Treaties
Walking back into the office, Chuck observed the reactions of the team. Apparently, they had decided to take advantage of their absence to put together a large card for Neal to express their sorrow for what he had been put through. I don't think he is ever going to be treated with the same distrusting manner by any of these agents ever again.They have finally gotten a glimpse of the man behind the masks. He was pleased to see the difference from when he had first entered the office only two long days before.
Neal paused to see the card and he ducked his head at some of the words written inside.
Reaching out to place a hand on Neal's shoulder again, Peter gave him a light squeeze before reminding him. "Beckman is back to finish up the cases. Let's get these over with and then we can talk with the team."
Nodding his head, Neal put the card down and the trio continued on up to the conference room where the leaders were waiting for the final reports to be submitted.
Taking their seats, the meeting began.
Beckman started with a forewarning. "This is extremely confidential, I didn't even know about this before doing an investigation for similar situations. Nothing is to leave this room, so I must have you sign these agreements before I can go any further."
Noticing the documents in front of them, Peter, Hughes, Neal, and Chuck each skimmed them quickly before signing their names.
With that taken care of, Beckman continued to give a brief summary of what had happened in relation to Agent X. "Several decades ago, one of our engineers worked with his friend to create a similar programmed personality. It was intended to infiltrate some of the deepest criminal circles for the duration of three months. However, something went wrong. The scientist and his handler, who happens to the designing engineer's wife, were trapped and the whole operation has been in the wind ever since. Some rogue MI6 agents from the project combined with the criminal element they were supposed to be infiltrating, and they have been working to get control of the Intersect technology ever since." Switching to other files, she continued. "Keller got involved with the group through his criminal activities. And Kramer, he got started with the group by receiving a bribe to look the other way when they started testing some of their Intersect technology in art. From there, he got more connected by taking further bribes, information on their competitors to improve his closure rate, and eventually the promise of a perfect CI that he could have programmed to his wishes."
"Is she… my mom?" Chuck asked in shock once she had finished.
Nodding her head, Beckman silently told him yes.
Returning the favor, Neal put a hand on Chuck's shoulder. "We'll solve the problem and bring her home Chuck. Let's get this finished and then we will see what can be done to help."
Taking over while the younger agents absorbed the reveal, Peter finished the verbal report. "The organization picked Neal up from the morgue, revived him, placed the program into his head, and placed him back into prison with the intent of taking… control of him when his sentence was over. Since Neal was only suppressed, he escaped to help Kate and came to the FBI for protection knowing that something was wrong, despite being unable to put it all together by himself. Then with our recent travelling case, we were fortunate when my phone broke down and we were directed to Chuck for repairs. Finding the team, we have removed the program and tracked down those responsible to close the case."
Finishing the rest of the formalities, Beckman oversaw the reports being filed and that the case was closed before she took a seat.
Switching gears slightly, Hughes directed them to start laying out the case on the treasure situation.
Taking the lead again, Peter broke down the basics of what had happened. "Linking off of the Intersect case, Keller was looking to take Neal's support system away so he started with Mozzie. By telling him that Neal wasn't who he thought he was, he was able to plant enough doubt for Mozzie to research for himself. Finding that Neal was likely an agent who had been programmed, he didn't want to get entangled for fear of getting caught up into the situation. Pursuing a long standing dream of his, he proceeded to clear out Neal's paintings, steal the treasure, replace it with Neal's works, and has likely left the country to hide out as a king on some remote island where we couldn't touch him if we ever manage to find him. Then later, Keller took the opportunity to try and take away Neal's support in the FBI… particularly targeting me." Peter paused slightly after stating that. It would have worked too if we hadn't run into Chuck and the team. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he finished. "I was already suspicious of Neal because of the painting scrap, but when Keller told me that he could prove Neal's guilt and then he kidnapped Elizabeth… his plan very nearly worked."
Jumping in to finish the report, Neal took over as Peter was obviously upset. "Since I was only suppressed, I used some of my skills to lure Keller into a trap and fought him before we got what we needed to arrest him. Although Peter and I weren't exactly getting along, we continued to work together until the travelling case revealed the truth. Once we had gotten my memory back, we returned to New York and have been investigating with the assistance of the team."
Working together again, they complete all of the necessary paperwork to have the case all but closed. It would never be completely closed, not unless Mozzie were to be apprehended at some point.
With the unpleasant tasks completed, Chuck moved to ask about what he could do for him mom.
Holding her hand up, Beckman had more to say. "Based on everything that has been coming to light recently, it has been decided that there needs to be some ranking agents in the field to perform as filters to keep anything like this from happening. As a result, you are both being promoted." She paused briefly to lay some documents down before Chuck and Neal. "Your new roles as the Director and Assistant Director of operations means you will need to be in frequent contact with each other to complete the tasks that are to be set before you. Because of this, agent's Hughes and Burke will act as support and provide any means necessary to keep your activities secret agent Larkin."
"What are we going to be doing?" Neal asked the obvious question.
"Overall, you will be overseeing the protection of all of the Intersect projects. Because some of them already have problems, like the Ring and Volkoff Industries, you will also be working missions with the intent of taking these organizations down." Turning to Chuck, she added. "Although it isn't going to be immediate, it is hoped that this will free your mother, agent Frost, in the long run and help to keep Orion safe from the many opponents that are currently pursuing him."
With her portions of the work completed, Beckman collected her things and left to return to DC.
Remaining in his seat, Hughes made a brief comment. "Having been in the field as long as I have, I have collected a lot of contacts and heard a lot of stories. Let's just say that I hope this doesn't bring those to life in the office here, but I do look forward to working with Bryce Larkin, Charles Carmichael, Orion, and Frost…" He smiled knowingly at the younger agents in the room.
