This Fic was written especially for my friend and trading partner on Collarkink who is needle-phobic. It was written with the hope of perhaps looking at the lighter side of something incredibly scary for anyone frightened of having a shot and maybe even easing the fear, just a little!

AN EASY WEEK AT THE BUREAU

SUNDAY

Reece Hughes stroked the thick black hair of the young man sharing his couch. The credits rolled up on the plasma tv and he reached to the remote to mute the sound. Reece had picked the movie, 'Ocean's Eleven' hoping that the young man would enjoy it but Neal had fallen asleep less than half way into the movie. Neal's legs took up the length of couch and his head rested in the older man's lap. Whenever they watched a movie, they'd always end up in the same positions. Reece gently shook the younger man's shoulder. "Wake up Neal, time for bed."

"Noooooo. Too commmmfy." Neal slurred.

"Just a few more minutes then."

The boy replied by snuggling in closer to the seasoned federal agent, if that were possible.

"Have you got a busy week ahead? Peter was saying that most of your current cases are close to being wrapped up." Neal didn't want to talk shop but Reece knew he'd have to rouse the young man somehow. Gone were the days he could have just carried him off to bed.

"Yeah. Peter said it's going to be a fairly easy week."

"Perfect." Reece resumed running his fingers through the mop of black hair on his lap. Way too tempting!

"How so?" Neal thought if they kept talking, firstly, he wouldn't be made to go to bed and secondly, why would he ever want Reece to stop playing with his hair?

"I booked the influenza immunization clinic for this week. I booked it six months out and I had no idea what the work load would be like for the staff when I made the date. If the agents are too busy, it's usually the first thing they'll pull out of. You be sure to get in early in case a difficult case pops up."

Neal swallowed deeply and tried to remain calm. He had to work ever so hard to use an unconcerned tone. "I've already had mine."

"Really?" Reece was a little surprised, after all his brat was always skipping meals and not getting enough sleep. It wasn't like caring for oneself was a high priority. Now if it had been something to do with appearances!

"Yeah. There was a free clinic at the Sega Center two weekends ago. I was out with Mozzie and we both thought we'd get our shots out of the way before the bad weather set in."

"Good thinking, young one." Reece hugged his brat tight feeling quiet pleased with himself that they may be making a little progress in the 'taking care of yourself' department.

Neal lay very still hoping that his top couldn't feel his heart beat through his pajama shirt. At the mere mention of the clinic, his blood pressure had all but shot through the roof and his heart began to beat out a warning on the inside of his chest. Oh this was so not going to be an easy week!

MONDAY

Agent Burke sat across from his boss, finishing up the regular Monday morning house-keeping meeting. It was one of those things that had to be done. Peter filled Reece in on what cases his agents were working on and the older man gave Peter the lowdown on any Intel or messages delivered from the higher-ups. It was a tedious waste of time and both men had better things to do, but it was expected when you held a senior role in the department.

Reece closed his notebook and leaned back in his office-issued seat. "The clinic starts this Wednesday in the common room on level 18 and goes through to Friday. I'd like it if you could encourage as many of your agents as possible to be immunized this year. I'm hoping to see a 100% vaccination rate for the White Collar Division."

Peter scoffed, "The best you could hope for would be 99.5%. There's not chance in hell you're getting Neal to take the shot."

"Well you're sadly mistaken, Peter. He's already been immunized. Had it done two weeks ago." Reece rested his hands behind his head, feeling very satisfied with himself.

The younger agent laughed out loud. "Someone's pulling your leg old man. Unless you saw it for yourself, he's coning you. And the funny part is, you fell for it." Peter collected his bits and pieces from his boss's desk and continued laughing all the way out the door.

"Caffrey!" Hughes stood on the balcony and bellowed out at the young CI below. Neal got the two finger point and high-tailed it up the stairs. As he passed Peter's office he gave him a questioning look but the agent only smiled back.

"Neal, close the door please."

"Yes sir."

"Neal. What have I told you about lying to me?"

"Don't do it." The younger man's mind was swirling with what he could possibly have done so early on a Monday morning.

"That's right." Hughes perched himself on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms. Not a good look where Neal was concerned. "So last night, when I told you to get in early for the influenza shot and you told me that you'd already had it, that wasn't a lie."

And there it was. He hadn't got himself in trouble this early on a Monday morning, he'd screwed up already before the day had even begun. "No sir. I wasn't lying." Okay, so he could now add screwing up early on a Monday morning to the list as well.

"You had the shot?"

"Yes sir. I can even bring you the certificate to prove it. They issued one at the clinic so employees like myself could have it filed under their medical records."

Reece unfolded his arms and put them on Neal's shoulders. "Bring it in tomorrow please, son." He let go and Neal reached for the door knob. "And young one," Neal looked around, "I'm sorry I questioned your honesty."

Ouch. Neal hated that. He already felt bad enough. "Thank you, sir."

"Get back to work."

"Yes, sir."