Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.

AN1 IMPORTANT PLEASE READ; So I have started Law School, which means I don't have time to write as much, that is the bad news, but good news is that I have up to chapter 11 written, so I can keep update every 2 days or I can have longer breaks between chapters, as I'm not sure when I'll have time to start writing chapter 12, whichever you'd prefer. Let me know. PLEASE REVIEW.


It has been well over a week since Neal told Peter about how he and Mike grew up, and for Mike it has been a very long week thanks to things going on at the Firm.

Thanks to what Mozzie and Neal explained to him, Mike suspects that Hardman has something to do with Harvey being accused of fraud, but he can't see the connection yet, let along prove it, something which he hates.

It's early evening and Mike is lying on the couch in the apartment drinking the fancy beer Neal got him while watching the TV. As he drinks and watches TV Mike hears a knock on the door.

"NEAL'S NOT HERE." Mike calls as when people knock on the door they're usually looking for Neal, not him, and Neal's doing something with Mozzie and Peter.

To Mike's annoyance the knocking doesn't stop, but instead continues and gets louder. With an annoyed look on his face Mike gets up and heads to the door.

"God….. what are you doing here?" Mike asks shocked as he opens the door to reveal Harvey, in a tux, on the other side.

"Are you watching Different Stroke?" Harvey asks, with a teasing grin, as he walks past Mike and into the apartment.

"Uh, yeah, well, it's the touching story of a couple of orphans, so…." Mike starts to say.

"Don't." Harvey says, cutting Mike off, "Home alone tonight?" he asks

"Yeah, Neal's out doing something with Mozzie and his boss." Mike reveals, as his eyes quickly scan the room trying to spot any evidence of illegal activities.

"What kind of something?" Harvey asks, being genially curious.

"No idea." Mike answers.

"Get your tux on we've got a situation." Harvey reveals, to Mike's shock.

"A situation that requires a tux?" Mike asks as that's usually Neal's territory, "Where, where is this tuxedo situation?" he asks.

"Atlantic City. Can you get dressed now?" Harvey asks.

"Only if Neal has a tux I can borrow." Mikes says, before past Harvey, across the room, and through the door that is across from his bed.

Not being able to help his curiosity Harvey follows Mike through the door, down a corridor and into a large room that is just a closet.

"This is your brother's wardrobe?" Harvey asks, shocked and envious.

"Technically it's both of ours now." Mike reveals, "Don't touch the hats. Neal's obsessed with his hates." He reveals, as he starts to look around, "I know I've seen tuxedoes in here before." Mike says.

"Back wall." Harvey says, as he spots one.

"Thanks." Mike says, heading over to where Harvey said where he grabs one of the tux's. Once he has the tux Mike puts it on the table so that he can start to get change, "Are you going to let me get changed or keep ogling the clothes?"

"I wasn't ogling." Harvey objects, "I'll be outside." He says, before heading out, though he lingers, just long enough to watch Mike pull the t-shirt he is wearing over his head.

Ten minutes later, Mike, dressed in the tux, though he hasn't done up the bow tie, walks back into the main area of his apartment.

"Good, you ready to go?" Harvey ask.

"Almost." Mike says, before walking over to the table, writing a note, and leaving it there, "Okay, let's go." He says, and the two of them head out of the apartment.


A little over an hour after Mike left the apartment Mozzie and Neal arrive home.

"I thought Mike was going to be home all night." Mozzie comments, looking around at the empty apartment.

"That's what I thought." Neal admits, with a slight frown, and as he notices the note on the table Neal looks walks over and picks it up,

"Neal,

I've gone to Atlantic City with Harvey. I'm not sure when I'll be back.

Love Mike.

PS. I borrowed a tux." Neal reads out loud, and as he reads Mozzie heads over to his wine, attempting to avoid Neal as he knows something Neal doesn't, "Moz? What's going on?" he asks, as he notices what his friend has done.

"Nothing." Mozzie says, completely lying.

"Mozzie, what do you know?" Neal once more asks, "Moz?" Neal asks, in a warning tone of voice.

"Three years ago Mike got banned from almost every casino in AC." Mozzie explains.

"What for?" Neal asks, sounding surprised as he is the one who gets kicked out of casinos, not Mike.

"Counting cards. Three guesses who he was with." Mozzie comments.

