(Chapter 2)

Peter had nightmares the night they had left Neal. He had paced his own house out of boredom and frustration at not being able to find out what was bothering Neal but he was more upset that nobody could tell him where the odd man had left to. They said after the flash the surveillance cameras had seemed to go down and then come back up with nothing else. Even the street cams in the area didn't show a man running from the building so whoever he was he had to know something about how to get in and out without being seen. Peter had thanked Jones and Diana for working on this. It wasn't an official case although Hughes had been less than happy to find out someone had attacked an agent and consultant on Bureau property. He had gotten both of their statements the day they were released asking them to report anything else they might remember, particularly Caffrey. If the man was looking for him, maybe someone from his past was after him. It had made the young man less than happy to know he was under scrutiny for something he didn't know anything about which is mostly why they hadn't visited till a few days after.

The agent sighed finally plopping down tiredly on the sofa and switching the TV on. Elizabeth had gone out for a bit to buy some groceries, run a few errands and meet with a client briefly. He couldn't go out and she had taken the car to be sure of that telling him to rest. He could take a cab but he wasn't sure he was up to that, his chest and body still achy but he could cowboy up. The problem was what had happened and doubts he was having about things. Before he had teamed up with Neal everything had been fairly quiet in his life. Things were more in control, his life had been simpler.

He sighed again as he pushed the thoughts aside. Peter shouldn't think like that. Neal was his friend and partner. He knew the kid had his back. He'd proven himself more than capable and heroic in their time together.

Peter leaned back against the sofa, his eyes fluttering shut as the remote slipped from his fingers and he fell asleep only a hint of light from the TV as he lay there.

He knew he was asleep but he felt as if he was still awake as he drifted through the darkness hearing voices and sounds from somewhere in the distance. He moved towards them in the darkness till he found himself before a door that reminded him of his many visits for court cases. He pushed on the door and it slowly opened, light leaking out into the darkness as he found himself suddenly sitting inside a strange looking courtroom. Things were both familiar and unfamiliar as he gazed around the space before his eyes fell upon a figure chained and gagged at the front before the judge's seat. He tried to stand but couldn't as he watched the exhibition before him. He cringed when he saw the blond man who had attacked them walk in, his expression and walk that of someone who knows they are right and in control. The man briefly looked at Peter before turning back to the judge.

"I am going to bring a witness that knows more than enough about the crimes Mr. Caffrey has committed. I call to the stand, Agent Peter Burke."

Peter blinked looking around as blurred faces looked at him and he felt himself suddenly rising up to walk towards the witness stand. He tried to fight the pull but he continued to walk forward as he passed through the two small swinging wood doors and moved to the stand and sat. He was facing the sea of unseen faces the only clear ones Neal's and the blond man's. Neal looked terrified, his blue eyes wide as he struggled to free himself but was securely chained to where he stood at the center of the room. The blond man smiled as he walked towards Peter and another man who must be the bailiff approached with something that looked like the device the blond had held on Neal. The bailiff pushed the device against Peter's hand and he felt a slight sting then the man was gone.

"Agent Burke... You must answer honestly and truthfully. Keep to the questions asked and do not add or subtract anything. We will know it."

The blond man smiled in a manner that made Peter look at his hand and wonder what he had just walked into. He nodded regardless trying to give Neal some kind of hopeful look.

"Understood Officer..."

He left it open to get the man's name but the blond just shrugged.

"Nolan Franks. Now, Agent Burke I understand you spent three years chasing down Neal Caffrey. Is this correct? Answer Yes or No."

Peter blinked as he nodded and replied.

"Yes."

The judge and blond man nodded before the latter spoke again.

"And during his reign, he hurt many people with his antics and thievery including one man whose bond he forged. This was the crime you were able to finally prosecute him on. Is this not correct?"

Peter nodded.

"Yes but he later..."

Peter didn't finish his sentence as a pain raced up his arm from his hand, the one the bailiff had touched. He winced as he felt his throat constricting and tighten up. He saw the blond man smiling.

"I warned you about speaking more than required, Agent Burke."

The blond man made a motion at the bailiff who pushed a button on the same device as before and suddenly Peter could breath easier. The agent felt anger welling up in him as he fought with the dream and stood up despite feeling something pushing him back down. He stumbled off the stand and stood face to face with the blond.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this to him? He's reformed and I will not see him persecuted for something until I know all the facts to qualify whether or not he really is guilty."

He stopped a moment to catch his breath as he fought the force that tried to shut him up and pull him back to the witness box.

"He's not violent and you have him chained up like an animal! Let him go!"

