Stolen art, stolen kisses

Chapter 2

Neal: 'How's your day going?'

Sara: 'Not bad at all, recovered the Otero sculpture today'

Neal: 'Great, hope you didn't get your hands dirty, Repo'

Sara: 'Don't worry – I'm staying safe (and bored)'

Neal: 'Did you know that the baby has fingerprints?'

Sara: 'Save it for tonight, poppa!'

Neal: 'Staying in tonight?'

Sara: 'You cooking?'

Neal: 'Can do – see you around 6'

Sara: 'xx'

Neal: 'Love you'

Neal looked up from his phone to see Peter coming towards him.

'Looks like Hughes likes your idea. I just need a day or so to make sure your alias is solid. We don't want to take any chances with this one, Neal. These guys are ruthless – not our usual white collar crowd.'

'Well, Steve has a pretty solid reputation' said Neal

'Are you sure you're up for this. It could take a few days and I don't know how aggressive they are going to be at checking you out. You might have to be cut off from us, from Sara...'

'We'll talk it over tonight but knowing Sara, she'll want me to do my job. If I'm out of the picture for a couple of days, could I count on you and Elizabeth to keep an eye on her – without her knowing, of course? She wouldn't be happy to know that I'm asking.'

'That's no problem, but Neal, think this through carefully. If you don't feel comfortable with this undercover assignment, I'll just create an alias for one of our agents.'

'That'll take a lot longer, Peter. And they're already in town, ready to move. I think Steve will have a lot more credibility than some fabricated 'new' middle man.'

'Alright, well, we'll get started on the back up story and if you still want to go ahead with it, we'll get started tomorrow'

'I'll get Moz to put the word out about Steve and his expertise in lining up dependable fences and hopefully the word will get to them.'

'Have a good night and say hi to Sara'

'Same to you and don't forget to remind Elizabeth that we are getting together Saturday night – our place. That's if this is all done.'

'Well, let's hope this is a quick in and out job. The longer you're undercover, the more dangerous is becomes. See you tomorrow!' said Peter as he headed for the elevator.

Neal began his trek home, stopping at the local market to pick up fresh fish and the makings for a rice salad. Trying to get Sara to eat was always a challenge. He knew the importance of getting her to eat enough protein at this point in her pregnancy and like a parent, trying to sneak nutritious food to his kids, he was always trying to be creative and keep her interested in the meals he prepared.

He arrived home before Sara which was great; it would give him time to get started on dinner. She hadn't been back at work long and when she got home, she was usually tired and sometimes would lie down for an hour before dinner.

Right on cue, Sara arrived and dropped her bag at the door before moving towards Neal who was in the kitchenette. He watched her coming towards him and he smiled thinking how beautiful she looked. She was petite so her belly was beginning to protrude slightly when she wasn't watching her posture and since she was still wearing her regular clothes, her dress clung to her tiny baby bump making her look all the more beautiful.

'Hi sweetie' she said, smiling and giving him a quick kiss.

'Hey yourself!' answered Neal 'do you know the baby is the size of a peach?'

'Really? Wow, seems just yesterday, he was the size of a walnut. Neal, you have to stop with this daily obsession.'

'What? Would you rather I wasn't interested in our little one, Mommy?'

At that, she looked at him and she suddenly started to well up. Sara, serious, no nonsense Sara, had recently taken to crying at the most inopportune times and she could not control her outbursts if her life depended on it. It was usually Neal who brought out these emotions in her; the sight of him so invested in this baby and their relationship. She had even started crying when they had made love the other night and although she was embarrassed, she could not control herself. Poor Neal, trying to deal with a hysterical woman right in the middle of great sex – it had kind of ruined the moment but Neal had been a good sport trying to make her laugh with obscene gestures and a joke about the most common pregnancy craving (answer: for men to be the ones who get pregnant). She had laughed through the tears and had curled up in his arms thinking about how happy she was that they had made the decision to have this baby. The tears had returned immediately...

Neal put dinner on the table and they ate and shared the events of the day as well as plans for the weekend. They had taken to window shopping for baby things and Neal loved walking around the stores and looking at toys, furniture and strangely enough, baby clothes that he would hold up while inevitably mouthing 'So cute!'

After dinner, they sat on the couch to savor a cup of tea and Neal began to tell her about the Moretti case.

'I heard about that heist' said Sara 'didn't they take a whole collection?'

'Yeah, paintings and some sculptures as well'

'I didn't hear that the mob was involved though'

'Well, not directly' added Neal 'they had front men doing the dirty work but the Morettis are the ones who are going to make the big score when they start fencing this stuff.'

'But they're in Chicago aren't they?' she asked

'They're moving into New York to fence the stuff' he answered taking a sip of tea.

'So you guys are involved?'

'Yeah, we're looking at an undercover operation. I suggested resurrecting my Steve Tabernacle alias' said Neal.

'Ah yes, the boyfriend who was blackmailing me with naughty pictures' she recalled.

'Well, he has a reputation and the Bureau can make it even more solid. The issue is it might take a few days and I'll be undercover. I imagine I could still live here but all my ties to the Bureau and to you would have to be severed for the duration. If they decide to investigate or just follow me, I don't want them finding out Steve has a pregnant girlfriend. That could get ugly fast; I want you and the baby far away from this'

'So I would have to go back to my place?' she asked.

'Temporarily, would that be a problem?'

'Of course not. God, I haven't been there in weeks. I think I've only slept there once since I got out of the hospital' she commented.

'Twice' Neal corrected 'not that I'm counting. Anyway, what do you think – I'm not doing this if you don't feel comfortable about it.'

'Well, I do worry about you but if you're up for it, don't let me stop you. It'll do me good to go to my apartment. I need to sort out a few things anyway – pick up mail, pay some bills. Do you think this will last long?'

'I'm hoping if I gain their trust quickly and they start fencing stuff, it won't be more than a couple of days' said Neal.

'No contact at all?' she asked looking suddenly pensive.

'Unless the Bureau can set me up with a burner phone or something but we are talking about a very sophisticated operation here, and dangerous so that may not be possible. I can talk to Peter about it. So, what do you think? Do you think you and Boo-boo can get along without me for a couple of days?'

'I wish you wouldn't call him Boo-boo. What if it's a girl? What kind of name is Boo-boo for a girl?'

'A cute name from her loving daddy?' Neal ventured.

She smiled but tears were also in her eyes.

'Do you feel safe doing this, Neal?' she asked.

'This is my job, Sara, and I have the best team backing me up so yeah, I feel safe and I promise to be careful. I have so much more to come home to now.'

She kissed him ever so softly looking into his beautiful eyes, beautiful because they were full of love for her and Boo-boo.

'Then I'm right behind you but promise me you will not take any unnecessary risks.'

'Promise' he said in response holding her to him and kissing the top of her head. 'You in the mood for an early night?' he asked with just a touch of mischief in his eyes.

'I think that sounds like fun on one condition' she countered. 'No more pregnancy jokes.'

'Deal' answered Neal.