A/N and here I am again (:
Hope you'll like the next chapter. It's gonna be exciting!
Please don't forget to leave a review behind. Reading them makes me just so happy *.*
Thank you all!

blablabla... do not own White Collar... bla

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"I'll give you one more chance. You're wanna tell me where Mozzie is? Or no! Let me rephrase this question: You are gonna tell me where Mozzie is or I'll kill you!" Keller's voice was slow, dark and menacing.

Neal swallowed, but stared as he saw a light yellow poster hanging by the window. He hadn't noticed it before. It showed the same company logo as the key card he took from Keller's pocket. That was it! The key card he had left for Peter. If he found it, he would find this house, too. Maybe. With enough luck, of course. But at least it was a silver lining.

Neal wasn't even conscious about the smile appearing on his face at this thought. He was brought back to reality by the sound of Keller's voice.

"What the hell are you smiling at, Caffrey? You really want me to kill you?"

Neal licked the blood of his lips. Still inspired by the thought of Peter finding them, his smile grew even wider.

"You won't kill me." Neal said self-confidently. His wide smile, and the smeared blood all over his face, gave him an almost maniac look. "You'll still need me."

Keller cocked his head. Neal's words gave him to think. He released his grip, not without smashing Neal's head against the wall once more.

Neal didn't really notice it. It was this moment that his fingers made out something sharp on the floor. By feeling closer he noticed with gratitude that it really was, what he thought it was. He turned the long nail in his hands and started to work on his hand cuffs.

"You're right." Keller's almost approvingly voice startled Neal. He looked up, to see Keller putting the knife back in his pocket again. He had started pacing again.

"I really do need you, Neal. But I don't need her."

Elizabeth seemed to be as surprised as Neal when Keller suddenly turned back to her. She almost jumped as she saw Keller pulling out his gun.

Neal's eyes went wide with fear. The smile long gone.

"Keller! Don't do this. It's just between you and me."

Now it was Keller who let out a short laugh. Satisfied, he watched the fear extending on Neal's face.

"Oh Neal, just between you and me? Really? You know, that's long gone. One last chance. Where is Mozzie, with my treasure?"

Neal chewed on his bottom lip nervously. His trembling fingers making it hard to pick the lock of the cuffs behind his back. His gaze met El's. Fear and despair all over her face. Her eyes were pleading.

"Honestly Keller, I don't know where he is. You have to believe me."

Neal couldn't manage to control his voice anymore. It was shaky and scratchy. His heart was racing, pumping the blood through his veins at an impeccable speed.

"You really don't, huh?" Keller cocked his head in artificial concern "Think harder. You got three seconds left. Three…"

He pointed his gun at Elizabeth. Still he didn't broke the eye contact to Neal, who's breathing fastened, his fingers working at full speed behind his back.

"Two…"

Neal saw El closing her eyes and letting out a shaky breath. The quiet clicking behind his back startled Neal. He needed a second to realize that he had really managed to get out of his handcuffs.

"One…" Neal saw Keller's finger tighten on the trigger. In a split second he was by his feet, ignoring the sharp pain in his head. His vision was blurred as he threw himself against Keller with all his strength.

He could hear Keller's shout of surprise and then, he heard the report of the gun.

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El heart Keller's shout and then she heart the gun shot. But there was no pain. She opened her eyes again. Her breathing was fast. Her heart racing.

She needed a moment to proceed what she was seeing.

Keller lay on the floor, struggling with Neal, who was on top of him. She'd never seen Neal like this. His face bloody, an almost maniac look in his eyes, he punched blindly at the body lying below him. They were barely two meters away from her.

Neal must have caught Keller by surprise. The hand cuffs were still tangling at his right hand. As Keller overcame his first shook he started to fight back. El watched the two men exchanging a few blows. Then, she saw in horror Keller's hand reaching for the gun, lying next to him. She wanted to say something, to warn Neal but she didn't manage to get out a single word.

She saw Keller pistol-whip Neal in the next split second. Neal hit the ground with a groan and Keller stumbled to his feed again. He stood barely one meter away now, turning his back towards her.

"No good choice Caffrey."

