Note: Okay everyone, my life is on more of an even keel these days. My husband is doing very well, catching this early was key! Hugs! So I'm tentatively starting up this story again. I hate to leave the boys in such a predicament forever. :) I have been told a lot of people didn't get a chapter notice for the last true chapter so if the last chapter you recall didn't have Elizabeth in it you'll be lost later. Thank you all for your kind words and support!

Chapter Thirty-five

"Peter, wait, please…"

"Go back to the room, Neal, you're not talking me out of this."

"Of course I am, this is insane!"

"Neal…"

"Peter, I know what you're thinking but please don't do this for me." Neal interrupted as he stepped into Peter's path to stop him. "We'll find another way."

"I can't take that chance."

"Peter," Neal pleaded "you can't brutally attack someone in their sleep. You will *never* forgive yourself."

"You think I don't know that?" Peter snarled.

Neal was brought up short by the icy anger in Peter's voice. Not wanting to debate his extreme plan of action Peter stepped around Neal and continued to stalk down the dark concrete hallway towards his unsuspecting prey. It took Neal a moment to try and think of a new tactic to prevent the assault, when he couldn't think of anything to say he simply caught up with Peter and put his hand on his shoulder to get his attention in hopes that something would come to him.

Keyed up on adrenaline and raw frustration at the situation he was in Peter jerked away from Neal and whipped around with Jake's metal baton held high. Neal automatically brought his arm up to defend himself but he didn't back away. With the weapon still raised Peter stared at Neal in horror at the fact that he'd even threatened to strike him. Neal quickly brought his arm down as Peter also lowered his weapon, he hadn't thought for a second that Peter would actually hurt him but it was instinct to shield himself. Peter didn't look like he was going to be so quick to forgive himself for the transgression as his dark eyes glittered with guilt.

"I...I'm sorry." Peter apologized sounding miserable.

"This isn't you, Peter, you're not a violent man."

"I know, which is why this is so difficult for me and you're not helping matters."

"I'm not trying to help matters, I'm trying to help you."

Peter took a breath to give Neal an angry retort however his temper cooled just as quickly as it had flared. Neal was getting increasingly concerned by Peter's emotional volatility but before he could mention anything a sorrowful smile touched the corner of Peter's lips as he suddenly reached out and carded his hand into Neal's hair gently. Neal wanted to argue his case further but fell he silent under the intense imploring look he was getting from his protective friend.

"Neal," Peter whispered in a eerily dead calm tone "this is our 'life or death' shot at Sawyer. I'm not asking you to condone this, I don't need or even want your permission, but please, I do want you understand it."

"I understand."

Coming as close to being forgiven as he felt he deserved Peter leaned forward and rested his forehead against Neal's. Closing his eyes he froze for a moment, looking for brief second of peace before stepping back out into the storm. Neal's stomach twisted painfully knowing that Peter was doing what he felt was best, not what he felt was right. Sawyer would easily kill either one of them in the ring, disabling him before he got that chance was their only real hope. As much as Neal hated to let this happen he admired the fact that Peter would rather tarnish his armor with Sawyer's blood than stand the moral high ground and risk getting them both killed. Fighting Peter on this further or even for faulting him for his actions wasn't going to help either one of them survive

After a full minute Peter still hadn't pulled away from Neal showing that he was having more of an internal struggle over this than he had been showing. Neal reached up and put his hand on Peter's shoulder in a show of support for whatever move he decided to take next. Finding new resolve Peter took a step back as he pulled his hand away. Pulling his shoulders back he turned to continue down the hall only to stop again when Neal followed.

"Neal, stop. Stay here."

"I'm coming with you."

"No."

"Peter…"

"There is nothing you could do in there other than get in the way."

"You shouldn't have to do this alone," Neal pointed out echoing an earlier argument they'd had outside the door where Miller's body was rotting "it's both of our lives on the line."

"Alright…if you want to do something for us then keep watch at the last intersection." Peter said giving in slightly. "I don't know where Sawyer's friends are and it would help to know which way is clear if they try to come help him. Can you do that?"

