A/N This is going to be the last chapter and I'm already apologizing about the ending. I really suck at writing endings and I really don't like them. So please, try to understand ;)
Nevertheless I thank you all again for reading and reviewing all the time during this story (:
Enjoy!

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"Neal, you really don't look good. Maybe you should go see a doctor."

By the sound of Keller's sarcastic voice Neal could feel the anger again. He wanted to beat him. Slap him in his still smirking face, but he didn't.

He was still weak, too weak to fight. Besides he knew that if he did, it would just a matter of time until the guard would be separating them and this could get ugly. Then it would be over with his yard walks and he was looking at at least one week in solitary.

So he decided for a simple death glare instead of tackling Keller.

"Why you're so upset? Aren't you a little curious why I'm here?"

Neal was, but he didn't say a word. He knew Keller was gonna tell him anyway. And he was right.

"Well, I let them catch me at the airport. Guess agent Rice was really happy 'bout it. Of course I didn't tell her that I just wanted to see you again Caffrey."

"What do you want Keller?"

Neal was annoyed. His whole body ached; he'd lost his life together with his friends, was back in prison and had to wear this ugly, orange jumpsuit again. He couldn't stand Keller's face also.

"What I want? Neal, I just wanted the treasure, but you had to make it complicated again. You tried to kill me. Can't let you just get away with it. You have to learn to bear the consequences."

"Oh cut the crap Keller. Don't you get it? It's over. El and I barely made it out alive and you, too. The fall didn't kill you. You just limp a little and you should be glad about that. The treasure's gone. I don't have it. And now you let them take you to prison just for revenge, really? Look at you. You don't even have a gun. There are guards all over this place. You're gonna be here for good and you know that. And you can't do anything about it. You have to learn to let go."

Neal stood up and attempted to walk away. He was tired of this game. It had gone too far.

"You know, Caffrey…" Neal stopped as he heard Keller's voice again. He still seemed calm and self confident. "There is something I'll never gonna understand about you. Your codex to never hurt anyone. Always playing by the rules. You're just gonna loose if you keep doing that. You're right, I don't have a gun, but I got money and you know the best, what people are willing to do for it."

Neal furrowed his brow in confusion as he looked up to the watchtowers and glanced back at the yard again. His stomach turned as he realised that the guards were gone. The yard seemed deserted. There were just Keller and himself.

"Tried to warn you, Neal. If you mess with me, you're just gonna loose in the end."

Neal sensed a movement behind him and attempted to turn around, but his vision was still hazy and his movements restricted. He could already feel the pressure on his throat. He gasped as he tried to remove the pressure with his hands. But it weren't just Keller's hands around his throat. No, it was something else.

As his hands finally reached his neck, he could feel the thin wire which was cutting into his skin. He struggled, but felt the air leaving his lungs way to fast. Desperately he tried to catch a breath, but he failed. Resistance was no option anymore. His head was aching more than ever. He surrendered. The oxygen could no longer supply his brain and he felt a sudden dizziness coming over his body. His knees gave way and finally the pleasing darkness started to surround him. He barely noticed the bullets rushing past his head as he felt his whole body going numb.

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His lungs were burning as he ran towards the only two figures on the yard. Peter's bruised ribs ached horribly, but he forced himself to keep running. He was still to far away. He needed a little more time, but he knew by the look of Neal that he wouldn't have this time.

So he decided to shoot.

It needed three bullets, until Keller finally collapsed to the floor. Peter could just hope that he hadn't hit Neal.

It seemed like an eternity until he finally reached Neal. Breathless, Peter kneeled beside him and rolled him over on his back. He flinched as he took a closer look at his friend. Neal's eyes were closed. His skin had taken an unhealthy pale colour, the red marks on his throat in intense contrast. Peter hold his shaky hand over Neal's mouth and nose. There was no breathing.

"No…" Peter gasped out as he reanimated him by cardiac massage.

One. Two. Three.

Still, no breathing.

"No! Neal, you don't go anywhere until I tell you to!" Peter nearly shouted out.

He felt so helpless. His eyes were wet. A single tear ran down his face and fell on Neal's chest.

"Breath! Common! Just listen to me once!" he was shouting frantic now, his hand no longer pushing, but beating down on Neal's chest.

