Yay another adorable new chapter. Thanks again for all of the readers that reviewed, and a special thanks to peppe1951 who asked when Mozzie was going to come back. That gave me the idea for this chapter and Mozzie will appear in the next chapter!

Elizabeth stood from their place on the couch and made her way upstairs to put Neal to bed. Peter still sat on the couch and placed his heavy head in his hands. His thoughts fretted over everything that had happened today and all that little Neal had said. How could such a young child have experienced a painful enough past that he would choose to run away to the streets? From bits and pieces of Neal's outbursts, the resourceful agent could piece together that the boy had suffered some form of abuse and had not been cared for properly. Obviously his guardians hadn't even cared when their charge had run away! It made him furious to think of such heartless people, but yet it saddened him to think of traumatized Neal. Peter Burke longed to get to the bottom of this mystery and mend the child's broken soul.

Through the gaps in his tiny fingers he could see his mom collapse to the floor. A pool of red spread around her as the giant dark man towered over her. From his hiding spot in the bookshelf cabinet, Neal could see the man turn towards his direction. His tiny hand clasped over his mouth to muffle his breathing. 'Mommy, oh mommy no. Don't breath, don't breath, I'm not here," he thought in his terrified state of mind. But the man was now only a foot away and with a sudden crash he flung open the cabinet door and yanked the boy out by his hair. Only the murderer's face was not the same, instead the face took the form of Neal's uncle. Then suddenly his aunt was standing beside the malicious man and grabbed his arm firmly, too firmly; the squeeze made the small boy's skin burn. His uncle picked him up by his shirt collar and threw him to the ground. After the initial harsh collision his body made with the wood floor, Neal felt the floor crumble beneath him as he fell into a whirlpool of darkness.

Both Peter and Elizabeth rushed upstairs at the sound of screaming. When they burst into the little boy's room they found Neal thrashing about underneath his bed sheet. Peter an El practically dove to the child's side as Peter placed strong arms on the boy's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down while El tried to untangle him. "Baby, baby calm down," she cooed.

"It's okay buddy, it's just a nightmare. Wake up, we're here now," Peter joined along in his wife's comforting calls. The sight of the small five year old tore his heart into pieces, what kind of nightmare could possible make the boy so miserable?

Neal's eyes darted open to find the worried faces of the Burkes above him. Tears hung in his eyes bright blue eyes after his hour and half nap had been rudely ended. The small boy felt sickly in the cold sweat that cloaked his body and let out a little whimper.

Peter pulled the small child against his chest mimicking how El had comforted him earlier, but once he lifted the boy he saw that he was a little more wet than just sweat could have made him. Elizabeth discretely pulled the sheet down revealing a damp spot where the child had wet the bed. "Peter how about you take Neal for a bath? I'm sure some warm water will help wash away the memories of the bad dream," she said as she wiped away Neal's bangs lovingly.

A little tear rolled down the boy's cheek; Elizabeth was just as sweet as his mommy. What if the murderer came to get her too? No, that couldn't be; the murderer killed his mommy because of something bad his daddy had done, at least that's what he heard from his hiding spot in the cabinet. But what if the murderer came back because he found out that Neal had seen him? Neal could remember every detail right down to the placement of the man's angry wrinkles. He shivered at the image.

Peter stood from the bed with the child in his arms, but held him with an arm around his back and the other beneath his knees so that Neal's legs didn't wrap around his torso. Despite wanting to help the child, he certainly didn't want to get urine on himself. He ran the bath water and had Neal check to make sure it wasn't too hot. Then he helped the child undress and held Neal's hand as he climbed into the bath tub.

The boy sat there quietly, embarrassed that Peter was going to help bathe him. Usually he would just take a shower by himself; that's how it worked when he swiped a hotel room and that's how he convinced the Burkes it worked the second day he had stayed with them. The independent little boy remembered assuring Elizabeth that he had taken showers on his own plenty of times now and that he didn't need help; Peter had agreed right away since it meant he wouldn't have to do anything out of his comfort zone. But now as he sat staring up at Peter's caring brown eyes while tears still sat in his own, he wasn't sure that he wanted the man to leave. And Peter knew that.

Overcoming his discomfort and awkwardness, the older man began rubbing the child's body with soap. At first Peter just bathed Neal in silence, but then he decided to tenderly ask Neal about his dream. "Neal buddy, do you want to tell me what your dream was about?"

