Back to the office
The drive to work was the most awkward one that Peter and Neal had ever experienced. Peter didn't know what to say, and Neal feared how he might be reacting to the news.
Fortunately, the traffic was particularly heavy so Peter had enough time to come up with a means of broaching the topic. "I suppose your doctor gave you the same information that my doctor gave me?"
Unable to look towards the driver seat, Neal chose to watch Peter's reflection instead. "I would assume so." He didn't want to leave the weight of the conversation up to Peter, but he didn't know what he could say.
Finding it easier to work in basic questions and answers, Peter continued. "Do you know the circumstances behind it?" Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Neal go stiff and feared that he was angry.
"No, do you?" He knew he was adopted, but not anything further. What if Peter knew and didn't tell him?
"Now I do. I'm so sorry Neal. I didn't know you even existed until yesterday." He could see Neal flinch. Apparently, 'Our parents wouldn't even acknowledge your existence to me' wasn't a good way to tell him. Wincing himself, Peter tried to rectify his mistake. "I didn't mean it like that Neal. According to what they told me last night, they had a big celebration planned to announce that you were expected, but then mom got sick before they could have the party. That was the year that I lived with our aunt and uncle because mom ended up in the hospital and nearly died. Once they knew she was going to live, it still wasn't known if you were going to make it. Then when you were born there were more complications endangering you life. With dad out of work and the medical bills piling up, they couldn't afford to save you, so they had to put you up for adoption. Your parents saved your life and when they took you away, they wanted you to 'truly' be their son so they sealed your adoption files like we never existed… with the odds against us ever knowing about each other, mom and dad never told me."
Neal was relieved to know that he was given up for a good reason and that maybe his adopted parents had cared for him at some point, but it still hurt that he seemed to be forgotten in the time following his adoption. "They never even hinted at the possibility of me existing?"
With his heart aching again, Peter could tell that his little brother felt like he had been given up and forgotten. It hurt to know that was going through his mind, so he corrected the thoughts. "You were the absent ghost in the house. Mom and dad never talked about you, but they asked me to tell you that they have a box full of letters and cards for you to read if you would like them. Then to me, you were the figment of my imagination. I've always wanted a little brother, but never knew I had one."
After several minutes Neal decided to break the silence. "You're not angry?" He might as well dive in and get his biggest fear addressed.
Startled, Peter almost didn't hit his breaks fast enough to avoid rear ending the car in front of him. A quick slam on said breaks took the car to a jolting stop before Peter whirled around to look at Neal. "Angry? Why would I be angry?" He was at a loss as to where that came from.
"Because of my past." Neal didn't specify his criminal past, adoption, or what part of his life he meant. Perhaps he meant all of them?
Peter's heart took another plummet in his chest. He sighed as he looked at the lost and fearful expression on his brother's face. "No Neal. I'm not angry to discover that you are my little brother. You have made decisions in the past that I am not proud of, but I am proud of the man that you have become." Suddenly his face fell as a thought crossed his mind. "You aren't… are you?"
Taken back, Neal realized that Peter was also adjusting to the huge change and was unsure of where he stood too. "No Peter. I'm not angry either. Who would be upset to learn that you are their big brother?"
Feeling better, Peter took a deep breath and started down another avenue of questions. "Did you ever want a brother growing up?"
That wasn't something that Neal had thought about. "I didn't really have much time to think of things like that… but looking back, life would have been a lot easier having you around." He wouldn't have been alone and there would have been someone else there to help him learn the ropes of life.
"Are you ever going to tell me what it was like for you growing up?" Peter didn't mean to ask that question. It was just something on his mind that slipped out while he was trying to picture Neal's childhood.
"Soon, hopefully very soon." Neal didn't say that he would have to leave certain aspects out of that story, but he was allowed to tell the history of Neal, which included his real childhood.
Arriving at work, Elizabeth was relieved for a little bit of time to reflect on the recent changes. It was quiet in the office and she didn't need to expect anyone for an hour at the earliest. Settling back with a good cup of coffee, she leaned into her chair to think.
The day had started normal and Peter had kissed her goodbye before heading off to work. He and Neal were doing a takedown and she could tell that he was worried. That gut instinct of his seemed to be alerting him that something bad was coming, but he was going to do his job anyway. "I'll be careful" he had said when she cautioned him. Little did that do.
