NOTE: I can't believe it's finally here! I am going to take the next week or two and clean up the whole story and once I'm done with that I will post an epilogue. However this is basically the final chapter! Thank you to *everyone* who has stayed with me on this two and a half year journey!


Chapter Ninety-eight

"Neal?"

"I…I'm okay."

"Are you? You're not looking so good." Walker mocked Neal before looking up at Peter. "Not exactly the scene you were expecting is it, Agent?"

"No." Peter admitted quietly.

"It was a nice try, but you'd better get your friends in here before this one bleeds out." Walker said coldly as he gestured at Neal. "I'll be pressing charges against them both, not to mention suing for damages, this carpet was expensive. I can just add it to the current law suit I have against the FBI if that's easier for everyone."

Still looking shell shocked Peter looked down at Neal with a heartbreaking apology glittering in his dark amber eyes. Pinned under Jake Neal stared back at him in horror before closing his sapphire eyes in broken defeat.

"Peter, no…you didn't," Neal whispered in disbelief "you didn't come here alone, please tell me you didn't come here alone."

"I'm sorry."

"You trusted me, didn't you?" Jake chuckled. "You really thought Neal had gotten through to me and that I wouldn't hurt him. You came here thinking you were saving York from me, that you could talk me down, and that even if you couldn't at the very least you could get Neal out of here without ruining his parole. Shame you and Neal weren't allowed to coordinate better on this. he thought he knew you, he was counting on your ironclad commitment to the law, you were supposed to play it by the book and bring the authorities in on the little play he and I planed."

"Jake…"

"He was depending on Agent Burke, but he only got Peter. I guess the Labyrinth did strip the 'Agent' out of you after all."

"Peter run!" Neal begged desperately.

"I have to agree with Caffrey." Walker added. "Run, Burke, go get help."

"What?" Jake asked incredulously as he jerked his attention up at Walker. "They'll arrest us both."

"The only crime I'm guilty of is being home." Walker shrugged. "This entire mess is between you three. It's 'Jake' right?"

"You know damn well who I am!" Jake cried like a jilted lover. "Please, I've risked everything to do this for you!"

"Even if that's true the appearance of a Federal Agent, even one on medical leave, ruins any plans of impressing me you may have had."

Jake looked desperately between Walker and Neal as his plans seemed to be failing him. Walker gave Jake an expectant look but it still took a moment before Jake had the obvious revelation. Nodding his understanding Jake turned a murderous glare on Peter. Jake pushed off Neal in a sudden explosion of momentum as he launched himself at Peter. Crying out a warning Neal tried to catch Jake's ankle to trip him but was only able to briefly grab his pant leg.

Free from Jake's weight Neal grit his teeth together with a deep growl as he rolled over and tried to get to his feet. Although Walker had continued to be cautious about not saying anything incriminating he didn't hesitate to give Neal a swift kick to his injured arm. A wash of pain stole both Neal's breath and his vision as he came dangerously close to passing out. Fighting to just stay awake Neal had no hope of helping Peter.

Peter had stood his ground when Jake rushed him knowing that he didn't have anywhere to run. Peter was able to successfully doge the first enraged punch that Jake threw but Jake was just a quick to avoid Peter's attempt to strike him. Just like he'd taught Neal Peter feigned losing his balance when he missed Jake. Not easy deceived in a fight Jake didn't fall for the ploy and managed to land a solid strike on Peter's breastbone. Usually the hit to the sturdy bone wouldn't be as effective as attacking the muscle a little lower but with his recently repaired ribs the blow was incapacitating.

No match for Jake's aggression and strength Peter was quickly at his mercy. Neal was still recovering from the blow he'd taken from Walker when Jake dragged Peter over. Thrown to the floor Peter landed on his hands and knees. With one palm landing in the soggy crimson stain on the floor Peter jerked his hand up. Before he could could inspect the gore on his hands too closely Neal grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Shaking his head in what looked like moment of hopelessness Peter squeezed Neal's hand back before looking up to face Jake.

"Jake, stop, Walker is using you."

"He's the only one who ever cared for me."

"You were a prisoner!" Neal snarled.

"I was a god!" Jake cried. "You were the ones who used me, I never should have let you get into my head!"

