Episode 1- The Catch
Neal walks in smooth and swiftly like always, tossing his hat on his desk and heading straight to the coffee. It was a usual Monday at the FBI. Like any other, Peter was in his office searching through then newly made stack of cases looking for the next Neal, Mozzie, or even Alex. After shifting through the typical mortgage frauds and ponsie schemes, Peter starts to grin; Neal's going to love this. The famous Quantico double finger point brings the gang to the conference room.
"Morning Neal" Peter says with a smile on his face.
Neal responses cautiously "Good morning Peter. What brings the good mood"?
Sliding the file over to his C.I, Peter answers "I think we've found our next Neal Caffrey."
Neal opens file with disbelief and says "You're comparing me to a rookie college kid who broke into the school to change a D to an A"?
"Yep, her name is Rachel Simmons"
"Peter it's a girl"
"Neal the grade isn't all she switched out."
"A Raphael" Neal sighs as he flips the file page.
Peter's smirking replies "Remind you of any one"?
"Alright I see the connection, now what's our play"? Neal asks with eyes rolling
"Well it looks here that she's still attending classes." Diana chips in.
"What's her next one, I want to be there." says an eager Peter.
Diana replies with her trademark sass "European Art." This forces Neal to smirk. While Peter's rolling eyes and his 'why am I not surprised hand gesture' reply for him.
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Neal walks up to the board, grabs the chalk, and writes 'Raphael', little obvious but it gets the point across. He turns back a looks at his newly founded class and says "My name is Mr. Halden; I will be your sub today due to Mr. Phillips sudden interrogation."
"He's having way too much fun with this." Peter announces to Jones and Diana.
Neal continues "Now who can name the Raphael's that are on display around this campus"?
A young boy, sitting in the middle of left hand side, raises his hand and answers "The School of Athens, The Transfiguration, and The Galatea."
Neal nods along and replies "Now who agrees with him"? All hands rise except for one, a young girl with long brown hair and compelling blues eyes, sitting smack dap in the middle of the room. Neal calls to her and says "You don't agree"?
With every head in the room, including Peter's, turned to her the girl replies quick but not without putting extreme thought in her answer. "No, Neal I don't. One of those painting is not a Raphael but a forgery."
Her quick use of his name makes Neal uneasy, as he answers with "Would you care to explain your position"?
She is happy with this response and states "The Transfiguration's brush strokes are all wrong and the stitching on the back of the canvas was rushed to say the least." By now even Peter was shock with her boldness "Plus you can clearly see someone switching it out on the security films that the FBI obtained yesterday." The entire room was in shock the girl was pleased with this, resulting in a Neal-like smile spreading across her face.
In shock like the others Neal responses "Class dismissed."
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Waiting until they've reached the 21st floor, Peter is the first to speak. First to Jones "Take her to the interrogation room, I'll be there soon." Then to Neal "My office, now." Using his arm to led Neal ahead of him as the move, they walk to the office. As soon as the door is shut Peter yells "Who is she"?
"I don't know, I swear"
"Well she certainly seems to know who you are!"
"Peter I'm telling the truth, I have seen that girl before in my life."
"Neal if you're lying..."
"I'm not, now if you're done interrogating me I'd like to figure out how she knows my name." Neal says hoping this will take Peter's focus off him for a minute.
"Fine." It worked.
They walk to the interrogation room, again Neal walking ahead with Peter's eyes narrowed down on him. The girl is sitting in the chair, cuffs off, taping her fingers against the table in boredom. As Neal steps into the room, her eyes light up a little as if she won the game that none of them knew they were playing. Hesitant that Peter will scold Neal is the first to speak. "How'd you know my name?"
"Your name still floats around the streets, or rather 'names' Mr. Halden." Her mocking tone was insulting.
Now it was Peter's turn. "Why stay if you knew you we had the security tapes"?
