"Honey." Neal startled awake as he heard his husband's voice raise through the transceiver. He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep, but he apparently had as he listened to the comforting sound that was Peter's voice.

"God damn it," Neal said angrily. "I'm so sorry for falling asleep on you."

Peter sighed. "I just wanted to make sure you could still hear me. Don't apologize, love. I'm sure that was the most you've slept since I was kidnapped." Neal didn't answer that, but Peter knew he was right. "I hardly slept when you weren't with me, honey. I always worried about you, wondered if you were alive… It was so hard for me to relax and sleep like you did last night. I went weeks and months without hearing your voice, Neal. I can't tell you how painful it is to not know if you're okay."

Neal rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "It's incredibly painful. Before I knew about the feed and before I was given the transceiver, I was admittedly a mess…" Peter made a quiet sound. "I don't know what to do without you, Peter. I can't sleep without you and I'm struggling to function now. I know I'm stronger, but I will never have the strength and resilience that you possess." Peter's next sound was that of curiosity. "You just said you endured weeks and months without hearing my voice. It would take a great deal of strength and hope for you to find me and bring me home. You're so damn strong because you have brought me home repeatedly." Neal was beginning to cry quietly and Peter knew it. "I want to bring you home. I don't want you to get hurt, Peter. You're everything to me and I don't want to lose you."

The older man hushed his husband gently, knowing and understanding exactly how Neal was feeling right now. He was glad Neal could be honest with him about his feelings and thoughts. "I'm going to come home to you, Neal. As soon as Rachel's plan is put into effect, she'll think you've turned against me. She'll think you're there to kill me. She doesn't know that I've told you about all of this and Caldwell's documents proved exactly what I was trying to tell you." Neal held his head in his hand as he tried to get himself under control. "Believe me, sweetheart. I understand your pain. I do. I know how terribly it hurts, how terrifying it is, and how incredibly difficult it is to pull through." Neal sniffled as he nodded, listening to his husband silently. "There were plenty of times when I didn't know if I would find you alive—if I'd be able to keep my promise to Nicky that I was going to bring his daddy home to him."

Peter knew Neal was struggling. Neal was trembling as he broke down. He'd held himself together in front of his children and as much as he could when he wasn't with the kids since Peter was taken from him, but hearing Peter's voice and not knowing where he was being held against his will was difficult. "Please don't leave me," he whispered. "I don't want to live without you. You mean so damn much to me, Peter Michael. You're my other half… Please don't leave me…"

"I know, my love. I know. I'm not going to—" Peter began to cough violently and cursed himself because he knew that certainly wasn't helping Neal's fears. "I'm not going to leave you. We're going to make it through this. We can hear each other no matter what's going on. Caldwell came in while you were sleeping and he told me Rachel's plan is going to be put into play very soon. She won't kill me because she thinks you're going to do that. If she makes contact with you, pretend you've turned against me."

"Do you know how much that is going to hurt me?" Neal asked thickly. "I can't imagine ever wanting to kill you. I never want to do anything to hurt you."

Peter sighed sadly. "It's a role, hon. I need you to play it for me. I need you to pretend you want me dead. Beg her to tell you where I am so you can kill me. You and I both know none of this will be true, sweetheart. Think of it as a con. We're playing her so she'll bring us together." Neal knew he would be able to carry that out for Peter. It was just a matter of forcing himself to say everything Peter wanted him to say, everything Rachel wanted to hear him say. "Can you do that for me, baby? Please?"

Nodding silently, Neal took a few moments to get his breathing under control before whispering, "I would do anything for you. You know that." Peter made an affirmative sound because he did know that. He's very aware of the lengths they would go to in order to be together again. "I'm going to do it." He was trying to push his emotions aside. His love for Peter couldn't blind him whenever Rachel decided to make contact with him. He couldn't sneer at her and call her a lying bitch. He couldn't say anything to contradict what she wanted him to think. "I love you, Peter. I'll do whatever it takes to finally bring you home."

