[Faeverse]

[smileforaliving]

Neal paces the floor of the jail cell looking anxious and twitchy. He keeps watching the bed, looking at it with suspicion. He knows if he lays down, even for a moment, he's going to probably fall asleep, he can feel the weariness in his bones but he can't sleep yet. He needs to stay awake a little longer otherwise he's going to dream and he's

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[burkethejerk]

It's lucky for everyone, considering Neal's plans to bolt, that Peter gets there when he does. He looks anxious himself as he approaches the cell, calling out to him as soon as he's in sight.

"Neal?" There's not quite an are you okay in the tone -- it never seems to be the right question to ask anymore, okay never seems to be a point they can reach easily anymore.

[smileforaliving]

Neal jumps at the sound of his name, turning to face hi, wide-eyed for just a moment before he relaxes.

"Peter." He says it like it's a saving grace. He smiles, grinning a little, the smile tinged with mania. "Doesn't this look familiar?"

[burkethejerk]

Peter isn't sure whether to be worried or relieved. There are so many worse ways he could have found him, but that doesn't make him worry any less.

"A little too familiar," he agrees, tone light, playing into however Neal's dealing with it until they get out of there. "Okay, let me take care of this. We'll be out of here soon."

He'd have taken care of everything first, but -- well, he knows Neal, and he knows he had to at least be considering getting himself out if not actively planning for it, which would just complicate things further.

[smileforaliving]

He's still going to be getting himself out, and, by the time Peter comes back from having taken care of everything, Neal is going to be sitting on the floor in front of the jail cell, his knife retrieved from the evidence locker and back in his hands, being twirled in his fingers.

He smiles up innocently at anyone present, the keys to the jail cell dangling on the end of his knife. See? He did good! He did not break out until After Peter filled out the paperwork. Well, mostly.

"Can we go home," he questions, hopefully. "I don't want to be here anymore."

[burkethejerk]

Peter had hoped Neal would be waiting patiently, but he hadn't actually been expecting it, so he doesn't bother to say anything about it.

"Yeah," he says instead, standing over Neal, waiting for him to get to his feet. "We're going home. Come on."

[smileforaliving]

He gets to his feet, sheathing his knife and giving a wave to the officers. "Nice spending time with you guys!" Despite going a little mad, he still hasn't lost his charm. Something that is probably slightly dangerous in other situations.

"I'll pay you back," he says when they're out of earshot. I need time but I'll pay you back, don't worry." He might steal something to do it but he doesn't want to be in peter's debt as well as so may others.

[burkethejerk]

"No," Peter answers as he leads Neal towards the car, shaking his head. "There's no debt, Neal. You don't have to do anything, you don't have to pay me back."

[smileforaliving]

"I don't mind," he says, trying to sound casual. "I'm sure that's gotta be something you're not in the mood to do. Just let me, I can take care of it. That's what I'm good for."

[burkethejerk]

"No bargains, not with us," he reminds Neal firmly. "You don't owe us, you especially don't owe me. And we want you back home as much as you wanted to get out of there. You don't have to do anything, and I'm not going to ask for anything."

[smileforaliving]

"It's an unfair exchange," he says discomfort in his tone. "Something, just...let me do something, okay? I don't care what, just something. It can't be unbalanced, I can't let it stay that way." The nerves in his voice are rising and the calmness, the false cheer is starting to crack. "Something, Peter. Give me something. Please?"

[burkethejerk]

"It's not," he starts, and then sighs, knowing it's not going to do any good.

"We'll figure it out in the car, all right?" he offers instead. At least if he can get Neal in the car, he can handle things privately.

[smileforaliving]

He considers this option then nods. In the car he can make a better plea, he won't have to concentrate so much on standing.

He walks to the car, not quite leaning on Peter as he does so. He's not tired enough to fall over yet but he's better off using something to help him walk rather than pushing off on his own.

In his mind, it's just one more reason he needs to repay Peter, he's keeping him standing, but he doesn't say that right now.

[burkethejerk]

Peter keeps his hand on Neal's back as they walk, supporting him as much as Neal will let him. He keeps one eye on him and one eye on where they're going, falling silent as soon as Neal agrees to wait until the car to talk.

He's trying to come up with explanations as he walks, reasons Neal will understand and believe for why he doesn't owe them anything, but while everything he thinks of sounds fine to himself he's not sure what Neal will accept. If there is anything.

No, there has to be something.

He unlocks the car door without removing his hand from Neal's back, helping him in gently and shutting the door after him before moving around to the driver's seat.

Once in the car, Peter takes a moment before he puts the key in the ignition, taking a breath and reaching over to rest his hand on Neal's leg (carefully, always carefully) before turns the car on, still silent.

Maybe if he doesn't say anything Neal won't either, maybe if he doesn't say anything Neal will realize he doesn't need to pay for this.

[smileforaliving]

He stays quiet for a time, letting the silence grow between them but it's uncomfortable. He's waiting for something for Peter to start talking, for the words to come to him. Nothing happens though.

Until he decides to try and start talking.

"Does Elizabeth know?" He sounds almost embarrassed, like he hopes that she doesn't.

Which is entirely true.

He knows he fucked up, that he shouldn't have let himself fall prey to paranoia but he couldn't help it, he couldn't take the chance. He's so tired and the lines get so blurred. Sometimes he's scared he's going to take the wrong road and everything will go black.

[burkethejerk]

"Not yet," Peter answers, looking over for a few moments before he turns his eyes back on the road. "Do you want her to know?"

He'll probably tell her, even if Neal doesn't want to -- he doesn't like keeping things from her, never has and likes it even less now -- but he'll humor Neal, if he doesn't want her to know, and ask Elizabeth to pretend she doesn't, if he has to.

[smileforaliving]

"I know I owe you a lot already--and don't say I don't, I do, we both know that--but....I don't know. I don't know what I could do. I just don't want her to know. She'll worry. She does that enough as it is. You both do." He smiles weakly. "If I could have remembered how to get in contact with Mozzie, I wouldn't have even involved you."

He looks down at his hands, always bandaged these days, and sighs, closing his eyes. "I'll do whatever you want," he says a little more quietly. "I know you won't--You won't make me regret it. Just don't tell her about this."