Satisfying the Snoops


With a Saturday off coming up, Neal knew Peter was getting very curious about who this new girl was. He had been asking questions and keeping a close eye on him both at work and through his tracking data.

"So, she likes to party. I've noticed your anklet has been frequenting all the hot spots in your radius for the last week." Peter had commented on the drive to drop him at June's.

Peter was obviously worryied about what Neal would do to keep a partier in the exciting places in the city, an endeavor that wouldn't be cheap. However, what Peter didn't know, was that the tab was being picked up by the CIA as an official mission so Neal didn't actually have to pay anything.

Smiling easily to tweak Peter, Neal tilted his hat playfully. "She does like a good time when she can get it." Which was true, Zondra did like to be in the big cities where there were parties and places to entertain her between missions. To her, places like Burbank were where you passed through on your way to somewhere more exciting, or didn't go to at all, and that was a suburb of Los Angeles. Zondra definitely wasn't one for relaxing around the loft and watching Neal paint or reading a book.

"We're going to a karaoke club tomorrow afternoon. Since you're so determined to find out as much as you can about her, you might as well bring El and meet us for lunch." Neal extended the invitation. He and Zondra had talked about it, and the easiest way to ensure Peter didn't turn up at an inopportune moment, was to invite him at an opportune moment.

Surprised, Peter quickly realized what Neal was doing, but he appreciated not having to push. "I think we just might do that." The agent smiled more as he thought about it. "You've got a double date."

"It's a double date then," Neal smirked. At least Peter was happy with his efforts so that would ease the snooping up once he met Zondra in her sweet girl mode. She could charm the Burkes into liking her if she wanted to, it was just when she didn't have to be pleasant that her mean reputation tended to be more prominent.

Giving Peter the time and place details as they pulled up to the curb, Neal made sure Peter had all he needed to know about their double date before he left the car.

Walking up the stairs to the loft, he pulled out his phone and called Zondra with the update.


Getting ready for the casual date, Neal put on a dark blue button-up with a black tee shirt underneath, dark jeans, and a pair of fairly casual shoes. Combing his hair into place, all he needed was his charming smile when it came time to put on the show.

Hearing a knock on his door, he moved across the room to let Zondra in. They were working their story out before meeting the Burkes.

Opening the door, he gave her a once-over glance. She was wearing a dark blue tee shirt that hung casually over her own dark blue jeans with low black heels. Although the outfit was mostly casual, she gave it a classy feel by dressing it up. Her hair hung loosely about her face in light waves so all she was missing was the big smile and doe eyes to charm the Burkes with.

As it was, her expression was serious and more focused on getting their stories straight without giving the appearance of being rehearsed.

"Are you ready for this?" She asked while moving purposefully past him into the apartment.

Turning around easily, Neal was used to forceful women barging into his personal space. All of the CATS were prone to it at some time or another. "As I'll ever be. All we have to do is a mixture of the old friends of friends that have run into each other recently at a book sale. If Peter asks, and either he will or Elizabeth will, those friends are a school friend of mine who married a friend of yours. We can keep to the truth without giving them any details we don't want to."

"You feel the need to be honest with Peter? Not even Chuck fully got that treatment." Zondra turned to look at him in a way that was akin to seeing through him. "Peter really is a good friend to you, isn't he?" She hardened her voice.

"Peter has a gut instinct for things that is legendary in the FBI, he constantly has his radar pointed at me looking for lies despite the fact I've never entirely lied to him, and yes, he is my friend and I care about that. Chuck and Sarah are also friends, but things were different with them. When I went undercover as a traitor it was because I had been targeted and was forced into it. Would you really want me to pull Sarah into a situation where even you would have been ordered to go after her? Before you say it, I know she is an agent capable of taking care of herself, but she shouldn't have to play a traitor when she doesn't have to. You may have noticed with Chuck, I don't like endangering my friends when I don't have to. He wasn't suited for the first operation he was targeted for. Then when I threw him into government work it was because I was about to die. He was the only one I knew I could trust, who could handle what I sent him, and who would benefit from it because his parents work in the same field so he could finally learn where he comes from. If I have to mess with my friends, I don't take it lightly. For now, Peter isn't in danger and we're only telling pieces of the truth with some omissions of facts to keep him safe. As long as I can keep doing that, I intend to." Neal had closed the door but he still modulated his voice while walking further in the room towards Zondra. His stance as he stopped in front of her was stiff and his expression firm. He had his reasons and he didn't appreciate her poking him.

Relaxing the lines of her face, despite remaining serious, Zondra eased up on her jabs. "I get it. You don't want to complicate Chuck and Sarah's lives by coming back from the dead again, and you don't want to upset the balance here in your White Collar world. It must be boring working with them. You can't even throw a little conflict in the picture without worrying about it collapsing." She could tell he liked his life but didn't understand how.

"I guess I'm more like Sarah and Chuck than you thought. Something more akin to normal life isn't a bad thing." Neal relaxed enough to smirk at her while jabbing lightly at her life choices. Zondra was nowhere near being interested in settling down. Chuck and Sara had, and he could, if he found the right person and circumstances.

Satisfied with the basics, Zondra suggested they leave for the club. "Peter and Elizabeth will likely be waiting for us if we don't leave shortly."

Grabbing his last few necessities for going out, Neal gestured for her to lead before closing up behind them.


