(Chapter 12)

Neal had noticed the municipal truck around the cafe the second day of his arrival. Baker had wanted him to work with the forgers in the back room finishing up bills and other items they were selling for cash flowing his experiments for the Cartel. He had seen the boss with Baker a few days before and been told he was a perfect example of what was needed for the "Fountain of Youth" potion. He got a bad feeling from the exchange but hid it as they sent him back with Jacob and Eddy to do what needed to be done.

When he finally saw the truck again, he had to leave a message, planning it to the place and minute. Jacob and Eddy stayed inside most of the time but for smoke breaks off and on. He would nurse a cigarette when he had to blend in but wasn't much for the actual act as he made an excuse for air and smokes. He'd gotten cigs earlier but now he had to see if Peter had gotten his note. His ear had been to the ground about his friend, hearing he might be on desk duty but Mozzie had said El told him something about the Suit going on an overnight duty. This would be the right time and with Mozzie keeping in touch off and on it helped. He had been going through sim cards like Jacob through smokes, all the numbers in his head that he needed. Now that he had finally seen his friend, it hurt to tell him he couldn't go with the agent. Peter looked upset and he didn't blame his friend when he was so glad to see him. They had parted and he hoped Peter would keep his secret a while longer. Until they had a way around the transformations effects, he had to stay put and do what he was told. Baker held the cards and without his daily infusions, he was a dead man. The scientist had ensured that when he let Peter go. The con fumed silently but he was patient. Mozzie was helping to find a solution and he had seen Peter. It was enough for now.

"Neal!"

He glanced up casually, as Eddy hissed his name and nudged him. Baker was walking over, green eyes flashing intently as if he were in the know about something. The others seemed more worried about the fact he was there rather than Neal was. He kept on working with his painting, adding the final strokes. They had another house they were going to hit soon and needed the fakes sooner than expected. He could really use Mozzie here now but it was up to him to use what he had at his disposal. A hand touched his shoulder, squeezing in a not so friendly manner as he gazed back and saw Baker behind him.

"Looks like the real thing... well close enough. You have more to do, I expect?"

Neal nodded, pointing at a nearby kiln / pizza oven. It was part of the cafe's cover. They also had what appeared to be an antique washing machine / forgers mint for money and bonds. So far only one of the houses hadn't had any replacements ready, nobody knowing exactly what the man had until they were inside. It had been a quick snatch and grab at best the others had only reported their safes emptied out and only after several days. There had been no signs of their entry and exit otherwise. Baker had been happy as had the Cartel. They were getting ready to try the de-aging process on the leader hoping for a cure of his disease. Neal hoped to get away by then if not stop the whole thing but getting away would be his first priority. Heck with the boss of the Cartel. He wanted his freedom. He sighed as he checked his painting against the book he was copying. It had to be perfect or close to it and he wasn't one to do anything half ass if he could help it. Baker looked pleased, moving to Eddy and Jacob with their own projects. Nobody knew he had met with Peter and that was a good thing as he walked the art to the kiln and slipped it inside. He had pre-heated it to the right temp, hearing Mozzie in his head walking him through the process. Imagining the other con with him made things a bit more bearable as he closed the oven door and went to get himself something to munch on. He felt his phone buzz once then a pause before it buzzed twice quietly. It was Mozzie but he couldn't pick up now without bringing suspicion to him. He kept eating his food, drinking some of that soda Baker had infused with the nutrients for their conditioning. He'd tried going cold turkey the first day after Peter was free but had nearly died. Baker hadn't let him, giving the con an IV of the stuff until his body had stabilized again.

"Neal... does this look ok to you?"

Eddy was beside him, a large T bill in his hands. It was still freshly minted, the ink fresh. They needed to warm it up and dry the bill to look aged and not smell like it had been forged recently. He nodded, giving the young man a thumbs up.

"Looks good. Just need to age it a bit. Can't smell to fresh."

Eddy nodded, going back to finish up as Neal returned to his thoughts and how to contact Mozz. He finally got up and went to the bathroom, manner casual as he found an empty stall and locked the door. He pulled out his phone and looked at the text inside.

