NOTE: Sorry about the wait. Work has been crazy busy and I got sick not once but twice. Ugh. I'm feeling better. I ended up deciding to split this chapter into two parts so the second half is almost written. Meaning it won't be as long before it's posted. :)

PS- FFnet isn't letting me reply to any reviews that have been posted today, this happens, I will reply as soon as ffnet is working properly again! I love to chat with you guys!

Chapter Ten

"What's wrong, Hon?"

"Nothing."

Siting across the dinning room table Elizabeth cleared her throat quietly in a gentle warning to Peter not to lie to her. Hearing the message loud and clear Peter looked guiltily from his mostly untouched meal. Instantly recognizing the particular stress that Peter was under at the moment Elizabeth smiled warmly.

"Neal?"

"Neal." Peter confirmed with a frustrated sigh.

"Peter don't be so hard on him." Elizabeth suggested. "You need to give him a little more time to adjust to the idea of being an Agent, it's only been two days."

"It's not that. I know he has what it takes to be a great Agent, and I honestly believe he wants to be one."

"But…" Elizabeth prompted when Peter didn't continue.

"But he's out stealing something tonight." Peter confessed.

"Ah." Elizabeth smiled sadly in sudden understanding. "I assume with Frost?"

Peter just nodded. He had told Frost from the start that he wasn't going to lie to her about what was happen. She knew the broad stroke about what had happened to land them in DC and Frost's deal with Neal, but right now he found himself hesitant to talk about the details. Unable to sit and idly move food around his plate Peter pushed himself away from the table and got to his feet. Satchmo had been sitting next to him, his full attention on the fact that his master wasn't interested in his meal. Seeing the hopeful dog Peter picked up the plate and put it on the floor. Not questioning the rare gift Satchmo started wolfing it down with record speed. Elizabeth looked at Peter in concern, he didn't usually break the no table scraps rule let alone just let Satchmo eat directly from the dinnerware.

Dragging his hands through his hair Peter headed out into the living room. Their new town home was a similar set up but was slightly larger than the one back in New York. Elizabeth had taken the opportunity of moving to a new city to redecorate and although she had kept a few choice pieces of furniture and all of their pictures the room still didn't feel quite like home yet which added to his unrest. Too agitated to sit down Peter paced aimlessly wondering if he should go out for a run or if he needed to stay home in case Neal called him needing help.

Elizabeth didn't let Peter stew for long knowing that he was going to work himself up further. After taking her own dish to the sink to keep Satchmo from thinking that it was open season on table food Elizabeth joined him in the living room. Elizabeth stepped up to Peter and he automatically wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. He hated making her worry particularly since for the past five months while Neal was at the Academy their lives had almost settled into something that resembled peaceful.

"I'm sorry." Peter apologized.

"It's okay, you're adorable when you're being over protective."

"I know I'm over reacting. I know that Neal is with the CIA tonight and that it's a mission and not heist, and I know that I agreed to all of this when we took Frost's deal."

"So what's wrong?"

"I just can't shake the feeling that Frost doesn't have the first clue of what he's getting into when it comes to Neal."

"Hon...have you considered the idea that there might be a little jealousy at play here?" Elizabeth asked carefully.

"Jealousy?"

"As much as you've done for Neal, and as much as I know he appreciates the chances you've given him, Frost has offered Neal so much that you never could: a clean slate, a shot at a career path he can be proud of, while at the same time encouraging him to keep being a 'bad boy' without the risk of consequences."

"I'm not jealous." Peter said firmly.

"Right." Elizabeth said unconvinced. "I know how much you hate the idea of Neal stealing even if it's for the CIA, but…"

"It's not the fact that he's stealing," Peter interrupted "it's that he's not excited about it."

"What?"

"I expected Neal to jump at the chance to break the law under the guise of national security, I thought the hardest part about this set up was going to be having to put up with a stupid cocky grin on his face anytime Frost called him away for a night of illegal activity. But he wasn't happy about it at all, in fact he was miserable. He couldn't even look at me when he told me Frost wanted him tonight. Whatever Frost has planned Neal's heart isn't in it, and when you try to force Neal into doing anything he resists and then he makes mistakes."

Releasing Elizabeth Peter took a step back as his nervous energy started to get the better of him again. Elizabeth sighed sadly, she had known that Neal's first venture out with Frost was going to be hard on Peter, she had just been more prepared for him to be angry or disappointed rather than anxious. She wished she could argue his last point about Neal and ease his concerns, but she knew he was right.

"I should have gone with him."

"And do what?" Elizabeth asked seriously. "You think it would help Neal to have you there? You know how he hates to fall short in your eyes. He has always wanted your approval and failing that he's always sought your forgiveness. Now the stakes are higher than ever for him, before he just had to live up to your lowest expectations of him and that was to basically to stay out of trouble for forty-eight hours at a time."