"I only need two. Trevor or Alex." Neal comments.

"Do you really think he'd get caught if he was with Alex?" Mozzie asks, giving Neal a look.

"No, I don't." Neal realises, "Why'd he even try to count cards in multiple casinos?" he asks, curious.

"He was broke, or his mind just does it automatically, his excuses varied." Mozzie explains, "I only knew because he called me for help."

"And let me guess, nothing happened to Trevor?" Neal asks, looking annoyed.

"Of course." Mozzie says, "From what Mike told me wanted to stop after the first casino, Trevor convinced him to keep going to others."

"Of course he did." Neal says, with a sigh, as he pulls out his phone and calls Mike, "No answer." Neal says, hanging up after almost a minute.

"He's working." Mozzie points out, "He might not be able to answer."

"I'll text him then." Neal says, before doing so as he knows from experience that Casinos aren't fond of seeing people they've banned again.


Having not heard from his brother all night, and morning, even after calling Mike many times and sending him many text messages, Neal has found himself becoming rather worried, and because of that he isn't really focused on the meeting he is sitting in as he keeps checking his phone.

"Neal?" Peter asks after everyone else has headed out of the conference room, "Neal." He once more says.

"Sorry, what?" Neal asks, sounding confused.

"What's going on? You're never quiet during meetings." Peter notes.

"It's Mike." Neal reveals, looking up from his phone, "He went to Atlantic City with his boss last night."

"I don't see the problem. If it was you in Atlantic City I would, but you said your brothers different." Peter comments, looking at Neal.

"He is." Neal says, "But Mozzie informed me that three years ago Mike got banned from basically every Casino in AC for allegedly counting cards."

"Of course he did." Peter comments, not as surprised as he should be, "He really is your brother."

"He's got a photographic memory, Moz said that Mike said his mind just does it automatically." Neal explains, "I've been calling and messaging him all night and I haven't heard anything back."

"You're worried." Peter realises.

"Mike sometimes ignores my calls, my messages, but not this many in a row." Neal explains, before once more sending a message to Mike.

As he watches Neal Peter can't help but frown as overprotective, worried Neal, isn't something he knows how to deal with, it's something he never thought he'd have to deal with.

"Why New York?" Peter asks, deciding that distraction could be a good strategy.

"What?" Neal asks, looking up at Peter.

"After you and Mike left…" Peter says, before tailing off, trying to get Neal to finish the sentence.

"St. Louis." Neal supplies.

"St. Louis, why did you come to New York?" Peter asks curious.

"Mike always wanted to see the city." Neal explains, "And I thought it was the perfect place for us to blend in. I thought it offered our best chance to stay hidden." Neal reveals, "And I was right."

"Have you ever thought about seeing your Mom again?" Peter asks curious.

"No, and neither has Mike." Neal explains, "And even if either of us wanted to I'm pretty sure the Marshals wouldn't tell us anything." He explains.

"Do you want to?" Peter asks.

"No." Neal answers, without even needing to think about it, "Did I miss the meeting?"

"You really weren't paying attention." Peter comments, "Here, read this. Me, you, and Diana leave in an hour." He says, sliding the file over to Neal.

"Will do." Neal says, while continuing to text his brother.


An hour later Neal, Peter, and Diana are just walking out the front of the FBI building where they hear,

"NEAL!" And they turn to see Mike, still in the tux that he has once more undone the bow tie on, walking towards them.

"Finally." Neal says, before hurrying over to his brother, "Why haven't you answered my calls?"

"I was working." Mike says in his defence.

"In AC?" Neal asks, and Mike just smirks, "Why didn't you tell me what happened three years ago?" he asks curious.

"Because I know how'd you react." Mike says, and then he notices the two people who are trying to make it seem like they're not listening to the conversation that he and Mike are having, "Hey Peter, Diana." Mike greats.

"Mike." Peter greats, walking over.

"Long night?" Diana asks, walking over as well, as she takes notice of what Mike is wearing.

"You can say that." Mike says, "Look, I know we've got to talk, but I need to get back and try and find a way to make it so a client who lost his thirty million company in a game of poker doesn't actually lose it." Mike explains, causing Peter and Diana to exchange a look.

"Good luck with that." Neal tells his brother.

"Thanks." Mike says, "I'll see you at home." He tells his brother.

