(Chapter 8)

The minutes ticked by more quickly than Neal liked now that he could read his watch again. The trunk had been dark which hadn't helped with his already fearful demeanor about blowing up the building with all his colleagues or failing Peter and Mozzie. He glanced down at his wrist distractedly. Almost 2 of the 4 hours he had been given by Jaren had passed by and he was still sitting in the evidence lock-up waiting for Jones to return. It had only been around 10 to 15 minutes but that was more than he liked knowing he was literally a ticking time bomb.

Neal glanced up as he heard the doorknob turning and two figures appeared. One of them was Jones with a kevlar vest and the other was he assumed Jacobs. The second man was dressed in a more heavy outfit, black and heavily padded which was typical for someone dealing with explosives. The agent didn't have the helmet on as he moved towards him.

"Caffrey, I'm Agent Jacobs."

The man held out a hand, Neal taking it but careful not to jiggle the cuffs too much. He watched the agent take a look at how the trigger was set up through the metal links and whistle.

"This Morrison guy is really above par... We've had some run ins with him before but this is new. He typically uses pipe bombs rather than people."

The topic wasn't making him feel too comfortable despite the man's conversational nature trying to calm him. It worked on one part but he still had to get out of this get up before it hurt anyone other than just himself. Jacobs moved closer, small knife in hand as he cut open the vest delicately and revealed the plastic C-4 inside. It was encased in cellophane, the wiring intricate at best as they got a good look.

"Not amateur but we can get you out of this. I hear you're quite the escape artist. Probably why you guys on the 21st Floor have such a great arrest record."

The man was speaking as if he admired him, the talk easing him a bit as Jacobs seemed to be measuring something a moment then took something from Jones. It was a small bottle of what appeared to be baby oil. Neal blinked suddenly realizing what they were going to do.

"Do we need to go down to that fallout shelter? I'd feel safer doing this there."

Neal was trying to be calm as the agent thought a moment then nodded.

"That might not be a bad idea. Jones, make sure the way is cleared. We have to take the elevator down although it's not my first choice just fastest. Just tell everyone to take the stairs for thirty minutes."

Jones nodded, looking over at Neal with a "hang in there" glance before he left. Jacobs pocketed the bottle and they both started towards the exit.

"We're going to get you out of this, Caffrey. My team is on their way now."

The man had placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently as he smiled at him. He was happy the agent felt confident but he still felt like he somehow deserved this. One last curse of the treasure and his uncertainty to stay or go. He had long since gotten over any inclination to leave with his commutation hearing over but this incident just reminded him of how his past kept coming back to bite him in the butt.

()()()

Elizabeth Burke wanted to go visit with Neal when she found out that he was in the building. Reese had stopped her, insisting she was safer here but they could talk with him on the phone once the consultant and bomb squad were ready downstairs. Neal was still being transported via the elevator to the basement level where they normally kept the servers. The more vital machines had been transported to another area, the one section cleared out in what used to be a fallout shelter in the 50s. It was the most likely area that would contain a blast as the bomb squad did their best to set up some blast shields just in case. She felt less than reassured seeing the same look reflected in Hughes' eyes.

"Could someone escort me to see my husband, Reese? I know you're worried about my safety..."

The older man held up his hand in a polite yet dismissive way. He wasn't trying to keep her quiet but his hands were tied at the moment.

"We have security on him. Caffrey's friend disappeared after a bit but I can't go chasing after him right now when we have a bomb here in the building and a man trying to get at a painting we don't even actually have."

He sounded frustrated but in a tired sort of way. He wasn't angry and Elizabeth knew he was just doing what he could with what he had. She nodded, moving closer and grasping his shoulder with her hand gently.

"I'm sorry, Reese. I just wanted to see my husband and I'm worried about Neal. I know it's dangerous right now."

Hughes looked up at her and smiled slightly, wiping at his eyes in an off-hand sort of way. Was he crying? She felt the same way but they were both doing their best at not looking upset as more agents entered the building and floor. They weren't any that she knew, talking to other agents and apparently evacuating them. Elizabeth wondered if this Jaren person would see them going and ignite the bomb early. Reese seemed to understand.

