Chapter 2
AN: Thanks for the responses to my FYI. But I'm not sure my request was understood. I was meaning that somewhere along in the storyline that Neal got some more time added to his sentence for a few of the illegal activities he's committed since becoming a C.I. The answers I have gotten so far have just been concerning the chronology of the show, for the most part. But I really think he had more time added at some point. Please let me know. And for those of you who don't' want to go back and look at the end of Chapter 1 I will just copy and paste the whole thing here:
FYI: I have no idea how long Neal has left. Two years just sounded good. If anyone does know, please enlighten me. Thanks! Hope you enjoyed.
A few months down the road…
Neal had asked June to take care of his things for him. He had asked Mozzie to take care of their business interests. He had given Mozzie his wine collection. He had then written a letter to the New York Department of Corrections. He explained to them that he felt that his C.I. arrangement was no longer working. He felt that another prisoner might benefit more from the experience, and that he would prefer to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison. Neal did ask that his 4 years of C.I. service and his previous good prison behavior be taken into consideration. He was very surprised when he was given just one year, with 6 months suspended. And after a 6 month prison sentence, he was a free man.
Six months had made a big difference in Peter Burke's life also. He found out how much he loved D.C. and how much he detested his job. He was not a pencil pusher. His suffered severe hand cramps from having to sign endless mounds of paperwork. He liked the plush office, the coffee maker, and all the other niceties. But he missed the field work. He missed the people in New York. The only time he had a conversation with anyone in D.C. was during lunch or dinner. Otherwise he was trapped in his office forced, over and over again, to put his 'John Hancock' on reports, requisition forms and supply acquisition lists.
"You're okay with this, right?" Peter asked as he looked at his wife, seated beside him on the plane. They were headed back to New York City. Their stuff having left far enough ahead of them that they would all arrive at the same time.
El sighed. "Good thing the house hasn't sold yet."
"El?"
"Yeah, Hon." El said, taking Peter's hand. "I've dealt with enough pseudo-hoity-toities to last me a life time. If I had to hear another thing about how Senator Whoever was doing whatever for the environment, I was going to have to stab somebody in the heart with a salad fork."
Peter looked at his wife puzzled and grinning at the same time.
"Mrs. Burke has a dark side." El stated.
Peter burst into laughter.
"Are we going to finally talk about this?" El asked.
Peter shook his head. "Since Neal went back to prison, he won't take my calls. June won't talk to me. And I don't know if the New York office knows anything. It just seems... It's too strange to ask, considering….."
"You'll be working there again. Diana's back now, maybe that's something the two of you…." El offered.
"I don't know. I don't even know what my position will be El. I don't know if I'll be in White Collar. It…if all those positions are filled…." Peter shook his head.
"But you…!" El started.
"I left, El. Nobody knew I would be back 6 months later, including us." Peter stated.
El fell silent as the plane taxied to a stop.
WC WC WC WC WC
Neal looked around his small cell. There really was nothing he wanted to take with him. He wanted no jailhouse memories. Besides, he had promised most everything that had been worth anything to other inmates. The other stuff was just crap anyway, only worthy of being thrown away.
"It's time, Caffrey." The guard said as he unlocked Caffrey's cell.
Neal looked up, smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Steve. All the stuff is labeled, would you mind?"
Steve looked at the 4 items lying on the bed, labeled with an inmate's name and cell number. "Not a problem, Neal. I'll get 'em where they need to be." Steve said as he picked the items up. He started to slip the items into his pockets. His hand brushed against an envelope, and then he remembered.
"Oh, this came for you." Steve said, handing Neal the envelope. "If the FBI needs to verify your whereabouts, tell them to call me. You have an excellent alibi."
Neal nodded and smiled. He looked, it was from the FBI. He then shoved the envelope into his pocket. He wanted to get out of this place before he found out what was in that envelope.
TBC