"Jake…"

Peter was cut off as Jake kicked him in the stomach doubling him over with a sputtering cough. With his left arm mostly useless Neal still did his best to pulled Peter under him so he could try to shield him from further assault. Looking down on the pair a cruel smile slipped across Jake's face. With Peter still fighting to catch his breath Jake crouched down to their level. Neal turned his face away in disgust as Jake reached out and ran his fingers into his hair with a patronizingly gentle touch. Keeping his hand in Neal's sweat drenched hair Jake looked up at Walker who was still just calmly observing the drama.

"I'll kill Burke for you if I get to keep Caffrey."

In a flash of rage Neal tried to surge forward to attack Jake but Jake simply tightened his grip on Neal's hair to stop him. Neal gasped painfully as Jake forced his head back to further subdue him. Peter tried to help but in his attempt to protect him Neal had only managed to trap him against the floor under his weight. Demonstrating that he had full control over the pair and was still capable of ruling over the new Labyrinth Jake looked back up at Walker.

"Do we have a deal?"

Walker contemplated Jake's offer carefully before nodding. Still holding Neal at bay Jake hesitated for brief moment. Hoping to take advantage of the distraction Neal twisted to try and free himself. Jake growled angrily and slammed his fist into Neal's ribs. With a sharp yelp Neal suddenly went completely limp. Looking on the edge of passing out himself Peter wasn't able to offer up much resistance as Jake untangled him from Neal and forced him to his feet while keeping one wrist held painfully behind his back. Peter tried to put his foot back to trip Jake but Jake was too familiar with that move to be taken down by it

"Jake," Peter growled in desperate frustration "killing me isn't going to get you anything! Walker can't just make Neal and I disappear!"

"He did it once."

"Jake…" Peter was cut off as Jake started forcing him across the room.

"Peter?" Neal asked drowsily. "Peter?!"

"Neal!"

"Where are you going?" Walker asked Jake.

"I'm going to drown Burke in your tub."

"No!" Neal screamed in horror. "Peter! Jake, Jake I will kill you if you do this! I swear!"

Neal scrambled to get up but was brought back down to his hands and knees as he choked on a powerful wave of nausea induced by fear and blood loss. Peter fought bitterly to keep from being dragged away but he was still recovering from his months of abuse and was no matched for his powerful and highly motivated opponent. Laboring to draw air into his lungs Neal found he could only use it to wail senselessly in psychosis level terror. Once taken out of the front room Peter's words were impossible to understand in the sound insulated penthouse but his tone took a dive from angry demands to terrified begging. Forcing himself to his feet Neal collapsed back to floor. Rolling over onto his back Neal swallowed convulsively as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Looks like you're going into shock, Caffrey." Walker noted callously. "If you guys have a safe word to end this you might want to use it now."

Ignoring Walker Neal closed his eyes as tears streamed from them. Not even trying to control his wracking tremors Neal listened while the distant sounds of Peter's struggle with Jake grew fainter. Neal snapped his eyes open with a panicked gasp like someone waking from a nightmare when a deathly calm fell over the apartment.

Having been watching Neal carefully Walker looked up as Jake dragged Peter's limp body back into the front room. The pair were both soaking wet and Jake was panting for breath noisily. Stopping about ten feet from Walker Jake released Peter and left him motionless on the floor. Walking the rest of the way over to his former Master Jake dropped to his knees next to Neal and bowed his head submissively. Staring sightlessly up at the ceiling Neal had an odd look of peaceful defeat as he settled into shock.

Walker allowed a heavy moment of silence before he put his shoe over Neal's injured arm. Slowly stepping down Walker pried a cry of pain from Neal while he studied Peter intently. When he didn't get any kind of reaction out of Peter a cold smile lit split his lips. Turning his attention down to Jake Walker chuckled.

"You always were my favorite, Jake." Walker said warmly. "I'm glad you came back."

"I didn't have anywhere else to go."

"The surface world is a complicated place, it's not where you belong."

"So you are going to set up another Labyrinth?" Jake asked hopefully.

"If I say 'no' are you going to kill me?"

"No…maybe…I just…" Jake stopped as tears slipped down his face "I just want things to go back to the way they were."

"I doubt that's possible."

"Why did you even bring them to the Labyrinth?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me, I want to know." Jake whimpered. "Please, why them?"

Walker reached out and gently brushed the tears from Jake's cheek with a heavy sigh.

"I did it for a friend," Walker explained heavily "I was trying to help him grieve. Burke and Caffrey got his son killed. I tried to talk him out of it, but he begged me, bribed me, and eventually he threatened to expose me. Having nothing left to lose made him dangerous I had to do something."

