Disclaimer: I own nothing!
AN: I have had this idea in my head for around 3 years and I finally decided to go through with it and give it a shot! I hope you guys like it and I'd always appreciate some feedback! Also please note that English is my second language. Even though I have spoken it for years, I can still make mistakes from time to time. We are all humans and no one is perfect! I apologize in advance for any errors!
Prompt: What if in exchange for Elizabeth, Keller didn't only demand the treasure but also asked Neal to trade himself for El? And he was asked to keep quiet about it? What happens then? Obviously to make this happen some changes have been done to the script and events from Episode 3x11. I also cannot remember all the details clearly and if Neal had his anklet on in that episode or not but let us go with the fact that it was on him.
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Chapter 1: Possibilities
"Neal?" questioned Peter as he answered his phone.
"Disappointed?" replied the person on the other end
"El." sighed Peter in relief.
"She's okay?" questioned Mozzie hurriedly
"I'm safe." said Elizabeth after hearing their conversation from her end.
"Oh, thank God." said Peter.
"They caught the guy holding me. Are you all right?" questioned Elizabeth urgently.
"I am now." replied Peter happily. "Where are you?"
"Uh, 23rd and 3rd. they're taking me home." answered El.
"I am on my way, I'll see you soon hon." replied Peter as he started to make his way to the already hot-wired car, thanks to Moz.
"I'll send Diana and Jones to back Neal up and to take Keller in, send them the fastest route possible." said Peter to Mozzie as before he drove away.
"Will do Suit. Say hi to Mrs. Suit for me!" answered Mozzie to the fleeing car.
Getting to the scene where Neal is supposed to be with Keller; Diana, Jones and Moz found nothing except Neal's tracking anklet, some of the stolen artifacts from the missing treasure as well as some dried blood. Sharing a quick worried glance amongst each others, "Jones call Peter, no wait call Hughes and tell him he needs to get here stat along with a CSU team." Says Diana while trying to stay calm. "NOW!" she adds when Jones still hasn't done anything.
"W-we n-need to call the Suit! He has to know about Neal! It is his fault that Neal isn't here!" says Mozzie to Diana.
"Don't. He just got his wife back, let him have this moment. Moreover, Peter is still angry with Neal seeing it was his fault in the first place that they got into this mess. Plus we can handle it for now. Neal isn't stupid. He knows Keller well enough to handle himself for the time being." replies Diana while trying to keep Mozzie calm.
10 minutes later, the place was crawling with the CSU teams, NYPD officers and FBI agents. Looking around him, Jones cursed silently when he realized that the little guy has disappeared. Knowing his paranoia and constant avoidance of any kind of law enforcement he half expected this to happen. However just to be on the safe side he made a quick call to Peter.
"Hey Peter how are you and Elizabeth doing?" he said as a form of greeting when Peter picked up.
"We are doing well; shaken up but happy to be together again. Do you need anything Jones?" asked Peter.
"Uh, I was wondering if the little guy dropped in for a visit. He said he wanted to check in on Elizabeth but was scared because of all of the law enforcement officers that would be around your place. You know how he is." Lied Jones hastily, trying not reveal anything about the Neal situation.
"Yeah I do. He hasn't showed up yet and I doubt he will. At least not until the dust settles." answered Peter.
"Well have a goodnight then Peter." said Jones, not wanting to stay on the phone with him incase he detects his nervous tone and starts grilling him about it.
"I won't be in for the next 2-3 days Jones. I already cleared it with Hughes. Can you guys handle Neal until I get back? Hughes will tell you what to do. I don't want to leave El right now. I can't." asks Peter quietly.
"Yeah sure boss, we got you covered." replied Jones while looking across his shoulder at Hughes and Diana, who looked in a heated discussion.
"What have we got?" asked Jones as he walked back to his co-worker and boss.
Looking worriedly at the blood a few feet away, "CSU got a positive match." said Diana grimly.
"And?" pressed Jones.
"It's Neal's" replied Hughes.
"What's our working theory?" questioned Jones after taking a full minute to process the information that was thrown in his face.
"It's a lot of blood. Caffrey is injured, that's for sure. He could be shot or stabbed. maybe even both. we don't know. However, we are going with the possibility that while in his fight with Keller, he got injured and Keller saw an opening to grab him for a possible heist where he needs someone with Caffrey's skills. It could have been his plan all along." said Hughes quietly.
"Or he just saw the opportunity and took it. I say Caffrey is on the run." voiced in Special Agent Brandon Clark, who always had it out for Neal.
"We are considering all of our options agent." said Hughes in a dismissive, shut-the-hell-up tone. Motioning for Diana and Jones to follow him to a more private area where no one can hear them, Hughes continued:
"There are many people who always thought that Caffrey doesn't deserve the deal we made with him and I can guarantee you that the DOJ will order us to look for him as a fugitive, not as someone who has been kidnapped and we will do what they want. However, it will be just a front. Caffrey is a member of our team. He is one of us no matter what. I need you two to keep looking into this from all angles possible and report back to me. We are keeping Burke out of this. In order for this to slide and not look suspicious, he needs to think that Caffrey is on the run too as everything he does from this point on will be questioned and he will be investigated. Understood?"
"Yes sir" replied Jones and Diana calmly.
"Good. Now get to work." said Hughes, satisfied with their response.
AN: I know it's a short one but please tell me if I should continue! It is my first fanfic ever so cut me some slack people! Anyways, thoughts? Ideas? Feedback? Please review it would seriously make my day!