Neal began to cry softly into Elizabeth's shirt.
"It's ok Neal. We're here now." She said softly.
"Ya buddy. Everything is ok." Said Peter who had started rubbing Neal's back.
They stayed like this for a while until Elizabeth suggested they all crawl into the bed. Neal who had stopped crying agreed. So they all got comfortable and soon enough they all fell back to sleep. Little did they know that this was just the beginning of things to come.
Chapter 4:
Peter and Elizabeth woke before Neal the next morning. They decided that it would be better if they were out of the room when Neal woke up, so they crept out of the room and went downstairs to make coffee.
Neal woke up an hour or so later. He sat up in bed and was immediately confused. Where am I? He thought. He put his hands out in front of him and almost screamed. Why are my hands so small! Suddenly Neal remembered everything from the previous day (and night which he was slightly embarrassed about). He sighed and carefully got out of bed.
Ten minutes later the Burkes heard the sound of small 5-year-old feet bounding down the stairs. In no time flat the little con man was standing in front of them all dressed in the suit he was wearing when he turned.
"Good morning Neal!" Said Elizabeth, greeting Neal with a smile.
"Good morning Elizabef!" Neal replied.
"Would you like something to eat? I could make anything you want." She offered.
"I wouldn't want to trouble you, I can make breakfast myself." Replied Neal with his (slightly smaller) million dollar smile.
Elizabeth was surprised for a moment at hearing the big words and elegant phrasing from the child's mouth. She then remembered that it was still Neal just, younger.
"It's really no trouble at all Neal. And besides, you can't reach the counters." Said El getting up to go fix the child something to eat.
Neal frowned, but then decided that it would be better to just go and sit down at the table. He had a better grasp on his emotions, articulation and most importantly his coordination then yesterday so the high chairs in the dining room posed no problem for this cute criminal.
"Can I have some coffee Petew?" Asked Neal.
"Sorry Caffrey, kids don't drink coffee." Peter replied with a sly grin.
"But Petew I need coffee!" Whined Neal.
"You can have coffee just as soon as we figure out how to turn you back to normal." Said Peter.
Neal hopped down from his chair and walked to Peter's side. Placing a small hand on his leg he protested more.
"I am normal! I'm still the same person I was yesterday!"
"Go sit down Neal." Peter said amused.
Neal hung his head and took his place at the table. Peter looked at his watch and grabbed his suit jacket off of the back of the dinning room chair. He then walked over to El and gave her a kiss.
"Bye hon!" He said. He turned and walked past Neal, ruffling his hair on the way by.
He had to chuckle when he heard the little felon say : "C'mon! I just brushed that!"
Peter walked out to the driveway and went to get out his keys. To his surprise he found his pocket empty. He checked the other one. Nothing. Then it dawned on him.
"CAFFREY!" He yelled and ran back inside the house.
He came through the front and Found Neal with a smug grin on his face, holding up the keys.
"I told you I was normal. YOU on the other hand, just got pick-pocketed by a 5-year-old!"
Peter snatched the keys away from his pint-sized CI grumbled under his breath the whole way out to the car.
He got to the FBI and spent most of the morning researching the damn idol. He had little success. By lunchtime he decided that he needed help, so he very reluctantly called his secret weapon.
"Hi Mozzie it's Peter" He said into the phone.
"Suit! I admit to nothing and neither does Neal or June or anyone else I've ever met!" Replied Mozzie being his usual paranoid self.
"Relax! Your not in trouble...This time... But I do need your help." Said Peter.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure my answer is no." Replied Mozzie.
"It's Neal. I need you to meet me at my house in a few hours." Said Peter.
There was a couple of minutes of silence on the other line but finally Peter heard what he was hoping for.
"Fine suit but not for you, for Neal." Then he hung up.
Peter went back to the FBI and finished his day off going to meetings and lying about where Neal was.
At 5:00 Peter was in his car driving home. When he arrived at his house he found Neal painting a perfect replica of "The Scream" by: Edvard Munch and Elizabeth ironing Neal's little Italian suit.
"Hi guys, I'm home!" Called Peter upon entering the calm household.
Satchmo immediately came running towards Peter. Elizabeth looked up and smiled at him but stayed put and worked on her task at hand. Neal on the other hand walked over to Peter to give him a proper greeting.
"Hi Petew! How was your day?" The little boy inquired.
"It was good, boring, but good." Peter replied.
"So what's wrong with me? Sick? Injured?" Neal asked.
"I told everyone you had a nasty stomach bug. That way there, nobody will want to come and check on you." Said Peter with a smile.
Neal nodded and went back into the dining room to finish his forgery.
Peter chuckled at Neal's now shortened attention span then went upstairs to change. Put on a pair of jeans and was reaching for a shirt when he heard a knock at the door. Knowing who it was, Peter quickly put on his shirt and ran downstairs to answer the door.
"Neal please stay out of sight for a couple minutes." Peter called out across the room.
Neal nodded his head and walked into the kitchen to begin eavesdropping on whoever was about to come into the house.
Peter opened the door to reveal the short, bald, speckled man he'd been waiting for.
"Hi Mozzie. Come on in." He said, holding the door open and stepping to the side.
Mozzie looked reluctant but did as he was told.
"Hi Moz! I wasn't expecting you." Said Elizabeth happily.
"I wasn't expecting me to come either Mrs. Suit." Said the alleged criminal looking at Peter.
"Ya, about that. I really need your help." Said Peter, shutting the door.
"You were vague on the phone but I need a substantial explanation or I will be forced to leave." Mozzie declared.
"Alright Moz, calm down. Neal is here. He's a little different but I need you not to freak out. Okay?" Peter said.
Ok suit. Whatever you say." Said Mozie slightly sarcastic. He was beginning to worry about Neal.
Peter lead Mozzie into the kitchen where he figured Neal would be hiding.
"Hey Moz!" Neal said with a grin.
Mozzie was in complete shock. He didn't know what to say, think or do.
"Neal?" He asked.
"Yup!" Replied Neal.
Then Mozzie did something Peter hadn't expected him to do. He walked out the back door.
A/N: I have been getting lots of great reviews and suggestions and I couldn't be happier! Thank you all so much! I hope this chapter was fun to read because it sure was fun to write! :)