(Chapter 5)

Peter didn't know what to think as he stared at the living, breathing form of the friend and partner he'd thought dead. It had only been a week since the incident, Neal having taken his wife captive but he'd known something was wrong with the con. Caffrey wasn't violent and having watched him die at the stand off had been one of the most traumatic things in Agent Burke's life. He had been having nightmares, dealing with Elizabeth's despondency with the situation. She had decided to go back to work but was far from her usual self, both of them doing what they had to with the ghost of Neal Caffrey hanging over them. Peter had felt he failed the young man but now, here he was.

"Help me with him. We need to get him to the car."

Diana and Jones nodded, helping move the con to the vehicle and laying him across the back seat. Peter sat in there with him, Neal's head resting on his lap as Jones drove and Diana sat in the front passenger seat.

"Are we taking Caffrey to the hospital, boss?"

Peter looked up, his hand gently brushing at his partner's hair, as he shook his head.

"My house. Nobody can know he's alive yet. We have to keep this quiet till we know what's going on. Understand?"

Both agents nodded solemnly as Diana glanced back at him.

"Are you going to tell Hughes?"

Peter thought about it a moment. He had to let his boss know but in due time. Neal was alive but everyone thought he was dead, a death certificate on file. Someone had planned this, to take the young man from them and he still had to figure out who.

"Let me handle that. We still don't know who wanted everyone to think Neal was dead. There's a conspiracy there. Find all you can on Rudolfe, make sure he really doesn't know anything about the false Count. It could be an associate of his for all we know."

The agents nodded their heads as they pulled up to the Burke home and quietly and gently carried Neal from the car to the door. Thankfully El wasn't anywhere to be seen as they carried the young man upstairs. It was now just after 3 am as they carried Neal to the guestroom. Peter heard another door open and footsteps.

"Peter, is that you?"

Elizabeth called from the hallway, Diana moving back to speak with his wife as Peter and Jones settled the unconscious Neal Caffrey on the bed. He gently undressed the young man down to his boxers and covered him up as his wife walked in. She looked curious if not upset.

"Peter... what's going on? Tell me what..."

Her voice cut off suddenly, a gasp escaping her lips as she moved closer and looked at the figure sleeping in their guest room. Jones left them alone as he joined Diana out in the hallway. He felt his wife squeeze his arm tightly as she moved even closer and reached to touch the person before them.

"He's real. Peter... what's going on?"

Peter shrugged as he wiped tiredly at his face, hugging his wife close.

"I don't know but he's here. He's back with us, El. I don't know how to explain it but he's really here."

She nodded, his wife obviously in a bit of shock as she sat on the edge of the bed and gently brushed the hair of their friend. It was hard to believe that Neal was back with them after the week they'd had. Peter had watched the young man die and his wife had dealt with the aftermath of being kidnapped by him, both dealing with their friend's death and keeping what they thought were his ashes over their mantle. Someone had gone through the trouble of making this look real but Neal had escaped and returned to them.

"I'll be right back, El."

His wife nodded without looking up, her eyes glued to the figure on the bed as he went outside and closed the door.

"Thank you both for this. I never would have known what to do or believed it if I'd done this on my own. Just... keep it between us. I'll call Hughes in the morning and fill him in. Not a soul can know about this till we know why."

Jones and Diana nodded at the urgency of his tone as he led them back downstairs and they said their good-byes. He closed and locked the door before going to the kitchen briefly to grab a beer from the fridge. He took a long pull of the bottle, a cough making him turn.

"He's sleeping ok but he's in pain. He needs a hospital Peter but I understand why you brought him here. I heard you talking to Jones and Diana... I guess that means I can't tell June?"

He nodded sadly, moving closer to hug her tight as he put the beer down on the counter. El leaned into him, her head nestled against his chest as he tried to figure out exactly what was going on. They had gone through one of the worse losses of their lives, his partner and friend dying barely a week ago and now... Neal was back. Someone had gone through extreme measures to fake the young man's death and make everyone think he was truly dead and gone. Peter was going to find out who.

"We have to keep his presence quiet until we know who did this. Someone wanted us to believe he was dead. Whoever took him wanted him for a reason and they meant to keep him. They planned this from the beginning and would have gotten away with it if not for Neal."

She hugged him, taking the beer he'd opened and taking a swig. He smiled at the look on her face as he pulled another one from the fridge and they went to the couch and sat there a moment drinking, arms wrapped around the other as they contemplated the return of Neal Caffrey.

