A/N: Okay something went wrong a while ago. Long story short, here's the real James Bennett chapter! Thanks to anyone who left reviews for the unfinished drafts I apparently accidentally posted a while ago lol. Yes I'm going to cut back on the wine - or post in the morning instead. :) (Some dialogue taken from the episodes gloves off and vested interest – so not mine)

First Impressions: James Bennett.

He'd arrived in New York earlier that morning. The 250-mile trip from DC taking almost twice the time it should have thanks to avoiding the main roads. He'd heard about Katherine via a friend in the marshals' service and knew if they got to her, with a protection detail no less, they'd get to him too if he didn't take precautions.

Watching the procession make its way to the graveside a pang of guilt hits him. Could he have prevented this? If he'd acted sooner to the email, dropped in the forever empty inbox he'd been checking religiously over the past three years, would Katherine be alive right now to give him the answers he so desperately needs? The thought, like the guilt, is fleeting. James had hardened over the years; being on the run, essentially exiled from everyone who knew him, made him that way. At least that's what he tells himself, has told himself every morning for the past thirty years, when he wakes alone and bitter, without the family he once possessed.

Once all the attendees have gathered James scans the faces for anyone familiar but recognises no one. No reason he should. Katherine would have cut ties with anyone they'd known from DC the day she went into WITSEC. Studying the small mix of what amounted to Ellen Parker's closest friends, he was about to give up, leave the meagre offering of flowers on a nearby bench and disappear to explore other avenues. Then he showed up. Accompanied by another man no less, someone who James is aware could cause him a great deal of trouble. His friend in the marshals' office had kept him informed of all sorts of things over the years. Nothing so overt as the location of protected witnesses, otherwise he'd have found Katherine long ago… Just information you could get readily if you knew exactly where to look, and who for, of course.

James had searched for his wife and son in the beginning, after leaving Montana he felt enough time had passed that he could convince her to take him back. He'd not understood the reason for the divorce at first, felt for sure the woman he married would understand he'd done what was best to keep them all safe. It wasn't until later, a little bit of digging, a little bit of persuading the right people that James found out about Katherine's evidence. She'd taken it with her and no one quite knew what was in it. But James did. He knew then and there why he no longer had a wife and a son by his side. He didn't hate Katherine for it, she'd likely been trying to exonerate him, she hadn't known half of it when she arrested him. He liked to believe that's why she kept the evidence and didn't hand it to the marshal's. Because if she had, he's certain he wouldn't be standing here now, watching her funeral.

Watching Neal, seeing his child as a grown man, it takes his breath away. His little boy… heart racing, an ache building in his shoulder, moving down his arm at speed - anyone unused to the symptoms of anxiety would assume they were on the verge of a heart attack. But James gets himself under control quickly. Erases the image of an adoring wide-eyed child looking up to him as if he was his whole world and takes deep even breaths. The pain recedes, his heart slowing to a dull thud, thud, thud. He'd acquired some pictures over the years, mostly F.B.I composites and a few older ones from his buddy in the marshal's, then one day six years ago, his son's mug shot was front page of the New York Times. His son was a convicted criminal just like him, and he was going to jail. James didn't know how to feel. Part pride, his boy was a clever son of a bitch. But also, disappointment, his wife had taken their child away from him and look what he became. Look at the good it did. If he'd been in their lives the kid would have known right from wrong that was for sure, he'd have taught him the same way fathers had been teaching their boys for generations.

His kid was clever, but he was also soft. Of course, that softness, that easy to manipulate - put a shiny thing in front of him and watch him fetch - nature was going to make it that much easier to get what he wanted now. So, he wasn't going to bemoan a fate he can't change, especially when it serves his purpose in the long run. Agent Burke, he was going to be a problem though. One James would have to remove pretty quickly.

Seeing the service was over, it didn't take long for his presence to be registered by the two men standing side by side not twenty feet away.

"Sam!"

James ducks and runs. He didn't expect that brassy a move, but of course this is his kid, he was going to have to expect the unexpected. His plan for Burke would have to wait.

His plan had been working perfectly. Getting the email wasn't a surprise after the pursuit at the funeral. The effort he'd put into forcing a low profile was paying off, the kid was desperate enough to meet his demands to keep the FBI in the dark. Soon he'd have the kid exactly where he wanted him. Or so he thought-

When the buzzer sounds, James cautiously lifts the hand set and doesn't speak, but that doesn't seem to matter.

