Dreams Come True
Weeks passed.
Neal had managed to retain his cover in general, but Hughes, Peter, Jones, Diana, Elizabeth, and Sara all knew better than to believe he was only the con man he pretended to be. They were curious so Neal was certain they were carefully researching who he might be, but they were doing it well enough to generally keep under the radar.
Zondra had completed her overseas mission and briefly passed through on her way to California. She had evaded the team's curiosity but had crossed paths with Peter.
Peter hadn't asked her anything about her work, but it was obvious in his attention that he was looking for hints about her.
When she turned to Neal questioningly looking for an explanation, he shrugged. "Hughes recognized you and they know you're an agent of some sort. Now they're unofficially trying to figure me out."
Her snarky remark about how unlikely it was for the FBI to discover either of their identities had Peter frowning and turning to Neal in response.
Shrugging again, Neal smirked at him. "You wouldn't have learned there was anything to find if Hughes hadn't recognized her and decided to confront me in front of you."
In response, Peter grumbled something about cheeky, but the smile on his face and expression in his eyes removed any negative implications. He obviously loved the puzzle and enjoyed the partnership all the more for the cryptic reveal.
The positive acceptance of Neal's secret led to Hughes double finger pointing Neal up to his office. Slipping a folder across the desk, the older agent sat with his fingers steepled in front of him.
Gauging the confident body language, Neal had a feeling it was something to do with his identity. What he hadn't expected to find was a contract for the FBI. "You want to poach me?"
"I do, and Peter would obviously love to have you as an official partner." Hughes leaned back in a relaxed attitude. He clearly had no hesitation to his plans.
"But…" There were a lot of things that could complicate the offer. Would the CIA let him go?
"You are free to make the change if you want to." Beckman's voice emitted from the computer beside Hughes.
Turning the screen, Hughes allowed Beckman to clear up any questions pertaining to the move. She was Neal's current boss and in the greater position to make the transfer difficult if she wanted. "The CIA may frown on some agents leaving the field, but you've proven yourself time and again. Besides, we can always borrow your skills should you be needed."
Hughes frowned at the addition of borrowing, but he had to admit it was a better arrangement than it could have been.
Signing the contract, Neal accepted the offer before leaving the bosses to iron out the details of his transfer and continued mission.
Going out to dinner one evening, Neal was back to his old routines. There weren't any extra parties or suspicious behavior, but it also meant the empty seat next to him on his outings.
"May I join you?" A familiar voice sounded hesitant and a little shy.
Glancing up, Neal decided to gently tease her while also feeling out her intentions. "I thought you weren't on the market?"
Blushing and ducking her head, Sara persevered. "I'm not… to con artists. Mystery men, on the other hand, are very intriguing."
Quarking an eyebrow up at her, Neal wasn't going to give in that easily. If she was willing to get involved with him, she would need to be able to handle what it meant.
"You've always been charming, brilliant, gentlemanly, and difficult to resist." She pushed some hair behind her ear but knocked more down blocking her face to hide the awkward embarrassment his behavior was causing.
Standing quietly, he made her jump when he spoke softly next to her ear. "It isn't easy for those who get close to me…"
Catching her breath, she took a moment to respond. "I'm willing to risk it." Then she looked up at him with the strength of determination. She had watched him with Zondra, watched his work with Peter, and knew he was more than he pretended to be. He was a man worth the trouble, and that was enough for her to begin a relationship with him.
"Are you sure?" Neal wasn't going to let her dive in without giving her an opportunity of an out.
"I've been trying to keep away from you for a long time." She whispered back the confession unable to say it loudly.
Softening his expression, Neal stopped testing her. Gently touching his hand to her back and swinging his other out in the direction of the table, he extended a wordless acceptance of her request.
Returning to his seat, Neal smiled to set her at ease and called over a waitress to take her order. Then discussing the special for the evening, he created an opening for the general conversation to evolve.
Sitting at his desk, Neal heard the regular sound of the elevator ding its arrival before the doors slid open. It was a common sound occurring every little while and most times he barely registered the noise. Otherwise, he would never get anything done.
The silence of footsteps wasn't uncommon with agents around, and the firm swing of the doors wasn't unusual.
However, a familiar cologne hit him as the closing door dispersed it into the room. Looking up only to jump back startled, he exclaimed, "Chuck!"
Standing in a suit of his own with his hair cropped short, Chuck looked more serious and professional than he had ever seen him before. Neal commented, "So this is what you would have looked like had we gone into business together?"
"No. Yes… maybe?" Chuck seemed to be staring at him as if coming to terms with the facts.
Laughing, Neal enjoyed having his friend before him but was unsure as to the reason. "So, to what do I owe the honor?"
