Hey guys, thank you SO much for your response, I really love them! It's so much fun to write all this. I'll look over the last chapters in the next few days to correct some mistakes you've mentioned, I'm sorry. I really try my best and appreciate your help.

Only a short one today! Enjoy :)


When Neal turned the corner, he felt emotionally and physically exhausted. Peters gun, pointed at his head and the agent's look haunted him. He wanted to rest so badly, forget everything that had happened. But he couldn't. He had to get himself out of this mess as fast as he could, but didn't know how.

As expected, Keller's van left its former parking lot, so he tried to hide his limp and shaking body and tried to look as self-confident and innocent as possible by taking a proud posture and walking at a moderate pace away from the MET.

A NYPD officer suddenly appeared and ran in his direction. Neal tried desperately not to lose control and put on a neutral facial expression. Come on, you're a conman, you did this so many times and it has never been a problem! he told himself and clenched his fists for a short time.

"What's up, officer?", he called out, with a lightly confused look at the young man in uniform.

"Hey kid, have you seen someone coming by who was acting kind of strange? Maybe leaving the MET?".

Neal managed to look a little more confused. "What? Uhhm… no?! I thought that the museum would be closed by this time. Ohh wait… I've recently seen a man running down the street, over there." He pointed vaguely in the opposite direction. "Maybe that's the man you're looking for, officer?". Now his facial expression was perfectly innocent again and he gave the man a little eager smile.

The officer looked at him for a short moment, but then obviously believed what Neal said. "Thanks, buddy. I think you shouldn't be out here, it's late, you now. Go home please!"

Neal nodded and his smile widened a little. "Will do, officer. Good luck with whatever is going on here." And he turned around without a second glance and went on.

He heard the officer running in the opposite direction. He let out a slight sigh. After that incident he was able to leave two blocks behind him, before he turned right, to join a group of young party people. He tried to behave like them to reduce the attention he attracted. He laughed and chatted with the girl next to him, who seemed a but confused at first, but laughed at his sayings only ten seconds later. It took him an awful lot to act like that while all these thoughts were whirling in his head. And he also recognized that this young people's life could be his life. Just laugh, chat, have a good time with each other, no Feds behind you, no breaking the law at all. Well, maybe a false ID to enter a forbidden club or something like that, but nothing more. But no, he decided to or was forced to be a criminal and maybe a killer, too, nothing more. He would never experience what it was like to live in a warm, cozy and safe home, with a proper father and mother. The thought of the agent's home and his warm looking wife suddenly appeared in his thoughts. It somehow became the prototype of how he imagined his perfect home during the time. Still, something unattainable. He felt tears in his eyes, while maintaining the perfect facade.

Two police cars raced past them but didn't stop. It brought him back to reality. What now? He didn't even have a mobile with him, no personal things during a heist, and his legs couldn't carry his body much longer. He crossed another street with his new friends and suddenly caught sight of the too well known van. He exhaled relieved and he dived into the next possible shadow. The group didn't even notice.

When the van arrived right in front of him, he jumped out and in a split second entered the open door to slide onto the middle seat. He closed his eyes for one moment, while the driver accelerated again. When he opened his eyes again, he looked around and his whole tension lessened when he spotted Mozzie behind him, who looked at him in limitless relief.

"Neal…I can't believe you made it. Thought you would be with these bloody suits right now. How…?",

"Unfortunately, I have to stop this emotional reunion. Did you get it?", Keller interrupted in a harsh voice and faced Neal from the passengers seat.

Neal lowered his gaze and felt his tension coming back. "No, but I really tried. I…".

Keller stopped him by hitting the handle of his gun into his face. "I'm not interested in the reasons, kid. So shut the fuck up." Neal's head bumped against his seat and he heard a crack and couldn't see properly for a moment. He felt his cheek bulge immediately. Soon there will be more broken than healthy bones in my body, but whatever. he thought bitterly and tried to regain his proud attitude towards Keller.

"Do it!" Keller shouted annoyed and pointed with his head in Neal's direction while looking at one of his bodyguards. The gorilla to his left put out a cable tie and roughly pushed Neal away from him, so that he faced the window. "Your hands, brat", he grumbled and after Neal obeyed grudgingly he felt the cable tie a lot to tight around his slim wrists. Pain exploded in his thorax after he tried to lean back in his seat. He could feel every broken bone in his upper body with his hands uncomfortable behind his back. He glimpsed at Mozzie in shock and perceived horrified, that his friend was cuffed, too.

I knew that working with Keller wasn't a good idea, stupid me! He breathed hard.

"What the hell are you doing, Keller? What is this all about?", he yelled and couldn't hide his desperation anymore.

"I told you to shut up, kid. I'll tell what you must know about this later. But now, for your own fucking good, don't talk. Understand? I need a bit of silence after this mess." Keller made a calm and relaxed impression from the outside, but his voice couldn't hide his anger and frustration.

Neal really wanted his answers and in particular he didn't want to sit cuffed and injured in Keller's Van, at the mercy of this cruel, unpredictable men, so he didn't even think about being quiet.

"Keller, it wasn't my fault, these Feds seemed to know what they were doing, maybe one of the security guys betrayed us. You can't do this to us, we did our job properly, as expected.", he shouted out, this time satisfied with the anger and firmness in his voice. He could hear a large groan coming from Keller and at first, he remained quiet after that and Neal observed his behaviour with concerns and curiosity.

After a short while he decided to give it another try. "Keller, you…". Keller turned around without any warning and slammed his weapon on Neal's head with great force. "Stupid genius! It's a shame I still need you." The pain exploded inside is head and he heard a high ringing noise in his ears, before everything went black.