()()()

Neal didn't understand why or how but Peter was there, Jones and Diana nearby as he passed out. He thought he felt them nearby, their presence keeping him sane when his mind refused to tell him anything of the past week he had lost. Five days. He had lost five whole days! He tried to wrap his mind around it as he floated in the darkness and let the pain wash over him. It was better than the nothingness he knew he'd been in. Who were those men at the office? Where had he been and what was he doing they were looking for him? One of them had mentioned a man named Soren. Who was he and what did he want from him?

He felt a flash of memory hit him like a fist between the eyes, the wind knocked out of him even in his sleep as he let out a low gasp and barely audible cry.

We have to finish this soon. He's resisting your training. Maybe he's stronger than you think, Soren.

Someone was talking, a voice he didn't recognize. He was unable to move, his arms and body strapped down securely as a very dim and blurry scene came to mind. A face floated before him like a ghost haunting his nightmares. It was Chris but he wasn't the one speaking.

He will succumb. He's a very good thief. We need his talents to keep up our reserves. Count Rudolfe knows nothing of this and I intend to keep it that way. You said that office held something of value. Once he's ready, we will use him.

The voices continued to talk in the background, Neal uncertain what it was they were discussing as his eyes moved between the speakers but returned to the image of Chris standing there silently. Why didn't his friend ever speak? Where was Alex?

Of course Soren. We just have to break his mind down. The drugs are working but he is strong willed, more so than his friend here or the girl but she is only eye candy. I think she would make a lovely concubine...

He felt himself struggling at those words, a growl growing in his throat as he saw Chris turn to look at him impassively. There was something there, a kind of curious glance that made him think his friend wasn't as far gone as he seemed. The other figures moved closer, holding him till he felt something prick his neck and a warmth pass through his body from the injection site. He was fighting the effects, begging silently for Chris to free them but the thief was theirs but for that look he found when Neal had reacted to their speech about Alex. They wouldn't touch her... not if he could help it. Maybe Chris knew that he was protecting her or maybe... he was farther away than they knew. Neal felt his mind going fuzzy as the memory faded to one last look at his dead friend and then darkness.

He woke up to find himself staring up at a familiar ceiling. His eyes moved around the room till they fell on the figure of a man with brown hair slumped in a chair not too far from him. The figure looked uncomfortable, arms crossed protectively over their chest, head leaning forward as they seemed to defy gravity and not fall out of the chair. Neal didn't know what to think, his mind going back to the darkness and blankness. He remembered little of how he had come to be here or where he had been before. He swallowed hard, licking at his lips as he made an effort to sit up and reach for the figure beside him. The action made him grimace and groan with pain, two brown eyes suddenly looking back at him.

"Neal? Hey buddy, lay back."

Peter was gently pressing him back to the mattress, adjusting the pillows and blanket around him. Neal noticed he was down to his boxers as he eased back onto the pillows and tried to relax.

"Peter... how... did I... get here?"

He was genuinely confused uncertain what had happened to him beyond their last meeting. He'd been setting up a way to find Alex. Mozzie was going to help him. Now he was here and he had been shot? He could feel a pain in his side, the bandage obvious.

"It's ok. Just rest. Did you need anything? Water... food?"

Neal nodded at the request, feeling a dryness in his mouth. He felt like he hadn't eaten or had anything to drink in days. Peter got up and left the room a moment, the sound of his footsteps fading as he went downstairs and there was another voice. He could just make it out.

"He is? Go rest honey. I'll take care of it."

The voice of Peter was more muted as other footsteps, quicker steps moved towards the door before pausing. The door opened slowly revealing the figure of Elizabeth Burke with a tray in her arms.

"Neal... I brought you some water and soup. How are you feeling?"

He shrugged tiredly, moving ever so slightly to sit up and get more comfortable.

"Like I lost a week. I don't... remember anything. What happened to me?"

Elizabeth didn't say anything as she helped him sit up, putting a small tray over his lap so he could eat his food comfortably. Her eyes didn't meet his for a moment before finally he grasped her hand in his and she looked directly at him.

"Not now, Neal. You need to get better."

She sat and watched him but he saw the nervousness in her before he had let go of her hand. El had flinched slightly at his touch, something she'd never done in the past. Her manner was still caring and friendly but something had changed.

"El... there's a call for you downstairs. Yvonne?"

