(The Next Morning)

(Neal's Apartment)

(Neal's P.O.V.)

I woke up to someone knocking on my door.

"Neal!" I heard a voice say.

I instantly recognized the voice as Peter's.

"Neal, I know you're in there." I heard Peter say. "Open the door."

I opened my eyes and quickly realized I slept at the table last night.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes as Peter knocked on the door again.

"Neal," I heard Peter say.

"Hold your horses Peter, I'll be right there." I said loud enough for him to hear.

I then stood up and picked up the papers I was looking at last night, which assisted me and my laptop on trying to figure out where Evelyn has been before coming here.

I haven't gotten anywhere. But I wasn't going to give up.

I figured if I could find out where she was before coming here, I will find out why she came here.

I closed my laptop, and walked over to a cabinet.

I then opened it and put the papers inside. Closing it shortly after.

Then, I walked over to the door, and opened it to reveal an annoyed Peter in the hallway.

"Hey, Peter!" I said, smiling at him. "What brings you here on a Sunday?"

Peter was about to answer, when he looked me over.

"Did you sleep in your clothes last night?" Peter asked.

"I may have fallen asleep accidently." I said. "…..And just woke up when you banged on my door. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised you didn't just blast it open."

"There's been a breakthrough in our case." He said, ignoring my comment.

I sighed.

"Come in." I said.

Peter then came into my apartment.

I closed the door.

"Is there a woman here?" I heard Peter ask.

"No." I said, looking at him. "Why?"

"It smells like perfume in here." Peter said, as he sat his bag on the table.

I sniffed the air.

It did smell like perfume.

Evelyn's perfume.

But there was no way the perfume could linger since she was here last night.

Which meant…..

"It's possible June was in here when I was sleeping." I said, as I began to look around my place. "It wouldn't be the first time that's happened."

"No." I heard Peter say, as I looked toward my bedroom. "June doesn't wear perfume that smells like this."

"I heard she's been using different kinds." I said, as I continued to survey around the room.

It was silent for a moment, then I heard Peter ask:

"What are you looking for?"

"Huh?" I asked, looking at him to see he was now sitting at the table with the case file in hand.

"You're looking for something." Peter said. "What are you looking for?"

"Uh," I began, looking around the table. "My tie."

I then walked over to the chair I put my tie on last night, and picked it up.

"I forgot where I put it." I said, smiling a little.

Peter studied me as I put my tie around my neck and began to tie it.

Then, he looked at the wine glass and bottle that was still on the table.

"Exactly how much did you have to drink last night?" Peter asked, looking back at me.

"Not as much as you might think." I said. "Now, what about the new development?"

"Right." He said, opening the case file.

After I tied my tie, I began to observe the room again. Looking for any sign of Evelyn being here.

And I found it.

I saw an origami Dove sitting on my paint easel.

She's been here this morning.

While I was sleeping, of course.

Somehow she mastered entering the house without making a noise.

She was that good.

"Neal are you even listening to me?" I heard Peter say.

"What?" I asked, looking at him.

Peter gave me a disapproving and annoyed look.

"Sorry." I said.

"What is distracting you enough to not have your head in the case?" Peter asked.

"Nothing." I said, shaking my head a little. "It's nothing. Can you repeat what you said? I promise this time I will listen."

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After Peter left, with me promising to meet him at his house for lunch, I walked over to my easel and picked the Dove up.

The words: 'Open Me' was written on one of the wings.

I unfolded the Dove until it was just a piece of paper. Finding more words on it.

I read what it said.

I was going to ask if you wanted breakfast, but seeing as you're asleep, I won't wake you.

I'll just see you around.

I sighed. Wishing I somehow woke up while she was here.

But seeing how she wrote she wanted to have breakfast, and that she will see me around, told me she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

At least, not until I gave her want she wanted.

And I was good with that.

At least, that was what I was telling myself.

It gave me some time to mend things with her, and to figure out what made her come to me after all this time.

I just hoped I will be able to accomplish that.

I walked over to the table, picked my phone up, found the number in my contacts Evelyn gave me, and called her.

It ranged twice before it was answered.

"Hello?" I heard Evelyn's voice say.

"Hello yourself." I said, unable to resist smiling. "I got your message…..Wanna have a late breakfast?"

"How late we talking?" Evelyn asked.

"Now?" I asked. "Or, later, you can come over and I can cook you dinner."

"Dinner would be a late breakfast indeed." She said. "But then it wouldn't be breakfast anymore."

I could hear the smile in her voice.

"I'll make it work somehow." I said, promising, as my own smile grew.

"Ok, Caffrey." Evelyn said. "Dinner it is."

"Be here by eight and don't be late." I said.

Evelyn laughed a little.

"You know me." She said.

"That I do." I said.

"See you tonight." Evelyn said.

"See you tonight." I said.

Then, Evelyn hung up the phone.

I hung up my phone and sat it back down on the table.

Then, I headed toward the bathroom for a shower.

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"Are you sure you don't want anything Neal?" Elizabeth asked me.

I was at Peter and Elizabeth's house.

Peter was eating his devil ham sandwich at the table, and I was sitting with him as he did.

"I'm sure." I said. "I'm good."

"Alright." Elizabeth said, as she sat down at the table with her own sandwich. Which was NOT devil ham.

"Did you have lunch before you got here?" Peter asked.

"No." I said. "I'm just not hungry."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, looking and sounding concerned. "Do you not feel well?"

"I'm fine." I assured her. "Just not hungry."

"Ok." Elizabeth said, as Peter looked at me suspiciously.

It was silent for a couple seconds, then Peter asked:

"So, about your friend….Did you hang out with him last night?"

"Peter, I told you," I began. "Mozzie and I had movie night."

"What friend?" Elizabeth asked, clearly interested.

"It's just a friend." I said.

"A friend who gave him an origami bird and used to work with him in the past." Peter said.

"Dove." I said correcting him. "And my friend may have worked with me in the past."

"What's he like?" Elizabeth asked.

I smiled, and chuckled a little.

"What?" Peter asked.

"My friend isn't a 'he'." I said.

"Your friend is a she?" Elizabeth asked, smiling a little.

Peter stared at me as I nodded.

"Have you and this girl ever….?" Elizabeth began.

"No." I said.

"Oh, so, there IS one woman who is able to resist you and your charming ways." Peter said.

"As shocking as that may be, yes." I said.

"How did you two meet?" Elizabeth asked, clearly interested in me and Evelyn.

I smiled as I remembered.

"Long story." I said. "Let's just say, it all started with Doves….And for now, that's all you need to know."

"So, that's why she gives you an origami Dove." Elizabeth said, smiling more. "Because when you two met, Doves were involved somehow."

"Very much so." I said.

"How exactly were Doves involved?" Peter asked, sounding confused.

"I'm afraid that's classified." I said.

Peter narrowed his eyes at me.