Neal stood in front of the farmhouse sink in the kitchen quietly rinsing dishes to be loaded into the dishwasher. He'd volunteered for kitchen duty seeing as June and Jade had been gracious enough to prepare a feast for their oversized party. It only seemed fair that someone else should be tasked with cleaning the kitchen.
However, Neal's volunteerism wasn't altogether altruistic. Right now Sara was seated in the living room with the rest of the adults drinking coffee. He knew there would be hard questions and sad conversations at some point, but right now didn't seem to be the time. There was no need to have that many hurt feelings in one house with no escape.
His mind went back to the conversation he overheard earlier between June and Jade. He could hear the pain of betrayal loud and clear. Somehow, without really trying, he'd broken Jade's heart all over again.
Neal hadn't meant to hurt Jade this time or the last. He always found himself swept up into situations he didn't know how to stop. He cared for Sara deeply and if Jade wasn't back in his life there would be a future there. However, if he had to choose…he'd choose Jade.
He wouldn't lie and say that his daughters didn't factor into the equation because they did. He wanted to be there for his kids seven days a week. Weekends weren't enough in his book. He'd lost too much time with Sofia and Isabella already.
However, it was more than just being a full-time father that drew him to Jade. The truth was that she was his first love. No matter where he went or who he was with there was always going to be a part of him that wanted to be with Jade. She knew the real Neal Caffrey and she loved him anyway.
Jade knew him before the cons, before Kate, before prison, and before the FBI. She knew the purest form of Neal and that meant more to him than anything else. The life he'd craved with Kate wasn't nearly as appealing anymore. In fact it was a constant reminder of what he'd had to give up for is obsession.
Sara walked into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. She leaned against the fridge and watched Neal rinsing the dishes. "Were you ever going to tell me about your family?"
Neal stopped moving and glanced over his shoulder. He shook his head, "Honestly? Probably not. I didn't think that I'd ever see them again. When Jade says that she is done with something. Rarely does she change her mind. She's always been stubborn and determined."
"I'm less concerned with her mind frame than I am about yours. I thought that we had something Neal and then I come back to find you playing happy families with your ex-wife. A woman that you knew was back in town before I left for my trip. You'll excuse me if I am a little shell-shocked."
Neal closed the dishwasher and started it up. He dried his hand on a towel and asked, "Wine?"
Sara shook her head and said, "I think I'd like to be clear headed for this conversation. I think I'll stick with water if that is alright with you."
Neal poured a glass of Merlot and had a seat at the island. "Please…sit with me. I didn't want to do this now but you deserve answers and I'm going to do my best to give them to you."
She made sure there was a chair between them and took a small sip of water. Sara wanted answers but she could feel the anxiety building within her. The selfish part of her wanted Neal to choose her. The rational side knew better. She just wanted to hear it from him.
"Sara, the time I have spent with you has been amazing. You are beautiful, intelligent, spontaneous, and quirky. All things that I adore in women. You've become a great friend, but…"
Sara chuckled bitterly. "The time you've spent with me."
She pushed back and started to walk away.
"Sara. Please. Just let me talk to you about this. I just want an opportunity to explain everything. Please, don't walk away from me," Neal pleaded.
"Don't. I know when I'm getting the kiss off, Neal. There's no need to explain. You've made your decision."
Neal sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be this way but everything has changed now and I have a real chance with my family. I can't risk losing them again. Everything I said to you before you left for New Zealand was the truth. I was falling for you, Sara. I wanted something serious. I'd finally gotten over Kate and I was ready to move forward, but Jade being back and turned everything onto its ear. I love her."
Sara put up her hand to stop him. She shook her head and looked into his eyes. "Do you know what I hate the most about this situation?"
He walked over to Sara but kept his distance knowing that was what she wanted at the moment. "What?"
"I can't even be furious at you because I think you are doing the right thing. You are choosing your family. You've got two precious little girls to help raise. As much as I'd like to…I can't fault you for that."
"I never intended to hurt you, Sara," Neal whispered. He reached out and used his thumb to wick away the tears sliding down her cheek. Neal cupped Sara's chin and looked into her eyes.
Sara took a step back and sniffled. She shook her head and said, "But you did, Neal. This has to be the strangest break up I've ever had, but then I guess that is par for the course for you. The Great Neal Caffrey…never a dull moment. Always a great time until he breaks your heart."
Neal watched as the red haired beauty made a hasty exit. He felt even more like a bastard. He was 2 for 2 with making women cry tonight. Neal moved back to the seat at the end of the island and picked up his glass of wine.
