Chapter Seventeen
"Please, Peter, don't leave me alone down here..."
With Peter laying in his lap Neal reached down and brushed the back of his other hand against Peter's bruised cheek gently without getting a response. Neal was undecided if he should try harder to wake his friend or not. Peter's breathing was not the soothing rhythmic motion of someone sleeping peacefully. Instead his staggered breath hissed his across his teeth sporadically with alarming pauses and changes in both depth and pace with the occasional growl or whimper. Deciding that Peter was better off sleeping even if it wasn't peaceful Neal traced his fingers through Peter's hair soothingly in hopes of easing his nightmares.
After getting knocked out in the ring Peter had regained consciousness fairly quickly and although disoriented he did make it back down to their room mostly under his own power. However once he was out of the danger of the ring Peter had promptly passed out and hadn't woken since. Neal wasn't sure how long Peter had been out because he had fallen asleep himself fairly quickly after returning from the gruesome fight. As much as Neal had wanted to stay on guard for Peter he couldn't stop exhaustion from claiming him. He had been awake for a few hours now though and Peter had shown no signs of waking. Neal was becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of his obvious concussion but he didn't know what to do to help.
Having been battling the worst of his hangover during Peter's match Neal had used all his strength just to focus and offer Peter what little emotional support he could from the sidelines. The light and noise of the crowd enthusiastically watching the bloody fight had been a painful cacophony that had magnified Neal's already pounding headache. As much as he didn't want Peter putting on a show to satisfy Jake's terms Neal had known that he wouldn't have survive a minute in the ring in his condition. Far from faking a desire to fight the passionately aggressive way Peter had rushed at his opponent gave Neal the impression that rather than just submitting to Jake Peter had actually been taken his frustration and fear of him out on Tanner.
Having turned his thoughts towards Jake and the fact that he'd kept his promise despite Peter not technically wining the fight Neal was snapped back to the present by footsteps approaching. With his heart racing painfully Neal held his breath and prayed that thinking about the devil hadn't made him appear and that perhaps it was some other lost soul wandering the halls. Neal's hopes were quickly shattered when he heard the key grating in the lock.
Neal pushed urgently at Peter's shoulder but he still remained locked in sleep. Not wanting to be pinned down by Peter's weight when Jake entered the room Neal carefully moved to lay him down and hurried to his feet to stand over him. Neal had no hope of actually defending Peter against Jake but that didn't keep him from trying. With his bare feet held in a wide stance Neal pulled his still painful shoulders back causing some blood to trickle down from one of the larger glass cuts.
Jake opened the door and stepped inside before closing it after himself and locking it. His messily cut hair was wet and his clothing clung to him like he'd just taken a shower but hadn't really bothered to dry off before crawling back into his clothes. It hadn't lasted long but when Jake had first entered the room Neal could have sworn he'd had an anxious expression clouding his dark eyes. Spotting Neal in the defensive pose a genuine looking smile brightened Jake's face as he put one hand on his hip and he leaned his weight into it casually.
"Look at you," Jake chuckled "all ready for a fight rather than cowering in the corner hoping for mercy through pity. Standing your ground is a good look for you, Caffrey, you should do it more often."
Neal didn't respond to Jake's mock praising tone he just kept a wary eye on him. Keeping his muscles tight Neal found himself almost hoping that Jake came closer. His logical side told him he'd quickly end up beaten bloody if he tangled with Jake, but his emotional side still wanted to at least try and inflict some pain on his tormentor even if it came at a high personal cost. Jake seemed like he was contemplating accepting Neal's unspoken challenge for a moment before he turned his attention to Peter with a look of concern.
"Is Burke just a heavy sleeper or is he actually unresponsive?"
"What do you care?"
"I don't really," Jake shrugged "just a bit of morbid curiosity."
"Leave us alone." Neal growled.
Jake looked Neal over again. It was starting to become clear to Neal that Jake hadn't come in here with any real plan in mind. The other times he had some sort of torment or mission to execute, this time he didn't look like he knew what he wanted. Glancing back to Peter Jake pulled his hands through his wet hair before turning his attention back to Neal with a mischievous smile.
"I'll tell you what, come over here and hit me with even a moderate amount of force and I'll go away."
"What?"
"I won't even defend myself." Jake put his hands out to either side. "Free shot."
"You're insane."
"Duh." Jake rolled his eyes. "Come on, neither one of us has anything better to do. Let's do this."
"Why don't you have anything better to do?" Neal asked seriously. "Do you live down here? You always seem to be ar…"
"Is this how you've avoided learning to fight? By just talking and psychoanalyzing your opponents to death?" Jake complained. "This isn't an opportunity I give just anyone."
"So why are you giving it to me?"
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Now get over here and hit me before I come over there and beat you as senseless as your partner."
Unsure of what he should do Neal stayed rooted to his spot in front of Peter. He was angry enough to want to step up and lash out at Jake, but Neal also knew that was exactly what Jake wanted as part of his ongoing efforts to make him a better fighter for the ring. Beyond not wanting to play into Jake's hands Neal also didn't trust this so called 'free shot'. There was no way Jake would passively allow him to hurt him without retaliating afterward. However just standing idle until Jake lost his temper and attacked wasn't a good solution either.
