Chapter Forty-six
"Well, don't you three look cozy."
Pinned into the corner by Neal and Jake Peter didn't respond to York's mocking tone. Being grievously out numbered by the four guards York had brought with him Peter knew that snarling insults at York wasn't going to help their situation. Making demands or threats were going to be pointless with a man like York as well. Unexpectedly face to face with their captor Peter's only real goal was to keep a physical fight from breaking out at all costs. When dealing with Jake in the beginning it had been important to be aggressive and dominant to maintain his respect. With York Peter felt the opposite approach would work best, York was only going to respond well if he was given the impression that he was respected or outright feared. Preying on that psychology to keep their encounter as conflict free as possible Peter made a show of pushing his back harder into the corner and pulling Neal closer to his chest. York relaxed his shoulders slightly as he fell for Peter's broken wing act.
"If you really want to protect your friend you should kill Jake while you have the chance." York advised conversationally. "He might look helpless now, but as soon as he's strong again he'll turn on you once more."
"I'll take my chances."
"Of course you will." York smiled patronizingly. "Do what you want with Jake, just don't say I didn't warn you. In any case, I didn't come down here because of him. I'm here because I want to make a deal with you."
"What do you want from me?" Peter sighed.
"Really?" York raised a surprised eyebrow. "Just like that? I expected at the very least to hear 'The FBI doesn't negotiate with kidnappers'."
"I'm trying not to antagonize you." Peter said truthfully.
"I would just threaten Caffrey at any hint of resistance so any bluff you attempted would just be instantly called." York mused as if he was thinking of it for the first time. "Cooperation makes sense, seeing as you are in a bit of a lose/lose situation."
"I am."
With the simple admission of hopeless defeat Peter broke eye contact with York and looked down at Neal. Despite the peaceful look on his face Neal had the quick shallow breathing of someone in pain. With a look of concern that he didn't have to fake Peter tightened his hold on Neal's lower back with one arm as he reached up with his other hand and rested the back of it against Neal's cheek in a vain attempt to calm his panting. It had taken days, but Jake's near drowning was finally catching up with Neal and without York's help he wasn't going to make it much longer. Peter was willing to do or say anything to get that help and he already suspected that York was in the mood to take advantage of that.
When Neal coughed weakly Peter looked back up at York fearfully in hope of sparking some mercy in their captor. Peter wasn't sure if York was even capable of empathy or if triggering it would help their situation any, but for the moment it was the only move he had. York said nothing for a minute as he stared down at the men he was slowly letting die. Peter flicked his gaze up towards the bare light bulb in the ceiling to help his performance by brightening his eyes with tears. York furrowed his brow at the open show of emotion leading Peter to think that he might be getting somewhere, but a cruel smile suddenly spread across York's face.
"Did the Agency teach you your acting skills or is this something you picked up from Caffrey?" York asked sounding impressed. "You are very convincing, Burke, but you can drop the act. You're not going to get out of this by appealing to my 'human' side the way you did with Jake. The fact of the matter is that you are simply not getting out of this."
"Then what makes you think I'm going to bother making any deals with you?" Peter growled forgetting his temper for a moment.
"Because you want Caffrey to live as long as possible under the delusion that you're somehow increasing his chances of rescue. You were willing to humiliate yourself by pretending to be afraid of me to achieve that goal so I'm guessing you're going to be open to my offer." York noted. "I must say that I do respect your loyalty, and that I honestly didn't expect it. I thought by now you would have turned to concentration on your own survival, but not only do you continue to put his safety first but now you've taken on Jake as a project as well despite what he is."
"He's a victim, it's my responsibility to protect him."
"Admirable." York nodded in approval. "Foolish, but admirable. Still all of this has lead me to believe that you can be reasoned with, hence my unprecedented visit. I was hesitant to bring you down here, but I am making an astonishing amount of money off your fights. Caffrey's too for that matter. Honestly things had been getting a little stale around here before you two. Criminals beating up on other criminals is fine and all, but having someone who represents law enforcement has attracted a new level of clients. And Caffrey…well let's face it people love watching beautiful people no matter what they are doing."
