Protection
Finding his prison stay more bearable after learning his wife was protected, he was being watched over, and people were working on his case from all angles, Peter was actually able to enjoy his time in the yard a little. Once the guard had released him, Peter started walking around, doing a few stretches, and watching the birds fly above him. It wasn't freedom, but it was better than the four walls of his cell.
Sensing trouble, he turned around and noticed that the guard was no longer standing by the door watching him. Instead, there was a rather large man dressed in orange… a convict. It was likely this was the person hired to teach him a lesson he would never forget, not like he would ever forget this whole series of events anyway.
"I take it you're here for a special meeting?" Peter watched the way the man cracked his knuckles with an amused chuckle in response to his comment. "What is it with henchmen always cracking their knuckles? Do you think it makes you seem more intimidating?"
Uttering something between a laugh and a growl, the man began advancing on him.
There wasn't enough distance for Peter to have a nice lead, and the man was between him and the only available exit. Fighting, he could bide some time, maybe get the advantage, but he assumed this man had been picked for his abilities. Then, even if he did manage to defeat his assailant, it wouldn't look well for his case and the people behind it all could use that to their advantage. It was a sticky situation no matter which way he went.
After blocking his right, the man's left hook sent Peter spinning for the ground. Rolling, he heard the thud as the man's foot hit the dirt where he had been. Regaining his feet while the man repositioned himself, Peter was able to get a hit in of his own that sent the man staggering back a step. Then he took another punch to the gut before the next one sent his head back while he fought to remain standing. Ducking another blow, he landed a few into his opponent's gut before landing a blow to his face.
"Not bad… for a Fed." He heard the growl before another large man landed into the fight and pulled the convict off of him.
Being pulled off to the side, Peter found himself facing a younger man with a mop of curly brown hair, brown eyes, and a concerned expression.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" It was the friendlier voice.
Interested to meet these old friends of Neal's, Peter answered the question and observed the young man while he was checked over.
"That's right. You don't seem to be injured too badly, just a little roughed up." The man finished checking him over before helping him to a seat.
"What am I supposed to call you? I doubt you're going to give me your real name." Peter managed to say despite wincing.
"Uh… Let's go with Caleb, it's the alias I'm using here." The second voice, Caleb, shrugged. "My family has fought the people responsible for this before, and we don't want them to know we're here yet."
"The element of surprise" nodding ever so slightly, Peter understood the strategy. "What do I call the angry guy over there?"
Chuckling, Caleb grinned at him. "That's a good description for him." Pausing, he glanced over his shoulder to check on his counterpart. Then turning back he answered. "We'll go with Collin. It's his alias here."
"Caleb and Collin, easy enough. Are you actually guards or here Neal style?" Peter tried to get a better grasp of who they were and what he could expect.
"Well, that depends. According to the records we are real guards, but since we weren't the day before yesterday…" Caleb put an innocent expression on as he smiled.
Frowning, despite his headache, Peter admonished the man. "You do know that's illegal."
"That depends on a few details… This isn't entirely illegal, just stretched into what some would call a gray area." Caleb took a seat next to him while Collin took the other convict inside.
"Gray areas... I naively used to believe life consisted of black and white, and now it seems to be all shades of gray." Peter sighed as he leaned back. Looking up, he watched a bird wheel and dive as it flew about in the open air.
Looking up to watch the bird as well, Caleb shared a little of himself. "I get you there. My life, it was 'normal' until I was thrown into the deep end of how unusual my family legacy is. Now strange things are normal and normal doesn't exist anymore." Caleb sighed as well.
"Life is strange, and nothing stays the same." Peter's gaze dropped back down to the razor-wired fence and levels of security that were intended to keep him inside his literal prison.
"That's good though. It would be boring if it was a safe normal that remained stagnant." Caleb chuckled.
Laughing slightly, Peter couldn't imagine such an existence. "My wife would worry about me less, but it would be utterly boring."
Falling silent for a few moments, they were enjoying the breeze on their faces and the noise of the great outdoors. Then the door opened again and another guard announced visitors waiting for Peter.
Asking who the visitors were, Peter didn't get much of a response, just an indication that they were agents.
"Probably someone from your team," Caleb said with confidence. Peter noticed he didn't say former team but referred to them in the present tense.
Sending the other guard for a few medical supplies, Caleb prepared Peter for the transition from the yard into the visitor room.
Walking down the hall, Peter used their relative privacy to ask "What will you do if it's not my team?"
"Keep my head down and hope they haven't seen my picture. My wife dealt with your doppelganger directly, I never have." Caleb didn't have much choice considering the situation. "In the worst case scenario, I guess I'll play dumb and hope they consider me another doppelganger."
"Another question. Why did you mention my team in present sense? No one has since I was arrested." Peter attempted to satiate his curiosity.
"Because they're your team," Caleb smirked. "I know it isn't pleasant to be left in the dark, but there is a reason that makes it worthwhile."
"I'll have to take your word on that, yours and Mozzie's that is," Peter stated as they approached the visitor room.
"For Neal's sake, trust us on that," Caleb asked seriously.
"That's why I trust you. I don't know you, but I trust his instincts, and Neal's never let me down when it counts." Peter answered while Caleb accepted the medical supplies from the other guard and got the door opened.
