White Collar: The Nightingale

Chapter Twenty-five

"House arrest? Really? Come on, at least give me a mile." Neal protested. "Coop me up in here and I'll turn to cyber crime just to give myself something to do."

"You make so much as a prank phone call and I'll haul your ass back to prison."

"I can still visit the hospital, right?"

"With an escort."

"Of course."

"F.B.I escort." The Marshal clarified.

"You don't trust me, do you?" Neal asked rhetorically.

"Not as far as I can throw you...scratch that, I could probably throw you a good ten feet."

"Ha ha."

"Just give me your ankle so I can go home." The Marshal grumbled.

Neal pulled one of the chairs out from his dinning room table and brought his leg up. The Marshal clicked on the black tracking band and made sure the magnetic locking system held in place. Neal felt a slight pang of claustrophobia, but it passed quickly. Put his leg back down he found the tracking anklet felt heavier than he remembered.

"Behave, Caffrey."

"Always."

Neal offered the disgruntled Marshal a bright smile, but it didn't improve the man's attitude towards him. The Marshal had had a perfect capture record until Caffrey had been put on his case load nearly ten years ago. It didn't help that Neal now had better living arrangements than he did. The Marshal took one last look around before making a noise of disgust and leaving.

Alone in the apartment Neal suddenly realized how exhausted he was. It had been a long night and an even longer day. Peter was still in a light coma, unable to join the waking world. Neal wanted to stay, but the US Marshals had other plans. Once the non-family visiting hours were over at the ICU Neal had to go home. He hated to leave Elizabeth alone. She was putting on a brave front, but he knew that it was all a show.

Sighing heavily Neal decided that there was very little he could do. They had Agents looking for Hsing, but the tracking device in the sword had to be small so it had a very short range. By the time they noticed that she was gone in the confusion she was out of range.

"Who was Riku talking about when he said they'd never let Zhang keep you?" Neal mused to himself.

Neal didn't have any answers and had no way of getting them. Weary to the bone he decided that a shower and then bed was about the best thing he could do at the moment. Pulling off his shirt Neal noticed that once again the gun shot in his side was seeping blood. The still relatively fresh would was never going to heal if he didn't give it a chance to.

"House arrest might do me some good."

In the shower Neal cleaned off the blood as best he could. After drying off he pulled on a pair of pajama pants and inspected the damage once more. The steri-strips were doing a fair job of keeping the injury closed. Rummaging through his medicine chest he realized that he really didn't have the supplies to cover the wound properly. Too tired to care he just wandered over to his bed.

Laying down carefully on his side Neal closed his eyes and was asleep almost instantly. It felt like only seconds past before he was jolted awake by a knock at his door. Moaning in protest and only half awake Neal tried to ignore the visitor. It was just past midnight.

"Neal?"

"June..." Neal replied as he pried his eyes open.

"I'm sorry to intrude," June said as she opened the door "there is a young lady here asking to see you."

"Alex?" Neal asked as he sat up.

June shook her head and stepped aside. Hsing was standing behind June trying her hardest not to tremble. She was wrapped in a blanket that she looked like she'd stolen from a homeless man. Neal scrambled to his feet and rushed over to her. He reached out to her and she gladly accepted a comforting embrace. Neal winched in pain but tried to keep it to himself as Hsing broke down into tears.

"June, do you have something she can change into?" Neal asked knowing that Hsing's clothing was probably soaked in Zhang's blood.

"I'm sure I can find something."

"Thanks."

"It was quiet around here without you, Neal." June said with a slight smile.

"Sorry to disturb your peace."

"It's okay, I don't mind a little excitement."

"Never a dull moment..."

June nodded in agreement and left to go back to her side of the expansive house to find some clothing for Hsing. Still in tears Hsing started to have trouble breathing. Neal did his best to sooth her, and eventually she calmed. Stepping away Hsing shrugged off the blanket and revealed the dried blood and dirt that was caked to her skin and clothing. She had the Nightingale sword clutched tightly in her stained hands.

"Please help me, Caffrey-san." Hsing begged as she offered Neal the sword.

"Of course." Neal assured as he took the sword. "How did you find me?"

"I was there when Liao hired the men to kidnap you. I remembered the address. I tried to remember anything important that he said...he never cared what I over heard."