Entering the cub, it was a modern rustic atmosphere mixing the exposed brick with refurbished old wood floors. It wasn't fancy, but it was a nice and comfortable atmosphere to eat lunch and perhaps give a song or two to help entertain the crowd. The atmosphere was light, food good, and entertainment varied enough to distract so it made for the perfect location.

Spotting Peter and El at a table against the far wall, Neal gently put his hand on the small of Zondra's back guiding her towards his friends in a gentlemanly fashion. Making the introductions as he gently sat her into a seat, he watched as the Burkes took Zondra's appearance in and vice versa.

The Burkes were also dressed casually with El wearing a simple dress and Peter wearing a polo shirt with khakis.

Trying to keep from going interrogator, Peter let Elizabeth lead the conversation on their side while he observed with occasionally added input.

As they talked, Zondra kept her eyes large and expressive while smiling a great deal. She was in her sweet girl role and working to charm the Burkes out of being suspicious.

For the first while, as they pursued the menus and ordered, Elizabeth kept the conversation geared toward the story of Zondra being new in the city so they discussed restaurants, museums, and the best places to shop. They were generally hitting it off, but Elizabeth seemed to sense Zondra's reserve and started shifting the conversation towards more personal topics once the waitress had left.

"What brings you to New York?" Elizabeth was clearly starting into Peter's line of inquiry, only in a gentler fashion.

Having expected the question to come up, Zondra brushed over the basics that it was business. Since she did a lot of traveling, she often chose bases to work out of while she was in an area. "New York is such a fascinating city I decided to spend some time exploring it. Then I happened to run into Neal here at a book fair so we've been enjoying each other's company." To give the romantic touch, she leaned into him directing for him to put his arm around her.

"She's the friend of an old school friend's wife so we've met before, it's just been some years and life has changed in the meanwhile," Neal explained their casual approach with his arm across her shoulders and his fingers playing with the ends of her hair. They showed a comfortable couple with a relaxed attitude.

Perking up, Peter wanted to know about these old friends. It was a chance to learn about Neal's earlier history.

Unable to help his softening expression, Neal gave a brief explanation. "Chuck is the guy you can't help but like. He's a nerdy and geeky genius, and proud of it. When your back's to the wall he'll give you a hand up over, his heart is on his sleeve, he's generally a friendly open book, and he's reliable to do the right thing."

"You've never mentioned this friend before, how come?" Peter was intrigued.

"Things happened our senior year. He didn't know he was in danger, I protected him the only way I could, and he's hated me for it ever since." Neal felt some of the sorrow reach his expression despite his best efforts, but it added to the show for Peter so it couldn't be helped.

"He doesn't hate you so much anymore." Zondra played the dutiful girlfriend trying to comfort him.

"The last few times I saw him, let's just say he wasn't sorry when I left." Neal tried to pull it together and was generally able to push Chuck back down into his past again.

Their conversation was slightly awkward for a few moments before Zondra's phone started ringing. "Speaking of them, I'm getting a call. If you'll excuse me." she got up to answer the phone in another area.

Making the excuse of looking for the restroom, Elizabeth followed in her general direction likely doing some spying while she was about it.

Trusting Zondra to handle herself, Neal focused on Peter. He had been watching him keenly, but whether it was because he sensed his lack of romantic attachment to Zondra or because he wanted to address Chuck, Neal would find out shortly.

"Do you really like Zondra?" Peter seemed to be getting a protective agenda.

Wondering if it was more personally or professionally driven, Neal knew both were motivators. "It's too early to say much, Peter. And there's the risk her job will move her. I'm restricted to a two-mile radius and long distance relationships don't last. Like she said, we're enjoying each other's company with no long-term commitments at the moment." Which was true, they could each be themselves when they weren't in public so the ease of behavior was a nice reprieve for both after always faking who they were for the latest mission. The mission was a long-term situation for him since he was assigned to play Neal for at least the extent of his sentence.

Softening his expression, Peter seemed torn. He wanted Neal to settle down and his having a relationship was a good start, but he worried this wasn't the right one with the additional risk of her leaving and hurting Neal. "So, things aren't overly serious between you two?"

Shrugging, Neal tried to walk the line. "There are serious aspects to our relationship, but not a long-term guarantee." They were professionally working together, but it wasn't like it was a real relationship or she would likely be assigned to remain in the city for any reason.

Understanding the uncertainties of a new relationship, Peter eased up on that topic but chose another difficult subject. "What does your old school friend do?" He was looking for character references.

"Chuck got into the family business and owns a retail store. According to Zondra, his wife helps with the business and keeps the house running. They're not people you'd have to worry about even if something ever brought them around." Neal generalized again.

"What bothers me most is how you're careful to give details in such a fashion that nothing is specific." Peter hummed as he leaned back to observe Neal.

"Our friends are entitled to their privacy without you researching to know everything about them." Zondra answered from where she was standing beside the table with Elizabeth behind her.

Elizabeth slid in next to her husband while Neal tried to smooth the situation over with Zondra.

"You know how intrusive agents can be." He made the pointed comment reminding her of things from their earlier encounters. "Peter is also responsible for me with his career and reputation on the line. I may not like it, but it's a part of his job to monitor the people in my life and the lives of those around me."

Zondra still didn't look thrilled, but she smoothed her expression to something more neutral as the food arrived.


Thank you, everyone, for reading, reviewing, following, leaving kudos, and choosing to favorite :D