Just One More (#1)
Summary: With the FBI closing in, Neal has taken to marking each day of freedom by collecting the corks from the wine he drinks while watching the sunset.
A double drabble written for the November prompt, 'ritual'.
Neal marked the end of another day of freedom, as he had every day for over a month now – sitting, legs dangling off the end of the pier, sipping wine while watching the sun slowly set over the city. He shouldn't be here. Not at the pier. Not in New York, Not in the country. The FBI were closing in. Burning his aliases with increasing speed, cutting his resources off. He should heed Mozzie, flee the country. But Kate was here, hiding. Always managing to stay that one move ahead of him, same as he and Mozzie were just managing to keep one step ahead of the FBI. Neal could feel them getting closer, specifically Agent Burke. He and Mozzie had only 'relocated' from their previous apartment 48 hours before Agent Burke had barged through its door.
Neal rose as the last light disappeared. Just one more day, one more sunset. If he didn't find Kate tomorrow, he'd give Mozzie the go ahead to arrange their departure from the country by whatever means he deemed safest. Sighing, Neal slipped the wine cork into his pocket not realising it marked his last day of freedom. There wouldn't be one more sunset.