Hello Everyone !
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...
There on the pendant it was neatly carved, 'With Love, Peter and El'
Neal stared at those words for a long time as if staring at them would either make some sense out of them or make them disappear from the pendant. Why the hell was he wearing such a pendant? With love, from Peter and El? It meant that the pendant was given to him by the Burkes. But he just couldn't remember when did they gave it to him. He closed his eyes.
'With love, from Peter and El' Those words kept dancing in front of his closed eyes but everything was dark around them. His fingers closed around the pendant. The cold metal instantly warming up in his palm. There was something about it. It was telling him that it was precious. Not only precious but precious to him.
Automatically his eyes opened and he hooked the chain around his neck. Whatever was the reason, this chain was important and he wasn't going to part with it.
But then a cruel thought came to his mind which made him want to snatch away the metal from him and flung it across the window.
What if the Agent planted this chain on his clothes just be pretend that they were or are close to him? What if they wanted to show how much they loved him and then once they succeeded in that, they would try to get information out of him? What if they wanted to arrest James and Neal was just a pawn in their cat and mouse game?
He clutched the pendant tightly in his right hand, fully intending on tossing it away on the freshly painted snowy road but his heart lurched painfully by just the thought of doing it. He felt his eyes getting damp. What was happening? Why was he so bothered by the fact that this silly piece of metal could be a ploy to get to him by Agent Burke.
'Because you know the answer, you idiot.' Neal admonished himself loudly.
After his mom passed away, nobody cared for him. His dad was never there for him. He was only money earning machine for him. For the world he was the famous Neal Caffrey, the conman, the art forger, thief, criminal. Nobody really cared for him. He had only one person who cared for him. His friend, Mozzie. But he was not always around and Neal wanted more.
Neal wanted someone who would truly love him and care for him and be his happy ending. And these Burkes were behaving as if he had already gotten his happy ending. The way they were worried. The way they were showering their love over him and now this pendant. Everything was screaming that Neal had finally got his happy ending.
He banged his fist with more force than necessary. Why couldn't things be easy for once in his life? He started shivering. The cold was seeping in his bones. He wrapped his arms around himself to get warm. He didn't know whether the shivering was from the outside snow or the tension inside him.
He stared across the window. The city looked beautiful. Everything was slowly covering in white. He wished so badly that his life was as white as the snow that was falling. He sighed deeply, shivering some more. He looked longingly outwards in search of what, he didn't know and then turned around.
He didn't know what was going on with him right now. He knew one thing though. He had to reach James or Mozzie to get his answers. He needed to get to them fast or else he was sure that Agent Burke was going to drill it into his damn head that he was their kid and get all the information he needed on James and even himself.
His damn headache was back again had begun to trouble him. He gazed at the city one last time before turning away and moving back to his bed. He laid down and shut his eyes. He tried to ease his mind to get some sleep but all the things that happened today weren't allowing him to relax. After a lot of tossing and turning, Neal was finally able to sleep.
Next Day
Doctor Bright Thyme entered Neal's room with his usual smile. Neal was already awake and was sitting on the bed.
''Did you sleep well, kid?'' he asked Neal while looking into his reports.
Neal smiled his charming smile and nodded, easily lying. He had a horrible night and was now nursing a very horrible headache.
"Well, I have good news for you, Neal. You can go home today." Thyme continued.
Neal's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Are you serious? I mean, can I really get out of this stupid place?"
His hand flew to his mouth to shut his mouth when he saw the doctor raise his eyebrow.
"Sorry! I didn't mean it that way. I mean..I .. "Neal started to say quickly wanting to pacify the doctor
The doctor laughed. "Relax, kid. I can understand. Not many people are fans of hospitals."
Neal relaxed and returned the laughter.
"Your father is going to pick you up, alright kid." Thyme said. He finished checking Neal and was satisfied. He was still not sure though when would Neal recall his past life but he was hopeful that it would be soon.
Neal turned white. He wanted to go home. He wanted to meet James so that he could remember something from his past but finally when the moment come to go home, he wished he could go anywhere else but there.
He was not sure how would James treat him when he came to meet and took him to their so-called home. James would definitely ask him how he landed in the hospital. God! If only he could remember things. Everything would be so easy.
"My.. Dad?" Neal asked
"Yes, Mr. Burke, of course. He said he will be soon coming here to take you home." Replied doctor Thyme.
"Mr. Burke?" Neal asked in shock? Why in the hell was the agent coming to pick him up? Where was his dad? And why was this agent adamant on calling himself his dad?
''Who else, kiddo?" the doctor asked in confusion, smiling slightly,
''But.. "
Neal started but couldn't continue as at that very moment, Peter entered the room.