"I know you will, baby boy. You haven't given up on me yet. I know we'll be together again soon." Peter sighed wistfully and said, "We have a lot to make up for when I'm home. I'm not there for Valentine's Day and I haven't been there with the kids…"

Neal waved him off even though he knew Peter couldn't see him. "Don't worry about anything regarding me and you. We can make any day as special as Valentine's Day, so it's honestly nothing for you to concern yourself with. The kids and I will just be happy to have you back." Peter chuckled, but Neal knew he wasn't happy. "I know, Peter, and I'm so sorry…"

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I know you're doing what you can, lover."

Neal nodded slowly and whispered, "We're bringing one giant down today." Peter made a curious sound. "Diana, Jones, and a small and loyal group of agents are going to take Kramer in. We're in the process of getting a warrant. It's going to be approved because of all the evidence, written and recorded, we have against him." He rubbed the underside of his rings with his thumb and whispered, "As soon as we have him out of the picture, it will be time to take Rachel down."

•◊•

As Neal was driving himself down to the FBI building to witness a partial victory, the phone system within Peter's Taurus rang and an unknown number appeared on the screen. Hitting the answer button, Neal said, "Moz?"

"Who else?"

Neal rolled his eyes and paused at a light. "Please tell me you've found something." He was gripping the steering wheel tightly, praying that Mozzie found Peter's whereabouts. While he'd been sitting at the table alone in Stonewall the previous night, he'd texted Mozzie and asked that he tail the man he was meeting inside. As soon as they were leaving, Neal texted Mozzie a quick description of the man and Mozzie confirmed that he'd seen the man and was following him in his 'legally obtained' taxi cab.

Elizabeth and Peter's parents were with the kids and they'd encouraged Neal to do whatever he could to find Peter, so he'd called upon the short man's assistance, knowing he could trust Mozzie to follow the man without the man knowing he was being tailed.

"I just did, which is why I'm calling you." Neal grinned as he began to drive again. "He's in northwestern territory within Brooklyn—and you'll never believe where he's being held." Neal made a sound of curiosity. "It's some kind of sexual fetish shop. It's the perfect cover, honestly, considering she's a sadistic bitch."

Neal's grin immediately fell. "Please tell me you actually saw him go elsewhere instead of walking around a store full of sex toys and other sexual objects."

Mozzie grunted. "Of course I did, mon frère… I pretended to be there for myself and so did he, but he slipped into a corner with a keypad. I don't think he knew I was watching him, but I didn't catch the key code he used to enter. I can only imagine there's some strange shit going on back there normally and I can't imagine how much they paid the owner to allow them to do all of this. There's no way they would've gotten in or the key code itself unless he's in on the whole thing." Neal couldn't believe that. The place Peter was lying naked in seemed like a factory of some sort, but Peter had been showered down when they didn't particularly enjoy how he smelled. "I'm sure your Suit-friends will be more than able to find that code and get in themselves."

"Peter, are you hearing all of this?" Peter made a quiet sound to let Neal know that he was listening. "All right, Moz. Text me the location and I'll pass the word on as soon as I can upon getting to the twenty-first floor. We're going after Kramer. Diana has the arrest warrant as well as a search warrant." Mozzie sounded impressed and said it was about time the FBI did something productive. "With Kramer pulling the strings, it makes sense that the division hasn't been effective. For all we know, Kramer was planting the seeds of darkness within before Hughes was removed. Peter told me this morning that he believes new agents were switched around in advance. Besides, this has definitely been in progress for several months…"

"I didn't realize just how corrupt he is. Guess you had a right to dislike and feel threatened by this son of a bitch."

Neal sighed. "I feel like Kramer was beginning to lose it once Peter stopped training under him." Mozzie snickered at that and Neal hit the steering wheel with his right hand. "That is not what I meant, God damn it." Peter was the voice of reason, asking that he calm down. Peter would've said something in response to Mozzie if he had the opportunity and he eventually planned on getting the little bastard back for that. "Text me the location. Thanks, Moz," Neal said through his teeth before hanging up on his friend.

"I wholeheartedly agree that teasing you wasn't appropriate," Peter admitted. "But, honey, I wish you wouldn't take it so seriously. He's corrupt and I know he's fucked up our lives for the moment, but there's absolutely no reason for you to feel threatened by him."

