Another Chapter. this story is almost over. I will have one more chapter after this one. So glad you have enjoyed this story. I will be updating my other story Bound by Blood very soon as well.

Chapter Eight

Peter Burke walked inside his New York Town house that he shared with his beloved Wife Elizabeth. He reached down and petted Satchmo on the head, "How's the perfect dog in the world?"

A glorious smell saturated the air. It was the smell of his wife's amazing cooking. He walked into the kitchen and saw her standing at the stove stirring some kind of delicious looking sauce. He wrapped his arms around his wife's waist. "Oh, that smells wonderful. I knew there was a reason I married you." He smiled.

"And I'm still looking for the reason I married you." She returned his smile. "So how was work?"

"It was good. Not nearly as exciting now that I'm not after Caffrey anymore."

"Do I detect a hint of sadness in your voice?"

"No, not at all. It's good that I caught him. I can rest a little better knowing he's off the streets." Peter leaned against the counter and smiled at her.

"Oh I almost forgot you got card in the mail, I put it on the table by the phone."

"A card? Probably from mom, she's the only one that ever sends me cards." He walked over to the phone and reached down to retrieve the envelope with his name on it. His curiosity began to peak when he saw no return address on the envelope. He flipped it over and tore it open. He removed the card and flipped it open as he began to read it.

Elizabeth walked in and watched Peter's face as his eyes scanned the card. At first he looked intrigued, but then his look turned to one of concern. "Who's it from, hon?"

"It's from Neal Caffrey."

"The same Caffrey you chased for two years?"

"Yeah, he wants me to come see him in prison."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "What? Why?"

"I don't know. He says something about needing help."

"Are you going?"

"I don't know?"

"Well, you said it yourself; things have not been as exciting since he's been out of the picture. Maybe it's time to pull him back into the picture."

He shook his head. "No. I closed the book on that case. It's time to move on. Let's eat dinner." He walked into the kitchen and dropped the card into the trash.

"Are you sure about this?" Elizabeth asked.

"About eating dinner? Absolutey."

She frowned. "You know what I mean Peter."

"Yes honey. I'm sure. I've put that case to bed. Now I'm ready to put you to bed." He chuckled as he placed his hands on her cheek and kissed her soft delicate lips.

She pulled away and smiled. "Dinner first."

After Dinner they turned in early. It was about two o'clock in the morning when Peter quietly exited their bedroom, careful not to wake El. He softly walked down the stairs and headed to the kitchen. He was going to make a late night snack like he had been doing almost every night for the past two weeks. He opened the refrigerator door and taped to the top shelf was the card from Neal with a pink sticky note on the outside of it that said. "Don't close the book before you get to the ending."

Peter smiled and picked the card up again. He looked up towards the ceiling in the direction of their bedroom and softly whispered. "And that's why I married you."

The next morning at the FBI office Peter walked in and announced to Dianna and Jones, "You two are going to have to take the lead on the Diamond heist case today."

Dianna quickly jumped up from her desk and began to follow Peter as he walked back to the elevators. "Why, what's going on Peter?"

"I'm going to see someone today."

"Who? Anyone I know?"

Peter turned and smiled. "Neal Caffrey."

"What? Why are you going to see him?"

"Cause he sent me a card and asked me to."

"You want me to come with you?"

"No, I got this one. You just hold down the fort here."

"Okay, but be careful. Don't let him con you into anything."

"Don't worry about me Dianna. He's not that good." Peter winked at her and boarded the elevator.

He arrived at the prison and went through the normal sign in process. He took a seat and waited for the guards to lead him to one of the meeting rooms. After a few minutes a guard appeared and frowned. "I'm sorry Mr. Burke but Neal Caffrey is unable to accept visitors today."

Peter stood to greet the guard. "That's Agent Burke. And what do you mean he's unable to accept visitors?"

"He has been placed in solitary confinement and he is not allowed to see anyone during this time."

Peter frowned. "Solitary confinement? For what?"

"Well not that it's any of your business but he assaulted a guard."

Peter narrowed his eyes. Neal was a lot of things, but violent was not one of them. "I demand to see him."