Panacea por todos, amigo.

Mozzie had come through, the young man happy as he sent a message back and once done he cleared the phone, pulled the sim out, cracked it and flushed it down the toilet while putting in a brand new sim. He wasn't taking chances. He was exiting to wash his hands when he saw Jacob there in the doorway watching him. There was a certain wariness he felt around the now much older man. He knew little of the adult Jacob other than he seemed far more wild and unpredictable than the younger one. The man went into the same stall as him, Neal finishing washing his hands before he left. There wasn't anything to draw attention to him. He'd been careful.

()()()

Elizabeth was excited for some reason when Peter woke up the next morning. It was closer to noon, Reese giving him the day off due to his night in the surveillance van. He had suspected something was up when she cooked him eggs and bacon, something she normally kept him from eating due to the doctor telling him it was bad.

"This smells good hun. What's the occasion?"

He was letting her know he knew something was up as she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him gently.

"Well... uhm, Mozzie called me. I... don't get your hopes up yet but he might have found Neal."

He nearly choked on his eggs, coughing as she hit him on the back and the fit finally ended. He still hadn't told anyone about his visit with Neal and neither had Jones. They were still looking into getting those involved with the cafe red handed which hadn't happened as of yet. He took a long sip of his juice and smiled up at El with a confidence that meant he was ok.

"Really? What does he know?"

She shrugged, an unhappy look on her face.

"He wouldn't tell me. Asked if you would call him back. Odd right?"

El handed him a card, the number written neatly on it. There was a time listed at which to call the number and a time limit before the phone would become erased. Mozzie wasn't taking any chances.

"Thanks, El. I'll call him after breakfast. Hopefully, it's good news."

()()()

Neal was preparing, making it look like he was just doing the usual packing up they did once a job was about to be done. They were back at Baker's usual residence, the one he had been at as Andy. The hidey hole he used was still there untouched so he was certain he'd find what he needed inside as he opened it up in private and pushed the stuff into a secret pocket of his pack. He pushed the bag to its normal spot, exiting the room to the kitchen. Neal had to drink those energy sodas much as he hated them but it was that or death and right now he was close to freedom.

"Thought you were so smart..."

Neal recognized the voice right off, turning but something clocked him along the side of the head as he fell to the floor with a thud. He was disoriented and stunned, trying to get up but his attacker pulled his arms back tightly behind him, the sound of a zip tie as he felt his wrists secured before he was flipped onto his back. A blurry face swam before his a moment before his vision focused enough to recognize Jacob. The 20 something man grinned at him evilly, Neal opening his mouth to protest when his head was pushed back hard, his breath knocked from his lungs and a rag was pushed into his mouth, tape pulled over his lips as he choked slightly. Jacob just smiled.

"I know your past... Baker left his room open and I saw our files. Eddy, he's not a threat but you... A kind hearted con man. Such a joke! I know who I was. You're about to find out what I used to do in my past..."

Jacob looked at him like a tiger about to eat its prey, Neal struggling to get free but feeling one more crack to the side of his head, blackness overcoming him.

()()()

Peter had the day off from work due to the surveillance but was tempted to go in and do his report if nothing else. Call it boredom or something else but he liked work although his mind was more excited about seeing Neal than it was on the former. He was exiting the bathroom in his robe and thinking what to do about his friend as he entered the bedroom. His wife promised to be home early from her business for them to enjoy his day off so Peter had to do what he needed before then. He yawned, pulling on his clothes when he remembered the note from Mozzie. He went downstairs, glancing at the note and sighing as he called the number and waited. It rang three times then he heard the click as if someone had picked up but there was silence. He waited but there was nothing, his finger moving to hang up when he heard it.

"Suit..."

Peter nearly jumped at the sudden voice, controlling his surprise by answering as calmly as he could.

"Mozz... you wanted to talk?"

He heard silence then a knock on his door as he walked over curiously and saw the little guy standing there still on his cell.

"Yeah..."