He had forgotten this was a dream, the feelings too real as he glared at the man, the blond looking a bit surprised.

"Not violent? Do you know why he doesn't like guns, Agent Burke? Have you asked him? But that is not why he's here. Judge..."

The man turned away from Peter and looked up at the Judge's dais.

"I ask that we wait till Agent Burke is in a better frame of mind before taking his accounting."

The judge seemed to agree, the court dismissed. Peter turned from the blond officer to Neal. The young man was struggling, pleading with his eyes as he started to approach. He reached out with one hand to grab one of Neal's when he heard the blond man yell.

"Bailiff, please show Agent Burke outside. There will be no fraternizing with the defendant!"

Peter had barely touched fingers with his friend when he was dragged backwards into the darkness, his last image of Neal turning to look at him his blue eyes wide with terror.

Peter woke up with a start, sitting up almost from the beginning as he looked around confused for a moment as to why he was at home and not at the courthouse. His mind finally came back to him and he remembered it was only a dream but it had felt so real. He picked up the remote and turned off the TV as he stood and walked up the stairs. El wouldn't be back for a few hours so he could get dressed, take a cab to June's and visit with Neal. He felt he had to.

It took him all of 30 minutes to shower, shave and get dressed before he heard the doorbell and quickly went to answer. He looked through the peep hole to find a courier outside. Peter opened the door and saw the man smile as he held out a large envelope and a device for him to sign. Peter saw his name in bold writing he didn't recognize on the manila envelope with no return address but signed for it and went back inside. It was a fairly light envelope but he could tell there was something inside as he pulled at the flap and opened it up. He spread the papers on the dining table as he found several snapshots.

"What the..." He was looking at the pictures, flipping through them and looking more disappointed by the second but also angry. Someone was trying to frame Neal but even more so this just meant one more thing the young man could be implicated in if these pictures were for real. How would he be able to find out without implicating the young man himself? He sighed uncertain what to do as he gazed at pictures that apparently showed one Neal Caffrey stealing a very rare and missing Raphael. In fact the very one Sara Ellis had been chasing him for. He had never doubted that maybe Neal had stolen the painting but without proof he couldn't very well prosecute or give him up to Sara but these pictures were possible proof that Neal had indeed stolen it whether or not he admitted it to him directly or not.

Alleged...

The word usually made him sigh and give a kind of grin because it had become a joke with how often Neal used that term. He never admitted to anything but now those doubts were fading and Peter wondered what he would do if these were the real thing. He couldn't keep them to himself and he had grown far too close to the ex-con to just turn him in. Still... he had a duty as a federal agent to give up evidence if found.

Peter pushed the pictures back into the envelope and sealed it up again. He would have to think this through, the agent pushing the envelope under his arm as he walked back to the door, grabbed his keys and coat and left the house.

()()()

Neal woke up with a start, his head aching as he stumbled towards the bathroom and closed the door. He briefly glanced at himself in the mirror before stripping down and ducking into the shower. He turned the water on as hot as he could stand it, slipping down to sit on the tile and letting the water wash away his worries, aches and fears.

He had been dreaming again, that weird tingle from the spot on his neck seemingly the cause of it. The dream had been the same only this time Peter had been there. The blond man had brought him in as a witness against him and then sent Peter away when he tried to show Neal some mercy. It had felt so very real as he tried to reach for Peter's hand and they just touched fingertips just before his friend was gone. Neal had struggled to follow but those chains held him tight as the blond man drew near and smiled darkly.

"You really think he'll rescue you? He has a career to think of and a wife. You are at the bottom of his list of things to save today."

Neal opened his eyes to realize he was still in the shower as he stood and finished washing up. He shut off the water, dried off and walked out to get dressed. He had barely finished dressing when he heard a knock at the door. He heard June's voice and unlocked the door.

"You feeling any better today, Neal? I brought you some brunch."

She was smiling at him, a tray in hand as they walked over to the terrace. He helped her with the food and they sat and chatted a bit. He wasn't really as actively participating as he normally did, allowing June to talk to him instead with only a minimal of words from him. His mind was going back to that odd dream and the blond man. He had already contacted Mozzie but he had found nothing in the wire indicating a hit on him or anything else related to the name Neal Caffrey. Whoever this man was he was working independently of any persons Neal had dealt with in the past. The picture they had didn't match anyone Mozzie could find in any network. It was as if the man didn't exist. He asked if he had talked to the suit about it and Neal had said not really. He felt guilt that someone chasing him had hurt Peter but he didn't want to involve the agent any more than he had to. It was a bad habit of Neal's to keep information in order to protect his friends and himself but it was the only way he knew.

"Neal?"

