Christmas Quarantine


Christmas Quarantine is a holiday story inspired by seeing part of the Bones episode "Man in the Fallout Shelter" (season 1 episode 9). I didn't plan writing a holiday story but inspiration hit anyway. Due to the hurried condition of the first version, I have edited this story making minor changes and reposted it. As usual, I don't own anything. Enjoy :D


It was Christmas time, and Peter wasn't at home with El while Jones and Diana weren't going to get to be home with their families either. Neal, he didn't have anywhere else to be so his only problem was being confined in isolation.

With nothing to miss, Neal was feeling rather relaxed for himself, but rather sorry for his friends. So, he decided to try and make the situation easier for them by giving them a direction to vent their frustration. He kicked up his feet and threw a rubber band ball around or clicked a pen, anything to be annoying. Peter struggled to keep his calm and tried to keep Neal in check while Jones and Diana fought off their annoyance between being amused by the show that Neal was creating. It was like a typical day at the office with a bored Neal.

In an effort to avoid boredom, the team was up for virtually anything. Using conversation as a general distraction they talked cases, personal stories, and generally joked around. The team was even up to some time spent practicing origami under Neal's instruction and playing catch with the rubber band ball. Really, when the work was off the table, there wasn't much to do around the office.

Due to the situation, the FBI decided to make a special offer and bring the team their families for a visit with them while they waited for everything to work through on the tests. The service was even offered by the director of the FBI who had flown up to give the news to them in person.

Once the news was received, the conversation turned awkward as they started talking about who to choose. Peter wanted El and his visiting parents, Jones wanted his brother as he was the only person available, Diane chose Christie, and Neal didn't mention anyone as he simply chose to decline the service.

This aroused curiosity from the others as they tried to get him to open up about his past, something that they had been trying to do since he started working with them.

It became a game for the team to try and get Neal to share why he refused to have his family brought in. Then that turned into a chat about traditions and holidays of years past. While the others shared wholesome family stories, Neal made up "alleged" crimes for the team to solve.

Eventually, the director came back with his team of brass and asked for their requests. No one was too surprised by the results until they came to Neal's. "Why don't you want any of your family around?" Was the general question.

Unable to avoid answering, Neal tried to generalize his response. "It's just better this way."

Since that wasn't good enough for anyone, they pushed and pulled rank until Neal was forced to give. "Okay people! So you want to know why my family isn't coming? Due to past circumstances that I can't share the details of, I am dead to all family and friends from my past. No one is coming because I refuse to risk their lives after giving up everything to protect them. And before you ask, there is no one currently in my life besides you and those who are not available to come." With that said, he turned and retreated to hide away from the scrutiny of the others.

The silence in the space behind him was of the variety that coined the term 'You could have heard a pin drop.' No one knew what to say.

With awkwardly cleared throats, the brass walked away, all but the director. "Hmm, he must trust you a great deal to even mention that much. He never tells anybody anything." Then with a nod, he walked away too.

Standing around awkwardly, the team stared at each other.

As FBI agents it was drilled in to them to push and prod until they got to the bottom of a mystery, and with his past a blank slate, Neal's life was quite the enigma. Sure they all had theories as to why he wouldn't share his past, but they were nothing like the truth appeared to be.

While they were thinking about the situation, it dawned on them why Neal was so upset and elusive. They had been talking about family, all of the great memories that they had, and how much they were missing seeing them due to the situation. It never occurred to them that the conversation would be painful to Neal. That he wasn't talking about his family because he couldn't for some reason and not seeing them as it was impossible.

Now that they knew something of his history, they didn't know what to do about it. He had spent the time trying to distract them by being annoying, stories of "alleged crimes,"and teaching them of his skills. How could they return the favor?

Peter turned and went after Neal while the others continued to try and figure out how to repair the damage that they had done. He didn't need to do that, he already knew.

Since they were in the office and Neal's desk was out in the open, Peter checked his office first. Finding it empty, he continued to the conference room. A brief glance through and he almost missed the person hiding on the floor on the far side of the room. Neal had cleverly placed himself so that only a small bit of his dark hair could be seen between the chairs from the right angle making him almost invisible (not easy to do in such a space).

Unsure of how to approach Neal, Peter cautiously walked around the room until he was beside him. Standing over him, Peter attempted to gauge Neal's reaction to his presence, and with nothing happening, he realized that the conversation was going to be up to him.

