6C: Repercussions Relief


They'd made progress at the end of the day but Peter still tensed up when it was time to collect Neal for the trip home. Would Neal want him over at all, or would he send him home? If he sent him home, could he manage to sneak into the guest room again?

Neal was quiet again as they drove, he didn't seem to question when Peter joined him and June for dinner, and he didn't react to anything until Peter turned to leave.

"You aren't staying?" Neal caught his arm causing Peter to turn and see his nervous expression.

"My neighbor can't watch Satchmo tonight, but I can bring him back here if you want and June doesn't mind." Peter gave Neal the choice of an out if he didn't want him specifically around. He couldn't shake his feeling from the morning.

"I don't think June would mind Satchmo if you don't mind staying again. You can use the guest room if you don't want to be here." Neal's face was downcast.

Cocking his head, Peter realized that maybe he wasn't the only one feeling insecure. "The couch doesn't bother me," neither did Neal's need for comfort, except that it meant he'd been hurt in the first place.

Looking relieved, Neal promised to retrieve his things from the guest room and make arrangements for Satchmo while he was gone.

Catching Neal when he moved to get started, Peter pulled him into a hug. "That works. Do you want me to walk Satchmo or bring him back so you can join us?" Peter continued to offer Neal inclusion.

Thinking about it, Neal stepped back when released and came to a conclusion, "A walk would be nice... if you think it's okay?"

Smiling, Peter promised to make the arrangements and be back in a short.


On their walk, Peter enjoyed seeing Neal appreciate the evening. Neal didn't know that his new found brothers were performing as the watch to help Peter keep him safe. Still, Peter figured it helped them feel like they were repaying Neal while letting them see him in a more casual environment since he hadn't been ready to open up to them yet.

At one point, Neal twitched like he'd seen a familiar and unfriendly face.

Having seen the passing man's glare, Peter wondered if he was connected to their case. "Who was that?" He asked Neal softly.

"He…" swallowing and trying to keep his control, Neal struggled. "He was one of the guards who particularly took pleasure in torturing me."

Hitting a signal on his watch, Peter kicked the rest of the agents into high alert. Then he pulled his phone out and text James why he'd tripped the alarm. To keep the situation under control, he calmly put an arm across Neal's shoulders before passing him Satchmo's leash. This provided comfort to Neal while keeping one hand free to defend them if needed.

"Peter?" Neal's voice still shook and his body had stiffened.

"We have black ops agents watching us, and I've alerted everyone that we might be in trouble and why. You're going to be okay; we won't let them touch you again." Peter promised, and he was determined to keep his promise.

Very carefully, Peter made sure it was safe before turning the corner to head back to June's. They didn't want the danger to get them, but they didn't want to take it back to June either.

Walking along, Peter could sense the growing danger as surely as Neal could. Fortunately, when a black van pulled over and men jumped out, Peter was able to put Neal behind him so that he was between him and the danger. Since Neal also had Satchmo, he was able to have both hands ready to reach for his gun.

James and Bryce weren't far behind so Peter barely drew his weapon in defense when the other triplets landed into the men. It was amazing! These agents were both very well-trained and capable so they quickly took the attackers down. Only the man who had past them even got close, but Peter shot him in the shoulder when he lunged out of a bush for Neal.

With the agencies descending in mass, Peter was able to leave handling the scene to others while he accompanied Neal home with agents from their team who remained on watch.

Neal was shaken up by the close encounter so Peter sat him on the couch with Satchmo on one side and put his arm around Neal from the other, "Hey, are you okay?"

Instead of answering, Neal turned and ducked his head into Peter's shoulder. Nearly being taken again seemed to have caused more emotional distress than Neal knew what to do with as Peter could feel growing dampness surrounding where Neal's head rested.

"You're safe, Neal. We aren't going to let them take you!" Peter fell back into crooning comforting words and simply hugged Neal close.

After a few minutes, Neal seemed to need to talk as he started describing what was happening in his head, the memories of what he'd been through.

Peter was a whirl of emotions as he listened with anger, disgust, and concern being the main ones he could pick out. It made him sick to know what Neal had been through! However, he did the same as he had been doing, he swallowed his emotions and continued to focus on Neal's needs.

When Neal started to get sleepy, Peter helped him up and made sure he was okay enough to manage before letting him go get changed for bed.

