Note: Long chapter is long, and a little sappy. Enjoy! Also this is the chapter that comes after the one Wondo wrote for me so they tie in together. You can find her here on FFnet under Wondo or search for Animula.

Also I might be out of commission for a week or two, or I might not...it's uncertain at this time. Just know I'll be back and I do appreciate all of your support for this story!

Chapter Thirty

"Now that's nice..."

Neal was sitting on the couch with his laptop on the coffee table sifting through ads for spaces for rent. Discovering not only how gravely injured Peter was but also learning that he wasn't the soulless shell that Neal had been expecting had distracted him from the game that he was hosting in a month and a half. However now that Peter was healthy enough to at least be sleeping on his side of the hall Neal was finding time here and there to start planing. Thanks to Peter he already had the majority of the special guests he wanted on the invite list interested.

"No sense wasting a perfectly good set up." Neal chuckled to himself.

Neal bookmarked the large penthouse with zig-zag inlaid wooden floors, vaulted ceilings, and full glass balcony that over looked Central Park. It would cost close to a million dollars to rent and furnish it for the week, and probably another half million to actually host the game right, but if everything went according to plan they could be walking away from this with ten to twenty million in profits. Although for most con artists the prospect of a ten million dollar haul was often considered 'one last score' material Neal knew he'd have that money spent or otherwise lost in less than a year.

"Particularly splitting it three ways." Neal mused with a smile.

Although he didn't need Peter for the rest of the con Neal felt he'd more than earned his share already. Neal still wasn't sure if Peter would even accept the money, he had already hinted that he wasn't comfortable with cheating humans out of money and that he didn't have any real use for it anyway. If nothing else they could use the money to keep him fed, clothed and healthy, Mozzie had a point when he'd said that Animula are expensive 'pets'. Neal didn't see Peter as a pet, but that didn't change the fact that Peter was dependent on him for absolutely everything.

"That has to be hard." Neal sighed. "I can't even imagine being at the constant mercy of others, particularly considering how little mercy he's been shown."

Neal shook his head to clear it. He knew he needed to stop his habit of talking to himself that he'd developed over the years. Neal suddenly realized that having a few million on hand might also be needed if Peter was caught living here and someone needed bribing. Neal knew he couldn't bribe something as large as the Market, but an individual could have their silence bought easily enough. Feeling good about the up coming game and even getting excited about it Neal decided to just go ahead with contacting the agent in charge of the penthouse for a meeting about rental and sent the email.

Glancing at the time on his computer Neal noticed it was nearly eleven am, a little later than he thought. He hoped that Peter had eaten today. He had gotten a fridge for Peter's apartment and a microwave with plans of installing more of a proper kitchenette later. They still shared a lot of meals together but he didn't want Peter to have to feel like a dog begging for food every time he got hungry. Peter had already lost a significant amount of weight his first week with Neal, but he seemed to be managing to at least maintain over the second week.

Neal didn't mind Peter wanting some privacy, but he was an hour over due for his antibiotics and dressing change. He decided that he could let it go for another hour or so, but then he'd have to knock on Peter's door. The last thing anyone needed right now was for another infection to take hold. Neal kept the door to his own apartment open an inch whenever he wasn't seeking privacy himself as a signal to Peter that he was welcome to enter. If the door was closed it was understood that he needed to knock, however Neal doubted that he would ever dare disturb him unless it was an emergency when the door was shut. Even with the door slightly ajar Peter still knocked gently and waited for permission to enter.

Another half hour passed before Peter knocked at the open door. Neal had continued looking into entertainment and details for the party and hearing Peter at the door he closed the laptop. He didn't want to stress Peter with the event. Neal didn't have any plans of inviting him to the evening, Cheng would be there and Neal didn't want him having to face the monster again. He also worried that Cheng might fight to get Peter back if he learned that he survived.

"Come in." Neal called out realizing that Peter hadn't entered.

Peter stepped inside and closed the door behind himself. Fresh from the shower he looked stronger with every passing day. He still walked with his shoulder held very stiff and tended to quickly seek out a place to rest as long as Neal was already seated. Even though he denied it Neal could easily see that he was still in pain. He was more inclined to use the oral pain medication at night now that he was sleeping alone, but at the rate that he was going through it Neal suspected that he didn't use it during the day.

Peter was wearing a pair of dress slacks that didn't quite fit anymore which he'd solved by tightening his belt. Neal figured that once the wounds had properly healed and his weight stabilized that they would go out and get a new wardrobe tailored for him. Everything he owned was showing signs of wear anyway. He held his dress shirt in his hand, unable to put it on over the exposed cuts without having them bandaged for him first. Despite the amount of time he'd been unable to wear a shirt he still didn't look particularly comfortable with being half dressed and held his shirt close to his chest.

"Good morning, Peter." Neal greeted as he got to his feet.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Peter apologized. "I just..."

"Don't worry about it." Neal interrupted to keep Peter from feeling like he had to explain himself. "Have a seat, let's get your back taken care of."

Peter nodded.

"Everything okay? You're kind of quiet again today."

"I was wondering..." Peter hesitated. "I was wondering if I could get a computer, it doesn't have to be anything high powered. I just like to keep an eye on the stock market, and the finical news."

"Of course, I'm sorry I didn't think of that myself. I'll have Mozzie pick something up. Do you prefer Mac or PC? Any particular brand?"

"No. I can work with anything."

"Consider it done."

"Thank you."

"Not a problem. By the way Mozzie tells me he wants to finish that last game of chess you two started the other day."

"Really?" Peter asked doubtfully.

"I'm telling you Peter, you have a way of changing hearts and minds on Animula very quickly."

"I have not found that to be the case very often."

