AN UPDATE A DAY KEEPS THE ANGRY READERS FROM TEARING MY HEAD OFF! xD
I hope you guys love this chapter like the first! I'm trying for an update each day? If it doesn't happen then please don't rip me apart? Thanks! 3
Reviews help me out and give me ideas so thanks and keep 'em up guys! xD

It didn't take long for Neal to get to the second floor. Doug was watching him walk up the whole way. Doug used to be an old accomplice of Neal's before he shot a cop. The man was dangerous and Neal wanted nothing to do with the violence he represented so he'd ditched him...Apparently he'd held a grudge.

Doug was standing there waiting with a knowing sneer on his ugly mug. As usual, Neal waltzed straight into the line of fire with a huge, authentic-looking smile. Neal shifted to one foot, leaning to the side to peer behind the older man. Peter was bound and gagged on the ground, but his eyes were wide with confusion and betrayal. He thought Neal was there as a bargain with an old friend, Neal realized. He thought Neal was there for revenge.

Neal still smiled. He moved back and looked Douglass in the eyes, smile vanishing. Doug's eyes seemed to be saying, 'well'?

Neal slid the bag over his shoulder and into his hand. He didn't drop it.

"It's all here."
Doug made to reach for it, but Neal yanked it back. Peter was staring at Neal in anguish. After all this time Peter actually thought...Neal shoved the thought away. "Ah, ah, ah." Neal said, glowering.

"You do remember the deal don't you? You let Peter walk out of here." Out of the corner of his line of vision he watched the FBI agent blink in surprise.

"If I came-no anklet, no cops and nothing up my sleeve. You let him walk away in exchange for the money..." His eyes flicked painfully back to Peter's for a moment.

"And me."

Neal pretended not to notice Peter stiffen and scream something from behind his gag. He kept his eyes on Doug.

"I'm well aware of our agreement, Caffrey." Doug spat, eyes narrowed at Neal. "Untie him...GO!"

Neal shouldered the bag again and walked confidently to his partner. Peter was still fighting his bonds when Neal reached him. Peter shook his head. He pulled away as Neal reached for his hands, worry and denial in his eyes. Neal only looked at him.
"What's a worthless criminal compared to a good man?" He asked, cutting the ties around Peter's ankles, not his arms. He didn't want Peter doing anything that could get the FBI agent killed.

Peter tried to tell him something, but it was muffled beyond recognition by the tape on his mouth. Neal had to practically carry Peter over to the door of the stair case, Neal behind him. Neal walked Peter in front of him so he wouldn't be able to see him as he was pushed toward the door. Neal closed Peter's fingers around something small.

"I'm sorry Peter." Neal said. He closed and locked the door behind him.
Neal walked calmly back to Doug and looked him in the eye.

5 minutes of stalling? Granted.

"Long time no see, eh Douglass?" Neal said cockily.
"Shut up, Caffrey! You left me high and dry in the middle of a job! I got life for that!" Doug whipped out a gun in anger. He was staring at Neal as though he could burn a hole in his head without the bullet. Neal simply stood there casually, hands in his pockets and rolled his eyes.

"Well...Isn't this surprising." Neal stated sarcastically. "You never were very creative."
Neal heard, rather than saw the safety switch off.

Shit.

He had to give Peter time... " You went to jail for life because you murdered a cop. Never would have lasted long in the art business anyways, looks like..." Neal mocked, "Lack of imagination."
He tried to keep a calm face on and knew it was working by the way Doug stiffened.

"Put the money on the ground Caffrey! Or I'll put a cap in your brain." Douglass barked. Neal almost flinched. Almost. He REALLY hated guns and Douglass was getting awfully fond of his at the moment. Neal took a deep breath. This was for Peter.

He had successfully edged as close as he could to the opposite window. Neal knew it led to the fire escape because he'd scoped the building before the deal had been struck. If he could just get to that fire escape...
Neal shrugged the duffel over his shoulder...

Stall, stall, stall, stall...

...and into his hand, pretending to measure it's weight.

Stall, stall, stall, stall...

He guessed he had a maximum of 6 seconds to get to the window.
Stall stall- Neal chucked the bag at a startled Doug who just barely caught it.
RUN!

His feet couldn't move fast enough. He only made it half way before he heard the gun shot, but he was confused...Douglass didn't miss. So why? Why was he on the ground? He didn't remember laying down...or tripping. He heard a crack as something hit the ground hard. His head he realized. Suddenly all the pain caught up with him. Searing through everybone in his body. It's epicenter was his chest. So much pain...Why was it so hard to breathe? He struggled to stay awake in vain. He knew he wouldn't win this. Neal could barely see anything, it was so blurry... He hadn't thought he would escapre from the start, but Peter was safe...

The last thing Neal thought of as he closed his eyes was the expression on Doug's face would be when he realized that bag was filled with soap.
Neal smiled and his eyes closed.