Save Me If You Can

SAVE ME IF YOU CAN CHAPTER 2

"Hello, Moz," Elizabeth said with a wan smile as she opened the door. "Thank you for coming."

"Only for you, Mrs. Suit," he said, but without the normal dose of exaggerated irritation. He meant it affectionately, perhaps even a bit playfully, despite the solemn nature of the occasion. "And for Neal, which goes without saying." He kissed her quickly on the cheek as he stepped over the threshold and into the Burke residence.

He wasn't surprised to find Agents Jones and Barrigan there, sitting on the couch. Still, he flinched involuntarily at the thought of being in such close proximity to Federal Agents.

"Suit," he said, nodding at Jones, who nodded back, then, to Diana, "Pantsuit." She subtly rolled her eyes at the reference.

Peter entered the room. He was dressed casually – dark slacks and a cranberry colored polo shirt with long sleeves, pushed up to his elbows. "We'll start as soon as Sara arrives," he said, his voice low and resonant, and devoid of his usual level of energy.

Silence filled the room again, broken only by the sound of the Burke's doorbell ringing. A moment later, Elizabeth ushered Sara into the living room. Another person – quite unexpectedly – accompanied them.

"June..." Peter was pleased and relieved to see her. A vintage fur, well-kept over the years, hung stylishly yet conservatively around June's shoulders. Peter hadn't called her, and mentally kicked himself for the oversight. Thank goodness Sara had brought her along. June was as close to Neal as any of them, and deserved to know what was going on. As she embraced Peter, Jones rose to offer her his seat. Once everyone had all settled in, Peter moved to stand near the television to begin.

"Thank you all for coming," he said. "I know you have all, at some point, been worried about Neal."

"You found him?" Sara said quickly, breathlessly. "Please tell us you found him. Is he alive?"

"Yes, he's alive."

There was a collective release of pent up anxiety, and Peter noticed how everyone in the room - except Elizabeth, who already knew the story - seemed to relax just a bit. June caught Sara's hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze.

"I've asked you all here because Neal desperately needs us. I saw him last night. It's not good."

"So he's still in New York," said Mozzie, his anger at Neal undisguised. "Why wouldn't he return my calls? He's ignored my every attempt to contact him. I don't understand. It's not like Neal."

"You're right," said Peter. "He's not himself at all."

Silence again fell upon the room.

"He asked for my help. Now I'm asking for your help. It's going to take the concerted effort of everyone in this room to get him through this. Neal is in trouble. Deep trouble. He may not survive it. But we have to do everything we can to save him."

"Whatever it takes," Sara said.

"Count me in," said Diana.

"Me too," came June. "Whatever you need ... money is no object."

"Goes without saying," said Mozzie, crossing his arms at his chest.

"What do you want us to do, Peter?" asked Jones.

Tears stung Peter's eyes, and he swallowed back a choking sensation that was threatening to give way to unchecked emotion. He'd been experiencing a lot of that in the last twelve hours. But this time, his burgeoning tears were of something akin to relief. He knew he could count on everyone in the room.

"We're going to have to go off the books for this one. No one else in the bureau can know. Nothing we discuss goes beyond this room. If anyone takes exception to that, then now is the time to leave."