"I don't care about your business model." Peter said flatly. "What do you want?"
"I want better control of what fights you lose. I can't openly fix fights without risking some potentially disastrous backlash so I can't influence your opponents other than guessing who will make a good match for you. What I can do is control you."
"You want me to throw fights?" Peter asked surprised by the simple request.
"Exactly. A little old school I know, but the classics are just that for a reason."
"This can't just be about money."
"It's not." York assured. "Like I said you have attracted some new clients and I very much would like some of them to be hopelessly in debut to me."
Peter took a breath to say 'yes', not caring about what fights he won or lost as long as he could get Neal help in the process, however he was interrupted by York before he got the chance.
"Caffrey's actually dying, isn't he?" York asked with an edge of surprise to his voice. "At first I thought he was part of your act, but we've been talking for a good five minutes and he hasn't even come close to waking up. Jake's just pretending to be asleep, but Caffrey is profoundly passed out."
Startled by York's observation of Jake Peter automatically looked down at him. Having been caught in his lie Jake started shaking in fear. Losing interest in his original mission York called for Jake to get up. Peter's stomach twisted painfully in sympathy as Jake instantly started dry heaving. York calmly called Jake's name again and Jake forced himself up to his hands and knees. He stared at Peter with the desolate look of a dog that didn't want to obey an abusive master but was on the verge of yielding simply because he didn't know any other life.
"Jake, get over here." York ordered a little more firmly.
"York, please, just leave him alone."
"Stay out of this Burke or I will ensure Caffrey never wakes again."
Peter didn't think that York's threat was an idle one and had no choice than to back down. However he did reach out and put his hand over Jake's in a show of support. Still on his hands and knees Jake looked down at Peter's hand and smiled sadly. The four men that stood by silently waiting for York's word looked like they were excited for the chance to pounce on Jake if he continued to stall and they all shifted their weight slightly as they prepared to attack. Sensing the increased energy in the room Jake finally got to his feet to prevent being dragged over to York. Stepping up to York Jake stood trembling with his head bowed as York looked him over critically. York had said that he hadn't come down here for Jake but Peter got this distinct feeling this show of power was a large part of why he was showing his face. His Labyrinth had started to show some cracks and he was here to set things back on track starting with his main weapon.
"You almost killed that guard you assaulted over a little sexual innuendo."
"I…I'm sor…sorry." Jake stuttered in terror.
"Sorry?" York sighed in theatrical exasperated disappointment. "You know that you being an unpredictable violent psychopath is the reason I've kept you alive all these years. Flying into a bloodthirsty rage is the only thing keeping me from leaving you in a dark room to slowly starve to death. Word has spread about your little outburst and its helping me keep order down here. No one wants to mess with you, you should be proud of that. You're valuable to me, Jake, but only if you accept what you are."
Jake jolted with a yelp when York suddenly reached out and ripped off the large bandage that Peter had placed over his brand. Being forced to look at the damning mark Jake started hyperventilating. Peter hated just standing by watching York tightening his psychological grip on Jake but he had to think of Neal and any interference into his business was just going to cause York to turn on him. With an oddly gentle touch York reached out and slipped his hand under Jake's jaw to guide him to look away from the brand and up at him.
"Jake, have I ever forced you to torture anyone?"
"No." Jake admitted quietly.
"Have I ever forced or even asked you to murder anyone?"
"…no."
"Who's idea was it that you work for me to keep order down here and ensure the branded perform in the ring?"
"Mine."
"And I've never regretted that decision." York smiled warmly. "I still don't."
Jake flashed York a confused looked before glancing back at Peter and Neal. Jake's attention was quickly pulled back to York when one of the other men stepped closer when York signaled him. Cowering slightly from the man who had helped York brand him Jake was hesitant to take the metal baton and tazer that he was suddenly being offered. Going from stern master to warm father York worked carefully to manipulated Jake back into his old role.
"Take them." York encouraged. "I don't mind you making friends with Caffrey and Burke, I encourage it. I've never tried to stop you from befriending any of the branded, that's always been all you. Just keep the order and keep them entertaining in the ring. Outside of that I don't care what you do. This is your domain."
