The safe house was quiet. After nearly two months of institutional rustle and flurry, between the hospital and the rehab center, the little, decidedly modest townhouse was too quiet. The bed was considerably more comfortable than the hospital beds he had resided in for seven long weeks and after all the effort and pain that came with moving him here Neal had drifted off almost immediately after being settled into it.

The quiet woke him. The room he barely took in when he arrived was lost in shadows. Soft moon light filtered in from the high windows dancing with the darkness. The windows were the reason they chose this room for him… letting in natural light without offering a clear line of sight to his level. Pushing the thought of snipers away he watched the silent play of light and shadow flutter across the floor brushing a shoe… definitely out of place

Neal froze… it's probably one of the agents from the protection detail he told himself firmly.

"Who's there?"

The figure remained silent but he took a single step forward. The light from the window flowed over half a face leaving the other side in deep shadow… Neal stared a long moment at his reflection. A thousand questions fought for recognition "How did you get in here? Why are you here? What do you want?

"So CIA huh?" actually found its way to his lips as he studied the man standing half in light and half in darkness… the perfect image of his own life. It would be an interesting painting… the dichotomy of a man…

"Yeah…" the silence was awkward

"Interesting job?"

"Sometimes."

"Probably not like the movies, right?"

"Not quite" Kevin finally smiled

"Not a lot of breaking into places and cracking safes to get secret files?"

"Never been very good at cracking safes," He smirked slightly making the shadows on his face twist a little bit "but I may have taken down a few security systems and I've never met a fire wall that I couldn't crack."

"I could help you with your safe problem." Neal offered lightly, Kevin's expression instantly slammed closed. That sounded like he wanted them to stay in contact.

"I don't think that's a good idea." His soft tone took some of the edge off the sharp words. The quiet hung over them like a too heavy blanket for several moments.

"I'm glad you came." Neal almost whispered the peace offering into the tension

"This is a bad idea Neal… it won't happen again. It can't happen again." Kevin's voice was strangled as he thought "Because I won't let you end up like Amelia" it had already come to close to that.

"Ok" Neal forced the word out… he understood even if he did hope for more. It was stupid to think Kevin would want to associate with his criminal brother.

"Why did you want to meet me?"

"You can't figure that one out?"

"Curiosity?"

"Yeah…" Neal smiled "that and you're family."

Kevin flinched, his promises to himself and his parents floating through his mind again. He couldn't let himself get close… to many people had already paid for getting to close to him.

"Family is a luxury that is frowned on in my business." Kevin's words were matter of fact but Neal sighed… especially family of an unsavory nature… he thought.

"Mine too" Neal smiled knowingly, clinging to hope that maybe he misread his brother's reluctance, Kevin was as hard to read as he was himself… and then he knew, in an instant. "Attachments are dangerous but… they are hard to live without." Kevin's laugh was brief and humorless.

"But we get used to it, don't we?" he stepped forward… his expression tight with just the faintest hint of … grief? Longing?

"We do." The sadness of that ached in Neal's chest… he'd had a lifetime to get used to it… but the longing still lingered, was it possible Kevin felt that yearning too? "And then someone comes along and you get caught up in the moment and you forget why it is dangerous." He tried just once more.

"To our regret." His tone echoed through Neal's mind.

"Sometimes." He sighed and looked his reflection over "Amelia was one of those someone's wasn't she." Kevin's expression didn't flicker but his breath caught for just the hint of a moment.

"I never should have let her get so close." Staring up into eyes so like his own… not just in color and shape but that reflected his own fears and griefs was startling for Neal but he raised a hand to touch his brother… just this once, dropping his hand on the other man's arm.

"She didn't die because of you"

"You don't know that." His eyes shimmered with tears that he blinked away. "She was here… in the states… she tried to come to me…"

"She said she was on vacation. She saw the threat and chose to get involved."

"She always did." Memory glowed in his eyes "She was so good at what we do. It shouldn't have ended like that… not because of some information broker. She was better than that." Why am I telling him this, Kevin thought, I'm never this open… no one reads me like this.

"Everyone slips… even the best get caught sometimes." Neal said ruefully

"I know." And if it were just Amelia he might have believed him. "I'm sorry Neal… I have to go."

"Already?"

"It's for the best." He turned away, he was protecting his brother... his brother that he would never really know because Neal could read him like no one ever could after just a few minutes… and that… that was dangerously near the edge of to close.

