This is an AU ending to the S3 Finale. Instead of running at the end of S3 Neal was kidnapped and psychologically tortured by a madman. How will Neal survive and will he be the same man that he was before this whole ordeal began? This story is complete and I will try to post one chapter a week.

Peter had given him the signal to run. Neal's heart pounded in his chest. He finally thought he could stop running. He liked the life he had built in New York and he wasn't ready to let it go just yet. But he didn't have a choice. If he didn't run Kramer would find something to hold over his head and force him to work in DC. Either way his life in New York was over. Neal did what he did best and disappeared into the crowd.

Back at the loft, he grabbed his "Go Bag" while his thoughts churned in his head. He didn't have the luxury to dwell on the "what-ifs" and the "could have beens." He cut his anklet and left his credentials on the table. Without a backwards glance, he left his home and closed the door softly behind him.

He hailed a cab and got in, his thoughts still a jumble in his head. He told the cabbie "JFK Airport."

Neal leaned back in his seat and let out a deep breath. It was stupid of him to think that it would all work out and that he would be walking onto the 21st floor of the White Collar division on Monday morning. Happy endings didn't happen to guys like him and the sooner he realized that the better off he would be.

While deep in thought Neal didn't notice where the cab was taking him. When he finally did look up Neal was surprised to see that he was nowhere near the airport. In fact, he didn't know where he was. He knocked on the partition.

"Hey man, I don't think this is the way to JFK."

The cabbie ignored him and kept driving. Neal knocked again. "What's going on? Can you hear me? Where are we going?" Neal tried his door, only to find that it was locked. Panic was beginning to creep in.

"What the hell are you doing? Let me out!" Neal shouted as he struggled with the door.

The cabbie continued to stay silent and drove on. Neal started pounding on his window hoping to get the attention of a passing car. Suddenly, Neal heard a hissing sound and gas started filling the interior of the cab.

Neal tried to hold his breath and used his pocket square to cover his nose and mouth but it was nearly impossible to hold his breath for so long. He was getting light headed and the gas made black spots dance in front of his eyes. Neal knew he was going to lose consciousness soon. With a final surge of adrenaline he pounded on the partition again but to no avail. The glass wouldn't budge and the cabbie continued to ignore him.

Neal's last thought before losing consciousness was "Peter, please find me." The gas finally overpowered Neal and he slumped sideways onto the seat, unconscious.

The cabbie finally glanced back towards Neal, a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Wakey, wakey Neal." Bright fluorescent lights blinded Neal followed by a flood of cold water hitting him squarely in the chest. Neal gasped for breath and tried to wipe the water from his eyes only to find that his hands and feet were zip tied to a chair bolted to the floor. He coughed harshly and started shivering. Another blast of freezing water hit him again.

"Who the hell are you? What do you want from me?" Neal shouted.

His captor stayed silent and paced back and forth in front of Neal.

"Cat got your tongue?" Neal grounded out snarkily.

That smart ass comment got Neal a punch to the face. Neal's head flew back and he could taste the blood from his now split lip.

"You can call me Sir. And what do I want from your Mr. Caffrey? All in due time. We have all the time in the world to get "acquainted."

Neal shivered and it wasn't just from the cold. "You seem to know me but I know nothing about you. That hardly seems fair does it?" Neal tried to get his captor to talk. He was completely in the dark as to who this man was. He didn't recognize his face and wracked his brain trying to come up with a connection.

"All in good time Caffrey. All in good time. I want to have a little fun with you first. And then all will be revealed."

Neal held back a shudder. He didn't think his definition of fun and this maniac's definition of fun were the same.

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want from me?" Neal asked again.

"I want to break you", Sir replied ominously.

"Break me? What are you gonna do, beat me?" Neal tried to keep the tremor out of his voice. He was putting up a brave front but he was shaking inside.

"Oh no I abhor physical violence. Anybody can physically break someone, inflicting physical pain is common, there's no art, no panache in it. Breaking you mentally will be much more satisfying." Sir's eyes gleamed with evil.

Sir continued to ramble on. "At the end of this, I will break you. You'll be begging to die. But don't worry, I won't be the one to kill you. You're going to kill yourself."

This guy is certifiable thought Neal. Neal had to find a way out. He was resourceful, he wouldn't give up and killing himself would never be an option.

"You're crazy!" Neal shouted. "You won't ever break me. Peter will find me and you're going away for a long time."

"Is that a challenge?" Sir leaned in close to Neal and whispered in his ear. "Cause I love a challenge!"

With those chilling words, Sir walked out of the room and left Neal sitting alone.