It was an uncomfortable silence that fell over them as they sat on the sofa and Peter tried to figure out what was going on with the con. Finally Mozzie finished setting up his laptop and pushed it over for the agent to view. His eyes widened some at the stuff he was reading but mostly at the information about Baker. If the man was 70 was this the same Baker or a son? Much as he had experienced the whole childhood redone, it was still seemed more of a dream than anything.

"So this is the formula... you think it will help Neal?"

The con man nodded, smiling slightly.

"I might know someone who dabbles in chemistry... He was willing to help out. I didn't tell him what it was for. He thinks it's some kind of protein shake which technically by those specs it is..."

Peter read the page again, his mind trying to understand what he was reading. He was good at science but he was no rocket scientist but if this was going to free Neal he was all for it.

"I... saw him last night Mozz. Neal contacted me. I was going to take him home but he said he couldn't leave. Now I understand why."

He wiped at his face tiredly, a hand squeezing his shoulder as he turned to see Mozzie being uncharacteristically comforting.

"I tried the same thing a couple of weeks back and he told me what happened. It's the only way he could get you away from the man was to indenture his well being to that monster. He gave me the formula but didn't know what to hope for by doing so. Apparently Baker has poor locks on his doors and safe."

There was a wistful smile there as Peter nodded and stood. If this was what they needed then Neal was safe now. They just had to get to him. Mozzie closed up the laptop and stood.

"I'm meeting him later tonight. I didn't tell him I would tell you about what was going on but... now that you know you can help if you want."

Mozzie wasn't giving him any direct looks but Peter nodded, more than happy to help Neal.

"I want to be there. Let me know when and where."

()()()

Neal wasn't sure what happened, his head beating with a tune all of its own as he started to come to. He tried to reach up and rub at the bump he could feel on the side of his head but found he was bound, wrists pulled tightly behind him and secured to a post. The place wasn't familiar to him but looked to be abandoned at best. Footsteps drew his attention away from himself to a blurry figure coming closer. His eyes focused and he saw it was Jacob.

"Glad to see you're awake. This was my home at one time. They called it an institute for mental health. I called it a prison. I was there from age 15 until they sent me to the maximum at Rikers. Baker freed me for some reason. I didn't know why at the time but now I remember."

Neal didn't like the man's tone, doing his best to dig for a hidden razor blade to free himself when Jacob yanked him up to his feet. His bad shoulder was still bothering him some despite Baker's supposed care. It had never truly healed up.

"Is your shoulder still bothering you, brother?"

Jacob was smiling at him coldly, Neal uncertain what was about to happen when he gave a muffled scream. Jacob was poking at his wound with his thumb and squeezing hard against the angry nerves. The con struggled but he was trapped, the pain finally getting to him before he slumped against the bonds and down to the floor.

"Pathetic... smart doesn't protect you in this world. Power does."

Neal glanced up at the man, breath hitching some from the pain. He was quietly cutting at his bonds, barely able to hold the small razor blade in his fingers from the pain. He pulled and felt a loosening of the zip ties but continued to keep his expression bland as Jacob pulled him up hard and he kept the bonds close to hide he was nearly free.

"The doctors all thought they were smarter than me and I overpowered them. It took 10 orderlies to get me under control but I took care of the doctors."

His expression was manic, insane and Neal now understood what danger he was in. He hoped to get out once Jacob left him alone. He was dropped back to the floor, doing his best to not draw attention as the man walked away, a door shutting nearby with a loud slam. Neal glanced up after a moment checking that the coast was clear before he pulled his wrists free and removed the tape from his lips, spitting out the rags. He cut his legs loose and stood unsteadily on his feet. The room was solid cinderblock walls, Neal peering through a boarded up window to see it was cemented with bricks on the other side. The only way out was the one door that Jacob went through. The con wondered if he should take the chance or just wait and try and overpower his captor. Minutes went by and he finally decided to try his luck out the door. He was trapped and there wasn't much he could do otherwise. Neal wasn't going to give in when he had his chance at freedom from Baker. Mozzie was going to meet him but he wasn't sure how much time had passed as he quietly opened up the door and peeked out. The dirty dilapidated hallway was empty and dark. He swallowed hard and headed down the passage quietly, feeling around his pockets and finding his phone still on him. Neal was glad for that, sending a quick text to Mozz as he found another door with light underneath. He reached to pull it open when someone attacked him, tossing him to the ground and something bright narrowly missed his face. It was a large knife, strong hands holding him down as they tried to stab at him again and he shifted enough out of the way.