"I suppose it is" he told himself he could live with another family member leaving him behind, but the ache tore at his heart… even worse he saw it reflected in Kevin's eyes. He knew… somehow he knew how much this hurt. The people who could read him that way were few and far between but Kevin knew… and he was still going to walk away.

"You take care of yourself." Was that a hint of pleading in my voice the agent wondered?

"I will…" Neal watched him lay his hand on the door knob… "I'll take care of Will to if you don't want to… he's family too." He was assuring… promising because Kevin was family and Neal knew… he just knew he wasn't leaving to hurt him, he honestly thought he was protecting him and that hurt more than any betrayal.

"I appreciate that… he needs a stable home." Something Kevin couldn't give him.

"Not sure how stable I am… but hopefully I'm a little better than foster care."

Kevin dropped his eyes and was silent for so long Neal wondered if Kevin would actually be able to walk away because he is hesitating …the tension dripping off his shoulders like a cape. He wanted so desperately to stay, to be a father and brother… a family.

"I wish things could be different… I really do, but I made a promise Neal… to my parents." he sighed… almost a shutter really "and I can't break it again." His eyes pleaded for understanding.

"That promise…" Neal pushed himself up as far as he could, and offered as much empathy as he had. "You made it when they died?"

"I have to go… I'm sorry" Fear spiked through him, Neal was to close… in one visit he was already too close. Kevin turned and vanished silently into the shadows like a ghost.

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

It was early when he woke, the grey predawn light filtering through the window told him that. The younger agents keeping watch nodded at him as Peter slipped into the small kitchen for a glass of water. Walking back to the bedroom where he slept, he caught the soft murmur of Neal's voice... after almost a week of spending his nights in the safe house, he knew that nightmares are still common for his friend… but he doesn't wake him… doesn't mention the times he cries out in his sleep. Yesterday he caught a kid laughing about it, a junior agent from another division, no more than twenty six, making comments… joking about what a coward they are babysitting, to another kid who didn't know better than to listen. The urge to tear into him rose in the older man's throat but he choked it back… with tremendous effort and keeping his voice carefully calm he ask… politely, for the young man to desist or remove himself from the detail.

Yes, he knew about the nightmares, and Neal's need to not fall apart in front of anyone, so he let it slide, but standing just outside the door he heard the soft words "please…I'm still here"… the frightened gasp, the ragged breathing as Neal turned on the bedside lamp. Peter sighed and knocked gently on the door frame. It was time to talk… no more excuses.

"Mind if I come in?"

The younger man shook his head and offered a wavery smile, but said nothing.

"You ok?" he tried again.

"Yeah… I'm fine." He shifted his feet under the blanket slightly and the older man struggled not to focus on how good it was to see that tiny movement.

"Sounded like some dream."

"But just a dream Peter, nothing to worry about."

"You have them a lot?"

"Sometimes." He shrugged, dropping his eyes.

"You know, I think nightmares are…" the agent stepped farther into the room "I'm not an expert in psychology but I think nightmares are probably to be expected… considering."

"Yeah." Neal looks up at him, a self-conscious smile playing at his lips. "Probably, but…"his gaze fell again.

"Doesn't make them any more pleasant, does it?" he smiled at the younger man's small derisive laugh. He took a deep breath and plunged in… "Was it the one about me… at the dock?" the blue eyes that snapped to his face radiated defensiveness and shock. Neal's shook his head in denial, drew a slow ragged breath and then sighed.

"How do you know?"

"I wasn't eavesdropping on purpose… but I overheard you and Diana, a while ago."

"Oh."

"I wish she hadn't told you to keep it from me."

"You do? She thought it would upset you… you have enough to deal with in all this mess."

"You were the one who was tortured… for my name. Your mental health is probably more important."

"How do you know about that?"

"Franks told me… he didn't know I was your boss."

"Oh." The young man closed his eyes "I'm sorry I remember… I know this has been hard for you too."

"Neal" he took a deep breath and released it slowly "I don't know why you remember that… I'm fairly certain I don't want to know how you remember it… but I want to be clear. Diana was right, I do not want you to die."

"I know.' Neal smiled easily "too much paper work."

"Yeah…right." he swallowed and shook his head "you're my friend… one of my best friends. That day at the dock… when I …It wasn't because I wanted them to… I just thought… I thought you were already… that we were too late."

