Chapter 11

The Burkes and Neal left early Sunday after breakfast to head back home to New York City. Jack had invited them to stay for church but after seeing the expression on Neal's face Elizabeth politely declined. She just couldn't put him through a whole hour of sitting on what she concluded was a very sore backside…the trip alone would be traumatic enough and she knew he would be making it lying down on the back seat.

Jack however insisted that Neal sit for breakfast murmuring that it would be a great reminder for behaving in the future. Neal had reluctantly agreed mainly because Jack had hinted that a return trip to the woodshed would be a possibility if he refused. So after nearly chocking in his haste to finish the trio was finally on the road and headed home.

"Comfortable back there?" asked Peter as they drove off.

"Peachy, just along as you don't hit any potholes," replied Neal as he tried to get comfortable.

"I'll try," replied Peter solemnly, "so other than your trip to the woodshed last night how was your vacation in Stillwater?"

"Vacation! Peter he put us to work. We had to mow the yard and clean the house, paint Gibbs room and work in the store," replied Neal fervently.

"I take it that you didn't like it?" replied Peter with a smile.

"No, I didn't like it or the bedtime spankings, or delivering groceries to those who could have picked them up for themselves or that strapping last night," fussed Neal.

"Then keep that in mind the next time you decide to do something stupid; you could have a repeat journey to Stillwater and the woodshed," Peter said firmly.

"This is your entire fault," declared Neal strongly.

"What's my fault?" asked Peter mystified.

"The strapping I got," clarified Neal.

"How is that my fault…I didn't flatten someone's tire or steal his wallet," argued Peter.

"Nope, but if you had given in to your feelings of missing me earlier then you would have come and gotten me before that even happened," replied Neal.

Peter looked at El as she was trying not to give in to laughter at the banter between the two. "H-he's got a p-point-t, Honey," as she gave up and began to laugh. It only took a moment before Neal and finally Peter joined in.

It was several minutes later that the laughter came to an end and normal conversation resumed this time it was El who started it with a question to Neal.

"Neal, did I hear you correctly when you called Jack 'grandpa'?"

"Yes…he adopted me as a grandson. I never knew mine; they were gone by the time I appeared in the world," replied Neal with a smile. He had liked the older man and all of the stories he had told.

"You know Neal with Jack as your grandfather, your family is complete and you have Peter to thank for it all. When Peter caught you and your plan to work for the FBI as his CI caused him to feel responsible for you to watch out for you like a big brother or father would. You have me as the doting big sister who would do anything I could for you and with June as the mother who loves you dearly and Mozzie as the understanding uncle who has looked out for you for a long time…yes sir you are one lucky young man," explained Elizabeth lovingly. "We all care for you dearly Neal and only want the best for you and will do whatever we can to keep you safe."

Neal was having trouble on the back seat to keep his emotions from overflowing with all of the tenderness El had just given him through her explanation. "T-thanks," he managed to say before adding, "but do you all have to care so much…that strap really hurt."

"All you have to do is behave," replied El as she reached back and patted his arm tenderly.

"I'll try," replied Neal as he closed his eyes for a few minutes.

"Neal what did Jack tell you just before we were to leave?" asked Peter.

"Oh, that he was happy that he had another grandson and if heard of me misbehaving again he would be tempted to come down and explain why that is not something a grandson of his is to do…then he gave me a mighty swat to remind me what the consequences would be if he came," explained Neal lightly.

"You don't sound very concerned about his promise," El asked.

"I'm not, how is he going to know if I misbehave; its not like anyone is going to tell him…right Peter?"

"Peter?" Neal asked when Peter hadn't replied to his earlier statement.

"I'm sorry Neal; Jack made me promise to tell him if you did anything that stupid again. He's quite serious and don't think of lying to him either, from what Jethro tells me he gets very angry when he's lied to," replied Peter apologetically.

Neal turned to Elizabeth and cried, "El you wouldn't let him tell Jack on me would you?"

El leaned over and whispered, "I would dial the phone, dear…anything to keep you safe."

"Yeah, safely lying on my stomach….arghhhhhhh!"

The End

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