"Baker should know you're nothing special, Caffrey. You haven't the killer instinct necessary for what he proposes. Once you're out of the way, I should be the next one in line."

Neal struggled to get away, pushing the knife from his face but feeling it dig deep into his already wounded shoulder as he cried out. He was distracted long enough Jacob pushed his full weight onto him, arms pinned down as a hand covered his mouth and nose. His lungs were crying out for air as the con struggled, Jacob letting go off and on but then choking him again with inhuman strength.

"If anyone is the perfect specimen for this experiment... it's me. ME!"

Neal heard the man crow hysterically before everything started to go black, his vision tunneling out as he felt his chest tighten and burn from lack of air and his body went slack.

()()()

Peter was getting some beer for himself and tea for Mozzie when he heard the little guy moving around in the other room. Something was up as he turned and looked down into the living room. The con looked upset.

"Suit... something's come up."

The little guy sounded a bit uncertain, worried and he wondered why as Mozzie headed for the door then paused and turned around.

"We need to go now. Neal's in trouble. I tracked his phone..."

Peter blinked, nodding as he slipped on his shoes, grabbed his jacket and keys. He didn't have time to leave a note for his wife, his mind distracted by the fact he was worried about Neal's well being. He unlocked the car as Mozzie slid into the front passenger seat of the Taurus and Peter into the driver's seat.

"Where to, Mozz?"

He felt sorely undermanned for this but realized they had to go now if it was an emergency. Besides, how could he explain things to Hughes if he saw how much younger Neal was? Mozzie gave him a direction and they headed out.

()()()

Jacob smiled, looking down at the limp form of Neal Caffrey and felt an almost superior feeling as he realized he had risen up in the ranks now. He had been top dog but now he was the perfect specimen as well. Baker would have to take him seriously now as more than just muscle. The man grinned with a manic gleam in his eyes, turning to leave when there was a shot and he looked down at the red spot forming on his chest. It was as if he were just looking at a ketchup stain, grin still on his face but slowly turning a bit more pained before he glanced up and saw someone down the hallway with a gun.

"You? Yellow through and through... Ha!"

The gun shot off one more time as Jacob fell to his knees, that crazed smile and look still on his face before he slid to the ground and was dead. The figure moved slowly closer, feeling for a pulse and seemed happy enough there wasn't one before checking Neal. Short blond hair leaned over him and felt for breath but there was none. Eddy looked worried.

"Neal? Hey... wake up!"

The young man started to perform CPR, breathing for his friend before there was a faint gasp of air and Neal started to breath on his own. He smiled a moment, lifting his friend up in a fireman's hold and moving towards the door. He had come down the stairs quietly, hoping to avoid Baker's glare. They had tracked Jacob and Neal both here, Eddy still wondering why nobody ever checked for the bug. He moved it when he could but the others never listened to him.

"Thank you for taking care of that little problem, Eddy. I can take him from here."

The young man froze, looking at their so called father and holding up his friend who was bleeding heavily now. It took a moment but he moved away, back towards the room in the back with Neal in tow but a gunshot hitting near him made the young man pause.

"Let me have him, Eddy."

Baker was looking at him with cold green eyes and a glare that could melt marble. Eddy shook his head, clinging to his friend as much as he could.

"No... he's not yours or anyone's to have!"

Neal started to twitch in his hold, Eddy uncertain what was going on as he tried to help but Baker shot again, hitting the blond male in the chest. The younger man slumped to the ground with Neal beside him, Baker swooping in to grab up the seizing con.

"Jacob never understood the idea of holding back and you were never smart enough to grasp the simple idea you were both expendable compared to Caffrey."

