MARCH REC - What Was Lost

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

Author: pooh_collector
Characters/Pairings: P/E/N
Rating: NC17
Word Count: ~12,000
Theme: Hurt/Comfort
Original Publication Date: February 13, 2013
Content Notes: (i.e., warnings or triggers) a little bit of explicit smex
Summary: AU ending to Checkmate. Written for this prompt from rabidchild: Let’s just suppose that Checkmate didn’t go quite as we saw, El was never rescued, even though Peter tore down heaven and earth to find her, and Keller got away with the treasure.

Fast forward a few weeks or months and even though they haven’t spoken to each other outside of the case, Neal is the one to bring El home to Peter. How’s Peter react? How does El? Do they find their way back together, all three of them?
Why should people re-read this story?: It's one of my two favorite pieces that I've written. And Neal surprised me, going all unexpectedly self-sacrificial. As a writer I find it kind of magical when the characters have minds of their own and change the story that you had planned.
Fanwork Links: What Was Lost or here at AO3.