Snail Mail

It started about a week after Neal's file landed on his desk.

Peter went to work and found a letter addressed to him on his in box. Glancing it over, he noticed that the envelope was nondescript, the addresses were printed stickers, and the sender was 'anonymous.'

Intrigued, he sat down to look at the letter. It had made it through security so there wasn't anything dangerous and any prints were on file… who knew what the message could contain so taking precautions was always best. Opening it, his preliminary glance showed that the letter was typed in a plain font on standard printing paper.

Based on how much effort was being taken to hide the identity of the sender, he expected to find a threat in the message. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised to find that it was just someone wanting to know why he served in law enforcement. The letter gave off the feeling of someone needing to be reassured of something, while also trying to remain unknown.

Making caution his approach, Peter decided to respond to his anonymous correspondent with a note about what justice meant to him.

When another letter arrived a week later, the tradition began. For nine years, minus one year of silence, they exchanged letters once a week.

Peter was amused and annoyed. Why did Diana place her side of the bet to make Mozzie come into the office for a day?

Hiding in his office, Peter watched as Mozzie tried to sneak from the files to Neal's desk… in an open room… full of trained FBI agents no less. Needless to say, a probie spooked him by directly addressing him with a question. Stuttering an answer, Mozzie gave up stealth for a quick scurry to his destination. Dropping to the floor, he disappeared behind Neal's desk to be invisible until he emerged again.

Looking at Neal in amusement, Peter saw his annoyed glance in return. Shrugging his shoulders, Peter conveyed the message that it wasn't his bright idea to torture Mozzie, thereby Neal, this way.

Frowning at the lack of support, Neal turned his glare onto Diana as she came into range.

Shaking his head, Peter looked forward to the day's end as much as anyone… and it was still early!

As Peter was leaving for lunch, he passed Jones standing outside of the conference room. Pausing to see what he was observing, he overheard some of the odd conversation that was going on inside.

"Mozzie, what are you doing underneath the table?"

"I'm gathering intelligence on the enemy, Neal!"

"Oh-kay. Jones wants to know if we're meant to feed you?"

"I'm fine. I brought supplies. Percy might like a crumbly cheese though."

"You brought Percy?!"

When Jones turned to give him a questioning look, Peter held up his hands. "I'm not even going to ask." Walking away, he was going to enjoy a relaxing lunch with his wife instead of puzzling over the mysteries of Mozzie.

Returning from lunch, Peter walked back into his office to find the latest anonymous letter on his desk. Settling in to see what it would contain, he ignored how Mozzie was watching him… a bad choice.

Before he got halfway through, there was a sudden burst of noise as Mozzie literally drug Neal into his office. As soon as the door was shut, he got to know why.

"He's reading your mail!" Mozzie bellowed.

Peter blinked. He wasn't reading Neal's mail so he didn't know what this was about… or if he should start reading Neal's mail to see what was so interesting.

"No, he doesn't' Mozz." Neal looked apologetically at Peter now that he knew what was causing Mozzie to react.

"Yes he does. Look at this letter! It looks just like the mail you send out!" Mozzie was still reacting, but no one was listening anymore.

Neal took the envelope and saw that the date was recent… too recent to believe. Turning to Peter in astonishment, he didn't know what to say. "Peter…"

Defending himself as he didn't know what was going on, Peter explained. "It's anonymous, so I don't know who it is, but he has sent me letters weekly for eight out of the nine years that I've known you. The first one arrived the same week I go you're case… I've theorized that it might be you, but that doesn't feel right. He is very similar to you, but you know me, so why keep up the charade?"

Looking like he had seen a ghost and was at a loss for words, Neal dropped the envelope back on the desk.

Peter had never seen such a lost look on Neal's face before.

"He's… He's supposed to be dead… I got the notice… arranged the funeral from prison… how?"

Seeing that Neal was emotionally compromised by the situation and wouldn't work anyway, Peter decided to send him home early.

For the rest of the afternoon, Peter researched to see who this mysterious person was. When every angle of pursuit failed, he opted to send a letter requesting information.

On Monday, Peter was anxiously watching for Neal to enter the office. The kid had moped and refused to talk all weekend so he was worried.

When Neal finally walked in, he was dressed in a G-man suit with a gun and badge displayed. Holding up Peter's letter, the agent commented. "You told me to explain this."

Before Peter or anyone could come up with a remark, Neal came in with the unexpected company of Mozzie.

"Noah!"

"Larkin."

"Winters."

"Neal?"

Names were thrown around like sentences. Neal was shocked, the agent and Mozzie greeted each other, while Peter questioned it all.

"Conference room!" Peter ordered. With the number of people standing in front of him, they would fit better there.

Pulling the stunned Neal along, Mozzie seemed oddly comfortable all of the sudden.

