Neal stood outside Peter and Elizabeth's house and considered turning around. It was late. Well, late was an understatement. It was 4:30 in the morning and no sane person that didn't work the graveyard shift was awake voluntarily. Even the clubbers were on their way home at this point.

However, Neal was having trouble sleeping. His brain was always mulling over his options and he knew it wasn't fair to keep Jade up. This wasn't her problem, it was his. Neal would have to figure out what to do on his own.

He wanted to stay but that wasn't really the best decision for his family. Neal didn't know what sort of relationship he'd be allowed to have with Jade and his daughters if he was assigned a new handler. His legal name wasn't listed on their birth certificates and he wasn't married to Jade anymore. It would be up to the agent to set the parameters for his contact with civilians. His new handler would decide what his living accommodations would be going forward. His only recourse, if he found the conditions unsatisfactory, would be to go back to prison to serve the rest of his time. In the deal be originally struck with the bureau he wouldn't even get credit for time served.

Going back to prison wasn't as simple as just serving his time. The bureau could be vindictive and send him to a maximum-security prison in the middle of nowhere. Serving time in a prison out of state would almost certainly mean he would never see Jade or the girls. Moreover, if he were in a maximum-security facility he wouldn't want his daughters to visit him anyway.

The logistics of going back to prison wasn't the only reason why it was so unfavorable. If the warden was so inclined Neal could be dinged for every little infraction for the duration of his sentence. He had seen inmates on the wrong side of the warden rack up several additional years for petty behavior infractions. Neal could end up lingering in prison like some sort of purgatory. That was not an option. He wasn't missing one more second of his daughters' lives.

He considered marrying Jade again and adding his name to the girls' birth certificates to cement his position in their lives. The bureau would be hard pressed to deny him access to them if there was a paper trail. However, Adler was proof positive that Neal had enemies in the world and he didn't think alerting them to Sofia and Isabella's existence was in their best interest. He also didn't think marrying Jade would be a good idea. He loved her more than he could express but they had already married once out of necessity. He would not do that to her again. When he made Jade his wife for the second time it would because he loved her and couldn't imagine his life without her.

Neal took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He waited patiently but wasn't altogether confident that someone was going to answer. He glanced at his watch and then knocked on the door one last time for good measure. If Peter didn't answer he would just come back tomorrow. Tomorrow would be better.

He wouldn't exactly classify it as losing his nerve but he was certain Jade would if he told her.

Peter opened the door after peering out to see that it was Neal. He looked shocked as he eyed the younger man's appearance. "Neal? Is something wrong?"

Neal noted almost immediately that Peter looked as if he was awake. He cleared his throat. "Sorry to wake you up, Peter. I just need to talk to you. It probably could have waited until daybreak but… there never seems to be time in the day where we can talk alone. This isn't really a conversation to want anyone to overhear. "

Peter looked more than a little concerned. He nodded and stepped out of the way, inviting Neal into the house. "Would like a cup of coffee?"

"No, thank you. I'm wide awake as it is."

He nodded. "What's on your mind?"

Neal walked into the house and closed the door behind him. He took off his signature fedora and followed Peter into the living room. "My future."

He raised an eyebrow at Neal's simple statement. He had a seat on the couch and rubbed Satchmo behind the ear. "What about your future? Is there something going on that I don't know about?"

Neal smiled mirthlessly and fiddled his hat. He sat on the opposite end of the couch and assembled his thoughts silently. "I know, Peter. I know that you are looking at a promotion if we close this case. I just want to know what that means for me in the long run."

Peter's eyes widened as he realized what was going on with Neal. He had noticed his CI's sullen mood lately. However, when he questioned Neal about what was going on he was quickly rebuffed. "Nothing is written in stone, Neal. I have been passed over for promotions in the past."

Neal knew that Peter was attempting to mollify him with vague denials but it wasn't going to work. "I overheard your conversation with Elizabeth when we were at the safe house. Normally, I could just deal with the changes but...my family…I won't lose them again, Peter."

Agent Burke frowned deeply and sighed. This was the reason he was losing sleep at night. He should be in the bed with his beautiful wife at this very moment. Instead, he was up before dawn pacing the floors as he worked the problem over in his head. In the ensuing days since his conversation with Elizabeth, he received encouraging news that the promotion was all but assured. However, Neal's future was a little murkier. He doing everything in his power to make sure the younger man would have a soft landing.

He said, "I can only tell you what I know, Neal. My promotion isn't guaranteed unless we take down Adler and even then it could change. That is the truth…it could change. I've been talking to my superiors trying to figure out what the arrangements for you would be if I was promoted. The best information I could get at the moment is that you won't be returned to prison. The bureau would like you to continue working as a confidential informant."