"What? Oh, Zondra gave her gift at the baby shower. It wasn't exactly surprising what she got Sarah, but her gift to me… she obviously had help. Then Casey said she had a secret friend here in New York so I started investigating. On the same day she had her bust here, there was a large one for the White Collar FBI team. A poke through the FBI database and I had your picture as a consulting informant." Chuck explained the general information for what had brought him before getting to his point. "I miss my best friend. You died right in front of me, and didn't even tell me you were okay?"
Relieved to hear the concern, but not wishing to continue the conversation in front of the general office, Neal gestured for him to accompany him on a walk. "I believe you haven't had the tour?"
"Take your time Caffrey, but know we're going to want to meet him when you get back. You can bring him to my place tonight." Peter not so gently hinted. Then extending his hand out, he greeted Chuck for himself. "I'm agent Peter Burke, his handler. You're the old school friend with the baby shower Zondra was preparing for?"
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Chuck, Chuck Bartowski. Yeah, that's how I figured out he was here. The gifts were things only he or Morgan would come up with, and it wasn't Morgan in New York assisting her with her shopping." Chuck greeted.
"Yeah, you've met, so now my two best friends can gang up on me; later though." Neal forcefully directed Chuck to join him for the walk before too much could be revealed.
Once they were away, he asked. "You do know Peter is going to go research your entire school history looking for me, right?"
"You're transferring to his team officially and will become his partner. It's obvious you trust him and have found another best friend so I don't see the problem with him knowing something of who you are. Besides, you would probably tell him eventually. This way there doesn't have to be secrets." Chuck wasn't abashed.
Snorting, Neal complained anyway. "That would have been on my timing though."
Laughing, Chuck clapped him on the back. "Get over it. So, what have you been up to since the last time you died?"
Returning to the office to find Jones, Diana, Hughes, and Peter were waiting for him, Neal wondered what they had in mind.
"You're serious about wanting to interrogate Chuck?" He asked as he squinted at them. They weren't showing any hints of their intentions, so he was trying to puzzle out their reasons.
"Yes, grab your jacket, close down your computer, and come with us," Peter ordered while standing firmly with his hands on his hips.
"What about my date tonight?" Neal tried to get out of it. If they wanted to interrogate Chuck, the man could take care of himself… or could he?
"Sara's already meeting us at my place. Move, Caffrey." Peter commanded again.
The rest of the team had gone home so Neal knew it wasn't likely to be a team-wide thing.
While he was trying to make up his mind, Chuck stepped around him and turned off his computer before tossing his jacket to him. "You heard the man. Let's go see what your friends here have in mind."
Going along with Peter and Chuck, Neal was relieved they didn't interrogate each other on the drive. Instead, they commented about general details of the city from its history, daily life, to recommended places to visit while Chuck was in the city.
Reaching the Burke residence, Neal was ushered in as the guest of honor to be greeted by the small group of people aware of his secret. Hughes had told Peter about the transfer so he and Elizabeth had set up a small party to celebrate. There was dinner, cake, and the guests Jones, Diana, Hughes, Sara, Chuck, and the Burkes hosting.
Passing Peter a small box with a kiss, Elizabeth moved on to greet Neal with a kiss on the cheek before being generally introduced to Chuck.
With the group all settled and the intent announced, Peter took the floor in front of Neal.
"Your recent work with Agent Zondra… whoever she is, brought something to light. We've always known there was something special to you. It wasn't only your brilliance as a criminal that set you apart, it was always the man behind the con that attracted us. Neal, you are the smartest man I know. In all the years I chased you and the time we've worked together directly, you've never let me down whether it was your skill in the field, your heart as a person, or as the dearest friend and best partner I've ever had. Now I'm proud to say you are officially my working partner as a fellow agent." Then passing the box to him, Peter presented the gift.
Taking it and unwrapping what he already knew it to be, Neal still felt a sense of pride as he opened the FBI badge up for the first time. "I've been an agent for a long time. But this is the first time it's been on an FBI badge."
Reaching out to shake his hand, Peter pulled him into a hug before releasing him for the others to congratulate.
As the evening progressed, the group enjoyed the food and comradery of the atmosphere. Reaching near the end, they found themselves drinking toasts to the future.
Lifting his glass to his friend, Chuck gave his wish for his future. "May you have great success with the FBI to uncover the corruption endangering your family and to close many cases creating legends as spectacular as your work with us was. To one of my best friends, I'm glad you found your family here. I hope you remain happy under their protection and flourish into the future with a real life of abundance and joy. Live long and prosper my friend." Chuck couldn't help but tag the ending on while going Star Trek to his friend's amusement.
Laughing, the group cheered 'here, here' raising their glasses. With one hand they joined in on the toast and with the other, they attempted to mimic the separated finger action of the Vulcan salute.
Looking around him, Neal realized the case had blown his cover, but it had brought him to this. The life he had dreamed of growing up where he was surrounded by family and friends doing the heroic work he loved.
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The votes so far tally... 3 for The Box of Duress and 1 for Persuasioned, so next week we'll start The Box of Duress :D