Disclaimer: We don't own anything. Everything belongs to Jeff Eastin and USA Networks. Author's Note: After watching 05x04 the thought crossed my mind what would happen if Mozzie drugs Rebecca to find out who she is and what her intentions are regarding Neal. And how does the nerdy sometimes rambling rare book scholar react to a dose of "Goodnight Cinderella"?
Armed with her over night bag Rebecca climbed up the stairs to Neal's apartment. An hour ago she got a text message he solved the case and was about to head home. Without knocking since he told her the last time she should stop that because he always thought it would be Peter or someone else, she entered the penthouse and blinked in surprise. Neal was nowhere to be found. She put her bag aside and stepped in.
"Neal?"
Much to her surprise Mozzie came out of the back of the apartment.
"I am sorry. He is still at the stake out," he replied serious sorry.
"But he wrote me he would be home."
"Maybe he is running late."
The edge in Mozzie's voice confused her for a moment but non the less she sat down at the kitchen table.
"I think I have to wait then. And you aren't up to anything?"
"Even a genius like mine needs some free time."
Rebecca groaned because he didn't get her subtle point.
"I always thought a genius gets bored out easily."
"Don't underestimate the use of boredom. Great things come to your mind when you are bored."
"I only get frustrated."
"Want some beverage?"
"Couldn't hurt."
"Wine?"
"Please not, I am afraid half of the cabinet got killed the last time I was here."
"So this means some water."
Mozzie turned to get a glass out of the cupboard and get her some water.
"Thanks. You become some sort of inventory here if you come more often."
"I think I already am some kind of inventory. Without me Neal would be screwed."
"Or you without him as far as I know."
"Well, it's a quid pro quo thing."
"Is this why you use to bark in without knocking?"
"As far as I heard you didn't knock either," he shot back.
"I got the permission."
"And have the permission out of habit."
"Habits can change."
"True word," Mozzie chuckled and sat down too.
"You know Neal starts to loose ties."
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, there is a mysterious loss of ties every time he puts them at the door."
Rebecca looked at him innocently.
"Are you implying I take them?"
"Just stating a fact. Maybe we should ask June's maids."
"Would be a good idea."
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Could you get me some new water?"
"Something wrong?"
"Just feel funny."
"Maybe you should sit down on a more comfortable seat," Mozzie offered and led her to the sofa.
"Yeah feels better. I think I should have eaten more."
"What makes you think this?"
"It's all blurry. Happens a lot to me when I forget to eat."
"Typical signs of hypoglycemia," he informed her nervous.
"Yeah my doc told the same... this is really mean."
"You need something?"
"A candy store?" she giggled childish.
"Except for that."
"Some juice would be fine.""Sure... just by the way. I asked myself how old you are," Mozzie pointed out subtly.
"Old enough to be with Neal."
"That's for sure. Just wondering.""I am 28 if you curious paranoid little guy want to know. That makes me wonder again why everyone is so damn interested in my private life. It didn't take a month after graduation from college till my mother subtly asked when I plan to find a decent man and have children. I even have to answer this at every job appliance interview! I am a scholar and not a wandering breeding machine or something like this. Do we live in some Orwell-like state or what is going on with all the people?" Rebecca babbled agitated.
"A decent man? I'd like to know what happens if you introduce Neal."
"Yeah a decent man. I bet she would cheer like a goddamn cheerleader captain if I would have come home with a broker or so."
"But?"
"Broker? They are living zombies!"
Mozzie had to chuckle because of her sloppy imitation of a zombie."And you are more up for the living things."
"You could put it that way," she snickered.
"Sounds like you like the dangerous.""Not really... Reading about it is adventure enough.""You never did something bad?"
"You mean except pulling a prank on that cow Sarah Moira Johnson in 8th grade?"
"What kind of prank?"
"Switched her exam paper with an empty working sheet after she gave it to the teacher. She wouldn't have passed that test anyway. She never learned for anything thinking her looks will save her."
Mozzie almost drowned himself in his glass of wine.
"That's great. Did you get caught?"
"Nope, no one ever thinks I am able to do something bad because I look so cute and nerdy and innocent. If I think about it for real I would be the perfect culprit. No on ever suspects me."
With astonishment he watched her snickering about that fact.
"I hope you don't get funny ideas."
"I am a coward. I never would do something like this. I can't even lie!"
"Everyone can lie."
"I can't!" Rebecca insisted.
"You could learn it."
"I doubt it because I tried it to get away with sneaking out a couple of times and my parents always caught me lying."
"Parents have a sense for this."
"Not really, my friend in High School got away with everything. She even manged it to make her parents believe it wasn't her fault she hit a tree with her car. Like a tree just jumps onto the street yelling "I am a tree, beware!" That's rubbish."
"So there no dark secrets?" Mozzie inquired further.
"Not a single one," she laughed.
"You are sure?"
"I think of all people I would know this, don't you think so too?"
"Anything else we should know?"
"Mozzie you sound like a fed!" she laughed even harder.
"I take this as an offense."
"Aww poor Mozzie. Maybe some wine will help?"
"I doubt that."
He went to get some non the less. With a doubtful worried gaze he looked over where Rebecca sat and didn't know if he should be worried that she cuddled with a pillow over which she had put one of Neal's shirt. Where the hell the shirt came from he better didn't ask.
"Mozzie?"
"Yes?"
"You know Neal for a long time, don't you? I mean you behave like brothers sometimes. The way you annoy each other is so cute sometimes."
"Cute?"
"Yeah it's cute."
"You wanted to ask something, I assume," Mozzie redirected the topic.
"Yes, you know him best and you went through a lot with him and I think you are the only one he trusts the most, except maybe Peter too, but he trusts you more what is actually kinda weird since Peter is an agent and you are the complete opposite. It's like you trust the sun with an ancient book."
"I am not the sun."
"No that was a metaphor!"
"Now ask."
Mozzie drank the rest of his wine and started to wish he never started this.
"Is this a serious thing for Neal?" Rebecca asked in a low vulnerable tone.
"How do you come to that question?"
"He is a conman non the less. He loves it even if he barely admits it to anyone but it's the way his face lightens up when he can do something off the book. And it's so easy for him to make people believe whatever they want to believe. I am not stupid."
"No one said that."
"Is he serious... I mean regarding me?"
"He is more than ever. And what about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, what are your intentions with Neal?"
"My intentions? I don't know... I mean, nothing."
"What do you mean with nothing? There isn't something planned to use him or do you want to dump him when a better opportunity comes your way?"
"Noooo!" Rebecca answered agitated, "I would never do that. Gosh Mozzie, do I really need to explain to you how gorgeous Neal is? I'm not really sure how he feels about it but I've fallen in love with him and I would be stupid to hurt and abandon him. How can you think of me I would do that? I know that some of his former girlfriends didn't leave the best impression but I'm not like that. I have no intention to use him for anything. I'm not that kind of person."
With a guilty conscience he went to empty the bottle finally when he froze on the spot because the door went open. Mozzie knew this could be only Neal since every one else who entered without knocking was already inside.