(Chapter 5)
The agents weren't keen on the report they'd have to give their boss as they searched the block for an hour and came up without any sign of Neal Caffrey. The young man had disappeared before their very eyes and now they had to let Kramer know the bad news. It was barely 7 AM as Stan Efran and Jack Denis stood outside the apartment building they watched Caffrey at and called the incident in.
"HE WHAT!"
Stan flinched, Jack doing the same as he heard their boss' voice without having to be close to his colleague. They were in deep now and if they were worried about transfers of their own choosing, they'd possibly now be sent away to some horrible one if Kramer had his way.
"He ran, sir. I don't..."
The agent pulled the cell away enough he could still hear as their boss yelled at them and threw curses their way. If anything, Phillip Kramer was acting less than professional. Jack looked peeved but said nothing as the chiding continued then the cell was quiet and Stan pushed it back to his ear.
"YOU two are going to find Mr. Caffrey and drag him back in manacles, wrapped up in duct tape if you have to. I have a very important case that needs his expertise and if I don't have his cooperation on this I am not the only one whose head is going to roll. DO I make myself CLEAR!"
The two agents nodded at the cell flinching again as a loud slam was heard. Kramer had obvious been in his office to make that noise, Stan paling as he pushed the cell back into his pocket and seemed to be thinking about something. Jack was pacing a bit, nervous energy obvious from the fear of repercussions if they didn't find Caffrey and soon.
"He can't have gone far, Stan. He might have cut his anklet and run but where would he go? Kramer kept him isolated here. Who would help him? He didn't even have money, a bank account much less his own credit card. Caffrey's probably still in the city."
Jack was being hopeful at best but Stan was still looking pale and then suddenly his brown eyes widened and he snapped his fingers.
"Of course! He must have... Jack, remember Caffrey asked if anything had happened overnight? He was too calm even for him. I should have... DAMN he's clever! I think I know where he went and if I'm right... DAMN Kramer to Hell! Serves him right for being such a hard ass on the guy."
Jack glanced at him with a curious look as if not getting what he meant as Stan rolled his eyes and pulled out his cell again.
"Eric... it's Jack. I need a favor. How soon can you fly us up to New York."
()()()
George followed Mozzie and Elizabeth up to the next floor, the nurse from earlier just coming out of one of the ICU rooms. The nurse smiled at them as she looked up from her roster and saw El standing there, the two women speaking a moment. The nurse's tag read "Mary Ann" as he noted she wore scrubs in light pink with small flowers imprinted on the material, matching pink studs in her ears and an unobtrusive pink silk corded necklace with a costume jewel on the end. Her hair was a chestnut brown with blond highlights that looked natural, a small pink scrunchie keeping her shoulder-length hair from her face. No rings on her fingers so she was single he thought as his mind went through all the possibilities he'd use to chat her up and get information. It was second nature for him to size people up and he had her pegged for a push over to some extent as she smiled up at him. Whatever El said was making her feel sympathy towards him. Maybe El would make a good front woman for one of their cons if things ever changed. She had the natural skills to charm and a definite love of mischief.
"Sure... thank you Mary."
Elizabeth came back after a moment and smiled up at him.
"Your brother is in room 3. We have a little time before the doctor shows to visit."
She took his arm in hers, leaning against him comfortably as the three moved down the hallway towards ICU room 3. She let go as soon as they reached the glass enclosure which made him think more of a zoo or specimen cage rather than a hospital room. A certain fear washed over him and George wasn't sure he could walk inside. El kissed him lightly on the cheek, her blue eyes meeting his and smiling in a comforting manner. She was too nice to someone who wasn't family and some part of him felt guilty for it as he reluctantly moved forward into the room and found himself looking down at the figure laying on the bed. He stood there for a long time, maybe years he thought as the moment seemed to stretch out until he finally moved to the chair and sat. Another year seemed to pass before his hand reached out for the pale one laying there among the wiring, tubes and monitors and he held it in his own. A shiver ran through him and something akin to fear hit him hard. This man had always been there for him. Where had he been when HE was needed? All the what ifs ran through his mind of what he'd been told happened and now... now he wanted to curl up in a dark hole and hide from the emotions hitting him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. Please forgive me... Peter."
