okay so I finally took my sister's suggestion and decided to post this story. This is my first fic so all suggestions and criticisms are welcome but please try being gentle. Thank you :) okay here goes
But first of all..I do not own White Collar.
Peter stretched his hands above his head to remove the kinks in his body. The White Collar division was having a peaceful week , which meant no dangerous white collar criminals were threatening the city. But that also meant insufferable amount of mortgage fraud case files to be studied.
It was way past the working hours and everybody had finished up and left. Everybody except Peter. After receiving a life threatening message from El , he finally decided to call it a day. He cleaned his desk , got out of the chair and walked towards the door and that was when he saw a soft light coming from downstairs.
He locked his door and padded down the stairs towards the light..
Neal was so intently studying the file that he didn't really notice Peter leaving his office and coming and standing right in front of him. Peter was looking at Neal carefully and studying him. He seemed to be totally engrossed in the files. Finally Peter asked "If I didn't know any better I did think you are planning to rob a Museum or something "
Neal was startled from the sudden noise in the otherwise quiet division. But the famous conman schooled his expression and answered with ease
"Aw! Peter , you weren't supposed to find out about it this soon, I have this everything planned " he looked serious,and then finished deadpanned " Don't worry, you too have an important role to play in the heist "
They both stared each other for a long time or was it a few seconds, nobody took notice. Finally Peter spoke
"Alright, alright, Cut the joke now " Peter laughed. "You really think you will tell me that you are planning a heist and that too with ME involved, and I will believe it?" His laughing had stopped but the smile was still there.
Neal didn't reciprocate his laughter . Infact he remained dead serious. " what do you really think Peter I was doing in the office at this hour? I mean you really think I was reading the case files? " He smirked and raised his eyebrow.
Peter's smile faltered a bit. Neal was a conman , even after becoming his CI, Neal still had that urge to go to the other side of the law. What if, what if he really was planning the whole damn thing! But then suddenly something clicked in his mind and his smile broadened
"Okay..okay, I get it. I made you go through this hell" pointing at the staggering case files, " so now you are torturing me to get back at me, right! "
Neal's features still didn't change when he said " oh! Come on Peter, I even had El's role planned, and about Satchmo..."
"Stop it..just stop it. Don't you dare say Satchmo's name here, you have already used him once". Peter was getting frustrated now..
Finally Neal took pity on him and smiled a genuine smile. " relax Peter, I wasn't planning on anything "
Peter laughed and that got Neal confused. " what? You think only you can joke here?
Neal smiled more, " okay okay, call it even, alright"
"Yeah, because I really don't have time now, El's planning on murdering me, if I don't reach home soon"
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go " Neal closed the file and stood up. His hand moved to take his fedora from the bobbing Socrates when the elevator dinged. He and Peter both shared the same confused look as to who might be at the office at this hour.
The elevator opened and out came a man who was probably in his forties, maybe around Peter's age. Peter's expression changed from confusion to surprise to happiness as the man approached them . They both looked at each other and were suddenly embracing each other. They parted and Peter patted on the man's right shoulder.
"My God! Miller! Long time! Never thought I'd be seeing you again "
Miller smiled and reached out to pat Peter's shoulder too. " yeah, me too. How long do you think it's been? 10 years.. 12 years..?
"It's actually 14 year, Len! Man, I am so happy to see you after all these years "
"Yeah, Peter, same here"
Neal cleared his throat and that caused both the men to look in his direction. Peter realized Neal was here too.
"Len, this is Neal.. Neal Caffrey, my CI"
Len Miller turned his attention towards Neal, who was silently watching the conversation between Peter and Len Miller. Len Miller had good height, around 6ft 4. His hair was blond with curls and had the most sparkling green eyes , Neal had ever seen. He was wearing an expensive black suit. All this made him a commanding personality.
Len was first to bring his hand out to meet Neal's. "C I huh? You must be good, if you are Peter's C I" his green eyes boring into Neal's blue ones.
Even if Neal was intimidated by Len, he didn't show. He smiled his famous Caffrey smile and took Len's stretched out hand to shake it.