"Sam, Special Agent Burke FBI." James rears back, he can't believe this guy. "I'm Neal's friend and handler."

Forming a quick plan James grabs the gun he keeps hooked in his waist band, taking up position he presses the buzzer to release the door, using the same paranoid persona that has so far worked on Neal.

Burke eyes the gun the second steps inside. Smart guy. Obviously, a lawman through and through. James almost respects that.

"You must be Sam."

James returns the wary look, part of his act, but also not so far from the truth. Neal is putty in his hands at the moment, but this guy, this guy could unravel everything.

"Come on in."

James leads them into the dining room, Burke makes directed small talk designed to gain intel. Sharing Sam's ex-colleagues' words was especially well played. He doubts Burke has actually spoken to anyone who Sam had been closed to, beyond Katherine of course, otherwise there'd be no need for the subterfuge.

"You investigated me." He makes it sound like a statement, but he really does need to know how far Peter Burke is digging, because eventually a rock will be overturned and the shit will hit the fan.

"I investigate anyone who comes into Neal's life." Burke's expression doesn't change, "Especially when its tied in to murder and conspiracy."

James can't help but feel a smirk growing, if circumstances were different, if he was the man he'd been thirty years ago, he could imagine getting on well with FBI Agent Peter Burke. But that's a man he hasn't been for a long time, right now he needs to know, is Neal really willing to do what's asked of him, or has he been conning him this entire time?

"Did he send you?"

"No, he doesn't know I'm here."

Perfect, James walks off. This could actually work to his advantage. The final nail in the FBI coffin.

"You're running around behind his back. You sure that's in his best interest?"

"He doesn't want to break his word with you and involve the FBI."

"With good reason Agent Burke," very good reason, he struggles to hold back a grin and hands over the water glass.

"Who are you afraid of Sam?"

James plays the 'in the dark' card, makes it about avenging Katherine, though he calls her Ellen because that's how Burke knows her. Burke as predicted offers his help, asks they work together, asks him to talk to Neal to make it happen. He makes it sound like it's his goal too, but James knows they're both lying. Burke wants in because Neal wants in. They both have their own agenda's and ulterior motives. His is the evidence, but James isn't quite certain about Burke's.

"He doesn't get that I'm trying to protect him."

James listens to the speech. The one law-enforcement official to another was a good line. And if he really was Sam then he dares says it would have worked. But Burke is appealing to the wrong man, and a little of James thinks he knows it to.

"I understand. He's your asset." He can't help but comment, wanting to minimise the relationship this man shares with his son.

The look of worry he can see in Burke's eyes now he's stood before him, it's not dissimilar from the despair which radiates of Neal every time the subject of involving the FBI is brought up. James wants to ignore it, but it's there and it makes him so…

"Yeah, that's part of the arrangement." With those final words Peter Burke takes his leave, not giving him a chance to put a word to his feelings or offer a rejoinder.

Watching the door close an inkling of doubt infects his brain, James knows he's lost this round. In more ways than one.

He'll give him this, Peter Burke was a smart man, but he's also a desperate one. For him to come looking behind the kid's back, clearly, he's not weakened the bond in these two enough. Extreme measures were needed. Something that would be quick, painful, and ensure their relationship shattered at their feet, making any chance of a reconciliation a distance prospect. The evidence box could be anywhere after all and he needed time to find it. He needed Neal to find it.

Thoughts of Neal, of his son, bring forth that inkling of doubt in a massive wave. Theirs is not a traditional CI-Handler relationship, Burke has let Neal into his home and personal life. No CI had that kind of material over their only link to staying out of jail, it would be career suicide. If he goes through with his plan he's knowingly destroying what appears to be his son's strongest bond… when he inevitably disappears again, he'll be leaving Neal with no one.

No. He can't look at it that way. He needs to focus on what matters. The greater good. That meant finding the evidence and ensuring none of it gets out. Katherine left her things to Neal, that meant she'd left the evidence to him too. Probably her plan all along. Not satisfied with breaking up his marriage and destroying all hope of regaining his family. If Neal found out the truth about his old man… well let's just say, along with the aim of staying out of jail, he quite likes seeing the wide-eyed wonder he remembers so well. Neal may know a lot more than James is comfortable with, but he hasn't renounced him yet. Replaced him, possibly, thinking of just how much investment Burke has in Neal and vice versa. But while the truth is still unknown, James Bennett holds a special place in his boy's heart. Even if his only way to connect with Neal is as Sam, James feels he will have to live with what he can get.