He snapped back to reality with a chagrined look at his landlady. He had been so deep in his own thoughts he didn't realize June had been asking him something.

"I apologize June. What was it you asked me?" He looked at her face and could tell she knew something was wrong. She was like Elizabeth in many ways, both women always looking out for him. He didn't think he deserved their attention but he appreciated it more than they knew. He did what he could to help out because he didn't want to lose their friendship. Maybe it was selfish of him to think they were family but when they hurt he wanted to help like when Fowler went after El. He had never thought that much through his plans other than he wanted to be with Kate. He had inadvertently put Peter on suspension and El was arrested on bogus charges. It was his fault it had happened, same with the man who's bonds he'd forged. His daughter had been taken in order to bring Caffrey to Wilkes.

"I think I heard the doorbell. We'll talk later?" She patted him on the arm as she rose and left. He felt badly for not being more attentive, his mind fuzzy from lack of sleep and these stupid nightmares. The mystery man was haunting him day and night since the incident and sometimes it seemed as in the hospital that the man was there with him.

He stood up when he heard footsteps and voices approaching. Neal walked back into the apartment to find Peter and June walking inside. He was surprised if anything else as June excused herself and closed the door behind her. Peter looked a bit self-conscious but there was something else there, disappointment. Neal wondered what he had done now and how he could charm his friend into a better mood.

"Coffee, Peter? It's June's Italian roast." He put on his best smile but saw that Peter hadn't moved and he was looking less certain by the moment. That's when he noticed the large envelope under Peter's arm and wondered if maybe they were back on a case but Hughes had put them on leave for the rest of the month. Peter finally nodded as they walked out onto the terrace and sat down, or at least Neal did. The agent paced a bit, looking over the edge of the building then turned and looked at him with a strange expression.

"Allegedly... you stole that Raphael that Sara was looking for." Peter's voice sounded shaky as if he didn't want to say what was coming next as Neal blinked at his friend and partner.

"Allegedly, yes I have been told I stole it. Why is this coming up, Peter. Did Sara contact you?" He saw Peter shake his head but walk over and drop the envelope on the table next to him. He noticed right off the bat there was no return address and the handwriting wasn't familiar. He looked up at Peter who sat and made a motion for him to open it up.

"I need an explanation, Neal. Talk to me."

Peter's voice had grown strained as if he were trying to hold back his emotions more so than usual. Neal nodded as curiosity got the better of him and he opened up the envelope. He pulled out the pictures and immediately turned to look at his friend. Neal couldn't hide his shame or guilt as he saw Peter's look of disappointment.

"So this was you? Neal... I can't keep this secret. I don't know who sent them but..." He paused and stood walking the length of the terrace before coming back and standing beside him. Neal didn't know what to say. Someone had pictures of him stealing the Raphael and he could no longer deny it. Sara would get her bounty and he would go back to prison for who knew how long. He felt himself shaking, wanting to lie that this wasn't him but he couldn't.

"Where is it, Neal? The painting... Maybe if we do this voluntarily they'll go easy on you. I don't know if they sent these to anyone else. Someone wants you to pay for something and you need to talk to me. I can't help you otherwise and I'm not even sure I can help you now."

Peter looked torn, something he rarely saw in the agent but he looked saddened by this turn of events. Neal didn't know how to react. He had no way to redirect. He could lie but not to Peter.

Neither of them spoke for a long time before Peter finally grabbed up the photos and shoved them back into the envelope. Neal looked at him curiously as the agent walked back into the apartment and he followed.

"God knows why I'm doing this..."

He watched Peter grab a lighter off the mantle and flick it till it caught flame. He promptly burned one end of the envelope as he watched it catch fire then threw it into the fireplace. Neal ran over and grabbed his friend's arm.

"Peter..."

Neal just watched as the flame ate through the envelope and pictures quickly till there was nothing more than ash. His hand still held Peter's arm tightly as he felt the agent pull away and head for the door.

There were no words but there didn't need to be. Peter had risked everything for their friendship and as he looked at those brown eyes he saw a kind of resentment he'd never seen before. The agent left the room without a word, the door closing quietly behind him.

()()()

"Honey is that you?"

El's voice called from the kitchen as Peter walked into their home. He closed and locked the door before removing his coat and walking her way. She peered around the corner immediately running to him when she saw the look on his face.

"Honey, what's wrong? Peter?"

She eased him into a chair at the dining room table. He looked at her uncertain what to tell her as she sat beside him and hugged him tight. He felt a kind of itching on the back of his hand. He rubbed at it and thought he felt an odd 'tingle' from it.