George... Neal, leaned over and lay his head on his friend's chest and felt the slow rise and fall of Peter's body continuing to live. There was no reaction to his arrival as he had hoped and maybe El had anticipated. No fanfare, no happy ending as Peter remained unconscious. There was no magic between friends like them, the ludicrousness of the thought making him want to cry more. What had they hoped for when he arrived? What had Neal hoped for escaping to see his friend without confronting the two agents or Kramer for his confinement. His mind went back to why he had gone but would the evidence be relevant if Peter never woke up or died? Would anyone care that he helped them get the treasure to Keller to save his wife and a friend? He had been ready to confess but Neal wasn't sure what to think as his mind went through all the myriad thoughts concerning his current situation.
"George..."
He didn't look up at first then remembered who he was and nodded, standing and letting go of Peter's hand. Neal waited a moment but there were no brown honest eyes to look up and smile at him for visiting. Instead he heard another voice from memory: Peter's telling him he should have gone through channels, thought this through and not been so rash even for his sake. It was the voice of reason, his conscience getting the best of him as he nodded quietly and left the room. El wrapped her arms around him as they went to sit in the hallway, footsteps approaching. Mozzie was up and looking at the approaching figures: Agents Barrigan and Jones. Both looked worse for wear as they blinked at the group by the room and then at him.
"How is he?"
Nobody wanted to change the topic it seemed as Elizabeth sighed and shook her head.
"He hasn't waken up yet. If you want a quick visit, the nurse gave us a few minutes. I don't think she'll mind."
Diana nodded, going inside the room with only a quick sympathetic glance to Neal before Jones patted him on the shoulder and smiled ever so slightly.
"Good to have you back... I'll go visit with him a moment."
The agents let him be although he figured they might be there for him as he leaned back against the chair he was in and tried not to think too hard about going back. Kramer would make him go back if he had to drag him back in irons. He had been punished a few times before. Denied anything but the minimum in food and amenities. Neal felt anxious but at least he had seen Peter and now, a part of him wouldn't care if he went back. The other part was mad at his lack of strength. If anything he should want to stay and comfort El...
"Uhm... can I talk to you a moment?"
It was Diana, the female agent smiling only slightly in a manner he knew all too well. Elizabeth looked a bit worried but he gave her a calming smile before rising to follow the agent out of earshot of the others.
"There's an APB out on you. Two agents from D.C. are arriving here any moment to take you in. Hughes has promised full cooperation. If you're going to run..."
He was surprised at the last part, her voice trailing off. Jones came over a few minutes later to join them, his manner friendly despite everything. He put a comforting hand on Neal's shoulder but it was apparent he was thinking the same as his colleague.
"You tell him?"
She nodded, an uncertain look on her face.
"If Peter were here..."
She left it open, uncertain what he would say but the agent smiled and nodded looking agreeable.
"Yeah. Peter would say run for it. For once I might agree with him despite my background, but you didn't hear that from me."
Neal wasn't sure what to think, both agents seemingly telling him to run but should he? He really meant it when he said he wouldn't despite what happened with Kramer and the evidence. Should he tell someone? He hadn't even let Mozzie know but maybe...
"Give me a moment?"
He moved away from the two agents and over to Mozzie, motioning for the little guy to follow him out of earshot. His friend looked a bit nervous.
"Are they here for you?"
Neal shrugged telling him what they had said and then got to his point.
"Do you think... have you heard from Sally? Would she help me if I told you why I let Kramer take me willingly?"
He saw the look on his friend's face, curiosity in those bespectacled eyes as Mozz nodded.
"I think so..."
Neal considered his next words carefully. He knew that Mozzie still felt some malice towards the Suits for what happened to him. His friend had so far not said as much considering the circumstances but he could sense it.
"Would she help Peter? Kramer has evidence against him..."
Mozzie's eyes widened, his face paling some as Neal held up a hand.
"There was surveillance footage of you two but you didn't show up as clearly in the film. I saw it. It shows Peter pretending to be National Guard. If it came out..."
His friend nodded, taking off his glasses to wipe them and then quickly putting them back on.
"So he railroaded you back with that footage. You saw it?"
Mozzie's tone was matter of fact. Neal nodded as he saw the others looking at them curiously. He couldn't let them know for Peter's sake and yet...
