Okay, so new chapter already! Yea!

I just wanted to say thank you to all the awesome reviews and those of you who have decided to follow or favorite the story. It means a lot. Anyway, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it just as much!

Finding What's Lost Chapter 2

Peter sat in his office and stared down into the bullpen of officers as they hurriedly went through their cases in various ways. Some were on the computer researching (hopefully they were researching and not playing games or surfing the web), some were on the phone getting information, some were filing cases that they had solved or had grown cold, and some…

He closed and rubbed at his eyes as he propped his elbow on the arm of his chair and swiveled around, still seated, to face the window. "What am I doing?" he thought with a slight chuckle that did not belie the intense look on his face. Of course, he didn't have to ask himself—he already knew. He was trying to distract himself.

He had made a decision last night. All he had to do was set it into motion. Now was the perfect time to make his move while everything was changing. Diana was leaving for D.C., a few new agents were coming in to try to take her place on his…on Jones' White Collar Task Force. It would be the perfect time for someone in his position to take a little vacation. He could claim (even though he didn't have to answer to anyone here—still he knew Jones would be curious) that he wanted one before the place got too hectic with new faces and establishing a new routine after Diana's departure.

If Neal's sudden absence had taught him anything last year, it was that there was definitely going to be some kind of adjustment period in the office for everyone. Everyone would have to get used to the fact that she wasn't there anymore. Even people who hadn't worked with her as closely as he had would still need to adjust slightly, because "that spoke in the wheel" was no longer there to help carry the load, so to speak. He was just thankful that her parting wasn't as dramatic as Neal's. This one would be easier to cope with. Not that he didn't love Diana like family, too, but he knew he wouldn't be seeing her in window reflections or out of the corner of his eye after she left. Still…it was the excuse he needed.

A slight knock was heard on the frame of his door and he turned his chair back around to see Jones hovering in the doorway. He immediately smiled and waved him in. "Hey," he greeted, trying to go for carefree and relaxed until he saw the nervous look on his visitor's face. "Hey," he said, getting up out of his chair. "Is something wrong, Jones?" He placed a hand on his shoulder and the younger man literally jumped in surprise.

He stepped back a little and laughed obviously at himself. "Sorry, Boss. Everything is fine. I just…I came to ask a favor."

Immediately, Peter felt his stomach tie into knots. "Please don't tell me you want a vacation. Please don't tell me you want a vacation…" The mantra started in his head and he couldn't get it to stop. He was almost in a near panic, because if he was going to leave for Paris, he needed Jones around to watch things for him. There was no one here that he trusted more and he didn't want them both to be gone at the same time. Instead of acknowledging his thoughts or saying any of it aloud, he took a deep breath, which he hid by turning around and going back to his desk. "Sure. What can I do for you?" he asked as he calmly sat down in his chair. Neal would have been proud of his performance.

Jones approached the desk and said, "Diana called. She needs help loading a few last things into her U-Haul. She forgot about a storage unit she had and realized this morning that she wanted to get some things from it. She asked if I could help. I know I don't usually ask to leave early, but I was wondering if I could…"

Before Jones could say anything else, Peter waved his hand dismissively and said happily, "Sure, go on. Go help Diana out."

Immediately, Jones smiled and thanked him. As soon as the younger agent turned around to leave, Peter decided the time was now or never.

He closed his eyes briefly before calling out, "Jones, actually I have a favor to ask of you, too…"

=)=)=)

Neal stared at the ceiling of his apartment and smirked at himself. It was early in the afternoon, at least by his old standards in New York, and already he was in bed.

Mozzie called it depression. Neal called it exhaustion.

He felt like his head was going ninety miles an hour down an interstate with numerous winding exits every ten feet. It was hard and overwhelming to choose one, but he knew he had to eventually. He couldn't just drive in this straight line forever. He needed to make a choice, even if it killed him.

Tightening his hands into fists, he drove them into the mattress beneath him. All he had to do was make a choice. It should be easy! His life was nothing if not one hard decision after another! He had never been so indecisive in his life and it was completely frustrating!

Shaking his head, he jumped out of bed and practically marched into the living room. Mozzie was still there, enjoying a glass of Pinot noir if he went by the bottle that was currently sitting on the table in front of his friend.

"Decided to get up?" Moz asked without looking at him.

Neal wanted to yell, "Don't start!" After all, it wasn't like he had spent the whole day in bed. Sure, he had taken a few naps during the day, but that was normal for a guy who didn't have a job or things to do…

Things to do. Oh, he did have that.

Deciding not to give in to his frustration at Moz, he breathed deeply and stated decidedly, "I was thinking tomorrow we could case the Louvre together." He got it out before he could change his mind.

It was almost comical to see Mozzie's eyes widen to unbelievable proportions. He instantly looked like a gleeful child as he jumped to his feet and nearly shouted, "Are you serious? We're finally going to do it?"

Neal raised his hands and fanned the air lightly. "Calm down. I said 'case', Moz. We're not making a move, yet. This has to be done right if we're going to do it. It will take time." He looked down at the floor and knew he was talking to himself more than anyone else. After he had made his announcement, he had felt his heart jump into his throat and in the past, Neal Caffrey would have never had such a reaction to a challenging heist. He didn't want Mozzie to know how much his own words were bothering him, so he calmed himself by convincing himself that there was still time.

"Time for what?" he questioned himself. "Time to figure out a foolproof plan? Time to change his mind? Time to keep pushing the job back? Time for Peter…"

He cringed at the mere thought of his name. "Of course," he mumbled.

"What?" Moz asked, but Neal shook his head and turned around. He walked out of the room and went back to his bedroom.

Of course, his thoughts would have to go there. "He's not coming," Neal whispered to himself as he settled back on the bed with an ungraceful flop. "I know you're used to Peter coming to talk you out of things when you're about to do something stupid, but that's not going to happen this time. There's no point in giving him time when he's not going to come."

He turned onto his side and stared out the window.

=)=)=)

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