Chapter Ninety-three

Jake furrowed his brow at the horrified look that Neal was giving him. He had expected Neal to relax once he understood what was going on but he was still shaking like a frightened child. Hoping to engage Neal in a constructive conversation Jake reached out to take the gag out from between his teeth. Jake paused when Neal weld his eyes shut and braced himself as if he expected to be struck.

"Stop that," Jake said in an injured tone "I told you that I'm not going to hurt you. I thought we were past all this…I thought we were friends."

Neal flashed Jake a frustrated expression before chewing at the silk tie that was keeping him quiet. Jake had to admit that Neal did have a bit of a point considering the dried blood caked to the side of his face.

"I was about to take that off of there, but now I'm afraid you're just going to start screaming again."

Visibly calming himself Neal shook his head.

"Okay then, glad we can at least be civil." Jake teased. "Honestly this whole drama really is your fault."

Neal narrowed his eyes but kept any insults to himself. Jake chuckled at him before trying to loosen the tie he'd knotted between Neal's teeth. Failing to get the tight knot undone Jake tried just yanking at the cloth until Neal protested with a noise of pain. The silk didn't stretch the way cotton did and it wasn't coming free.

"Stay here, I'll fix this."

Neal muttered something that was unintelligible but his tone was clearly irritated. Getting up off the bed Jake headed into the kitchen to look for a knife while Neal struggled to sit up on the side of the bed. When Jake turned around with the knife in hand Neal's eyes widened in panic but he managed to stay still as Jake walked back over. Panting for breath Neal fought to hold still while Jake slipped the knife between his cheek and the tie to cut it free. It took a bit of work but Jake cut through the silk. Neal jerked away and spat the tie out.

"See? No blood." Jake said. "Why are you still so afraid of me?"

"You're kidding right?" Neal growled sourly. "Jake, you broke into my house and knocked me unconscious before tying me up."

"You bit me." Jake said defensively. "Besides, I said I was sorry."

"Fine, just cut me free." Neal sighed as he held his bound wrists.

"No." Jake shook his head and put the knife down on the end table. "I want to talk more before I let you go."

"Jake…I can't help you murder York."

"I'm not asking you to murder him, I'm just asking you to get me into the same room with him."

"It's the same thing."

"What are you talking about? You don't even have to stick around, I just need help finding him."

"I can't tell you where he is, Jake." Neal insisted. "I would be responsible for his death, I'd basically be using you as weapon. I can't let you ki…"

Neal was cut off with a yelp as Jake suddenly pounced on him again in a flash of rage. Driving Neal back against the bed Jake jumped up and sat on Neal's hips to pin him down. Leaning forward Jake pressed his weight against Neal's chest. With his lips next to Neal's ear Jake had to take a breath to keep himself from sinking his teeth into Neal's neck as his temper boiled over.

"You think you're so much better than me, don't you?!" Jake snarled. "You think you're so innocent, so moral, so clean. I was just like you once, Neal. I never hurt a soul before the Labyrinth. You think I wanted any of this?!"

"Jake…"

"York dragged me through a river of blood, he force fed me gore until I developed a taste for it! Now it's time for him to face the demon he created. York's death is going to be no one's fault other than his own!"

"Jake, please, York doesn't have to die for you to get justice for what he did to you. The FBI…"

Enraged by Neal's continued refusal Jake pushed himself up and pulled his fist back to strike him. Trapped under Jake's weight Neal could only shut his eyes and turn his face to the side to try to avoid taking the blow across the bridge of his nose. With Neal cowering from him Jake's temper cooled as suddenly as if he'd been dropped in an ice water bath, with his anger gone he was his heart pounded heavily as despair attempted to crush it. Sitting back on Neal hips Jake raked his hands through his own hair and screamed as his emotions swung wildly out of control. Panting for breath Jake hung his head and whimpered as tears streaked his face. After giving Jake a moment Neal reached up with his bound hands and gently rested them on Jake's chest away from the area of the infected brand.

"Don't touch me!" Jake hissed as he jerked away. "I'm sick of you conning me by pretending you care."

"I'm not conning you, Jake." Neal sighed. "Despite everything you did to me and Peter I do care. I wish I didn't."

Jake gave Neal a confused looked.

"It would be a lot easier to just hate you or even to just fear you. Understanding you is a lot harder, because you're right, I do believe that you were just like me at one point and it's terrifying for me to think that…" Neal hesitated as his eyes brightened with tears. "It's terrifying for me to think that I could have ended up just like you. I know you're a victim, Jake, and I genuinely want to help you."

"Then help me!"

"I'm trying."

The honest yet defeated tone in Neal's weary voice suggested that he realized that his efforts to connect with Jake were likely in vain. Feeling beyond help himself Jake took Neal's hands and brought them up before resting his cheek against them. Closing his eyes Jake enjoyed the simple touch that he had starting craving ever since meeting Neal and Peter. Sighing to himself Jake shook his head as he pushed Neal's hands away again.

"Neal, please, revenge is all I have left."

"That's not true."

"Really? What, you think the FBI is going to take me on as a CI? Are you going to let me live here with you? You think there is any place for me in the world outside the Labyrinth? I'm a psychotic murderer who tortured a Federal Agent…I have nothing and no one."

"Peter told me he wouldn't have survived if you hadn't stayed with him, the FBI knows they got their Agent back because of you. We will help you get the care you need. I promise."

"No." Jake shook his head. "I have to stop York, it's the only thing I'm good for."

"Jake, with your testimony…"

"That will never work. I have to kill him. You don't know York like I do. He has this way of making people believe him. If the FBI had any real evidence against him you would have already told me that he'd been arrested, but I could see it in your eyes when I mentioned it before…you know he's going to get away if we leave it up to the law."

"Jake…"

"I'm sorry, Neal. One way or another you are getting blood on your hands." Jake said solemnly. "You can be an accessory to York's murder or you can be an accessory to mine."

"What are you talking about?"

"Help me kill York or I'm going to call Peter and tell him he has a hostage situation on his hands. I'll force the FBI to kill me to save you."

"Jake…"

"Make a decision, Neal: York's blood or mine."