"I can't do this anymore. I thought... I should have never agreed to that contract with Neal. Our lives haven't been the same since he came and I don't mean in a good way." He stood and she followed, draping him in her arms from behind. When he didn't turn to look at her she moved to face him, grasping his chin in her hands to make him look at her.

"What's happened? Why are you reconsidering everything?"

She looked at him with worried eyes but he just shrugged.

"It's hard to explain but I think I just aided and abetted a known criminal. I don't know how I can deal with myself or him. He's used me and you to get what he wants and despite all the good, I'm beginning to think we would have been better off without him."

He moved away as he felt his guilt and conscience get the better of him. He didn't want to discuss the situation right now his own mind conflicted by what he had discovered and what he had done. He was an officer of the law. An FBI agent. He wasn't supposed to destroy evidence!

"Honey, tell me what's going on. Don't shut me out. What's going on with Neal?"

She was holding him in place but he didn't feel like discussing it. Inside he was thinking he had just done a horrible thing. Neal was a grown man. He was a known criminal and he had just helped him possibly by destroying evidence. If the same mystery person had sent those pictures to anyone else, Peter had just possibly destroyed his own career as well as his life. He could go to prison. What would Elizabeth do with him in prison? Her own life and career would be ruined by his one action. He started to wish he had never laid eyes on Neal Caffrey. His life had been so much easier before...

"I just wish Neal Caffrey had never existed. I wouldn't have spent so much time away from you and we could have had a normal life."

He said it, letting his wife hug him as he pulled her close and she kissed his cheek.

"Neal who?"

Peter looked up at his wife as he pulled away and she smiled at him.

"What? You're the one who said the name. I was just asking who that is."

She was smirking at him but suddenly he couldn't think what he had been talking about. They'd been having a discussion about something but what had it been about. Elizabeth poked him gently in the chest.

"I almost have dinner ready if you want to wash up. I know you had a hard day at work with those mortgage fraud cases. I don't know how you do it. They're so boring." She was smiling at him teasingly as he shook off the lost thought and smiled back.

"Yeah, very boring but someone has to do it. You did say you wanted me in a safer department. Nothing safer than White Collar. No excitement there."

Peter smirked as they kissed once more and he ran upstairs to change clothes. He got to the top and entered their bedroom, quickly changing from his suit to a pair of comfortable sweats and a tee. It had been another dull day of case files but it was better than being out on the streets chasing some two-bit criminal over something as silly as a painting. He never quite understood the whole art market scam. How something so insignificant as a few blobs of paint could be so valuable much less worth stealing. He shrugged as he walked over to the bathroom and washed his hands and face before going back downstairs.

He liked his life just the way it was. He didn't need anything in it to make it any more exciting or different.

()()()

A month passed and Peter had the continually odd feeling that something was missing. He wasn't quite sure what it was but he kept looking at this one desk on the floor. It was used for temps and agents who passed through the department but something drew his eyes to that desk and he felt someone was missing. He took a visual account of his crew and saw Jones and Diana at their regular posts. He saw many of the regular rookies and other staff in their spots and wondered what it was that made him think someone was missing. He sighed, getting back to his mortgage loan files and almost wishing for some kind of distraction. He glanced at the chair across from him and had the feeling of someone sitting there but nobody was there. He got up and stretched knowing if he was feeling oddly he should just go get some coffee or take a break.

Peter walked over to the small break area and was just pouring himself a cup when Jones walked over with a smile.

"Boss, you're being braver than usual today. Maxine made this. She's worse than you at making coffee."

Peter looked up and smirked as he finished pouring a cup and handed the pot to his subordinate.

"Funny, Jones. Well it's all we got unless you have some Italian roast sitting around."

Jones looked at him funny then nodded.

"Yeah, Italian roast. What made you say that? Makes me think of something but I can't think what." The agent shrugged as he poured himself his own cup of mud and they stood a moment and chatted over stuff in the office. At some point Peter looked up to see Hughes giving him two fingers. He excused himself and walked back upstairs to visit with his boss.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?"

Peter sat when Hughes told him, the older agent smiling gently.

"I think I have a case you might be interested in. It's a bit more exciting than your usual fare."

Hughes was looking at him curiously as Peter nodded. He liked the normal cases but sometimes there was a time for more excitement.

"What kind of case is it sir?"

Hughes' smile dimmed a little.

"It might be more dangerous than you're used to but we're investigating a fence by the name of Alexandra Hunter. Our feelers have her here in town about to score on a large shipment of silver from a man named Matthew Keller. We checked out the source of this information and although I don't have a name, the informant told us enough to make it legit. I want you to take this case. You've figured out a few of the art thefts quicker than anyone and I think you can profile these two quickly. I'll have Diana grab the files up for you."