Lowering himself to sitting position and clearing his throat, he started the awkward conversation. "I'm sorry Neal." He paused. "Your past is a huge blank and we are trained to seek out every detail, our curiosity about you got the better of us. We had no idea that you were keeping it secret for the safety of your family or that it would hurt you so much. It wasn't intentional for us to rub it in your face, and we feel awful for doing that to you. Instead of getting angry with you, we should have asked you why you wouldn't tell us, even though you probably wouldn't have told us what you did a few minutes ago. Still, you're not a case to be solve or a suspect to be interrogated, you're one of the team and we should have treated you better."

Neal nodded, but didn't speak. So Peter continued.

"Despite everything Neal, you're our friend and family too. We care about you and are interested to know who you are. Sure it all started out as learning to trust you as a criminal, but now it's to understand you as a friend. You made a huge leap of faith back there, and as much as I want to push, I'll return that favor and let you share what you want to, as you feel comfortable. In the future, we'll be doing the best we can, but we can only be so careful so we're going to be making other mistakes. Just, please don't hold it against us when we hurt you."

Not knowing what to expect, Peter leaned back and waited.

Neal was quiet and straight forward. "I don't hold it against you. I know that by not knowing about it, there is no way that you can avoid making mistakes in respects to my past. As for the questioning and training to investigate, you would be surprised at what I know about that." He smirked up at Peter knowing full well that he was poking at his desire to interrogate him. "Thank you Peter. You are well known for being horrible at emotional conversation so that was very awkward and uncomfortable for you to say, I appreciate that you did anyway, really.

For a moment Neal stopped, but Peter could sense that he was trying to say more so he continued to wait patiently.

"After everything in my life, trusting people isn't something that I can do easily. A part of me wants to give you a free pass because you're an agent and supposed to be one of the 'good guys," but then I remember how many times the 'good guys' have betrayed me, so I pull away again. So far you have steadily proved that I can trust you and you have even become one of my closest friends, one of two such people really. The ironic part of that is how much alike you are, right down to the brown features and honest smiles. I guess I'm a sucker for brown hair and eyes combined with an honest smile."

Curious, and since he brought it up anyway, Peter asked. "What else do we have in common?"

Tilting his head. "Your both agents, team leaders, you've both hated me at some point, he's a little brother to your big brother, I trust you both to do the right thing, you're my examples on how to handle life, and really it all depends on what your comparing, but it is weird just how alike you can be."

Part of that bothered Peter. "You said that we both hated you. I don't hate you Neal, never really have. Sure, I have been absolutely furious with you a few times, but I never wished anything bad to happen to you, just that you would stop causing so much trouble. If this other guy and I are so alike, I don't think he would actually hate you either."

"Well he said it, for years, so on some level he does actually hate me." He sounded sad and forlorn.

"And you compare us, so you feel like my anger at you for situations like we've had recently is me hating you?"

Neal's lack of response was telling.

"Neal, you said I was like your big brother, well you're like my little brother and I could never truly hate you." To back his words, he patted Neal's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. It conveyed that they were still friends, he was forgiving him, but it was taking time to pull everything back together and that if given the chance, the "other Peter" would probably do the same.

Seeing that Neal was relaxing due to the conversation, Peter decided to haul him back out to where the others were. It was their turn to react to the bomb Neal had dropped.

Getting up, he extended a hand to help Neal. It wasn't just a literal offer, but a metaphorical offer too. Neal grabbed his hand, an action that showed his willingness to accept both offers.

Walking back into the bullpen, Jones and Diana looked awkwardly at them. After a few moments, they each took their turn and had the same general conversation of apology and acceptance with Neal.

With the general details acknowledged and agreed upon, the team set about improving Neal's Christmas. They each took turns asking him about his "alleged" stories of crime or to create a particular origami for them to use for ornaments on the little tree they were using to decorate the office with.

Eventually, Peter brought up the comparisons again. "You said that you knew an agent in the past who reminds you of me. Is there anyone that you know who compares to anyone else in the team?"

The others quickly listened in to see what he would have to say.

"Yes, oddly enough, his team is a lot like yours. First, Hughes is a lot like their leader. He usually remains in the office and is older than the rest, but his experience and intelligence is always reliable while his bark is worse than his bite… usually. Jones resembles a nicer version of their military man. They both are good at their job and not the chattiest of people, but Jones speaks in words instead of grunts and growls. Diana is a lot like there finisher. Those who simply look at the pretty face will find a nasty surprise if they dare cross her. She is beautiful, intelligent, and not an agent in her position for nothing. Then there is the little guy. I hear he has joined the team since I was around. He is obviously easiest comparable to Mozzie, small in stature, gets into trouble, and yet very loyal and friendly… to those he likes. There is a lot of similarities between the teams, yet for some reason, I get along with most of you better than I do your… counterparts?" He seemed to be trying to think of a better term to describe the two teams.

