(Chapter 5)

Neal smiled in his sleep, remembering the night of the celebration. They had finally broken free of Lynkos and while he would hike off the beach and back towards civilization, the others would sail off to who knows where. He could still feel the warm sand between his bare toes as he lay there in the Burkes' guestroom sleeping. Andre and the others had all passed out as had he from too much booze (Neal finding a secret locked liquor cabinet of Lynkos) and full stomachs by the fire. He was still achy and sore from his abuse but had healed up over the past four days with Jankov's doctoring and the others support. He still was far from happy with how they had treated him but at the moment he was just glad to be going back. Leaving them and this nightmare was more than enough for him as he curled up on a tarp in the sand.

You think you can get rid of me so easily, Thief?

Neal's eyes popped open as he sat up in bed, heart pounding, pulse racing and his body shaking from the nightmare. He looked around the room, sunlight easing through the curtained window. It was late morning light he thought as he started to calm, remembering he wasn't there anymore. Lynkos couldn't hurt him... or anyone ever again. The thought comforted him as he heard footsteps and muffled voices outside the door and then a soft knock.

"Neal? (Maybe he's not awake yet. I'll go start breakfast while you get ready.)"

Elizabeth Burke's voice carried through the wooden door as he pulled the blankets aside and hung his feet over the edge of the bed. He was here with Peter and El. He thought about his room at June's and that million dollar view missing it terribly as he tried not to think about the past year and a half. It was over. He would carry on as he always did and get past this. He pulled on a robe over his tee and pajama pants as he moved to open the door and nearly crashed into Peter.

"Oh... guess you're awake after all."

His friend stood as if he had been about to reach for the knob as he looked sheepishly at him. Neal nodded as he took a step back and Peter moved aside for him to pass.

"El's making breakfast downstairs. I think there's something you can wear in the closet. You left a bag of clothes the last time you were here and Elizabeth hung them in the closet."

Neal nodded as he went to the bathroom and closed the door. Even after everything last night, they were still on eggshells around each other. It would pass as he remained here. He wasn't sure he would go back to June's or if he could. Maybe she had closed the room up again or rented it to someone else. He couldn't imagine her waiting this long for a dead man. The thought made him think how much it must have hurt her to have that room closed up again when she had just gotten over Byron. They'd met shortly after she decided it was time to start letting go of her late husband's memory. Those clothes would do someone else so much more good alive than sitting in the past molding. Maybe that's why she had liked him. A memory of who she once was and of a husband she missed.

He stripped and turned on the shower hot, soaking out the pains and memories before finally leaving the comforts of the tub and pulling on his robe and clean boxers. He found himself alone on the second floor as he moved to the guestroom and closed the door. Inside the closet as Peter had promised were his old clothes. There was a suit, somewhat threadbare but still nice. It looked like someone had taken it in to be fixed. He remembered this suit but wasn't sure why it was here. Something made him opt for a black pair of comfy jeans and black turtleneck as he pulled the clothes on with black socks and a worn but polished pair of soft leather loafers. This person he saw in these clothes didn't feel like the person he was now. The memory seemed faint and distant as he tried to recall who he had been as opposed to the person he had become. Neal shrugged the thought away as he put on his best smile which in the mirror looked a bit muted and left for the downstairs.

()()()

"Thank you for inviting me to brunch, Elizabeth... Peter. I was surprised to get your message on my machine. I've been so busy with my committee meetings and visiting with my granddaughters to stop and visit. Have to keep busy in your old age."

She smiled brightly but there was a little sadness there as she sat on the sofa and smiled at the younger couple. She admired their relationship, knowing they had gone though as much pain as she had when Neal had been lost. June missed the young man's presence in her home, a last vestige of her late husband. Finding out that he was gone had devastated her almost as much as losing a child or even Byron all over again. She missed that twinkle of blue eyes that hid so much and told so many stories she could only guess at. Neal had brought back so much life to her and her home and then...

"June... I need to ask you something. Peter..."

June watched Elizabeth give her husband a look, Peter blinking then nodding as he stood, excused himself and went up the stairs. She wondered what was up as Elizabeth led her to the kitchen and started to chat her up about some recipes they had tried in the past. There was more here than recipes as she finally interrupted her hostess.

"El... I know you didn't just invite me here for brunch. I get the feeling there's something else on your mind or you wouldn't have sent Peter away. Are you two doing alright?"

She saw the look of surprise on the younger woman's face and then something akin to guilt as a light pink flushed El's cheeks.

"I guess I can't fool you but... June, there's something... someone staying with us. A guest we want you to meet."