"Maybe by goal was to get caught." Peter was getting frustrated and that ruined her fun so she obliged "I had heard many stories about Neal and I was curious to see if the con I'd admired really had gone soft. And I have to say Neal; I didn't think it could be done."
Neal beat Peter to the punch "What could be done"?
"I didn't think someone could really give it up, especially the man who was so good at it." She seemed almost sad, as if she'd just found out her favorite superhero retired.
Neal tried to shake her words off, but they hit him harder than he'd expected. "If you heard my name on the streets, how come I haven't heard yours"?
She seems ready for this question, as if she had practiced her answer in the mirror a thousand times "Like you Neal, I have many names."
Peter trying to get the focus back on the painting asks "So where's the real Raphael"? Before she could open her mouth Jones runs in.
"Sorry but Peter you're going to want to see this."
Peter and Neal both start to stand up but Neal is soon pushed down by Peter's hand "Stay." As Neal starts to object, the girl cuts in.
"Damn, he's even got you trained." Her smirk bothering Neal more than usual.
He was used to the comments about him losing his touch, or being on a short leach but he couldn't stand being put down the same if not a lower level than the integrated. The room reminded Neal more and more of his old cell at prison the longer Peter took. On top of everything he couldn't figure out this girl's motive. Why steal a painting just to get caught, there's so many other ways to get in a room with Neal, why go through all this trouble. The game wouldn't last long, she'd be sent to prison as soon as the interrogation was over.
Peter came is briskly with a half angry half worried face. He sat down calmly, opened the file Jones gave him and turned it to the girl. "You're Carter Bennet."
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Neal sat in Peter's office fumbling with his hands, hunched over, his eyes fluttering like crazy as if he was trying to put together a puzzle in his mind. Jones had brought him here the second after Peter said the name. Carter Bennet, his sister's name but that doesn't even make sense he couldn't have a sister. Sure his mom was pregnant again after having him but she died long before the baby was ready to come out. The nurse told Ellen the cancer took them both, how could he have a sister. Neal did the math in head, depending of the month the nurse saved her from my mother's collapsing cancer filled body Carter should be 15 or 16. That's too young to be in college, I mean sure his family was always smart but a 15 year old on college no way. She has to be a fraud, there's no way he could have a sister his mother died when she was 6 and half months pregnant. That's too soon for a baby to come out, and Ellen would have known about it for sure. What if she did, what if Ellen knew the whole time. Adoption, foster care, Ellen wouldn't give up his sister. She couldn't have known. This just isn't possible, could Neal really have a sister.
After what seemed like hours Peter finally walks into his office. "What do you think"?
"I don't know, I mean my mother was pregnant when died but it was too soon and she was too weak to deliver a baby." Neal spits out hoping Peter will agree
"Neal, Jones and Diana did some digging and it seems that on her death bed your mother did have her baby and she had prearranged a family that took and raised the child. That family was is a horrible car accident and somehow Carter escaped death yet again but the rest of the family didn't make it. She left to live on her own after being bounced around the system for a few years. Her real legal name is Carter Bennet, she's 16 and we did a blood test and she is in fact your sister."
Neal just shook. His body. His head. His mind. "This can't be happening."
"She wants to see you, talk" Unable to read Neal, Peter continued "You of course don't have to do anything."
He woke up, whatever daze he was in Neal snapped out of it within seconds. "No, I want to talk to her. Now."
Peter now unsure if that was the right decision gave in anyway. "Okay." As he reached for Neal arm to help steady him, Neal shook it off.
The more they walked the steadier Neal walked. His steps were more firm against the floor beneath them, his shoulders and arms stiffened. His hands were forming fists, then loosing as if he were pumping the anger and frustration out of them. They entered the room Neal first then Peter.
As soon as Neal sat the asked "Peter would you give Carter and I a minute please"?
Feeling more and more uneasy about the situation he had made Peter responded cautiously "Neal I don't think-"
Looking Peter in the eye for the first time since they found out the true identity of the girl still sitting on the other side of the cold table Neal cuts in almost demandingly "Peter, please." Realizing how tense his voice was he continued in a softer relaxed tone "Just a minute."
