Continued…

Peter sat on the couch, trying and failing, to be oblivious to El's bewildered look. After Neal had ran up the stairs, El had turned down the volume on the TV and glared, rather accusingly at Peter. The agent had shrugged and done his best to ignore El's stare, but after less than five minutes he stood up.

"I think I should just, uh, go upstairs" he gestured awkwardly.

"I think so too" El nodded, gathering up the now-empty wineglasses.

Peter took a deep breath and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Neal?" he called. There was a sound as though someone had stood up, and Peter heard the sink being turned on.

"I-I-I'll be right out!" Neal called and Peter's heart broke as he heard his CI's voice stammer. He jiggled the doorknob, surprised to find it unlocked. Slowly he pushed the door open and stopped in shock. Neal was huddled over the sink, his blue eyes rimmed with red and glistening tears streaming down his cheeks. Peter knelt down in front of Neal.

"Neal…what's wrong?" he said softly.

Neal just shook his head and tried to stand up. Peter quickly grasped his arm and pulled him back down. He grabbed a washcloth and gently brushed the cloth against Neal's cheeks, drying as much of the tears as possible. Neal tried to say something, but it came out as a whimper. He buried his head in Peter's neck, the pain suddenly too much. His shoulders shook as a fresh round of sobbing started.

"P'ter, 'm sorry…'m sorry" Neal drew in shaky breaths, his sobs finally petering out to soundless tears. Peter awkwardly ran a hand through Neal's now mussed, wavy hair. The touch seemed to calm the con and he pressed closer to Peter, his arms unconsciously wrapping around Peter's neck. The agent gently rubbed Neal's back, moving his hand firmly up and down, feeling the muscles in the young man's back tense with each wordless sob.

"Neal" Peter cupped his hand under Neal's chin, forcing him to look into Peter's brown eyes. His blue eyes watered with fresh tears and Peter winced, knowing he had never fully realized how vulnerable Neal could be.

"What happened? What happened on Christmas?" he said softly.

Neal swallowed hard, trying to shake his head although Peter's hand kept him still.

"K-K-Kate…she loved the c-c-classics…she loved It's a Wonderful Life. It was her favorite movie. We used to sit in our apartment with a bottle of Bordeaux except it wasn't really Bordeaux and-" Neal didn't finish his sentence, before he pulled away from Peter and retched into the toilet.

Peter sighed, reaching over Neal's gasping body to flush the toilet. He gingerly stood up, suppressing a groan as his knees popped. He rummaged through the medicine cabinet, coming up with a small bottle of mouthwash. He poured some into a cup and coaxed Neal into standing up. Peter handed him the small cup of green mouthwash and waited as Neal swallowed and spit. The second time, Neal missed the sink and spit green liquid over the clean white of the counter.

"'m sorry" Neal mumbled, staring in confusion at the dirty counter and the small cup he still held. Peter gently loosened Neal's fingers and pried the cup away, setting it down on the edge of the sink.

"I know" Peter murmurs into Neal's brown hair. He gently guides Neal to the guestroom, which really ought to be renamed Neal's room because he'd stayed there so many times. Neal sinks onto the bed as though his legs can't hold him any longer. Peter quickly rummages through the bureau drawers and pulls out a slightly faded t-shirt and sweatpants for Neal to sleep in. Things Neal would never have worn, had he been fully awake. Peter helps Neal to change out of his clothes and put on the shirt and sweats. It's difficult, partly because Peter has never done this and partly because Neal is no help and simply lets himself go limp, slumped against Peter as the agent struggles to pull off Neal's shirt.

"Than' you" Neal slurred, his eyes already sliding shut. Peter nudges him down against the pillow and pulled the covers up, tucking them around Neal's shoulder.

"Merry Christmas" Peter says softly, turning out the lights. He stands for a moment, framed in the doorway by the light from the hallway. Neal watches the silhouette for a moment, sleep making the FBI agent look fuzzy. As he drifts to sleep, Neal thinks that Peter has finally caught him for the last time.

Me: Thanks so much for reading! I will be writing more in the future! Please let me know if you liked this!