June felt surprise come over her wondering who this person might be and why Elizabeth was so mysterious about it. She wondered if Mozzie had come back but she had seen little of the con since Neal's disappearance, the occasional note showing up to check on her mostly on special occasions. Elizabeth continued to blush as she gently grasped June's arm and seemed to be debating something.

"Do you believe in miracles? I... Well we only found out yesterday ourselves but..."

June noticed Elizabeth had paused, eyes looking beyond and behind her as she started to turn to look who was taking the young woman's attention.

She thought she might be dreaming, but those blue eyes and floppy dark brown hair over them made June think perhaps she was starting to go senile if she was seeing ghosts. She felt herself slip a bit, surprise overcoming her as she felt strong hands help her to a seat and realized she wasn't hallucinating.

"Neal? El... Peter... I don't... under... stand."

June was definitely beyond speech, her eyes on the figure of Neal Caffrey standing beside her smiling although she noticed the light she so loved from him seemed to have faded away. There was something there, a minor spark of hope but his eyes no longer danced with hidden cons and craftiness. There was a sadness there, a loss of something palpable and obvious. She grasped his hand in hers and felt warmth as she finally pulled him close like a long lost son and hugged him tight.

"Neal!"

She held him laughing a little and crying some but happy as she felt him hug her back a bit uncertainly before she let go and held him at a distance to really look at him. June noticed the scar along his left temple, the small light scars around his neck and other things that now marred that beautiful light olive tone she always found so statuesque like Apollo himself in the flesh. He was still very handsome as always, his hair a bit too long as she thought he needed a haircut and that something missing from his eyes.

"June... I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't know you were here till Peter came up to tell me. I'm as surprised as you."

He sounded so very lost, like a child who'd come home after a long time away at camp. She just wanted to hold him close and help him bring that spark of light back to his eyes.

"Where have you been? Why... It's been so quiet since you left. Even Mozzie refused to come back when you di.. disappeared."

She couldn't say that word now that he was here. She kept holding his hand firmly in her own afraid he would vanish if she let him go again. He smiled at her and she knew and felt he was holding her hand in very much the same way. He was clinging to her and willing her to stay after being away for so long.

They stayed like that a moment before Peter coughed, patting Neal on the shoulder and looking somewhat chagrined.

"We didn't mean to scare either of you but thought... We had to share this miracle. I hope you don't mind?"

Elizabeth came to stand by Peter and they were all at the dining table now, family of a sort as smiles passed around the group.

"No, I... I wasn't sure if I would see you again... June. Thank you El... Peter... How is Samantha doing? And Cindy? Is she still studying art? Is Sam still playing soccer?"

Neal sounded like he had a million questions, June the same way as she asked how he was and why he was so skinny. She still had his clothes and promised to bring him more or he could come and get them. She had them in storage with Byron's things in his old room. Neal looked relieved when she said that as if that meant everything to him that she had kept his room for him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth brought coffee and food and they sat and talked and ate, everyone getting to know each other again and the atmosphere light. She didn't have to know where he had been, the expression in his eyes more than enough to know he had been somewhere terrible but he was safe now. Neal was with them again in the land of the living. That was all that mattered to her as a warm glow filled her.

()()()

The weekend went quietly, Neal staying inside as Elizabeth left early the next morning to a client meeting. Peter called in Monday to say he would not be coming into work but did have something to talk to Hughes about if they could meet for lunch. Neal knew it was about him, Peter saying that it was best if they came out before anything bad happened. Free as he was Neal had been a felon and they needed to clear everything up about his sudden appearance to be sure he could live the life he wanted as a free man. Neal finally agreed, their discussion lasting late into Sunday night and early Monday morning till they decided to let Hughes know about the con's reappearance and what had happened. Neal still had yet to tell Peter everything but the agent knew enough of the story, atleast a why and how. It had been but six months since he'd been free of Lynkos and made it back to New York. He wanted nothing more than to put the past behind him as they agreed to meet with the director asap.

The phone rang around noon, Peter upstairs as Neal waited then finally lifted the receiver and answered.

"Burke residence..."

There was silence on the other end, although he thought he could hear someone breathing, till finally there was a click and the call disconnected. Neal blinked at the phone, uncertain what to think as he hung up the phone and Peter showed up.

"Who was on the phone?"

Neal just looked at him and shrugged.

"They hung up. I guess it was a wrong number."

