Neal woke up, finding himself lying on the couch covered with a blanket. He supposed Peter or El one had situated him so he could rest easier. He couldn't help but think he should almost be upset to be moved around while sleeping, but he trusted Peter and El both. Instinctively, he chose to pretend to be sleeping to know what was going on around him without anyone knowing he was listening.

"I wish he would open up more." said Peter, talking to who Neal figured was El. "Even if it was just to tell me one or two things. It would at least be a start."

"I know, Peter." said El. Neal could tell their voices wer eboth coming from the dining room and he couldn't resist a quick peek, hoping neither would notice him. He spies them both looking deep in conversation. He closes his eyes and continues to pretend to be asleep. "I think he will in time, just you got to be patient. I know he trusts you, but it may take letting him build up more trust. I'm still going with he likely had a rough childhood."

"You're probably right." said Peter, "There's just zero evidence of him before he was 18, so I can't look into it or anything." Neal had been careful of that and it almost made him laugh that as good of an agent as Peter was, he still hadn't uncovered any of it besides small hints Neal hadn't been able to resist giving, like not finishing high school. Neal wasn't even sure himself why he had said that.

"I know and one day you will find out or he'll tell you one." said El, Neal detecting her sounding sad by her tone. "Let you in and make it easier for you to help him."

Neal couldn't take it any longer and decided to stop pretending to be asleep. "Fine, I will give you both this much - you are both closer than you think to the truth. Let's go with both of my parents weren't really around and that's all I am saying for now." He manages to get himself into a seated position. "So what else is going on since I fell asleep?"

"Hey Neal." said El, looking towards Neal, wondering exactly how much he had overheard. Though she had always had a feeling, she still felt her heart break for a child Neal thinking about what he had just said.

"Not much, Neal, just working on some of those cold cases." said Peter, looking over at Neal. "And you do know that just gave me a billion more questions."

Neal nodded. "I assumed as much." he said, stretching a little, trying to be careful. "Sorry I keep falling asleep on you guys lately."

"Don't worry about it. I can't count the times I fall asleep on that couch." said Peter with a laugh. "Though El tends to leave me there if it's at night sometimes." He gives El a wink.

"What, maybe sometimes it's nice to get the whole bed to myself." said El with a shrug. "Need anything, sweetie?" She poses this question at Neal.

"I assume a nice glass of wine is out of the question, so hot tea if you wouldn't mind." said Neal, trying out the just asking for help that Peter and El were both always telling him to do.

"That I can do and I think I want a cup as well." said El, standing and walking into the kitchen and putting the electric kettle on. "Peter, how about you?"

"I'm good with my coffee. I like being tense." said Peter with a laugh. "I think the last time I had tea I was sick with the flu."

"That sounds about right." said El, getting out a couple mugs and tea bags. "Neal, how do you like your tea? Sugar, cream, honey?"

"I love it with a bit of honey." said Neal, wondering what to do. "Either of you need any help with anything?"

"You know, I would love some help." said El, pouring water in the two cups and leaving them to steep. She walks over to Neal with a binder. "I am trying to figure out a seating arrangement for two families that seem to hate each other. Want to work on it and see if you can figure out the best arrangement?"

"Sure." said Neal, the wheels in his head spinning. "Any other accommodations need to be made?"

"Yeah, the grandmother needs to be near the exit for bathroom breaks and the bride's MIL doesn't want to be anywhere near a speaker." said El, walking back with the cups of tea. "Plus the groom's sister wants to be seated near her parents, but they don't like her boyfriend. It's really a conundrum."

Peter watches El and Neal work on the seating arrangements for the wedding El is planning for a client along with talking tablescapes, letting himself wander to the bit of news Neal had given him. It definitely made a lot of sense with Neal's lack of impulse control. He also looked at the bag of sleeping pills Diana had collected for him from Dr Rogers and wondered how he would be able to talk Neal into trying one tonight.