With his goal square in mind James decides now's a good time to make a phone. Let Neal know his handlers stepping out of bounds. Break the kids trust in Peter Burke once and for all.

James showed up at Neal's place after giving Peter at the FBI enough time to try - and fail - to rebuild what he lost. Pretty sure from what he was seeing that he'd reached his goal. Whatever the relationship between his son and Burke, it was irreparably severed.

"It's just a question of whether or not I work alone." James asks, needing absolute clarity before moving forward.

"I think we've got everyone we need in this room right now."

There it is. The question asked and answered, without hesitation. The kid was finally saying what he wanted to hear. No FBI. Perfect. James starts to smile, pride in his accomplishments. And something else, the jealousy he didn't know he felt until now was easing too. A double win.

"No suit?" The little guy with no name sounds surprised.

"No Peter."

James doesn't think he sounds too happy about it, but Neal leaves little room to pry. No Burke meant no one to challenge him, Neal would believe anything he said at this point and frankly the little guy couldn't hold his own against an army of flies. When Neal starts talking excitedly about the taking the tracker from the convention James realises he's getting a glimpse of the kid he missed grow up. How many times had his boy excitedly shared his thoughts or ideas with another person? Those lucky sons of bitches got to see the spark in his eyes, hear the lilt in his voice. He's missed so damn much.

Later the next evening, nursing his bloodied nosed and aching bones, he's sitting out on the balcony contemplating time lost when Neal walks in. James had heard him coming up the stairs and quickly grabbed the newspaper, wanting to hide his face before it revealed too much.

"You holding up?"

"Trying to. Any leads?" He asks to drive the conversation onto a topic of his choosing.

"We'll know who we're dealing with soon enough."

Kid's cell rings before he can dig further. The spark he'd seen in their earlier exchanges was gone. What's also gone, is Neal's anger towards Burke. He seems complacent now. But it's a fake sense of ease. Something's going on…

"You okay?"

Neal hangs up on the caller and turns, face pale and eyes glistening. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" But James knows what, that bastard Burke has finally dug up what James had tried so heartily to hide.

"That you're my father."

Neal's eyes are shining brighter than ever, but not with the light of excitement or thrill of the con like he's seen so far.

"Why did you lie to me?" The words are shouted, tears barely held back.

James has to accept the guilt he feels, he wouldn't be human if he didn't. Whatever anyone may think, it wasn't his plan to hurt anyone, least of all his own kid, but sometimes there were casualties no matter how hard you tried. Pushing everything down, so as not to disturbed any of the latent emotions still lingering near the surface from the lie he's been living, James follows Neal into the kitchen. Ignoring the way the kid's chest heaves and his eyes scream distress, James focuses on the question and the photo thrust in his face.

Burke bursts in not twenty minutes later and interrupts his narrative. Shame, he'd had a good flow going. Actually thought the kid was starting to feel sorry for him. It's time for a change of approach, with his intent and secret discovered, dictating rules to these two isn't going to wash. If Burke is the man he thinks he is, appealing to his sense of mercy is key.

"I understand you have every reason not to trust me right now, Burke." He stands and assumes a position of surrender; pretty sure the FBI Agent would just be looking for any chance to shoot him.

Suddenly the conversation is between him and Burke, and James is at a disadvantage. Neal wants to know about his dad, and James can use that. Peter from the FBI on the other hand is much more level headed. He wants to protect Neal. He tries to save his skin by reminding them he didn't lie, they assumed. But that bites him in the ass when Burke brings up Katherine. Neal's been standing at Peter's side, looking conflicted and scared and hurt, but as soon as Peter mentions Ellen his gaze hardens, anger focused on him.

James closes his eyes, defeated. "No."

Smug bastard Burke just nods, let's Neal make the accusation.

"So, you lied to Ellen too?"

And just like that all the good will he's built up, the trust from the kid… gone. Destroyed by the goddamn FBI. Only way to go now is to be honest. He's desperate. That evidence box is the only thing standing between him and a life sentence thanks to some omitted details in his first confession on which his WITSEC deal was based, and he'll do everything in his power to get it.

