She wanted them back home. It was a strange feeling, and in a way, it wasn't. Elizabeth always felt that way regarding Peter, but Neal had wormed hi way into their hearts. She had seen the look on Peter's face as he packed.
"He'll be alright hunny. You know Neal, he's always just a step ahead. I'm sure that he'll be safe, especially with you there to help out," she laid a hand on his shoulder consolingly.
"I don't know El, I just….this guy looking for him, he won't stop. You saw him El. He violated our home. And I – I'm worried that I'll bring him back in a body bag, El, I just…I can't let anything happen to him, he's…"
"Precious. I know, Peter. He's so very precious. To you. To me, to Ellen. Now you bring him back to us, you hear me?" His arms encircled her and they rocked a little as he rubbed her back. "You bring our boy back,"
"I will El, I will,"
That was two days ago, and she hadn't heard anything. There was a feeling of dread bubbling in her stomach and she struggled to quash it with self-reassurances that Peter was the best there was and no one but Peter had ever been able to find him, and he would never let anything happen to Neal.
Peter would bring him home safe.
She hugged her arms around herself, and worried her lip between her teeth as she stared at the empty picture frame on the mantle. Peter had taken the picture of them together, with the promise that Neal would be returned to them along with it.
El had never felt more like a mother than she did now. Neal was so close to them. Family in every way. He ate dinner with them often, and occasionally he did breakfast too. He slept over sometimes, and they joked with one another genially and with heartfelt abandon, just like families did.
And he trusted them, when he trusted no one else, just like family trusted one another.
The truth was that she loved him like a son, despite his age. She worried over him like a mother worried over a child, and she was in knots over him and Peter, with no one to turn to. Not even Mozzie, who had become a faithful friend and somewhat of a strange cousin sort of figure in their motley family.
Setting her lips in a tight line El pulled on her coat and grabbed her car keys, and rushed out of the door to her waiting car.
When she pulled up in front of Ellen house, she fairly flew up the steps to the door, knocking on it furiously. The woman opened the door cautiously, and upon seeing El opened the door. The brunette looked distraught, and Ellen watched her expectantly.
"How do can you go on living worrying over that boy?" she exclaimed suddenly, and Ellen motioned for her to come in, suddenly worried herself.
"What's happened?"
"Peter's gone after him. That agent found him in Cape Verde. Peter has to go warn him, because, oh God, I just…if anything happens to him, I don't know what I'll do, I don't know how Peter will, oh God, oh God. He's…I…Neal's like a son to Peter and I, Ellen. He's like my son, and I love him with all my heart and as much as I worry about Peter all the time, I have never worried about anyone more than I am worrying about Neal right now, please, please, please tell me that he's going to be alright, I just, I didn't know who else to talk to, and I thought that you would understand," she trailed off feeling silly. "You must think I'm ridiculous. I mean, I know Neal is a grown man but he still seems so young and helpless sometimes, and –"
"Calm down Elizabeth!" Ellen cut her off, and took own of El's hands in her own. "I share your concern for him, you know I do. I understand how you feel, and I've seen how Peter feels about him too. Otherwise I'd never had given him the pager number. I have faith in your husband. He loves Neal like a son too. We all do. Now, would you like some tea to calm your nerves? We can chat about anything you want,"
El nodded. "Neal. Tell me about Neal, when he was little. Whatever you can, I just…"
"I know," Ellen smiled understandingly.
With the tea on the table, and El sufficiently calmed, Ellen began to tell El what little she could about Neal. His childhood, and his school achievements, his birthdate. The little things that Ellen knew that the other woman would never tell, that she could keep in confidence, treasure in her heart as memories of a child that was never hers, but that she loved unconditionally as her own.
El was sipping on some coffee and petting Satchmo, the T.V. on at a low volume, the news flashing past her, and her cell lying on the side table, just in case Peter called. Just in case there was any news.
It had been a week now since he had gone after Neal, and three days since her visit with Ellen. A picture of a young Neal now sat in the temporarily empty frame, with the promise that she would return it if Neal complained.
Satch sat up suddenly, ears prickling, and El was alerted to the squeak of the door knob and soft voices. The door opened and she looked at the two dark forms who entered. A switch was flipped and Peter was suddenly visible to her, and behind him…
"Neal!" she called out, and ruched over to them, throwing her arms around him and putting a hand at the back of his head, stroking his dark hair. "Oh thank God he brought you home, I was so worried about you baby, Peter said things and – " She broke off simply hugging him, and Peter watched as Neal blinked in utter surprise at the welcome he was receiving, and returned the hug, bending a little to accommodate for El's shorter frame.
Peter slipped the picture of himself and his partner from his jacket pocket and went to put it in the frame, but instead of being empty he discovered what appeared to be a young Neal Caffrey. He gawked at it.
Behind him, El and finally released Neal.
"You're alright? You aren't hurt or anything? Peter brought you home in one piece?" she was bombarding him with questions, and he smiled amiably at her.
"I'm fine Elizabeth, I promise, I'm alright," His eyes twinkled at her sincerely.
"Good. I'm going to make some coffee and then I'm calling Ellen. Is Mozzie with you? Should I call June up and tell her too? I can – "
"It's alright Elizabeth. All in good time. For now, I just want to sit down and feel relieved," She scurried from the room, and he sauntered up next to Peter, who held the frame in his hand. "That was quite the welcome if I do say so mys-" He spotted the picture. "Where did you get that?" he asked suddenly alarmed.
"Ellen gave it to me when I visited her a couple days ago and very nearly was losing my head with worry over you. Hi hun," She kissed Peter on the cheek and hugged him round the middle. "She told me to keep it, until you got home to us safe and sound. I hope you don't mind,"
"No, no," he replied distantly, holding the picture in his hands.
"I was wondering if we could keep it, but she said it was up to you,"
"I…El, this is…yeah," He said finally. "Yeah, you can keep it,"
"Isn't he adorable Peter?" She crooned jokingly.
"Yep, he's a real looker hun," Peter played along, chuckling. "Neal," He looked up suddenly serious. "If you want to stay the night here, you're more than welcome. You're our family, and we'll watch out for you, okay?" The corner of his mouth twitched a little.
"Thank you. Both of you," It was all he could think of to say.
"Well I'd better call Ellen and tell her our boy is home. She's been worried sick about you too,"
And that was that. Peter followed her into the kitchen to get his coffee and Neal was left standing at the mantle, photograph in hand, El's words ringing in his ears. Our boy is home.