Entering the visitor room, both men were relieved to see Jones and Diana occupying the seats as they waited.
Relieved, Peter threw a glance at Caleb while the man released him for the visit.
Returning the look, Caleb finished releasing him before handing him the ice pack and stepping back to observe in his guard role.
Taking his seat and gingerly placing the ice pack where he hurt most, Peter was glad to see his agents there to visit him. "Did Mozzie talk to you?"
"What happened to you?" Diana asked in concern.
Lightly touching his face with his free hand, Peter knew the swelling was in progress and the red coloring was an indicator if nothing else. "My guard left and a convict was sent to teach me a lesson, but other guards happened upon the situation. It's going to be colorful, but I'm fine. I'm more worried about how everyone is doing on the outside."
Uncertain for a moment; Jones looked him over before he began talking. "Elizabeth is worried about you. Someone is preventing her from visiting and she is afraid of why. Based on how you look, there is a good reason for concern."
"Don't tell her about this. There are some guards watching out for me, I'm not in as much danger as you think." Peter didn't want them worried about him when he had Caleb and Collin to protect him.
"Are you sure, what if these guards are just pretending until they get their chance?" Diana questioned.
"My gut, and Mozzie's word. Apparently, Neal's friends are watching out for me." Peter shrugged without indicating Caleb who was in hearing range. "How is the case going?" He redirected the conversation onto the next topic.
"Slow," Jones said. "We have been collecting information pertaining to everywhere you've been over the last three months for them to compare to the surveillance footage. A lot of it is in the office, but you were in the field or at home where it's tougher to verify. Still, we're hoping something will prove you weren't involved."
"I hear they got a bunch of evidence from an anonymous tipper though, so we're hoping your doppelganger isn't up to something. Maybe these friends of Neal's found something?" Diana asked.
Worried, Peter hoped it was the latter. "Possibly, Mozzie said some things that didn't make sense, and one of the guards protecting me seems certain of my innocence."
"Do you think they're withholding evidence?" Jones inquired.
Using his peripherals, Peter saw Caleb raise an eyebrow. That was a good indicator they probably were. "I would assume so, but there seems to be more to the story. My being in prison isn't the only problem, so they're trying to work it all out in the best way possible. If it keeps this from getting worse, I can chill here for a while." Caleb shook his head ever so slightly.
Following his gaze, Jones and Diana looked toward Caleb and tried to decipher why Peter was observing him.
Distracting them, Peter asked, "How is Neal?" His voice dropped to a softer and quieter level.
Exchanging glances, Jones and Diana silently decided on what to say.
Taking the lead, Diana started. "We were able to visit him today. The drugs aren't in his system as strongly so he is catching up to reality."
"He knew he was really in a hospital, so that's an improvement." Jones tagged on.
"What are you hiding?" Peter pushed them. "Don't hide anything for the sake of my feelings."
"Neal, he wanted to know how we accidentally found him. He didn't think we would find him on purpose by any means… said no one ever does." Holding up her hand, she stalled Peter. "Most of what he said was disjointed bits that don't make sense. Comments ranging from the FBI taking their turn trying to kill him after other agencies have failed, he alluded to having been tortured in the box before and mentioned being betrayed since he was a kid. When he stopped talking he was off in his own world, so maybe it was something from the torture they put him through, a side effect of the drugs leaking out of his system, or even something real from his past. Either way, he didn't want to elaborate when we got his attention back."
"Did he say anything about me?" Peter's heart was racing. What did it all mean?
After another exchange of glances, Jones answered. "We explained how we found him, and he asked if it was really you there when he was rescued."
Closing his eyes, Peter asked. "What did you say?"
"I told him about you leading the operation and watching you open the lid on the security tape from the guard station. Then I explained what transpired through his rescue. He looked upset and asked if he spoke out loud at any point from when the lid opened forward, particularly the times when you were around. We told him he was loud and clear, but he started rambling in another language so we don't know what he said in response. What surprised me, was when he asked how you were." Jones gave a report rendition, trying to ease any sting. "There wasn't much to say, only that you were worried about him, had been accused of several crimes, and that you were in prison awaiting trial."
Nodding, Peter was too busy dealing with the surprise to ask questions.
"Neal said to tell you he was sorry," Diana stated. "He just didn't say what for."
Laying his head down onto the table, Peter was trying to deal with the emotions. First Neal had referenced a troubling history, then he had questioned Peter's presence in the rescue, showed distress to know he was present while he talked, and finally he apologized? It didn't make sense. "I should be the one apologizing to him."
"We all should be." Jones agreed.
"For some reason or another," Diana added.
"You're time's up," Caleb stated from where he was standing by the door. He had remained generally quiet but stepped forward in his guard role.
"Stay safe, Peter. We're working to get you out of here as soon as possible." Jones tried to encourage him.
"Don't worry about Elizabeth. We're working with Mozzie to make sure she's safe." Diana added. "Neal's got guards in the hospital too, he's safe now."
"Thanks, I appreciate it, all of it." Peter lifted his head to say goodbye.
Watching them walk out the door, Peter hoped they were right. Then turning back to his protector, he was glad Caleb was being so gentle. "Are your people watching over Neal? I don't want him to get hurt anymore."
"They are. We've got people all over this." Caleb reassured him before escorting him back to his cell.
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