Neal stretched out on his bed as a wave of fatigue washed over him. It had been a long, mentally intense night and to top it all off, he had to use his 'alternate entrance' as his mom's new boyfriend was still hanging out downstairs. He rolled over onto his side and grabbed a worn little notebook out of his satchel. Thumbing through the pages he found the entry he was after and pulled out the entire page. He read through some of the other notes before tucking the book back securely into his bag, reminding himself to return it at some point to its owner. Neal sighed heavily and shook his head. His life was about to get a heck of a lot more complicated...
-W-C-
The coffee mug shattered to the ground and Verbal stopped walking with a limp and strolled with self-assuredness to the car.
Neal looked over at Peter who was snuggled into El. "How clueless were those detectives? Should be put on traffic control for disgracing the department like that. What, they couldn't see the writing all over the wall. The clues were littered all over the room. I knew it was Verbal all along."
"You did not." Peter shot back as he stretched out and encroached even further into El's space. He had to admit, there was a good chance the kid had worked out it was Verbal early in the movie. He had an uncanny knack of seeing right through people's motivations and he found himself preempting Neal spoiling a movie plot by telling him to keep his deductions to himself until the final credits. Peter prided himself at being switched on but this kid gave him a run for his money.
El picked up the remote and flicked off the TV. 'The Usual Suspects' had been Peter's choice. She had hired out 'On Golden Pond'. It was too late to start watching another movie so it would have to wait for another night.
After the TV was switched off, all three remained in their seats in semi-darkness feeling too lazy to get up and head to their bedrooms. It was Saturday night after all. Peter was becoming a permanent fixture at El's place on Friday and Saturday nights. A few times she had stayed over at Peter's for a night but he tried to avoid it if possible. While he loved having her over, he had a niggling feeling about young Neal that wouldn't go away. He had asked El who was babysitting but never quite got a straightforward answer. Peter's one bedroom studio apartment wasn't suitable for a dating couple and a thirteen year old so the unspoken agreement was that he would always stay over at El's.
Peter stood up, pulling El as he went. "Come on let's call it a night."
El collected her pillow and moved towards the stairs. "Come on Baby Seal. You coming up too?"
"I might just camp her for the night Mam'ma."
Neal did look relaxed enough to spend a comfortable night on the single-seater arm chair.
"Come on, Buddy." Peter reached down and yanked Neal up and over his shoulder and began carrying him up the stairs.
"On second thoughts," Neal spoke from over Peter's back, "I think I'll sleep in my bed."
Peter put the young kid down at the top of the first landing. "Good choice, Buddy."
"Goodnight Peter, goodnight Mam'ma."
"Night, night Baby." El kissed her son before he trotted off up to his bedroom on the third floor.
-W-C-
Peter came out of the shower slightly dripping and sat on the edge of the bed watching Elizabeth pull on her sleep shirt. "El, I can't help but ask, you're not concerned about Neal dropping out of school at his age and missing out on a high school diploma?"
El sighed. "I am concerned Peter but it's complicated." El sat on the bed beside Peter. "He's a very smart boy. I expect he would be considered gifted if he were ever to be tested. School was a waste for him. It made us both very unhappy. Neal hated going and I hated dragging him along and the fallout from our emotions of being subjected to it day in day out was very draining."
"Why isn't he home schooled then?"
"What's the point? Neal could pass any test I could put in front of him. Where would it get us?"
"A high school diplomacy equivalent, essential for a government position or a university placement."
"True, but there's plenty of time for that."
"Have you considered it's actually against the law."
"Why Agent Burke, you going all official on me?"
"Only if it turns you on." They both chuckled knowing full well that El was turned on when Peter played Agent Burke in the bedroom. "Seriously, I'm just asking if it's a concern for you?"
"It's a huge concern Peter." El became somber again. "Obviously life would be easier if my thirteen year old son was attending junior high. I'm not worried about the law. They have their hands full with the multitude of truant students in this city causing trouble on the streets everyday and I'd be stunned if they landed on the doorstep demanding I drag Neal along to school. In any case, bottom line Peter, it's what we have at the moment."
"Fair enough El. You'll let me know if I can ever help you out."
El gave Peter a sweet kiss. "I know I can always count on you. You on the other hand, if you have any good ideas, please don't wait for me to ask. I'm open to suggestions." El hopped up and pulled back the blanket. "Now, what was that about breaking the law, Agent Burke?"
Peter flicked off the lights and both were too caught up in each other to hear the thirteen year old creep back down the stairs and out the front door.