Hi! The story's back for anyone who still wants to read it. Sorry about the long wait, life has been hectic. Let me know what you think. Ill aim to post every week. Thanks.

Chapter 25

Hughes walked up the front path. Readying himself for what was to come. The door opened before he knocked, Burke was obviously waiting on him. Peter seemed calmer than yesterday, more in control of his emotions.

Hughes had brought his brief case with him, it was early and he had taken the morning off.

"Peter, nice to see you again. Thanks for letting me come, I understand things will be stressful around here."

"Yeah... but we'll manage." They walked into the living room, Peter leading the way to the kitchen. El began descending the stairs.

"Reese, lovely to see you. How are things?" They gave each other a peck on the cheek, she sat down, him doing the same. He was across from her, her back to the kitchen, Peter making coffee. This wasn't a morning for small talk.

Peter sat at the head of the table. Asking how the team were, how the case was. He was about to ask about what was happening next when they heard Neal.

Hughes noticed he looked better than the last time he saw him. Change of clothes, hair sitting better, more colour in his face. But a haunted look in his eyes. Hughes stood, shaking his hand, "Caffrey, good to see you. How are you feeling?"

"Good thanks, you?" He sat across from Peter, getting a murmur in response.

"Right so, first things first... I want to apologies," turning to Neal he set his eyes on his, "I want to say sorry for what happened yesterday. I didn't handle it well at all and I should never have put you in that position."

"It's fine, you were doing your job. I don't want to put you through any more trouble, just tell me what's best to do and I'll do it."

"You keep doing exactly what you're doing now. I've taken care of it and I will continue to do so. You don't have to worry. Just focus on feeling better."

"What do you mean 'taken care of it'? I don't want you putting yourself at risk for this."

"Neal, look, what happened wasn't any one's fault except those who have been caught. What they did to you... wasn't ok. And I want to make sure that I do all I can to help as much as possible."

Neal wasn't shocked, he had always thought highly of Hughes. He felt emotion overwhelm him, having to look down at the table to compose himself. Then Hughes was talking again.

"Now, before I take your statement Peter, I have mug shots to show you. The guys picked up at the warehouse all had records so I have comprised three sheets, six possibilities on each, one of the guys arrested on each. Each of you will look at one sheet, tell me if you recognise anyone and take it from there." He was opening his briefcase as he spoke, not noticing the look between Neal and Peter. The latter gave a reassuring smile, telling his friend he could do this.

They were passed the sheets. Peter looked over the faces, no one standing out. El the same. Neal's eyes immediately went to the one person he recognised instantly. Breath quicken, he reached out for the water sitting on the table, hand shaking. He recognised him straight away, bottom row, middle guy. He could hear Peter asking if Hughes was sure he had it right, that he and El saw no-one they recognised. He sounded like he was getting angry, but the noise was being drowned out by the sound of Neal's heartbeat. The room was spinning, that day coming back to him, that cold dark room replacing the one he was in now. The fear, the helplessness.

Peter was furious. The guys weren't there. He grabbed El's sheet and scanned it, nothing. What was going on? He knew the FBI had them, knew Hughes thought they were on the sheets. Before he really knew what was happening, he was standing, his boss joining him, both almost squaring off to each other. Hughes saying Peter was wrong, he was just stressed, they were defiantly there. He was about to bite the older man's head off with the response when he felt his wife grab his arm. It was sore – previous injury reminding him of the shooting.

"What?!" He shouted down at her, not really thinking straight as his mind was somewhere else entirely. She didn't pull her hand away, flinch in fear or even look at him. She was looking at Neal, her grip strong. Peter's snapped his eyes up, suddenly back in the room. His friend was sitting across from him, water on the table, hand shaking around it. He had his eyes glued on the sheet, breathing hard and harsh. His whole body rigid of voluntary movement, but raked with tremors. Peter pushed past Hughes and was by his side without thought. Hand on the back of his friends' neck.

"Neal, buddy. Hey what is it?" With no answer he gently put his other hand on the left of Neal's face, pulling it to look him in the eyes, "tell me what's wrong." The blue eyes showed fear, Peter could all but see the memories flood Neal's brain. He glanced over at El, who had bend down on Neal's other side.

"It's... it's him. He... he was in the room with me, when... when they..."

Peter tightened his hold on his neck in a comforting way, glancing at the sheet as Hughes reached from behind and took it back.

"Which number?" Hughes' eyes automatically went to number 6, the guy in holding cell C at the local PD. This was exactly what they needed, the break they were after.

"5."

Hughes's head snapped up... that wasn't right, "What? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Look at them again, you might just be confused..."

"Look at him. Does he look confused? If he says its him, it's him." Peter's gaze burned into his boss' face, before looking back to his friends, still finding it hard to breathe. "It's ok. It's ok, calm down. You're safe. I've got you." He kept rubbing the back of Neal's head, feeling him nod and the tremors slowed. El put her hand on his back. Slowly rubbing circles. Standing up he turned towards his boss.

"Let me see," he took the sheet. Number five looking back at him as clear as the memory from within that room. "Yeah, definitely him." He held it up for El to see.

"Yeah he was there from the beginning, he... he was the one who kept looking me up and down. It was weird."

"So, what? I take it from your reaction this wasn't the response you wanted." The look on his boss' face said it all.

"He's not the one we have in custody."