Hello everyone. As promised to those of you who had read my previous and uncompleted version of this story I have revised and changed it. I didn't like how the story was going, but I still have the main idea/concept as the old one in this newer version. It takes place like as if the episode "What Happens in Burma" never really happened, but that Peter was able to squeeze only one snippet of information from Neal about his parents. I hope you like it just as much and any mistakes are my own. Please read and respond with the good or the bad because like all of us writers on here we like to know what you think. Hope you like it!
Italics= thoughts and phone conversations
Disclaimer: All rights go to Jeff Eastin and the USA Network. If I had come up with the brilliant idea of White Collar I surely wouldn't be doing this.
Chapter 1:
Neal was sitting in Peter's office. They were looking over another mortgage fraud case together. Peter had the team working on other tasks to get a respite from it while he and his reluctant consultant looked it over some more. Peter looked up and saw Neal leaning back in the chair in front of his desk with his Italian clad feet on his table. With a sigh he smacked the conman's feet off, causing the young man to look up and flash a signature Caffrey smirk. Peter resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the man.
"So, what are you thinking about this one?" He asked. Neal looked over at him with his blue eyes that had a hint of mischief in them.
"Well, what I really think about this case is it is boring, requires no brain cells to figure out-"
"Okay, that's enough. I get it; you don't like these types of cases." Peter grumbled irritably, cutting Neal off. Neal just flashed a large smile in response.
Peter decided to continue working rather than try to get Neal engaged anymore. He didn't want to get irritated this early in the morning.
A few hours in they were done with it. Neal and Peter found the break they needed right at the same time. Satisfied Neal closed the file and tossed it onto the desk happily.
"Great, so do we have something more interesting now?" Neal asked hopefully. Peter smiled and grabbed another blue file and handed it to Neal with a big, happy smile. Neal grabbed it enthusiastically, thinking Peter was handing him a new case file for something bigger and better. He groaned when he realized it was another mortgage case. Peter laughed at Neal's disappointed face.
"Cowboy up, with any luck after our early lunch we will get that one done and maybe we might get something that will make you feel more useful." He pointed out. Neal perked up at the sound of lunch.
"Do you have plans with El today or are you going to go to lunch with me? I found this really nice café just a few blocks away that I have been meaning to try. It supposedly has these really nice Italian subs and wonderful coffee."
"Sorry Neal, not today. I had to put off dinner plans with El earlier this week and she told me I have to make up with lunch. So, you will have to take a pass. Just make sure you get back here in 20 minutes okay?" Peter shrugged on his suit jacket and turned off his computer monitor before getting up and heading to the door. Neal flipped his fedora onto his head causing Peter to shake his head and grumble about him looking like a cartoon character. Neal just flashed one of his best smiles before heading out of the office door, but stopped short and turned back to say something more to Peter's slight dismay. He wanted to meet up with his lovely wife already.
"Say hello to El for me. Oh, and before I forget, can you tell her that Mozzie will be meeting her Friday instead of tomorrow. Something I guess came up. He wanted me to tell her, but since you are going to see her…"
"Yeah, I'll tell her. I don't know what the two of them do and I don't know if I really want to know."
Neal shrugged and headed out of the White Collar unit and went to get himself some food. He needed to escape the boringness and stale air within the office.
Page Break
Peter and Elizabeth were chatting at a bench in the park eating some food she put together for them. He had his normal deviled ham sandwich and she was enjoying a nice salad. Peter had suddenly gone silent with a far off look on his face.
"So I told Mr. Johnson that I could meet up with him later tonight. I mean 500 dollars for just an hour's worth of work and a dinner for two? I told him that it was a nice offer, but I would have to see if you were okay with it first." She teased with a smile, testing to see if her husband really was paying any attention.
"Yeah, it sounds nice. No wait- it isn't is it? What exactly am I agreeing to?" He asked confused, but back in reality. El just smiled in understanding.
"So, what is it now? I thought you guys were just doing the usual cases for a few days."
"It's nothing. We are doing just the normal mortgage fraud. I don't know, I guess ever since he deflected about his parents I have grown more curious. We have nothing on him before his 18th birthday. All he told me was that his father was a cop, but he wouldn't say any more. I mean to say something like that on me and then not say anything about it anymore? It raises questions every now and then. But, we aren't here to talk about him right now." He finished in a huff.