"I don't know how much time I have but if they are already coming from D.C. to pick me up, there can't be but a small window to do anything. He carries the evidence with him constantly but not sure if there is a backup. Kramer didn't tell me that."
Neal felt his confidence deflating. Much as he hated to admit it, going back to D.C. might be his only choice to save his friends and himself. Mozzie put a comforting hand on his arm, something that rarely happened.
"Let me deal with it. Any chance you know his user name or better yet the address for the device?"
The little guy was smiling now as Neal sighed tiredly then smiled softly back.
"I can get it. He's very private and keeps all his employees at a distance. I'm sure when they take me back I'll be in his office. He usually has it out for notes."
()()()
Peter heard someone talking... different people at times it seemed and all familiar but a few. The ones he didn't know he thought little of, paying attention to the one that meant the most. He wanted to wake up, talk to his wife but his body was stuck in this nowhere place conscious on some level that he was hurt and laying somewhere but unable to respond. He wondered how long he was stuck here when a new voice, one he had missed appeared. Some part of him wanted to answer, call out for them to stay but again his body failed him and he could only listen to their faint voice speaking from a distance. It gave him some hope for the future, their future if they were here. Had things changed? Was everything back to what it was?
Hun... Wake up soon. I miss you.
Elizabeth was back, voice sad and filled with longing. He wondered what time had passed again as he fought to respond and let her know he was still here. Those other unfamiliar voices spoke of technical things he associated with hospitals. Is that where he was?
Neal misses you. He's back in D.C. He came to see you, Peter.
Her voice broke into sobs and suddenly seemed closer, so much more near than before. He squinted as light broke through the darkness, wincing but unable to speak as something filled his mouth and nose. Peter gave a gurgling sound, the best he could do as a blurry form came into view beside him. Two surprised blue eyes stared back at him.
"Peter? Hun... Mary!"
He watched his wife rise, turning to some other blurry figure beyond what seemed to be a very large window. The other figure approached and gently examined him, taking vitals as he closed and opened his eyes to get used to the light. Peter swallowed hard, choking slightly on the tubing which the nurse seemed to notice.
"Keep him calm. I'll call Dr. Sanji. If he's awake, we can remove the tubing. Don't try to speak... just nod. How are you doing Mr. Burke?"
The nurse was giving him some direct attention now, Peter nodding up at her for good as she smiled back. He saw her tag read "Mary Ann" her attitude right for the name given he thought as she helped to make him more comfortable.
"I'm going to call your doctor. Relax, Mr. Burke. We'll have that tubing out of you in just a moment."
He gave a tired nod of his head, eyes closing as he tried to stay awake. Someone drew close, a sweet soft smell he recognized as his wife's shampoo as she leaned over and kissed his forehead. Her hand was brushing his hair, the motion relaxing him as they both looked up at the sound of more figures appearing. A thirtyish man with black hair and tanned skin smiled down at him as El moved aside. The man wore a white lab coat over blue scrubs, a stethoscope around his neck like jewelry, his hazel eyes bright and alert.
"Mr. Burke... I'm Dr. Sanji. You've been asleep for a few days. Nod if you are feeling ok, shake your head if not."
The man's voice was lightly accented along with something a bit more European as he nodded up and felt like someone had stuffed a fist down his throat the more he woke up. The doctor smiled lightly, motioning the other nurses over, all of them still slightly blurry but he could see enough to tell Mary Ann was in the group. He twitched as they removed the medical tape keeping the tubing in place then slowly started to pull the actual item from his mouth. It felt like he was coughing up an anaconda before the tubing was completely removed and he started hacking a bit. The bed was adjusted for him to sit up, nurses gently patting him on the back and helping him to breath easier as Dr. Sanji moved in to check him with the stethoscope.
"A little wet but that's understandable. Your lung was nicked by the bullet but we were able to fix it. Seems to be holding very well. We'll keep an oxygen mask nearby just in case. Nurse, please bring him a small cup of water."
The doctor continued his exam, cursory as it was even checking his eyes and smiling softly the whole time. Elizabeth was just outside of his periphery, the glass panels keeping her from him as they finished checking him out and the doctor looked happy. Peter still felt sore, body aching some but it could also be the lack of motion however long he had been out. He sipped at the water and finally felt he might have a voice as he coughed and then heard a raspy voice he barely recognized.