She had just finished a meeting and her clients were walking out of her office when she got the call. 'There has been an incident at the takedown. Peter and Neal are being taken to the hospital and I recommend that you come as soon as possible.' She got the rest of the information from Diana and turned to Yvonne. "Yvonne, something has gone very bad at my husband's takedown. He and Neal are being rushed to the hospital and I have to go. Can you hold down the fort?" When Yvonne agreed to take care of the office, the clients wished her the best of luck and she thanked them before leaving for the hospital.
It had been a terrifying experience for her as she waited for the doctor to tell her that Peter and Neal were going to be alright. When he did eventually come to see her, it was with the worst of news. They were losing Peter and Neal, so the doctor recommended she come see them to say goodbye.
The two men were in the same room as the doctors tried to save them both from the same fate, but it was turning out to be a losing battle.
With tears streaming down her face, she spoke to Neal before moving to Peter's side. Unable to stand any longer, she collapsed sobbing. How could this be? She couldn't lose him.
While she spoke to him through her tears, the doctor came back to check on him. "That's not possible… I'm sorry, but we need the room Mrs. Burke."
Despite her protests, she was relegated back to the waiting room again. After a couple hours of stressful waiting and many tears shed later, the doctor came back to speak with her. "I'm sorry for not explaining the situation sooner, but we are baffled by what is going on with them. Their numbers continue to fall, but they have dropped into comas that seem to be slowing their decline down. Our staff has been struggling to research the poison that was used, but their situations seem to be different from any other case recorded."
"Is there any hope for them?" Elizabeth was desperate for a positive answer.
Shaking his head, the doctor crushed her hopes. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe so. I am not aware of anyone having survived this and there is no cure. We are doing everything that we can for them, but they are still slipping away, albeit slower than the other cases."
The next thing Elizabeth knew, she was sitting on a couch in some safe house with Diana sitting next to her while Jones was trying to get her something to drink in the kitchen. Satchmo was nuzzling her leg while whining to know what was wrong.
Hugging the dog, she couldn't contain her grief as she burst into tears again.
Wiping the tears away from her eyes, she took a deep breath and reminder herself that it was in the past, that Peter and Neal were alive and well.
Thinking about their current status, she turned her thoughts to learning that Neal was her brother-in-law.
She and Peter were having some mixed feelings about that discovery. Neal was a great friend and they both enjoyed having him around, but he was also a criminal famous for coloring outside of the lines. What would the long term affects be?
Then Peter was also upset by how much of a surprise the discovery was to him. Their parents had hidden Neal's very existence for thirty years, and then to discover that his consultant was his brother? He had also been up much of the night as he fretted about how Neal would handle the situation. Would he be angry to discover that his parents put him up for adoption? What would he think of having Peter as a biological brother?
With Yvonne's arrival, it was time for the day to begin and Elizabeth's reflections would have to wait until later.
As they walked up to the office, they both decided to keep their news from the general office for a little while.
Further discussing what to do, Peter mentioned that he had already told Hughes about their situation and that he was supposed to meet him about the rest of the official details that morning.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Neal suddenly realized that this revelation meant that either agency could decide to break up the partnership due to the risks involved with two brothers working together in the field… he hadn't thought of that when he thought about possible ramifications to their relationship.
"What?"
Opening his eyes to Peter's question, Neal replied. "I hadn't thought about the official side yet. Do you think they will break us up?"
Furrowing his brows, Peter didn't know the answer.
Entering the office, Peter hurried up to Hughes' door to let him know that he was in. Since Hughes was in the middle of an important phone call, he waived Peter away with a look that said he would find him when he was done.
Shrugging down at Neal, Peter got settled into his office and made a quick call to Elizabeth with updates on how their conversation had gone. Then he went to work on his case load while he waited for Hughes to finish his call.
Meanwhile down at his desk, Neal was also getting started for the day and subtly checking his phone between watching the door as often as he could sneak it. He was hoping that the general would contact him with information pertaining to the new discovery and how she wanted him to handle it, or that Chuck would show up and be his ever helpful self (and hopefully not too mad about Neal not contacting him).
A few hours passed before Peter was called into Hughes' office. After a few moments, he was back on the landing and giving Neal the double finger point so he knew that he was going to have to be present for the conversation.
Climbing the stairs, Neal tried not to think about what to expect and planned to take it as it came instead. It didn't take long for him to quietly join Peter in the seats facing Hughes. Then, he nearly jumped out of his seat as he heard a familiar voice emanating from the computer screen.