Peter nodded, standing up and leaving once they had a few details ironed out. He walked back to his office and sat down feeling a bit excited. He might have to do some undercover but it would be fun. He just needed to get himself up to date on the two suspects before he went in. He closed the door and turned around to find a short bald man standing in his office. He looked around uncertain why or how the man had gotten in. He was about to turn to call for security when he heard the man speak.

"I wouldn't call out. I'll be gone before they get up here and you will just look foolish suit."

Peter turned and blinked at the man. Why did this all feel so familiar.

"Did you just call me a Suit? Who are you and why are you in my office?" He was angry now, Peter wanting to go out but something keeping him from doing so. This little guy with the glasses was somewhat intriguing to him.

"One thing at a time. I need to ask you a question first. If you answer right then I'll tell you."

The little guy seemed worked up, little tufts of grayish hair around his ears. Reluctantly Peter nodded, waiting for the man to get to the point.

"Fine, just make it quick. I have work to do."

Peter stood with his arms crossed as the man looked up at him curiously.

"I don't know why I'm doing this when you have such a sour attitude but here goes. Have you had the feeling some one's missing lately?"

Peter felt his arms loosen up a bit as the little guy said that and he nodded, narrowing his eyes at him with a suspicious glance.

"Yes. How did you know? What is this all about?"

The little guy smiled slightly up at him with a relieved expression.

"Look, you weren't supposed to remember and heck if I know why I'm doing this but I know it's the only way to get him back. Suit..."

He stood up his full height and looked up at him with an honest glance.

"... Neal's been banished because of you. Someone used you to get rid of him forever. I know you don't remember but I had to come and tell you this before it's permanent. There's time to reverse it all if you can find it in your heart to help bring him back."

The little guy sounded sincere but he had no idea what or who he was talking about.

"Neal? Neal who? I don't know anyone by that name. Are you here in relation to a case?"

The man shook his head in frustration, grasping his sleeve.

"Neal Caffrey, the man you spent three years of your life chasing. He put you on the map in the Bureau. He broke out and you caught him again and made him your partner when he agreed to help solve a case with you. You used to worry about him and try to change him, much as I disagreed he needed changing but that's besides the point. You were friends and you worried about him or I thought you did. Something happened and you caused this to happen and only you can reverse it. You have to believe me!"

The little guy was upset, ranting it seemed but the name was familiar as one he remember his wife asking him about. Neal Caffrey... why did that suddenly ring a bell? He was certain he didn't know the man but when he looked out his window at that empty desk he thought he could see someone sitting there. A faint memory of a young man with dark hair and blue eyes...

Peter blinked at the ridiculousness of it all. Obviously this man was insane. He reached for the phone to call security.

"I should have done this when I saw you. I'm calling security."

Peter started to dial the number as the little guy frowned.

"I'll be back Suit. You have to remember. You're the only hope he has!"

Peter looked at the man annoyed as he started to press the buttons then felt a kind of distortion of his vision and coordination as a flash made him turn. The light was brighter than a camera flash, confusing him as he watched the man vanish literally before his eyes. Peter slumped to the floor as if he had been slugged, laying there at the foot of his desk until he heard a knock at his door. There was another knock and finally he managed to get up and stumble half blind and stunned to open it up.

"Boss, I have those... Peter what's wrong?"

Diana was looking at him as she walked in and closed the door behind her. Her expression was worried as she helped him to his chair and sat him down. She loosened his tie when he wheezed at her then finally spoke.

"Man... there was a... man here. Little guy with glasses." He coughed trying to breath normal again, the wind knocked out of him by whatever had happened. He saw the look on her face.

"Man? There was nobody here and I saw nobody come up but you. Are you ok? Should I call your wife?"

He held up a hand and shook his head.

"I'm fine. Must have been a bad dream. I sort of fell asleep at my desk." He couldn't think why else he would have been on the floor. Diana nodded as she patted him on the shoulder.

"The case files are pretty boring. Oh speaking of files. I have the ones you wanted here from Hughes. Did you want me to get you some more coffee? I was going to make a run for the shop downstairs." She was smiling at him more comfortably now that he was feeling better. He nodded smiling.

"The usual then?" She was about to go when he shook his head.

"No, I think I'm going to try something different. Italian roast sounds good."

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Did two chapters to make sure I could do this story. I had to think about it a bit how it was going to work out. Sorry for the mixup. Not sure why I put Rembrandt when I meant Raphael. I just remembered it was an R artist. Thx to Kanarek13 for informing me and now that is fixed.