"D... Doctor... San... ji. How... How long..."
He started to cough a bit, the nurses helping him by putting the mask over his face to breath which seemed to make the tightness in his chest go away. Dr. Sanji waited until Peter was feeling better before answering him.
"It's been 72 hours since you were brought in. You've had several visitors but we weren't able to let them visit until now. I think you're well enough to be moved to one of the regular rooms. Just rest and Mary Ann will help once the orderlies arrive."
Peter nodded his head, mask still over his face but he was holding it now as the nurses hurried around preparing him for the move, including Mary Ann. Elizabeth peeked in with an expectant glance as the doctor moved towards the exit. They spoke quietly before she nodded and smiled, entering as he left.
"Hun... I'm so glad he said you were doing better. Is there anything you need? I brought a bag just in case but I can get some clothes for you. Something less drafty."
She tried not to laugh as he blinked back and sighed, laughing only slightly but feeling the pain in his chest from the action. El blushed guiltily but he hugged her close, shaking his head.
"I'm fine, hun. Just don't make me laugh."
El nodded back as the orderlies appeared in preparation to move him. She was allowed to accompany them as they rolled Peter along on a gurney, IVs and all. The motion was smooth although he felt like a kid on a big dolly or shopping cart without the crazy messed up wheels or squeaks. It only took 20 minutes to get him to his new room down the hallway where he could be monitored closely just in case he had any further complications. El stood aside as the nurses moved him gently over to the new bed and settled him comfortably. Once everything was as it should be and another quick exam of his vitals was taken, they were left alone and it seemed like he'd been with them for days instead of minutes.
"Honey... what's wrong?"
His wife sounded worried as he snapped back from his thoughts, the memory of someone talking to him faint but clear in his mind's eye.
"I could hear you talking to me... when I was asleep. I could hear everyone even Jones and Diana. They were here, right?"
He thought about what Dr. Sanji had said about no visitors but that couldn't be right if he had heard them nearby. El nodded, moving closer to gently brush at his hair and kiss his lips.
"They were here that first night. Mozzie came to keep me company..."
She stopped there, voice trailing off and he knew something was up. The other voice he thought he'd heard hadn't been Mozzie's. His eyes widened as he gazed up into her blue eyes and saw sadness there.
"Neal... he was here, wasn't he. How?"
Something made his stomach churn and gut wrench at the thought of his friend and partner back in D.C. If he had come to see him it had Kramer allowed a visit? He wanted to ask when he notices his wife sniffled a bit, pulling tissues from the box on the nightstand as she nodded.
"I don't know. He was just here. Neal... Kramer already had agents take him back."
Her voice was full of despair at their friend's situation. Neal should have been free to come and visit but he had probably gone through anything other than legal channels to get here fearing that Kramer would say no. He gave a deep sigh, reaching up with his good arm to wipe tiredly at his face. He still had no idea why the young man had gone unless Kramer had found some proof of another crime he had committed and used it against him. If that was the case, the agent was blackmailing him into staying but what was it that his former mentor found that was so incriminating?
"He came here illegally then?"
Peter had to know what happened, his wife nodding back sadly.
"So... he went off anklet to see me. Did he say why he didn't ask for an official visit?"
He felt like he was interrogating his wife but something nagged at him about the voice. Neal had sounded so unlike himself in his memory. There was a deep sadness there he couldn't place... a loneliness he hadn't seen in the young man even when Kate had been alive. Something had happened but he only had vague memories to go on as he watched his wife shake her head back at him.
"No idea, hun. He just appeared with Mozzie. I... I called to let him know that you were hurt but they told me it had to go through Kramer for approval. I was so angry."
There was a note of frustration in her tone he remembered from their dealing with OPR and Fowler only more intense. She cared for Neal as if he were family and Peter knew he did too as he too pondered what she had told him.
"Approval? Now I am curious what's been going on. I need to call Reese..."
He started to sit up, body aching but El pushed him gently back and waggled a finger at him as she kept sniffling.
"You only just woke up from a 3 day coma, Peter. Rest. Mozzie promised to keep us up to date on what was going on."
As always his wife was more than convincing, giving him a long kiss that distracted and relaxed him.