"We have a safe room on the opposite side of the building. We're moving the few people still here at work there while we can. You and I will have to go there soon. We can initiate a call to Caffrey from there."

()()()

Peter remembered very little of his and Mozzie's rescue, his head aching when he passed out. He had a vague sense of people moving around him at times and the voice of Mozzie in the distance but mostly he heard everything as a soft persistent buzzing in the background as he slept and his body healed. How much time had passed as he felt himself starting to come to, a sound of coughing heard before he realized it was himself doing the actual coughing.

"Easy, Agent. I think he's coming around."

The voice was gruff but kind, Peter's eyes opening and then closing as light shone in them. He gave a bit of a wince but his eyes were forcibly opened and light shined in them again as he struggled a bit but someone held him down gently as he started to calm.

"His eyes aren't dilated but they look dry. Get me an IV!"

The agent was trying to figure out where he was when it hit him, the room jouncing a bit as it became apparent he was in an ambulance. Peter tried to sit up but the person who had talked and shined the light in his eyes pushed him gently back.

"Rest agent. We're taking you somewhere safe."

Peter blinked up at the blurry figure beside him and nodded before he glanced around but didn't see who he was looking for.

"Mozzie... the little guy with me. Where did he... go?"

His mouth felt dry as a desert, his throat like sandpaper as he went into a coughing fit again and the EMTs did their best to settle him, the one who had been talking helping him sit up enough to drink some water from a bottle. Peter drank the liquid hungrily until the medic told him to slow down. Once he was sated the agent lay back and relaxed, waiting for the man to answer him. They were hooking him up to IV's, his arm hurting where they poked in the needles to held his body fight the botulism and his other symptoms.

"Ran off once he knew you were ok. The agents looked for him but he didn't want to be looked for I guess. He a friend or a suspect?"

Peter blinked, nodding which made the man chuckle as he did the same back.

"Both sometimes but mostly friend. He's my partner's buddy."

Suddenly it all came back to him. Neal was in deep trouble but all he knew was that something bad was going to happen but not what, his mind refusing to tell him except that Neal was in danger. The EMT clucked his tongue and nodded.

"I know the type. He was worried about you but seemed afraid of what he called our witch doctoring methods."

The man shrugged with a soft laugh before he handed Peter a granola bar. The agent thanked him, taking a small bite and chewing it thoroughly before swallowing.

"You've been through this before?"

Peter nodded then realized he meant the illness not what was happening with Caffrey.

"A few years ago I ate something bad. Wasn't half as painful as this designer version."

The EMT nodded back at him continuing to check his vitals as he and his colleagues hooked up more devices and IVs to him. Peter felt like a pincushion after the 3rd back was hooked up but he knew it was necessary since he had been so sick.

"I think you're going to be ok but we're taking you to a private clinic per your superiors. We have an escort just in case of trouble. I've worked with law enforcement before. Must be a big case if they're taking so many precautions."

He didn't say anything else, leaving it out in the open to mean "Mum's the word" as Peter nodded back without any words. He felt sleepy but another part of him wanted to call his wife and hug her and then he wanted to find out where Neal was and if he was ok. Maybe Mozzie would find out and solve the mystery. Peter felt himself start to nod off, the movement of the ambulance and whine of the siren lulling him to sleep despite everything.

()()()

Neal was less than relaxed as they sat him down in a comfortable office chair, the bomb squad rally around to get things secured and ready in case of trouble. Jacobs seemed confident they would get the bomb off of him as he left the bottle of baby oil near the consultant to go confer with his crew. Neal felt antsy, wondering if he was willing to take this risk for everything... everyone he cared for should it come to that when he received a call.

"Caffrey... It's Hughes."

The head of the division, the big boss was calling him. He felt a sense of dread as he swallowed hard to get rid of the lump in his throat and speak.

"I've been better, sir."

He was trying for some levity but under the circumstance it probably fell flat, silence on the phone a moment before Reese spoke.