She nodded at Peter, patting Neal more gently if not cautiously on the shoulder than she had in the past before leaving him. She looked uncomfortable with him which he'd never known her to be. He looked up from his soup to Peter for guidance but the agent just waited a moment, back to him before closing the door and leaning against it.

"Peter, why is El acting so oddly towards me? I get the feeling I've missed something but..."

He tried to think why as if he should know but his mind refused to tell him. Neal saw an uncomfortable look on his friend's face before Peter shuttered it and walked over, taking the seat he'd had before.

"Neal... what do you remember of the past week if anything? It's important."

Peter's tone was firm but held a hint of concern. The agent wasn't telling him something.

"You found me on the roof and we talked about the case. Why? What happened? Am I in trouble?"

He saw the look on Peter's face and then a shake of his head. It told him very little if anything but something was definitely up.

"I don't think this is the right time to tell you what happened but you should know. Neal... I know you weren't in your right mind and considering everything that happened..."

Peter was trying to justify something, something he had done but Neal remember nothing. His mind was a total blank.

"Just tell me, Peter. It can't be that bad."

He was trying to be calm but he wasn't expecting what the agent told him next.

"It was, Neal. You... took Elizabeth hostage."

Neal blinked, his mind reeling at the idea of himself taking anyone hostage. He had never taken a hostage in all of his criminal career. It wasn't in his nature to do that. He looked at the agent incredulously but Peter's face was tight with emotion and he knew whatever he was about to follow up with had to be bad.

"You had her at gun point in... in our home. I tried to talk you out of hurting her and you finally let her go but..."

This couldn't be happening! Neal listened to the story his friend told him uncertain how to react. Why would he have taken El as a prisoner much more used a gun to do it? It wasn't... him!

"I talked you down but you tried to shoot me, hitting me in the shoulder. The SWAT..."

Peter's voice choked on the last bit, pausing to catch himself and continue. Neal felt a cold revelation wash over him, a part of him knowing his friend spoke the truth but... his mind still refused to tell him how he knew that.

"The SWAT team... someone shot you. You died, Neal. They pronounced you dead on the scene and carried you off. You're not supposed to be here."

Neal dropped the spoon for the soup, his jaw slack in shock. He had taken El hostage, shot his friend and partner and been killed but... he was here and alive wasn't he? Neal Caffrey was still alive unless... His mind flashed back a blurry hash of vision suddenly that made his head throb in pain as he fell back against the pillows and seemed to seize from the sheer volume of memory.

"Neal? Neal answer me. Neal!"

He heard Peter's voice but his body was trembling, shaking as he saw the flash of memory and saw himself standing in the Burkes' living room with a gun to Elizabeth's temple. He saw Peter standing before him, placing his gun to the side as he tried to talk him down. The agent had come to help him regardless. The memory flashed forward and he felt the pain of the shot to his side, seeing the blood on his friend's hands and shoulder. Peter was trying to staunch the flow from his wound, save him despite what he had done.

"Neal... he's not responding El. We need to call a doctor. NEAL!"

The con felt a comforting hand on his hair, brushing at it and calming him. He saw an image of El looking down at him in the past, her face frightened and yet she was crying for him: The man who had taken her hostage. She had mourned for him. The vision faded and so did the seizure as his body relaxed and he slumped back against the bed, eyes closing as he passed out.

()()()

Don't... let go!

Someone called out to him to hold on but they were slipping away from him, his life slipping away from him as he dangled from the rope and felt a wet warmth dripping heavily from his neck. He was dying, the world going black as the night they were in, his vision fading till...

He woke up with a start, staring around the plain room he slept in. His mind was a blank but for that one memory and his instructions. Soren was the one who had helped him, brought him back from the land of the dead. He had been the one who told him who had killed him and caused everything to happen. He wanted revenge and Soren would help him gain back what he had lost. That was all he thought about.

He sat up and finally stood, walking across the cold floor to the small bathroom. He stared at his face in the mirror and saw the face of a dead man looking back. He had died and Soren had brought him back for the sole purpose of revenge. Revenge had kept him going all these years and now, he could finally be able to have what he had lost so many years ago. He washed his face, looking at the scar across his neck before he pulled on his robe and wrapped a scarf to hide it. Soren provided him with everything and Soren was the one who would help him get his revenge and more back.