"Now, if my interrogation is over Agent Burke, you need to sleep. I'm going to go home long enough to wash up and get you some spare clothes. Will you be ok?"
Peter hugged her as much as he could, their lips touching again as he nodded back and smiled.
"I'll be fine. Promise."
He smiled up at her as she moved away reluctantly, leaving him in the room and apparently talking to someone on the way out as the door shut behind her. Peter wanted to get up and move around, call his old mentor and find out exactly what was going on with Neal if he couldn't be trusted with information about a friend being hurt. He was still too tired to react as much as he might want to, eyes starting to droop as he glanced around the room and finally found himself falling into a light sleep. Neal had escaped to see him which meant he hadn't been truthful when he said he wanted to go to D.C. Peter hadn't been so sure but now... now it was obvious that Kramer had coerced his friend to leave. But how?
()()()
Neal had gone willingly despite the plan devised between himself and Mozzie. Despite the feeling if he left...
He didn't want to think about ifs. Neal wanted El happy, Peter there by her side and his friends he cared for so much more than himself at the moment to be carefree even if he wasn't. He wasn't surprised that it was the same two agents who he had tricked into losing sight of him that came to take him back. One glanced at him with an expression there he recognized as remorse despite what he had done. At Least one of them felt sorry for not telling him the truth about Peter's injuries and yet there was more there. They were afraid of Kramer and what he could do so they were there to protect themselves and their families and jobs. He had caused them pain which in a way he was sorry for despite his priorities but he would do it again. Peter was worth any punishment. His friends were worth any trial.
"How is he?"
Neal glanced up from his thoughts, one of the agents looking down at him curiously in the small plane they were on. He had very little knowledge of the man beyond the few times they were on duty with him at the apartment. It took him a moment to think of the last man's name.
"Is there something you wanted, Agent Efran?"
He kept his manner neutral and cold at best, uncertain what the man expected of him as he shifted in his seat, the rattle of handcuffs evident. Unfortunately for him he had nothing to break out of them and they were special just for him since Kramer knew of his propensity to escape. The agent made a slight motion as if to ask if he could sit with him but Neal merely turned towards the window and stared out at the gloomy overcast sky that reflected his feelings at the moment. He wanted anything but to be going back to D.C., Kramer and his imprisonment and everything to be back with Elizabeth comforting her and his friends over Peter. He should be there. Neal winced slightly but not in pain as a hand gently touched his shoulder.
"I'm... We should have told you. You know why we... I'm sorry, Caffrey."
The agent's voice was remorseful more so than he would have figured as the man looked about to cry it seemed as their eyes met. He was still suspicious of the two strangers here to take him back but unlike the other agents who had stayed far away and tried not to help him, this man looked like he was reaching out. Neal wanted to take the man at his word but his memory of the one and only agent who had tried to help him reminded him that he wasn't the only person imprisoned by Kramer's influence. These men were just as much his captives as he was.
"I'll leave you alone. I just wanted... Agent Burke has always been one of the reasons I choose to work with Kramer originally. Before he changed... he was a nicer person I heard or Burke never would have been such an influence on my decision to come to D.C."
The man let go of his shoulder, that watery look in his eyes making the con know he wasn't lying. Efran cared if not for him then for Peter. They had that in common if nothing else. He watched the agent rise, moving silently away when he finally decided to act, reaching out for the man's sleeve. He heard the cocking of a gun from nearby, the other agent whom he didn't remember the name of up and ready as if he might be dangerous. Efran raised a hand to his colleague, turning back towards Neal with a curious look.
"Thank you, Agent Efran. I hope you won't get in too much trouble for this. I'll take full responsibility once we're back in D.C."
He let go slowly, the other agent finally relaxing as Efran nodded back with a smile that surprised him.
"You can call me Stan."
Neal smiled back at the agent and nodded.
"Neal... Thank you for your... sympathy, Stan."
()()()
It was three days of house arrest for Neal when he got back to D.C. Everything he owned was searched, torn up and removed except for a few items of clothing. Luckily the only thing stashed in his suitcase had been the one burner phone but that was long gone now when he had been in New York. Mozzie had taken possession of it before he had been whisked away by the two agents to make his arrest that much less awkward when they searched him. His room was bare but for the clothes in his closet, a mattress without a bed frame, the sheets on it and nothing else. Two new agents were assigned to watch him, Efran and his friend no longer in his sights. He might know the man's name but like that first agent so many months ago Neal would never see the man again. Kramer would keep him isolated and miserable to control him. The two new men weren't as sympathetic, more goon squad than agent as they took him out in full cuffs as if he were in actual prison. It was embarrassing but he had screwed up despite the pity he felt for himself. He was to blame for this and possibly the firing of Efran and his friend.