"Yeah." Neal says and Mike walks away and Neal, looking a lot more focused, and happier, than he did five minutes ago, turns back to Peter and Diana, "Let's get to work."


After a very long day Mike finally arrives home where he isn't at all surprised to find Mozzie and Neal, sitting together, drinking wine, and clearly planning something.

"Wine?" Mozzie asks, Mike as soon as he sees him.

"Sleep." Mike tells him, "I have to be at the office early."

"We'll keep quiet then, though you can sleep though anything." Neal comments as Mike has even slept though him loudly sculpting, and stayed asleep so voices aren't likely to wake him.

"I really can." Mike comments.

"Before you sleep, we need to talk." Neal informs his brother.

"I figured." Mike says, dropping his bag on the table before sitting down.

"Did you win much?" Mozzie asks curious, before Neal can ask what he wants to ask.

"Nope. I was babysitting the client while Harvey gambled." Mike reveals.

"Why'd you count cards three years ago?" Neal asks his brother curious.

"Well one night Trevor and I were talking…" Mike starts to say.

"No story of yours that starts with you and Trevor were talking ends well." Neal says with a frown.

"I know." Mike tells him, "Like I said, we were talking and we were both struggling with Money so Trevor suggest we make a weekend trip to Atlantic City to fix the problem." Mike explains, "The first night I won, a bit, but then I got caught and kicked out the first casino." He reveals.

"How much you make?" Neal asks curious.

"About ten grand." Mike says, with a proud smile, "After getting kicked out of the first casino, I thought maybe we should cut our losses and head back to the city, Trevor convinced me otherwise, and honestly…" Mike starts to say, before trailing off.

"Honestly?" Neal gently prods.

"I wanted to feel the rush you feel when you pull a con, or steal something." Mike reveals.

"It can be addicting." Neal admits, smiling at his brother, who returns the smile, "Look Mike, I'm not going to lecture you, I'd be a hypocrite if I did. I just want you to be honest with me. We've always been honest to each other, I don't want that to change."

"It always has been amazing how honest you two are with each other." Mozzie comments, as he takes a drink.

"You never asked me if I got kicked out in casinos while you were in prison so I didn't like." Mike points out, causing Neal to laugh.

"Good point." Neal says, "Mike I want you to be better than me, but getting caught counting cards, really Mike? You should have been more careful when you were cheating, make it less obvious." Neal informs his brother.

"I'll keep that in mind." Mike says, looking amused, "Does that mean you'll give me tips if I ask?"

"I may." Neal says, with a slight grin, causing Mozzie to laugh.

"Look, Neal. A lot happened while you were gone, it will take a while to fill you in." Mike tells his brother.

"I still want to be." Neal tells his brother.

"Then I'll tell you, after I've gotten some sleep." Mike says and he gets up and heads to the bathroom to get changed.

Not even fifteen minutes later Mike is fast asleep in his bed even though Neal and Mozzie are still working on something with the lights on, though they are still talking in whispered voices so that they can decrease the chances of waking up Mike, even though it's not likely as he can sleep though a lot.


A week has passed since Mike and Harvey went to Atlantic City and ever since they have been helping the client while preparing for Harvey's fraud trial. While Mike has been busy with work Neal worked with an insurance investigator by the name of Sara Ellis, who is someone who testified at his trial, calling him a sociopath, because she believed he stole a painting that she was trying to find. After working with Sara Neal worked an adoption scam, which they have stopped, during which Sara had him arrested because Mozzie broke into her apartment to try and get Neal a tape that has Kate's last words on it.

It is early morning and while Mike is fully dressed Neal is still only in his pyjama pants, and the two brothers are talking as Mike is getting read and Neal is eating breakfast.

"You should have just sent it to me, then you wouldn't be having this problem." Mike tells his brother.

"Yeah, I know. I didn't even think too." Neal admits, having realised after that it would have been the smarter idea, "It was Kate's last words, I just needed it."

"I know." Mike says, giving his brother a supportive look, "I've got to get to work, but I'll do anything I can to help tonight." Mike promises his brother.

"Thanks Mikey." Neal says, smiling at his little brother.

"Got to go, bye." Mike says, heading to the door and he opens it just as a woman on the other side, who doesn't look too happy, is about to knock, "Hi, you angry." Mike notes, "Neal, someone's here to see you." Mike calls over to his brother, "Nice to meet you, whoever you are, I'm late for work so please don't hurt him, he's a pretty amazing brother." Mike reveals.