"You're in good hands, Caffrey. Peter is doing well. He's safe. You'll be ok, son."

Son? The word sounded alien to him but the fact Hughes had said it so kindly made him smile and relax a bit more.

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate your concern."

He felt part of his anxiety lift with Hughes' kindly words, a cough drawing his attention back to the man and their call.

"There's someone here who wants to talk to you."

Neal wasn't sure who would be there to talk to him when he heard their voice and swallowed harder.

"Neal? How are you holding out?"

He blinked, uncertain what to say.

"El? I'm... fine."

The con paused, his mind trying to figure out why she was there unless it had been to ask about Peter. There would be no other reason.

"Good... I heard that Peter is doing better. The EMTs said he was doing very well."

Her voice trailed off as if she was wanting to say more but was doing her best to just be positive. Neal was feeling the same way, the awkwardness turning to silence as he watched Jacobs moving back towards him.

"Hughes told me he was in safe hands. (pause) Thank you for calling El. If anything..."

He didn't get to finish his sentence, a loud sigh interrupting him.

"Don't say it. You'll be fine and then we can go see Peter. I need to hang up now. Call me when you're safe."

Neal was grateful she called, listening even after the beep that the call had ended.

"Caffrey?"

He glanced up at Jacobs who had walked back over to him and nodded.

()()()

Peter slept for what seemed days, his body finally able to relax after the time he had been forced to spend sick out in the open and the hours in the freezing water at the old quarry. He had a weird dream, his eyes opening to find himself sitting in the chair at his office. Peter yawned, feeling as if he had just waken up from a nap but something was off. He glanced outside his office to the bullpen below and saw it was completely empty, the lights on. The agent rose, walking out of his office and down the few stairs to the main level. He walked past Jones' desk and saw a fresh cup of coffee still steaming but abandoned. He passed another desk and saw a half-eaten sandwich with a cold soda still damp with condensation. Something was wrong if everyone left their food and drink here and from what he could tell it was recent.

"Hello?"

He poked through every corner of the White Collar department but found it eerily empty and silent. A chill creeped down his spine as he moved towards the elevators, reaching to push the button when the bell made a dinging sound and the doors started to open. It was instantaneous as he was thrown back against the opposite wall, his head connecting with a resounding crack as he slid to the floor. Flames and smoke smothered him as he coughed and fought to stay conscious.

"He died because of you, Agent Burke. Sacrificed himself because you tamed him."

Peter turned to see Jaren standing there, crouched beside him with that cold grin plastered on his face. He wanted to move but was frozen in place, eyes turning to the flames when Jaren turned to look in that direction. There was something inside the fire and flames, a figure burned beyond recognition as the agent's eyes widened but someone held him back, pushing him down until he couldn't move as Jaren continued to smile darkly at him.

"Caffrey was a good thief while it lasted. You were a good agent."

He looked up at the last part to find a gun pointed at his forehead, the trigger being pulled back as he watched.

"I hope you know how much you've damned him with your morals."

The man laughed, the sound of a report echoing in his head when he felt himself sit up, breath coming fast, heart racing as he fell back against a soft pillow and mattress and closed his eyes again. He was no longer in the ambulance, the room around him dull and sterile looking.

"Hun?"

Peter glanced to his right to find Elizabeth there, her hand gently grasping his as she moved closer. He pulled her into a long kiss and she smiled when they finally parted.

"You must be feeling better."

She was smiling at him, his eyes blinking as he was uncertain of something. Was he awake or was he dreaming still? El squeezed his hand and gazed at him curiously.

"Something wrong, Peter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Peter wasn't certain what to say if he was awake. The dream had been nightmarish and he hoped nothing bad had happened to his friend as he pulled his wife closer and just hugged her.

"I'm just... just happy to see you, El."

His voice was raspy from lack of use, El hugging him back as she lay her chin on his shoulder, lips brushing his ear.

"I missed you too, hun."

He kept hugging her, sniffing some as he noticed an odd scent. His nose crinkled as he moved to pull away from his wife but she held on, her grip suddenly more tightly than he was accustomed to.