"CAFFREY!"
He perked up, looking at the agent standing by the door and reaching in to pull him out like a dog on a leash. Neal nodded without resistance despite the plan he had with Mozzie. How he would get the information needed to save Peter's reputation from Kramer was still a mystery to him. They had an idea but it had been hard enough to keep the few bits of tie pins and cufflinks he liked when they had tore up his rooms. Only two sets of each item had been allowed, the others found to have items like picks or small cutting utensils despite his best attempts to act innocent of their discovery. Kramer wasn't fooled and so Neal had only a few pieces to keep his sense of decorum and dress nice as he had.
It was a long and arduous walk through several access points until they found their way to Kramer's office and his new anklet (apparently impervious to cutting or hacking) firmly attached to his leg. The two agents sat him down in a chair in the senior agent's office waiting until Kramer finally deigned to show his presence, making a motion for them to free the con before excusing them from the room. The door shut with a loud click, Neal gazing at the man before him with an almost sick fascination. Stan had told him Kramer had been a kinder man and it must have been true once if he had created something like Peter. Much as his friend had been dogged and a sticker for the law, he had a sensibility about him for kindness and wanting to understand the other side of things. That's what Neal had liked about the man. Much as they had been cat and mouse, that cat had tried to understand what made the mouse tick and get to know it better despite everything. They had become friends... allies and even family. He had hurt Peter but the man had taken him back and continued to try to help and understand him. Nobody else had ever tried to figure him out...
"Neal..."
He snapped back from his thoughts to the man before him and wondered if he had somehow missed some conversation but it was apparently the agent was asking some other open ended query of him. Neal didn't speak as he waited for Kramer to continue.
"You've cost me several days from the case you were meant to help on. You know how important this meant to me and yet you... well, I guess I can forgive you wanting to see your friend. How is Petey?"
Kramer sounded condescending despite the topic and he knew it wasn't just his own bias mixing up the tone of voice. Perhaps the man was just that jaded about things, the world in general and he was no longer aware of that indifference and how others took it.
"He was unconscious..."
He spoke quietly without trying to aggravate the man more than he probably already was. He had overheard part of their conversation. Kramer had his own C.I. once but the man had disappointed him by going back to his criminal ways. Neal thought about Peter being angry with him when he found out about the treasure. He had been so very disappointed and close to hurting him because of Keller taking Elizabeth. There had been that moment he thought... Neal thought Peter might actually give up on him the way he had hoped he would when Kate had been alive. He had so wanted to leave despite everything but somehow Peter had been the one constant that kept him grounded. The agent and his wife... Sara... everyone he'd come to know had made him see what he always wanted to have with Kate... could have had was right there in front of him. He had the dream with an anklet as Jones had said. Mozzie had been wrong and for a moment Neal had found himself in that dream he thought was beyond his reach.
"I've been told... he's doing better."
Kramer's voice broke through and he glanced up hopefully at the man he hated so much and felt a slight smile on his lips. Kramer almost seemed human for a moment.
"I hope the two agents weren't punished on account of me. I take full responsibility for anything that happened."
He just blurted it out hoping for that moment the agent might take pity on them since he wanted no more people hurt by himself or his deeds. Kramer steepled his hands before him, leaning forward and seemingly deep in thought.
"That's interesting. Agent Efran told me it was all his fault. Who am I to believe, Caffrey? Have you managed to make friends here?"
That coldness crept back into the agent's voice, one brow raised in query as blue eyes met his. Neal wasn't sure what to think of this man, a cold smirk on his keeper's face. He shook his head back, face neutral.
"Who would make friend with an ex-con? I'm nobody."
oOoOoOo
Author's Note: I hope you liked this part. I wanted to give all sides of what happened, etc etc. More excitement to come although until my muse tells me otherwise, not sure where I'm going with Kramer. Could be nice could be evil. I can't say yet.