with. Quiet Neal, cooperative Neal, compliant Neal; these I cannot deal with.
Oh, how Peter longed to be back in his own home, back with Elizabeth and Satchmo. He knew that once he was in Elizabeth's arms he would be able to make sense of everything. He'd get back in control of the situation and know what to do.
The next moment they were at June's, seemingly in the blink of an eye. Neal didn't object to Peter accompanying him upstairs and watching his every move as he packed an overnight bag. Fortunately, June was out of town, so they didn't have to communicate with her. She would undoubtedly have wanted to question them about how Neal was and they were both secretly relieved that she was not there.
The drive to Peter's was just as nerve-racking with both men holding themselves so tight, terrified that the slightest communication would bring the walls tumbling down. Peter all but ran into the house when they arrived. He told himself it was so that he could warn Elizabeth about Neal's emotional state, but the reality was that he needed to feel her touch to restore his own equilibrium.
He'd updated her before leaving the office so she knew what had been going on with the Walker case, so it wasn't a surprise that Neal would be staying over. Neal often stayed in the guest room if things ran late or started real early. He had spent time with them while recuperating after being shot during an undercover operation and of course there were the nights after Kate's death when he was in no fit state to get back across town. They didn't even refer to the it as the guest room any more, but instead called it Neal's room.
So when Neal walked in with his belongings she had expected the worse, but instead Neal Caffrey was back on form and greeted her with a bright smile and a casual, "Good evening, Elizabeth." She hugged Neal and received a peck on the cheek as per usual, shooting Peter a puzzled look over Neal's shoulder as they embraced.
"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes. Why don't you boys change out of your work clothes and join me in the kitchen?" She suggested cheerily, as Neal headed straight for the guest room and Peter flopped down on the sofa and rubbed Satchmo's head.
"That bad, uh?" she asked Peter, sitting down beside him and taking his hand in hers.
"Yup, that bad. He's been flip-flopping between 100% closed down, or totally on point."
"How about you?" Elizabeth said with a sympathetic look, "How are you holding up?"
"Well, I still feel like a complete heel for hurting him the way I did. But I am just so worried about what he'll do I want to keep him locked away some place safe until I can set everything to rights."
"Oh, hon. You can't take on all that. We've been through worse with Neal. It will all turn out fine in the end."
"Hmmm" was the best response Peter could muster. Let's see if the outlook is so rosy once she knows about the killing.
Just then they heard the shower go on in the guest bathroom and Peter went to get into his sweats, although not before Elizabeth had held his face in her hands and given him a big kiss. His mood started to lift immediately. If only he could bottle that feeling and keep it with him all day!
As soon as he was changed, Peter looked in on Neal to see if he was ready for dinner. The door was ajar and swung open to reveal the young man, already in pajamas, curled up on top of the bed, his back to the door.
"You awake buddy?" He asked softly, inwardly hoping Neal was already asleep.
"Yeah. I'm really tired though Peter. Could you tell Elizabeth I'm going to pass on dinner and go straight to sleep?"
"No problem. Listen, Neal, I need you to stay put here all night. No phone calls, no midnight excursions. I'm setting your tracking anklet to the house only and I don't want you trying to contact Mozzie, okay?"
"Okay."
Here we go again.
"And Neal, I know what I said about us talking before I speak to anyone else about what you told me happened when you were a kid. But you know I have to tell Elizabeth, don't you? I can't keep her out of something like this."
Surely Neal would object to his telling Elizabeth. Peter recalled the terrified look Neal had had as he begged Peter to keep quiet. Neal made no secret of the fact that he adored Elizabeth and Peter could not see him agreeing to anything that might tarnish her opinion of him. Not that it would. Elizabeth's maternal instincts always kicked into overdrive where Neal was concerned. On more than a few occasions Peter had actually felt jealous of Neal when Elizabeth was all too quick to forgive his transgressions and only see the good in him. It was more than likely that Elizabeth would react to this information by mothering him even more.
Neal did not respond but Peter couldn't leave the question hanging.
"Neal, please can I tell her?"
The response brought him no relief from his building anxiety and it took all his will power to bite his tongue and leave Neal in peace.
"Okay."
TBC
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