White Collar
A Walk in the Park
BeautifulAlice
Summary: Peter and team uses Neal as bait. Neal doesn't mind mostly because it's his idea in the first place. The only thing he minds is Peter getting hurt in the crossfire.
Notes: Takes place a bit after season one, but no real spoilers.
"You really think that this is a good idea?" Peter demanded, as Diana was setting up a radio at Neal's belt, where it would be hidden behind the shirt and jacket. Jones was talking on the phone, while Peter was-once again-arguing that this was a really bad idea.
They were hoping to use Neal to catch a guy named Mark Diamond who had stolen at least $100,000 in art and cash over the past year. Neal suggested that Mark would want an actual artist to see if the things he stole are the real deal. Neal would go in, work his charms, and get Mark busted for admitting to stealing the artifacts and cash. Peter's only worry about this was that Neal could be hurt or found out.
Neal, of course, didn't seem to mind.
"Peter, I keep telling you-I'll be fine. You guys are watching my back, and I'm sure you'll be as close to me as possible if things should go wrong," Neal said, impatiently. "Thanks, Diana," He added when Diana finished installing the radio.
"You're welcome," She said, and then added, "Jones and I are going to run a bet about who gets hurt first." She turned to Jonas. "What do you say, Jones?"
"I say Caffrey!" Jones called.
"I'll go with Peter. Say-fifty bucks?"
"Done,"
"I can't believe you guys are betting on this," Peter grumbled. "Put me down for Caffrey too, and-hey, what makes you think I'll get hurt?" Peter asked, frowning.
"You get hurt just as much as Caffrey these days, boss." Diana said cheekily.
Peter sighed.
"Ready to go, boss," Jones called from the driver's seat of the van that Neal loathed. Peter nodded, and turned to Neal.
"Remember-be careful," Peter ordered.
Neal clapped him on the shoulder.
"I'll be fine. And you can thank me for catching another bad guy later by taking me out to a really nice dinner outside my radius," Neal said with a grin. Peter rolled his eyes.
"Don't get your hopes up," He called, as Neal jumped out of the van, and began heading towards the park, whistling cheerfully.
He had a bad guy to catch.
Five hours later, and Mark Diamond had shown up-but not alone as promised. Unfortunately, there was a firefight, and Diana collected on her bet of Peter getting hurt (a bullet in the right arm) but Neal was stunned when Diamond managed to get away.
Both were in the hospital waiting for Peter to be okay'd in getting checked out, and Neal was feeling guilty that he hadn't managed to help enough to get Diamond behind bars as promised.
Instead he'd just gotten Peter injured.
"Listen, Peter, I'm-"
"This time it wasn't your fault, so stop apologizing," Peter said wryly, as he was signing himself out of the hospital. Neal hoped Elizabeth would be there soon to pick them up. "I''m just disappointed that I Lost a hundred dollars to my minions."
"You're not disappointed you got shot?" Neal asked, staring at him.
"El's going to be upset, and while it hurts when the pain meds wear off, she and I are going to enjoy some time alone...because I was wounded in the line of duty," Peter said with a grin.
Neal stared at him.
"You're insane," He said finally.
"Where did I pick that up, I wonder?" Peter asked, and with that the two of them began to bicker about who was riding in the back seat of the car as Elizabeth finally showed up.
End