While Neal got ready, Peter got Satchmo settled and got ready himself.

It wasn't long before Peter sat on the edge of Neal's bed providing human company while Satchmo had been allowed the other side of the bed due to special circumstances. Talking reassuringly, Peter watched as Neal's eyes drifted shut until he was asleep.

Leaving a small light on in between them, Peter wanted to be able to safely traverse the loft if needed should Neal wake up or have difficulties in the night. Then he got comfortable on the couch and went to sleep.


It had surprised Peter that Neal seemed to sleep peacefully through the night. He'd slept lightly and often been awake, but he never heard a peep from Neal and the kid looked far better rested the next morning. His own sleep hadn't been so restful so perhaps he was grateful for his focus on Neal. Peter had spent his night plagued by nightmares, he could see his own interpretations of what Neal had gone through each time he closed his eyes.


Fortunately, the other agencies had been successful with their interrogations. Between the CIA, NSA, and those preset of the FBI, they had everything they needed to organize a raid and pursue those ultimately responsible!

Getting his coffee and gearing up with the other agents, Peter was glad to see the other triplets and their friends handling the situation seriously. They were as determined as he to resolve the situation.

They were going after a new facility, the one the torturer and bosses had fled to with most of their minions. Trying to brace himself and the others, Peter knew they'd likely see something similar to what Neal had endured and it wouldn't be anything short of disturbing.

As predicted, they had a very successful bust by rounding up their remaining suspects. But, there had been a new victim with all the disturbing treatment Peter feared.

He was fortunate that he didn't see the man so his imagination didn't have that fuel, but Peter still heard about what had been done to him and saw the cell where he'd been kept. Peter wasn't ashamed to admit he'd thrown up after that.


Back at the office later, Neal had his head down to avoid seeing all the pitying expressions and reactions directed his way. He'd heard a lot as the case ramped up, but with the team seeing what he'd gone through, it would be worse.

When he walked by, Peter couldn't even look at Neal. His mind already had enough fuel to torture him with and it was a losing battle to keep it together as it was. Instead, he went up to his office and buried himself in paperwork.

To his surprise, Elizabeth called him towards the end of the day to see how he was doing. He tried to shield her from the details, but she still understood that he was upset by what had happened. Since he wouldn't open up, she did what she could to distract him before she needed to go.

Wondering, Peter questioned which member of his team had tipped his wife off or if her timing had been more luck. Either way, she'd balanced when he finished his paperwork with when it was time to go home.

Locking up and catching Neal for the drive, Peter was surprised by how attentive Neal was. The kid seemed to be providing the same comforting conversation he'd been offering only days before. Much like Neal had, Peter tried to keep up a semblance of his part at times, but he was pretty sure he failed most of the time.

Drifting through the evening, they got dinner, ate in the loft, and June brought up dessert when they finished cleaning up. It struck Peter again on the timing, but as it prevented him from going into his thoughts, he didn't question it.

Eventually, it was time to go to sleep so Peter put his focus on making sure Neal was okay before going to bed himself. He didn't even realize at first that Neal had set Satchmo up on his bed by the couch, but the thought briefly connected before Peter fell asleep.

As expected, Peter woke up in a panic after dreaming about finding Neal in that cell. He was about to listen for Neal to see how he was sleeping when the man spoke from above him startling him.

"I'm okay, Peter." Neal was shadowed but Peter could feel his hand on his shoulder and hear the concern in his voice.

Leaning up and pulling Neal into a hug, Peter found himself crying. "I know it wasn't you we rescued today, and I didn't even see him, but I still can't stop imagining you in that cell. You can't imagine how sorry I am that they ever got you!"

Neal rubbed his back and crooned comforting words much like Peter had been doing for his friend. It was a relief to work through his own pent-up emotions and they were too much for him to fight so Peter found himself crying his fears and worries out into Neal's shoulder.

When he felt that he was in control, Peter gave Neal another hug saying, "Thank you," before pulling back.

Keeping a hand on his shoulder, Neal accepted his words with, "You're welcome, but I should be thanking you more. I was such a mess when I got back, it felt like I was part falling and part being squeezed to death or torn apart, I didn't really know for sure which. Everything was overwhelming and I didn't know what to do. But, despite everything, you put your comfort aside and helped me through this initial recovery. It'll take time for the memories to fade, and they may come back to torment me in the future, but I will always have the memories of your efforts to help me through them. Returning the favor to help you through knowing what was done to me is the least I can do."