"Mike." Neal says, in a warning tone of voice.

"Bye." Mike says, before leaving.

"You have a brother?" Sara asks, sounding shocked, "I didn't know that." She notes.

"Very few people do, I don't like to advertise it so that Mike can stay safe." Neal explains, "Are you here to arrest me again?" he asks curious.

"Tell me about Kate." Sara requests, as she just walks into the apartment.

"Come on in." Neal says sarcastically.

"She was your girlfriend before you went to prison." Sara says as she walks into the apartment and Neal closes the door behind her, "What happened to her in that plane?" Sara asks.

"It's complicated." Neal answers.

"Who killed her?" Sara asks curious.

"I don't know." Neal admits.

"Neal, I don't know what possessed you to drag me into this but I'm in." Sara says, pulling the envelope with the tape in it out of her pocket.

"You listened to it?" Neal asks.

"Yeah. You need to hear it." Sara informs Neal.


After a long day at work Mike arrives back at the apartment where he finds Neal and Mozzie sitting together at the table, Mozzie has his hand on Neal's back in a comforting way while Neal is just staring at the computer screen, like he cannot believe what he is seeing.

"Neal? Moz? What's wrong?" Mike asks worried, as he hurries over to the table.

"We just heard Kate's last words." Mozzie explains, as it doesn't look like Neal is going to be able to.

"Oh god, I'm sorry." Mike says, sitting down next to his brother.

"We need more wine." Mozzie says, standing up.

"I just can't believe it." Neal says, looking close to tears, "She called someone."

"We'll figure it out." Mike says, putting his arm around his brothers' shoulders.

"I don't want you near this Mike, it's too dangerous." Neal tells his brother.

"Kate was family; I'm doing whatever I can." Mike tells Neal, there being no room for argument in his voice.

"We've got to figure out who she called." Neal reveals, not having it in him to argue with his brother, but he knows what the will still do everything in his power to protect Mike.

"First we drink, then we figure this out." Mozzie says, placing two large glasses of wine in front of each brother.

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Mike comments.

"Me to." Neal says and the three old friends just start to drink.


Several hours, and several bottles of wine, and beer, later Mozzie has left and the two Caffrey-Ross brothers are sitting side by side on the couch.

"So, who was that this morning?" Mike says, knowing that he is probably going to regret all this drinking tomorrow.

"Sara Ellis, the insurance investigator I told you about." Neal explains.

"So that was Sara, huh." Mike says, looking interested, "I wanted to meet her ever since she called you a sociopath in open court."

"She wanted the Raphael painting back, I can't blame her for what she said." Neal comments, "How'd you know about that anyway? I didn't let you come to my trial."

"I may have gotten my hands on your trial transcripts." Mike admits, looking sheepish.

"Of course you did." Neal says, not even surprised, as he takes another drink.

"What's going on with you two?" Mike asks curious.

"I don't know." Neal admits, telling the truth, "I think I like her, and there's a spark, but I don't know. We might be too different."

"Different can be good." Mike says, and the two brothers drift into silence, as they continue to drink.

"How's things going with Hardman?" Neal asks, breaking the silence as he pours both him and Mike more wine.

"Bad. He's clearly using this Harvey fraud thing to try and get power, and it wouldn't surprise me if he had something to do with this whole thing in the first place, but I can't prove it, not yet." Mike reveals, "He's trying to destroy Harvey, and Jessica, and I hate it. They don't deserve it, especially not Harvey." Mike reveals, as Neal hands him his now fill glass.

"What's going on with you and Harvey?" Neal asks curious, as he leans back against the couch.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Mike says, taking a drink of his drink.

"Come on Mikey, it's me you're talking to." Neal tells his brother, "You talk about Harvey the same way you talked about Luke Reynolds when you were sixteen."

"And that turned out so well." Mike says, sounding sarcastic, as he takes a drink.

"Mike…" Neal once more says.

"Okay, yeah, I like him." Mike admits, "But it's not anything can ever happen. He's my boss, and has risked everything for me. Trying to be more than what we are will just be way too complicated, and unlike you I'm not good at complicated." Mike says, before once more taking a drink.

"You know why most of my relationships have been complicated?" Neal asks his brother.