"I know." Neal shifted uncomfortably "I figured that out a while ago."

"You did? But you still have the dream?"

"There are plenty of reasons for it to be…" he shrugged, leaving the sentence hanging. "I looked that bad, huh?"

"yeah, pretty much" Peter kept his voice light, despite the vivid image of his friend lying utterly still, ice forming on his cold white skin that floated to his mind… the bullet wound that only bled when Davis' hands compressed the still chest. The sharp snap of his breast bone breaking under the pressure… and the absolute lack of response to the pain that should have caused.

"I'm sorry… you're not one to give up easily so I must have…" his voice ended with a sharp swallow.

"I shouldn't have given up on you. I know you're tougher than you look, that impossible is your specialty… h*** I told myself all of that but… you weren't responding and I saw that bullet wound and…" he shuttered slightly at the memories

"It's ok…" he met the older man's eyes firmly "it really is. I get it… you didn't want me to suffer, and I appreciate that."

"Really?" the relief was a tangible thing

"Really." He grinned "you're off the hook." Peter chuckled "obviously I'm glad Davis decided to be insubordinate but…"

'Me too." Peter smiled "he looked me right in the eye and said 'with all due respect sir. No' and even at the time I was glad he did."

"Brave… defying the boss like that."

"It will definitely be mentioned in his yearly review." He smiled then sighed "it still scares you that I gave up on you." It was a statement not a question.

"Not that you gave up exactly… but that I was that close to… that I was in a condition you felt like there was no…hope" he choke a bit on the confession.

"You were in bad shape" Peter admitted "for a while actually… the doctors weren't really encouraging the first few days… but you made it. That's what matters"

"I did." He grinned "now if we can avoid a repeat performance…"

"That would be good."

"We need to draw them out."

"What are you thinking?"

"Are you still in contact with Kevin?"

"Yeah, he wants to take Dennison down as much as I do."

"Good, call him… and Mozzie. I have a plan. We have work to do."

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

Elizabeth startled. Lost in her work on her laptop, the knock surprised her. She wasn't expecting anyone this morning. With Peter spending his nights away and the young agent he left to protect her presumably still sleeping in her guest room upstairs she had pulled out her computer to get a jump on her day. Carefully she set her coffee cup on the table and moved to her front door. A quick peak through the curtain left her even more confused. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the knob… while she didn't fear any physical harm from the young woman outside she could not think of a single reason Miranda Wallace would be standing on her door step at 6:45 am. She swallowed, had Miranda's superior decided to go ahead with the kidnapping charges after all? Worse, had something happened to William?

"Miss Wallace?"

"Mrs. Burke." They stood there awkwardly eyeing each other for a moment. Their first and only meeting had not been pleasant.

"Can I help you?" Elizabeth broke the silence with a coldly polite tone.

"I certainly hope so." Miss Wallace shuffled the papers in her hand thoughtfully "I have a court order here… somewhere… requesting…"

"I assume if you came to arrest me you have a warrant and a police escort?"

"Arrest you? Why would I…. oh! No I actually have a court order to temporarily grant you and your husband custody of William Woodbridge… per his uncle's request via his lawyer."

"You are here too… Mozzie told you to give him to us?"

"Mr. Haversham….?"

"Yes." Elizabeth stared at the woman in disbelief.

"You know him? Yes he was quite insistent that until his client was capable of caring for the boy the child be placed with caregivers of Mr. Caffrey's own choosing. Given that the boy's uncle has potentially long term custody pending a six month observation period of course the judge agreed. I will need to inspect the property of course but that is mostly a formality at this point."

"You're bringing Will back?"

"He is being picked up from his foster home as we speak… shall we begin the inspection?"

The next two hours were lost a whirlwind of activity papers to sign and preparations… it seemed she barely blinked before a cab pulled up outside and second social worker was greeting Miss Wallace and William… was falling into her arms with a worried expression.

"Wizbet… can I stay?" the little boy asked his thumb finding his mouth and his worn bear clutched under his arm as both child advocates stepped into the waiting cab "Can I weally stay?"

"Of course you can sweetie."

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

"No." Peter rose from the table in a single rushed movement "absolutely not!"

"It's a good plan… "Neal tried to keep his voice rational but it rose despite his efforts "I've thought it out and it is the best way to get Ridgemont and Dennison at the same time."