His footsteps were quiet but then he was a thief so he knew how to be silent when need had for it. He quietly snuck into another room, a room Soren forbid him to be but he had to enter and see. His eyes gazed at the figure laying still and unmoving on the bed. She was as beautiful as he remembered her, like a doll in a pretty dress but her eyes should have more life than this. She was staring blankly ahead, body immobile with one arm connected to an IV that fed her with a drug that kept her still. Soren was going to make her like him and then... then he could have her back. Alex would be his again once he killed the one person between them. Neal had escaped but he would never work with the thief willingly again. Soren might be his master but Neal Caffrey was the man who had killed him that night. Left him to die and taken the woman he loved.

"N... al."

Her voice had a longing in it, eyes looking towards him before they slipped back to white and she seemed to sleep. She was calling for Him but despite Soren's need for an extra hand, Chris would never let him keep Neal alive. He would kill him and run off with Alex before that ever happened. Lucky for him, Neal had escaped.

Soon, Alex. Soon we'll be together. Remember the times we had before you brought your friend? I want us to be that way again. Free.

He reached down and kissed her, sounds drawing his attention to a door in the corner as he left quietly back to the hallway and his own room. He was tired of his half-life. He had to gain his life back and once Neal Caffrey was gone, everything would fall back into place.

()()()

Peter held the young man down, talking to him, comforting him till Neal had finally relaxed and his body stopped twitching and seizing. Something had happened and as much as they needed a doctor, they couldn't call just any doctor. If only he knew where Mozzie was, maybe the little guy had a friend.

"Peter, hon... want me to call June? Maybe..."

She was reading his mind and he nodded, Elizabeth leaving the room as he heard her pull out her cell and dial up Neal's landlady's number. June would know hopefully how to contact Mozzie and if not him, someone who could help. She had her own connections as he'd found out on several occasions. June was an enigma, her late husband Byron having been a reformed con. That was probably what had drawn her to Neal at the thrift store and kept her watching him like a mother would a child. She knew how he was and how to keep him safe. June had lived that life and skirted it with ease back into one of lawfulness. She wasn't always the right influence but she never let Neal fall too far from grace.

He gently brushed his friend's hair, holding the young man's hand in his own as he watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Neal was alive but something kept him from remembering. They had done something to his friend but he had no idea what much had been done or by who. "They" had wanted him badly enough to have him nearly killed by the very people who were his friends. What if SWAT hadn't been there? What if Neal hadn't let Elizabeth go... could Peter have held back to keep the young man safe or save his wife? He thought back to the nightmare he'd had when he first read the case that had started this all. He had been worrying about Neal. Maybe something had been trying to warn him of this even then. Perhaps he had seen the signs of someone trying to get to Neal but had failed to see it.

"Peter... June knows. I told her not to tell anyone. She's going to send her doctor over. You remember Dr. Munroe. She'll bring him over herself."

He nodded to her as she re-entered the room and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Neal looked so helpless and vulnerable, his hair mussed, face flushed ever so slightly pink and his lips parted slightly and moving as if he were trying to speak. He brought out a certain parental instinct in the two; A kind of younger sibling vibe that made them want to help him and lead him in the right direction.

"I need to call Hughes. He knows I'm out sick but not why. I didn't have time to really talk to him yet. It's nearly lunch time. Let me call. I may have to go in for a few and let him know what's up but he needs to know."

El gave him a squeeze as he rose and left, looking back to see her nervously tending their friend. Despite her love for Neal, what happened between them was still unresolved. He could see how tense she still was thinking that their soft spoken friend had taken her at gun point. It had been so unexpected he later found out when they'd had more time to speak of it. She never spoke of Neal in an ill way, her manner more confused at what could have made someone so gentle and kind do what he had done. Neal would never hurt anyone and yet someone had made him take her hostage. Peter remembered the actions of his friends that day and knew Caffrey had been no more than a puppet being yanked around. His manner had been tense and unnaturally stiff, nothing like their carefree friend.

Peter pulled out his cell and walked downstairs as the call went through.

"Hughes... Peter I thought you were out sick today. What's on your mind?"

He swallowed hard uncertain what to say considering what he would have to tell his boss.

"Yes... I needed to talk to you about that sir. Do you have a few minutes to come visit me or I can see you in your office but here would be far more convenient."

He knew he sounded like he was making little sense but he had to be careful what he said. Their phone had been tapped in the past as had his cell. He kept his cards to him as much as he could, Reese sounding a bit curious.

"Is something the matter, Peter? Is it Elizabeth? I'm about to finish off some paper work here but I can be there in 30 if that's ok."

