AN: Thoughts are always in Italics. Sorry about any mistakes and thank you once again for reviewing!
Warnings: Some bad words.
Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA Network and Jeff Eastin.
CHAPTER 5
Peter woke up the next day to the sound of a car honking in the street. He turned around to snuggle close to Elizabeth. She wasn't there. Her side of the bed was empty and it looked like she had gotten up quite a while ago. Peter looked at the ceiling and tried to relax for a moment before he had to get up. He sat up abruptly in the bed when he remembered everything that had happened at midnight. Neal Caffrey. The kid had probably bolted from his house long ago. He would have a long day ahead trying to find him. He groaned and got up to take a shower and get dressed. He had slept late, it was already eight and he'd have to rush up a bit.
After he was ready for the day he passed the guest room and stopped at the door. Just as he'd expected, it was empty. The bed was perfectly made, the extra blanket and the clothes Elizabeth had lent the kid were folded neatly on top of the bed. Peter sighed and turned downstairs to look for El. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs when he heard laughter coming from the kitchen. He walked quickly to see what was going on and stumbled into a scene he would never have imagined. There in the middle of his kitchen sat Neal Caffrey on a stool chopping some fruit, with Satchmo at his feet, while his wife was making pancakes in the stove. They both looked at ease with one another and they seemed to be talking amicably over something.
Elizabeth saw him and said happily, "Morning hon. I hope we didn't wake you up. Neal and I were hungry and decided to get started on breakfast."
Peter turned to look at the kid who gave him a big smile. "Morning Peter."
Neal looked better. It was incredible what a bit of rest could do. It looked like he was moving less sluggishly as well. I guess those pills worked, Peter thought.
"Morning Caffrey." He sat down in front of him and started eating from a plate piled up with pancakes that El had put in front of him giving him a kiss in the process. Elizabeth set a similar plate in front of Neal and herself.
Peter ate in silence observing his wife and this kid talking about a certain chef program on tv and discussing how they would change a certain ingredient to add flavor or how some step in the process wasn't really necessary. Caffrey ate like there was no tomorrow. He devoured the pancakes in front of him and after that he started with the fruit. El put another equally large stack of pancakes in front of him and he started eating them without protest. Peter was secretly glad she was getting some food into him. El was right, he looked too thin. He guessed prison food must really be as bad as its reputation.
They finished eating and walked over to the living room. Neal had gone to the couch and had taken up petting Satchmo again. Peter hoped there was another option, and he knew El was already attached to the kid, but he had to go back today. The sooner the better. Less complications.
"Caffrey, we have to go now."
Neal kept petting the dog. He enjoyed it. He enjoyed the feel of the fur beneath his fingers. He liked how the animal seemed to accept who he was, without any judgment as to what he did. Satch liked him as a person and that was enough. It had been quite a long time since he'd allowed himself to touch another living thing. Apart from the beatings he'd gotten in Juvie, where he didn't even initiate contact, he hadn't really let himself touch or be touched by anyone. Satchmo is nice, though, he thought as he gave the lab a kiss on top of his head.
"Caffrey, did you hear me? I have to take you back now." Peter said looking directly at him.
"Right," Neal got up and plastered a conning smile on his face. "Thank you for everything Elizabeth. I'm glad I had the pleasure of your company."
Elizabeth turned towards him to give him a hug, but stopped herself when Neal stumbled backwards trying to avoid her touch. "I'm so glad I met you Neal, and thank you for coming to my rescue yesterday. Will you reconsider what we talked about?"
Neal smiled politely. "Sure, I'll give it some thought," he lied easily. There was no way he was even going to consider Peter's offer of help. He knew what he was going back to. He knew that the second he was in jail he'd be beaten up again, but he could not sell out Adler for nothing in return. It was too dangerous and he'd just get himself killed, like Kate… There had to be another way.
He walked to the door after Peter and stopped for a second to look back at Elizabeth.
"Everything will be okay Neal," she said trying to sound confident, but Neal was a con and he could spot a lie a thousand miles away. Everything wouldn't be okay.
"Yeah," he said noncommittally as he started after Peter. They both made it to the car and he got into the passenger's seat.
Neal didn't even know why he hadn't run the day before, why he wasn't running right now. He knew why he had helped Elizabeth. He didn't regret that for a second, but why had he stayed after Peter had gotten home yesterday? Why had he stayed in the morning before Peter woke up?
Elizabeth.
She was the problem. He liked her. She was exactly the kind of woman he'd always wanted his mom to be. Not that his mom had ever treated him badly. His mom just hadn't been there for him. He shook his head trying to change that train of thoughts. Whatever had happened, he couldn't change it now.
He was on his way back to Crossroads. Back to hunger and coldness. Back to being a good for nothing waste of space. Back to pain.
He closed his eyes and breathed slowly in and out trying not to freak in front of Peter.
Interrogation, check. Uncomfortable search, check. Medical exam, check. Horrible orange jumpsuit, check. One phone call, not used, check. Neal went over the last day in his mind.
They'd explained the rules to him the first time he was here.
When moving through the building, you walk in a single line with your hands behind your back, without making noises or talking. Five thirty am - wake up and shower. Six forty five - breakfast. Eight thirty - school. One thirty: - lunch. Six - dinner. Nine thirty pm - lights out. Visiting hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 pm. The same things happened at the exact same time over and over again, every single day.
