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Chapter 29

If there was one thing good about Neal Caffrey was his punctuality, he was always on time and always kept his promises. That's what a good conman does, never admit or commit to anything unless he intends to see it through. So that's why Sara had been a little worried when he didn't show up on time at her hotel door; she had started pacing around wondering what could've happened and Emily just made fun of her not understanding that a no-show from Caffrey was not something common. By 8:35, she got a text message from him… so he was at the FBI… allegedly. Sara sighed disappointed and not ready to admit she felt sad that she wasn't going out with him tonight…

"He's not coming" she said quietly not daring to look at Emily in the eye

"Oh? Cold feet?" asked Emily with a raised eyebrow

"No, just some FBI thing, he didn't explain further" she muttered under her teeth, not even believing herself

Emily snorted "Yeah right…"

Sara frowned not liking that Emily was doubtful of Neal; yeah well, he is no stranger to lying so it wouldn't be rare but Sara knew better "He's… he's not like that, he usually doesn't lie about these things"

Emily looked at her sensing her discomfort "Well, you're already dressed up so why don't we go out anyway? Just the two of us, come on, it could be fun"

Sara started shaking her head but Emily just grabbed her hand and started pulling her out of the door "No, Em, I don't feel like it…"

"Shut up and keep walking hot woman, we're going out" said Emily and that was that.

By 11 pm Neal was finally done with paperwork and pretty much ran out of the FBI building with Mozzie tailing behind him "Neal! Will you just stop?"

"I have to go see Sara, ok? She isn't answering her phone, see you tomorrow"

He grabbed a cab to the Plaza. He reached the reception "Hi, I'm here for Sara Ellis, presidential suite"

"Your name, sir?" asked the young man at the front desk

"Caffrey"

"Oh, miss Ellis said you can reach her at LAVO in 39 E 58th street, just a block away from here, sir"

Neal frowned, that was odd "Ok, thank you"

He reached the place and sure it was packed with people having fun. He knew the place very well, it was a two-part club, one was a fancy Italian bistro which served very good food and the other was a very luxurious dancing club with disco balls and all. He went straight up to the restaurant expecting Sara to be there but he didn't spot her so he went to the lower level and there she was looking hot as ever, dancing right in the middle of the dancing floor surrounded by people, men actually, he grunted and just kept walking slowly trying to push people away, mostly drunken people. Some women winked at him, nothing unusual about that so he didn't even look at them… he kept walking trying to make eye contact with Sara, who was engrossed in the music and the lights that seemed to set her hair on fire – he smiled enjoying seeing her so carefree – he was almost there, ready to wrap his arms around her and join her in the fun when some blond guy appeared from somewhere with hands like an octopus wrapping himself around Sara and she let him and actually smiled in a very flirtatious way to him! Neal couldn't believe his eyes, why would she invite him here when she was just picking up some random guy?! He was fuming now, he felt ready to rip that guy's head off, anger and jealousy beyond reason, which was a very un-Caffrey state of mind so he just froze in the middle of the dance floor.

"Are you just gonna stay there watching?" came a voice in his ear. Despite the loud music, he heard it clearly. He turned and saw a smirking Emily who then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to the side "Sara looks like she's having fun" she shouted close to his ear again and Neal gave her a murderous look "Oh look at you all angry. Did you actually had some FBI thing to do or you just lied to Sara, as you usually do?"

Neal wasn't gonna waste any more time with Emily when he could see Sara getting more and more friendly with that guy. Emily saw it too and started laughing "Sara might be a little tipsy but then again, this is what you do in a nightclub"

Neal grabbed Emily by the shoulders and sat her at a nearby stool. So it had been Emily who left the message for him at the hotel's front desk, Neal thought "You're a good influence, getting your little sister drunk" he said sarcasm dripping all over the place

"She's having fun!" said Emily challenging him "She deserves a little happiness you know?"

"Right" he said now definitely tired of this with Emily. He turned around determined to get Sara but Emily grabbed his hand making him stop "Neal, I mean it, don't you hurt her. If you love her, PROVE IT!" she said this last part grabbing Neal forcefully from his tie.