"That's because you've only ever really been in the company of men who prize money and power over everything and have very little humanity of their own." Neal replied seriously. "Anyone with heart can see you have soul."

Peter visibly relaxed and a genuine smile touched the corners of his lips. Smiling brightly himself Neal pulled out on of the kitchen chairs and turned it around so that he could work on Peter's shoulders. Peter hesitated, but Neal had the feeling it was only because he wasn't looking forward to the painful treatment. Neal did his best to be gentle, but the damage Cheng had done was extensive. Sighing deeply Peter sat down and folding his arms over the back of the chair he rested his chin on them.

"I'll try to be quick." Neal assured.

"Don't worry about me, better to do something right than quick."

"True."

Since Peter had recently showered there wasn't as much cleaning that needed to be done and as Peter slowly won the battle over the infection it didn't weep as much to begin with any more. Neal had thought by now he'd have more a stomach for looking at the injury, but it still made him somewhat nauseous to look at the torn flesh. The older set of marks under the fresher ones were almost completely healed. The more severe newer set were at the yellow stage that made them look more infected than they were.

Neal did as Peter had asked and made sure that everything was done right to ensure better healing rather than just a quick patch job. Peter's only sign of distress was the tension that pulled the muscles in his shoulders and neck taunt. He made a conscious effort to take deep slow breaths to keep from panting. Neal placed the moist layer of gauze in place and covered it with the dry layer. Finishing up Neal took a closer look at the four inch scar in Peter's mid back. It wasn't the first time Neal had noticed it, but this time he noticed marks on either side that indicated that it had been stitched up at some point. Without really thinking Neal gently traced his fingertip against the old scar. Peter's breath hissed across his teeth and he jerked away slightly from Neal's touch.

"I'm so sorry." Neal apologized quickly. "Did that hurt?"

"No." Peter shook his head. "Just a bad memory. One of my Masters was sick."

"They've all been sick to some degree."

"I mean he was ill."

"I don't undersa..." Neal stopped cold as he suddenly realized what must have happened. "He took your kidney?"

"It's how I met Doctor War...Taylor." Peter corrected himself from using Taylor's original name.

"He did that to you?" Neal asked in horror.

"No."

When Peter didn't continue with the story Neal circled around to the other side of the small table so that he could face Peter. Seeing that Peter was clearly lost in the past Neal sat down and gave him a moment. Eventually Peter looked up and saw the concern in Neal's expression. Neal could see the conflict in Peter's golden eyes and he was about to tell Peter that he didn't have to talk about it if he didn't want to when Peter suddenly continued.

"The original surgeon butchered me and then my Master just dumped me back at the Market. I bled out internally for days, getting weaker, no one believed me when I told them I wasn't doing well, until Taylor. He believed me, he saved my life."

"But...he left you in the Market to get sold again."

"It was still the most consideration I'd ever been shown by a human at the time."

Neal was stunned into silence for a moment. He didn't even know why it hit him so hard to hear that Peter had had an organ stolen from him when he'd already known that he'd basically had his entire life stolen from him. There was something different about stealing a part that seemed oddly more horrific than the sale of the whole. Neal decided it was the casual way that the Master didn't even care if Peter survived the theft once he had what he needed carry on with his own life that angered him the most.

"Peter...I don't even know what to say."

"It's still one of my greatest fears, that once I have nothing left to give of myself the Market will just take my flesh, sell what they can, throw the rest away."

"Is that..." Neal hesitated as his blood ran colder "is that what happens to Animula once they can no longer work?"

"I don't know. Supposedly its illegal to sell Animula organs for human use, but that could easily only truly apply to Animula that would otherwise have a life time of work ahead of them. Animula are rare after all."

"Killing the goose that lays golden eggs doesn't benefit anyone until it stops producing."

"Something like that." Peter replied vacantly. "It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Animula lives end in slaughter. I've never been told what ultimate future will be, and I've never dared to ask."

"I don't understand how anyone could be okay with knowing that they received an organ from an unwilling source."

"Humans use heart valves out of pigs and cattle all the time."

"Those are just animals."

"And I'm just Animula, commonly considered to be lower than an animal spiritually speaking."

"Don't say that, that's not true."

"Yes, it is."

"You really have been convinced that you're worthless haven't you?" Neal asked sadly. "Has it ever occurred to you that you are actually priceless?"

"That's not an easy concept for someone who has been bought and sold as many times as I have."

Neal dragged his hands through his hair in agitation. Feeling heavy hearted and painfully sick to his stomach Neal jumped to his feet. Still heavily conditioned to stand as well Peter pushed himself up and instantly lost his balance from getting to his feet too fast. Seeing that Peter was going to fall Neal automatically reached out catch him despite being slightly too far away to help. To both men's surprise Peter brought his own arm up as well in search of help almost simultaneously. The action had only taken seconds and they ended up with firm grip on each other's wrists. Neal smiled at the instinctive show of trust, Peter looked more shocked with his own reaction than anything else.

"Peter, I can't promise you that you'll never end up at the Market again. As much as I wish I could I can't guarantee that we will never get caught or otherwise discovered. As much as I hate to admit it I know that as long as the Market exists it will always be a danger to you."

Peter nodded solemnly in agreement.

"What I can promise is that I will *never* sell you, to the Market or anyone else." Neal said seriously. "If you leave here it will either be by your own choice or by forces beyond either of our control. I wish I could do better, but any other promise would be an empty one and you deserve more than that."

Neal released his hold on Peter's wrist but only so he could offer his hand for Peter to shake. Although he had instantly released Neal's wrist it took him a second to accept the offer to shake his hand.

"Thank you, Neal, for everything. I wish I could offer something even half as meaningful in return."

"Just being given the chance to help someone other than myself has already been life changing..."