Chapter Thirty-six

"I'll be home tomorrow evening."

"I can't wait." Peter replied seriously.

"You still sound stressed." Elizabeth noted. "I figured if you were giving me the green light to come home that you had everything sorted out."

"When have I ever had everything sorted out where Neal is concerned?"

"Good point." Elizabeth chuckled.

"However, I do honestly believe that there is no danger to you here. Frost is looking to court Neal into something that requires his full cooperation for. Frost is smart enough to know that threatening me or you isn't going to accomplish anything other than making an enemy out of Neal. His every move lately points towards him needing Neal to say yes to something and mean it. It goes beyond the jewels, but they are using this treasure hunt the way you lure a kid towards danger with candy."

"Do you think they'll hurt him if he just stops looking for the jewels?"

"I don't think so, but I can't say that for sure. However I think the chances of Neal actually walking away right now are incredibly low in the first place." Peter said with frustration. "I am doing everything in my power to steer him in the right direction, but he just seems determined to flirt with disaster."

"So...business as usual for you two?" Elizabeth teased.

"Pretty much."

"I know you want to save Neal from himself, but eventually you are going to have to trust him to make his own decisions and let him face the consequences alone."

"I know. It's just so difficult when every time I give him an inch he takes a mile."

"Does it help to hear that I'll love you whether or not you manage to 'fix' Neal?"

"It does."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Hon."

"I will see you tomorrow."

"Good night."

Peter reached out to the steering wheel of his car and pressed the small button that ended the call. He hated the fact that he felt the need to hold an unofficial stake out at Neal's apartment, but Peter's gut told him that Neal was going to be getting into trouble tonight. He'd been a little too interested on whether or not Elizabeth was going to make it home tonight, meaning he was fishing to see if Peter was going to be distracted. Peter had replied with a simple 'there's a good chance' to keep from outright lying.

It hadn't taken more than a few minutes with the internet to discover that there was another Faberge Egg that happened to currently be on display in New York. Peter might have been able to believe that Neal would drop the Romanov treasure for now if he was truly at a dead end. However with a tangible lead within his reach Peter couldn't imagine that Neal would leave that particular stone unturned.

"Right on cue." Peter sighed.

It was just past midnight and Neal had stepped out of his apartment wearing all black and carrying a small shoulder bag. Peter swore under his breath, he had really hoped that he was wrong and that Neal could be trusted off anklet for at least one night. Peter had parked a good distance away in between the area that was illuminated by two street lights to avoid being seen, but he was wondering if it would be best to honk the horn and get Neal's attention before he went off and got into trouble in the first place.

Watching Neal head off in the direction that would take him to Central Park where the American Museum of Natural History was Peter waited until he was out of sight before getting out of the car to follow him. There was no sense in revealing himself until he knew for sure what Neal was doing. Since Peter already had a good idea as to where Neal was headed he could afford to hang back far enough to easily keep from being seen. Making his way towards Central Park Neal never once looked back to make sure he wasn't being followed.

Neal's brazen attitude gave Peter pause, he really was acting like he was just out for a late night walk. Perhaps he was just continuing to have trouble sleeping and he didn't have any criminal intent. Just as Peter was starting to feel somewhat guilty for spying Neal suddenly became more alert about his surroundings. They were within half a mile of the museum and Neal was starting to take note of the cars that passed by and he looked back several times. It was late but there were still plenty of people out so Peter was able to blend in and stay out of sight.

Neal took one last look around before heading into the east entrance of the park. The museum was on the far side of the park from where Neal had entered. He would be more difficult to follow in the wooded park. Although Central Park was officially open another half hour, until one am, it was still mostly deserted at this time. Once again Peter thought about just calling out Neal's name and stopping whatever he was planing before it happened.

Knowing that Neal would just come up with some innocent excuse for heading into the park at the late hour Peter just continued to follow. He wanted to catch Neal at a point where he was clearly about to do something illegal but before he actually went so far as to commit any felonies. Hopefully it could lead to a conversation about the 'straight and narrow' that might actually sink in for once.