In the morning at the Burke house before going to the hospital –
El poured the orange juice in one glass for Peter and one for herself. The cereal was already served in the bowl. Peter came bounding down the stairs, freshly showered and took his usual place. He took a sip from his glass and dug from his bowl. He didn't utter a word. He was just lost in thought.
"You sure about this, Hon? I mean bringing Neal here?" El asked with worry masking her beautiful face.
"Yes, El, I am sure. We can't let Neal go on his own. He is still juvenile. He doesn't remember anything. He even thinks his dad is alive. If we don't bring him home, where will he go? Officially we are his parents, El. He will be brought back to us only." Peter reasoned with her.
El nodded understanding what her husband was trying to tell her. ''What if he doesn't want to come to us?" She asked worriedly.
"He won't have any other option, El. Legally we are his parents. He will be safe with us, El other than leaving him on his own. And where do you think he will he go? To James? He is dead! To Mozzie? Hell, he hasn't been in touch since last one month. And you really want our kid to go with him?" Peter raised his eyebrow skeptically at El.
El giggled a little even though the tension didn't leave her entirely. ''Come on, honey, he is not that bad. He is Neal's true friend. He would definitely take care of our child. Of course, his ways might be a little too weird for our taste."
''We can't be too sure, El!" Peter replied promptly. "Any way, my point is we can't let our kid go anywhere alone. He was once a criminal, hon. Imagine, if his past life came back to him. People from his past knew that he has lost his memory, what would they do?"
El gasped, her hand flying automatically to her mouth. "I totally forgot about that, Peter!"
"Yes, so it's better we bring our kid here. Home, where he belongs, where he is safe." Peter replied back.
El's entire face lit up like a Christmas tree. Just the thought of having Neal back home was making her giddy. Yesterday was such a heart-breaking day of their lives. But today she was going to have her kid back home. Even though, Neal didn't remember them, she was sure if Neal came and lived with them then slowly and surely her kid would remember everything.
''I am just so happy, honey! I'll go upstairs and make sure his winter wonderland is ready for him.'' El got up from her chair and started to go upstairs but Peter stopped her by grabbing her hand gently. She was sure that once Neal was back in his room, he would remember something about them.
Peter huffed out a laugh. ''Relax, El. Don't get too excited. We don't want to overwhelm him, alright."
''Of course, honey! It's just that our baby is coming home!" El replied and her eyes began to fill with tears. She was excited but at the same time she was apprehensive of what was going to happen when Neal would be here.
"Come here." Peter hugged his wife tightly. "Everything will be okay, El."
El melted in her husband's arms. Once Neal came home, everything would be alright. Her heart was telling her that. Just Neal had to come home.
At the hospital –
Neal openly gaped at Peter. What was going on? This question he had asked himself for the millionth time since he woke up in this damn hospital but he got no answer.
''Agent Burke?'' Neal asked in confusion
''Hey, Kiddo! You ready to go home?" Peter asked a question of his own in reply. He knew Neal was utterly confused but right now he just wanted his kid to be at home.
''Home? Is my dad coming? Is he with you?" Neal asked another question. Seriously, what was this Agent playing at?
"No, Neal, He is not coming. You are coming with me to my home, kid." Peter replied with a broad smile. Internally he prayed Neal wouldn't freak out, and create any scene.
"Your home? Why?"
''Well, for starters, I promised you that I will get you to your dad, right? But we have tried everything but we just can't seem to get hold of him. Yet!'' Peter lied smoothly. The relief of not finding out James yet that came across Neal's face was massive. Peter was glad he could take that weight away from the kids shoulders for now.
"But then it is ok, agent Burke. I can manage. I know where my home is. I can go there by myself." Neal requested. Even though his dad was nowhere to be found, he knew he could always find him. He knew he had to go to him. That was the rule. If his dad found out that he didn't return home then God knows what hell he would throw him into.
''I am sorry kiddo, but I can't let you go on your own. You are not an adult so you will be staying with us." Peter replied instantly.
"Us?" Neal asked in confusion.
"Yes, us! Me and El, of course. Oh! You are going to love it, kid." Peter replied with a laugh.
''That is really not necessary. Agent. I can take care of myself. You don't have to undergo all this trouble. Please send me elsewhere." Neal continued to beg. Really! What was with the agent and his persistent need to take him home.
"Oh, Neal, this is no trouble for me at all! Now come on, kid! Let's pack your stuff. El must be waiting for you. She even prepared your delicious food today; you know those tiny hens that you like.'' Peter grinned. Everything came out tumbling without any pre-thoughts.
Neal's eyebrows shot upwards, "Yes! I love them! Then suddenly his surprise turned to shock. ''What are hens? And since when did I love them? And how did you know that, Agent Burke?" This was crazy beyond recognition.