"Has he spoken to you in person since you were taken?" Peter hesitated. Neal could tell he was holding back now and that was beginning to piss him off as if Mozzie's snickering hadn't already put him in that kind of mood. "Peter Michael Burke, I swear to fucking God—"

"Yes." Peter was concerned because he didn't know how Neal was going to react. He hadn't cheated on Neal in the slightest, but the comments Kramer made to him were absolutely disgusting, provocative, and said before they'd been given the transceivers by Agent Caldwell. A few things had also happened while Neal was sleeping. "I swear I haven't been raped. Kramer's threatened me several times and he came very close to going through with it. The only thing that stopped him was my pleading and Rachel's intervention. I guess I'm only grateful to her for constantly preventing my very first experience with being fucked like that."

Neal's eyes widened and his heart clenched. "Constantly preventing?" he asked incredulously. "How many times have they threatened to rape you?"

Peter cleared his throat and said, "Only a few times. He and the two guys were the only ones to come anywhere close to my body. Rachel shot those two, but she's got some leverage against Kramer. I'm sure of it since he wouldn't listen to her otherwise."

"I wish I had some God damn evidence to prove all of this." Peter was silent and Neal's gut immediately told him something was really wrong. "Peter, did I lose you?"

Quietly, Peter said, "No."

Brows furrowed, Neal asked, "Why were you silent after I mentioned wanting evidence to prove his inappropriate sexual advances on you?"

"…because there is evidence, assuming I'm not showered and nothing is cleaned before you save me." Neal's shoulders tensed as he pulled into the parking lot outside of the FBI building.

Glancing at his rings, Neal whispered, "What kind of evidence?"

Peter sighed. "I didn't lie when I told you I wasn't raped. I haven't been forced into sex of any kind. However, the sick fuck was in here a few times and jerked himself off while staring at me." As soon as Neal parked the Taurus, his fingers tightened their grip on the steering wheel. "If I'm not showered before you get here, he's ejaculated on me six times. It can be used as evidence. I don't know if his semen on my person can be tested, but there's some on the blanket just in case… We can use that against him, honey."

"This just makes arresting him so much sweeter," Neal snarled. In a way, Peter appreciated Neal's jealousy. He didn't doubt Neal's love for him nor did he ever have any doubts when it came to his love for Neal. It was just kind of nice to know Neal felt as threatened as he always did when Neal was put into an unfavorable sexual situation. Neither Vincent nor Craig could ever be loved by Neal, but they'd tried to make Neal love them. Kramer was nearly the same kind of animal in this instance. He wants Peter to love him and Peter didn't feel inclined to return that love at all.

"I love you. All I'm asking of you is that you be careful. He could still hurt you, honey, and that's what I'm afraid of."

Neal turned the car off and climbed out as his phone vibrated twice in his pocket. One message was the location Mozzie discovered—with an apology as well—and the second was from Diana, informing him that everyone was ready to go as soon as he arrived. "I have a bulletproof vest on, my love. I know that leaves other places open for injury, but he can't harm my torso at the very least. I highly doubt he'll take a shot at me in the midst of all the other agents though." Peter sighed and Neal could imagine him shaking his head. "I'm meeting with him alone because he wants to talk to me. He set this meeting up, but I'm controlling it."

Peter made a quiet sound and whispered, "Just be careful, baby. I don't want you to get hurt."

The younger man was making his way towards the entrance of the FBI building and he said, "I'm not going to get hurt, love. Diana will back me up and I'm armed." Peter asked him to explain why he armed himself since Peter believed Neal could still potentially end up shooting himself. "Diana and I have practiced with unloaded guns. She's the best agent you know and I would have killed her nine of the ten times we pulled our guns on each other. I'm a quick draw."

"That one out of ten chance that you could be shot is what scares me, Neal…"

Neal, as he stood in the elevator alone, said, "I promise I'll try not to let my anger get the best of me. I'm going to try to be subjective about this and attempt to prevent a shootout."

Peter scoffed. "Bitch, please." Neal smiled to himself a little—until Peter coughed painfully. "I know you far better than that, darling. Don't lie to me. Just be careful."

"Promise," Neal whispered. He watched the numbers as the elevator made its way towards the twenty-first floor. "I love you, Peter. I'm bringing him down for everything he ever did, every sexual thought about you, and everything he wanted or wished he could do to you."

"I love you. I appreciate everything you've done, Neal."

