I want to thank everyone for their reviews just in case I can't thank each of you personally. I really appreciated them. I had to rush this ending because I won't be near a computer for awhile after today, hope its okay. Thanks again for taking the time to read the story, hope you liked it.

Missing and Presumed Dead

Chapter twelve

Inside the building

Mitchell looked back at Rodger, he wanted it over with.

"We got to get this man out of here; we can't delay it any longer."

"He's my patient; I'll say when we move him."

"But this whole place could come down!" Mitchell was getting anxious, all he wanted to do was get it over with and get out of there.

"We're all volunteers in here. If you can't handle it then get out and I'll have someone else take over."

Mitchell looked down at Neal and he could tell by the look on his face that something was wrong. Was the man just nervous or was he actually scared of him? Did he recognize him?

"I'm just going to remove a little more of the concrete around his leg." Mitchell told Rodger. "I won't move him, I'll just get him ready to be moved." He explained.

"Okay, but I don't want him moved until I say so."

Mitchell put up his hand to show that he understood. It was now or never. If he could just pretend to be removing some of the loose concrete he might be able to slip his hand in and cut an artery. It would be over in a matter of seconds.

Outside

Peter reached the opening to the building that the firefighters had disappeared into and carefully made his way inside. Once inside he swallowed hard, the entire building looked unsteady. Everything in him told him to leave but there was no way he was leaving with Neal in danger. He carefully made his way toward the voices and lights that he could see below. He silently prayed that Neal was still alive and that the man hadn't already finished what he intended to do.

Below

Neal's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the man once more start to remove pieces of concrete. The only thing that calmed him a little was the fact that Peter knew the man was in the building and probably already had it surrounded. There was little chance the man would escape. Neal wondered how he could stop him without getting anyone else hurt. What was he planning to do…shoot him …stab him, he had no idea. He looked up at Rodger.

"Please just a little more time….Just let me catch my breath…Please make him stop...It hurts…"

"We're not going to move you till you're ready." Rodger could tell Neal was starting to get anxious and it was causing his vital signs to go crazy. "He's just getting rid of some of these chunks of concrete. It'll make it easier to get you out of here when you're ready."

Mitchell kept removing the concrete, a small smile on his face. This was going to be easier than he thought. All he had to do now was take his knife and make a quick deep cut on the trapped man's leg. Cut an artery and he'd bleed out in no time. He secretly removed the blade from his jacket and moved it toward Neal's thigh. Just one quick cut and he'd be home free.

Neal could feel the man slice a hole in his pants then felt the cold of the blade against his injured leg, he swallowed hard. How could he help himself without getting anyone else hurt? Maybe this was it; maybe it would be all over in a few seconds.

Mitchell glanced up into Neil's eyes and couldn't help but smile. He had won. The man would be dead soon and he'd be out of there and home free. It was then he saw Neal smile back at him. What the hell was he smiling at Mitchell wondered? Must be delirious he thought….. But then he felt the cold barrel of a gun against the back of his neck and froze.

"Hi Peter." Neal shifted his gaze from Mitchell to Peter who stood behind the man his gun pressed against the back of his head.

"FBI….Move your hand away from him." Peter said through clenched teeth. When Mitchell hesitated he pressed the gun even harder into his neck. "Do it now!" Peter used his other hand to flash his badge at the firemen and paramedics.

"What's going on here?" Rodger asked.

"This is the man who brought down the building." Peter told him and the others. He then focused on Mitchell. "Get up and keep your hands in the air." Peter hoped Mitchell would give up without a fight. If he tried something, and Peter had to use his gun, he knew the sound from the gun shot could bring down more of the building.

Mitchell knew he was screwed. If the FBI was already involved then the building was more than likely surrounded. Right now they only had him on causing an explosion, if he killed the man he'd be charged with murder. He slowly backed out of the hole and stood with his hands up, his back to Peter. Peter reached up and grabbed his arm then quickly twisted it behind him and put a handcuff on, then grabbed the other and did the same. Once the man was secure he led him out of the building and handed him over to the cops. After Mitchell was placed in the police car Peter went back into the building, back to Neal.

Neal smiled up at him, thankful that the man had been captured and no one had been hurt in the process.

"I'm going to owe you one."

Peter smiled back at him, relieved that the whole ordeal was almost over.

"How are you doing?" Peter asked the smile dropping from his face, he knew they still weren't out of the woods yet. Neal was still trapped and not where he needed to be, the hospital.

"Good… now that you're here." Neal meant it. The agony he had been in seemed to ease with the presence of his friend and partner.

A short time later

The rest of the concrete was carefully removed from around Neal and he was now free. The EMTs gently lifted him out of the hole and were glad to see that he could move his leg and that it didn't seem to be damaged too badly.

"Is he going to be okay?" Peter asked when the paramedics were done examining Neal.

"I think your boy lucked out." Rodger told him. "It looks like his leg must have fallen through a hole and the concrete was holding it in place. I don't even think it's broken, just badly bruised."

"What about the pipe?" Peter winced in sympathy as he looked at the pipe that was still in Neal's side.

"We won't be able to tell till we get him to the hospital and get some xrays, but I'm thinking he's lucky. If that pipe would have gone in a few inches closer to his stomach that might not be the case."

Once Neil was stabilized and placed on a litter Peter leaned over him.

"We'll talk about the vacation you've been asking for once you're up and around."

Neal smiled.

"Thanks Peter…Thanks for staying with me…I don't think I …I don't think I would have made it without you."

"Like I said before….Where else would I be?" Peter meant every word. With Neal's life in danger he would have dropped everything to be with him. He didn't even want to think of what his life would be like without the con man. He never thought it would be possible but he had grown extremely fond of Neal and now couldn't even picture life without him. Their partnership had developed into a strong friendship and he now considered Neal part of his family. He walked next to Neal as he was taken out of the building and placed in an ambulance. He hopped in next to him and finally allowed himself to relax knowing his "partner" was finally safe.

A week later

After a week in the hospital Neal was finally released. His injuries healed without any problems and Peter stayed true to his word … Neal finally got the vacation he had always wanted.

The End