AN: First of all. I'm sorry to keep you guy's waiting for so long. It is not like me. I got very busy with my work. And the garden exploded with all sort's of weed, I can't discribe. Yeah... and I bought parrots as well. I got time to make them say: 'hello' and 'talk to the hand.' and that is all... hehehe.

But have fun reading this chappie. It's not long but There will be more soon! I promise!

X

Josie

"This has to do with Neal's recent breakdown, right?" he had to ask. The doctor looked at him intensely.

"Yes."

She opened the door to her office and Peter walked in with stiff legs. Something was definitely not good.

Immediately when Annabel followed him inside she closed the door behind her and locked it with care. With the hand still onto the door knob she started talking. Her eyes stared absently at the door.

"Agent Burke. I do believe Mr. Caffrey has to get out of here as soon as possible." After this said Anabel finally faced Peter; who gasped confused.

"What? Get out of here? But… his doctor just told me he has to stay here until his ankle isn't swollen anymore; at least."

"Yes. I am well aware of what his doctor suggested. But I don't think this place would do any good for him. Not after he was kidnapped here. You we're right Agent Burke. They don't have great security. The only reason I wanted Caffrey back here was that he could stay with his friend until he was better."

Mozzie… of course.

A hand got up to his face. With a sigh Peter lowered his tense shoulders he didn't even knew he held them up.

"They do share a brotherly bond. I never thought about it that much of how they were depended on each other. Up until now."

"What exactly happened in that hospital room? What did he say? The doctor had only given me this much. Before she told me to beat it." There was only a little disgust in her voice. Clearly the two didn't like each other very much.

"He… he was sad. I-I never saw him this way. He told me… man… this is hard," Peter stumbled over his words. He was never good at this. Boy, did he wish Elizabeth was here.

"Take your time, Peter. I know how hard it is. It's your partner. And this feels like betraying a friend but it's not. This won't be in any reports," Annabel reassured him. "I just want to know as a person. Not as his psychologist."

"Well… He said he made Neal Caffrey up. As some sort of protection of whom he really was. He told me he was just a nut… a nutcase. He called himself Danny Bennett. He is a broken kid, Annabel. That's all. I don't think he is crazy. He does scare me with the nervous breakdowns, but I know he isn't crazy. And if I was allowed to... I would take Neal home with me. Right now."

But that wasn't going to happen according to Neal's official doctor. Dr. Wilkinson was a tough looking elder woman who could make you shiver by just looking at you. People like those were probably very handy in hospitals like this. A lot of the patients could be in fact pretty violent, sometimes. Anyway, if Dr. Wilkinson wanted to keep Neal Caffrey a while longer despite the fact that she totally ignored Neal's breakdown, than that was going to happen?

Anabel was just their office psychologist. She might have an office and a fair share of her own client's but she wasn't supposed to make these sorts of decisions. Unless Dr. Klimt had something on the patient that proved he was ready to go home. So, that got Peter thinking.

"Agent Burke?" Anabel asked since he hadn't replied.

"Oh sorry. Ehh. So… just for some clarification: You want Neal out of here, too? Without Dr. Wilkinson's permission? I am all in. But how?" Apparently, Dr. Klimt was hoping for this answer because she nodded with a relieved sigh.

"You can take him home until we find a place for him elsewhere; another facility. Some place with better security and all the stuff he needs to get over his problem. I would have to take a few calls in the meantime. A nice place is hard to find. Free spots in psych clinics are very rare these days, too. It could take days." Dr. Klimt winked at him. "Maybe he doesn't even need the clinic after his ankle isn't so swollen anymore. Maybe he can get a plaster and get on with his life. Who knows?"

Peter blinked.

"Do you think that? Really? Is that why Doctor Wilkinson is causing you a brain itch?"

Annabel smiled. Her face softened a bit.

"Yeah, the thing about Dr. Wilkinson is that she works here in this wing for over 25 years now. A patient is just a patient to her eyes. If you work here as long as her you are starting to believe that once a person comes in here, they'll never leave again. Everything about the person 'before' being admitted here fades slowly in our minds. Everyone would be treating him the same as everybody else. Neal Caffrey doesn't belong here, agent Burke. The poor guy just lost almost everything in his old life. And all the pieces of his past are scrambled. Mozzie, you and your wife… Those things are what keeping him sane. I think he only needs Family; Love and affection to get back on track. Mr. Caffrey needs you to remember who he really is. And we both know he doesn't get it here. He needs to be surrounded with the few people who loves him just the way he really is. To help him remember. This is the right way to treat your friend."

Peter nodded to her words; stunned by this outcome. This all.. it made him very happy. His knees all weak and shaky.

"I-I believe you."

He was unfamiliar with this kind of feeling about Neal. He was actually exited to take him home with him. To be his friend. His big brother. Or great uncle. Or something between a guardian and father figure. Although he knew there was going to be a lot of trouble on his behave. What if he couldn't handle Neal? He was kind of out of it? What if he made it worse? Because… this was serious business. And it was not that he hadn't his hands full already. Could he handle all of this on his own? What would Elizabeth say?

A chuckle brought him out of his thoughts.

"Mr. Burke. Relax. You're paling. I am very confident you and your wife can handle this. I've seen you two with Neal, before. He was making these amazing drawings of the dog. He seemed relaxed and happy around the both of you. It won't be any different from that. Except now Neal Caffrey is all grown up and pretty much the same as you known him. From what I have seen, he acts calm and harmless. Even without the drugs. He is just a little lost. And he has to find himself back with all the love and support you and your wife can give him." Anabel smiled. "Besides, you are his guardian already. It will be the best if he stays with a FBI agent who can handle scumbags like the famous Neal Caffrey, right?" Now it was Peter's turn to chuckle.

"That's right. He is a scumbag. But I managed to catch him twice already."

This was kind of amusing to the both of them.

"Well. I'll guess that's settled then. He will better be staying under your supervision. Until we find a better place for him to stay. I am going to have a talk with the doctor. You can stay with Mr. Caffrey until further notice, if you like. I will find you when there is any news, alright?" Peter nodded.

"Thank you."

He was so glad that Anabel was around.

Neal was coming home!

…

Neal saw it all before. The play yard, the bullies that wanted him away because he was 'too stupid', according to them. In his dreams, mommy would save the day. And yet… this time there was something different. The bullies fade away slowly. The swing stopped on his own. Everything turned into stone. Also this time Mommy's sweet face didn't appear. This familiar dream about his childhood stayed dull and empty. Empty of recognizable things. Things only he knew what was coming now.

Something had changed.

Mommy was gone.

Instead… some flowers started to grow onto the stony ground. It became green. And yellow. The flowers were beautiful…

But no one came for him…

…

What Neal didn't know was that he stayed asleep for a long time. The whole day he slept away. There was no tossing. No turning. Just a motionless sleep that turned his face pink and his hair silk from the fever. Even when Elizabeth came by and met Peter there, who sat there next to his bed for hours, Neal still didn't reply to the kiss on his cheek, the hand through his hair and the whispers in his ear.

"Neal… you can go home with us, sweetie."

"Yeah buddy, we leave as soon as you're ready."

Anabel Klimt had arranged that Neal could go home with them.

"Mozzie is fine too. He is holding his own. His lung is becoming stronger already," Elizabeth tried again. But Neal… he slept.

He slept

and slept.

Like he hadn't been able to do it for a long time.