He tilted his face up to the sun and soaked in its warmth, the Vitamin D, and any other nourishing properties it afforded, hoping it could heal his soul as well.
"Mind if I join you or is this a party of one", a gentle voice said behind him. "I come bearing gifts if that counts in my favour."
Peter turned and smiled; he couldn't remember the last time he smiled; his face hurt from the effort. June had a bottle of Shackleton in one hand and two tumblers in another. "Sorry, "just needed to slip away for a minute, far from the madding crowd and all that. Don't know when I'll have this view again" he said sounding wistful. "I wanted to take it in one last time."
"I'm not going anywhere Peter. Anytime you need to come here, take some time away just for yourself, my door's always open." She placed the bottle and glasses on the table and pulled up a chair.
He smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you June. It's a safe bet I'll be taking you up on that offer."
They sat there together in companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts and memories.
"You spoke so lovingly of him today" June said to him after a spell. "It was a beautiful tribute."
"Well, I loved him" was his simple reply. "Thank you for singing June, you were perfect, it was perfect – he would've loved it."
"I don't know how I got through it to tell you the truth – your wife is quite the persuasive one."
"Don't I know it."
June considered her next words carefully; she felt she owed him this. The man was clearly suffering. She cleared her throat, "I'm sure I don't need to tell you this but just in case you needed to hear it, today of all days…you were his hero Peter, his knight in shining armour. When he would speak to me about you and Elizabeth, it was with wide-eyed wonder, how a poor kid like him, from the wrong side of the tracks, could find redemption and a family of his very own, in the very man who arrested him, well, it was something of a miracle to him." She paused for a minute, then reached over to take his hand in his. "I know we haven't always seen eye to eye over the years where Neal and the letter of the law is concerned Peter, but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt you always had his best interests at heart and that his safety and well-being were paramount to you." She sighed and leaned back in her chair, "and that meant a lot to this old bitty of a lady, that you had his back."
Peter appreciated the sentiment but couldn't help indulging in a moment of self-loathing. "Apparently not enough or he'd still be here. Epic fail on my part."
"Peter", her voice was severe, in a tone that brooked no argument. "That's a bunch of bunk and you know it and everyone else knows that not to be true, including Mozzie, and you know he'd love to pin this on you or the FBI if he could, but he can't, because as much as it pains me to say it, this is all on Neal. Heaven knows I loved that boy like my own but he was reckless and even the mighty Peter Burke couldn't do the impossible and save him from himself. Now, that's the last I want to hear from you on that matter, understood?
Peter had to smile at that. "Yes maam." He brushed at his eyes roughly. "Thanks June. That means a lot, especially coming from you. I was afraid you always saw me and my kind as the enemy."
"Your kind maybe, not you." She winked at him. She reached for the Shackleton and poured them each a generous glass. "I think this is almost worthy of him" she said, offering him a glass.
He swirled the liquid gold and added softly, "as were we". The sun was setting, the cityscape had never looked prettier. He would commit this moment to memory.
"To Neal George Caffrey, a man who loved and was loved". They raised and clinked glasses.
Peter couldn't have said it better himself.