"Wha…what about Sawyer?" Jake asked hesitantly.
"Sawyer's no longer in the running for your job." York smiled coldly. "We had a disagreement."
Nodding vacantly Jake took the weapons being offered to him and held them tightly to his injured chest as he took a few steps back away from York. Peter wasn't surprised by York's move to take Jake's only means of defense and power away from him only to quickly grant it back. It would give Jake a true sense of getting a second chance and make him more eager to prove himself. What Peter didn't understand was York allowing Jake to continue to associate with them. The closer he allowed Jake to get to them the less likely he was to be loyal to York. Drawing his attention back to Peter York slung a confident smile across his face.
"I know you think I'm making a mistake, Agent, but no matter how much you think you're making an ally with Jake he will murder you both in a heartbeat if I promised him even just a glimpse at the sky in return."
The hopeful gleam that sparkled in Jake's eye for a second at the mere mention of such a promise demonstrated just how powerful York's hold was. York didn't mind conceding Jake making friends, he was fully confident in his control of him. Grinding his teeth in frustration Peter still remained determined to pry Jake out of York's abusive grip as best as he could, if for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. If York could read Peter's intentions he didn't show any concern over them.
"Never mind about Jake, let's get back to what we were discussing. Caffrey is clearly at death's door, Jake is also open to infection at the moment, and those red streaks running up your arm from that bite are going to go septic soon." York listed in a matter of fact tone. "Here is my deal, take it or leave it: lose the fights I choose in a convincing manner, make every effort to win the ones I don't mark for failure and in return I will get all three of you proper medical care and some real nutrition."
"Neal needs antibiotics now, he can't wait until my next fight."
"Just give me your word that we have an understanding and I'll have an IV in him in the next half hour."
"You have my word."
"Wonderful. It's been a pleasure doing business with you Agent."
York offered Peter a shallow bow as if they had just concluded a board meeting and just as quickly as he had come he was suddenly gone. Panting heavily Jake remained standing in the middle of the room with metal baton and tazer still clutched to his chest despite the pain it must be causing his brand that had started to drip blood again. Feeling claustrophobic under Neal's weight, and knowing that at least someone was going to invade their room again soon, Peter carefully got out from underneath him and laid him out on the blanket. It was only when he could feel the cold air in the room that Peter realized just how high his own and Neal's temperature had gotten. Glancing at the red lines creeping up his arm from the bite wound that refused to heal he wasn't far from being just as critical as Neal had become.
Even though he couldn't hear him Peter assured Neal that he was going to be okay in as convincing a voice as he could muster. Reaching down Peter carefully brushed Neal's dark sweat drenched hair off his forehead. Realizing that Jake was still standing frozen to the floor Peter looked up at him and silently encouraged him to step closer. Looking wary and guilty all at the same time Jake didn't move. Eventually he glanced at the door and then down at the weapons he was holding before making deliberate eye contact with Peter.
"I would do it. You know that, right?" Jake whispered. "You know I would kill you both if it meant that York would let me see the sky again."
"I know." Peter nodded. "Come, sit by Neal, I'll get another bandage for your chest."
"What? H...how can you still trust me knowing I would turn on you like that?"
"Because that's how you get people to not turn on you. Trust never starts balanced, someone has to take the first risk."
Jake furrowed his brow at Peter's logic but after he had a moment to understand it he smiled and stepped closer. Tucking the weapons into his back pockets he sat down cross legged next to Neal. When Jake reached out to touch Neal it was difficult for Peter to live up to his speech on trust, but he peacefully allowed Jake to make contact. Resting the back of his hand against Neal's forehead Jake cringed at his fever.
"At least our Sawyer problem is solved." Jake said sounding relieved.
"Even if he's not next in line to take over the Labyrinth he's still a threat, he is not going to stop coming after me."
"You misunderstood the conversation. If York and Sawyer had a 'disagreement' there is only one way it could have ended."
"You think York killed Sawyer?"
"I guarantee you that he did."
"Why?"
"Why else? To protect you."
