Author's Note: This fic is my first piece of writing EVER! I have no experience writing anything except persuasive essays, that I've only written for school. Also English is not my first language so you're probably going to be really frustrated reading this (I have a really bad relationship with commas .) Sorry I'm not sorry. If you end up reading this please review it, even if you're only going to point out the flaws, because I really want to improve.
Disclaimer: I think I'm suppose to point out that I don't own White Collar or any of the characters.
White Collar~
Neal arranged his thoughts as he walked to Peter's office. He knew that Agent Seigel's plan held too much unnecessary risk and that's something Peter certainly avoided at all costs, but then again Neal has been complaing about most of his new handler's strategies. He was clever no doubt about that but also reckless and too confident of himself. Neal smiled to himself as he realized how much he had in common with David Seigel. He didn't think they made a good team with both of them being too ambitions. When he was Peter's CI, their strategies were always balanced and unlike Agent Seigel, Peter cared about Neal's well-being.
"Hey, Peter. You busy?" Neal asked as he slid the door open.
"What is it now, Neal?"
Peter did in fact look busy. There were, folders, reports, and files piled up in different corners of his desk. Nonetheless, he gave Neal a nod and waved him in.
Neal gave Peter a brief update about the case and told him about how the team hadn't made any progress. More specifically, he hadn't made any progress.
Neal was apposing as a client looking to buy the Emerald-Diamond Tiara that was stolen from the French museum about 6 weeks earlier. Mozzie had told him that there were whispers about the Tiara arriving the underground black market in New York. It belonged to the French Emperor of Napoleon III, so Neal understood why the French Government was right up their butt, asking for reports about their every move. He is using one of his old aliases, Nick Halden, because he knows it has the best reputation criminal-wise. With this type of look out for the Tiara Neal had to do the best he could to convince the seller, Vittorio, that he was in fact a client and not a former conman working undercover for the FBI.
"Peter, Seigel wants to abandon the undercover operation and his plan is to start flashing badges, show them the warrant, and search the warehouse that HE believes holds the Tiara along with some other stolen artifacts."
"Neal I'm sure Seigel has more reason to why he thinks the Tiara is in there. Besides you haven't made any progress. The seller is still digging into Nick Halden and the French Government is forcing Seigel to-"
Neal cut him off "You never used to let anyone stop you from following through an operation no matter how high up the bar they were."
"Yes, but I'm not your handler anymore."
That made Neal shut up. The hope he had that Peter would listen to him had vanished and Peter didn't feel bad. He knew that it was about time Neal started to put more faith in Seigel. Anyway, the plan wasn't going to hurt anyone if it didn't work. Peter was a little surprised at his last thought.
"Neal you have to start trusting Agent Seigel. I don't know why you're so against him lately. And since when do you care about catching a criminal so bad?"
Neal's expression changed to something like fear. "Nothing. You're right I'm just the consultant and he's my handler. Thanks anyway."
Neal hadn't told Peter about the details of their operation. The warehouse had a complex security system that Neal had to crack first. That meant him going in as Nick Halden to find a way to the west side of the warehouse so he could unlock the back gate for the team. It was the only gate that eventually leads to the safe. There were armed guards all over the warehouse and Neal admittedly felt nervous.
The conference room was full of agents ready to go. Neal saw all the protection they had on and wondered if he need some too when someone threw him a vest.
"Try to hide it as much as possible. The vest I mean." Agent Seigel said as put on his own vest.
"I've done it before." Neal said frowning at the ugly thing.
"Good. Did you tell Peter about the op?"
"Yeah" Neal tried not to show his discomfort and he was successful.
"I'm gonna have one of the agents drop the report off before we leave."
Neal nodded hoping that Peter will read the report before they left. He didn't want Peter to get mad at him for leaving out the important details of the op.
"Alright Neal here's your GPS mic watch. We'll be waiting in the van for your call." Seigel gripped Neal's shoulder and then got in the Van. It was two miles away from the warehouse hidden behind an old orphanage. He headed for the warehouse front door when two armed guards greeted him with a frown. They let him in the same room he had been in just three days ago.
"He'll be with you shortly." The guard left and a goon took his place.
Vittorio walked in with a wide grimace that looked almost too perfect. His gray-black hair was elegantly swept back with gel. He wore dark maroon pants with a white shirt tucked in. This man wasn't just any black market re-seller, he's been wanted by the FBI for more than half a decade. Everyone kept saying he hadn't made any progress, when the truth was just being in the same room with this the man was an achievement.
