Neal's POV
He watched as Peter and Kramer began arguing up in the conference room. Neal was sitting at his desk. Part of him didn't want to know what they were arguing about. Another part of him knew it was about him.
His hand tapped on the desk impatiently. Panov sat across from him. Watching him with a curious look. Watching all of his tics to identify them when they spoke.
Neal's eyes turned to see Clark. The older man was watching his handler and enemy. No doubt he was listening to what they were saying.
A shout drew his head back up. Peter was angry. Now even Hughes was in there. This couldn't be good.
Panov asked startling him," Are you okay?"
His eyes turned to the doctor. For an instant he thought the man was a threat. Then his heart rate slowed.
He answered after a moment," No. I don't like this doctor. They are talking about me. About what I don't know."
A gentle hand touched his shoulder. It startled him quite a bit. Almost sending him crashing to the floor.
The doctor raised his hands showing that he was not a threat. The man had a kind look in his eyes. Now Clark's eyes were on him.
Neal's hands were opening and closing. His breathing coming in sharp fast gaps. Noticing his panic the doctor was on his feet. Moving closer. Getting in his space. He had to warn the man. Had to stop him from touching him. Not to bring the darkness to the surface.
The man bent down so that he was eye level with Neal. His mouth was moving but Neal couldn't hear what was being said. The pounding in his ears prevented him from hearing.
Panov must have noticed his method wasn't working. He reached out for the younger man. Trying to calm him.
He flinched but allowed the touch. His heart beat began to slow. Calm entered him his panic. Slowly the panic faded leaving him tired but alert.
Panov asked carefully," Are you calmer now, Mr. Caffery?"
Neal bowed his head as he answered," Yes. How did you know that would work?"
A gentle look entered Panov's eyes as he said," Echo. I took a chance on the fact that you would react as he had done."
That made sense. He missed his second in command. The elder man had fought and almost died alongside him.
A voice said breaking the calm," See. He is a danger. Just as I have told you."
Kramer. He had known when the man had arrived that he was a threat. The peace that reigned shortly before was broken.
Hughes said stepping between him and Kramer," Agent Kramer. As I have told you, Mr. Caffery is being evaluated by Doctor Panov."
The doctor stood his eyes turned cold looking at Kramer. He said," Mr. Caffery is not a danger to himself or to anyone here. He will be meeting with me at least once a week. More if he feels that he needs to."
Neal looked away. If Kramer hadn't found his CIA badge then he wouldn't be in this situation. Then again his brother would have found him anyways. Without a guiding hand.
Looking through his fringe at the doctor. In the few days that he knew the man. He never saw anger or such coldness before now.
Kramer didn't seem to be deterred by the angered doctor. To his surprise a new voice said," I don't think you would want to go after Caffery. If you do you will regret it."
Looking up he saw Clark. Anger was in those eyes. It wasn't often so many came to his defense.
Kramer's eyes narrowed. Trying to figure out who the man was. Then he recognized him.
He asked," What is a reporter from Centeral City doing here New York? What is your interest in Caffery?"
Clark answered," I know him by another name. I was asked here by a family friend. To look after a boy that is like a nephew to me."
Clark... He knew the older man cared about him. Just never thought that he still thought of him as his nephew. Of course he still cared about the man. The bond he once had though was broken. Broken when he left Gotham determined never to return.
That's when a thought hit him. Bruce and the other's didn't expect him to stay away. They expected him to come back and stay. Instead he expected to stay in New York. No part of him wanted to return to Gotham.
Kramer growled," You continue to protect him. Even knowing that he isnt safe."
Neal said taking a deep breath," I won't hurt anyone."
Not in this office at least. He was not a danger to his friends. The doctor wasn't trusted or considered a friend. Yet, Alex is former handler and friend trusted him. Supposedly so did Echo who he had yet to speak to.
For now he placed his faith in the man. Not trusted. Just enough faith that he would speak.
Hughes said," Enough. Phillip you are to leave. Your help is no longer wanted or needed. Caffery," Neal looked up," my office now."
Neal stood immediately. He was used to obeying the man. Peter was next to him. Panov followed at a polite distance.
Entering the office Neal stood by a chair respectfully. Hughes waived him into it. The last few years of working with the man revealed a lot to him. Hughes was kinder if you respected him. Though if you tried to kiss ass he would throw you out.
Peter and Panov both took their seats. Peter's presence served as both his handler and to keep him calm. Panov to give whatever he learned.
A knock at the door startled all of them before Hughes could say anything. Alex walked in. If Neal didn't know the man as well as he did. He would have thought that Alex was completely relaxed.
Neal knew better. There was a subtle tension in the man's shoulders. Something was bothering his ex handler.
Alex asked looking at Neal specifically," Excuse me may I borrow Neal for a moment? Dr. Panov."
Hughes said," Caffery. What I wanted to say was that I want you to keep your head down. Do not give Kramer any ammunition on you. I can only protect you and Peter for so long."
Neal said nodding," I will keep my head down. Though I may have some issues with my family."
Hughes cocked his head to the side as he asked," Family? The reporter?"
Shaking his head but said with a far off look," He's more like an uncle. Peter met my adopted father. Some one I ran from over a decade ago."
"The missing past."
He nodded. His missing young years. Something they had never been able to get him to speak of.
