Leaning back in his chair, he flashed the waitress a brilliant smile, before taking a sip of the drink she just delivered. It really was a beautiful evening, cold early morning rain had scrubbed the heavy New York air, but the clouds cleared away by just after noon leaving a brisk sunny afternoon. Twilight fell around him as he braved the chill to enjoy the patio outside his favorite bistro. Relaxed in his seat he watched the people hurry by on the sidewalk. Everyone scurrying on their way to wherever they were late to be. Neal smiled softly. The gentle smile he reserved for himself … and those few people he allowed a glimpse of himself.

He still basked in the thrill of a well-executed plan. It didn't matter which side of the law you were on, it was still a high to pull off something impossible. This last case had been a real challenge, ending up with Neal doing a high wire act seventy-four stories above the Manhattan pavement while an angry suspect took pot shots at him. Fortunately the man was a terrible shot. That thought made him grin in unsuppressed amusement.

The whole situation was crazy and the fact that he thoroughly enjoyed the memory made him briefly consider the possibility that Moz was right and he was certifiably insane. He didn't enjoy it in the moment, he reassured himself. The memory of the nine millimeter bullet whistling passed him just inches away while he balanced precariously, a single sway away from an agonizing crushing death in the alley below, made him shiver a bit. He really did not enjoy that in the moment. No definitely not.

It was actually the rush of relief he felt when Jones shoved the bad guy to the roof and cuffed him while Neal finished bridging the gap between buildings to Peter's waiting scowl that made it a good day. The stumble that slammed his right palm painfully into the wall as he dismounted to the balcony hadn't exactly been fun… but the sprained wrist had almost been worth it, since it sent him home early and got him out of the mountains of paperwork waiting to be filled out following the arrest. Peter's lecture about stupid stunts had barely phased him. After all it wasn't like he had much of a choice… his cover blown, the crazed and corrupt broker chasing him with a gun… the downward stairway blocked by movers with an enormous mahogany desk… so he went up… except there had been nowhere on the roof to hide from the angry man waving his gun around insanely and firing randomly. Neal took the only exit available in that wild moment, and it worked out in the end. Though pointing that fact out to Peter mid-lecture was probably not the best idea, he conceded.

He grinned and sipped his drink, savoring the steaming coffee, the chill of the evening and beauty of the sunset around him… it was the simple joy of being alive, he decided, at the end of a day that could have ended very differently, that made it a good memory.

The feeling came to him abruptly, like a cold breeze on his spine. He could feel the eyes on him suddenly. Not a casual glance but a steady, burning stare that never left his person. The joy that filled him moments before faded to ashes… leaving the bitter taste of nerves in his mouth. Looking around fugitively he saw no one… suddenly the night felt to cold, the growing shadows like enemies waiting to attack at any moment. He shivered under the burning observation. Somewhere out there, some one good enough to avoid his detection was watching him. He swallowed heavily, gulping his warm drink. He gripped the cup tighter to still his suddenly trembling hands. As darkness continued to fall, the moment felt heavy with foreboding… something was coming… something dreadful. Neal glanced once more out into the busy New York night and drew his coat tighter around him.

Then with no more warning than preceded it, the feeling was gone… leaving the young man too stare out at the city alone. He shook himself with a small forced laugh. He was getting as paranoid as Mozzie he decided. Just because someone might be watching him did not mean anything. People watched him all the time… even stared at him, especially women, he thought with a smile. Still he waved down his waitress and asked for a table inside. He couldn't quite shake the chill in his bones.

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

Climbing the stairs to June's front door Neal glanced over his shoulder… again. Still no one there. So why couldn't he shake the feeling that someone was following him. He shook his head suppressing a shiver and telling himself it was just the cold March breeze that chilled him. If there was someone out there they were good. Really good. His hands trembled just a bit as he unlocked the door… it really was cold out here. He stepped inside just a little too quickly to be graceful and flipped on the foyer lights, pushing back the darkness as quickly as he could. Turning back to the door he locked it…and drew the dead bolt.

He took a deep breath and subtly pulled back the curtain half an inch and peeked out into the night. He watched a slender figure separated from the shadows and stride boldly up the sidewalk. Her hips swung smoothly in rhythm with her gait. Neal frowned slightly… the woman was well built, confident and obviously skilled but he had never seen he before in his life. Why was a strange woman following him?

He waited until she hailed a cab and slid smoothly inside before his hand released the curtain. As the cloth fell he thought he caught a glimpse of another figure moving out of the shadows… by the time he raised the fabric again the street was empty…

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

He wasn't sure what woke him… but Neal jerked awake from a deep dreamless sleep. He glanced around his dark apartment. Everything was silent and still, the clock on his bedside table read 2:24 am. His lips pulled down in a frown.

