Disclaimer: We don't own anything. Everything belongs to USA Networks and Jeff Eastin.
Author's Note: Well this is our take of what happens after the end of episode 5x08. Have fun.
Neal was shaken up and beyond angry that Hagen had dared to approach the people he considered as family – in this case June. Luckily June had enough experiences with criminals to be suspicious and got the hint to leave. Neal only hoped that Hagen had no clue about Rebecca still sleeping upstairs in his apartment. That's why he had left to grab some coffee cause he forgot to go grocery shopping the day before. He wanted to talk to June but she told him to go upstairs while she wanted to meet with Mozzie to discuss what happened and what they should do now. When Neal came back into his apartment Rebecca had been fallen asleep again. He had to smile when he saw her wrapped in his bedsheets and hugging his pillow. Neal sat down at the bedside and placed a kiss on her exposed shoulder. She moved a bit and snuggled deeper into the sheets.
"Hey, wake up. I got you coffee."
"Mmmmh?" With a sleepy noise Rebecca turned around and smiled, "You went outside to get us coffee?"
"Yeah, unfortunately I forgot to go grocery shopping yesterday..."
Rebecca sat up and stretched herself to get her glasses before she grabbed her coffee.
"Is everything alright?" she asked after the first sip.
"It is, why you're asking?"
"You look worried."
"It's..."
"Neal, if you think that last night was a mistake..."
"I don't but..."
"What?"
"You remember when I said in that office set up that a dangerous criminal is after the Codex."
"Yes but why does it matter to what is happening between us?"
"That wasn't a lie."
"I don't understand. I mean, you told me some things last night when we were taking a break for a glass of wine and... wait, he's the guy you made the deal with to get Peter out of prison?"
"Exactly. When I came back from the coffee shop I saw that criminal talking to June.."
"Your landlady..."
"Yeah, he didn't really threaten me but he also knows the Codex led us to that stain glass window..."
"But if we get to it first..."
"Doesn't matter. Rebecca, that guy, Curtis Hagen... he's really dangerous. He already killed people and I don't want anything to happen to anyone of you, not again."
"What do you mean with not again?"
"I lost too many loved ones just because of who and what I am. I couldn't forgive myself if you get harmed because of it."
"So you want to end it?"
"No, but I'm afraid I have to just to keep you out of danger."
"Neal, don't use your lifestyle to dump me like an unwanted toy."
"I'm not. I don't want you to get hurt or worse."
"That's the dumbest excuse to dump someone I ever heard."
"It's not an excuse and I don't want to dump you."
"Then why you're now looking for an easy way out?"
"You remember Agent Siegel?"
"Yeah, he was interrogating me..."
"He was shot and I know it was Hagen. I'm sure that Siegel had been tracking my anklet and maybe followed me and crossed his way. I don't want to find out that I come too late to save you."
"But we don't know for sure he knows about me."
"If Hagen followed us he had seen us together."
"Don't you think it would be better then if I stay with you? You know that guy."
"But I can't always be around."
"I promise I'll be careful."
"That won't be enough. Do you have any place safe only you know about?"
"Only my apartment and if..."
"I could ask Mozzie if you could stay in one safe house."
"In one what? Do I really want to know why he has...?"
"Believe me you don't wanna know."
"And so wary he is of me and my presence around you he would offer a hiding spot in the outermost corner of New Jersey to keep me away from you."
"But you would be off the radar for Hagen."
"And absolutely out of your radius and we wouldn't see each other."
"But you would be safe."
"Listen, we discovered the puzzle of the codex together just like the window... I'm not leaving you alone with this. I spent years on studying Mosconi and ..."
"It's not the right time to live out your curiosity."
"Neal, from what you said it might be already too late for this kind of worries."
"But I don't want you to go back alone into your apartment or run around late at night."
"It's bad that you can't come with me to my apartment because of your radius."
"I know," he said worried. Rebecca pulled him close at the hem of his shirt.
"Neal, I told you I know how to keep myself safe. Maybe I can help to get you out of this Faustian deal."
"How?"
"You forget I am a Mosconi specialist," she smiled encouraging, "And if you feel better I let someone install better security at my apartment."
"Mozzie could..."
"I know you trust him but I won't give him a chance to sneak through my stuff. Who knows what he comes up with afterwards."
"I think you two would like each other if you give it time," Neal chuckled.
"Why?"
"Because you are already suspicious about the right kind of guys."
"I am not suspicious, he just behaves like a woman. A jealous woman."
"What?" he laughed unbelieving.
"You gave me that file he made up about me. Somehow this reminded my of a jealous woman who tries to find out everything about the new girl in town to be sure she won't try to hit on her man."
"You should never let him hear that but if you want a better security system. He's the best you can get."
"And I don't want him sneaking around in my apartment if he already didn't..."
"I don't think he would..."
"Are you sure?"
"I am, he never did this before but I have to admit you're the first one he created a file of."
"Great, the FBI has a file on me and also your paranoid little friend. Neal, just the thought he could have been in my apartment trying to find out if I'm a spy for the Chinese or for anyone else... it's creepy. Gosh, my apartment was always my safe haven and now it's targeted by paranoid people and criminals. And I thought I'd live in a calm and proper neighborhood."