Neal took a deep breath. Prove it. Those two words seemed to follow him everywhere but for different reasons, yet they connected him with the people he cared about; first Peter and now Sara. He pushed Emily back in the stool and left, walking quickly this time, to get to Sara fast.

He spotted her after a couple of minutes and he almost ran when he saw that the guy she was dancing with was trying to kiss her and she didn't look happy.

Sara felt strong arms in her waist pulling her back and she recognized the smell. "Are you done, big guy? This lady is taken" he said putting a protective arm around her and forcing her to stay on his side

"Fuck off, man! I saw her first" said the big guy getting closer to Neal

Neal could smell the alcohol in the guy's breath. No matter how angry or jealous Neal was, he knew his strengths and weaknesses and picking up a fight in a club was not exactly his area of expertise but he did know how to get rid of this scumbag. Neal got closer to the guy, who actually looked pretty decent and wealthy, and pushed him a little bit "Oh hey! I heard the guy at the entrance was looking for you, seems he found your wallet, you must've dropped it" said Neal pointing at the guy in the entrance.

The big guy just frowned not really understanding but he went to look for his wallet in his jacket pocket and sure enough, it wasn't there "Shit!" and he started running for the door leaving them alone

Neal turned to Sara still holding her tightly in his arms "You ok?"

Sara seemed to be glued to his chest and just kept staring at his very blue eyes. She just nodded. It must be the alcohol but Neal looked beautiful under the neon lighting, almost angelic, she thought. "I hope you don't mind your little friend's paying tonight" he said holding the guy's wallet in his hand.

Sara laughed throwing her head back and he took that moment to wrap his arms tighter in her waist and kiss her brow. Leave it to Neal to fix a typical club fight with a 'magic trick' and no violence. He grinned and then hugged her completely and started lightly swaying to the music in a very sensual way. The music was fast-tempo but Neal had set his own rhythm… "You are mine"

Sara thought she heard him but with the loud music and the alcohol in her brain, she could've just imagined it so she pulled back a little to see his face.

When he saw her questioning face, he smiled lazily "Yeah, you heard me. I love you, Sara"

She just stared at him hypnotized and he took his cue to kiss her. It was a light kiss at first but the passion soon took a hold of their bodies and it got deeper and more intense. She wrapped her arms around his neck getting a strong hold of his soft hair. He just got a firm grip on her hips keeping her in place and sure enough, marking his territory with his hands wherever they could reach.

After several minutes, they came up for air and he grinned at her "Wanna go home?"

She shook her head and pulled his tie, making it loose and pulling it off to wrap it in her wrist "Take me dancing, Caffrey" she said grabbing his hand and pulling him to the dance floor

They started dancing to the music, having fun. Sara kept on drinking some more and Neal just shook his head smiling and tried to keep up with her but of course drinking a lot less, he had to stay sober to be able to take care of her. They were having a blast, teasing each other and fooling around. If he had known that Sara would be such an enthusiast partier, he would've brought her clubbing before. He also knew that when tipsy, she became a huge tease and loved playing the little cat-and-mouse game so Neal kept trying to find his way to her lips or her neck but she kept playing hard to get and she even flirted with other guys around which made Neal look adorable, Sara thought, -pursed lips and furrowed brow-. After a while of her flirting with other guys and pretending to ignore him, Neal had had enough "Stop it, Sara" he said on her ear through gritted teeth pulling her close to his body.

She pushed him away with a smirk and innocently said "What? Aren't you having fun?"

Neal frowned. Even when Sara was drunk and smiling, this was not fun. He pulled her close again and kissed her with a little roughness trying to play along "it's no fun if you keep getting away from me" he said mock-smiling

She just glared at him and grabbed him by his shirt muttering "Then why did you do it?"