Laughing slightly, Neal scratched the side of his head. "I don't want all of the betrayal mess to come here either, but I'm glad you know who we are."
Moving to collect his files, Hughes redirected the conversation to the next step. "And now it is time to go talk to the team." Passing Peter one of the files, he sent him a smile before going to drop his stack into his office.
Following Hughes' lead, the other agents moved to put their files away before collecting together on the landing to introduce the team to the new arrangement that they could expect.
Starting the story, Chuck introduced himself to the room at large. "As most of you have heard, my field name if Charles Carmichael, but you can call me Chuck as that is a part of my real name. Neal and I met in school, but not the level that you have probably concluded. He was my college roommate. We studied computer engineering together and he also studied accounting while competing in track. When senior year came around, he saw that I was in danger, so he got involved and protected me. Deciding to trust him, my father contacted him and enlisted his help in classified government work which took Neal's life on a roller coaster. Although he is also working to protect his own family, he has ensured my family's protection for years, even to the point of having technically been killed twice. I can't go into specifics, but after the last time he was killed, he was taken by the group that Kramer and Keller associate with. In their hands, he was programmed to forget everything about me, his real past, and he was set loose to be a criminal legend under their control. Since he himself was only suppressed, that eventually back fired on them. Now he has been freed and is fully able to remember his past, so don't be surprised if he starts being his nerdy self again in addition to an element of the familiar Caffrey… he was programmed off of his criminal reputation after all." Chuck finished with a teasing smirk that caused Neal to roll his eyes.
Smiling as he took the next part, Peter stepped forwards. "Neal, put your foot on the railing."
"What…why? Neal questioned.
"Just do it." Peter ordered. "Your other foot." He added with a smirk when Neal went to put the wrong one up.
Starting to realize what was happening, Neal's eyes opened wider as Peter explained to the office.
"As you all now know, Neal has been working with the government for some time now. Based on that and the other circumstances surrounding recent discoveries, his sentence has been commuted and he is now a free man." While proudly pulling the key out of his pocket, Peter proceeded to open the anklet. "Neal didn't know this was coming, but he has already stated the plan to stick around so his new contract will be ready to sign on Monday." Having said his piece, he put his hand on Neal's shoulder as a brotherly gesture of support, but also to help the surprised man keep his balance as he put his foot back down. Once he was standing, Peter pulled Neal into a public hug to celebrate.
Taking his turn, Chuck shook Neal's hand to congratulate him, and then he pulled him into a hug where he whispered. "Congratulations, things are finally working out for you."
Patting Chuck on the back, Neal answered. "Thanks, but I could say the same for you. After all, you now know where you mother is too."
As they stepped back from their hug, Peter had one more announcement. "Anyone who wants to come, there is a celebratory dinner at my place tonight. El has already got it set up so we had better get going."
Closing down the office for the evening, the team moved to transfer the celebration from the office to a more comfortable environment.
Arriving at the Burkes first, Peter led Neal and Chuck inside. "El, we're here, and most of the team is coming along behind us." Peter called as he hung up his jacket.
Coming in with a smile, Elizabeth greeted them happily. "Congratulations Neal!" She wrapped him in a hug.
"Thanks El. I take it Peter messaged you earlier?" Neal asked.
"Of course, you took down the people that hurt you, cleared your name on the treasure situation, and got the anklet removed… anyone of those are reasons to celebrate." She smiled.
"Don't forget that both of them got promoted to Director and Assistant Director of operations." Peter added with a smile as he threw his arms acrossed their shoulders in a friendly fashion.
"You're an agent?" Elizabeth was surprised.
Throwing Peter a look for telling Elizabeth, Neal shrugged gently. "Yeah, I was recruited my junior year of college."
Shaking her head to dispel her reaction to the surprise, she congratulated him again and included Chuck this time. "Then congratulations to both of you!" She smiled happily.
"I was promoted for our new taskforce, but these two still out rank me by a long shot." Peter ruffled their hair proudly before turning to answer the door. Letting people in, he greeted the main members of his team, June, and Sara.
Straightening their hair, Neal and Chuck just smiled despite the slight glares they threw Peter's way. They enjoyed the friendly interaction, but did he really have to mess with their hair?
Once everyone had entered and had their food, Peter updated June and Sara on Neal's new status, as far as the public information was concerned. After he had finished, there was a brief applause as everyone congratulated him again or for the first time.
Bowing in a comedic fashion, Neal started joking. "Thank you, thank you very much. It's nice to finally get my due as the heavy hitter for this partnership." He was looking sideways at Peter as he added the last part for his reaction.
Giving him an unexpected reaction, Peter made a quick move to place Neal in a headlock. He wasn't going to reveal his fighting skills for the team to see, so Peter had the upper hand for the moment. "Say uncle if you want me to let you go."
Putting on a show, Neal pretended to struggle stubbornly while he whispered. "I am so going to take you down for this the next time we spar." He teasingly threatened.
"I'm not worried. You'll also show me how to defend myself from whatever move you use, so it's not something that you can repeat… eventually, I won't be so easy to take down." Peter stated confidently.
Knowing that Peter had him, Neal eventually gave up and said it. "Alright, I give up. Uncle."
"Who is the heavy hitter of our partnership?" Peter pushed.
Smirking for their audiences benefit, Neal gave him the point. "You are, oh mighty agent." Neal playfully mocked him.
"Caffrey…" Peter threatened to the audience's delight.
Once everyone had left and Chuck was heading home, Peter dropped Neal off for the night as the perfect end to an extremely long week.
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