Peter nodded as they pulled on their coats and headed to see Hughes at a local deli. It was private enough they could meet without drawing too much attention about Neal's sudden reappearance. Neal was a little nervous about the meeting but Peter assured him, once Hughes knew what was going on he would help them. If Peter was certain then he would go with it. Maybe it was the call that unnerved him as he pulled his seat-belt taut and clicked it in place, Peter pulling out from the curb and into traffic. He was being silly, his mind going back to the call as he pushed the thought aside and relaxed, sunglasses and hat in place. He was safe now and nothing could ruin that.

()()()

They pulled up to the deli, Peter telling Neal to wait outside a moment as he went in to find Hughes. Last thing the agent wanted to do was give his boss a heart attack as Neal nodded and waited in the car. Peter entered the deli and scouted around till he saw Reese in the corner sitting and waiting as he turned and waved to Peter.

"Burke... I'm curious why you called in to work and now you're here looking healthy. Something wrong with Elizabeth?"

Peter shook his head as he sat on the other end of the booth and kept his voice low. Hughes seemed to sense his need for privacy as he leaned in a bit over a plate of what looked to be a ruben sandwich.

"I need you to be open minded. Do you believe in miracles?"

He watched the older agent pause and blink back at him curiously, lifting his cup of coffee to his lips and sipping.

"Is this what you wanted to meet me about Burke? Are you reevaluating your place with God? We could have had this conversation somewhere else if you wanted to sell me a bible. Something's bothering you... just spit it out already!"

He wasn't angry but he was obviously curious why his best agent had called him in under mysterious circumstances to this deli. Peter nodded as he stood up and excused himself long enough to go back to the door and wave at the car. Neal opened up the door and started towards him as Peter walked back to the booth and stood there waiting. Reese looked at him curiously, turning to see who was coming when his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. It was an instantaneous reaction as he saw his boss struggle for words but could only just barely put his cup back on the table and blink. Neal joined them, hat and glasses in place as he squeezed into the booth and Peter joined him. Reese remained wordless, eyes staring as he looked between the two.

"I... Peter if this is come kind of sick joke..."

Peter shook his head as Neal pulled off the glasses and pushed up the rim of the baseball cap he was wearing, blue eyes staring at the older agent nervously. Reese turned somewhat ashen before his cheeks flushed red as if he might be angry, Peter holding up a hand.

"Reese... this wasn't planned. He just came back Saturday. I had no idea about this. Tell him what you told me, Neal."

He watched the young man nod, opening his mouth to speak as he repeated his tale of what happened after he went after the thieves on the yacht. Reese kept looking at Peter but then finally relaxed and listened to the story as it went on and he started to look almost watery eyed from the story as did Neal who obviously was still recovering from his ordeal. When Neal finally ended, at the same placed he had stopped with Peter, they were all quiet. Reese hadn't touched his sandwich at all as he let his coffee grow cold on the table.

"My boy... I'm sorry. If we had known anything about where you were, trust me... We'd have brought you back home."

Reese reached over and took Neal's arm in his hand and squeezed it in a fatherly manner. He smiled, something Neal rarely saw and it was not the usually scary smile but just a regular soft smile of relief. That was enough to make the con sniffle a bit as Hughes grinned and looked about to cry himself as he wiped at his eyes idly and grabbed a napkin.

"Geesh, I shouldn't be getting emotional at my age. I have a reputation to keep. I blame you Caffrey. It's good to see you again."

Peter smiled as they started to chat about this and that, Reese asking Neal about the men he had been with. Neal plead the fifth to which Hughes sighed and nodded understanding all too well.

"Fine, full immunity but you are a free man Caffrey although everyone thinks you're dead. We may have to bring you back under other circumstances. How do you feel about a whole new identity?"

Neal blinked at the older agent, turning his head to Peter who was looking just as surprised.

"Sir... I don't... Peter?"

Neal was tongue tied which seemed to make Reese grin more.

"A tongue tied Caffrey. Not something I thought I'd live to see but I think we can do something for you. Least for all the work you did with us and to keep you safe. You're a free agent now. Don't make me regret this..."

His expression turned stern which Peter saw made the young man stiffen as he seemed to consider what was said with a seriousness he'd never seen in Neal before. The con nodded, looking at the older agent and smiling softly as he held out his hand.

"You won't, Sir. I won't be Neal Caffrey anymore... not that I haven't done this several times but I always liked this name..."

Both agents looked at him as he spoke quietly in rhetorical tones and then looked up at them both with a surprised look.

"I mean... well I am Neal Caffrey. It won't be the same not being myself. Thank you Sir."

()()()

It was not too much later they left the deli, waving good-bye to Hughes as he walked back to the FBI offices, Peter and Neal moving towards the Taurus to head back home. They didn't notice as they pulled out the figure step out from behind a doorway and peer after them.