White Collar - Prison Break Chapter 2
Neal was on his way back to the washroom the following morning with the other prisoners from his corridor when they come around a corner which he had noted was in a camera blind spot and find two of the guards waiting. One grabs Neal's arm to stop him, gesturing to the other prisoners to keep going, leaving them alone with Neal. One of them is Myers, the unpleasant one who interrupted him and Peter the day before. The grabby one's name tag says 'Harde' Neal notices as Myers blocks his way. His brain automatically inserts the rhyme 'Harde the Guard', the mnemonic device he always uses to remember people's names and he almost smiles. He blames the fact he'd had trouble deciding on Myers, the first one that came to him was 'Myers hangs out with Liars' but it didn't quite fit. He wondered what the man's first name was.
"Not so fast there Caffrey" Myers snarled
"Is there a problem sir" Neal asks politely, not liking where this is going. Myers is smart enough to choose a blind spot in the cameras so he hopes Diana and Jones are listening and can get word to Peter quickly enough.
"You embarrassed a lot of guards when you escaped" Myers told him threateningly.
"That wasn't my intention." Neal told him honestly. Hoping this wasn't going to get physical.
"I think a little welcome back present is in order, don't you think Powers?" Myers asked. Harde smiled and nodded agreement.
"That's really not necessary." Neal started to tell them but Myers moved while Neal was talking and punches Neal in the stomach. Neal doubles over in pain, acting more hurt than he is in the hope they will think he's had enough. Unfortunately Myers doesn't and punches him twice more before Peter finally comes round the corner and sweating in his guard uniform, trying to act casual like he just happens to be coming around this corner, like hasn't been running to get here as quickly as he can to rescue Neal.
"What's going on here?" Peter asks a little breathless.
"You should appreciate this Ross. We're getting a little payback for you" Myers tells Peter.
Neal likes this alias for Peter, 'Ross the boss' works. Now he knows Peter, he kind of feels bad about Peter's previous nickname for his real name but 'Burke the Jerk' seemed appropriate when Neal was on the run and being chased by him.
Neal manages to catch Peter's eye and shakes his head slightly telling Peter that he is okay and not to blow their cover. He trusts Peter to pick up on what he means and true to form he plays his part perfectly.
"I don't need other people doing my job for me" Peter tells Myers looking at Neal vindictively. "This punk's been asking for it for years." Myers and Harde laugh appreciatively.
"Keep watch. I don't want anyone walking up on us like I just did" he orders them. Harde looks to Myers who bristles a little at being ordered but then decides to do as he is told, the two men go to opposite ends of the corridor and keep watch.
Peter grabs Neal by the shift and pulls him close threateningly
"Now what?" Peter asks
"You're going to have to beat me up" Neal tells him. Peter gives him a disbelieving look.
"You probably owe me one from the boxing match anyway" Neal reminds him "Just try and make it look good" Neal tells him.
Peter shoves him away slightly and throws a punch to Neal's stomach. Neal pretends it knocks the wind out of him as Peter fakes another hit to the stomach making light contact. Neal groans in fake pain. Then a thought occurs to him, they can turn this to their advantage.
"I need you to punch me in the face, give me a black eye" He tells Peter.
"What? No!" Peter says horrified.
"I need something to show Andrei and Pietre." He tells Peter. He knows Peter will never deliberately hurt him so he fights every instinct and deliberately walks into Peter's next punch. The next thing he is on the floor seeing stars.
"Whoa, easy there Ross" Myers calls looking back "Injuries to the face bring attention"
"He knows better than to say anything. Right?" Peter asks Neal threateningly
"Nothing happened" Neal confirms meekly, playing the defeated prisoner part. Powers escorts Neal to the washrooms.
It takes a few hours before Peter is able to get Neal alone. Neal's eye has developed some spectacular bruising and he is moving stiffly when he gets up to bus his tray. He's such a good actor Peter can't tell how much is real pain and how much faked. He doesn't like this. There are too many random elements to control, it was bad enough when it was just the gang and other prisoners threatening Neal, but now the guards are out to get him too. He walks over to Neal.
"Are you okay?" Peter asks him. Neal gives him a withering dismissive look
"I'm fine Peter." He says reassuringly
"I don't like this. Maybe I should pull this operation…" Peter feels the need to give Neal the option to back out, though he knows what Neal's response will be and honestly it would gall him to get so close and just throw away all their work.
"No! Peter honestly I'm okay. These things happen in prison." Neal tells him.
"They shouldn't. Those men are there to guard you not hurt you." Peter tells Neal earnestly. Neal normally finds Peter's naiveté endearing but his eye and ribs hurt.
"Love your optimism Peter, but this is a prison not a pre-school. What did you think Prison life was like? This is nothing. Let's just get the job done and get out of here." He tells Peter a little more snarkily than he intends. He sees Myers and Powers coming towards them and quickly walks away angrily. Leaving Peter uncertain what to do.
"Problems" Myers asks
"No just making sure Caffrey's learnt his lesson" Peter tells the man.
"and?" Myers asks
"I think he'll toe the line from now on" Peter tells Myers in as smug a way as he can manage. It's tough when what he wants to do is handcuff Myers right now and prosecute him for prisoner abuse. It increases his respect for Neal's undercover abilities.
"No need to thank me. He had it coming. Maybe he'll learn not to be so smart." Myers says
"If anyone can teach him not to be smart it's you" Peter tells him so earnestly that Myers doesn't pick up that he is calling him stupid.
"We'll keep an eye on him just in case. If a second lesson is needed we can always give it to him. We're outnumbered so we have to stick together right?" Myers asks
"Right" Peter agrees forcing a smile that feels forced. Peter doesn't like the sound of this. He decides they will have to step up the operation. He radios the van to get Jones brought in as a guard too as extra back up. This way either Jones or he will be here with Neal at all times. He doesn't want this to leave him alone here. He tries not think about how Neal served almost four years in one of these places totally alone. He hopes they can close this case quickly and make it worthwhile.