A month later, Neal finds himself sitting in a chair in the waiting room for the FBI's therapist. He had finally been cleared to do more walking around and was wanting to get back to work at the office, but Peter had insisted he see the therapist first. Luckily he had been able to talk Peter out of waiting with him, promising to meet Peter up at his office when he was through.
"Mr Caffrey, Dr Quill will see you now." said a secretary at the front desk, smiling at Neal. "She's the second door on the right."
"Thank you." said Neal, standing up and getting his balance with the cane and walking to the office. He enters, spotting a semi-attractive woman who looked to be in her later 40's sitting behind a nice desk. "Dr Quill I assume?" he said after knocking.
"You must be Neal, come in." said Dr Quill, pointing at a chair. "You can call me Maggie, everyone does. First name basis is always easier."
"Well nice to meet you Maggie." said Neal, taking off his hat and sitting down. "So as you know, I have to see you to get cleared back for working in the office."
"Yep, it's standard procedure." said Maggie. "We'll have lots to talk about, but let's go with how are you feeling now."
"I'm good." said Neal, it mostly being truthful. "I am living in Agent Burke and when he finishes an apartment he's been meaning to add to his third floor, I will be living there. You probably know I used to live over..."
"Neal, that's what you're doing. How are you feeling?" said Maggie, smiling, but gently interrupting. "Peter warned me about you...and I am to warn you that this could turn into multiple visits if you try to misdirect."
Neal rolls his eyes. "I'm actually doing good considering over a month ago I was kidnapped and held for nearly two weeks...and I had multiple injuries. I'm down to this now." He pats at the leg the walking boot is on. Luckily Dr Rogers had went for a lighter one at the last visit. "I'm hoping eventually to make a full recovery on it."
"That's good to hear Neal." said Maggie, making a few notes. "And about Keete's death?"
"I can't say I'm unhappy he's dead, though I wouldn't have wanted him dead." said Neal, wishing to be anywhere else. "And well I'm sorry that it all happened at my friend June's house in the apartment I used to live. But I'm not a violent person."
"That is in your file." said Maggie, smiling at Neal. "And your experience sounds pretty normal to me."
Maggie asks Neal a few more questions and makes notes of the answers. "So how are you feeling about your sentence and working for the FBI?"
"I want to make it work. I want to eventually work as a consultant for the FBI." said Neal, looking serious. "It may cost me some old friends, but I think it will be worth it. I need to do what's right and I know I don't want to have a rerun of what happened."
"That all sounds reasonable. Are you sure it is what will make you happy?" said Maggie.
"I'm very sure...more than I have been about anything else." said Neal, being very honest. "There's still work to do and I know I have to finish the sentence to be able to prove to myself and everyone else I can do it though."