Having cleaned himself up a bit, Peter felt like he could talk clearly. "I don't like knowing you went through that because it means you went through that, but I'm happy to help. You're my friend, my best friend." A part of him felt childish referring to friends and best friends, but it was the truth and Neal deserved to know how he felt and what he meant to Peter.

Leaning over for a sideways hug, Neal seemed comforted to know his value. "You're my best friend too."

"Not Mozzie?" Peter was a bit skeptical that he was closer to Neal than Mozzie, but then again, Mozzie wasn't here when Neal needed him most.

"Mozzie is a really good friend but he's not my best friend. Due to his childhood, he always keeps people at a distance; you open up and connect." Neal didn't elaborate on the details but explained a little more depth to his friendship with the little man.

"You don't open up either, isn't it more about being there?" Peter was intrigued to know more about Neal's perspective.

"I can't open up…" Neal hesitated before taking a deep breath and plunging in. "I grew up in Wit-Sec before being recruited by the FBI. Let's just say it's suspected that you've caught on to possibilities, but that's all I can say on the subject. Anyway, you've also had information about Mozzie cross your path. When it comes down to it, we've worked together for years and we're good friends, but he has another friend he mentions as closer. For me, you're a closer friend than he is."

Smiling, Peter enjoyed the confirmation. He'd suspected that there might be something there, but it wasn't a priority with everything else going on. "I did wonder, but thank you for confirming."

"Does it matter, that I'm an agent instead of just a con?" Neal seemed to have some insecurity issues of his own.

"No, you've always been Neal and I'm friends with the man you are, but also yes because that changes the professional dynamic and perhaps some of who you are as an agent instead of a con." Peter was honest that he wasn't friends with Neal because he was an agent or a con, his profession wasn't the reason he liked him.

Relaxing, Neal felt better about the confirmation and began talking more about himself outside of his character.

Leaning back against the couch, Peter felt the couch shift as Neal also leaned back. Talking, they enjoyed the open comradery and honesty until Peter must have drifted off in the conversation.


On the weekend, Peter was happy to welcome Elizabeth home from her time with her family. She talked about her sister and her family, what they'd done, and asked him about his week and how things were now that she could see him in person.

Smiling, Peter knew that he and Neal were doing pretty well. "Care to go to a party this evening?" When she questioned who's, he elaborated. "The triplets are having something of a birthday party to begin getting to know each other and they've all invited friends. June is hosting."

Elizabeth's eyes gleamed at the prospect. "When do they want us?"

Grinning, Peter said they had enough time to get ready and go. "Satchmo is also invited as he spent most of the week there, Bugsy misses him."

Giving him a kiss, Elizabeth went to get ready for the evening.

Amused, Peter went about his work to get Satchmo and himself ready until it was time to go.

Arriving at June's, Peter let Satchmo off his leash when they got through the door. The dog went to Bugsy by June's side and they settled in to watch the festivities together.

Escorting his wife to the triplets, Peter waited until after she'd hugged Neal to introduce her to the others. Then he took his turn hugging Neal while she conversed with his brothers.

As the evening progressed, they enjoyed the company of their own team, Bryce had invited team Carmichael, and Junior had invited a friend who was going to be late. When he did arrive, Mozzie revealed himself to be best friends with Junior.

"Did you suspect we were brothers?" Neal and Junior couldn't help but question.

"Yes, but I couldn't prove anything so I also thought you might be doppelgangers. Researching when I could has been a pet project of mine, but I'm glad the suit was able to confirm your connection once and for all." Mozzie toasted the triplets in his congratulations.

Raising their drinks, the rest of the party called "Here, here" in support. They all wished the triplets well in their future as a family, they were all glad to expand their friendships through the group, and they were all glad to see their respective friends so well settled in life. The triplets had jobs they loved, friends who supported them, and now family to get to know.

Catching Neal's eye in the toast, Peter was happiest of all to see the resolution to such a disturbing situation. He and Neal were better friends than ever, he'd been able to help and protect his friend after all, and Neal was beginning to open up and get to know his new found family.

There would be challenges in the future, but they would now be able to handle them better and handle them together.


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