A/N: Still anyone reading? Sorry about the last chapter, it was a little boring. I promise this one will contian more action ;)
Thanks for reading and please leave a comment if you like it!

Sadly I still don't own White Collar or any character appearing in this story.

_

Neal again threw a glance at the cylinder-shaped box on the passenger seat. He still wasn't sure whether the Degas was enough prove to Keller, to believe, that Neal still had the treasure. Nevertheless, it had been the only part left. Mozzie must have forgotten it in his rush. Neal silently thanked him for that. Maybe this piece of art could save Elizabeth's life. After all, if it did, the theft of it had been worth at least something.

"Relax Neal. You're almost there. Take the next right." Keller's voice again sounded from the phone, lying on the dashboard of Peter's car.

Peter hadn't been happy about leaving him his beloved Taurus. Just as he hadn't been happy about cutting his anklet, half an hour ago. Neal still remembered the constant stare in Peter's eyes, as if he wanted to pierce him with them.

"Don't screw this up." Was the only thing he had said before turning and entering the surveillance van.

Neal took a look at the rear view mirror. He could still see the van a few cars behind him. He took a right turn, just as Keller told him. It was a One-way street. A dirty side road outside the centre of the city. The run-down houses on both sides of the road evoked an constraining impression. The road went straight and took a left in the distance. There were no people on the street. Deserted. Just waste lying around and a tipped over dumpster.

"Stop." Keller's sudden voice had startled him a little. "Get out of the car."

Neal took a deep breath, took the box from the passenger seat and pushed the door open. He stepped out of the car, the phone in his hand now, pressing it against his ear tightly.

"What now?"

"Now, you'll wait." The connection broke of.

Neal looked around in confusion, but still, all he could see was the deserted road in front of him. He listened carefully. The noise of the city barely reached his ears. Somewhere in the distance he could hear the barking of a dog. Then it was silent again.

Neal turned back to the street he had come from. He could see the surveillance van on the opposite side of the street, in save distance. Then, finally, a blue van pulled into the one-way street, stopping hardly 10 metres in front of him. The big van blocked the narrow road now. Neal couldn't see the surveillance van anymore.

He narrowed his eyes against the blinding sunlight and saw Keller stepping out of the car.

"Neal, it's been a while."

Keller moved towards him. He had a key card in his hands, turning it in his hands without being conscious about it, before he finally put it into his suit pocket.

"I assume you don't have everything I requested in this car, have you?" Keller seemed like he had expected Neal to do something like that.

"Nope." Neal simply said, his eyes locked on Keller.

"So, what's the deal then?" Keller sounded more curious than angry about the change of plans. He tilted his head a little, scratching his face.

"First, I want to see Elizabeth. When I'm sure she's ok, I'll lead you to the treasure." Neal's voice was determined, leaving no room for negotiation.

"I'm ok with that…but, how do I know for sure you still have it?"

Without a word Neal walked calmly towards Keller, handing him the box. By doing this he smoothly extracted the key card from Keller's pocket. When Keller pulled the Degas out of the box and looked at it carefully, Neal let the card slip to the ground, covering it by the help of his feet with a card-board lying near by.

"Incredible." Keller whispered, his eyes still gazing over the Degas in amazement.

"And there is more. Just let me see Elizabeth, Keller." Neal watched as Keller raised his head again. His eyes were now on him.

"Sure. We just need to get rid of your FBI friends first. Gimme your watch."

Keller stretched out his hand demandingly. It came unexpected for Neal, but he didn't show it. He knew Keller was smart and the last the thing he wanted was to upset him, by refusing.

"Why?" he just asked, handing over the watch.

"You know why Neal. I'm not that dumb." Keller smiled as he threw the watch to the floor.

"We'll take your car."

Neal sighted in worry as he followed Keller to Peter's car. He could only hope that Peter and the others wouldn't loose them in the dense traffic. Without his anklet and the transponder in his watch, they won't be able to make out his location. He opened the passenger door and got in the car. Before Keller started the engine he looked at Neal again, his smile wider now (which couldn't mean anything good by the way).