Peter gave Neal a funny look that was curious about his reaction while Hughes calmly swiveled his computer screen around to be compliant with the general's request.
Neal ignored the others as he focused on the general and tried to get an understanding of what she was doing. Looking at her, she was dressed like a sharp business woman obviously sitting in a government office. Otherwise, she was working to remain rather inconspicuous so that her full identity wouldn't be recognized. Rather than get himself into serious trouble, Neal continued to remain silent, waiting for instructions.
"Mr. Caffrey. We have verified that agent Burke is in fact your biological brother and further investigations are being done to discover how this fact was missed. As for how to handle the discovery, a panel is working to discuss the situation and you will be notified when a decision is made." Then she got her 'this is a direct order so you had better follow it' look as she gave him the answer he didn't want to hear. "Until a decision is made, you will continue to play your role as if this didn't happen."
Raising his hand in a form that he knew irked her, Neal played the student asking the teacher for permission to ask a question.
"Yes?" came the apprehensive acknowledgment.
"Are you still sending the team?" Will he at least have Chuck to talk to since he wasn't going to be allowed to tell Peter?
Looking relieved that he wasn't going to be causing trouble, the general had at least some good news. "Yes, we don't want any of your enemies to discover that you have the vulnerability of family so, as a precaution, your old team will be present for a while to ensure your safety. Most of them are civilian and Casey will be around for official assistance if needed."
Neal had his answers so he sat back in his seat while the general and Hughes had further discussions about the situation. Peter on the other hand, was sitting limply in his chair trying to absorb what he thought he was understanding… his brother had something to do with government and Caffrey was a 'role' to be played?
When the general disconnected in her usual abruptness, Hughes turned to Neal. "Does she always act that abruptly?"
Shrugging, Neal smirked back. "Pretty much. She is the boss and she likes it that way."
Peter still hadn't pulled himself together, so Hughes continued to question him for as much information as he could get. "I know that you can't really tell me anything, but I have a few questions for you anyway. Do we really have to worry about you committing crimes?"
Thinking through his answers before answering, Neal told as much as he felt comfortable doing. "Only when the situation dictates me keeping a realistic criminal persona, and even then I am not just running wild doing my own thing. It's probably a lot like what it would be if you were playing a criminal, only with less paperwork for me as my boss handles giving the permission and working things out with the FBI."
Nodding, Hughes fired off another one. "What enemies was she referring to so that we can also be on the lookout?"
"Unfortunately, that isn't something that is easily defined. There have been a few problematic organizations to infiltrate the government through several agencies at several levels so no one really knows who all is a threat."
No one was pleased with that, but Hughes continued. "Why then is this other team being brought in?"
"…To make a long story short, they are the best team for taking on the organizations that want me dead. Carmichael's team have taken down the leaders and led the way for taking down the known elements. It doesn't hurt that they have a classified secret weapon, but that is a whole other story in its self."
Hughes and Peter looked surprised. "Why are you here 'playing' Caffrey when you are obviously not what you pretend to be?"
The look that Neal gave Hughes normally would have gotten him into trouble. "'Obviously?'" That got the look for him to behave. Smirking, Neal didn't push it. "At this point, I unfortunately can't tell you much of anything. Basically, I was betrayed by a team chosen for me, and after what happened, I wasn't allowed to contact my other team. The bosses decided that I should revert to playing Caffrey which was the only safe alias that I had left."
"What happened?" Peter was afraid to know that answer, but he was more afraid of what his mind would come up with for explanations if he didn't get the truth.
Unable to really look either of them in the eyes, Neal told as little possible. "I was betrayed and shot in the back. The injury wasn't fatal, but it was close enough, and I was considered too valuable to lose, so I was placed here."
Shuddering, Peter threw out his next question with a shaky voice. "How much of you is real… I mean, are you really like you pretend to be, or is it all an act?"
Feeling the heartache that had been plaguing Peter, Neal tried to reassure him that their friendship and bond was real. "Basically, Caffrey is me in my down time, plus a criminal personality, and minus the nerd. The role is a balance between who I am, and who I might have become had things gone in a different direction. Unfortunately, my orders are to play like nothing happened, so I can't reveal everything yet, but I really hope I get to soon."
Knowing that there wasn't much more that could be discussed between them, Hughes made his final few points on how he planned to deal with the situation before dismissing them.
Leaving the room, Peter told Neal that they were going to get coffee as he had some things to discuss with him.
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