A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful commenters. Honestly, that's the most I've gotten in the four days since I posted something. So I thank you all. And anyone who has read or signed up for story alerts (or something of the sort). You rock! –A (probably going to be a short chapter)

Smile, Mr. Grumpy Gills!

That night, Diana couldn't sleep. All she could think about was the put-out expression on the young man's face right before he left. And it was all her fault! She considered calling him, telling him to forget the whole thing, but she held herself back. She really didn't need him asking how she got his number (she peeked at it from Peter's phone just in case.) and she imagined his sly grin. Then the blow to his ego when she rejected him. Not what he needed at the moment.

So she waited, more anxious than she was comfortable with, until the elevator dinged and Neal walked in. His hat was all but covering his face and his head was down. Diana was sure she saw him shoot a glance up to Peter's office. The young man cringed a little as he pulled the glass door open, so she was assuming that Peter saw him and wasn't too happy. She closed her eyes and sighed.

As the ex-con sat and pulled his hat off, sitting it on the desk in front of him, she crossed over to him.

"Neal," she said, sympathy coloring her tone.

"Hey," he mumbled, not even attempting to smile. That's how she knew something was seriously wrong.

"Neal, you don't have to finish the list. It was a stupid idea and-" But Neal held up a hand to signal her to stop.

"No, it was a great idea. I want to finish it."

"And if Peter send you back?" He gave a half-hearted smile.

"Aren't you the one who said Peter could take a joke?"

"I lied," she said, as if it was obvious.

"Hey, that's my job! Anyway, I'm not too worried about that. He's not going to arrest me for pulling a few juvenile pranks. You worry too much." That's when a door above them slammed. They looked up and saw Peter by the rail. He caught the con's eyes, glaring, and gave him the two finger point. Neal sighed, but stood and walked up the stairs, disappearing into Peter's office. Diana had a bad feeling about this. She hoped Neal wouldn't push Peter too far, too soon, but this was Neal they were talking about, and Neal always pushed people too far, too soon.

The young man sat down, shrinking deep into the chair and wishing Peter's dagger-like glares would stop. They made him uncomfortable. But, like the day before, he kept silence, letting Peter make the first move, setting the playing field as it were.

Peter spoke. "So, care to explain yesterday?"

"I told you. I was bored. I decided to play a few childish pranks. That's it."

"And how do I know your not lying?"

"Well, it would be the first time," Neal said, avoiding the question.

"Yeah, like you've never lied to me," Peter scoffed.

"Not much," he protested. The agent rolled his eyes.

"Just stop with the pranks, okay?"

"No promises," the young man said with a slight smile. The older man hissed out a breath and stood.

"I'm getting coffee." Normally, Neal would ask him to bring some, but, given the circumstances, he held his tongue. Peter was at the door. "Want any?"

"No thanks," he said. "I can get my own later." His voice was quiet, withdrawn. Everything about this statement shocked the agent, but he shook it off and headed to the bullpen. That's when Neal made his move.

He grabbed a pen and sheet of paper off the desk and quickly drew a sloppy smile on it. :) He put the pen exactly where it was and grabbed a piece of tape. With a glance over his shoulder, he stuck it to the computer and sat back down. Almost a minute passed before the agent came back in. When he sat down, he didn't notice it (he was busy staring at Neal's feet on the desk). Then he glanced up and did a double take.

When he saw the face, he jumped and almost fell out of his chair. "Damnit, Neal!" he cried as he ripped it off and crumpled it in his fist. The young man risked a grin. This only made his partner more angry.

"Aw," Neal cooed. "Cheew up, Meuster Gwumpy Geealls! (A/N: baby talk, in case you didn't get that.)

"What?" Peter was so confused.

"What? You've never seen Finding Nemo?"

"Why have you?" Neal cracked a charming grin as he stood.

"Ah, ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies," the young man said before slipping out of the office.