A/N: I know I said I was going to update on Saturday, but I wasn't really in a writing mood, then yesterday I was way too busy to even think about updating. My dearest apologies. *bows head in shame* Before I let you read my latest chapter, I would like to thank all the people who have reviewed this fic so far. Mega THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to: Rainey13 MaraudingSnitch1314 kenziecaffrey HuffynDK brokenclaw govgal pinetree SherlockXHolmes23 Casey Shoen NayahReidWhumper xD thevigilante15 Maira the Panda hellokitty645 Duffy1 You guys have no idea how awesome you are! If I missed anyone, or spelled any names wrong, please let me know. Now, on to the actual story. Disclaimer: If you think my work even compares to that of the amazing Jeff Eastin, you have problems. Warning: Spoilers for Flip of a Coin and a mini spoiler for Forging Bonds. Word Count: 331 Happy reading!
There was just something about the way Neal looked after a case, the way he smiled when he proved his dominance over their latest art thief. When he showed the new hot-shot counterfeiter who was more clever. Or when he talked the "loyal" subordinate of an embezzler into flipping on her boss. There was a certain…glow.
From the first time he read James Bonds' case file, he was surprised the man hadn't done something more productive with his life. Neal was talented enough to have been a successful, honest artist, and the way he did complex math operations in his head, faster than Archimedes himself, the ex-con could have been the world's next great mathematician. But he wasn't. Neal became a criminal instead. He lied to, manipulated people for a living, and it cost him over four years in Federal prison.
At first, it seemed strange to Peter how much Neal liked working for the other side of the law. It was easy to see that, while his partner did thrive on the adrenaline rush of an exciting, intellectual pursuit, (including the three years Peter was after him), he also got satisfaction out of putting Manhattan's smartest White Collar criminals behind bars.
The Missing Iraqi Artifacts case was the first time the agent really noticed. When they arrested Eames, the grin on Neal's face was more than just gratefulness that Peter could finally go home, (and therefore stop bugging his consultant), or gloating at the fact that he was correct about Mitchell being innocent. It was contentment that justice had prevailed. Something Peter never imagined he would see in the expression of a felon.
As the next investigation closed, and the next, Peter grew used to the childlike enthusiasm Neal demonstrated whenever the FBI won. He could deny it all he wanted, but it was all too obvious to Peter that Neal really did enjoy working for the good guys.
A/N #2: Prize- Invisible dollar to anyone who reviews!