"Hello again, Nick." Vittorio said with his strong Italian accent evident.
"Hello, Vittorio." Neal gave him one of his million dollar smiles.
"You're a very impatient man you know, Mr. Halden?" They both giggled each giggle being faker than the other without sounding like it.
"No worries, I only come bearing gifts" Neal hands the Seller a $2000 dollar bottle of wine which he begged the agent Seigel to "borrow" from the evidence room because any other wine would have been too cheap.
"How did you get your hand on this?" Vittorio looked genuinely surprised, as he held the bottle carefully in his hands. It was in fact one of the rarest wines out there.
Neal smiled, teeth showing, implying something wicked.
"You are more than your reputation Mr. Halden." Neal gave Vittorio a subtle nod.
"Too bad we can't be friends. I really love your taste in house warming gifts."
"Who says you can't befriend a client?" Neal wasn't exactly sure where this was headed.
"Of course. A client." Vittorio grimaced then handed his goon the bottle of wine.
"You still don't trust me, Vittorio?" Neal asked not wanting to hear the answer.
"I'm afraid not ."
Vittorio snapped his fingers in the air and Neal would have laughed at such a ridiculous move, if it wasn't for the goon that appeared out of no where and roughly grabbed him by the armpits.
"Vittorio! You're making a mistake!"
"Am I? How about you show me that ear piece?"
Agent Siegel, Barrigan and Jones were listening carefully to Neal's conversation with Vittorio, while sweating excessively in the hot, cramped van. Everyone in the White Collar division hated being in the van and Siegel couldn't wait to catch the criminal. Vittorio was linked to a hand full of homicide cases but they had no tangible evidence to prove him guilty.
"Of course. A client"
"I think we should go in." Diana suggested. She was worried about Neal going into this, but Peter had given her and Clinton strict orders about following Siegel's lead on this op.
"Nothing happened, Diana." Seigel huffed.
"Vittorio! You're making a big mistake?"
"Am I? How about you show me that ear piece?"
Seigel lifted the mic attached to his headphones in front his mouth, but before he could say anything Neal shouted "Cloudy morning!" His cover was blown. The whole team sat silent for a minute before Diana pulled out her gun and headed out of the van, Jones and Seigel directly following her.
Neal swiftly elbowed the man holding him and spoke to his watch.
"Cloudy morning!" He was suppose to use it in a sentence if he felt like this op was going bad, but then that would have meant saying it at the warehouse front gate.
"Grab him you idiot! And hurry the FBI is probably on their way."
The goon tried to pull Neal's arms to his back but Neal skillfully squirmed out of the goon's petty grasp, then twisted his arm.
Vittorio was feeling impatient, nervously looking around, waiting for the police to ambush them. He grabbed the gun in the goon's holster, waited for a clear shot and took it.
The bullet hit the left side of Neal's chest springing him to the side, knocking the wind right out of him. He fell to floor with a thud, body limp and motionless.
"He isn't dead." Vittorio said, as the goon froze for a second.
"Now, carry him to the truck or I'll shoot you too!"
"Show me your hands!" Diana raised her gun at one of the armed guards in front of the gate as Jones did so too.
"Now drop your guns to the ground and pass them towards me."
BANG
The whole team was startled by the sound. It was faint but they all knew it came from the warehouse.
"I got them. You guys go in."
Seigel lead Jones into the warehouse. They checked all the rooms even cracked the security lock to check if they were hiding in the room that allegedly held the safe, but no sign of them.
"Clear." Jones lowered his gun and gave a sigh.
"Damn it. Call Peter I'm gonna go check if the guards have anything to say."
Agent Jones contemplated the fact that he had to be the one to tell Peter the bad news, but before he could even reach for his phone, it started ringing. It was Peter.
Peter was tired of sitting in his office doing paper work. He had so much work he didn't even have time for coffee breaks. He'd have to ask a probie to bring him some. Maybe he was built for field work and not office work. He shrugged to himself and continued looking through the files on his desk. Peter looked at the report about the operation Neal had told him about earlier that day. As he got half way through, his eyes widened. He fumbled through the mess on his desk until he found his cell and speed-dialed Jones.
"Jones."
"Peter. There's something I need to tell you." Peter gripped the cell harder as his stomach twisted for what he was about to hear.
Thank you for reading and sorry about all the mistakes and bad writing. Now would ya help a beginner out and critique this ;D?
Next chapter will hopefully have better grammar.