It works, for the most part. Burke gives Neal permission to fill him in. That rankles, but he can't afford to show it. The amount of information Peter has gathered in such a short time is a surprise. Knowing Flynn's boy was involved in Katherine's murder? Well that's not what he expected. Meant she wasn't killed for what she had. Or maybe she was and like before there was someone higher up pulling the strings. It made him angry that his life is once again being torn apart by this goddamn family. He needs to leave, now. Before he said or did anything he might regret.

"I'll be in touch."

James doesn't see the look Neal gives him as he walks out. Correction. He does see it, but the emotion behind it doesn't register. That's how he's survived all these years. James leaves and doesn't look back.

About three weeks go by without too much movement on the evidence box, but between him and the kid, things were back on track. Like everything James does in life, he worked the circumstances it to his advantage. Luckily for him, Burke was on his side this time. James didn't doubt for second the whole coming together routine was merely to insure Neal had no compulsion to go behind his back. Anyone would think Burke was an expert kid wrangler the way he played the game so cleverly. To the outside observer, he came off as merely wanting to help. And as James got closer to the kid, sure he started to feel… human again. Like a dad. But the reality was he need that evidence now more than ever. Neal was determined and when they got it, well it wouldn't matter what relationship they had. The truth would be his undoing. He needed that box and he needed Pratt out of the picture. It's that drive, that desperation which had him pushing and pushing, until Neal pushed back. It's that altercation which had him standing on the Burkes doorstep, hoping Peter Burke was as reasonable and open minded as he claimed to be.

When the knock sounds Peter opens his door a crack and forces his body into the gap so their visitor can't get even a look into his home.

"What do you want, James?"

Bennett is no fool. He steps back, the picture of guilt and regret. "Is he here?"

"I think you know he is, otherwise you wouldn't be." Eyes narrowed, chin tilted up, Peter doesn't back up or lessen his glare on his late-night visitor.

"Look I went back to his place to apologise and," James sighs, changing tactic when it's clear Peter isn't going to soften in anyway. "Well where else would he go with that thing on his ankle?"

"How about prison? You seem pretty intent on sending him back there." Peter quips, breaking his promise to El not to antagonize the situation. "Oh, wait, this someone who can put a hit on the Irish mob - Neal probably wouldn't make it through the transport!"

James had the nerve to grin, daring to rationalise. Giving him a spiel that amounted to - You don't know what it's like.

Peter had had enough. Throwing the door wide open he steps out into the dark night, forcing James further down the steps to the sidewalk.

"You know what? Unlike you, I don't know what it's like to be locked up, but I've got a pretty good idea what it was like for Neal for four years and I'd think being his father you wouldn't want to put him back there."

"He can help."

"No." Peter is aghast. "He can't. Not in that way. But judging by the way he showed up here tonight I'm guessing he already told you that."

"I lost my temper." James shrugs. "I came to apologise."

"Peter, it's okay." Neal appears at the open door behind them. Elizabeth right on his heels, looking like she completely disagrees.

Peter too disagrees. It is most definitely not okay. But he respects Neal's choice and side steps to let James pass and walk inside. Before he can cross the threshold, Peter catches his arm, fingers pinching flesh hard enough to entice a wince, he whispers in his ear.

"I don't care how old he is, you touch him like that again and I'm going to make you pay to the full extent of the law."

James nods needlessly, and Peter let's him past.

Their unwelcome guest is standing alone in the dining room by the time Peter calms himself enough to walk back inside. Neal is waiting for him by the stairs, fidgeting nervously and looking fretful, black eye fully visible despite the ice El had readily applied. All it takes is smile and warm hand pressed into the small of his back to calm the nerves and bring back a hint of the confidence Neal exudes daily.

Standing side by side, they face James together. A proud smile spreading slowly across his face, Peter wraps his arm around Neal's shoulders, sending a possessive glare James' way. He can see from the disappointment Bennett's trying so hard to hide whatever plan he had in coming here, he knows it isn't going to work. Despite James' despicable attempts to break apart the only stability this kid's had since running away from his mom over a decade ago, he and Neal are partners, and no one will ever change that.

A/N thanks for reading and all the reviews!