Neal was a little relieved that the plan wasn't for him to go back to prison for the duration of his sentence. However, he was still subject to the whims of his new handler. He said, "I'm worried about my family. I might not be able to see them. I might not even be in New York. I could get transferred anywhere there is a field office."

Peter nodded in agreement. He said, "I know it seems insurmountable right now but I promise that I am working on your behalf, Neal. I'm on your side. I'm trying to get Hughes to help me and he's been amenable to you staying here in the New York office. He suggested that we transfer you to another handler before either of us is promoted. However, there's been some interest in you from someone in D.C."

He felt like his heart stopped beating hearing there was a chance that he would be moved to D.C. He had no interest in uprooting Jade and their daughters. She had a job here that was allowing her to earn straight. He asked, "Who is it?"

Peter said, "My old mentor Phillip Kramer is the head for D.C.'s Art Crimes Unit. When you started helping me take down so many big names, he contacted me to find out more about you. He's been calling more since he got wind of my possible promotion."

Neal stood up and shook his head. "I'd be leaving my family here in New York, Peter. I just got them back."

He put his hands up in surrender. He wanted Neal to understand he was on his side. "I know and I told Phillip as much when we talked yesterday. Dispensations are made when it is for a wife and children but…"

He sighed. "I know…you don't have to say it. I need to get home before Jade wakes up. I didn't tell her that I was leaving. I didn't want her to worry anymore than she already is worrying. Thanks for talking to me, Peter."

Peter stood up. "Neal, just give me some time to work something out. You have done good work for the bureau and me. I won't leave you in a lurch. I hope that you can trust me."

Neal smiled sadly. He shrugged. "I trust you with my life, Peter. I have trusted you with the lives of my children but you don't really have any say in the situation. People above your head will make the final decision. People that don't know me or what I'm capable of doing will get to make the final determination."

"Wait! I didn't tell you this because I wasn't sure if it would happen. I have also been looking at asking the parole board to give you time served. They might be inclined to do it with positive recommendations from Hughes and me."

He shook his head. "That's a long shot at best but thank you for trying. I'm not unappreciative. I just need to know how to prepare my family for the future. I need to know if I am going to be unceremoniously ripped out of my daughters' lives. They deserve better from me…"

Peter said, "Neal…"

The younger man shook his head again and got ready to walk out of the house when Peter's phone began to ring.

The agent grabbed it quickly knowing it had to be a work emergency for someone to call him so early. "Burke…"

Neal took that opportunity to leave. He knew that Peter was only trying to help him but there wasn't a lot the man could do and he didn't fault him for that. He also understood the necessity of keeping Neal in the dark. The younger man could be impulsive and Peter didn't want him to do something that would ultimately make his situation worse if it wasn't necessary. He understood all of that and he wasn't laying blame for his predicament at Peter's feet. Neal was in this position because of his own actions before and after Peter apprehended him.

He was a few houses away when he heard Peter calling out to him.

"Neal! Come back!"

A chill ran down Neal's spine hearing the tinge of panic in Peter's voice. He turned around and jogged back to the house. "What's wrong?"

"A distress signal just came from June's house. I need to get dressed and we'll get over there."

Neal swallowed nervously. "What about the agents that are supposed to be watching the house?"

Peter groused. "Shift change…" He ran upstairs to his bedroom and pulled clothes out of the drawer. He wasn't going to bother with putting on a suit. He just couldn't go out in his pajamas. Peter winced when he slammed a drawer too loudly.

Elizabeth woke up with a start and sat up in the bed. She turned on the lamp on the bedside table. "Peter?" She blinked trying to clear the blurriness in her eyes.

He said, "I'm sorry for waking you up, honey. I've got to get going. There is a distress signal coming from June's house. Neal and I are going to go over there."

Elizabeth felt an overwhelming sense of dread settle over her. She vividly remembered their harrowing escape from June's house. She didn't want to think about what might happen in the middle of the night. However, she suddenly realized that Peter mentioned Neal. She asked, "Neal is here?"

Peter nodded. "I will have to fill you in about the reason for his visit later. I need to get over there now."

Elizabeth climbed out of the bed. "I am coming with you."

He shook his head. "El, I don't think that is a good idea. I have no idea what I might be walking into over there."

"Well, me staying here can't be any safer. That maniac threatened me, too. I'll stay in the car."

Peter sighed deeply. "I am leaving in a few minutes."

Elizabeth shrugged. "All I need is a pair of shoes and a jacket."

She had no reservations about leaving the house in her pajamas. She was wearing pants and a tank top. It was less revealing than the outfits she wore to the gym.

Peter gave up on convincing Elizabeth to stay home. He knew that her mind was already made up.