A Perfect Storm

Chapter Twenty

-Peter's POV-

"Hey hon" I answered Elizabeth's call after I got back into the car.

"Is everything alright?" She questioned, worry in her voice, she could probably tell I had been crying by my voice.

"Oh. Yeah, just..tired...have some extra work to do..." my voice cracked as I looked at the envelope of Neal's belongings on the seat next to me.

"Peter. Is everything really okay? What happened?" There was no lying to her, she could always tell when something was bothering me.

"It's...." I sighed, "Neal....he was shot, El. He's dead"

"What?"

"Keller got to him"

"Are you okay?" She asked, clearly both upset by the news and worried about me at the same time.

"No.....I..I have to go drop some stuff off in my office, and-"

"No, hun, just come home. You can do it tomorrow"

"Yeah...good idea" I responded before we said our goodbyes and I headed home.

"Is he really dead?" El asked, upset, once I got home. Neal wasn't just our friend, he was family.

"Yeah....I wish it wasn't true...but it is....I saw his body there in the morgue....it's real, El. If I knew what would happen...I wouldn't have left him alone"

"Peter...Hun, don't blame yourself. You couldn't've seen this coming."

"He put himself in danger all the time though, I should have seen something"

"It's going to be okay. We can get through this"

I nodded, it was quiet for a minute, apart from Satchmo breathing as he sat at our feet to comfort us. "Jaxon..." I spoke, breaking the silence.

"Hm..?" Elizabeth questioned.

"He gets out of school soon...N-Neal said he was going to pick him up...I'll also have to tell him"

Elizabeth rubbed my back, calmingly, "is there anyone else who can get him? I don't think you should be going out anymore today"

I nodded, "I'll call Jones"

"Okay. But he should still come here" She stayed as I took out my phone. I nodded as I made the call. About an hour later Jones arrived, Jaxon ran inside and wrapped his arms around El, hiding his face, I had never seen the kid like this. I looked at Jones, "I had to tell him. He wanted to know why Neal wasn't there...guess he never broke his promises to Jaxon." I nodded, "I had to stop at June's to get him some stuff too, so she knows also. He gonna be staying with you guys until we figure out what is going to be done?"

"Of course" Elizabeth responded, arms wrapped around Jaxon, who hadn't moved.

"Right...Hun, we need to talk about that"

"Peter" she whispered.

"I'm gonna get going" Jones quietly added, saying goodbye to Jaxon before leaving.

"It's nothing bad" I informed El after Jones had gone. I knelt down besides Jaxon, "hey, Jaxon, could you take your stuff to your room?" I gently asked him.

"You just want to talk to Elizabeth about me" he finally looked at me, tears streaming down his face.

I sighed, "please" he nodded before wiping his eyes on his shirt and grabbing the bag Jones had set down. Once he was upstairs I stood up, "Back when Jaxon was kidnapped Neal told me that if anything happened to him we are Jaxon's designated guardians"