Chapter Sixty

"What?!" Hughes exclaimed in shock. "Where? How? Where is he now? What about Peter?"

"Two utility workers found him in a storm drain in a shut down subway tunnel that they were working on." Jones explained. "There wasn't any mention of Peter, but from what little info I got apparently the drain Caffrey crawled out of wasn't much bigger than he is."

"If he and Peter were trapped in some sort of underground network it's possible that Peter physically couldn't escape with him." Diana reasoned. "He could still be alive."

"I want our Enhanced SWAT team down that drain yesterday." Hughes ordered.

"Already on it." Jones said.

"Good man. Where's Caffrey? I need to talk to him."

"He's in rough shape," Jones winced "EMS were in the process of rushing him to Presbyterian when PD called."

"Let's go."

"What about Walker?" Diana asked.

"Damn it!" Hughes swore bitterly having forgotten about Walker. "If Peter is still alive I might have killed him by bringing Walker in here."

"You think Walker is our man?"

"I know he is, and the second he's out he's going to cover his tracks."

"I can have Agent's tail him." Jones offered.

"That won't help once he's on private property." Diana pointed out.

"There has to be something we can do." Jones said.

"There's one thing." Hughes said firmly. "Jones, wait for me at the elevator. Diana, come with me."

"Yes, Sir."

Hughes strode down the hall purposefully with Diana close on his heels. Throwing the door open Hughes stepped inside just enough to allow Diana to enter the room as well. Walker looked up at Hughes with a confident smile, ready to continue the game. In contrast the lawyer looked he would rather be anywhere else than here and kept his gaze down.

"Is everything alright, Agent Hu…"

"Charles Walker, you're under arrest." Hughes announced.

"Really?" Walker raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Agent Barrigan, please take Mr. Walker into custody."

"What exactly are the charges?"

"Suspicion of funding terrorism through money laundering."

"You think you can 'Patriot Act' me?" Walker growled darkly. "Over stepping your bounds a little bit aren't we, Agent? You can't possibly have any evidence of that."

"You will be released on bail in twenty-four hours."

"I'll have your job for this. You can't do this."

"Sue me." Hughes countered.

"I plan to."

Hughes didn't like Walker's continued calm control, it didn't bode well for Peter. Walker had the poise of a man who didn't take risks without knowing ahead of time that he was going to win. Even as Diana moved to take him into custody Walker still had a tiny triumphant smirk on his face. Hughes was almost temped to inform Walker that at least one of his victims had slipped from his grasp but the only thing that would accomplish would be increasing Peter's risk.

Leaving Diana to deal with Walker and the paper work Hughes rushed to the elevator. Jones was waiting for him with his suit jacket for him that Hughes slipped on. Jones already had the elevator open and waiting. Once they stepped on he hit the combination of buttons that would take them directly to the parking garage and over ride any stop requests along the way. Turning on the lights and sirens Jones drove Hughes towards the hospital as fast as traffic would allow. Trusting Jones to get him to their destination safely Hughes got his cell phone out and dialed three different numbers before finally getting an answer.

"Agent…"

"Mozzie, be quiet for once in your life." Hughes interrupted. "I need you not to ask any questions."

"What's going on?" Mozzie asked, instantly failing at his task.

"Caffrey is alive. I nee…"

"What?!" Mozzie interrupted understandingly "Ho…"

"Listen, I need you to go get Elizabeth and bring her to Presbyterian Hospital as quickly as you can. I don't want to tell her any of this over the phone."

"Is Peter…" Mozzie trailed off not wanting to finish his question afraid of the answer.

"We don't know anything about Peter yet, but we are working as quickly as we can to find out. Get Elizabeth, bring her to the hospital."

"Wha…what should I tell her?"

"The truth."

Hughes hung up the phone only to dial again. This time someone answered right away.

"Agent Carter SWAT leader, speaking." A commanding voice answered.

"This is Agent Hughes head of White Collar."

"Afternoon, Sir, the boys and I just got to the subway but we've come across a problem that's slowing things down."

"What's going on?"

"There's an Olympic sized underground swimming pool between us and wherever Caffrey came from. We have dive gear being rushed here, but I can't risk sending anyone into the water without it. Honestly I don't know how Caffrey did this."

"Pulling off the impossible is his specialty. I'm on my way to him now."

"Any information at all as to what lies beyond the water would be immeasurably valuable, but we are going to charge ahead as soon as that dive gear gets here. I doubt even our phones will work much deeper than this but we have radio rely set up for communication."

"Understood. Keep in contact with me."

"Affirmative. Don't worry, Agent Hughes, we're going to get our Agent back if I have to drain this damn pool with a bucket myself."

"If it comes to that I'll be right there with you helping."

Hughes hung up the phone as they reached the hospital parking lot. Hughes stepped into the ER waiting area with his badge held up which instantly caught the attention of the two cops on duty.

"Right this way, Agents." Once of the officer said without wasting time with introductions.

The cop lead Hughes and Jones back into the inner workings of the ER where the staff was running around in orchestrated chaos. The cop brought them to a room near the back where another officer was standing guard. Seeing his coworker flanked by Agents the cop stepped forward.