" Nice to meet you too, Mr..." He conviniently ignored the other guys question and looked in the direction of Peter for assistance.
Peter slapped a hand to his forehead and said , " yeah, sorry, I forgot. Neal this Len Miller.. Leonard Miller. We were together in the college. But suddenly he had to leave because of his dying father and joined their family business of cold storage. "
Neal nodded " glad to meet you Mr Miller. " He shook Len's hand politely. Len shook firmly before turning back to Peter..
"I just arrived in the city and knew you lived here, so I had to come meet you." Len chukled. " I knew that the Bureau would be closed but still took a chance and I definitely am lucky to meet you" showing off his perfectly white teeth. " but I must take my leave now, I'm sure you guys are heading home too"
Neal remained silent still observing Len Miller. Since childhood he was an expert in reading people. And his gut feeling was telling him that Len Miller was NOT the person he was acting like.
Peter chukled too " yeah actually we were just leaving. El's waiting for me at home. You should come home some day , Lenny , El will be glad. "
"I'm sure she would be" Len smiled " but it's late tonite.. I will come meet you tomorrow here Peter and then we can spend entire day remembering the golden days. Sounds good? "
Peter readily agreed to Len and then Len bid goodbye to both him and Neal. He then turned to Neal and gestured towards the elevator. Neal picked up his fedora and twirled it and placed it on his head and in the elevator Neal finally spoke after Peter pressed ground floor button.
"Peter , what do you think about Len? I mean what kind of a person is he? "
"Len? Oh he's really a gentleman. He's the most decent guy you will ever meet. He's coming tomorrow, I am sure you will see what a nice person he is"
Neal just nodded but mutual tered to himself ' I rather really not "
The elevator dinged indicating that they reached the ground floor. They got out and headed towards the parking lot. They reached Peter's Tauras and Peter gestured at Neal to hop in but Neal just declined saying That Peter shouldn't be anymore late than he already was and he really wouldn't want to witness his massacre. Peter rolled his eyes in return and asked instead.
"You sure? I mean I can really drop you first" Peter really cared about the kid and felt like it was his responsibility to see him safe but would never ever admit that. Never admit that Neal wasn't just a CI but a family too.
Neal only glared " really Peter I am an adult and perfectly capable of taking care of myself". Peter noticed the warning and raised his hands as in surrender and got into the car and drove off telling Neal that he would see him tomorrow in the Bureau . Neal took a deep breath and adjusted his fedora and took off walking in the direction of June's.
...…...
Neal must not have walked more than a minute when a black Mercedes with black tainted windows stopped right next to him on his left. The window of the back seat on the right rolled down and Neal was surprised was least to say.
"Hey Neal! you don't mind me calling you Neal , do you" Len smiled and Neal was getting irritated with that smile more and more. But he just nodded his approval . " come on in, I will give a lift. Come on , jump in " Len said, still flashing those 32 teeths. Neal had this sudden urge to punch the man right there and knock those teeths out but he held himself. Peter wouldn't be happy about it.
"Um..thankyou, Mr Miller but my home isn't far , I can walk , the climate is perfect for a walk too" Neal flashed his own 32 teeths which nobody could ever resist.
"Please, I insist, come on" Len shifted himself to left to give Neal room. Finally resigning Neal climbed in. His face was still turned towards the door when suddenly he felt a sharp pain on the left side of the base of his neck. His left hand automatically shoot upwards to place it where the needle had pierced his skin and he turned to his left to face Len Miller.
Len Miller's face was already a blur as dizziness started to creep in. He raised his hands to grasp Len's collar but his limbs didn't obey him and they flopped to his sides. He slumped more into the seat and saw Len's white teeth shining through blur. Len was smiling as he said " sleep well Mr Caffrey and enjoy the ride"
Neal felt his eyes droop and darkness surrounding and just as he gave in to the darkness, his last thought was ' maybe I should have punched him'
Phew! I finally wrote it. Please feel free to point out my mistakes :)