The elevator dinged and Neal whispered, "Here we go," before taking a deep breath. The doors slid open and he stepped out. Peter was staying quiet during all of this because he wanted to listen to everything that was said to his husband. Neal quietly greeted a few agents who spoke to him as he made his way up to Kramer's office.

"Ah, Mister Burke. You're right on time." Neal nodded and entered the office. "Take a seat."

"I'd prefer to stand."

Kramer stared at Neal wordlessly for a moment, but nodded. "The bureau hasn't been able to uncover much evidence as to where your husband may have been taken." Both Peter and Neal could hear his lack of remorse as well as how bitter he sounded upon saying 'your husband.' "I assure you that we're doing the best we can to find him."

Neal forced himself to nod. "The FBI has always been reliable as far as I'm concerned. My husband is good for this division and you all know it. I know you're trying to find him." Peter reminded Neal to tone it down on the hostility because he knew his husband better than Kramer. Kramer couldn't tell the difference between Neal's appreciation and sarcasm or comprehend what was considered to be his bitter and jealous side. Neal, along with Hughes and a great deal of agents in the White Collar division, wished Peter had been given this position when Hughes was forced out. None of the original members of the division liked Kramer. "I just hope there's something for you all to find considering it's been a few weeks…"

"If he's still alive, we'll find him." Again, Neal forced himself to nod. "How are your children holding up? I wasn't told the location of the safe house they're in and I couldn't find any connections to Peter's name—or yours." Internally, Neal felt like he'd already had one partial victory. Mozzie altered the database and filled in another agent's name in place of Peter's so Kramer couldn't find the kids.

"They're all right. It's hard for them to understand what's going on. Our teenager understands, but the little ones don't." He didn't want to say more about his children to Kramer. "Can I ask as to what exactly is being done to find my husband?"

Kramer nodded. "We've put out an APB and BOLO out for Rachel and any of her known accomplices." Bullshit. "We also have teams of agents scouring the entirety of New York to find him." More bullshit. "It'll only be a matter of time before he's found if he's still alive. I have assigned my best agents to the task of finding Agent Burke." This level of bullshit was unbelievable. "As soon as I know more, you'll be the first to hear about any information I've obtained."

Neal flexed his fingers. To anyone else, it looked as though he were just flexing his tense fingers. To the discerning eyes he was silently alerting, the flexing of his fingers was something else entirely. "Agent Kramer," Neal said gently. "If I may be blunt with you…" Kramer nodded at him. "You're under arrest." Kramer's brows furrowed and then the door of Kramer's office was thrown open and a team of agents burst in had their guns aimed directly at Kramer. Jones grabbed Neal and moved him back, protecting him just in case something happened.

"What the hell is going on?" Kramer asked incredulously. "This is absolutely uncalled for. What kind of mutiny is this?"

"A mutiny that is absolutely legal and called for." Bruce Hawes stepped into the office as a few agents moved aside. "Agent Phillip Kramer, we have evidence that undoubtedly puts you in league with the rogue MI-five agent, Rachel Turner. This evidence also undoubtedly proves that this plot to kidnap Agent Peter Burke was premeditated." Kramer stared at the man incredulously. Neal brought Bruce in because his words weighed heavily over anyone in this particular division. "You have kidnapped a federal agent and exploited the damage to a former federal agent's memory, which may or may not have also been premeditated. In addition to that, you've put the entire Burke family—which includes minors—through intentional emotional and psychological distress by assisting in the kidnapping of Agent Peter Burke." Kramer looked at Neal and Neal gave him the best 'fuck you' smirk he could muster up in that exact moment.

Kramer made a sound of outrage. "What evidence is there?"

Bruce stepped closer to Kramer and showed him a copy of the conversation Kramer had with Rachel on the phone. "Is this or is this not your phone number?" Kramer remained silent. As Bruce flipped to show Kramer another page, he asked, "Is this or is this not your signature, Agent Kramer?" Kramer knew he was beaten then and there was nothing he could do. All of the agents who'd aligned themselves to him and only him were 'scouring the entirety of New York.' "Agent Phillip Kramer, you are under arrest." Several agents stepped forward and arrested the man, cuffing him instantaneously and leading him away as Diana followed along and recited Kramer's rights out of sheer habit and the fact that she wanted to humiliate Kramer in front of agents who weren't closely involved in the efforts the division made with Neal.