"El... let go. Hun?"

Peter finally pulled away to find a burned skeleton clinging to him, the room suddenly aflame as he scooted back and rolled off the bed to the floor coughing from the smoke. He heard laughter as footsteps neared. Jaren glanced down at him from above and opposite the bed.

"Thought you could get away so easily? I always get what I want, Agent Burke."

Peter felt a pain in his chest, something warm like fire and saw his skin starting to smolder as he cried out in pain, Jaren's laughter echoing as he passed out from this nightmare and sunk back into the darkness. He thought he heard something in the background like a loud beeping sound and then silence.

()()()

Neal started to slowly undo his wristwatch, unlatching the clasp when they heard a low beeping sound. Both men glanced at the explosives around his torso and saw a small timer suddenly turned on they hadn't noticed before. There was a moment of panic and then he clasped the watch back, the timer blinking a moment after it had started to count down from 100, stop at 85 and turn off. Jaren had rigged his watch into the device somehow, a fine wire suddenly evident from the cuffs to his timepiece. Jacobs sighed.

"Tricky. We're not licked yet, Caffrey. Give me a few minutes to confer. We still have over an hour to get this figured out."

He nodded back to the man but he was feeling less hopeful by the moment. Maybe he should just let himself be blown up. It would save everyone the trouble of throwing his butt back in jail or saving it from one of his many enemies / fans. He leaned back against the chair he was in and felt the bulkiness of the vest. It felt like a straitjacket only heavier and more confining. All he wanted was to throw it off and make a run for it but he was too tired to try with other people here. If it was only his own life on the line he would happily risk it for his friends and colleagues.

"Caffrey..."

Jacobs had come back along with another man dressed just as bulky. The second man handed him a cup of coffee and a bag.

"Keep your strength up. We'll get you out of this."

The agent sounded so sure. So certain. Neal nodded back tiredly with the best smile he could muster but from the look reflected back, it hadn't been his best con. They knew he was tense but who wouldn't be in the same situation? He changed his thoughts, thinking about Peter and Mozzie. They were ok far as he knew but he'd really like to talk to either one at this time and know for certain. Then he could go in peace.

"Mayer, come look at this trip wire. Nothing like I've worked with."

Jacobs was talking to one other man who was dressed only in a thin padded Kevlar get up. The other agent arrived and gently with a quiet query started to check out the cuffs and watch curiously, hazel eyes following something as the wheels in his head turned. Neal imagined a few hamsters running in a circle but more than that. This guy was a pro. He knew that from the way they were trying to help him.

"Thanks."

He said it to Mayer, the man nodding to him with a quick glance as he continued to examine the set up. It was going to be a long couple of hours. That's all they had before the timer turned on by itself.

()()()

Jaren was impatient, looking down at his watch and seeing it was almost 3 and a half hours since the con had left them. There had been no explosion but there was also oddly no one coming or going from the offices besides one or two agents who casually strolled out of the building without a panicked look. 30 more minutes and the con would either be dead along with whomever was in the building or he hoped Caffrey would have the painting. Either way, the man was dead. Jaren wasn't going to keep him around knowing he had a conscience. He wanted that painting!

He glanced down after the last 30 minutes was about to end. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... The car rattled slightly, people on the street glancing around curiously and then the small quake stopped and everyone went about their business as if nothing had happened. There was no smoke or shattered remains from within the building making Jaren think that they had somehow found the young man and placed him in an area that would withstand the blast. If that were true... Caffrey was dead. He cursed audibly, sighing as he tried to think why he had even bothered with the tame con. It was obvious he had told the Feds or he wouldn't have blown up. C'est la Vie. Just one more opportunity he could say he would have to give up. He had enough masterpieces to last him a lifetime. One wouldn't make a difference but it had been a fun game to play.

"We're done here, Albert. Drive..."

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Uh-Oh! Where's Mozzie? Is Peter ok? What happened to Neal and what was that "rattle" like an earthquake? Next chapter coming soon!