"What do you mean, by your getting along with us better? They don't like you?" Diana asked. Her tone carried something between concern for him, amusement that he must have annoyed them somehow, and incomprehension about how someone could dislike such a person as him for long. He had won her over after all.

"Well, their Diana is my ex. Our relationship fell apart after I was accused of being something that I wasn't, something worse than a con. When my name was cleared, we saw each other a few times, but she was falling for their version of Peter so I lost her to the better man in the end. The military man has been a working rival. Meaning that I have endeavored to do things before him and won. He's good at strength and military strategy while I'm better with wit and charm, he doesn't like losing to 'wussy skills.' Finally their little guy, he has been best friends with their Peter since grade school. He sees me as his rival for the role of best friend as well as a betrayer. There was a situation where if I didn't do something, their Peter would have been killed, and that something had the appearance of betrayal. So, with no romantic or competitive history and no appearance of utter betrayal between us, it is easier to be accepted here." It was difficult to summarize that and he hoped he hadn't given too much away. Still, Neal felt relieved to share some vague truth about his past.

This time Jones had a question. "Do you have a 'counterpart' role with their team?"

"Am I someone else with them and does that role resemble my role here?" Neal tried to clarify.

Jones nodded that he was correct.

"Hmm. I guess you could say that. Here I am a literal member of the team, but yet I am not because I'm not an agent. There, I am more of a counterpart to the team, working for the same goals but not usually directly involved with them. Both groups see me as the annoying guy, sometimes as the intruding party who doesn't exactly fit in, and as a bit of a know-it-all. I do use different names and parts of my past as back stories, the histories are real in a part of my life but I let the conclusion be drawn that the history covers more of my life than it actually does. So yeah, there are parts of my life here for Neal Caffrey that are both similar and different to who I am with them." He was nervous, that was getting a bit too personal to comfortably share.

Peter had a look for Neal that said he was about to tell him off about a few of his assumptions, but luckily for Neal, he was interrupted before he could get started. The director was back and it was Peter's turn to go speak with El and his parents. Standing up to leave, Peter gave Neal a look to expect the chat to be delayed but not forgotten.

Expecting further interruptions, Jones and Diana decided to leave the chat to Peter and give Neal a break for the moment. They could understand why Neal would be feeling down due to the situation, but if they saw signs of those negative thoughts in the future, he would have more chats to look forward too.

As the day progressed, each of them got to speak to their respective loved ones while Neal was kept entertained by those who were already done or were waiting their turn.

When the end came around, Neal was surprised to hear his name called. Leaving the others, he was surprised to see the director of the FBI waiting for him alone. "I have been talking to Beckman and we have come to an agreement. This case is going to need a joint task force between the two agencies for information, but as it is on American soil, the CIA has its hands tied. The compromise we came to is that your old team is now generally civilian so they will represent the other agencies, and your current team will represent the FBI. In order to begin this case on good terms, we have decided to make your visit with Chuck and the team. Each member has been made aware of your current situation as well as the reason for your being here so you need not worry about being criticized for that. Catch up and find a means of working together amicably." With nothing else to say, the director waved the team over while walking away himself.

Completely surprised, Neal had a bit of a 'deer in the headlights' expression going on, but he quickly worked to mask it in order to put on a stronger appearance.

It didn't take Chuck long to see right through Neal and go straight to the heart of the problem. Neal had never had the chance to fully settle his relationships with the team so he felt that he didn't fit in right because he didn't know where he stood. So being Chuck, he started by working on his friendship with Bryce, who he now had to remember to call Neal in the presence of the FBI.

Following Chuck's lead, the others found a safe ground to work with him on and at least started to resolve any past issues. Things wouldn't work out with one conversation (especially not between Neal and Morgan), but one conversation made a good starting point.

Before they left for the night, Neal asked the team if he could introduce them to his new team. They agreed, curious as he said they were all a lot alike.

It made for an odd picture, the two teams lined up on opposing sides of the glass. They didn't do it intentionally, but the teams lined up opposing their 'counterpart' with Peter across from Chuck, Jones from Casey and so on. The only people missing for comparison were Mozzie and Neal standing as Bryce.

Going through the introductions, Neal could see the teams eyeing each other for similarities and differences. He could also see that Peter and Chuck had silently agreed to work on his feeling of not quite fitting in with each team. This case was going to be difficult on a personal scale, but maybe it would all be worth it?


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