Peter holds the connection between their eyes for a moment longer, evaluating Neal's body language. It was looser and more relaxed but still tense as expected. He read Neal's face it was more pleading now, than the demanding way it had looked before. He gave in "Alright, just a minute."
"How long?"
"Neal I-" Carter tries to start
Back to his earlier demanding tone, but with a certain gentleness that neither of them could really put their finger on if they tried he says "How long have you known about me, about our mother, about who you really are"?
"6 years" Carter said almost as if she was becoming more ashamed with every word she said.
"6 YEARS"? Neal questioned with disbelief.
"My family had just died; I was in custody until they found a place to put me." She said almost choking back sobs "They showed me my file and it told me who I was."
"Did you even try looking for us? Me? Our mom? Our Father?" Neal was practically begging for answers
"Of course I did Neal, but you we're in prison, nobody knew where James was, and I didn't even know about Ellen till Peter told me." She tried to explain more but the tears escaped her. "I was 10 Neal. I was 10 and I was scared." She tried to wipe her wet eyes, but eventually collapsed. Her head on her hand, her hand on the table.
She shook. Her body. Her head. Her mind. This was the moment Neal recognized her as his. She was his. Her flesh was his flesh. Her eyes were his eyes. Above all her family was his family. They were now one. She completed him; it's as if she was the missing piece to the puzzle he was trying to solve. He finally had family and so did she.
He stretched his, now at ease, hand to her. It sat against her arm for only a moment before her head rose. She looked at him, "What happens now"?
It was a good question really, technically she was still a minor and Neal was the only family member able to take care of her. However he was a felon and no court would give him custody while he's in custody; then again technically she was also a felon. She could be sent away to a juvenile detention center and he couldn't see her.
Peter walks back in, he sees Neal's hand holding on to Carters. He sighs and says "Neal can I talk to you for a minute"?
Neal hesitates leaving Carter. He looks at her as if for approval she's seems to be on the same page because she gives a half smile and nods. Neal gets up and is led back to Peter's office, this time allowing Peter to hold on to him with ease.
Once inside the office, before either of them could take a seat, Neal questions "What's going to happen to her"?
Peter who was expecting the question replies "I talked to Hughes and though in a normal situation you would be given custody of her, however since you are still in my custody that can't happen. For the time being, she's going to stay here in a holding cell."
"Peter can't she just stay with-"
"Neal be grateful she's not going to Juvie" Peter responses knowing an FBI holding cell is the best she's going to get. "Now this has been a long day for all of us, I want you to go home and get some rest."
"Peter I can't just leave."
"Neal it's an order, Jones will take you home." Right on cue Jones walks in and slowly nudges Neal out the door.
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After about an hour of being alone with just his thoughts and a bottle of wine, Neal answers a knock on the door to find Mozzie. After about another 2 hours and 3 more bottles of wine Mozzie was finally caught up with the many events of Neal's day.
"Do you believe her"? Mozzie questioned, not knowing where his friends stood on the matter.
Neal's eyes wonder for a moment before he answers "I didn't at first, but after she told me her story and I got a chance to really look at her I started to see pieces of me in her eyes. We both have our mother's eyes." Neal sighs as if his long departed mother had just pasted away that very afternoon.
Mozzie searches his friend, trying to get a read on where his mind might be wondering. "Well she is a minor and a con, so what will happen to her"?
Neal responses almost in a 'you tell me' kind of tone "I don't know yet, she's in a FBI holding cell for the night."
Mozzie thinks of more questions to ask but he could tell that's the last thing Neal wanted. The two friends sat in silence for a while, both still consuming the idea of Neal having a long lost 16 year old con for a sister.
"Peter won't let her stay with me" Neal shook his head "Not while I'm in his custody."
Mozzie considered Neal's answer to the question he hadn't asked and said "Do you want her to stay with you"?