"Something he rarely achieved." Peter admitted ruefully.

"Exactly. Having you there would only be a distraction. He's not exactly doing wrong, but he knows you don't think he's doing right. You need to let Frost and Neal figure out how they are going to work together on their own."

"You're right." Peter agreed.

"But that doesn't you feel any better about this, does it?"

"Not in the slightest, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"There's the real issue."

Peter managed a slight smile at Elizabeth's insight. Pushing herself up on her toes Elizabeth gave Peter a quick kiss to show that she still supported him even if he didn't have all the answers. Peter returned the affection grateful to be able to talk to her about this even if it didn't really get him anywhere. Although it did help him realize that he was anticipating trouble when he had no evidence that anything was going wrong. Neal was skilled and he could take care of himself, and Frost was a Federal Agent even if it was through the CIA rather than the FBI and he had invested a lot of time and money into Neal.

Feeling better but still with more energy than he knew what to do with Peter decided to go for the run he'd contemplated earlier. Although it was a little awkward to have his phone bounce around in his pocket he took it with him just in case. Elizabeth had gotten home a little late for dinner so the sun had set an over hour ago, however a great deal of DC's true beauty only came out at night. The monuments and historical buildings all had carefully designed lights that made the capitol city gleam in the dark. Leaving the residential neighborhood it didn't take Peter long to arrive at the National Mall where he head for the path that would take him around the large reflecting pool.

Surrounded by the country's most iconic historical buildings and monuments it was impossible not to feel a powerful patriotic pride. The reflecting pool was calm and flat as glass giving it a sheen that mirror the world above it perfectly. Peter made his way at a quick pace towards the gigantic statue of Lincoln who was stoically looking over the pool from behind the pillars of the monument that was glowing a soft amber color. The heavy scent of cherry blossoms added to the peaceful scene as Peter continued on through the maze of solemn monuments and memorials to those who had given their lives in the pursuit of an ideal Union.

An hour later Peter was forced to reduced his run back down to a walk. Pushing himself to the point of dripping sweat had gone a long way to helping clear his mind. He still didn't agree with how Frost went about protecting the country that they both loved and served, but at the same time he could acknowledge that unusual threats required unusual responses. Neal may have been experiencing some regrets about his thieving past, but this really was different. The only 'greater good' Neal had ever been working for before was the good of his own wallet and criminal resume.

"At least Frost is focusing your talents towards a worthy goal…hopefully."

Peter's nature couldn't keep him from still believing deep down that there was no way to make a right out of a wrong. He was attempting to come to terms with the idea that 'wrong' might not have the black and white definition that he tended to apply to it when it came to stopping terrorists, but it still felt like a very dangerous slippy slope to stand on. Realizing that he'd been wandering while lost in thought Peter pulled out his phone Peter was surprised to find that it was nearly eleven and he was a lot further from home than he had planed on. He hadn't missed any calls or messages, but Peter wasn't inclined to believe in no news is good news when Neal was concerned. Peter sent Elizabeth a quick text that he wouldn't be home for a while so that she wouldn't worry about him and started to walk towards home.

Having taken a somewhat circular route it only took Peter an hour an a half to get back home at a walking pace. He wasn't in any rush knowing that he probably wasn't going to get any sleep tonight anyway. Getting home after midnight Peter went to use the downstairs bathroom to take a shower and had to smile when he found that Elizabeth had left him a pair of pajama pants and white t-shirt on the sink counter for him.

Fresh from the shower Peter pulled on the pajamas and was still drying his hair with a towel when he heard someone having a hushed argument on his front step. Dropping the towel Peter quietly stepped over to where his jacket and holster were still draped across one of the living room chairs. Retrieving his gun Peter slipped over and put his back to the wall near the front window. Carefully pulling the curtain aside Peter flicked the safety back on but still brought the weapon with him to answer the door that Frost was still arguing with Bryant over knocking on while Neal stood between them looking ready to pass out. Peter yanked the door open before the pair could come to a consensus and stared at them in a silent demand for a very quick explanation as to what was going on. Frost smiled guiltily at Peter like a teenager who had just gotten caught being out past curfew.

Seeing the gun Frost instantly brought his hands up to show he wasn't a threat, Bryant was busy helping Neal stand but he did his best to look innocent as well. Dressed in a pair of white scrubs and combat type black boots with his right arm wrapped in gauze from his wrist to his elbow Neal was leaning heavily on Bryant. With his uninjured arm slung over Bryant's shoulder Neal looked drunk, not the kind of drunk where you were having fun, but intoxicated to the point of regret. Quickly taking in the scene Peter turned a deadly glare on Frost.

"I told you he'd be armed." Frost hissed at Bryant before turning back to Peter. "Hi, Peter, please don't kill me."

"Give me one good reason not to."