"Well, everyone has their secrets hun. Neal just has more than the rest of us. He will let you know about things like that when he wants to."
"I know. Oh, before I forget, Neal was supposed to pass you a message from the little guy. I guess he can't meet with you tomorrow. He can Friday though."
"Oh, okay. That works out great because I have to meet with a client tomorrow anyways. I would have had to cancel. I guess they want to change some of the seating arrangements due to a recent fight within the family."
"Nothing you can't handle hun." Peter said with a smile. El gave him a smile back and gave him a light kiss, before continuing to eat her salad. They continued to eat in peace, but were interrupted when a muffled noise started up.
Bzzzzt….Bzzzzzt...Bzzzzt
Peter's hand fumbled to reach into his pocket as he pulled out his vibrating cellphone, quickly flipping it open to answer. "Burke here….Oh, hey Diana. Is there a reason for you to be calling me during our early lunch break?….Okay, I'll be over in a little bit. Have the rest of our team start getting info together at the office. I'll meet you there after I visit the scene with Neal….Thanks Diana."
Once he snapped the cell phone shut he gave his curious wife an apologetic look.
"Something serious come up?" She asked him with concern.
"Yes, we got a new case and we are being put on it immediately. I'm sorry honey, but I have to cut this short. See you later tonight." Peter got up and set his half eaten deviled ham sandwich down.
"It is okay, just be safe and hopefully this case doesn't give you too much trouble." She answered, giving his hand a small squeeze before he left to find his parked car. As he walked away, he already had his phone dialing the next number.
Page Break
Neal was walking back from the café and had a latté in his hand for later. He had 10 minutes before he had to be back at the office and was heading on over. He didn't want Peter getting suspicious of him. The man was still questioning him about his past ever since he deflected about his parents. Neal just avoided the questions or redirected, which only made the man grow more curious, but he wasn't going to let the man know any more than he already did know or thought he knew about himself.
While deep in thought he bumped into a man, and after apologizing he stood at the crosswalk waiting for the pedestrian light to give the okay for them to go across. It was a slightly breezy day, but a nice day none the least. He looked across the street and that's when he saw her. She was a middle aged woman, close to Peter's age but a few years younger. The lady was in a black trench coat with a knee length, slim sky blue dress and black flats that fitted her spectacularly. Her dark, long brunette hair blew across her face as she stood making it impossible for him to get a complete glimpse of her face. He felt a sinking feeling in his gut suddenly as he she turned her head slightly towards his general direction.
It can't be. What would she be doing here? New York? I thought she would never leave- what brings her here? No, it can't be her. Please let it be a look-a-like, a figment of my imagination. I don't need this now.
Neal was shaken out of his thoughts when the group he was standing with started to go across the street. He made his way across, careful to conceal himself, but was still trying to get a better look at the woman. Quickening his pace, he started to gain ground on the woman, but just as he was almost across the street his phone started to ring. Stepping onto the curb he looked at the phone to see who it was and after recognizing Peter's number flipped it open to answer, stopping in his tracks.
"Hey Peter. I'm heading back so there is no need to get worked up. I promise that I am not up to anything bad." Neal answered with a slight chuckle as he looked around, but the lady was gone.
"When you say things like that, then I start to assume that you are doing the exact opposite of what you claim you are doing. Lucky for you I'm not calling to check up on what you are up to." Peter's voice stated over the phone dryly.
"Peter after all this time you still don't trust me?" Neal countered lightly.
"Sometimes you make me consider if I can or not, but I'm not calling about that. Diana just called and we have a new case. Where are you?"
"I'm six blocks away from the office on the corner of 17th by Willy's Diner. Where are you?"
"I'm on my way over. I'll be there in a few minutes." Neal hung up and tucked the phone back into his suit pocket. Taking a sip from his cup he waited for Peter to come, trying to figure out why he felt like he recognized that lady. Hopefully his suspicions were wrong.
A/N: Again I'm so sorry for the long wait and I hope you enjoyed it. Now press that button and tell me what you thought! Also feel free to check out my other White Collar works like the most recent Alphabet Collar.