The guard laughed. "Demand all you want, it's not happening. Not on my watch."

Peter glared at the guard. He didn't like him. "What's your name?"

"Officer Henderson."

"I am an FBI Agent, I am well within my rights to request a meeting with a prisoner."

Henderson laughed. "And I am well within my rights to decline your request."

Peter's eyebrows rose at the lack of respect for his position from this guard. He stepped closer to the guard. "I am going to make this perfectly clear for you. You see this badge." Peter held out his wallet that sported his FBI Badge. "This gives me a lot of power, a lot more power than you have. Now I am going to leave here and the first person I will be calling is the Warden to inform him that I was denied access to a prisoner. This will result in an investigation into the prison's protocol. And will end with the dishonorable dismissal of Officer Henderson. That's you, in case you had trouble following me."

Henderson took a step back and frowned. He blinked. He swallowed. "I did not realize you were with the FBI."

Peter smiled. "Sure you didn't."

"Follow me." Henderson led Peter to a meeting room and requested he wait there while he retrieved Neal.

Peter nodded his head and took a seat. He waited for what seemed like a long time. He glanced down at his watch and realized it had been well over thirty five minutes. He stood and began pacing the room. He was unsure why it was taking so long. Was Henderson having trouble with Neal? Could it be possible that prison life had changed Neal and he was now a violent man? He began to grow concerned.

Suddenly the door to the waiting room opened and Henderson appeared with a badly beaten looking Neal Caffrey. It was not the same Neal Caffrey Peter had last seen. He had a busted lip, a bruise on his chin that spread up to the side of his cheek. His eye was purple and green and a blood vessel had ruptured in his eye leaving the entire white part of the eye dark red.

Peter moved toward Neal. "What happened to him?" He demanded to know.

"He was involved in a prison fight." Henderson announced. Then Peter noticed a shifty look cast at Neal from Henderson.

"You've got ten minutes." Henderson announced as he exited the small room.

Neal smiled then immediately stopped when he felt his skin stretch and began to pull at his busted lip. "What brings you here Peter?"

"You?" Peter sounded surprised that Neal would not remember that.

Neal frowned. "Me?"

"The card you sent me."

Neal suddenly realized it was Levi. Levi had sent the card. He smiled. "Right. Well glad you came."

"What happened Neal? They said you assaulted a guard, is that true?"

Neal looked down at the ground. "You know me better than anyone Peter. What do you think?"

"Who did that to you?"

Neal rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter."

"Yeah Neal, it does."

"I want you to get me out of here Peter."

Suddenly Peter was surprised at the request. "Excuse me?"

"I mean it's great and all, with all the fine wine and food, but I don't belong here. You know that." Neal's charming smile returned.

Peter crossed his arms over his chest. He suddenly felt like he was being conned. "I think you're right where you belong."

But then Neal's smile diminished and he cast his eyes to the ground. He was afraid Peter would say that. He was afraid his efforts to escape this hell would be in vain. His eyes looked empty, hopeless.

Peter stared at him for a few seconds waiting for some charismatic smart reply. But nothing came. He saw a side of Neal that seemed authentic for once. "And how would you expect me to get you out. And why would I even want to?"

Neal looked back up at Peter. "I want to be your criminal informant. Look it benefits me and the FBI. I did the research and I will wear a tracking anklet and you'll know where I am at all times."

Peter laughed and turned towards the door. "I don't need a CI, I work just fine on my own."

Neal stood up but winced in pain as abrupt movement caused his body to twist and remind him of his sore muscles and bruised ribs. He grabbed at his rib cage. "Peter, please. I swear I won't cause trouble. Please at least think about it."

Peter frowned as he watched the young conman wince in pain. He narrowed his eyes. I can't promise anything. But I'll consider it."

Neal smiled. "That's all I ask."

"Well that might be all you get." Peter turned and knocked on the door. "Guard, we're done in here."

Henderson appeared and opened the door. He placed Neal back in handcuffs and led him back towards the solitary cell he had been kept in for the past week.

Peter watched as they disappeared around the corner. It was an odd request from the one person he distrusted more than anyone else.

