Chapter Thirty-nine
Sitting with his back against the wall and Peter resting against his chest Neal closed his eyes briefly in exhaustion. His back had long since gone numb from the cold concrete, but Neal still found himself oddly comfortable. With his arms loosely wrapped around Peter Neal concentrated on the gentle rise and fall of his breathing as he slept. Neal had fought to keep awake to guard over him at first but after a few hours he'd thought it would benefit them both if he could get some sleep as well. However so far every time he closed his eyes his adrenaline spiked and snapped him back awake with a racing heart and slick of cold sweat beading his skin. He'd been through the cycle several times now and he was starting to worry that he'd reached a point where he was paradoxically too tired to fall asleep.
Opening his eyes when he felt his anxiety starting to creep back up on him again Neal automatically increased his embrace on Peter. He quickly noticed not only how much it helped calm him but also how natural it had become to seek comfort through physical contact which had never really been his instinct before; certainly not with his 'handler'. If someone had asked Neal five years ago under what circumstances he'd hold a Federal Agent in his arms he was certain that he would have responded seriously with 'only if he was dying in them'.
"Of course that's basically what's happening now." Neal sighed quietly to himself.
Peter had survived his close call with Sawyer but the heat that was radiating off his skin showed that the encounter had taken a heavy toll. In the time that it had taken Neal to get Jake Sawyer had savagely abused the bite mark in Peter's arm and the brand in his chest, both of which were dangerously infected. It wasn't until Neal looked down at the seeping wound on Peter's chest that he realized his own brand wasn't really bothering him. It still throbbed, but it no longer lanced pain through him every time he moved. Staring at the red streaks radiating out of Peter's brand and tracing up his arm Neal wondered if there was anything they could do to stop either wound from going truly septic.
"Please don't get sick, Peter," Neal begged pointlessly "we're barely holding on here as it is."
Seeming to respond Peter nestled against Neal briefly before returning to his slow measured breathing. Smiling slightly Neal reached up and ran his fingertips through Peter's hair. With Peter already sleeping Neal was making the extra contact more to sooth himself the same way he'd pet a sleeping dog. It worked and Neal was starting to think that he might actually be able to sleep himself. Closing his eyes Neal finally drifted off into a mercifully dreamless sleep.
What felt like only seconds later Neal woke feeling disoriented. It took him a moment to realize that although he had fallen asleep propped up and now he was laying down using Peter's lap as a pillow. He reasoned that Peter must have woken up at some point and had managed to switch their positions without waking him. Sitting up Neal found that after being on guard for a few hours Peter had fallen back asleep again. Knowing he wasn't going to get any more sleep himself for a while Neal carefully helped Peter lay back down.
Neal pulled the wool blanket that they'd been laying on up and over Peter to keep him warm. Neal had plans of sneaking off and taking a shower and maybe even have something to eat while Peter got a little extra sleep when his skin suddenly chilled from the mysterious sixth sense that let you know someone was watching you. Looking over his shoulder Neal jerked violent when he discovered that Jake was standing in the open doorway staring at him. Not having heard the key in the lock it was impossible to know how long he had been standing there watching them.
Jake didn't say anything he just motioned for Neal to step closer. Nodding to Jake Neal turned back to Peter and debated on whether or not he should wake him to let him know he was leaving. Deciding to let him rest Neal risked that he'd stay asleep and never even know he was gone. Neal assumed he was filling in for Peter in the ring and either he'd be back in half an hour or never again. Either way there wasn't anything Peter could do to help him so he might as well remain blissfully ignorant as to what was happening.
Not wanting to make Jake wait after everything he did to save Peter from Sawyer Neal got to his feet and peacefully walked up to him. Once he was closer Neal furrowed his brow at the way Jake's shoulders seemed to be heaving slightly as if he was laboring for breath. In the heavy cast shadows of the doorway it was hard to get a good look at Jake's face but his whole body language was off. He usually held himself with a loose aggressive energy but he looked absolutely cowed right now.
