TIME TO HEAL
AN: This fic was written after I saw the series finale. I miss the show so much, but I really like the way they ended things. I just wanted to use this fic to tie up some of the loose ends I felt the show left. As always, thanks, in advance, for your reviews and alerts. You guys are awesome. Enjoy! JL
Peter had to admit, it hurt a lot less than it did a year ago. He didn't think he would ever forget that image. Neal lying on that morgue table, a bullet wound in the center of his chest. But, actually, that was not what Peter remembered so much anymore. He remembered the fun times they had had. The banter, the silly arguments, the dinners, and the times he and Neal drank Italian roast on the veranda. Peter turned his head away quickly when he realized where he was looking. An agent occupied Neal's old desk know, but Peter still saw Neal sitting there sometimes, smiling or messing with his fedora. Peter sighed, turned, and walked back into his office.
El put her planner down and looked out at the street. She sometimes saw Neal there, looking up at her, smiling. She remembered their first meeting. Neal at her door, Peter upstairs, and Jones calling, telling Peter Neal was out of his radius. But the memories were all good now. The horror of that day replaced with sweet, good remembrances of nice conversations and shared dinners. She sometimes could hear his voice in the quiet. And she would stop cold in her tracks still at the sight of someone wearing a fedora. She would see Neal smile, tip his hat, and then disappear into the crowd.
June had started taking her coffee, on occasion, on the veranda. At first it had hurt too much. She would not even go into the apartment. And she would not let her staff clean it. As if, if she left everything the same, it would bring him back. It still had not changed much. The bed had fresh linen. The fridge and freezer were empty and clean. The bathroom had been cleaned of used toiletries. And the wine collection had been pilfered, thanks to Mozzie.
The schemes and cons weren't fun anymore. His co-conspirator was not there to conspire with. Mozzie had not retired from the game. Not by any stretch of the imagination. He had just toned things down a little. He knew that the suits would be watching him in the months after Neal's death and Mozzie wanted things to appear as normal as possible. So he continued to grieve and run small cons. And after about a year he was ready to go. New York just didn't feel the same. He had kept up his book club and wine drinking with June. But the house didn't feel the same. Mozzie had even babysat Theo a few times. He had spent time with the Burkes and their new addition, Neal, Peter's and El's newborn son. But it was all bittersweet. The conman was not there to share it. So, one day Mozzie just packed up and left New York behind.
TBC