Two days passed and Neal remained in solitary. He wondered if Peter would be willing to fulfill his request. Part of him thought he might, but a larger part doubted he would. He feared what he would face when he returned to the general population, but even more he feared not returning to gen. pop. He was terrified they would keep him locked away in isolation forever. He wasn't the type that fared well being left to his own thoughts.

The cell door began to unlock and it opened and a tray of rice and beans dropped to the floor. Neal rushed over trying to reach the door before it closed, hoping it would be Carl and he could convince him to help. It was Henderson staring back at him.

Henderson smiled. "Levi got a new cell mate today. Seeing as how you're going to be here a while I thought it was best to let him move on." He chuckled.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

Henderson frowned. "You really don't know who I am do you?"

Neal frowned and looked at him closer. Trying to find some evidence to reveal the answer. "No, I don't."

Henderson rolled his eyes in annoyance. "You took my grandfather for all that he had."

"Your grandfather? Who was your grandfather?"

"Pete Deluso. You stole a Rembrandt he had invested his life savings into."

Neal glanced down at the floor. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well I'm making sure you're paying the price for it now."

"Please Henderson, am I ever getting out of here?"

"Yeah, two more weeks. And when you get out you got a new cell mate. Rocco." He smiled and closed the door.

Neal swallowed and backed up to the wall. He slid down the wall and collapsed on the floor. Now he wished he was staying in solitary for the remainder of his sentence. "Peter, I need you to come through for me." He whispered.

The next morning Neal sat on the edge of his new cot waiting for breakfast to be served. The cell door opened and Carl was standing there. But there was no tray of food in his hand. He smiled at Neal. "Hey kid. Looks like you got a lucky break."

Neal frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Come on." He pulled Neal to his feet and they began walking towards the visitation rooms. Carl opened the door and escorted Neal inside. Neal smiled when he saw Peter standing there with two officers beside him.

Peter pointed at him. "Let's get one thing straight kid. I own you for the next four years. Got it."

Neal smiled. "Got it."

"Neal? NEAL!" Peter shouted.

Neal looked up from the file in his hand as he sat in Peters office. "Yeah, sorry."

"Where'd you go?" Peter asked. He knew his mind had drifted somewhere unpleasant. To a past long forgotten.

"You remember that day you came to see me in prison?" Neal stared at the file in his hand still.

Peter nodded his head. "Yeah, I remember."

"You remember asking me who did that to me? Who beat me up?"

"Yeah. They said it was a prison fight. That's not what it was, was it?" Peter looked concerned. They had come such a long way since that day. They had grown close, they had become friends, they had become brothers.

"It was Henderson."

"The Guard?" Peter sounded shocked.

Neal smiled. "Yeah, turns out I had stolen a painting from his grandfather and he wanted to see me pay for it."

"Peter stood to his feet. I'll kill him. I'll make sure he can't even get a job as a rent-a-cop in this town."

Neal chuckled. "Relax Peter. It was a long time ago. I'm fine now."

Peter rested his hand son his hips and pressed his lips together. "What happened to you in there Neal?"

Neal sighed. "Nothing I can't live with. But I had a cell mate that turned out to be a pretty good friend. After you got me out I tried to go back to visit him but Henderson had him transferred to another prison and refused to tell me where. He saved my butt more than a few times. I'd like to find him so I can tell him thank you."

Peter eased back down into his chair. "What was his name?"

"Levi Easton."

Peter stood and walked to the door and called to Dianna. She appeared at the door. "What's up boss?"

"Could you locate a Levi Easton for me. He served time in the same prison Neal was in at the same time. He was transferred but we don't know where to."

"On it."

Neal stood as she disappeared from view. "Thanks Peter."

Peter smiled. "Hey, I want to thank him too."

Neal frowned. "For what?"

"For looking out for my little brother." Peter wrapped his arm around Neal's shoulders and tugged him closer.

Neal smiled. "I think you just like to call me that."

"Of course I do. It's what you are kid."

"Thanks Peter, for everything."

"Don't worry about it. Come on let's go home and eat. I'm sure Dianna will have something on Levi by tomorrow."

Love reviews. Next chapter will be final chapter but will be Peter meeting Levi. Should be some fun stuff.