"You knew?" Neal questioned him. Then he caught up further. "Why did he call you Winters?"

"All in due time Neal." Mozzie refused to answer.

"How did you figure out that I'm connected to Neal?" The agent asked Peter.

While Mozzie coughed behind him, Peter realized that the reveal was his idea. "I think Mozzie can explain it better than anyone." He raised his brow at Mozzie's glare.

Understanding Peter's action, Mozzie directed it to the other agent. "What? So, you can yank your friend around to put his family back together, but I have to watch Peter reading your letter knowing that Neal misses you?"

Putting his hand up in defense, the agent tried to smooth the situation over. "Okay, I get your point. But do you know how much danger and trouble you just put my brother in? I've been protecting him by being dead!"

They reached the conference room, but not before the entire office heard the warning.

Once the door was closed, it was Neal's turn. "What, so the CIA, and… I'm guessing NSA, all get to know, but the FBI gets left in the dark? Are Peter and I incapable of handling things?" He fumed.

Before the agent could respond, Peter jumped in. "'The FBI…' 'Peter and I?' What are you saying Neal?"

Clamping his jaw shut and opening his eyes wider, Neal realized his mistake.

Running through what he understood, Peter started through who they were. "You're Larkin and CIA… as in the 'dead' agent Bryce Larkin?" At Bryce's nod he continued. "Neal called you Noah and you said he's your brother, so that's your real name?"

"Correct." Bryce simply stated.

Turning to Mozzie, he continued. "Bryce called you Winters and Neal said you're NSA. Are you Theo Winters?"

Smiling and tipping his finger in a salute at Peter, he signaled that he was right.

Finishing up with Neal, he confronted his partner. "As for you…"

The man seemed to squirm a little bit.

"You are brother to Bryce Larkin and just spoke of the FBI like an agent." Watching for a moment, Peter was trying to adjust to what his instinct said was right. "You're Danny Larkin… an FBI agent and White Collar legend… aren't you?"

Unsure of how people would react, Neal cautiously nodded.

"You're an agent? Since when?" Bryce exploded.

Returning fire, Neal responded. "You might have known if you didn't fall off the face of the earth when you joined the CIA! The rare times you gave me a means of contacting you, I don't even know if you got the messages! Come on, you can keep in steady touch with my friend for nine years, but not me, your brother, for even one year?"

Understanding Neal's feelings, Peter felt bad that he hadn't shared his letters with him before. Then he realized that the problem began before he was even involved so he only would have brought this on sooner.

Realizing what Neal meant, Bryce felt he had to explain. "My field is dangerous with high stakes and a lot of people, including rogue agents, who want to kill me. By writing Peter, I could know if he was a threat to you, or if he was merely pursuing you as his job. I know I should have been in better contact, but I was already juggling my official work and helping an off grid agent protect his tech from three of our biggest enemies… two turned out to be connected, but still. Work was busy and dangerous, so when I had the chance to reach out, I refrained wanting you kept safe."

"So, I'm safer not knowing who might be looking for my face? Better off not even knowing that my brother is alive?" Taking a deep breath, he had one more point to make. "By not contacting me, you left me not knowing what was going on. I couldn't even be on guard for your enemies."

Gasping, everyone in the room feared what that could entail.

"They didn't…!" Bryce got a threatening look.

"Don't worry about it, Bryce. I'm an agent too and trained to be on alert at all times… I'm just saying it would be nice to know about any particular threats." He didn't say that he hadn't been attacked, just that he was cautiously watchful for the possibility of attack.

Peter opened his mouth to ask Neal, but the glare he received told him to drop it. Neal had already upset his brother enough, so Peter would take it up with him later.

Paling, Bryce realized he could have done more harm than good. "I'm sorry, Neal."

Grabbing his brother in a bear hug, Neal refused to let go as he reassured himself that his brother was okay. "Just, don't do it again!"

Hugging his brother back, Bryce relished the opportunity to be with him again. It had been years since anyone knew who he was, yet alone since someone knew him so well. His brother was the only person who could read him at a glance.

Smiling, Peter nodded his thanks to Mozzie for arranging this. The man had melted into the background, but Peter remembered his presence while the brothers hugged.

When the twins stepped back to stand beside each other and Mozzie was watching from the side, Peter made a quick decision. "You wouldn't all be free for dinner, would you?"

Neal rolled his eyes with a smile. "What is it with you and celebrating everything with dinner?" He teasingly questioned.

Enjoying the return of their banter, Peter smiled along with him. "What is wrong with that? You've got to eat anyway, this way you can tell El, and my home is more relaxed than the office for having private conversations. We can all talk at dinner and then you and your brother can disappear to catch up."

"Well, I'm curious to get to know Neal's friends better." Bryce agreed.