The sound was miniscule… a tiny scratch against the outside of his door. His fight or flight instincts leapt into over drive as he rolled silently out of bed and grasped the first thing that might be used as a weapon to defend himself. Moving on bare catlike feet he crept to the door and wrenched it open.

The unfamiliar woman looked up… straightened gracefully and retrieving her lock picks from his door without a word, despite the burden in her arms. Neal stood frozen, staring at her as she smiled… the look was too comfortable on a stranger's face. Her long auburn hair draped seductively over her cheek partially obscuring her nearly turquoise eyes. Plump scarlet lips turned up in amusement as she took in his figure from bare feet to disheveled hair, coming to rest finally on his weapon… a chuckle bubbled over those full red lips.

"Honestly Michael Scott" her voice carried a warm British accent, vibrating with barely contained seductive laughter "do you intend on bludgeoning me with that?" her eyes flicked to the object in his hand. Neal adjusted his grip before glancing at what he held. He sighed ruefully at the metal art tube… the thing was far too thin and light to do much damage. Forcing a confident look to cover his doubts, he brandished the tube as threateningly as he could.

"Who are you? Why are you breaking into my apartment at 2:30 in the morning?"

"Oh come now, Michael, darling… surely you haven't forgotten the lovely week we spent in Barcelona…"her smooth cheeks flushed with just a hint of color but her chin lifted almost invitingly… "Or the amazing three days in Mannheim? Never mind the three months in London when we met." She thrust out her luscious lower lip in an alluring pout.

"I'm sorry…" Neal looked her up and down searching his memory for any recollection of this beautiful woman "I honestly have no idea who you are. Or who Michael is either for that matter."

"I understand that you need to keep your identity under wraps darling but I'm afraid the matter is rather urgent." The blanket wrapped bundle in her arms shifted slightly as the bag thrown over her shoulder slipped. "Will and I were here on holiday but of course, you know how it happens…duty calls and all that." she stepped past him into the room, moving to lay her burden on his couch, revealing a small boy about two years old, with dark hair and chubby cheeks. The young woman rose elegantly to her feet and looked at Neal. Her eyes darted from the young man to the boy almost nervously "oh Michael, I forgot you didn't know… I always intended to tell you about Will but…our life is so often complicated." She shifted her weight anxiously "but I really must ask you to keep him for a few days. It is of the utmost importance…"

"Miss," Neal desperately tried to find a way out of this impossibly strange situation "I already told you, you have the wrong man. I. Do. Not. Know. You."

"Of course you don't" she winked broadly and turned to the door. She hesitated "don't lose his bear, darling… it is dreadfully important. Will is impossibly attached to the silly thing" And with that she was gone. For a long moment Neal was frozen with shock.

In desperation he suddenly lunged after the woman. Leaping down the stairs two and three at a time he hit the walkway only a few seconds behind her. She strode rapidly away up the side walk. Neal hurried after her. Before he caught her, a dark green sedan bounced up onto the curb in front to the slim figure and a mountain of a man with a near canon sized gun, barreled out of the passenger door and grasped her arm, yanking her toward the vehicle. As he jerked her roughly her slim hand slid to her waist, to the small hand gun holstered there. The huge man suddenly gripped her wrist with bone crushing pressure. The woman didn't cry out as the weapon skittered out of her grasp.

Neal rushed forward to help, but the woman caught his eye and shook her head, mouthing frantically "Will…" then with the slam of a heavy door and a squeal of tires, the car and Neal's mysterious visitor were gone. Leaving behind…

The young man swore softly and rushed back up the stairs to the little boy.

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

He jolted awake as the phone on his bedside table rang. A glance at the glowing screen and Peter cursed quietly before he answered.

"You are aware it is almost three am… this better be important." He muttered

"Is a woman being kidnapped outside my place important enough?" the voice on the line sounded marginally shaky.

"Are you sure she was being kidnapped?" he was wide awake now.

"The guy had a gun… a 1911 desert eagle to be exact, and he grabbed her and forced her into a dark green Lexus. Yeah I'm pretty sure." Yep definitely wide awake. Peter was up and pulling on jeans in an instant.

"I'm on my way, Neal… don't do anything. Do not go after them!"

"Wasn't planning on it." Peter did not miss the pause "Besides they are long gone."

"Stay where you are."

"Yeah, I'm not going anywhere" Neal drew a shaky breath "Peter… there is something else you should know…"