Neal just nodded. Peter nodded as well more grateful for the company than he wanted to admit. Walking at a quick pace it didn't take long to come to the intersection that he wanted Neal to guard. It was next to impossible to know what time it was without the metered rumble of the subway but the deathly stillness of everything made it feel like the uncomfortable hours between midnight and dawn. Neal just couldn't imagine the idea that above them the sun might actually be shining in a blue sky while they were on such a dark mission. Peter paused and looked down each corridor carefully before turning to the hallway with Sawyer's door, after allowing a stressed breath to hiss across his teeth he took a step forward.

"Peter, if you…"

"I will be right back," Peter interrupted "this won't take long."

"I hate everything about this."

"So do I."

To keep from losing his nerve Peter moved purposefully down the hall quickly. For the first time he was glad to be barefoot as it helped soften the sound of his foot steps. He passed two doors taking him further from Neal that he had thought he'd be before he came to a door with a slash of faded blue paint on it. Peter cursed under his breath when he realized that he had forgotten to figure out which key he needed before now. Taking the key ring out of his pocket it seemed to make an ungodly racket in the thick silence of the hall.

Finding the key with a torn blue sticker on it Peter took one last look over his shoulder to make sure Neal was ready. Catching Peter's eye Neal stepped forward to try to join him but Peter stopped him by shaking his head. Neal reluctantly returned to his post in the crossway. Tightening his grip on the heavy metal baton until his knuckles blanched Peter held his breath as he went to test out the key. There was always the chance that this was just Jake testing him and that no one was behind the door, but he felt it was more likely that Jake had been telling the truth. He had almost as much to gain from Sawyer being out of the picture as they did.

Getting the key into the lock wasn't as easy as it seemed as Peter found his hand shaking. Swallowing hard he demanded that his hand obey him and managed to grate the key into the lock. Peter cringed at the heavy clicking sound that the bolt made as he turned it and he prayed that Sawyer was as drunk as Jake had promised. Leaving the key in the lock Peter slowly turned the handle and cracked the door open revealing that unlike the room that he and Neal shared that perpetually had the lights on it was dark inside this one.

Peter waited a moment to see if there would be any sound from within the room but it was just as silent as the hall. Pushing the door open further allowed some of the light from the hall to penetrate into the room revealing the small amount of furniture that occupied it. Peter noted the small round wooden table off to the right with a half empty bottle of vodka sitting on it, but his real attention was focused on the messy heap of blankets on the bed in the vague shape of a man.

Still cautious Peter tried to determine if Sawyer was really sleeping there or if it was just a collection of fabric. It was too dark and far away to make any good guesses. Knowing he was going to have to get closer in any case Peter crept into the room. A quick powerful strike to the lower leg would effectively cripple Sawyer for the short term without giving him a life long debility, enough to keep him out of the ring for at least a few months. Peter had no intention of being stuck down here longer than that so it was the perfect compromise.

Getting just past the door Peter tried to clear the room visually but the corners were shrouded in an inky darkness that his eyes couldn't adjust to. Taking the chance he stalked up to the bed that was pushed against the far wall. Peter peered at the dim outline trying to determine if it was breathing. He came to the realization that it was just a pile of blankets a split second before a shadow fell over him as someone stepped in front of the shaft of light coming through the open door way. Peter's blood ran cold as his calculated risk that Sawyer wasn't cunning enough to be laying in wait in the shadows bit him in the ass. Trapped in the room Peter turned around and prepared himself for a close quarters fight that he wasn't sure he could win even armed with Jake's metal baton. Sawyer glanced at the weapon but it didn't seem to concern him, his teeth suddenly shone white in the low light as he smiled.

"Attacking a drunk man in his sleep. Tisk-tisk, Agent. Gone savage already?" Sawyer chuckled. "I figured Jake was setting me up, but I never dreamed that he'd talk you into doing his dirty work."

"Sawyer…"

"I have to admit though: I suddenly respect you both a little more now."