"I may have another idea."
"Which one?"
"Don't call me crazy but what if you stay here?"
"Here?"
"I mean since we can't go to your apartment and I guess you'll be here very often why not stay here? You wouldn't be alone here. June is mostly around and believe me she knows when a dangerous situation comes up. And if something happens you're in my radius."
"You really want me to stay here?"
"Why not?"
"I won't touch your nerves when I'm here all the time?"
"Rebecca, I'm at least 8 hours a day in the office and I'd like to see you here when I come home. You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
"No, I mean I could sit all day on the patio and admire the view."
"And June could finally give you the tour through the house."
"That's true. You're not afraid I could be sneaking around here and find all your dark secrets?"
"Would you do that?"
"No! Neal, which reason could I have to do something like this?"
"After I told you that I'm not an FBI agent and that I have a criminal history you could be suspicious about quite everything."
"I could ask you if I want to know something."
"Indeed you could but I could also lie to you."
"You told me the truth about you being a CI on your own will. Why would you lie to me then when I ask you something about your past? I won't sneak around even if I know that there a lot of things you didn't tell me yet. I want you to tell me everything and not find it out by myself because I sneak around behind your back. Look, I was confused and angry when you told me yesterday who you really are but even if I'm angry I'm not blind. I saw how much it cost you to tell me. I guess, you're not used to tell people who you really are."
"Not really. And I was afraid to tell you. For years I had to lie to people about who I am and what I do. And when people knew who I was it ended with suspicion and anger. I knew I should have corrected it when you assumed I was an FBI agent but it was the first time in years that someone knew my real name without adding the words criminal or conman to it. I wanted to tell you the truth because I knew you deserve it but I was afraid it would change the way you look at me that you would also only see the criminal and treat me like one."
"Did you really think I would do that?"
"I was cause I got used over the years to this reaction."
"Neal, if my passion for ancient texts and books taught me one thing than it is that I should never judge a book by its cover. Of course it's a shock because I would have never expected something like this and I'm here with you and not with your rap sheet. But to come back to your offer I would love to stay here. But I need some clothes. I don't have anything to change."
"You could stay forever wrapped in those sheets if you ask me."
"Oh, I guess, Mozzie would be delighted to see me like that. But I really need some stuff."
"I know but how do we get it? I wish I could accompany you."
"You don't want me to go alone, don't you?"
"Not at all. I don't want you to go right now."
"Hmm...," Rebecca thought and cuddled close to him again, "I could ask June if she has time."
"I think that would be a good idea."
"Maybe I you can ask the wife of your boss if she would accompany me."
"I think I like the option with June more."
"Why?"
"Because I am sure Elizabeth will use the opportunity to have a closer look on you."
"She would sneak around?"
"Not really sneak but she has also a sharp mind."
"Oh, I realized that on our date."
"Why?"
Rebecca had to chuckle.
"When I mentioned that Peter almost arrested me she seemed to think that I'm one of your con ex girlfriends no one ever heard about. I cleared that out. I gave her a short resume about what had happened. But tell me is it true that Peter used FBI resources to do a background check up on her?"
"It is. He even checks her Visa bills and Ebay bids to find out what would be a good present for her."
"What? Are you kidding me?"
"No, he really did."
"But they really seem to love each other."
"They do."
"And they really care about you."
"I have to admit that they told me to be honest with you. I even got the order to have dinner with them after they crashed our dinner date to talk some sense into me."
"Do I need to pity you right now?"
"No, Elizabeth is a fantastic chef in her kitchen. You should be worried when Peter cooks."
"Will you tell them that we...?"
"You can be sure that Peter will ask me if I told you the truth and they will invite us over for another dinner."
"Will I be interrogated in the basement?"
"No, that would only happen if you get arrested again."
"I hope this won't happen again. And could you please come to bed again? I feel pretty uncomfortable with you being fully dressed while I'm..."
"You don't have to feel uncomfortable. You're absolutely beautiful but as you request..."
But the buzzing of his cellphone destroyed any plans that would have been made before.
"I'm sorry but I have to leave you alone here."
"Trouble?"
"More a new case. I need to go to the office."
"Can't you just call in sick?" Rebecca asked and smiled playfully.
"I could but so suspicious as Peter is momentarily he would come here and even I would have problems to sell him the story that you're my nurse."
Rebecca sighed.
"Okay, then go. I call you later when I head over with June to my apartment to get some clothes."
"And what will you do with the rest of the day?"
"I don't know. Make me some breakfast, enjoy the sun on the patio, read a bit, keep me occupied with the Codex."
"If you want breakfast I just tell the maids downstairs they should make you something."
"You know, I am a big girl. I can cook myself."
"Hmm, sounds tempting..."
"You better go before we have a whole FBI squad here."
"Actually it would be the Marshal Service."
"Non the less you have to go and I need to find my clothes. I don't think I can go down like this."
"Not really. Even if June wouldn't care. Do you call me when you've come back here?"
"I will."
Neal gave her one last kiss and left.