"You let someone threaten you?" Jake asked shocked. "I can't believe you didn't just kill him."

"I should have." Walker shrugged. "However I'd be lying if said I wasn't interested in the challenge he presented me."

"Challenge?"

"I'd been getting bored, I needed a new adversary and there's no bigger fish in these waters than the FBI."

"You should have stuck to the shallows." Jake chuckled darkly. "You finally met your match."

"What?"

"FBI! FBI!" Walsh's authoritative voice barked as he busted in on the scene weapon raised with Diana and Jones backing him up. "Hands up!"

Wide eyed in shock Walker automatically took a step back with his hands half raised. He looked down at Jake who was smiling brightly. With a glare of defiance he reached up and tore open his shirt revealing the wire he was wearing. Confused Walker turned his attention to Neal who suddenly rolled over and scrambled over to Peter. Diving his right hand into Peter's breast pocket Neal pulled out a small plastic cylinder. Unable to get his left hand to cooperate with helping him break the cylinder open he put it between his teeth and bit down to cracked it. Put the cylinder under Peter's nose caused him to jolt upright with a startled gasp. With adrenaline coursing through his system from exposure to the smelling salts Peter violently went from appearing dead to looking for a fight.

"Easy, Peter, easy." Neal assured. "You're okay, it's me, it's over."

Still dazed Peter looked over to where Walsh was keeping his weapon trained on Walker while Jones cuffed him. Loopy and a touch euphoric from a combination of the successful arrest and the ether that had helped him play dead a lop sided grin brightened Peter's expression. Neal pulled him into a one armed embrace as he laughed weakly. Crawling over Jake sat down next to the pair with a shy smile as he looked to join the fold. Peter gave him a nod of respect before looking down at his shaky hand that was stained in red.

"Neal, this blood is real." Peter chastised.

"Yeah…I know." Neal winced painfully. "I'm going to need a band-aid or maybe an ambulance. Jake, what happened to just clipping me?"

"I'm sorry." Jake apologized sheepishly. "Are you okay?"

"I will be." Neal sighed as he closed his eyes wearily.

"Wait," Peter said horrified "this was your actual plan?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"It did?"

"No." Neal admitted.

"Neal…"

"I'm sorry, I had to tell you it was going to be fake because I knew you'd never go along with it if it wasn't…but it had to be real. Jake said it best: Walker wasn't going to be tricked with red dye and corn syrup."

"No I wasn't." Walker commented as Jones led him by. "This was impressive, you two have my respect."

"Keep it." Peter growled. "We don't want it."

Despite the defeat Walker still smiled down at the pair looking like he had truly enjoyed the game. Turning his attention to Jake his expression clouded.

"They are going to lock you up for the rest of your life, you know that right?" Walker mocked cruelly.

"I know. I'd still choose them over you."

"You always were easy to manipulate."

Jones broke up the pointless exchange by shoving Walker forward. With the excitement of the elaborate set of cons wearing off Neal groaned in rueful pain. He hadn't liked this plan but it was the only one he thought had even half a shot at working. Making the switch and loading the bullet he was going to take later had been the hardest part. Walsh walked over as Diana and Jones left with Walker in custody.

"You three okay?"

"For the most part." Neal replied.

"Damn it, Caffrey," Walsh sighed "I should be arresting you for bringing a live round into this mess without permission."

"Just add it to my list of charges." Jake offered helpfully.

"Yeah, sure, why not? You'll be going directly to WitSec anyway." Walsh smiled as his move shifted. "Seriously guys, that was amazing. It was not easy to just sit back and listen to all that, I almost called it early a few times but Peter told me we needed to go all in on this and he was right. Agent Burke you have to return to the FBI and bring Neal with you."

"I'm seriously considering it." Peter assured.

"Paramedics will be here in a few minutes. I had them on stand by just in case but they needed to stay in the lobby until everything was clear up here."

"Thank you." Neal said gratefully.

Relived to have everything over Neal leaned heavily on Peter. Peter put his arm protectively around Neal as he studied Jake with an unreadable expression.

"Peter?" Jake asked nervously.

"Thank you for not just shooting Walker."

"For a second there, Jake," Neal said "I really did fear that you were going to shoot him instead of me."

"I was going to, that had been my plan from the start when I agreed to all this."

"What changed your mind?"

"You trusted me not to, and I decided that I didn't want to live with having betrayed...a friend."