Peter felt a weight off his shoulders. Better if they did it here than in public at the office. He had to keep things quiet. He hoped Diana and Jones were doing their part. He nodded.

"Elizabeth is fine. I just need to talk to you about something of a delicate matter. I can order in if you're interested in lunch."

Hughes answered back, the sound of a stapler in the background.

"Sure. I'm game. See you in 30."

Peter nodded with a relieved smile.

"Thank you Reese."

He hung up the call and looked back upstairs. How was he going to explain that Neal Caffrey was alive? Would Hughes look at it the way he was although even with it only having been 8 or so hours since the call, Peter was still trying to piece his mind around the incident. He looked at the mantle and the ashes. Who's ashes were in that urn? Was someone at the hospital involved with the cover-up or were they as much a victim as they had been? He heard a car pull up outside and peeked out the window to see June's Bentley pulling up. She stepped out with an older white haired man he had met a few times before. Peter opened up the door and waved them up as the two figured moved closer.

"Peter... It's so good to see you again! I contacted our friend like you asked but no clue if he will come out of hiding. Dr. Munroe here has offered his services for your sick friend if you want to explain."

The agent nodded at her coy manner as they all stepped inside and he closed and locked the door. The doctor looked between them curiously.

"I get the feeling we're playing with some kind of cloak and dagger situation. Am I to forget what I see, Agent Burke?"

Peter smiled slightly as he pointed upstairs and led the way.

"I can only say keeping this between as few people as possible is a good thing. Not certain who may be looking for our patient."

The two guests nodded as Peter opened up the guestroom door and led them inside. Elizabeth was still by Neal's bedside, her hand holding his.

"June... Dr. Munroe. He hasn't waken up since the seizure but he's been quiet."

She moved aside as the doctor moved closer and examined not only the young man's pulse and heart rate but his wound.

"Pulse is a bit faster than normal, heart beat skipping a bit. I'd say he's been given something strong but I'm not certain what. I'd have to do some blood work. I may have to come back to take samples. Let me check his reactions."

The doctor shone a light in Neal's eyes as he opened up one lid and saw the dilated eye retract only a tiny bit.

"He's definitely been given some heavy dose of something. Once I take the blood samples and have them analyzed, I'll be able to do more for him. For now, I will clean and sew up this wound. It's not infected but it does have some redness I'm worried about."

El spoke up as the doctor started to remove the bandage and pull more fresh gauze from his bag.

"He seized a few minutes ago. Peter and I... we weren't sure what to do other than to try and keep him calm and relaxed. It was only a brief seizure but he looked like he was fighting something."

The doctor nodded, asking her more details about the episode as he pulled out a bottle of antiseptic.

"Thank you Mrs. Burke. Once we know what he was given, we can help him better. You've done very well so far."

Peter and the others nodded at the doctor before he noticed June didn't move, her eyes staring at the young man sadly. El was at the older woman's side, an arm wrapped around her for comfort as they left the doctor to care for Neal's wound.

"I can't believe he's really here. When you told me... I wasn't sure I believed you but I knew you wouldn't kid about something like this. Who would do such a thing to Neal? Have you found out anything more about his kidnappers, Peter?"

He shook his head at her concern, June giving a small nod of her head in reply.

"They still have Alex for all I know. He was looking for her. Said they had taken her before everything happened. I think he went to the Waldorf that night to free her but something went wrong. I'm still on leave from work till they finish the investigation. Neal may have pulled a gun on El but it wasn't by his own choosing. Someone coerced him. He told me... he told me that day he was shot that he tried not to hit me. Neal knows how to handle a gun so his hitting me in the shoulder was a way to show he was trying to resist whomever did this."

June nodded as did El, both women looking worried with concern over the young man in the next room. They saw the doctor stand up and move away from Neal, bag in hand.

"He should be ok for now. I left some additional bandages and meds on the nightstand to dress his wound. I'll be back later to take a blood sample. We'll find out what he's been given. So far he's resisted the effects pretty well if he's still with you. Just call me if he shows any signs of seizing again."

The doctor handed them a card as he walked back downstairs with June and El. Peter stayed up top as he went back inside the guest room and looked at his sleeping friend. Neal's body was tense, his face tight with pain or something else. He looked to be fighting against something, the agent wishing he knew what so he could help. He sat at his friend's side as he grasped one hand in his own.

