I got some inspiration now that Neal wasn't in the hospital and I will be posting my next chapter torrow or the next day.

Peter, Neal and Elizabeth were sitting on the couch after a lovely meal at the Burke's home. Elizabeth was falling asleep on Peter's shoulder while the game was playing on the TV. Neal didn't see the point in watching anymore; the team that Peter was rooting for was loosing by way too much to be able to catch up in time, but Neal didn't say anything. He wasn't paying attention anyway - there was too much on his mind to be able to focus on grown men fighting over a ball.

It was such a relief when Peter told him he wasn't going to jail. He told Peter he would go to solitary if he wouldn't send him to another prison, but he didn't think he would stay sane very long in there. He was a social animal by nature and being alone that long would fracture if not shatter his soul, whereas Keller would have shattered his mind and body in much less time if he was denied either choice.

But instead of either trying to find a way to bribe his new cell mate to protect him from Keller or waisting away in solitary, he was on the Burke's couch, listening to Elizabeth snore and Peter agree, or more often, disagree with what the announcers had to say about his team. It was a much better alternative.

Of course Peter would know exactly what Neal was thinking when someone walked through a door. He was intuitive like that, at least to Neal's thoughts or emotions. It was an irrational fear, but not one he could just ignore. Though the constant nightmares were definitely not helping him get over what happened.

Every time he closed his eyes he could see Keller's smile, could feel the pain he was inflicting in the nightmare like it was really happening. It was a constant reminder of what Keller did, of the hours of fear and pain.

He really didn't want to sleep, but knew he had to. If he had to choose, either going crazy from disturbing and vivid nightmares or going crazy from sleep deprivation, the former would probably be the best option. Hopefully the nightmares will go away soon and he'll not have to make the choice.

The anklet didn't scare him like Peter thought it would. He always felt safer with it on. He liked that someone always knew where he was, that Peter always knew where he was, as crazy as that sounds. Mozzie would call it Stockholm Syndrome, but Neal likes to think of it as safety or even trust. Trust that Peter will always have his back.

"Neal?" Peter said, bringing Neal back to the present.

"Hmm?" Neal said and lifted his head to look at Peter. The TV was off so either the game was over or Peter gave up on his team winning too.

"You kinda zoned out on me for a minute," Peter said. "You ok?"

"Yeah, just thinking."

Peter nodded but didn't look away. He kept watching him for some reason.

"Stop looking at me like I'm going to have a mental breakdown," Neal said.

"You never said you weren't going to," Peter pointed out.

"If I plan on having one, you'll be the first to know," Neal promised.

Peter nodded. "Sounds good to me. You ready to get some sleep?"

"Yeah," Neal said then looked around Peter to see Elizabeth sleeping away. "You going to wake her up?"

"Yeah, her back would hurt in the morning if she slept here," Peter said. "You go on up, I'll take care of it. You look exhausted."

"I feel exhausted," Neal said and slowly got up, not wanting to jar his ribs too much.

After brushing his teeth and changing into one of Peter's t-shirts and sweatpants (Peter said they would get some of his clothes tomorrow or the next day) and purposely leaving the bedroom door open, he climbed into the Burkes' guest bed and fell asleep not a minute later.

WCWCWCWC

Neal closed his eyes and counted the last few seconds in his head. 3...2...1.

He knew when the alarm was going to go off, but he couldn't help but flinch when the high-pitched beeping started.

Neal could hear Keller walked in, but he didn't open his eyes. He didn't want to acknowledge the mans presence. No, not man. No human being would be able to do the things he's done, and do them with a smile on his face. He had to be some sort of monster.

"Not excited to see me, Caffery?" Keller said, and Neal could just tell that he was smiling. "I'm hurt."

He could hear Keller walk back and forth in front of him, but he still didn't open his eyes.

"Open your eyes, Caffery. I've got a surprise," Keller said excitedly.

It was hard to not know when Keller would attack, or how, but Neal just couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. He couldn't look at Keller any longer.

Of course, Keller didn't like that; He wanted to see the fear and aguish in his eyes.

"Neal," someone said. It wasn't Keller, it was Peter. Peter was here to save him! Neal's eyes shot open and he saw Peter in front of him, a huge smile on his face.

"Peter!" Neal said then looked around the room. Keller was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Keller?"

"Keller?" Peter asked, confusion evident in his voice. "Keller was never here."

"What are you talking about? He was just here," Neal said, then saw that Peter had a knife in his hand. It was slick with blood.

"Keller was never here, Neal. It was always me," Peter said and smiled again. Neal recognized that smile; it was the same one Keller had on his face when he was torturing Neal.

Peter walked closer and held up the cattle prod that Keller had used, seemingly to have pulled it out of thin air.

"Peter, what are you doing?" Neal asked, scared now. "Put that down and untie me before Keller gets back."

"Have you not been listening this whole time?" Peter asked, exasperated. "You never listen to me, and that's why you need to be punished."

"Peter, you're scaring me," Neal said uneasily.

"Good, then it's working," Peter said and put the prongs onto Neal's chest.

"Peter, stop!" Neal yelled, but it was too late. Neal's back arched and let a scream escaped his throat as the pain overtook him. But Peter's betrayal was far more painful than the electricity coursing through Neal's body. Was it really him all along? Doing all of this?

He could hear Peter's voice, but couldn't tell what he was saying, the blood pounding in his ears and his own screams stopping him. He was so close, he could feel him shaking him.

The physical pain finally stopped, but the emotional pain didn't, the knowledge of Peter doing this to him didn't go away.

"Neal, it's just a dream. Wake up!" he finally heard Peter say. Why would he say that? Wait.

Neal hesitantly opened his eyes and cringed back when he saw Peter above him.

"It's ok, Neal," Peter said and held up his hands and backed up.

Neal looked around the room and saw he was in the guest bedroom of the Burkes house. And just like that, it all came back to him.

"It was just a dream," Neal said aloud, mostly to himself, but Peter still nodded. Neal sighed in relief and sat up more. He looked over to Peter, who was standing a few feet away and looking concerned. "Did I wake you up?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah, but that's ok," he said. "Do you want to, uh, talk about it?" he asked after a minute.

'It was always me.' The dream was still fresh in his mind, so he really didn't want Peter's comfort at the moment. "No, that's ok," he said. "I'm already forgetting it."

"Well, if you need anything, you know where I'll be," Peter said and hovered for a few more seconds, then left, purposely leaving the door cracked.

Sleep was no longer an option - Not after that nightmare. At least not tonight. Neal looked over to the clock on the nightstand - three more hours until he was supposed to get up.

Neal curled up under the soft blankets that smelled like lavender and silently cried.

Aww, poor Neal. I promise the next chapter will be happier.

Reveiws make me smile!