WARNING: Spoilers for the season 4 finale and my creative take on what comes next!

"Don't make me do something I'll regret."

Neal's eyes were wide and innocent and broken.

"Dad-" Neal was desperate now.
"Show me now. Be a decent human being. Be a good man. Dad—" Neal's heart raced at the thought of Peter, Peter, in prison for murder. Peter in handcuffs. His mind was still reeling at the revelation that his own father, his flesh in blood James, had really done it, had really killed a cop.

James took a dangerous step towards Neal.. but Neal was spiraling.

"You used me. You conned your own son to get the evidence box. This was never about me… You destroyed my life when you left thirty years ago, but I'll be dammed if you're going to destroy Peter's life. He's been more of a father to me than you ever had."

James clenched his fist at his side.

Neal's phone went off in his pocket, and he flinched at the distraction, fumbling to silence it-
and then felt a slug to his jaw.

Neal fell to the ground, his vision graying as he saw James walk towards the door without even glancing back.

Neal found a strength within himself, thinking of Peter, and rose to his feet. He chased after James.
James had made it to the stairs.

Without thinking, Neal threw his body into his father's, tackling him to the ground. The evidence box was knocked form his hands as it tumbled down the stairs.

James scowled at Neal and shoved him against the wall, his arm pressing against Neal's throat.
"God dammit, Neal!"

Neal struggled to take a breath.
"Are you going to kill your own son?"

Neal heard something coming from his pocket-his phone. He must have answered it… which meant that if he could get James to confess to him, whoever was on the phone, probably Diana, would hear, and they might even be able to play back the conversation.. Neal dared to hope.

James was looking at Neal with a raw anger in his eyes.
"Do the right thing.. Peter claimed…" Neal was growing a bit dizzy, but James was in full on fight or flight mode and didn't seem to be letting up on the pressure. Neal sucked in a shallow breath.
"Peter claimed you sh-shot Pratt in… self… defense. You can turn yourself in, we can.. we can be a… family…." Neal was slumping against the wall a bit, running out of air.

"Pratt was crooked. I can't go back to prison. They slap those cuffs on me, I'm never getting out."

"Why did…. you…. shoot him….? Y-You crossed a … line."

"Don't be a fool, Neal." James sounded exasperated, and Neal was pretty sure he was fidgeting, but his vision was fading out.

"Clear Peter's name, please. Dad…"

"Dammit Neal! Just stop. I had to shoot him. I needed to end this."

And that was what Neal had been waiting to hear.

James could see Neal passing out before him and begrudgingly let up on the pressure.

"I'm sorry it had to be this way, son. I just wanted to say goodbye—"

Neal was gasping, trying to catch his breath, and as he sagged, the cell phone was visible in his jacket pocket, the red flashing light of the Blackberry indicating that there was an active call.

"You little bastard…" James gaped, realizing what Neal had done.

He lunged towards Neal, who quickly dodged him.

James was seeing only red. He had to get that phone. He had to get the evidence box. He had to get out of here… and Neal was standing in his way.

James tried to push Neal out of the way, but Neal was blocking him, though he was still gasping for air, greedily filling his lungs.

"Neal, move."

"I can't do that."

"MOVE, Neal."

Neal shook his head. Peter needed him, and he'd be dammed if El was going to lose her husband to prison. Neal was still reeling from the chokehold James had had him in, so he wasn't at his best, cognitively, and thus couldn't seem to form a plan… only to stubbornly obstruct the stairs…

and so as James took one final step, and as Neal struggled to ward him off, James snapped.

He shoved his son hard.

Neal's eyes were wide in horror as he lost his footing, his fingers ghosting his father's, reaching for help… but James didn't reach out to stop Neal's fall. Instead, he looked into Neal's eyes…

Neal fell to the ground with a sickening thud, and the loud snap of his neck could be heard even through the phone, by Diana.

Of course, Diana had put the call on speaker, and Calloway and everyone had heard it.
Diana, Peter, and Calloway (Calloway refused to let Peter leave her sight) had sped over towards Neal's apartment.

They were still driving as Neal let in a painful gasp, a startled gasp.
They were still driving as Neal pleaded with his dad to do the right thing.
They were still driving as James finally lost control…

But they had made it to the door as they watched James push his only son down the stairs… and as Neal's neck had snapped, leaving those brilliant blue eyes staring at the ceiling, seeming to hold the world's sorrows, the world's betrayal, and the shock of death in them…

_

Not sure if this will be a one-shot or if I'll continue with it!