The look on her face told him she was no longer playing and the tear that rolled down her cheek confirmed it. She cleaned that tear and started walking away "Sara, wait!" he tried catching her but she made it quickly to the ladies room

"Sorry man, this is ladies only" said the guy in the entrance who was apparently keeping boys and girls separate in their respective bathrooms

Neal cursed under his breath. He was trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Sara seemed to respond to him in a positive way, hell she was even playing along just like old times. The look on her face said so but he now understood that it was not a matter of lack of love or trust. She was pissed off at him for leaving her when he ran to the island. Even when she told him she was fine, turns out she actually wasn't and had kept all this under the rug. She had been afraid of him leaving her all along and that's why she decided she should leave him instead, before he could do it again. Neal closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair feeling a headache already coming along. It was all clear now…

"What happened? What did you do?!" came Emily's voice protesting from behind

"Nothing… can you please get her? Time to go" he said

Emily looked suspiciously at him but went inside the bathroom. She found Sara leaning on the sink, looking pale and not well "Hey sis, it's ok. Let's go" she said placing a wet paper towel on her forehead and helping her to stand up. Almost at the door, Sara ran back to pay a visit to Mr Toilet and empty her stomach. Emily stood behind her rubbing her back and pulling her hair out of the way "Come on now, let's go" she whispered tenderly.

They made it out of the club and Neal went to get a cab. They all got in and Sara fell asleep almost instantly leaning her head back in the seat "To the Plaza please" said Neal to the cabbie and then to Emily "I'll drop you there and then I'll take Sara home with me"

"Like hell you will! She's staying with me" she said stubbornly

Neal pleaded with his eyes "Emily, look, I know I've made a lot of mistakes but I think I know how to fix them now but I need to be with her when she wakes up tomorrow. Believe me, I love her with all my heart. I will take care of her, ok?"

Emily just sighed "Fine… but I swear to you Neal if you…"

"Yeah I know" he said grabbing Emily's hand "Thank you"

They made it to June's and Neal kissed Sara's temple lightly "Hey, we're home. Can you make it up there?" – Sara fluttered her eyes slightly and nodded

Neal half-carried her up and he just had to pick her up in the last steps of the stairs. She wasn't much shorter than him but she felt so light and delicate in his arms. He carried her bridal style to his bed and ran to his closet to retrieve a pair of pants and a sweatshirt – he smiled knowing that Sara was gonna hate him for putting such hideous clothes on her, due to her silk policy, she would never ever wear those to bed but it was cold so Neal didn't care. He went to her and took off her heels and gently rolled her over a little to unzip her dress at the back. He took it off and gasped when he saw her beautiful body and pale skin only clasped in black bra and panties; he had missed her so much. He yearned to run his hands and kiss every inch of skin there but it would have to wait until she was sober so he put the warm clothes on her and tucked her in.

He then went to put on his own pajamas and brush his teeth. He looked in the mirror and he looked awful, tired, pale… but he finally got a true glimpse into Sara Ellis' darkest fear, to which, him stupid Neal Caffrey, had contributed to make bigger after his little escapade. He washed his face and hurried back to the kitchen.

He took some water in a glass and some Excedrin. He then went to the bed and shook Sara slightly "Hey baby, you gotta take this"

She moaned reluctantly and he kissed her nose which tickled her and made her open her eyes. He smiled… Drunken Sara was cute. She obeyed and swallowed the pills "Good girl" he said and kissed her cheek

She pulled his sleeve "Don't go"

He smiled sadly "I'm not going anywhere" – he set the glass on the nightstand and lay down next to her. She immediately snuggled into his arms humming contently

"Neal?" she asked after a couple minutes

"Yes?"

"Did you call me baby?" she said slurring her words

He chuckled. Sara Ellis was the ever perceptive even when drunk "Yes I did. Now go to sleep"

She snuggled again "I like it"

"Good" he smiled

"Neal?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you return that man's wallet?"

"Yes but not before he paid for a round of tequila shots for the whole party"

"S'good. Didn' like'him"

"Glad to hear that"

"I like you better"

He chuckled "That's good"

She got quiet for a while and Neal thought she might have finally fallen asleep…

"Neal?"

"What is it?"

"Luv'ya" she mumbled

Neal smiled "I love you too"

She sighed and wrapped her arm around him "you're here…" she sighed and breathed in deeply "you're here… you're…" she kept repeating over and over quietly and it broke Neal's heart

"Yeah I'm here, baby. I'm not leaving you. Never again" he said and closed his eyes hoping that sober Sara would be willing to open up just as much in the morning.