"Well figure this out, Neal. Don't worry. I won't let them get you again."

He felt a gentle squeeze back before Neal's hand went limp again. He sighed, brushing at his friend's hair and hearing a quiet sigh escape the con's lips.

()()()

Neal continued to dream, seeing himself with the gun and holding Elizabeth Burke hostage. Seeing Peter try to talk him down and his hand pulling the trigger to shoot his friend and mentor before everything turned to pain. Peter hovered over him in the dream, the agent begging him to hold on but he couldn't, his body going lax and cold. He had died that day, Neal Caffrey the con had actually died that day.

He struggled with the memories, trying his best to figure out why and how when that voice spoke to him.

Nicholaus... dearest Nicholaus.

He fought to ignore it but the voice came from inside of him, a darker place than he knew. His face twisted some in his sleep, lips twitching.

You're reborn now. You have died and left the life you had behind. They were not your friends in your old life. You were a slave to the one you called a friend. He was your enemy. Remember that, Nicholaus. Peter Burke was not your friend. You were no more than a tool to him. A lapdog that did his bidding. You have no allegiance to the agent who arrested and tamed you.

Neal fought the words but something about them rang true in his fevered mind, an ache pushing out any resistance as he nodded back. Some part of him believed the voice, too weak to fight against the pain. To fight was to hurt and he no longer wished to hurt. He was a new person. He was no longer Neal but Nicholaus. Soren had saved him. Peter had let him die.

You must get rid of him and come back to us. You have something I need. Nicholaus. Bring me what you took from the office. You were supposed to bring it to me.

He nodded at the voice, body reacting as if they were with him talking in the room.

"Return... need to... return."

()()()

Reese Hughes showed up at the Burke home around 1 PM. He was greeted by Peter as the agent glanced around for someone else.

"Elizabeth out?"

Peter nodded as he closed the door behind his boss and they moved to the sofa to sit.

"She had a client meeting today. Probably best with all the excitement we've had lately."

Hughes nodded, looking up at the urn on the mantle, he noticed it was missing as he arched a brow at his agent.

"Is something the matter, Peter? I know you called me about this being a delicate matter. I see that Caffrey's ashes are gone."

Peter looked up and blushes slightly as he tried to find a way to say what he needed. This was not going to be easy.

"Sir... Reese. There's no easy way to say this so I'll just tell you straight out. Neal Caffrey isn't dead."

Reese was suddenly staring at him, an odd glance from his boss making him more nervous.

"I understand you want to believe he's still with you but to say he's not dead, Peter... His body was cremated! There's no coming back without a body even if there was a miracle. What is it you're trying to tell me?"

Peter stood, indicating his boss follow him as he headed upstairs. Reese looked more than curious if not perturbed.

"If this isn't proof that the dead return, I don't know what is, Reese."

He opened up the guestroom door and motioned for his boss to go in first. The man looked at him questioningly as he turned and paused. The man was frozen to the spot, Peter waiting to see how his friend would respond. After a moment, Hughes walked a bit closer to the figure sleeping in the bed, reaching to touch them and looking as if he'd been burned. Reese turned and looked at him, his eyes filled with disbelief before they exited and closed the door.

"You weren't lying about him being alive. Peter... what's going on?"

His boss was upset but not angry. He was just glad the man seemed to understand.

"I don't understand it either. He called... around 2 am this morning. I didn't believe it myself but I called Diana and Jones to go with me figuring it must be some kind of trick. They were the first to find out as I did that Caffrey was still alive. Someone purposely wanted us think he wasn't just dead but they switched bodies and cremated someone to make sure we didn't investigate further."

Reese nodded, his hand rubbing at his chin in thought.

"So how many people know about Caffrey? I'm guessing you're trying to keep this hush hush till we find the people who took him."

Peter nodded.

"There's Diana, Jones, June, my wife and a doctor because Neal had a seizure so we called June and she brought her personal doctor. He's going to help us with this. He's been helpful and discreet in the past."

Hughes nodded.

"Ok, I'll play along. He doesn't have an anklet so he can't be tracked but you need to keep an eye on him. We don't want to lose the boy again."

He patted Peter on the shoulder both agents nodding in agreement.

"No. We don't. Thank you for understanding the situation. I appreciate it, Sir."

Reese shook his head.

"I need to head back to the office. Rain check on the lunch but I will see what I can find on that side with Jones and Barrigan. Keep him safe and yourself, Peter."