Peter was a little more than half way through the park with Neal a few hundred yards ahead. Neal was just about to step out into an open area in the path that would lead over to the museum so Peter hung back for a second to avoid being spotted. While he was waiting the sixth sense that lets you know when you're being watched began to bother Peter. Looking back he found Frost standing less than fifteen feet away. Peter had been so focused on following Neal that it hadn't even occurred to him that he might be being followed in return. Although irritated with himself for being careless Peter was impressed with how quietly Frost had managed to be while tailing him through the park.

"Nice night for it." Frost greeted with a bright smile that gleamed in contrast to his dark skin.

When Frost took a step closer Peter instantly drew his weapon from his shoulder harness. Widening his stance Peter silently made it clear that he was more than willing to shoot if Frost came any closer. Frost raised his hands up slightly but he didn't step back. Adrenaline washed into Peter's blood as he heard someone cocking a handgun behind him. Peter didn't need to look back to know it was Bryant who had flanked him. He realized that Frost and Bryant hadn't trailed him here, they had been waiting for him, knowing that he'd stop here to avoid being seen by Neal when he reached the more open area of the path. Training had caused him to choose this particular bend in the path, training that Frost was clearly aware of himself when he set the ambush.

"Please put your weapon away, Agent." Bryant requested politely.

"No."

"Agent..."

"It's okay, Bryant." Frost interrupted. "Agent Burke isn't going to shoot me as long as I don't give him reason to. There is no need for violence, I just want to talk."

"I don't talk to anyone when I'm being held at gun point."

"A little hypocritical of you," Frost smiled "but I can understand. Bryant, please, just give us a moment."

"Frost..." Bryant began to protest.

"Go keep an eye on Neal for us." Frost suggested. "I'll be okay."

There was a tense pause between Frost and Bryant. Peter risked taking his eye off Frost for a second to glance back at Bryant. Looking like he was going to be defiant Bryant still had his weapon trained on Peter. Bryant was at just enough of an angle to allow him to keep Peter in his sights without risk of hitting Frost, but at the same time making it impossible for Peter to easily move to cover them both. Sighing in defeat Bryant slowly lowered his aim and flicked the safety back on. Bryant left, but Peter made note to keep alert to him possibly circling back.

"Please forgive, Bryant. He's very protective of me, he's never really gotten over the guilt of coming home in one piece when I had to have most of my face and good deal of the rest of me reconstructed." Frost said as he reached up and tapped on his glass eye. "He's loyal to the core, but he doesn't always trust me to take care of myself...sound familiar?"

"If you launch into any variation of the 'you and I aren't so different' speech I will shoot you." Peter warned dangerously.

"I'm just trying to help."

"We don't need your kind of 'help'." Peter said firmly. "You nearly destroyed Neal with that blue diamond and now you're ruining any chance he has at a normal life by setting him on this damn Romanov treasure."

"Neal was never meant for a 'normal life'. You and I both know that." Frost said simply. "You can't change a leopard's spots, particularly not when he wears them so proudly."

"So I should just let him break into the museum?" Peter asked rhetorically.

"It's too late to stop him anyway, he's already inside by now. I just came along to ensure that he actually broke in. What happens next is up to you."

"Because of you and this ridiculous game I have to arrest him." Peter snarled.

"Do you?" Frost questioned. "He's not stealing anything, he just wants a closer look."

"He's still breaking the law."

"True, not to mention the rules of his new contract." Frost nodded. "You know there will be no getting him back on his anklet now, right? He will go directly back to prison."

"You think I don't know that?"

"What I want to make sure you fully understand is that if you do arrest Neal tonight you will *never* see him again."

"I lock Neal up and you'll be right there with the key, won't you?"

"That's right, and he will have no choice but to come with me. I will own Neal for the rest of his life."

"Isn't that what you want?"

"Not exactly."

"Then what do you want?"

Frost didn't reply right away and an uneasy silence fell over the pair. He studied Peter for a moment with his remaining eye. If Peter didn't know any better he'd say that Frost was deciding on whether or not to trust him with the whole truth here and now. In the end Frost shook his head slightly, showing that he wasn't quite ready to throw all of his caution to the wind.

"Finding the Romanov jewels is Neal's test to getting answers," Frost broke the silence "consider your decision on what to do tonight to be yours."

"Frost..."

"Choose a side Agent Burke: the absolute letter of the law or your friend."