June walked into the kitchen having seen Sara head upstairs with glassy eyes. She gently placed a hand on Neal's shoulder and said, "I'm here to listen if you'd like to talk."
"I overheard your conversation with Jade earlier. Well, I overheard most of it. I missed the beginning gambit," Neal revealed. He retrieved a second wine glass and poured a drink for June.
She smiled and had a seat. "I know, Neal. I caught a glimpse of you hovering in the doorway trying to keep out of sight. I wasn't just keeping Jade talking for her own benefit. You needed to hear what was going through her mind as much as she needed a kind ear. You needed to hear the unfiltered version."
"It was like a knife to the heart. It wasn't any easier seeing that look of betrayal on Sara's face. It has never been my intention to hurt anyone, June."
"You need to stop holding on to the mistakes of your past. You are not the same man you were when you let Jade walk out of your life. You've grown and matured. Despite Sara's hurt feelings you did not lead her on. Jade's reemergence changed everything for you. It was unfortunate but not malicious. When that wound starts to heal she will see that."
"I'm tired of being the bad guy, June."
"Oh, sweetheart, you are not a bad person. Human beings are flawed by design. As much as I loved Byron and as much as he loved me…we were both guilty of hurting one another. The people we love the most are often the ones we cause the most grief."
"Jade doesn't trust me, June. How do I get her to believe that I'm a changed man? She still thinks I'm the jerk that chose his own happiness over his family. Worse yet I wasn't happy with my family," said Neal.
June took Neal's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It will not be easy and it will not be fast, but you are going to have to show her that you are changed. You are going to have to show her that you want to be there for her and the children. Not just there for the children. I know it is a cliché but actions really do speak louder than words, Neal."
Peter stepped into the room.
"Sorry to interrupt but Jade just received a message from Alex Hunter. We're setting up a secure line to talk to her," Peter explained.
Neal looked up from his glass of wine. He had to shift gears from morose lover to dedicated investigator. The safety of his family depended on it. He cleared his throat.
"When?"
Peter answered, "Should take 30 minutes tops to get the secure line set up. Agent Cruz is working on it as we speak. We are going to set up the equipment in the den."
Neal nodded numbly. "I'll be there with bells on, Peter."
Peter gave a worried smile but didn't press for answers. He knew Neal would come to him if and when he wanted to talk about what was going on. "I'm going to go check on the progress."
After Peter left the kitchen, June reached over and squeezed Neal's hand. "You and Jade are both young. The advantage of youth is that you have time to be different. Take care of her and those girls and Jade will come around."
Neal kissed June's cheek and smiled at her. "What would I do without you, June?"
June patted his hand and replied, "You'd be just fine without me."
"I'd be a lot sadder," said Neal. He finished the last gulp of wine and left the kitchen.
The den was being used as a command center at the moment. Several electronic devices were running and there was a quiet hum in the room as the agents talked shop with one another.
Hughes looked up seeing Neal walk into the room. "Caffrey, how helpful do you think your friend Alex will be?"
Neal's hands slid into his pants' pockets as he leaned against the wall. He shrugged, "With Alex you can never really be sure. We vacillate between adversaries, friends, and accomplices. It really hinges on what she thinks of me at the moment."
"And what does she think of you at the moment?" asked Hughes quirking an eyebrow.
"She thinks that I'm a lapdog for the feds and a liability to her business and her contacts…"
Special Agent Jones frowned deeply and quipped, "We're asking her for help for what reason?"
"Because besides me no one knows Adler or that fractal better than Alex Hunter."
Jones said, " Fair enough but what does that matter if she refuses to help you. I'm just wondering if there is a plan B."
"Even if Alex refuses to help me…she won't refuse Jade. She's plan B. I just have to go tell her that," said Neal.
Mozzie rolled into the room with an urgent look on his face. "Neal, I need to have a word with you."
Peter looked up and asked, "Is this anything you should be sharing with the class, Mozzie? We're all on the same side here."
"I'll tell Neal, Suit. Then it is up to him to relay the information," said Mozzie.
Hughes gave Peter and exasperated look.
"I'm sorry, sir. Mozzie is an odd duck, but if he says he has something to help the case…I believe that Neal will tell us," said Peter.
"We could always just make the bald guy tell us," said Hughes.
Diana shook her head. "That would only reinforce Mozzie's conspiracy theories about shadowy government agencies manipulating the little guy. Neal is motivated to protect his family. He won't keep this a secret."
Neal said, "You have my word I will keep you updated."