The boy hadn't said anything since he woke up and he wasn't quite ready to talk yet, so he just shook his head. What if his uncle came back to find Neal? What if instead of hurting Neal, he decided to hurt Peter? Another tiny tear slipped from his eyes and landed in the still tub water causing a ripple effect.

"Are you sure bud? Maybe talking about it will make you feel better. And you know that you can tell me anything and I will protect you. Remember, I'm an FBI agent and I won't let anyone hurt you," Peter said softly.

Neal wanted to believe those words so badly, but after everything that had happened to him, how could he believe an adult? His own father had lied to him and even his mother lied when she told him everything would be alright. The only thing the boy could think of was not troubling these kind people who had opened up their home to a despicable boy like him. Perhaps he could find Mozzie again? That man made it very easy for Neal to make money and he seemed to have a good heart. Mozzie was clever and cautious, there would be no way anyone could hurt him because of Neal.

By the time Peter had finished shampooing Neal's hair, the boy had made up his mind. He had overstayed his welcome at the Burke's and needed to find his way back to the streets. He would find Mozzie and ask to be included in the man's cons.

The night dragged on slowly and most of it was silent except for the occasional conversation between Peter and El. Neal hadn't said much since his nap; part of it was due to the lingering fear caused by his nightmare, the other part was because he knew this would be his last dinner with Peter and Elizabeth. He would miss being held in Peter and El's arms.

As the three of them were cleaning up after dinner, Neal decided to say a cryptic goodbye. "Elizbif, Peter?" Both adults immediately dropped what they were doing and turned towards the boy in anticipation and shock, this was the first time after the nap that Neal had initiated conversation. "Thank you for all you have done for me. I appreciate it very much," the child said quietly as he stared at his feet. He was dressed in his superman pajamas already since he had an accident in his clothes. The oblivious boy still hadn't figured out that he wet the bed.

A lot had happened today and Elizabeth was almost as overwhelmed as Neal was, but her heart melted at the gratitude of the child. She dropped down next to him and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "You're very welcome sweetie," she said as she planted a kiss on his forehead. After his bath the child smelled like sweet kid's shampoo.

Peter took in the adorable sight of his wife and child. More and more he started to hope that Neal would become a permanent member of the Burke family. "Absolutely Neal, and you will always be welcome," he said as he ruffled the boy's hair.

The small child fought back tears as he knew this was the last hug he would receive from Elizabeth, but he would cry no more. It was time to be strong. But he broke from Elizabeth's hug and turned to Peter; he could be strong and independent after one last time hug from the man as well. The tyke fought back shame as he lifted his arms signaling to Peter that he wanted to be picked up.

Having never experienced a child raising his arms to be carried, the man choked on his feelings: feelings of adoration and protectiveness. He raised Neal into his arms and held him tightly; to his surprise the boy wrapped his arms around Peter's neck and gave him a squeeze. Elizabeth moved to her husband's side and put an arm around him with a smile that could light up the darkest room. Peter wished his family could stay like that for a long time.

Neal rustled from underneath his covers and stepped lightly out of bed; his bed that had new sheets on it. He realized that earlier he must have wet the bed while napping; he was just causing so much trouble for the Burkes. When Peter and Elizabeth laid him down for bed, he had to hide his burning shame at what he had done. The kind people hadn't scolded him much less mentioned it, and once again it reminded Neal of how he didn't deserve the adults sleeping in the room next to his.

The small boy pushed the thoughts from his head and silently slipped into some clothes; all of this would soon be over once he returned to the streets. Neal stealthily maneuvered down the stairs and began to unlock the door when something nudged him in the back. Knowing it could only be Satchmo he turned to pet the dog and shushed him. "Sorry Satch but I have to go. I love you," he whispered as he kissed the dog on the head just like El had done to him hours before. The child, whose head just barely reached the doorknob, exited the house as his last words were for the yellow lab to be quiet.

Aww this chapter is so sweet and sad :( I really don't understand why Neal blames himself so much for the tragic event that happened to his mother and father, or why he feels guilty that his aunt and uncle beat him, but he just does. Poor kid, a boy that sweet definitely deserves the Burke's love, who is the crazy author that wrote this story?! Oh yah... my bad

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