"It would be interesting to get to talk to Mrs. Suit as an agent instead of as my cover. I suppose you won't be so paranoid about my influencing her now?" Mozzie teased.

Smirking despite himself, Peter laughed softly. "Oh, I will worry about your influence all the more now. I have heard a lot of stories about you over the years." He remarked.

"That just leaves lunch to practice switching places…" Neal seemed to be off in his own world.

Clearing his throat, Peter got his attention. "Switching places?"

Grinning evilly, Neal answered. "Yeah, we are identical twins and El doesn't know that… who can resist such fun as making her try to guess which is which? Since you want us over for dinner, there is only the time between lunch and then to practice on the team."

Trying to glare the idea out of his head, Peter realized he was failing when Neal kept on smiling.

"I'm an agent too Peter, and not actually a criminal. Although we can't tell the rest of the team, you know now. Besides, it's not like I'm dropping cover, we are simply dressing alike while he hangs out in the office for a few hours."

Making one last dodge attempt, Peter brought up the fact that they worked for the FBI and not some place where they could play games. "Besides, he isn't an FBI employee." He added to try and strengthen his excuse.

Since Peter had set himself up, Neal drove his goal home. "First, you let Mozzie be here last week and that was as a supposed criminal while Bryce is an agent. Second, he is an agent, so he has higher clearance than any of us. Finally, he doesn't have to touch the files as he can simply entertain himself on his phone, or do his own paper work to really mess with them."

Giving it up as a lost cause, Peter put up his hands. "Fine. But we'll have to lay down some rules. First, you let me know when Bryce is around so I know to be prepared for the possibility of switches or any of his enemies following. Second, there is no switching in the field or during big cases as work has to come first. Third, there is only switching around our team if you don't want to spread the word that there are two of you… at least to keep a distance from the rumors as that is probably already spreading anyway. Finally, you have to keep a differentiator on you at all times in the office. That way we can at least keep straight where one or the others is located, even if we don't always know which is which."

Agreeing, both twins decided to comply with the rules. Then they decided to insist on some of their own.

"First, you don't get to forewarn Elizabeth as we want to surprise her." Neal said.

"Second, there is no telling anyone else that I am around if I don't want you to. Sometimes I have to lay low for a while." Bryce insisted.

"Third, don't go telling other people if you have figured us out. Let us have our fun even if you come to know how to tell us apart." Neal requested.

"Finally, you don't go forewarning your team that we are going to switch places. We are rusty so we would like an advantage." Bryce specified.

"Wait, there is a way to tell you apart?" Peter focused on that as it would save him a lot of headaches.

Frowning, Neal refused to answer. "You have to figure it out yourself Peter. Also, you haven't promised…"

"Alright, I agree to do all that you have asked. Come on, how do I tell you two apart?" He asked again.

"Easy, I am me and he is him." Bryce quipped helpfully.

"Thanks." Peter sarcastically replied accompanied by their laughter.

Breaking up their meeting, Peter led the brothers and Mozzie back out into the room.

Taking his leave, Mozzie ducked out before anyone could approach him for conversation. He had provided support for Neal, and brought Bryce back. It was time to return to his cover before it was blown any further.

Having expected his departure, the others focused on the office.

"Attention, everybody." Peter called as he walked them up to the landing where they could all be seen clearly. Once the room was focused, he introduced the situation briefly. "Neal has a younger twin brother, Noah. He is an agent, but can't tell us his field name or details about his work as he would like to keep Neal safely distant from it. However, you can expect him to come around from time to time now that he is able to be in the picture again. Since they haven't seen each other in several years, Noah will be hanging around for the day while Neal works on cold cases. Feel free to talk to him, but don't push for answers as he has his reasons for being secretive."

With the team aware of the situation, he dismissed everyone to return to their work.

For the rest of the morning, the team could be seen occasionally asking Neal or Noah a question while Neal slowly progressed through his files.

After lunch, the twins returned in two white shirts with two pairs of black slacks so as to be dressed alike. It was the most complete they could dress while also being identical based on the limited matching wardrobe available.

Smirking at the groans, gasps, and snorts, the twins enjoyed the team's reactions. Some weren't happy to see the twins playing up their relation, others were surprised to see them as they hadn't been present in the morning to be introduced, and the rest couldn't suppress their amusement as they realized that pranks around the office were going to reach a new level with the twins around.

Relaxing to see the team accept Noah so well, Peter watched from above and occasionally tried to see if he could find a definable difference between the two.

When the end of the day arrived and no one had a sure clue which was which, although there were still bets running amuck anyway, the twins decided to settle it for the day.

Flipping on the fedora he had left on his desk, Neal revealed which twin he was.