"Agents." The cop greeted. "Doctors are still stabliz…"

The cop was cut off when there was a sudden crash of falling metal followed by shouting in the room. Pushing past the officer Hughes and Jones both rushed into the treatment room. The lights had been turned way down in the room adding to the initial confusion of the scene. Medical instruments spattered in blood were strewn across the floor along with a turned over tray table. Hughes barely recognized the gaunt disheveled man backed up in the corner lashing out blindly like a feral animal. There was a doctor and a nurse trying to get their patient back under control with the help of two hospital security officers. Giving Neal some space for everyone's safety the security guards were trying to figure out how best to get a hold of Neal without hurting him.

Stripped to the waist Neal's blood streaked skin was covered in a myriad of colorful bruises and cuts in various stages of healing that spoke of the nightmare he had survived. The mark that most captured Hughes' attention was the bright pink scaring on his chest in the same maze symbol as the card that had been found on Peter's desk. Trembling so hard he could only keep on his feet by pressing himself into the corner Neal weld his eyes shut as he pantomimed screaming. With his voice completely lost Neal's near silent cry was still heartrending to witness as his panic escalated with his inability to vocalize his distress.

"Just stay back," the doctor advised "he'll pass out again in a second."

"No, I can help him." Hughes said.

"He's completely delirious."

"Neal." Hughes called gently as he stepped closer.

Neal snapped his eyes open at the sound of Hughes' voice. Staring at him Neal furrowed his brow as his eyes tracked back and forth rapidly with no real hint of recognition or understanding.

"Neal, it's Reese. Jones is here too."

"Hey, Neal," Jones greeted as he moved so that Neal could see him "it's good to see you."

"We aren't going to hurt you…do you understand?"

Neal didn't react one way or another he looked like he was stuck in a trance.

"Neal, I know you've been through a lot, but we need your help to find Peter. Please."

Hearing Peter's name caused Neal to jolted back as if he'd been electrocuted with a quick shock. When Neal lost what little focus he'd had in his eyes Hughes worried that he was about to pass out. Panting for breath showing his ribs clearly through his wasted muscle Neal shook his head as he battled to both stay conscious and regain his senses. When Neal slowly sank down to his knees Hughes risked approaching him. The security guards watched him carefully but didn't interfere. Moving slowly Hughes got down on his knees in front of Neal and held his hand out.

"It's okay, Neal, you're safe."

Neal stared at the offer warily, still trying to process his surroundings. Hughes held his breath as Neal slowly reached out to take his hand. Hughes stared down at the scars that bracleted Neal's wrist from restraints that further detailed the horrors of his prolonged captivity. Gripping down on Hughes hand the contact seemed to help Neal connect with the situation. Looking up at Hughes there was a sudden spark of recognition in Neal's eyes as he was pulled back from the brink of madness. Instantly looking alert Neal tried to speak but ended up just mouthing Peter's name.

"Neal, is..is Peter alive?" Hughes asked trying not to sound like he was afraid of the answer but failing to hide his fear.

Neal nodded vigorously. Hughes breathed an audible sigh of relief as an immense weight lifted off his chest, Peter wasn't safe yet but as least there was still hope. With a frantic look in his blue eyes Neal reached up and tapped rapidly on his left wrist where a watch would be if he wore one.

"I know time is a factor, we have a team ready, but they need your help. Where is he?"

Neal strained painfully to speak but he could only manage an incomprehensible hoarse squeaking. Frustrated tears streaked down his face as he fought to communicate. He tried again with more effort but no better results. Breaking down from stress Neal bowed his head in a moment of exhausted defeat. With his own eyes stinging with tears Hughes pulled Neal into a comforting embrace. He hated pushing Neal so hard and he knew he was asking more than could be reasonably expected from the tormented CI. Overtaken by emotion Neal cried silently against Hughes chest. Hughes was about to ask Jones to help Neal back into bed when Neal suddenly jerked back with a sharp gasp. Sitting back on his heels Neal brought his hand up and held it as if he had a pen and waved it back and forth to mimic writing. Feeling stupid for not thinking of it himself Hughes looked over his shoulder at the doctor.

"Paper." Hughes demanded. "We need paper and a pen!"

The doctor was quick to produce a few sheet of paper by ripping them out of the paper chart that he'd started on Neal. Jones was just as speedy with a pen and both were offered to Neal. Putting the paper on the floor Neal put the pen to it and started to draw. He quickly drew a quick diagram of the underwater tunnel he'd made it through before hesitating. Closing his eyes Neal recounted his path backwards, drawing out the turns and dead ends as well as writing out the number of steps along each path that he'd memorized in the darkness. Getting to the spot where he'd been forced to leave Peter he drew an X and circled it. On the edge of the page he sketched out the narrow stone archway that he had slipped past before reached up and tapping on the still bleeding scrap across his sternum signifying just how tight a squeeze it was.

"Stone isn't going to stop us from getting to Peter." Hughes assured.

With a hopeful glitter in his eyes Neal smiled brightly. Pulling out his phone Hughes took several photographs of the map and texted them with an explanation to the SWAT team leader. Turning his focus back to Neal Hughes put his hand on Neal's shoulder to make sure he had his attention. Running on the last of his adrenaline Neal's smile quickly faded, replaced by the mournful look of a man suffering from survivor's guilt. Hughes couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Neal to leave Peter behind after their lives had depended on one another twenty-four/seven for over two months.

"I need to apologize, Neal." Hughes said seriously.

Neal flashed Hughes a confused look.

"I told Peter countless times that he was foolish to believe that you'd ever be anything more than a worthless con. I've never been so wrong."