"That doesn't really surprise me. Why did yo..."

Neal stopped when Hsing started crying again and shivering. Guiding her to the bathroom he turned the shower on. Hsing hesitated and Neal assured her that he'd wait outside. He stepped out and closed the door. With the Nightingale still in hand he went over to the bed and hid it underneath. June returned with a selection of comfortable clothes.

"These will be big on her."

"It will be perfect." Neal said. "Thank you so much. Have I ever told you that you are the greatest landlord ever?"

"You've mentioned it a few times. Is there anything I can do?"

"I don't think so. Although it would be best if no one knew she was here for now."

"My lips are sealed."

"Thank you, June."

Neal leaned in and gave June a kiss on the cheek. June smiled and left. She never ceased to amaze him with her understanding. It was a full half hour before Neal heard Hsing turning off the water. He was about to go let her know that he some clothing for her when she stepped out into the main studio area wrapped in a towel.

Hsing looked around nervously. Neal couldn't help but stare at the multiple bruises that marred what he could see of her legs and over her left shoulder and upper arm. She reached up and rubbed self consciously at one of the marks on her arm. Neal stepped up and offered her the clothing June had brought for her.

"Thank you." Hsing said meekly.

Hsing disappeared into the bathroom once again and returned in the over sized t-shirt and a pair of silk black pants. She was clutching a folded up shirt in her hands. When Neal stepped towards her she automatically stepped back. Neal put his hands up to show that he wasn't a threat.

"I am sorry." Hsing apologized.

"You don't have anything to apologize for."

Hsing forced a small smile. She looked ready to collapse so Neal offered her a seat on the couch. Going into the kitchen he got a glass of ice water and brought it to her. She accepted the offer and sipped at the water. Neal sat on the ottoman across from her to give her some space. They sat in silence for a moment.

"Hsing, I know you came to me for help, but we really should call the F.B.I. They can help you better than I can. I can't even leave the apartment."

"I can not go to the F.B.I." Hsing whispered. "I...I murdered a man."

"And saved my life at the same time."

"Neal..."

"You were acting in self-defense and saved a Federal Agent in the process. Judges look upon that sort of thing very favorably."

"If I go to the Law I can never return to my family, my father would never trust me again. Even if I bring the Nightingale back to him he may reject me because Zhang has touched me."

"Your family owns the Nightingale? Hsing, who are you exactly?"

"Hsing Tsukasa."

"Tsukasa? As in Shinoda Tsukasa?"

"Yes. Kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi in Kobe."

"I can't believe that Zhang taking you didn't start an all out war."

"I am only one of many daughters. Also my father only recently was released from prison six months ago."

"How long have you been with Zhang?"

"Three years." Hsing said sadly. "I am a disgrace for allowing him to use me and not taking my own life. If I can get the Nightingale back to my father he will grant me forgiveness and protection. I can go back to my life at the okiya."

"Can the Yakuza in New York help you get home?"

"They will slaughter me and take the sword and the glory for its return for themselves. I need to return to Japan on my own, I need a new identity, a passport, a way to travel. I have no one to turn to to help me out of America."

"Hsing it might be better to go into F.B.I protection. You could stay here, they'll protect you. With the information you can give them on Zhang and his activities they will place you in witness protection."

Hsing wrapped her arms over her stomach and bowed her head as she began to weep again. Neal reached out to sooth her but she jerked away in fright. Neal sat back again and sighed heavily.

"Hsing..."

"Please, Neal, please, I want to go home." Hsing whimpered. "I want to go home to Japan. I have known only suffering here."

"Hsing, I want to help you. I really do. But I don't even have the resources. It can cost hundreds of thousands, even millions to get the identification you'd need, let alone the complications of smuggling something like the Nightingale out of the country."

"I have something that can help me get home...but I need your help selling it."

Hsing started unfolding the shirt that she had been clutching. Neal's breath hissed across his teeth when he saw what she had. Hsing held up the Sapphire Waterfall and offered it to Neal. He hesitated to take it, knowing that once he did he was basically agreeing to fence it. Hsing stared at him pleadingly. Shaking his head sadly Neal reached out and took the multi-million dollar necklace. Hsing smiled hopefully.

"I can not thank you enough, Caffrey-san."

"Peter's going to kill me..."