Eddy watched as the man he'd been trapped with the past six months lifted the hurt Neal and started to move away. As much as he had been underestimated by everyone, he remembered something of who he was. He hadn't been the smartest person, his love of shiny objects the reason why he'd ended up where he had: Prison. It had been a single accident he still regretted but this one he couldn't let go. Neal deserved better and he had to make up for his sins. Eddy pulled out his gun again and shot. Baker turned, slumping slightly where he stood but it was immediate as Eddy shot again, the older man dropping Neal back to the ground as he grasped at his chest with a pained look on his face.

"Youuuuu..."

Eddy shot a third time, something in him knowing he was doing the right thing. Baker had to be stopped at all costs. He finally put the gun down when the man collapsed to his knees, gazing down at him with contempt and disappointment even in his last hours but Eddy was finally free and so was everyone else. Hell with the Cartel. He had known what was going on before Jacob or anyone else. He suspected Andy... Neal had known and his part in kidnapping the child-sized Fed had only been to keep what cover he had. This was his apology... his eyes closing as he felt pain beyond the shot and hoped what he thought would happen, would.

()()()

There was a deja vu moment when they arrived at the dilapidated house. Peter paused uncertainly outside the threshold, Mozzie giving him an odd look.

"I don't live here Fed so I can't invite you over the threshold if you're suddenly have Vampire Suit tendencies..."

Peter perked up at the remark, smirking slightly but still looking a bit wary about the place. He had been here, he knew that much as they entered the house through Mozzie's special skills and glanced around the shell of a house. It was sturdy enough, brick on the outside but it looked to have burned out on the inside, a shell of its former self. It could have been a very nice place if it was fixed up again as they stepped quietly around the residence and found nothing but a few energy drink cans to show Baker and his men might have been here. It was the same drink he'd barely avoided while with the man.

"Did you hear that?"

Mozzie was making a move towards the back of the house, head cocked to one side as if listening to something. Peter wasn't sure what he meant until he heard something too. It was barely audible but it was a low tapping sound somewhere inside the building. Someone was here.

"I hear it. Where is it coming from?"

The conman shushed him, Peter frowning but obeying for now as they tried to avoid making too much noise, the floorboards creaking under foot softly until they found themselves in the rear of the house in what used to be a kitchen.

"It's louder here. Over this way, Suit."

Mozzie led them over to what looked to be a pantry but the fire had decimated the original and now it showed a hidden entrance where the shelves once sat. Peter had his gun on him just in case, cocking it quietly as they entered the dark passage and saw it led down a sturdy staircase to a dimly lit hallway below. Now he was getting some serious deja vu, the agent pausing momentarily as he tried to get over the fear brought from being here. He was being silly he thought. There was nothing here... except that tapping noise as it grew louder and Peter kept his gun at the ready. He could really use Jones, Diana and a crew of agents in the background ready for action but it was just him and Mozzie. He kept his wits about him, taking the lead.

Peter wasn't prepared for the scene once he had reached the bottom of the stairs and found the first body. It was one of the two that had taken them that day he only vaguely recalled. He had still been trapped as a 10 year old and someone had been talking to Neal. This was that man. He was certain of it. The figure was face down, bloodied and obviously had been shot. He checked for a pulse and found none, a strange kind of relief falling over him. The agent moved along the grisly scene and found three additional bodies, one was a bit older than the others with white hair. The man was aged far beyond what he had seen on the net, remembering the picture that he'd been shown by Mozzie. This was Baker at his true age, green eyes open and staring blankly ahead. He was dead as was a whitish blond man who looked to be in his fifties athough something about him was familiar as he moved to the last body and his breath hitched.

"Neal!"

The younger man was trembling, body seizing slightly as he lay there on the ground, hand tapping against the wall without meaning to. He took his partner gently into his arms, noticing the wound to his shoulder. He immediately took off his shirt to wrap the injury as he tried to stop the bleeding. The con didn't wake up, eyes closed tightly, his face taut with pain not entirely from the wound.

"Neal... wake up. You're safe. Mozzie, I found him!"

He just noticed the little guy wasn't behind him, still on the staircase looking over at him curiously from the doorway. He knew the con wasn't a coward but he figured one look at the dead bodies and the nonviolent Mozzie had turned tail a bit. Didn't blame him as he had thought he might be sick before finding Neal alive. He lifted the con up to his feet, gently half carrying his friend towards the stairs. How would they get him up there if he was still hurt? He looked at the sealed window and back up at Mozz.