"Hell no. Peter's right I'm in no place to raise a teenager." Neal admits eyes still fluttering around "I want her to stay though; I want to be able to get to know the only family I have left. I her to be able to know some of the family she's a part of." Neal nods as if agreeing with the answer he had given.
Mozzie responses eager now knowing the goal that Neal is reaching for "Is she being charged for the painting"?
"Among other things they found in her file, she's looking at about 8 years" Neal said somewhat proud of her accomplishments on the streets, and somewhat frustrated that she didn't give him much to work with to get her in the clear.
"I could get her out, but she would have to skip town." Mozzie offers
Neal nods thinking the option over "That might be her only choice."
Mozzie laughs "Unless they strap an anklet on her."
Neal looks up quick at Mozzie "Moz that's perfect" Neal stands and starts pacing "I could get Peter to go with that, she could be out of prison and still not on the run."
Mozzie finding a hole in the plan he hadn't meant to make "She's still a minor the system won't let her live alone."
Neal nods his head acknowledging this, and then smiles "Elizabeth always wanted children."
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After hearing Neal's well thought out proposal Peter considers the idea of allowing Carter out with an anklet up until the part where he becomes a legal guardian. El on the other hand is okay with the idea knowing it would only be for 2 years tops when carter turned 18, plus she's always had a soft side for troubled kids.
Neal unsure which way this could go continues his case with "It wouldn't be that bad, she would working during the day and only be around to sleep in your guest room."
Peter's quick to answer with "That's exactly my point it's MY guest room, plus I have my hands full with just you. I can't handle any con much less a teenage girl"
Neal at the point of pleading "She's only 16 and I could watch her on weekends so you and El can be alone, and I promise you won't even know she's here."
Peter trying to grab every excuse he could get to not do this says "She's a minor, I'm sure Hughes won't allow it."
"Nope, I already called him and he's on board as long as she's under your watch." Neal stated "Please Peter just give her a trial run and test it out."
Peter unable to come up with another protest gives in "Fine I'll give her one case, same as you. She tries to run or pull one scam I'm shipping her straight to Juvie and you're not going to say another word about it. Deal?"
El runs in and kisses Peter's cheek "I'll go her room ready!"
This causing Neal to smile and Peter to roll his eyes "What have I gotten myself into."
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Once they arrive Peter heads to Hughes' office to get a contract written up while Neal goes with Jones to free Carter from her cell.
"I'm sorry what?" Carter says unpleased
"Peter has agreed to give you a deal like mine, instead of going to Juvie you'll work with the FBI as a consultant." Neal explains for the second time.
"That's it charges dropped and all I have to do is consult." Carter said in disbelief"
"Well there's a few catches" Neal answered
"What catches"? Carter sighed
Peter walks and set the contracts in front of Carter "Catch number 1- you will wear a tracking anklet with a 2 mile radius." Carter moaned, Peter ignored it and continued "Catch number 2- You will attend Manhattan High School where you will maintain a 3.0 GPA"
"I have my GED" Carter protested.
"No 'Rachel Simmons' has her GED" Peter explained. Carter rolled her eyes but couldn't argue. Peter continued "Catch number 3- After school you will come here where you will consult on cases alongside Neal and me." Carter had no objection to this one, so Peter moved right on "Last but not least catch number 4- You will be living with my wife and I, where you will have weekly chores and a 10 o'clock curfew"
"I have to live with you"? Carter exclaimed
"No, you GET to live with me." Peter corrected "This is only a trial basis; you try to run deal's off, got it?"
Carter signed the papers and answered with annoyance but not hesitation "Got it."
Peter grabs papers and gives them to Jones. He taps the table "Foot."
Carter watches as Peter straps the tracking anklet tight against her leg and sighs "Catch Number 1."
The boys echo her. Neal looking at his own anklet "Catch number 1"
Then Peter looking at the newly founded siblings "Catch Number 1"