First impressions: Reece Hughes
"You want me to what?" Hughes lands hard on the plush seat of his chair, wheels clicking frantically as they glide across the hard floor.
"It can be a temporary thing" Peter steps forward quickly, hands up as if he expects to be attacked any minute. "And if he helps us catch the Dutchman-"
The confidence fades with his words and that's when Reece jumps in, putting an end to this insanity. "And if he does, then what?" He snaps. "You'll keep him on a leash in your yard until the next Caffrey imitation comes along?"
"Locking him up for another four years won't benefit anyone." Peter has the grace to look away. "Neal could be a valuably asset if he applies himself."
Hughes stares at his best lead agent standing ridged in front of his desk, wondering if he was hearing right. "Neal Caffrey is a criminal, he's been sentenced to another four years because the kid hasn't learnt a damn thing. He couldn't even wait three months to commit his first post-prison crime for god's sake!"
Peter shifts nervously and steps closer, gripping the back of the empty visitor's chair. "To be fair, that was because of a girl and-"
"I don't give a damn." Reece cuts the air with his palm, reining in his annoyance and letting it out in a hollow laugh. "It just proves my point. Caffrey's impulsive. Reckless. Clearly has no sense of right or wrong-"
"Now that's not true." Peter jumps to defend the kid, "Neal may be many things, but he's never hurt anyone."
"The people he's robbed would beg to differ." Peter opens his mouth again, but this time Hughes doesn't even let him take a breath. "I don't care how you spin it. Stealing is stealing, even if those he stole from could afford it."
"We're close Reece, real close. Catching the Dutchman… it would be a big win for us."
Reece deflates. This conversation isn't going the way he wants, that much is clear, though quite what he was expecting he doesn't know anymore. Peter's obsession with Neal Caffrey worried him seven years ago and was worrying him again now.
"As big as catching Caffrey?" The raised eyebrow suggests it's a comparison he doesn't like.
Peter lets his silence speak for him, leaving Reece no choice but to really consider the request. Catching Neal had been a huge win, for the bureau and for Burke. The Dutchman has been on their radar longer than Caffrey's been inside. He's smart, meticulous, but also a murderer. Something Neal Caffrey never was.
Hughes sighs, eyeing Peter over the C.I contract which needed his signature. "Cut the crap Peter. What is this really about?"
There's an eternity between the demand and Burke's response. Almost like he's looking for the exact words which aren't a lie, but won't get him into trouble either.
"I like the kid."
And there it is, as if there's nothing more to it. No hard sell on Neal's unique perspective, or how he clearly has access to intel they don't, even on the inside. Hughes always suspected Peter had felt more than a little bad for the tough sentence, despite Caffrey deserving every damn minute.
"Well kid is right." Reece snorts, watching Burke fidget, looking unusually flustered thanks to his confession. "You know, if you do this he's not out for good behaviour. It won't be like the normal C.I relationship where they carry on doing what they do and we look the other way so long as it pays to do so. Caffrey's a ward of the state. That means he'll be your ward for four years. Your responsibility to fix what he breaks."
There's a pause, a healthy one which provides Reece a modicum of comfort considering what Peter's letting them all in for.
"I can handle that."
"I hope you can." Reece takes pen to paper. "You got your wish. Welcome to fatherhood Agent Burke." He adds with an upturned smiled, handing over the signed contract and laughing gracelessly at Peter's suddenly pale face.
"You really think you can turn Caffrey around?" He asks after a sobering pause.
Taking possession of the signed agreement that makes Neal Caffrey his, Peter relaxes a fraction. "I do sir. He's good. There's plenty of law abiding things he can do with his talents." Hughes detects a note of melancholy to his next words. "I think he just needs someone to show him there's a better way."
"Well he couldn't ask for a better teacher." Reece smiles softly. "Good luck."
"Thank you, sir."
...
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Hughes turns from the window in his office. Caffrey's fidgeting by the door like a naughty school boy, looking out of place and worryingly skittish.
"Sit down." Reece demonstrates by taking his own seat, adding when Neal doesn't move; "Relax Caffrey, I don't bite."
"Of course."
The wide grin being thrown at him is exactly how Peter described. Reece has to admit, with the insecurity coming off this kid in waves, it's no wonder Peter fell for him so hard. Only thing Reece can't work out, is this false confidence act part of a con to have them lower their guard, or is it evidence of the damage done after four years in prison?
"Do you know why you're here?" he asks once Caffrey finally settles.
"No, the Agents who kindly escorted me here didn't tell me."
The under lying sarcasm isn't missed and Reece lets Caffrey know with an unimpressed frown.
"You're here because one of my Agents has seen fit to take responsibility for you." Hughes pauses, providing plenty of opportunity for a smart-aleck remark, but wisely Caffrey keeps his mouth shut. "That means by default I also have a share in that responsibility. I want to make sure you understand what that means before Agent Burke returns from the last vacation he'll have in four years."
Neal blinks. Revealing he hadn't quite thought about the restrictions that would be placed on Burke during their deal.
"I do sir, really." Caffrey nods, lips drawn in a serious line, smile nothing but a ghost. "Peter's taking a chance on me I know."
Peter. Hughes recalls Burke calling Caffrey 'Neal' when they talked in his office. When did these two get so well acquainted it's already first name basis?
"I'll be watching you Caffrey." Hughes put his best stern face on. "You're going to be around this office a lot and you're going to be on your best behaviour because its Peter's neck on the line. Is that understood?"
The grin that had started to creep back on his face drops the second he mentions the risk to Burke, which gives Reece hope the kid really does understand what a leap of faith they're taking on him.
"Yes sir, I promise I don't want to hurt anyone."
Reece is going to reserve judgement on that. Kid may not want to, doesn't mean he won't. He has children, hell he has nearly grown grandchildren. And what he's learnt is that your kids may appreciate you, may love you, but that doesn't stop them hurting you.
"Go see Agent Jones. He can run through all the paperwork with you so when Agent Burke gets back you'll be ready to prove that."
The grin is back, but looking more relieved than anything else, even settling into something – dare he think it - more genuine. Caffrey rises, restraining himself only just enough to walk, not run out the door. Reece watches him jog down the stairs, making a b-line for Jones' desk and allows his own smile to grace his aging face. Whatever happens going forward, Reece has a feeling it's going to be an interesting ride.