()()()

Neal kept hearing the voice in his head, his own lips silently moving now in reply. He had to act soon or Soren would leave him behind. Soren was his friend and the one who had brought him back. Peter... the agent had let him die. He remembered the sensation of being buried, dirt falling on his face and his nails digging at the wood in an attempt to free himself. It had all been Peter's fault.

His eyes popped open and he looked around a familiar room. Others had been there, he had heard their voices muted in his unconscious but they weren't important. He had a task to perform. Soren was waiting for him but he was also patient. Neal had things to do before he left. He quietly sat up, his side still hurting as he pushed himself to his feet and wavered. He had to prepare and his first thought was to take a shower. That would be the natural thing to do.

Neal looked around, seeing a bag of clothes he recognized. He grabbed up a clean tee, boxers and a familiar robe as he made his way out of the room and down to his left to the bathroom. The house was silent, sunlight streaming from the few windows indicating it was still daytime. How long had he slept? Neal still felt a bit dizzy but he needed to feel clean, the stench of death still on him as he eased himself into the shower and turned on the water as hot as he could stand. He peeled off the bandage off his abdomen to peer beneath before dropping it aside. Someone had stitched up the wound and cleaned it but he was no longer who he had been. He was Nicholaus now. Soren had renamed him to something he could use in his new life.

The hot water seemed to take the chill of death from him, easing his body to something that felt natural as he gently scrubbed the dirt and blood away without messing up his stitches. The con knew he had to be prepared. Soren was waiting for him. He paused when he heard a knock at the door.

"Peter?"

Had he locked the door? Elizabeth was outside calling for the agent, his supposed friend. Neal felt a curse on his lips but he stopped himself and kept quiet. He heard her quiet steps move away as he finished with the shower and toweled off. He found a fresh bandage, placing it on the wound as he pulled on clean clothes and tied his robe around him. Neal opened the bathroom door to find Elizabeth standing in the hallway near the guestroom looking at him curiously.

"Neal... are you ok?"

He saw her hesitation as he walked closer, Elizabeth moving a few steps back unconsciously. She was worried about him but her natural caution told her to stay back. He remained quiet, smiling inwardly at her nervousness till he felt a familiar smile ease itself onto his lips and she seemed to relax. He could fool her if anyone.

"I'm fine. I just felt like I needed a shower. Sorry I worried you."

He had a feeling his words were too formal but she didn't seem to notice as her concern took over and she moved closer. The predator in him, a part he rarely used in his old life seemed to be more alive in this one. It wanted to feel her fear again as it had when he died. He had liked having such power over another person. His head suddenly hurt him, his legs feeling weak as another thought popped into his head. He saw himself hurt and El was there, hugging him. It was only a momentary lapse from the new Neal as he found himself back in the bedroom. She was sitting beside him now, innocent and easy prey. He shook his head fighting the thought. A part of him was rejecting this new mindset. He pulled his robe tighter around himself, a blush coming to his cheeks.

"El..."

She was looking at him with concern for his well-being. A part of him thought her foolish to fall for his tricks but another part knew she really cared for him. Finally she nodded in understanding as she gently kissed him on the cheek before leaving the room. He heard the door close as he continued to sit there and tried to figure out what had happened. He was supposed to be doing something. Soren...

Neal stood up on shaky legs, walking over to what remained of his bloody clothes. It looked as if Elizabeth had washed them and sewn up the shirt as much as possible. He felt a warm feeling as he touched the part she had sewn. She cared for him more than he thought she should. He was a thief and a liar and yet...

He felt around in the pockets but didn't find what he wanted. The item was gone or missing. Could he have lost it?

"Neal? I have lunch downstairs if you're hungry."

Elizabeth's voice came through the door soft and almost motherly. He nodded instinctively, his answer from the heart.

"Thank you. Be right down."

His eyes went from the door back to his clothes. Suddenly he'd forgotten what he was thinking about. He had been looking for something hadn't he? He glanced at the clothes but tossed them aside to pull on another pair of khaki pants, a white linen shirt and some comfortable top-sider loafers. June must have dropped some things off. His mind went back to what it normally thought about, thoughts of Soren and whatever missing object he needed disappearing for the moment as Neal Caffrey returned.

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Uh-oh. Looks like Neal's got a bit of a dual personality thing going on here. Things are definitely getting more interesting so something's about to happen. Will hopefully have another chapter up by the end of the day if all goes well.