"Meet us in the back. I'm going to break the window and take him this way. Easier on Neal that way."

He saw Mozz nod and disappear as he shot the glass, cleared out the debris and squeezed them both through. Neal's trembling had increased, his shaking tenfold as Peter hoped he was in time to help his partner and friend. Mozzie met him within a minute or two, helping to ease the con over to the Taurus and into the backseat of the car.

"He's not doing very well. I don't think this is just from that wound. Is that cocktail ready that you showed me or do we have to make it?"

Peter was remembering his own painful transformation from child to teen and back again. This reminded him of watching when Neal had turned from Andy and grown up a few years. Without Baker they were in the dark as to solve this unless what Mozzie showed him online worked.

"My friend said he'd have it done. I'm texting him now."

Mozzie stayed in the back seat while Peter drove although he kept looking back off and on. Neal wasn't doing well, his face slick with sweat, skin pale, Mozzie looking worried.

"His fever is high, Suit."

Peter wasn't sure suddenly where they were going, realizing he was just heading home but if Neal was sick they needed another place.

"Mozzie... I have no idea where we could take him. I don't want El to see this."

He glanced into the rear view mirror and saw Mozzie looking back.

"Twosday..."

()()()

It was nearly an hour lately they parked the car not too far from a blind alley way, Peter realizing he had been here before but saying nothing as they worried over Neal. They took him into the odd maze with Mozzie as guide and gently lay the young man on a futon in the room the agent only vaguely recalled. Mozzie seemed to notice without being too specific.

"Enjoy being here while you can, Suit... only doing this for Neal."

Mozzie didn't sound upset or angry, just truthful as Peter made Neal comfortable and tended his wound with the kit Mozzie brought. It was in the same shoulder as the wound that wouldn't heal and there was signs of the original injury still evident as the agent cleaned it. Neal was very warm, face twitching and obviously in pain as he put a wet cloth on the con's forehead and gently wiped at his face. A hand grabbed his and he noticed blue eyes looking up into his.

"Neal?"

He glanced up to see Mozzie gone, a voice coming back to him in low tones some ways away. He must be calling that friend, meanwhile Neal was gripping his hand tightly and it reminded him of the change. He was remembering how scared he'd been and now... it was happening again and he was still afraid but for other reasons.

"Pe... ter..."

The con looked frightened as he glanced up at him with blue eyes bright with fever. Peter wanted to tell him everything would be ok but he wasn't sure and for once lying seemed so wrong.

"I'm here, Neal. It's ok. Can you take some aspirin?"

He pulled the bottle out of the medkit and a bottled water Mozzie had left with it as he helped his friend sit up enough to take the pills and drink some of the cool liquid. Neal did as he was able and finally slumped, eyes rolling back again as he continued to tremble, his fever rising as Peter took his temp and sighed.

"Hang on Neal... Please."

The con nodded tiredly back at the quiet words, body starting to slump more and then the trembling seemed to end and Neal went still. Peter felt cold wash over him, Mozzie's voice ringing in the quiet space as he walked back in.

"I'm going to pick up the... what's the matter? Suit?"

Peter didn't know what to say, Neal laying limp and unmoving in his arms as he reached to feel for a pulse and felt nothing. His eyes widened as he shook his head and started muttering: No No Neal... No please... No...

"He's not breathing, Mozz... no pulse. Neal... come on..."

He started CPR on his partner, Mozzie moving closer with a shocked look on his face. He was just watching as Peter continued to breath and do chest compressions for their mutual friend . Neal didn't move or seem to respond as the agent felt close to hopeless as he kept on, determined to bring his friend back.

"Neal... please... breathe, buddy... breathe..."