"Because you like the thrill." Mike guesses.

"Partly." Neal admits, "But in my experience the complicated relationships are the best." Neal says with a smirk, "If you don't try, you'll always wonder."

"Maybe." Mike says, looking uncertain, "But I don't even know for sure if Harvey likes guys." Mike reveals, "I mean there's been moments, like when we were in the limo on the way to Atlantic City, where I've thought, maybe, he feels the same way, but I'm not sure." Mike says, "How can I risk what we have for something that might be impossible?" Mike asks his brother.

"Do you remember when you were about eight, and we spent the summer days at the swimming pool?" Neal asks his brother, knowing that they did that a lot to avoid their mother.

"Of course." Mike answers, wondering what's with the change of subject.

"Kids about my age were boasting about jumping of the higher platforms, and you taunted them, said that anyone could do that. So they dared you to jump of the highest ones." Neal reminds his brother.

"I remember." Mike says, with a nod.

"You were terrified, I know that, but I couldn't stop you. You just closed your eyes and jumped." Neal tells his brother, "You've done that a lot, just jumped into things no matter the consequences, it's something we have in common, you should do it this time." Neal tells his brother.

"I don't know if I can this time, the price is too high." Mike says, and the two brothers drift into silence.

For a few minutes Mike and Neal just sit side by side as they drink their drinks, Neal trying to think of the right words to say to his brother, but as he keeps coming up blank he stays silent.

"I meant it when I said I want to help find out what happened to Kate." Mike reveals, breaking the silence after a few minutes.

"Mike…." Neal starts to say.

"Don't even start, Neal. I know you want to protect me, I get it, and I know that there is always going to be things you don't want me to be near, and I respect that, but I don't want to be kept away from everything." Mike reveals, "I can help you, and I want to, for Kate." Mike tells his brother.

"You can help, but only in a limited way, research, sharing your legal knowledge, or brainstorming with me, Moz or Peter." Neal tells his brother, "Kate's already been killed over this, if something happened to you that would kill me." Neal admits, telling the truth.

"I'll be careful." Mike says, resting his head on his brother's shoulder, "I just have to help."

"Okay." Neal says, hoping that this doesn't turn out to be a horrible idea, and the two brothers once more drift into silence.


It has been two days since Mike and Neal talked about Harvey, Sara, and Kate, and ever since both brothers have been thinking about different parts of the conversation. Mike has been thinking about what his brother said about Harvey while Neal has been thinking about the fact that his brother wants to help find out what happened to Kate.

It is early afternoon and Neal is sitting at his desk at the FBI working on the reports Peter makes him do for the cases. As Neal works his cell rings and seeing the caller id Neal can't hide his surprise as he knows that for this number to be calling him then it can't be something good,

"Hello." Neal answers.

"Hello is Julie Banks from Prescott Private Assisted Living Facility, am I speaking to Neal Ross?" The person on the other end of the line says.

"Yes." Neal answers, expecting the worst as he knows that the nursing home wouldn't call him unless something bad has happened.

"I'm sorry to inform you Mr Ross that your Grandmother Edith passed away earlier today." The person says.

"What happened?" Neal asks, and it is only from years of experience that his voice doesn't give away how much it hurts to hear that as while he wasn't as close to Edith as Mike he does love her, and she is family.

"It looks like she suffered a stroke, she passed away peacefully in her sleep." Julie reveals, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Have you called my brother?" Neal asks, as he wants to be the one to tells Mike.

"Not yet, you were the one who was down to call first in the event of death." Julie explains, "I will be calling him next."

"Don't, I'll tell him." Neal says, knowing that it will be slightly easier for Mike to hear from the news from him.

"Of course. I'm sure you know that Edith had left instructions for what she would have liked to happen in event of her death, but we need to talk to you and your brother to finalise them." Julie tells Neal.

"I understand. When?" Neal asks, trying to focus on that rather than everything else, as he knows he can't break down in the FBI bullpen.

"How about tomorrow at twelve." Julie says.

"I'll make that work." Neal says, knowing that chances are it will just be him at that meeting, not Mike.

"We'll see you then, Mr Ross, I'm sorry about your loss." Julie says before hanging up.

After Neal hangs up his phone he drops it and just sits in shock, not sure how to react to the news he just got, and honestly having no idea how to tell Mike as he is going to be devastated.