The agents cleared out and several escorted Kramer out of the FBI building. Jones, however, stayed with Neal. He had an obligation he owed directly to Peter—ensuring Neal's safety. "Thank you, Bruce," Neal said to the man as they neared each other.

"Holy shit," Peter said in his ear. "When the hell did you have the time to organize all of that without me hearing about it?"

Neal smiled as he said, "You were sleeping and I was listening to you breathe, my love. It kept me calm as we planned this moment. I called Bruce and he became the lead investigator on this issue over the subdivision of agents in the White Collar division, including everyone who is loyal to you."

"Tell that bastard he owes me a visit to DC—and a drink or two."

Peter chuckled. "Tell that bastard to buy that drink or two with the money he's made from his cozy, little DC position."

Snickering, Neal relayed Peter's message to Bruce. "Peter and I will personally make every effort to come down to DC since you've come here to help us," Neal promised. "We both truly appreciate the help."

Bruce waved off his gratitude. "You, the hubby, and your beautiful kids are my family. There's absolutely no thanks necessary. In fact, I thank you for including me, former-Special Agent Neal Burke." Neal smiled a little. "Now's the hard part. We've got to locate Peter. I'm assuming he doesn't know where he is?"

"He has an idea as to where he is, but a…confidential informant of my own was able to follow an agent involved in this whole thing and obtained the address."

Bruce gave Neal an impressed look. "I always knew Peter's praise was always justified. Now I can see exactly why he's always spoken so highly of you to me." Neal blushed a little and Peter whispered an 'I love you' to his husband. "Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go rescue the damsel in distress."

Neal laughed and the remainder of the party that invaded Kramer's office was preparing for hostility. "Remind that asshole of the fact that I was at the top of our class and I don't recall seeing him in second place." Neal smiled as he followed Bruce and heard his husband's remark. He passed along his husband's words and elicited a guffaw from the other man.

All agents made their way to their individual cars, but Bruce and Jones joined Neal as they all climbed into Peter's Taurus. Neal told Jones the address of Peter's whereabouts and Jones radioed it to the other agents involved. "We're on our way, my love," Neal told his husband.

"Thank God. I've waited long enough to be with you again."

Neal smiled as he listened to his husband's even breathing on the other end. He knew how relieved and happy Peter was to know he had people coming to his aid. All agents—and Neal—were at the halfway point between the FBI building and the building Peter was captive in when Neal heard gunshots on Peter's end. "Peter!" he cried out. "Peter, are you okay?"

Jones and Bruce were staring at the younger man concernedly. "I may just kill you myself," Rachel sneered. "Who needs Neal when I could put a bullet between your eyes in an instant?"

"What did I do? I've been in this fucking room for weeks."

"You contacted the FBI. I just received word that Kramer was arrested. I will kill you if the FBI knows about this location.

Rachel was angry, but Neal and Peter could hear the slight fear intertwined with that anger. "I'm bound at the wrists, knees, and ankles, so I'm flattered that you actually think I could call for help without being caught on camera." Rachel wanted to spew venomous words at Peter, but she figured Peter was right. She realized she'd been betrayed by someone on the inside and assumed Peter knew nothing about any of this.

Moments later, Neal's cell phone began to vibrate in his pocket. "Fuck," he whispered. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and tossed it over to Jones. "Answer and put her on speaker." Jones did as Neal asked very quickly. "This is Burke."

"Hello, sweetheart." Neal's insides heated up with rage as the sound of her voice. "I bet you're surprised to find out I'm the mastermind behind your lover's kidnapping."

"I kind of figured you were involved in some way or another."

"Are you still interested in saving him?"

Neal swallowed hard because he knew it was time for him to play the role Peter asked of him. "I'd really like to know where that son of a bitch is. He's lied to me all this time and I'm glad he's not with me right now because I'd fucking kill him." Jones and Bruce stared at Neal incredulously, wondering what the hell just happened. "You were right when you said he lied to me. I was too damn blind to see it then, but I can see it now. I know what he did to me and he tried to blame someone else for my pain."

She made a sound of delight as Peter whispered, "Beautiful," in his ear, giving him a one word response to let him know everything he said was exactly what Rachel wanted him to say.

"So what exactly would you like me to do with him? Should I kill him?"