Peter nearly jumped as Neal's head jerked up suddenly. His eyes were wide with fear as he draw in a deep breath and started coughing as he slumped back to the floor. Panting for air he saw Neal's eyes searching for his. As he found them a smirk flickered over his face, soon interrupted by another coughing fit.

"Crying Peter? …. Really?" he managed to get out with a croaky voice.

Peter let out a breath of relief and ran a hand trough his hair.

"You're ok?" he asked as he stood up offering Neal a hand.

"Just…a little tired of being choked all the time." Neal flinched at the movement, but still managed to get up on shaky legs.

"Noted. No more choking for Neal Caffrey." Peter smirked as he put Neal's arm around his shoulder to steady him.

"Where are we going?" Neal asked weakly as they slowly made their way towards the main building.

"For starters? To the hospital. I must have cracked at least three ribs to get you to breathe again."

"Sorry 'bout that."

"Never mind."

Peter smiled. He was relieved he got there in time. He didn't really believe in fate or destiny, but still. He could sense that there was something special about that moment and suddenly he knew that they were gonna make it. That they could start over.

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Epilogue:

a few days later...

Neal drew in a deep breath as he ran his hands through his hair. As he looked up he could see his own, still a little pale, face looking back at him in the mirror. Nevertheless he looked a lot better now. The cuts and bruises were healing. Slowly, but still.

Absently he scratched at the blue marks at his throat. He still needed a moment to proceed what had happened a few moments ago.

He remembered Peter's smirking face as he told him about, how his talk with Hughes had gone. They had finally made the decision. Neal couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe, that Peter had told Hughes, that the Degas had been a forgery and that, with Keller dead, they probably wouldn't be able to find it again. He couldn't believe, that Diana, Jones, El and Peter hadn't lost a word about his confessions, yet. And finally, he couldn't believe, that they allowed him to serve the remaining time with the F.B.I. again . With Peter, Jones and Diana.

He really made it. He didn't just survive (which would be a miracle nonetheless). He managed to save Elizabeth, to get rid of Keller and to save his partnership with Peter.

Looking back at it, he still didn't really know how he made it exactly.

As he opened the door of the Burke's bathroom and stepped out, Peter and El turned. They were sitting on the still set table.

"There you are. What took you so long? Almost thought, you run again…"

Peter was cut off by El, who poked him gently to silent him.

"Quiet you!" she said with a smirk on her face.

"So now it looks like we all finally got our happy ending, don't you think?" El continued as she looked from Peter to Neal and back again.

"Guess we do." Neal admitted as he sat back at his chair.

"There was some guy…I didn't remember his name. He said something like: if you want a happy ending…"

"…it depends on where you stop the story…Orson Wells." Neal finished Peter's sentence.

"Exactly…" Peter nodded a little puzzled.
"Moz…Mozzie told me the same. The last time I…" Neal broke off.

Still, he felt this sharp pain, which wasn't connected with his injuries.

He couldn't have had all of it. The con-life with Mozzie and his honest life with Peter. Neal knew that, but still, he felt as if he'd lost a part of his life. And he had. He had lost Mozzie. He wasn't dead, but Neal knew, that if he disappeared, nobody would be able to find him, unless he wanted to be found. Maybe he would see him again. Someday. For now, Neal concentrated on the bright side of his life. And this was obviously the fact, that he really had a life here. A good life.

"You're ok?" El's calm and concerned voice brought Neal back to reality.

It was just then, that he realised El and Peter were looking at him the whole time. Neal turned his gaze back at them. He looked in their honest eyes and suddenly he realised something and it wasn't really difficult to answer El's question anymore.

"I'm fin.e" Neal said, looking straight in their eyes. "I'm exactly were I'm supposed to be."

And he meant it.
Sure, he missed Mozzie and he had suffered a lot in the last days, but who knew how his life would turn out in the end? The only thing he knew for sure was that he had people who cared about him. Who had his back. The wounds were still there, but they would heal. And sometime, there would be just tiny, little scars remaining.

They would make it. Together.

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A/N: Aaaaand, The end.
Hope you all liked my story.
I already got a new one in mind, but it'll take time to write, because I got a lot stuff at school at the moment.
Nevertheless your reviews make me write faster (:

Now I'm gonna be gone on hollidays for a week, so don't be surprised when I'm not respoding for a few days ;)

Thanks again all of you (: