Had a request for some more John moments and another request is included in this chapter. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Fourteen: Whatever It Takes

It was another long and silent car ride back to Peter and El's house, but Neal was thankful that at least the handcuffs had been removed. The sun was now breaking just above the horizon creating an early morning glow. Neal was not exactly sure what was going to happen when they did arrive at the house, was it going to be business as usual, or did Peter and John have something else in mind? That question hung around in Neal's head without an answer for some time. He wanted to ask but something told him not knowing would be less antagonizing so he kept quiet.

After they arrived at the house, they were greeted at the door by a worried and anxious Carla. "What happened? Is everything okay? Is Neal ok?"

"He's fine mom."

Neal smiled and nodded in agreement to Peter's statement. "I'm fine Carla."

She sighed in relief then continued. "El and I have been worried sick that something bad was going to happen."

"Well something bad did happen." Peter still sounding agitated announced as he approached his wife and gave her a gentle kiss.

Elizabeth frowned. "Oh no, what happened?" She looked at Neal who quickly looked down at the floor as if he were ashamed.

"Neal happened!" Peter scoffed as he looked at Neal.

"Neeeaaalll, what did you do?" Elizabeth pressed.

"Tell her. Tell her what you did." Peter ordered.

Neal swallowed and his eyes trailed back up to meet with Elizabeth. "I devised a plan to prevent a painting from being stolen." He smiled pleased that he made it sound less devious while maintaining it's truthfulness.

"Well that doesn't sound so bad." Elizabeth looked at Peter.

Peter frowned. "Well he failed to mention that in order to protect the painting he had to steal it himself."

"Neal!" Elizabeth gasped.

"I returned it. The museum will never know that it was missing." Neal defended.

"That's not the point. The point is you broke the law to begin with." Peter placed his hands on his hips.

"What was I suppose to do, let James steal it?"

"You should have trusted me." The room fell silent with those words hanging in the air.

Neal swallowed and slowly nodded his head. "You're right. I should have come to you. I'm sorry."

Peter pressed his lips together and looked away from Neal, his head gently shaking from side to side as if he were issuing a silent no. "I've told you this before Neal, you can either be a con, or a man, you can't be both, and until you decide which one you're going to be….." He paused for several seconds then he looked back at Neal "…I can't give you my trust, not after this."

Neal blinked and a sad look came across his face. "I know I messed up, and I'm sorry. You have every reason not to trust me, and I get that, that's on me. But I swear, I will do whatever it takes to regain your trust Peter."

Elizabeth looked at Neal then at Peter who seemed to be at a loss for words. "Hon, don't let all of your progress end because of one setback, that would be like slashing your other three tires because one got a flat. Just work at repairing the damage."

Peter smiled at hearing his wife's words of wisdom. He looked at Neal. "Whatever it takes huh?"

Neal gave a half smile as if he might have committed to more than he was prepared for, but he decided to man up so he replied hesitantly, "Yes, whatever it takes."

Peter crossed his arms over his chest. "Good. Cause it's going to take a lot."

"Like what?" Neal smiled.

"Give me some time to think about it and I'll let you know." Peter winked with a subtle smile across his lips. He pointed up the stairs. "You've been up all night so go get some rest. We'll take care of the painting donation later today."

Neal nodded his head. He really hated the idea of giving up one of his priceless paintings, but he knew he valued Peter's trust more so it was a necessary sacrifice. He turned around and headed up the stairs towards the guest bedroom.

Peter yawned shortly after Neal disappeared from view. "Maybe I should get some rest too. I'll need to call Diana and let her know that Neal and I won't be in till later, besides I'm going to have some explaining to do about why Neal was at a museum in the middle of the night."

Elizabeth patted Peter on the back. "It'll be okay. You handle these things so well."

Peter chuckled. "I ought to, I've had enough experience explaining Neal out of tough situations than I care to admit to."

WCWCWCWCWCWC

They rested until noon trying to recover some much needed sleep from the eventful night. Elizabeth and Carla left as El had promised to show her around town and also give her a tour of Burke Premier Events.

Peter was the first to arrive downstairs fully prepared to start his work day. He picked up a few files and began shuffling through them in search of their most recent case.

John was the second to join him downstairs only a few minutes later. He walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator in search of something to eat for lunch.

"Before Neal and I go in to work, I was going to take him by that storage locker and let him pick out a painting. Since it was your idea I thought you might like to go with us."

John smiled. "Absolutely wouldn't miss that for anything."

"Good. Now I just need Neal to get up." Peter walked to the bottom of the stairs and yelled. "Rise and shine Neal. We're leaving in fifteen minutes."

He walked into the kitchen and sat on a bar stool as he watched his father prepare three deviled ham sandwiches. "You think that will get him up?" John asked is a doubtful tone.

"It better." Peter smiled.

"I hope you have something more motivating than a threat in mind."

"I do. I thought I'd let you get him up the way you use to get me out of bed in the mornings."

John grinned from ear to ear. "I almost hope he doesn't get up now."

Peter chuckled. "Easy there papa bear, I didn't know you had a mean streak in you."

"Not a mean streak. It would just be nice to get the chance to treat Neal like my son, and like the kid he acts like sometimes."

Peter glanced up towards the upstairs, her heard nothing, no sounds of anyone moving about. He looked back at his father. "Well you may get that chance."

They waited for a few minutes for Neal to show but he never did. And they still had yet to hear movement from upstairs. So after they finished eating their sandwiches John looked at the sandwich he had prepared for Neal that sat on a plate beside him. "Well, he's still asleep. I guess I'm up."

Peter smiled. "I'm glad I'm not Neal right now."

WCWCWCWCWCWC

John walked into the guest bedroom where Neal was. There was a heap of covers laying over him. He was on his stomach and his right arm hung off the side of the bed. John softly tapped on the bedroom door. "Neal, get up." Neal moaned and turned his head away from John.

John smiled. He looked like a teenage boy, it reminded him a lot of how Peter often did when he did not want to get out of bed for school. John saw Neal's clothes from last night folded neatly on top of the dresser, his belt rolled into a circle and setting on top of the carefully laid garments.

He picked up the belt and folded in half in his hand and smiled. He raised it up and struck across the pile of covers on the bed. He knew it was well padded and would startle more than hurt so he delivered the blow rather forcefully to make sure it had an impact.

Neal's body jumped at the rude awakening and he quickly sat up in bed and looked at the smiling John. "What was that for?" Neal sounded shocked.

John rolled the belt back into a circle around his hand and sat it back on the dresser. "To get you up."

"You could have just said something."

"Yeah I tried that and you ignored me."

"So you hit me?"

"Don't sound so offended Neal. I use to wake Peter the same way."

"Yeah, when he was a kid maybe."

John slapped Neal on the back and chuckled. "What do you think you are?"

"Funny." Neal sarcastically replied.

"I am! Thank you. Now get up, Peter is ready to leave." John turned and left the room and headed back downstairs to join Peter.

Peter smiled as John walked towards him. "So how did he take it?"

"He was a good sport." John walked over and began to pour a cup of coffee.

A few minutes passed when Neal finally joined them in the kitchen. He had a rather unpleasant look on his face. Peter smiled, "What's wrong Neal, wake up on the wrong side of the bed."

"Something like that." Neal mumbled and walked towards the coffee pot where John was standing.

"Heard you had a rude awakening." Peter was smiling.

Neal turned around and looked at Peter. "Cute."

"Maybe I'll let dad wake you up more often."

Neal only glared at Peter while he poured his coffee.

John laughed and walked towards the door to retrieve his coat from the coat rack. Neal followed behind him and Peter retrieved his keys from a table in the entry. They all three headed for Peter's car.

"It's time to pick out that painting you are going to donate to the museum." Peter turned the car on as he buckled his seatbelt.

Neal was sitting in the back and he frowned. "A donation would require active consent. This is more like confiscating."

John looked back at Neal and smiled. "It wouldn't be much of a punishment if it was something you wanted to do, now would it, Sport?"

Neal looked over at John. "Don't call me that."

"I'll call you whatever I want to, Sport." Peter and John chuckled.

"Besides, you said whatever it takes right?" Peter looked at Neal through the rear view mirror.

Neal just offered a half hearted smile.

Neal looked out the window as they drove towards the storage locker where he held his most prize possessions. Possessions he would prefer Peter not know about, because they had all been obtained illegally. He knew Peter was aware of this already, but what he was not aware of, is just how large this inventory was. Maybe there was a way to keep Peter out of the locker. He doubted it, but he could at least try.