Chapter 1: Paper Flowers
The apartment was filled with the sound of old jazz music. Neal Caffrey sighed peacefully as he sipped on the last of his Petrus Pomerol 1998, costing around $1,459 a bottle. The wine had been a favorite in the White House during the Kennedy years. Neal remembered the first time he heard it being referred to by Petrus. The taste of berries, vanilla, and mocha filled Neal's mouth, leaving him feeling as if he was in a paradise. The wine itself was almost old, and faded- but Neal was one for the classics.
He thought about Kate, and his new life. He thought about the text he received earlier from an unknown number. It was Alex, he knew by the code.
Neal set down his glass, and picked up his paint brush and began painting his thoughts. At first it was a few yellow lines that formed a million words into flowing brown hair.
Like a gun shot in the silent night, a firm knock interupted Neal's alone time. All of his thoughts recoiling like a cobra.
He put down the brush, wiping his hands on a nearby rag. "In a second" Neal called, walking towards the door. Neal opened the door, a smile on his face ready to see a beautiful face. "Oh, you"
Peter Burke walked through the door, once more carrying a few bags and assuming that he could just walk in through the door. "Were you expecting someone else?" He asked, shifting from the friend-in-need, to a FBI agent.
"No" Neal lied to Peter, putting his arm to the back of his hair. Why is he here? And where is Alex? Neal looked Peter up and down, waiting for Peter to say why he was here.
"You seemed to be in the middle of something" Peter noted, looking at the glass of wine and pointing to the speaker.
"It's Thursday" Neal said louder than needed, just in case someone was approaching the stairs. "I need something to entertain me"
"No it's not- it's Tuesday night" Neal peeked out the door before shutting it, Now he thinks I am lying.
"My mistake" Neal smirked, trying to act like he wasn't lying to Peter about his late night plans.
Peter walked over to what Neal was painting "New painting?" He questioned pointing to it, almost touching it.
Neal looked at him, annoyed. "Can you not touch that"
"Girl with paper flower?" Peter observed, "Alex- I thought you were seeing Sara" The way Peter's eyebrows crinkled.
Neal turned around, "It's not cheating to paint a friend for her new home" It was another lie.
"Alex got a new home?" Peter questioned again.
"You are asking a lot of questions, did I do something? Or are you here to annoy me?" Neal wanted to get rid of Peter as fast as he could.
"Elle is out of town with her sister. I have a case to look over. And I don't want to go to a hotel." Peter said, "And I like rooming with you"
"So you assumed that I would house you" Neal asked, laughing slightly at Peter whose mouth dropped.
"Oh, I know you will. Or back to prison you go" The words made Neal change his mind about his plans tonight.
Just stick with the story Neal, He thought, If Alex comes tonight, then she's here for the painting
Neal looked at him, "We're still playing that card, are we?"
Neal grabbed his bottle of wine, and poured more in his glass. Neal heard softer knocking on his door.
Alex
Peter turned to Neal "I thought you weren't expecting anyone" He looked like an FBI agent again, but more like Hughes.
"It might be Alex, I'll just tell her you can't rush art" Neal said, walking towards the door with a smile.
"No, let's have a drink together" Peter's laugh was a lie. Neal knew that he was on to his lie.
"You don't drink wine" Neal said as he opened the door, revealing Alex.
Alex looked around the room with a smile, greeting Peter with a nod. "Beautiful Thursday?" Neal smiled down at her.
Peter corrected her by saying "It's Tuesday"
"Is it really? The days are off in my head" Alex walked in, grabbing Neal's glass of wine with a smirk.
"Aren't you here for the painting, not my expensive wine" Neal asked, leading her towards the painting.
"Yes, I almost forgot seeing you!" She touched Neal's arm, almost as if she was flirting.
Peter turned the group "Well, I think I need to go get some beer." Neal noticed Peter dropping something in a fancy vase- and then leaving. By the look on Alex's face, she noticed it too.
"Can I see my painting?" Alex asked, as she walked to go look at it. When she faced it, she smiled. "Perfect"
Neal looked at her, "I know you asked for it Friday, but I couldn't sleep"
"You're drinking and thinking again." Alex noted, "You haven't been that way in awhile."
"I can't stop thinking about what you said" Neal said, "All the words you have ever said. All the words Kate said, and Mozzie. I'm missing something, Alex." He shook his head, "I know that somewhere- I met someone and I messed up. I made a mistake and it cost people their lives." Neal sounded like a big mess, he knew that. He was trying to make sense of his own thoughts.
Alex followed Neal onto the balcony, shutting the doors. "We've all pissed people off."
"I know" Neal said, "But who did I piss off so bad, that they had to do this to me- to us" Alex sat down beside Neal, touching his hands. Neal's hands were shaking badly in her hands so she gripped them tighter.
"I can take care of myself, Neal. I'm here to take care of you, and protect myself. We need to go through your history- and our history."
"Six years ago..."
"Six years ago we weren't good at our jobs" Alex sighed, "Almost detectable"