()()()

Neal felt as if he were going to simply break apart from all the trembling and shaking his body was doing as he felt his temperature rise and he fell into a semi-conscious state. He thought he must be dreaming when he came to for a moment and saw Peter there. The agent couldn't have found him, his hopes dashed when he realized he was dying and nobody could help. He had heard enough of the fight at the abandoned residence to know that Baker was dead. Without the man who had taken him prisoner, all chance was lost. Mozzie said he had a friend but it was still a long shot and he always hoped they would catch Baker and make him reverse everything. Now he was going to die, his body starting to shut down from shock and something the man had programmed into him. He saw the look on Peter's face but could say little more than his friend's name before he slumped unconscious and felt his body turn off.

It was cold and dark, his mind barely conscious of anything but the fact he was dead. He wasn't sure how he was still able to think, his thoughts faint and only vague imagery still present before he heard something like a metronome start back up and a rush of air. It was his body coming back, the sound of him gasping for air and his heart beating again. He was shaking, trembling but it was more because of whatever Baker had done than the heat that burned across his face and the ice that encased his body as if he had been dipped into a frozen lake. He was alive again but for how long?

Neal? Neal... Mozzie, we need that mixture now!

He could hear Peter as if from a long distance, voice echoing as he tried to dig his way out of the darkness but found he was helpless and unable to do anything but lay there.

Neal... buddy, wake up.

Neal heard the desperation in his friend's voice then echoing footsteps as someone neared and he heard another voice he knew.

I came back as soon as I could. How is he?

Just holding on... how... how does this work?

My friend said an injection is best. Let's see if this cocktail works. He's only been like this a little while but a month is long enough to change one's DNA if it's screwed with enough.

He sensed Peter's grip on him grow a bit more secure as something pinched at his arm and then everything seemed to go quiet. For a moment he thought maybe he had gone deaf but then someone spoke.

What's supposed to happen?

Peter spoke but it was barely above a whisper as if he was afraid to jinx them by asking more but he heard a sigh as Mozzie answered.

I really don't know. I just know what I read in Baker's notes and what Neal managed to get me from that safe. This said it was a stabilizer for the process. Let's hope that's what it does. My friend normally deals with less academic processes but he was a gifted chemist once...

Neal could hear them speaking, his body still trembling and shaking before he was blinded by light, bright light and blurry images as his eyes popped open and he felt himself scream. They were holding them down, strong hands. He fought and thrashed but they continued to keep him from moving too much before finally he felt that sensation again of melting. It hurt as if he were being pulled apart and put back together although how much had he changed in 10 years? His skin became liquid it seemed and then tightened and his bones lengthened slightly, joints adjusting and his shoulder feeling the worse of it where his wound was. It burned and stung until the process seemed to slow and stop and finally he just collapsed back against the futon, eyes focusing up on brown ones before everything faded gray to black and he passed out.

()()()

Peter had to call the cops anonymously with a burner to let them know about Baker and the others. He felt badly not admitting to having been there but the investigation proved that the men had killed each other while some unknown blood showed up but all the men had odd blood types that didn't ID them as the persons they were. Mozzie told him it probably had to do with the unknown stem cell addition to the cocktail Baker used. Changing one's genetic structure was something nobody should play with and they were lucky Neal's blood at the scene was unidentifiable.

Two days after they gave him the cure, Neal seemed to have stabilized and despite Mozzie's paranoia, they both finally agreed to take him to his home. El was surprised to find a hurt Neal Caffrey in their house when she arrived later that day. Finding Neal had to look authentic to avoid any kind of odd questions, Peter telling his wife the con had just showed up. He had convinced Mozzie this was the only way to hide what really happened and to get the hurt con to the hospital. Afterwards he called Hughes and his crew to let them know that Neal was alive and well and showed up on his doorstep. It was a lucky thing that El didn't know what was going on. Peter had to lie to her for her own protection and Neal's. It had been hard to leave him with Mozzie overnight then go through all of this deception just to hide what had happened. The agent sighed, his arm around his wife as they hugged each other and waited in the ER waiting area. It would hopefully soon be over.

"Agent Burke?"

The doctor called to them as he walked towards the waiting area and held out a hand to them. Peter stood and took it as did El as they waited to hear the news. Despite Neal returning to his real age and seemingly being ok, he had been very weak and looking like death when Mozzie had snuck him over the following day but it had been a necessary evil. He just hoped it had worked out. The doctor smiled at them and it seemed more genuine than professional so Peter had a hint things were ok.