"Almost forgot." He said in amusement as he handed over a small bottle containing a crystal clear fluid.

"What is this?" Neal furrowed his brow as he took it from Keller.

"You'll just gonna drink this. Take a little nap and when you wake up, you'll be with Elizabeth. Deal?"

Neal just rolled his eyes at Keller's attempted motherly tone. He emptied the bottle with one shot, feeling the liquid burning his tongue. Keller laughed at the expression of disgust on his face.

"Your FBI friends are fast." Keller said almost casually. Neal looked into the rear view mirror, too. His vision was blurred now. He could barely make out two people pacing down the road, towards the blue van.

"We better keep going. So glad I brought insurance."

It was just this moment when Neal noticed the little remote in Keller hands. A red light blinking fast as Keller pulled the trigger.

"No." Neal heard his own voice echoing from somewhere. Somewhere in the distance. Far away.

The last thing he heard where screeching tires and then a few seconds later the explosion. It still echoed in his head when it was long gone.

The darkness closed in around him. Until there was nothing left. Just darkness. And Emptiness.

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"Sure. We just need to get rid of your FBI friends first. Gimme your watch."

Peters stomach turned as he heard Keller's demanding voice on the speaker.

"No! No, no, no!" Peter shouted in anger as he slammed his fist against the wall of the surveillance van.

The connection cracked and then, the voices were gone.

"We need to get out there. We need eyes on them!" Peter was about to push open the door, when he felt Diana holding him back.

"Peter, we can't" her voice was calm, but he could see the helplessness shining in her eyes.

"She's right. We knew something like this might happen. Guess, we just have to trust Caffrey on this." Jones supported her from the corner of the van.

"I can't let Neal decide about the life of my wife. I just can't. And I won't!" With these words he broke free from Diana's hand and jumped out of the van, the gun in his hands.

"Peter, come back here!" He heart Jones shout, but he was almost half way there.

Peter heard footsteps behind him, but he didn't even turn. He knew Diana and Jones would follow him. They had his back. He could count on them. At least one part of his life seemed to be solid.

Just hardly 20 meters separated him from the van, when he heard the screeching tires of his Taurus. He wanted to run, but stopped as he heard a shrill, rapid beeping, coming from the van. In a split second he turned on his heels, sprinting back in the opposite direction.

"Run!" his shout mixed with the deafening bang of the explosion.

He felt the shock wave knocking him off his feet. The air got knocked out of his lungs as he hit the floor which such an impact, he couldn't breathe for a moment. With a groan he tried to roll on his back. He tried to sit up, but stopped halfway at the unbearable pain in his ribs. He could see the van burning in flames through the dense smoke, which still hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe. Peter started coughing, which send another sharp wave of pain through his body.

"Everybody ok?" Peter asked, as he stumbled to his feed, his hand still pressed tightly to his ribs to reduce the pain.

"Yes." He heard Diana's voice from his left. Another coughing to his right.

"You're ok, too Peter?" Jones seemed concerned as he appeared at Peter's side.

"Yeah, it's just…nothing. Where's the car?" Peter narrowed his eyes, but still couldn't see right through the smoke, which was just clearing slowly.

"It's gone, Peter. The car's gone." Diana admitted sadly, her hand resting on his shoulder.

Peter led out a shaky breath, as he closed his eyes.

The only connection they had to Keller was gone. Neal was gone. His wife was gone.

He had to rely on the conman now. Still, Peter didn't really know whether he could trust Neal or not. As his eyes were closed he could see Neal's face again. Guilt in his eyes, but still looking serious and honest. Then he saw El. Her smile. Her beautiful smile. All those happy moments with Neal and El flashing before his eyes. Like a movie in his head, which was played way to fast. Racing, until he could barely make out the end and the beginning.

'I just, want to make it right again.' Neal's voice echoed in his head.

Peter desperately tried to believe him.

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