Peter said," I will keep Neal and his father out of trouble. About as well I can."
Neal had to bite back a snort. That was an impossible task.
Hughes said," Good. Get out."
Neal and Panov followed Alex into a conference room. Alex pulled out a newspaper. Handing it to Neal. The paper confused him. The title made the blood drain from his face.
Reported Seen in London. There was only a few killers that came to mind when he saw such a headline. Only one would be brought to him. Carlos the Jackel. Someone they knew so little about.
Ilich Ramírez Sánchez was thought to be the man's real name. Not that they had confirmed that. Or were able to follow it.
Panov asked," Why are you showing us this?"
Alex turned his head to Neal. Ignoring the two man in front of him. His entire focus was on the paper in front of him.
When in Medusa many men had spoken of Carlos. Several of them thought about defecting to the man. To be a soldier of Carlos. Anyone that did he personally shot.
Carlos was an assassin. One that he helped track encoded transitions and break codes. His eyes were trailing over the paper taking all the information in.
He asked," How old is this information?"
"Two days."
Two days. It was too late for him to give useful information. He could at least give a brief overview. Before he could ask Alex placed a file in front of him. A notebook under it.
He opened the notebook and file. His eyes became fixed on them.
Peter's POV
Pacing in front of the conference room. Neal was sitting in front of a file and notebook. His eyes focused on the file and paper. How the agent wanted to help his CI.
Something was off about Neal. His shoulders were set in intense focus. While he couldn't see the younger's eyes he knew they would be grey. Grey not blue. The killer that Peter still didn't understand.
Peter just couldn't understand what went on in the younger's head. Neal he could understand. Richard Grayson could be understood. Delta was a mystery to him.
The grey eyes that made other's blood run cold. There was no kindness in those eyes. Nothing that would have been familiar to him.
Doctor Panov came out his hazel eyes briefly to Neal. Then they turned to his own green ones.
Peter asked," What is he doing?"
Panov said biting the inside of his cheek," Apparently its something they been working on for a long time. I couldn't even talk him out of it."
That sounded like Neal. He wasn't one to be talked out of what he wanted to do. Something that it seemed bled into Delta.
Time passed slowly for them. Never once did Neal's eyes leave his papers. Once or twice Neal's shoulders tensed even further. Whatever he was reading it agitated him.
Peter asked carefully," Do you think you could speak with him before he goes home? Somehow I don't think this will be good for him."
Nodding Panov answered," Yes. I was going to take him to a quiet place I found. I was hoping you could extend his radius for an hour or so."
Peter sighed knowing that that the man was right. The doctor was going to take Neal somewhere. Somewhere that he could relax. If he wanted to help his friend he would have to go with it.
So he nodded. A promise made. He would extend Neal's radius for a short while.
Neal's POV
It was dark before he finished. What he learned disturbed him Carlos had gotten more and more arrogant and powerful. In the last five years Carlos' skills had almost doubled. His information network had fingers everywhere.
To make matters worse they were getting more publicized. Each more so than the last. A shot through the throat for most of his targets.
Closing the notebook he held it out to Alex. His old friend smiled knowingly. It took several minutes for Neal to realize why.
It seemed he would never be able to get away from his old life. Why did he do that? Why did he care that Carlos was still out there? It didn't matter to him. He worked for the FBI.
Instead of asking what he was thinking he asked," Why did you bring me this?"
Alex answered with his nose in the notes," I was going to look through them later. I just wanted you to know that he is out and killing once more."
It was a warning. Not to Neal. Not to David. But to Delta leader of a group in Medusa. Carlos could consider Delta as an enemy. Could try to come after him. If that happened anyone who got in his way would be in danger. Peter. Elizabeth. June. So many others who had helped him.
"Is he after me, Alex?"
His friend looked at him sharply. The seriousness of the question hit them both. It was like a blow.
Slowly the other shook his head as he said," Not that we know of."
That meant nothing. And they both knew it. Carlos could come after him without word ever getting to them. This man needed to be stopped but how?
Shaking his head he stood cracking his back. Alex said his eyes watching him," Morris Panov wants to go out for drinks with him. David you will be safe with him. He has the highest clearance."
That meant he could speak of Medusa. The worst part of his life not including his wife's and unborn child's death. Not that he would. Not before trust was made between them.
Alex said," Go. Thank you for your notes. David if you didn't want to... I would have accepted it. I just wanted to warn my old friend."
A small smile crossed his friend as he said," Thank you Alex. Even though we have our disagreements you still look after me."
The dirty blond haired man lifted his head in acknowledgement. A brief smile crossed his face. It was like when they used to share a beer at the Webb's house. Jacob sometimes would join them. Then he turned and left.
Panov and Peter stood outside. Both of them had been watching him. Carefully looking at him. Searching for any signs of the killer inside him.
A smile to Peter and turning towards the doctor. He assessed the man once more. His military training kicking in.
Panov had a kind look on his face. He watching for any subtle signs of distress. Panov was not an actor or a fighter. Instead he was someone who read body language. Someone who could calm even the most dangerous of the killers. Only two people were able to do such a thing. Peter and Mozzie.
Taking a deep breath he stated calmly," Alex said you wanted to go for drinks. I could use one."
Surprise filled both men's eyes. It was true though. He needed something to drink. The Jackel had brought up painful memories. All he wanted was to drink them away.