He walked out of the room and went into the kitchen to Mozzie for some privacy. "Moz, what's going on? Alex is going to be calling soon."
"Then I put the pieces together just in time. Do you remember when Sara mentioned a former employee of Adler named Guillermo?" Mozzie asked.
"Sure. He worked on the staff at Adler's place in Argentina. What about him?" asked Neal.
"Something you said this afternoon struck me. I decided to go over the report that Sara gave to Peter. You know we were never able to figure out the identity Gerhardt Wagner or where he ended up after he escaped that detention center. Well, one of my contacts finally came through with the documents I needed. Here is a PDF containing a copy of his passport after his name change," Mozzie handed over his iPad.
Neal studied the photo and had to agree that the pictures looked similar. However, it was the name on the passport that caught his attention. "His name was Michael Alexander Hunter?"
Mozzie took off his glasses to clean the lenses but nodded. "Who do we know with the last name Hunter that knows about the fractal?"
The younger man ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I was right about Alex being the key."
"What are you going to do?" asked Mozzie.
"I won't out Alex's connection to Gerhardt Wagner unless she refuses to help me. Then I'll have to put all my cards on the table and hers too."
Mozzie watched a determined Neal walk out of the kitchen and got the feeling things were about to get interesting.
Neal climbed the stairs to the second floor and then went up to the converted attic where he'd be staying the night with Jade and the kids. Hughes and Peter thought it best that the small family be in the same vicinity.
Jade walked into the small sitting room off from the bedroom and was briefly startled seeing Neal. "I didn't hear you come upstairs."
He smiled and said, "I must have been a cat burglar in a former life."
She stifled a chuckle and asked, "A former life? I remember someone being a pretty stealth burglar in this life. You always followed the golden rules: high end places, no one home, nothing broken. You were an aficionado. Almost as good as my old man."
Neal closed the gap between them and smiled, "I wasn't the only one with impressive skills, Jade. You were very good at taking unwanted items off of people's hands. Your safecracking abilities have always been impressive."
Jade smirked and said, "Now you are just buttering me up. What is it that you want, Neal?"
"Hey! That wasn't me buttering you up. You were like a savant with safecracking. I learned some of my best techniques from you, but I do need a favor."
Jade picked up a small basket and began collecting the girls' toys that were strewn around the sitting room. "What do you need?"
"I'd like you to be there with me when Alex's call comes in. If she won't help me…I know that she'll help you. I need her help figuring out what the fractal is for. It's the only way to shut Adler down for good," Neal explained.
She paused and sat the basket on the couch. "I'll do it."
Neal paused, "There is something else that I need to tell you. Adler's been searching for a German soldier from World War II. After the war he ended up in prison but escaped custody."
"I guess prisons aren't meant to hold everyone in. What does this have to do with the fractal thing?" asked Jade.
"The fractal is part of an antenna. No doubt it's connected to a radio system of some sort. I mean this thing would be a relic."
"World War II era relic?"
Neal nodded, "After Wagner escaped prison he fell off the grid. No one knew where he landed until tonight. Mozzie put it all together. Gerhardt Wagner is Alex's grandfather. That's why she knew what the fractal was and she knows what it leads to. She's going to resist giving up the truth."
"Then I'll just have to turn the screws when I speak to her. Maybe a few tears will help sell this," said Jade.
Neal smiled and said, "Thanks. Peter's setting up a secure line. The girls get to sleep okay?"
"They fell asleep watching Toy Story 3. It was just a matter of time before the dozed off. Today has been a hard day for them. I just hope they don't have any nightmares."
He pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. Neal pulled back to look her in the eyes. "If they do have nightmares we'll be here to help them through it."
"Speaking of…I really don't want to leave them up here alone just in case they do wake up with a nightmare. Do you think June or Elizabeth would be willing to sit up here with them?" asked Jade.
Neal said, "I'll go ask Elizabeth if she wouldn't mind."
"Thank you. I'll finish cleaning up the toys so that I can go to bed when the conversation with Alex is over. The girls aren't the only ones that just want this day to be over. I need rest."
He kissed Jade's forehead and said, "It shouldn't take long."
She smiled and picked up the basket. "Good."
Jade watched Neal walk back down the attic stairs and she went back to tidying. She shook her head thinking about how easy it was for her to fall into familiar patterns with Neal. Jade walked to the bedroom door and smiled seeing the girls resting peacefully. She'd have to find some way to work with Neal for their sake. Sofia and Isabella loved their father and needed him. Her feelings were immaterial to the situation.
