A/N It's been so long. Too long. Now, I don't' want this to be a pity chapter. I don't want it littered with apologies. I'm gonna keep it simple. I'm sorry, life has gotten in the way, high school has taken a lot out of me. But I've written this, and I thank you all for your patience.

Neal sucks in a deep breath, his eyes fluttering open. His throat burns and he barely has time to straighten when there's Sam. And he's all over him, pacing, tightening, chuckling. Everything swims in Neal's vision, but he fights it. He's been fighting his whole life. He just has to hold out for one more fight.

He's been told he's worth less than dirt. He's been treated as such. He's grown up without a father, with Mozzie as an influence, with everything in his life seemingly wrong. But he fought, he clawed his way through life, covering up the fact that he was a broken, broken man inside. Because on the outside he was Caffery, suave con-man. That's the one Peter met and hated, Neal was the man that Peter became friends with, took care of, and if he had to be honest, loved. So Neal was going to fight this tooth and nail.

"You won't get away with this Sam, they know who you are." Neal spat out, barely thrown off from his lightweight ankle. They had cut off his tracking anklet, he figured as much, Sam may not be the nicest, but he sure wasn't stupid.

"Maybe not, but it doesn't matter. You see Neal, I'm already dying. I'm a ticking time bomb, but I don't want to leave this Earth without seeing you suffer." Sam responded, snapping his fingers.

Kate stepped out of the shadows. Her eyes were red rimmed, her cheeks slightly puffy. Neal tried to feel sympathy for her-she has obviously been crying- but she had played him and he didn't have it in him. So he looked away when she met his eyes. Crystal blue on Crystal blue. She really did love Sam, and it had to be hard to see him die. But for the second time Neal couldn't find any sympathy. It was only right for the world to rid Sam Edwards of this Earth, for him to be damned to the depth of hell. And Kate could go with him, because she sold her soul a long time ago.

"Oh yes, this will be fun, so very very fun." Sam cackled, Neal winced on the inside, but kept his composure.

"It's not any fun if I'm unconscious." Neal answered smugly, hoping to throw off Sam's game.

"But you won't be unconscious-when it starts."

Neal winced that time, his cheeks screwing up in pain. Sam stepped forward, a hot poker in his hand. He circled Neal, like a shark, waiting for the right time. His boots clacked on the floor, tip-tapping in a weird version of a clock. Neal squeezed his eyes shut as a wave of dizziness broke over his slumped form. Sam stepped forward, putting his hand on Neal's shoulder. He ripped the fabric of the black tshirt, and drove the searing poker into Neal's skin.

Neal cried out, gritting his teeth. He glared at Sam, who smiled victoriously, swapping out the poker for a whip. Ripping the rest of the shirt from Neal's tattered body, he reeled back.

"For old time's sake, Neal. You see, I have found a place in my heart for nostalgia." Sam whispered, sending a shiver down Neal's spine.

With a crack, the whip collided with Neal's back. Over and over, he was beaten, new wounds littering his back. Neal fought back tragic memories of the past. Volleying over the side of sanity. Again and again, as the strokes came, he bit back screams. He fought back the panic, trying not to have a panic attack. It was hard, but as the last stroke was laid upon his shoulder, he knew he had won that battle.

"That's all you've got?" Neal yelled.

Sam just smirked. He disappeared into the back room. Neal met Kate's eyes then. She looked shaken, traumatized, like a baby deer watching its mother shot. Neal's eyes locking onto her, in a way implying you're allowing this to happen. You love the man whose killing me. Kate looked away, a pink flush coating her cheeks. Neal felt hatred. For the first time he hated Kate, she was weak. She wasn't the one to stand up, she just sat by the side lines. She was the pedestrian sitting at the side of the road, watching a hit and run. Only to get up and walk away. She was pathetic, she never took her own life into her hands.

All at once, all the love he felt for her was washed away. Only a dull ache in his chest reminding him of once was. When he got out of this he would be fine. Because Kate didn't control his life any more. She couldn't even control her own.

A thought popped into his head and Neal smiled. He knew exactly how to play Kate's disadvantages. And all it took was Sam staying in the back room. He had a plan, and he wasn't going down without a fight.

A/N I hoped you liked it. Until we meet again, keep on reading