I've been trying to stay in character with this story, sometimes it's hard to do as I want them to react to a situation differently, but it doesn't fit their character , so this time I have tried to stay in character.

Anyhow hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Thirteen: Punishment fit the Crime

Neal sat in the back of Peter's car keeping as quiet as he possibly could. He knew it was highly unlikely that Peter would forget about this recent unfortunate turn of events, but one could always hope for a miracle.

John remained silent and only occasionally glanced over at Peter who refused to say a word. The only time he took his eyes off of the road were the momentary, yet highly uncomfortable glances he cast Neal through the rear view mirror.

Neal did his best to appear not to notice those awkward and threatening looks coming from the senior FBI Agent, but the more often they came the harder that became to do.

After what seemed like an eternity of driving through the New York streets, Peter stopped the car just outside of Junes house. Neal was rather surprised that Peter took him to his apartment rather than to his and Elizabeth's house. Normally when there was a lecture on the way Peter preferred to do it at home. This was oddly disconcerting to Neal. He would rather Peter have taken him to his house, at least that would be normal, that would have been expected, that would mean nothing had changed. But arriving at Junes changed everything.

Peter stepped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat on the side Neal was sitting. "Get out." He forcefully ordered.

Neal stood beside the car and looked at Peter. "Does this mean I'm off the hook?" Neal smiled, he had to at least try and lighten the mood. He never did to well in tense situations. Peter's expression obviously wasn't too pleased at the attempt.

"Don't! I'm not in the mood." Peter frowned and grabbed Neal by the arm, his hands still cuffed behind his back. He shoved him towards Junes house. "Let's go."

Neal allowed Peter to push him towards the door. As soon as they opened it they were greeted by June standing in the entry. She had a look of shock on her face when she saw Neal in handcuffs and Peter's unfavorable look. "Oh my, Neal what have you done?"

"Oh he messed up big this time." Peter replied before Neal had the chance to even open is mouth. "Get up stairs." He shoved Neal towards the staircase.

They walked up and as soon as they entered the small apartment Mozzie jumped to his feet from the couch. "Oh boy."

Peter glared at Mozzie. "Get out Mozzie. Go home, or wherever you go."

Mozzie looked at Neal, he almost looked afraid to leave Neal alone. Neal nodded his head towards the door. "Go Moz."

Mozzie quickly grabbed his coat and headed for the door. Just before he left he turned around and said "For the record, Neal did what he thought he had to do."

"GO!" Peter charged.

"Going." Mozzie closed the door behind him as he left the apartment.

Neal stood still as Peter began to walk around him, circling him like a vulture to its prey.

John was standing in the background just watching. He decided at Peter's level of anger there was no need to add his own to the mix. He was better off acting as the referee should he need to intervene on Neal's behalf.

Peter circled Neal two more times, his eyes scolding him with each pass. Neal just looked at the floor, it was a much more comfortable feeling than making eye contact with those scornful eyes.

"When are you going to learn Neal? When are you going to realize how close you keep getting to going back to prison?" Peter's tone was obviously angered, yet it was even and soft.

"Today seems good." Neal tried to smile.

"Can the wisecracks. This is serious. I should turn you in you know that."

Neal swallowed and looked back at the floor. "Are you going to?"

Peter circled him another time. "I don't know. That's what prison is there for, to correct your ways. Answer me this, what have I taught you that prison hasn't?"

Neal looked up at Peter as he stopped his pacing around him and stood directly in front of him. He blinked, he swallowed again. How would he answer that? He knew this was the deciding factor on if he would stay out of prison or spend the next four years behind bars. He felt his heartbeat quicken, his breathing became heavier. It was nerves. There was a long silence as he tried to find the words. He knew what Peter had taught him, he knew what prison had taught him. And he knew where he belonged.

Peter gently shook his head and turned away from Neal. "That's what I thought." Peter pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and began to dial the Marshalls.

"I can tell you what prison hasn't taught me."

Peter turned around and looked at Neal.

"It hasn't taught me the value of friendship, or the gift of forgiveness. It didn't even come close to teaching me how badly it hurts to know that you've disappointed someone you care about. To know that you let them down, that they have lost their trust in you." Neal smiled but in a sad way. He looked at John and continued, "It didn't teach me what it means to be part of a family, to have someone believe in you, that you can be better."

John smiled.

"I did the things I did tonight, because you taught me to never leave a friend behind. I had to save Alex, and yeah I may have gone about it all wrong. But it wasn't motivated by greed or revenge. It was motivated by love of a friend. I learned that from you. And I'm not conning you Peter, I'm being honest."

Peter's stone face began to soften slightly. He knew Neal better than anyone, and he knew Neal was not conning him, not this time. He was sincere in his tone, his expression and his body language. He had not realized how much of an impact he had on the young mans life, how much of a positive impact he had. It felt good hearing it from Neal's own mouth. Maybe his father was right, Neal didn't need prison to correct his ways, he needed a family to correct them.

Peter walked around Neal and pulled his keys out and released the handcuffs from his wrist. He moved back in front of Neal. "This doesn't mean you are off the hook with me. It just means I'm not turning you in."

Neal smiled. "I'll take that."

"Here's what's going to happen. You are going to go pack your bag, you're staying at my house, you won't go anywhere, do anything, or see anyone without my approval. Got it!"

Neal nodded his head. "For how long?"

"Till I decide I'm tired of you. Got a problem with that?"

"I'm not fond of it."

"Tough. It's that or prison, you're call!"

"I said I wasn't fond of it I didn't say I couldn't live with it."

"Good, now go pack."

John held his hand up and took a few steps forward towards Peter and Neal, "I'd like to add something to his punishment."

Neal turned and looked at John then back at Peter.

Peter smiled and looked at Neal who now had a rather shocked and concerned expression across his face. "Be my guest."

"Since this whole thing is all because of steeling from an art Museum. I think it only fair to request Neal to donate something from his personal collection to the Museum."

Neal frowned. "But I didn't actually steal the painting. I was protecting it from being stolen."

Peter smiled. "No, I think that's a great idea. Let the punishment fit the crime."

Neal looked at Peter. "I didn't steal anything Peter!" He sounded as if he were being treated unfair.

"Then consider it a penance for all the other things you have stolen in the past. Now I know you have some paintings that are worth something in that storage locker you have on 34th Street."

Neal looked shocked. "You know about that?"

"I know."

"Those paintings all have significance to me, I can't just give one up."

"You can, and you will. Besides you probably stole all of them so you're not really losing all that much. If you're looking for a way out of the dog house…."

"I might find it by donating a painting." Neal interrupted.

"Bingo! Now go pack."