Elizabeth and Neal walked up the stairs of the attic together.
Jade greeted them with a smile. "Thank you for agreeing to sit up here with the girls, Elizabeth. They are asleep for now but I wouldn't want them to wake up in alone in a strange place. The day has been strange and traumatic enough for my little girls."
Elizabeth said, "I don't mind at all. I have a good book to keep me occupied."
Neal said, "Jade, we should head downstairs. Peter wanted to get the call underway as soon as Lauren gets the secure line up and running."
She nodded slightly and said, "Thanks again, Elizabeth."
Neal returned to the den with Jade and saw that everyone was apparently waiting on them. "All set?"
Hughes nodded and said, "The line is secure and we're monitoring it for interference. We'll know if we have any unwanted listeners. Ms. Hunter should be calling any minute."
Jade and Neal had a seat together on the couch. They were positioned in front of the phone anxiously awaiting the ring.
Ten minutes later the line began to ring and Lauren nodded that it was okay to answer it.
Neal turned on the speakerphone, "Alex?"
"Neal, I've been involved with the FBI a lot because of you. I do not like this trend. Jade's message said that you needed my help. What's going on?" asked Alex.
"Adler's men raided June's house today. June, Elizabeth, Jade, and my girls narrowly escaped capture. His men gravely injured three special agents. We've got to get him off the street before he hurts anyone else."
The line went silent for a minute.
Hughes glanced at Peter wondering if Alex had ended the call.
"What do you need from me, Neal?" asked Alex. Her voice was resigned and saddened.
"Mozzie and I have been scratching our heads about this fractal. We know that it leads us to something. It has to be something major for Adler to risk coming back to the States for it. You know Adler as well as I do…maybe a little better. And I saw the flicker of recognition when you saw the fractal in his office. I know that you don't want to be involved and I'm not asking you to get involved but you have to know that you aren't safe either. Adler wants you for the same reason he wants me…both of us have a piece to his puzzle. He thought I had the music box which contained the key. You had to have another piece of the puzzle…knowledge or access to whatever that fractal leads to."
The line again went silent.
Jade spoke for the first time, "Alex, you've been such a good friend to me over the years. I know that we are putting you in a terrible position with Adler and especially because the feds are involved. If Adler wasn't trying to hurt my family I wouldn't care if the FBI ever caught him. I mean, hate the man love the con. He pulled off one of the greatest schemes of all time, but the fact is he'd like to kill Neal and he tried to take my girls twice in less than a week. I'll do whatever I have to do. I'll make whatever deals I have to make to ensure that he never comes after them again. No one is going to hurt my family and I need your help."
Neal reached over and squeezed Jade's hand. He knew this was hard for her. She was calling in a major chit.
"I...I can't do what you're asking me to do. You don't understand," said Alex.
Jade asked, "Is whatever you and Adler after so important that you'd risk my children's lives for it? Because if Adler gets his hands on Sofia or Isabella you can guarantee I'll never see them again. The man is unhinged. He's been driven mad by this search. A sane man would be content with the money he stole," said Jade.
Neal said, "Alex…please."
"You and the girls should leave New York. The farther away you are the safe you will be. That is all I can offer you."
Jade's eyes hardened. "Your grandfather was a German soldier in the second World War. He went by the name of Gerhardt Wagner. We have most of the pieces to the puzzle. The FBI is going to find this so called treasure and your journey in life will have been for naught. If you help us…you'll at least get to see this bounty that is worth so much for you and Adler. If not…you can see it on the news."
She hung up on Alex.
A hush fell over. No one was quite sure what to say.
Neal looked at Jade and said, "I'm sorry, baby. I know that she's your friend."
"Well, she's not anymore. She put her own petty needs over the lives of my kids. She's nothing to me anymore," said Jade.
Peter was more than a little surprised by Jade's display.
Jade said, "I'm going to go check on my children."
Neal followed her out of the room. "What are you going to do?"
"My father is a son of a bitch but he just might come in handy in this situation. I'm going to call him and trade on whatever love he might have for me. I'll be fine, Neal. You stay here and find a way to figure out what the hell Adler is after." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
Neal was stunned momentarily before reentering the den.
Hughes asked, "Do you want to tell us what that was about?"
Sara said, "I'm interested in that myself. The bureau was never able to figure out Gerhardt's identity once he was in this country. How did you?"
"I didn't. Mozzie did. Something I said earlier triggered a thought process and Moz followed it down. He reached out to a few contacts and pushed them toward a certain angle. They came back with Michael Hunter, Alex's grandfather."