It had been a long day and he was back in the same cell he thought he'd never see again. He'd been surprised when the same day Peter had brought him in, he'd received a visit by Mozzie. It was his first one yet. Neal told him how he had gone looking for him. Mozzie said that there had been a contact number with some money in the bag he had sent but that people obviously couldn't be trusted, which was why he'd come himself from now on. Neal was relieved to hear it. After he recounted everything that had happened with the Burkes and how he ended up back in Juvie they had agreed to reconvene another day.
The next day, Mozzie visited Neal and told him that it would be tricky getting him out undetected again, but he was working on it. Neal reminded him about Keller and how it really couldn't wait. There had to be another way, maybe there was some legal way to get out of here? Mozz agreed to look into it and Neal was left alone again.
Two weeks passed by and Mozzie had been coming over every two days to talk to him and plan a new escape so it really wasn't a surprise when one afternoon they told him that he had a visitor.
It had been a relatively easy two weeks. Keller had left him alone for the most part. They weren't hitting him anymore, just stealing his food. Keller had started using another tactic. He was trying to provoke him. It hadn't worked yet, Neal failing to fall in their traps. Keller had so warmly informed him the day before that if he didn't play back they'd have to go to the original game. Time was running out.
He entered the common visit room and sat in his usual table in the corner. Keller and Dumbass where out there as well. They were seating in the table right across his and Neal tried to avoid their gaze by intently looking at his finger nails until Mozzie made his appearance. Somebody sat in front of him.
"It's about time Mozz, did you find-," Neal stopped short when he raised his eyes and saw who was sitting in front of him.
"Hello Neal. I guess you were expecting someone else."
Neal stared at Elizabeth Burke sitting in front of him and the feeling of warmth came back to him in a rush. Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry I didn't come to visit you earlier, but I had to talk Peter into the idea," she continued smiling at him.
Elizabeth looked at the boy in front of her and couldn't help wondering what was going on here. He looked even thinner than two weeks ago. She remembered the starved teenager that had ravished everything that was put in front of him. The progress they made after that night was gone as well. He looked tired again. Tired, hungry, and unhappy, everything a teenager shouldn't be. She had an urge to hug him, to take his hand in hers and try to convey her feelings, but Neal had removed his hands from the table when he saw her. She recalled that he didn't like to be touched. Peter had mentioned it as well.
"So, Neal, how have you been?" she asked, managing to sound as normal as possible.
"Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" Neal asked lowering his voice and looking over her shoulder to another table with two older looking boys.
"I wanted to see how you were doing. The reports they send to Peter are not very informative." Neal wasn't paying much attention to her, he still looked uncomfortable and Elizabeth started to wonder if Peter was right and she had no business visiting him.
"Elizabeth, it's wonderful to see you, but this really isn't the place for a reunion. Peter was right, you shouldn't be here," he said rapidly almost whispering. He saw her face drop and hated himself for treating her like this, but he had to make sure that she would leave unharmed. If he was going to be here for some time then it was probably better if she just forgot about him.
"Neal, who's the pretty lady?"
Both El and Neal looked in the direction of the voice. It was an older looking boy with a crooked smile who talked with a strange accent.
"What Neal," he continued, "you're not going to introduce us?"
"Stay away Keller. She's no one. In fact, she was just leaving." Neal's voice had turned strong and icy.
He rose and circled the table to stand slightly in front of Elizabeth, blocking her from the other boy. He grabbed her hand without hesitation and pulled her up. El stood without really knowing what was going on. There was a sense of danger surrounding this 'Keller'. Neal probably knew him or felt the danger himself, because he hadn't let go of her hand. She could feel how cold it was and how it was shaking a little bit.
"She looks like you. Is she your mom?" Keller paused. "Wait, of course she's not. Your mom's dead," he sneered. "Another relative perhaps? Your aunt?" Neal had stiffened at the mention of his mom but he didn't let go of her hand.
"Look, Keller, it's really none of your business, if you're waiting for someone I suggest you go back to your table or I'm going to call the guards and tell them to take you away," Elizabeth said loudly trying to hide her distaste for him.
"Mmm… I don't think she's family at all," Keller continued ignoring Elizabeth's warning. "Are you fucking her? She's hot. You like older bitches, Caffrey?"
Neal had been trying to control himself, but he couldn't do it anymore. Elizabeth shouldn't be here. She should never be spoken to like that. He wasn't violent by nature, but if the only way to get Elizabeth out of there was doing what Keller wanted, then that's what he'd do.
Neal let go of her hand and launched himself at Keller. He caught him straight in the jaw, but that was exactly what Keller wanted. He turned to punch Neal in the gut and Elizabeth gasped as Neal doubled over but remained standing up. The room was chaotic and loud, the other inmates shouting over at Neal and Keller.
Four guards came in and went straight for them. El watched with shock when a big officer kicked Neal from behind and Neal dropped down like a rag doll, his head slamming against the concrete floor. The officer then climbed on top of him and turned him around to handcuff him.
Other officers had started ushering the prisoners back into the hall and the visitors out of the room in an effort to stop the commotion. Elizabeth found herself being ushered outside. Still not believing what was going on she turned to catch a final glimpse of Neal but what she saw made her wish she hadn't. He was lying face down limply in the floor, arms cuffed behind him. He seemed to be having trouble breathing and was still shaking. She caught his eyes but there was no recognition on his part. His eyes were completely glazed over.
The first thing Elizabeth did when she got back into her car was call her husband. She was angry and scared and everything that had happened was inexcusable. She closed her eyes and saw Neal smiling and talking to her about art and books and petting Satchmo. She speed dialed 1 with a shaking hand and someone answered on the other side.
"Peter, take him out. Now."