"You've thought it out?" the older man stared at him in disbelief "you want to contact them and basically say here I am come and kill me."

"No, I want to use my contacts to let Ridgemont think I have the card back, and to convince Dennison that Ridgemont is selling him out. Ridgemont will come for the card and his boss will come for him and you will come for both of them." Peter threw his hands up and shook his head as he turned away.

"It does sound a bit … suicidal" Mozzie added sagely

"It wouldn't be… I would have back up."

"Who couldn't get there in time to prevent Henry Ridgemont from putting a bullet in your head?" Diana sided with Peter too.

"You guys have no faith in my ability to stall?" He shook his head

"It's not that we doubt your skills," Jones said softly "but you are just a little bit off your game right now."

"A little off his game." Peter laughed humorlessly "he can't even stand up."

"Mozzie could put out the rumors… I'd only have to keep Ridgemont talking long enough for you to arrest him."

"No. This plan is not happening… we are not even considering using you as bait right now. You just aren't up to it."

"What about me?" the five of them turned to look as Kevin strode into the room. "I could pass as Neal… and I am far from defenseless." Jones startled slightly… despite all the talk of a double, clearly he hadn't quite expected the eerie resemblance. Diana sat back and studied the young man… wondering if it was possible he remembered anything about the kidnapping. Peter grinned reflexively, Neal offered a welcoming wave and Mozzie… Mozzie sprung from his chair and scuttled across the room to press his back to the wall before he turned to face the apparition.

"Neal?" he managed, glancing from his friend to his apparent reflection.

"Relax Moz" he grinned "Kevin is… or used to be my brother."

"You never mentioned a brother."

"But I did mention Will's mother mistaking me for someone."

"That's true." He stepped forward slightly "are you sure he's your brother?"

"I am" Diana offered "Kevin David Grant was born Nicholas Geoffrey Bennett, before he was kidnapped in July of '84."

"So unless human cloning was perfected thirty years ago… you can relax Moz."

"I can accept he is your brother, maybe… that doesn't mean I can trust him. He is… you know what he is."

"I do" Neal chuckled openly "be nice. He carries a gun, you know."

"Who in your family doesn't?" he muttered but he slid back into his seat.

Kevin settled into a chair at the table and glanced around at the group.

"I always pictured FBI investigations were more paperwork and procedures and involved a lot more people… not so covert." His grin was openly curious

"They usually are." Neal offered "But an information dealer like Dennison would know if a full scale FBI operation was being prepared to set him up… in this case smaller is better, right Peter." He grinned.

"Smaller is better" the older man conceded "but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you set yourself up as bait when you can still barely move your legs."

"But we have Kevin."

"But you have me." The two spoke simultaneously, eliciting chuckles from their audience and a stunned silence from both young men.

"Great minds… right?" Neal smirked at last and Kevin returned his amused expression.

"Devious minds is more like it." Diana said, hiding her amusement with a scowl.

"Of course." Kevin met her gaze "all great minds should be at least a little devious don't you think?" she shook her head

"Exactly what we need" Jones muttered "Two of Caffrey."

"I think it is actually." Kevin looked at him. "Neal's plan is pretty good…with the obvious flaw that he is not capable…" he glanced at his brother "at this moment of carrying it out. On the other hand I have considerable training for … difficult… situations and am in excellent health."

"I don't know" Peter hesitated "what will your boss have to say."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him." Kevin shrugged.

"But it may hurt my people."

"As long as it works he won't care."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then I'll probably be dead and he won't bother you." His quiet declaration sent a shiver down the spines around the table

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely" Kevin's eyes were ice cold and hard as steel "I would do anything to take Dennison and his organization down."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Peter sighed, running his hand through his hair distractedly. "But we do need to draw him out. You're sure he's back in the city? That Ridgemont is with him."

"Yes." Kevin said with certainty.

"Nothing stupid? You will take reasonable precautions?"

"I will be careful." He visibly restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

"Fine. Haversham…do your thing."

The small man glanced at Neal annoyed despite his nervousness. "What do you want me to put out the Mon frère?"

"That Michael Scott might be willing to hand over the memory card in exchange for his life…make sure that gets to Ridgemont…Then it would be good if Dennison got the distinct impression that his right hand thug planned to turn states evidence… or better yet was selling privileged information on the side."

"I see what I can do. It will take a few days." he cast an anxious glance around the room, then exited hastily.