Peter's grin quickly faded. He coughed a little to cover up his slip up. "You forget, Neal, I am an FBI agent, I have been following you for many years now. I have been keeping track of you. I know your likes and dislikes, kiddo."
Neal simply rolled his eyes. This agent was more inside than he was showing on the outside. He thought to himself. He let this one go for now. He didn't want to go into deep talks with the agent right now.
''Okay, whatever! But I have a friend who can take care of me who will help me search for my dad. Really I can go to him." Neal implored.
''Who? Mozzie? Really, Neal, you think I will let you go with your eccentric friend?" Peter asked knowingly.
Neal paled. "How do you know about Mozzie?"
"Neal! Really you want me to answer this question?" Peter asked raising his eyebrows.
Neal huffed an irritated sigh. If the agent knew Mozzie already, that means he must be knowing much more.
''Fine! I will go with you."
Peter's entire face lit up. Without thinking he came forward and engulfed Neal tightly, giving him a warm hug.
Neal just sat there like a statue. He was so surprised by the sudden gesture of the agent that he almost forgot to breathe. And then something happened which made his heart stop.
Peter kissed the top of his head and said, ''Gosh! I love you so much, kiddo. I love you so much.''
Automatically, Neal's arms went around Peter's waist and he held tightly. The warmth that coursed through him was unexplainable.
But he knew one thing. It just felt right.
Peter noticed that Neal returned his hug but he remained silent. He didn't want to end the moment by saying something that would set Neal off. He let go off Neal and then patted his head lovingly, "Alright, kid, let's get going."
Neal didn't trust his voice so he merely nodded. He knew he became week in that moment but he was no fool. He wasn't going to be fooled by this agent and his wife. He knew somehow the agent knew what he wanted the most. A Happy ending. And that's exactly what he was doing. But Neal wasn't an idiot. He might have lost control of the situation here and there but he was not going to let the agent fool him.
He would go with him and stay with him just like the agent said. All he needed once he reached their house was to get a phone and call his friend Mozzie. Once he talked with his friend, Neal was sure everything would be clear.
He knew all the safe houses of his dad. He could definitely go there directly. Just go with Agent Burke now and then later slip out of the house and go back to James but Neal didn't want to go back to his dad now. Max hadn't come here yet. That meant, his dad didn't know where he was. Neal could use to his advantage.
He could go without his dad for a few days. He had done it before, when he used to work cases for his dad. He used to be out for days. This time too, he would stay away from his dad and that monster Max.
If his dad asked him then he would simply lie that he had found a new job on his own. He had done that before too.
''Neal, kiddo, you ready?" Peter asked, concern coloring his face because Neal had once again zoned out.
"Yes, sure.. can't wait to get out of here." Neal smiled.
"Good! Here are your clothes. Put them on and then we leave. Alright, kiddo." Peter said. He handed Neal a pair of blue jeans and a red checked shirt and a black jacket. They looked familiar, as if he had worn them before.
"Are they mine?" Neal asked curiously, taking them from Peter.
"What?" Peter huffed out a nervous laugh. ''No! no.. the are not yours. El got them from.. from. I don't know.. you just put them on! Kid! We are getting late." He continued hurriedly.
"Okay…" Neal replied in confusion.
After sometime –
In the Taurus –
''All set, kiddo?'' Peter asked, buckling his seatbelt and gesturing Neal to do the same.
Neal followed Peter and replied, "Yes, Agent Burke, all set."
''Why do you keep calling me agent Burke?" Peter asked in irritated tone. He hated when Neal called that. It took Neal a lot of time to call him dad so Peter would never expect him to call dad but at least 'Peter' would do good.
''You are an agent, right? Agent Burke?" Neal asked in confusion. What else was he supposed to call him?
"Yes, of course." Peter simply replied and gave a tight smile. He started for home. For a few minutes there was complete silence in the car and Peter found that suffocating.
Neal was in the car and it was silent. It didn't go together. He turned towards Neal to strike up some conversation, "Hey, Neal…"
Neal was fast asleep with his head resting on the window and hands on his lap. Neal was still healing and the meds were still doing their work. His forehead was bandaged with a band-aid. Peter was overcome by strong emotion looking at his kid. He cursed himself for God know how many times by now, for allowing Neal to go on that mission. If only I had been more careful.
"I am so sorry, kiddo." Peter whispered softly. He softly ruffled Neal's hair and concentrated back to his driving.
He reached his house and parked his Taurus and then he decided to wake up Neal but Neal's eyes automatically opened as the vehicle had stopped moving.
He rubbed his eyes sleepily and cracked opened his one eye and saw Peter opening his side of the door.
"We home, Dad?" he asked and Peter's heart stopped.
I really hope you like it.