Keller whipped the blood of his face with the back of his hand, watching down at Neal. The latter was on all fours. Swaying. El could see him blinking a few times as he tried to focus on Keller. The deep gash at his eyebrow drew a strong contrast to his now pale skin.

Elizabeth pulled at her cuffs with all her strength. They didn't give way.

She watched as Keller raised his gun again, aiming at Neal's chest. She had to do something!

Restless, she shifted on the floor, lunging out before kicking out at Keller's legs as strong as she could.

Keller let out a cry of pain as he hit the ground. The gun skittered over the floor. She looked at Neal, who had his mouth half open. Surprise all over his face. It made her smile.

Unfortunately the moment of happiness didn't last long. Just as Neal finally managed to get up, Keller pulled at his feet, sending him crashing back to the floor again. El tried to kick out again, but the men were out of her reach. She could just watch them struggling. Then she saw some piece of metal in Keller's hand.

"Neal! Knife!"

Her cry was too late. She watched in horror as Keller rammed the knife right into Neal's rips. Neal's mouth dropped open, a silent cry of pain leaving his lips. He flinched as Keller twisted the knife before pulling it out again. His body slumped back to the floor. He just lay there. And didn't move. His face was turned towards Elizabeth, so that she could see the apologetic and agonized look in his eyes. A thin line of blood ran down the corner of his mouth as his eyes fluttered close.

El could feel the tears in her eyes. They blurred her sight. From the corner of her eye she could see Keller picking up the gun and moving towards her. Her eyes were still locked on Neal until Keller stepped in front of her, blocking her sight.

"I'm really sorry I have to kill you. Just want you to know, it wasn't your fault."

El gritted her teeth. Her face was full of hatred. She didn't close her eyes again. Instead she looked straight into Keller's as he pointed the gun at her head. Keller's finger pulled the trigger in the same moment as El saw a figure appearing behind him. She heard the gun shot as Neal threw himself against Keller. A sharp pain suddenly exploded in her stomach, leaving her breathless. She felt the blood running out of the wound way to fast. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to focus on Neal and Keller, but her vision went blurry. She heard another gunshot. Shattering glass.

Desperately she fought to stay conscious, but she lost the battle. Her eyelids suddenly were too heavy to keep them open.

The more she tried to hold on the world surrounding her, the more it kept slipping through her fingers.

So she let go.

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Neal forced himself to open his eyes. He couldn't stand the pain at his side, but at the sight of Keller, picking up the gun, he decided he had to fight. Every little movement send a wave of pain through his body. He tried to ignore it. As he stumbled to his feet, still swaying, he saw Keller pointing the gun at Elizabeth again.

'Move! Now!' Neal heard a demanding voice in his head. Gathering all his remaining energy, he attacked.

Keller seemed to be astonished as Neal jumped at him for the second time. Obviously, he hadn't expected that. A shot went off as he fell to the ground, Neal on top of him. A sharp pain exploded in Neal's side as he hit the floor, his vision going grey for a moment. Struggling to stay conscious, Neal punched the man lying below him. Keller recovered quickly from the shock. Neal heard another shot, followed by shattering glass, before the gun fell from Keller's hand. Keller managed to strike a few blows himself, hitting Neal's stomach. Neal's face was only a grimace of pain now, just as he thought he'll pass out his hands felt out something cold and solid. His fingers closed in around the gun. Later he couldn't tell how he finally managed to get to his feet again, but he did it.

"Back off!" he heard his own voice yell at Keller, who stood opposite of him. Pointing the gun at him, Neal grimaced at the sunlight hitting straight in eyes, through the large window behind Keller. His curls waved in the chilly breeze, coming from the broken window. He breathed heavily. Every breath sending a blinding pain through his body.

"You won't kill me Neal. You don't even like guns." Keller said slowly, with a shaky voice. His eyes were now wide with fear. Slowly Neal took a few steps towards him. Keller raised his hands and backed off until he reached the edge.

"Don't be so sure 'bout that." Neal whispered before he pulled the trigger.

There was no report. Neal looked at the gun in confusion. He tried again. Nothing happened except for the quiet click.

"Seems like I'm the lucky guy today."

Neal looked up at Keller again. The man's fear had changed into a wide smile. With a scream he attempted to tackle Neal...

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TBC