THE WORTH OF A LIFE

AN: This is going to be a whump story, just because I love NealWhump. It makes me happy.

Chapter 1

"Why do you have to loan me out to Ruiz? He's…he doesn't like me." Neal asked.

"It's not my idea. Hughes wants us to get along better with our fellow agencies and agents." Peter explained. "It's more like goodwill gesture."

"Fine." Neal spat out. "I'll send him a box of muffins."

Peter looked at his C.I. The level of hostility disturbed him.

"This will not go well for me, Peter."

"It will be fine. Anything happens, and I'll kill him in his sleep."

Neal sighed. "Great! You'll avenge my death. But you won't do anything to prevent it."

Peter looked at Neal. This time he was very concerned. "Neal, this is…."

Neal shook his head. "I know you have to do this. I know Hughes has signed me over to Homicide for a week."

Peter opened his mouth to speak.

Neal shook his head stopping him. "I've been in some very bad, potentially deadly situations. But I've known when to run, Peter. And I've always been able to literally and figuratively get out of the line of fire. Ruiz is going to keep me close, very close. He is going to take any…if I have to disobey, even if it is to save myself, or maybe the operation, he may…he may not take it too easy."

"He's a federal agent, Neal. There are standards." Peter stated.

"And I'm sub-human…" Neal said. "…a cockroach that should have never been let out of my dark cell."

"Oh, you heard that, did you?" Peter asked. He remembered that particular conversation Ruiz well. It was one of the many times that Peter had wanted, longed to punch the man in the face."

"Just…would you please monitor me? I mean, even more than usual." Neal looked at his hands for a minute. "I just…Ruiz might take it as you checking up on him."

Peter shook his head, dismissing Neal's concern. "They may have you off anklet a lot. It won't be easy." He admitted. "And you let me worry about Ruiz."

"I can wear the watch or carry the pen." Neal offered.

Peter nodded. "But the watch is no good. You don't usually wear one. That will draw attention. We'll go with the pen." Peter said as he pulled the pen out of his drawer. He turned on the tracker they had installed and then checked it on his computer. He also put in a fresh battery. He then handed it over to Neal. "Good to go."

Neal smiled as he put it into his pocket."

TBC

It know this is short…just a little teaser of things to come.