"Jake?"
Not answering to Neal's concerned tone Jake just stepped to the side to let Neal out of the room while he locked the door before he turned away and walked off down the hall. With a sinking feeling in his stomach Neal was starting to worry about his chances in the ring. Jake's silence wasn't a good sign as he usually looked forward to these bouts with irritating cheerfulness. Swallowing hard Neal worked to go over everything both Peter and Jake had taught him in an attempt to prepare as best he could. Although trying to remain positive Neal had serious doubts that he could hold his own against someone matched to fight Peter if for no other reason than he'd be fighting outside his weight class. Jake's sullen quiet mood seemed to agree with Neal's internal assessment.
"Jake," Neal said carefully "I just want to thank you again for what you did for Peter and I and even for letting me take this fight for him. If I don't survive it please help Peter…work with him, I promise he will do everything he can to help you out of this in return."
Still eerily quiet as he walked down the hall as if on his own way to the gallows Jake just gave Neal a sideways glance before shaking his head sadly.
"I know you don't think either one of us can save you, and you might be right, but trust me it would be worth letting us try. Even if we failed at least you wouldn't die alone."
This time Jake did react, but not as Neal had hoped. Curling his upper lip at Neal in a furious snarl he struck him with a vicious back hand. With his ears ringing from the blow Neal didn't have any time to recover as Jake grabbed a fist full of his hair. Using the purchase to double Neal over he dragged him a short way before using his key to open a door off to the right. Neal stumbled forward as Jake threw him into a room that held a bed and a table with a single chair.
Neal scrambled to get away from the suddenly violent Jake but he was trapped in the small room just as Peter had been with Sawyer. Jake easily pinned Neal to the wall and Neal braced himself for a painful blow to the stomach as he did his best to shield himself. However Jake didn't attack him now that he had him cornered. As quickly as he had turned on Neal he switched moods again. Pressed against the wall Neal froze as Jake rested his forehead in the space where Neal's neck and shoulder met as if literally seeking out a shoulder to cry on. Neal's heart raced in panic as Jake slipped his hand up his side and placed his palm over Neal's brand. Holding his breath Neal prepared for Jake to torture him with the mark that had just started to heal.
Although keeping Neal up against the wall Jake didn't use his advantage to hurt him. With Jake's weight pressed against him it took Neal a moment to realize that it was Jake who was trembling and not himself. Nuzzling affectionately against Neal's throat Jake sighed heavily as he found a small moment of peace but that he knew it wasn't going to last. Terrified Neal wasn't sure what to do, he felt like he was having a close encounter with a wild animal that had the power to kill him but seemed content with just being curious. The problem being that if he made the wrong move the beast side of Jake might tear him apart out of pure instinct.
After a full minute went by without Jake making a move Neal decided to take a risk as he reached around Jake and carefully placed his hand between Jake's shoulder blades. Neal had only been living in the Labyrinth for a month and he found his sanity depending more and more on the reassurance of physical contact from a safe caring hand. For as long as he suspected Jake had been down here he could imagine that Jake was craving to make a similar connection, even if he didn't know how. He had already proven to be very physical in the past even if he had covered up his need in the guise of violence and cruelty. Proving Neal's theory Jake gratefully accepted Neal's light touch for a moment before he brought his own hand up off Neal's brand and carded it into his hair gently. Jake had teased and tormented him with a mocking lover's touch before, but this time it felt like he truly meant to be intimate on some level, possibly trying to recreate the mutual comforting contact that Neal and Peter had developed. Even though he was sick with panic Neal forced himself to relax under Jake's hand not wanting him to turn violent again if he suspected that Neal wasn't enjoying this moment the same way he seemed to be.
"You were right, Neal," Jake whispered as his grip on Neal's hair suddenly started to turn painful "you and Peter can save me."
"Jake…"
"When I bring you back to Burke broken and lifeless he'll kill me…and I'll finally be free."