Pointing to a tiny safety pin on his collar, Bryce showed the way they could be told apart. "Peter made us agree to wear a means of telling us apart any time we should switch in the office. Today, I had a safety pin on my shirt as my fussy brother refused to put anything through his shirt."

Seeing a light bulb, Peter realized that one possible way to tell them apart was Neal's tendency of being protective of his clothes. So, if the difference was something stuck through their clothes, then that would likely be Bryce… except they would now switch it up in an effort to keep ahead of their audience.

Heading home for dinner, Peter gave the twins a ride.

When they got to the Burkes, Peter got out and quickly walked up to the door. He had forewarned Elizabeth that he was brining company, but he had kept his promise not to tell her about the twins so he wanted to see her reaction.

Entering, Peter heard that Mozzie had already arrived and was walking Elizabeth to the door so he could also watch her reaction.

Gasping, Elizabeth was shocked to see not only one under dressed Neal, but two, walk in. "What… who… there are two of you?"

Bowing, the twins didn't introduce themselves separately, but together.

"We are Neal and Noah Caffrey." One said.

"Agents Danny and Bryce Larkin, at your service." The other said.

Before Elizabeth could ask, Peter explained. "Noah, who is also Bryce, has been the anonymous person writing me for the last nine years. The other agent here made sure Neal saw the latest one on Friday and we had the explanations today. As for why they aren't telling which is which, they want to have some fun switching places as they haven't seen each other in years." Sighing at the missing pin, he knew it had been removed. "I see you removed the safety pin so none of us know which is which."

"I know." Mozzie grinned. When Peter glared at him lightly, he shrugged. "What? I have worked with both agents for years, I'm a trained agent, and after a while you have to learn which one you're talking to if you don't want to slip up."

Neal almost asked him if he knew he was an agent all along, but he decided that such potentially revealing questions should wait until later.

"So you're an agent too?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes." Mozzie smiled. He knew what was coming, but he was going to appreciate it anyway.

"Then why all of the 'suit' and paranoid avoidance of agents, you spend so much time doing everything you can to avoid being on the radar when you are already on the radar anyway?" She questioned. It was something that was obvious and the others had all wondered too.

"My role is to play a criminal, I'm an undercover agent who prefers to remain in the shadows, and I have been on my own since I was a young child so I am used to avoiding notice." He explained easily.

"Did you know that Neal was an agent?" She asked.

Resisting the urge to react, Neal listened closely. He hadn't known that Mozz was an agent, had Mozz known about him?

Glancing at the twins, Mozzie smiled. "I was assigned to work a case with an agent Larkin only to be surprised to find myself facing Neal… or rather not Neal. Needless to say, I researched the name thoroughly when the case was through and discovered the other agent Larkin."

When there was a knock on the door, the conversation ended as they all frowned. No one else was expected.

Opening the door, Peter was surprised to see that both Jones and Diana had invited themselves over.

"Sorry to intrude, but we had some things to ask and knew you wouldn't talk in the office." Jones explained.

"You dropped those bombs about danger and being dead… we wanted to make sure everything was alright and let you know we would like to help if you will let us." Diana added.

Inviting them to stay, Elizabeth had enough food for all. Agreeing, Peter and the others trusted them and more back up would help them to keep each other safe.

Through the meal, they told the other agents some of the general information about the three being agents, which agencies they were associated with, and promised that they would be notified when trouble was brewing to help keep the situation under control.

A combination of relieved and stunned, Jones and Diana hadn't seen that coming. Still, they adjusted to the situation quickly enough and were even creating jokes by the end of the meal.

As they cleaned up, Peter managed to get a brief aside with Neal. "Did your brother's enemies ever hurt you?" He needed to know, but didn't know why. It wasn't like he would feel any better knowing someone had hurt his partner.

Knowing it wouldn't help, but understanding that Peter still felt the need to know, Neal nodded. "I lived and am fine, but they did catch up to me once."

Closing his eyes in fear of what could have happened. Peter froze in place for a moment.

As the two were hidden from those in the front room, Neal gave him a moment as he responded. "They just beat me up before a team rescued me. It hurt, but there was no permanent damage."

"Is there anything I should know about?" Peter questioned if he had any other injuries to share.

"No. I tend to avoid my enemies well enough to keep out of trouble… for the most part. There have been some close calls, but nothing to worry about." Neal reassured him.

Nodding, Peter motioned for them to join the rest of the group as they chatted their evening away.

Note: As the instigator for this chapter, I want to throw out a nod to Quinis for her help. The picture of Peter 'reading Neal's mail' in her twins series started the idea, her general plot concept created the basis of the chapter, and her conversation starring Mozzie was stolen from our PMs. All I did was turn it into a chapter and fill in the gaps :D

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

The voting continues with two for "Black Sheep of the Family" and three for "International Escapades." There is one more week left to this particular collection so cast your vote :D