"Well?" Jake asked expectantly.
"Fine." Neal agreed in resignation. "If it will make you leave us alone."
"Impress me with your best shot and I'll give you two twenty-four full hours to lick each others wounds in peace."
Grinding his teeth in frustration that he once again had to follow Jake's sadistic rules Neal stalked over to him. Remembering Peter's advice about going for body shots rather than the face Neal targeted the spot just over the liver that Peter had suggested. Even with all his anger Neal felt awkward about just walking up to Jake and throwing a punch at him. Jake stared him down unblinkingly with a crazed intensity in his eyes making Neal even more hesitant to strike him fearing he would just go into a blind rage in return. Jake was more than powerful enough to beat him to death and Neal believed he was also crazy enough to get lost in a moment of anger and do it even if it wasn't his original intent to kill. Hoping to hit Jake hard enough to satisfy him but not to the point of triggering his animal side Neal struck him just below the ribs. Jake absorbed the blow easily and narrowed his eyes at Neal in open disgust.
"Pathetic. You're stronger than that." Jake spat angrily. "Try again and do better or I'm going to go over and taze Burke until he either wakes up screaming or his heart stops, whichever comes first."
Neal had gambled on Jake preferring to not be humiliated by a truly painful blow, but he had miscalculated. Jake's anger at being pandered to was palpable and making him more dangerous by the second. With no doubt that Jake would make good on his promise Neal lashed out again this time with all his strength. This time Jake grunted in pain and had to brace himself by taking one step back, however he almost instantly recovered. Neal hadn't been expecting to drop Jake with the single blow but he had thought he'd at least knock him slightly breathless for a moment.
"Much better." Jake said with a nod. "Now take a deep breath and hold it."
"Ja…"
Neal paid the price for trying to reason with Jake rather than just following the instructions as Jake interrupted him with a lighting quick punch to the diaphragm. Knocked breathless at a point when he hadn't had his lungs full to start with Neal was doubled over with a sputtering cough that was difficult to recover from as he choked and gasped. Jake waited patiently for Neal to catch his breath and straighten back out. Swallowing hard Neal forced his shocked system to calm and stood back up to face Jake. He didn't take another swing at Jake knowing he would invite a fight and ultimately just humiliate him again, but he didn't back down either.
"If you had done what I had told you to do that would have barely hurt." Jake said matter-of-factly. "If you can get a breath and hold your core tight just before a blow you can withstand a good deal of force with minimal effect."
"You said you'd leave us alone." Neal hissed. "Go find something better to do."
Neal wasn't sure why he had added the insulting order and fully expected Jake to snap into one of his temperamental fits over it. In preparation for a painful retaliation Neal found himself automatically following Jake's advice as he held his breath with his abdominal muscles pulled taunt to help protect the nerve bundles and organs that lay beneath. Jake noticed that Neal was ready for an attack causing him to actually take a step back with his hands held up slightly in mock surrender. Neal growled in frustration as he realized that Jake had just taught him something.
"You're right, I did say I'd go away and I'm nothing if not a man of my word. One thing you can always count on with me it's that my word is my bond."
"You're kidding right?"
"Name one promise to you that I haven't kept."
Neal didn't have an immediate answer, so far Jake had done everything he said he would.
"See? You can trust me." Jake smiled. "You can trust me to keep my promises and just as importantly you can trust me to make good on my threats. That being said I'm going to make another deal with you. Your next fight is in three days, win that fight and Burke doesn't have to fight his round. Deal?"
Neal couldn't bring himself to verbally agree to Jake's calculated manipulation but he nodded his understanding. He hadn't wanted Peter fighting harder just to spare him but now faced with the same opportunity he wasn't about to pass it up. Jake accepted Neal's silent agreement with a warm smile.
"Burke fights like an animal for you, it's going to be fascinating to see if you're willing to do the same for him."
"There is a difference between willing and able."
"If you are truly willing to kill for someone there's very little that can stop you from finding a way to be able to do it."
"You didn't say I had to kill you just said I had to win."
"For now you just have to win, but eventually there is someone you're going to have to kill if you want to save Burke."
"Sawyer…"
"I can't keep him at bay forever, but I can arrange that you get a chance to fight him before Burke has to if you want me to."
"What?"
"No one can take him down while his surrounded by his friends, but in the ring he's at least somewhat vulnerable. But understand before you agree to fight him that you'll have to do more than just win against him to keep him away from Burke. If you don't kill him he'll kill you."
"I would have less of a chance against Sawyer than Peter."
"Don't worry about that right now. Sawyer is oddly patient and tenacious. I can give you some time to train body and mind, a month maybe two."
"Two months?" Neal repeated in horror at the thought of this nightmare lasting beyond the point of being measured in weeks. "I can't…"
"Spend that time getting some skill and more importantly deciding how far you're willing to go to protect your friend."
"Jake…"
"If you find yourself honestly willing to kill Sawyer, I'll make sure that you're able to."