"Yes... how is my partner?"

El was holding him around the waist, quietly waiting to hear as he was what the verdict on Neal's health was. The doctor continued to smile, his hand reaching out to touch Peter on the shoulder gently.

"He's doing well. We got him stable, stitched up the wound to his shoulder. It looks like the wound had reopened. I'm guessing he's had it a few days?"

Peter was surprised by the comment knowing that it had only happened yesterday. Maybe a miracle had happened but he just nodded, trying not to look as shell shocked as he felt. The doctor nodded back with a knowing look. He just wondered if everything else was ok.

"There is a bit of a question on his blood work. It's not reading right but we're testing it again to see why. You said he had been given some kind of drugs?"

The agent nodded, uncertain what to say as the doctor nodded and smiled at them both.

"That may explain the issues with his blood. Some organic compounds do change the body's work up. I'm sure it will clear itself up soon. He's doing much better and we're hydrating him. We managed to get the fever down to a manageable level. We'll keep him for a few days for observation."

El squeezed him and he felt the tension leave his body as he hugged her back and they both thanked the doctor.

"When can we see him?"

The doctor smiled and pointed down the hallway.

"Now. He should be in his room. They were setting him up as I came to talk to you. Follow me."

()()()

Neal was pale looking but there was a hint of light pink in his cheeks as Peter made his way slowly across the room with his wife. El wasn't sure why he was so nervous but he was worried something may have happened with the process after the fact. They had trusted the cocktail Mozzie's friend had made without knowing for certain if there might be some other reversal or reaction. The doctor had said he was fine, Peter finally nearing his friend, seeing that his partner hadn't changed after he had been injected. Neal looked just as he should, his age that of a man in his early 30s but still young enough as he often appeared. Peter let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding, El hugging him as they pulled a chair closer and she let him sit.

"He's ok, Peter. You can relax."

El was right, the agent grasping his friend's hand in his own and feeling the cool but not clammy hand in his own. There was still a bit of sweat on the young man's face indicating he might still have a small fever as the doctor had mentioned. Peter felt Neal's forehead and it was slightly warmer than normal, El talking quietly as she also felt the fever and sighed.

"Peter... he's healing. The doctor said so. It's a miracle he's here."

The agent had to agree but more so that he had been there for his friend. He'd tried so hard to protect and help Neal, as had Mozzie, and now he could repay the man who had temporarily been his big brother. He laughed to himself, El looking at him oddly but he shook it off.

"Sorry... just relieved. I... could I have a moment alone with him?"

El nodded, hugging him as she excused herself for coffee and exited. Peter waited a few minutes before he finally got up the courage to speak even if Neal ever heard him.

"Thanks, Andy... Neal. I guess I was always meant to be a Peter."

He laughed ever so slightly, wiping at the warmth forming in his eyes. His eyes were only closed a moment before he opened them again and saw two blue eyes gazing up at him tiredly. He was surprised, uncertain what to say as those eyes continued to look at him then blinked and a slight smile formed on Neal's lips.

"Hey buddy..."

Peter watched as Neal nodded, shifting slightly in the bed as he tried to get more comfy and sighed, a rough sounding voice speaking softly.

"Hey... Pe... ter."

The con closed his eyes after a moment and Peter thought he had fallen asleep but then those blue eyes gazed back up at him and Neal squeezed his hand.

"Half... pint..."

Peter rolled his eyes but nodded, hugging his friend gently. He felt Neal hug him back. Things were going to be ok.

oOoOoOo

Author's Notes: Nothing in here is necessarily truth (on the medical front) but has been derived from watching other shows that obviously did their homework before me and I just confirmed a few things on Wikipedia for my own benefit. Some of it is purely fiction and the part about genetics changing a person's make up, well that came from an odd convo with a customer at my work who told me she had stem cell cures for her cancer and apparently the donor's genetics influenced her hair and eyes to change color. I can't guarantee it's true, but that story stuck with me despite not certain of its truth. I hope you enjoyed the story!