"No," Neal growled. "He raped and abused me more times than I can remember. I want to kill him myself. Peter Burke is the biggest bastard and liar I've ever met in my life and I'm so sorry for taking his side when I should have been on yours."

She hushed him and his jaw set firmly as she said, "I absolutely understand, my love. Meet me at the Brooklyn Bridge in half an hour."

"Don't drown him or kill him. He's mine." Rachel agreed and hung up.

"What the hell was that?" Bruce and Jones exclaimed simultaneously, making the younger man flinch in response. They all cared very deeply when it came to Peter, but the other two in the car didn't realize that Peter asked him to do this.

He opened his mouth to speak, but paused. He listened to Rachel's threats, her piercing words, and he could hear Peter's fake reaction. Peter was able to force himself to sob, but Neal knew it wasn't real. It didn't mean the sound of Peter's sobs didn't hurt him though. "Those notes," he said to Jones, "were triggers. Rachel did something to my brain and I 'remembered' Peter raping me and abusing me like I just said. However, Peter was able to tell me that she was playing a mind game with me. One of the transcripts in the phone logs between Rachel and Kramer indicated that she did something to me and it was all done in preparation for all of this." Jones' jaw dropped. "I know how unbelievable all of this sounds, but I'm playing along at Peter's request because I'm going to use this opportunity to free him."

"You need backup though," Jones insisted. Neal shook his head. "Neal, I can't let you go there alone. If she kills you—"

"She won't. She thinks her plot to turn me against Peter was a success." He listened to Peter's own acting and was impressed by how real Peter sounded. It sounded almost too real and that frightened Neal to an extent. "I'm going to drop you off as close as I can to the other location, but I need to do this on my own." Bruce and Jones weren't quite sure if they could change Neal's mind. They knew he and Peter discussed this and they didn't think they could interfere with the bond between the two husbands. "She's going to regret every time she raped me, every time she watched someone rape me, and she's going to fucking regret every second of torture, humiliation, and solitude she inflicted upon my husband."

Jones' first instinct was to prevent Neal from going through with this because he's too emotionally influenced by the situation and he didn't think Neal would be able to pull this off. "You're sure we can't help you?" Bruce asked.

Neal smiled sadly as he drove like a madman to get to the other location quickly to drop Jones and Bruce off to assist in the takedown of the others involved in all of this. "I appreciate your offer, but this is something I need to do alone. Peter carried me away from the horrors I experienced in the past and no one helped him carry me." Bruce smiled a little himself because he knew this was the man Peter deserved. Despite thinking this wasn't particularly a good idea himself, he knew Neal was determined to save Peter. "I'm going to carry him away from this. I'm going to give my husband the love he has always given me in my darkest moments. I don't owe him that—he deserves that kind of love in return and I am more than happy and willing to give it to him."

After fifteen minutes, Neal reached the other location and allowed the two men to leave the car. Bruce's parting words to him were, "Go get 'im, tiger. Be careful."

As Neal raced back towards the Brooklyn Bridge, he could hear Peter making sounds of pain. He didn't know if Peter had been hurt or not when Rachel took him away from the initial location, but it didn't matter because the outcome of all of this would remain the same whether Peter was hurt or not.

He could hear Rachel's laughter—laughter at Peter's pain. Even if Peter's pain were being faked, she still thought his pain was a laughing matter. "I'm on my way," Neal told his husband through the transceiver. "I swear to God… I am bringing you home to our children today." Peter was begging Rachel to stop the car, to stop Neal before he could do this, and she didn't listen to his pleas.

"Thank you," Peter whispered thickly. It was said quiet enough that Rachel hadn't heard him and Neal's fingers tightened on the steering wheel as he tried to make his way to the Bridge before she killed Peter herself.

"I love you, Peter Michael." He could already imagine Peter smiling at him, holding him, stroking his hair, kissing him, and making love to him… As he imagined the warmth and love that would undoubtedly radiate from his husband's very essence, a single tear slid down the right side of his face. He wasn't going to fail. He wasn't going to allow his husband to die—nor was he going to die himself. He was going to keep his promise to his children and he was going to keep his promise to his husband. The two of them would go home to their children as soon as this was all over. Fiercely, Neal whispered, "I love you so much."