Lunch Break

Taking her turn next to Bryce's bed, Sara sat and studied him. Deciding to talk through some of her confusion, she figured he might as well be her sounding board, despite the unlikely chance he would answer her.

"I still love you, you know? But it isn't the same." Mentally tracing the contours of his face, she tried to figure out what had changed.

"You aren't the character I fell in love with, but you are the person I knew. The excitement of a con artist drew me, but the criminal ultimately repelled me." Running her thumb over his knuckles, she realized her confusion was caused by the differences between himself and his character.

Deciding to focus more on what she learned about the real him, she thought it might help her to get her emotions straightened out.

"Now that I have learned more about the real you, there are some definite changes. For one, you have the criminal skills and aren't above using them, but you tend to keep within the legal boundaries while retaining cover. You have always had hidden talents, but a nerdy computer engineer and accountant weren't any I expected… neither was espionage or combat for that matter. But really, those aren't such big changes that I can't see you in them, and there are similarities to be considered as well. Like you genuinely wish to help people, and are willing to give your life in the process." She tried to sort his character and real person into two separate people and compared them.

Then she burst into tears as she realized what had changed, "I love you more."

Her self preservation no longer had anything to fight. She had built up walls to protect herself from the charming con man, but they came crashing down before the heroic agent. Holding his hand in hers, she leaned over onto the bed and cried against his side. It was the closest she could get to hugging him around the machines, and she needed the comfort of that proximity to deal with her newly discovered feelings.

Taking a break for lunch, Peter was accompanied by Jones and Diana as they grabbed some food and went to the hospital for a brief visit. Settling into the waiting room with Elizabeth and June, the group shared their food and updated them on what had been going on in the office.

"So Bryce isn't going to be your consultant anymore?" June questioned. She wondered what was going to become of the young man once he woke up.

Peter answered, "I don't know what is going to happen when he wakes up. He won't be our consultant working off his sentence, there won't be an anklet or radius, and nothing requiring him to remain in the city. Chuck doesn't know what is going to happen with Bryce's assignments either, but he does assure me that Bryce will try to visit us when he can." The promise of visits was good but not as good as a daily working partnership. Bryce would be missed when he left.

"Sarah and I were talking about their lives back home. She was cautious not to say too much, but she did tell me several basics. Apparently, their team works regular jobs like the retail and food industries in between missions to keep their schedules more flexible, but also to provide a cover story for their income that doesn't reveal their secrets." Since no one seemed to be grasping exactly what she was aiming at, Elizabeth continued. "What if Bryce worked as your consultant? He could use the cover story of some case with the FBI for his first death, transferring offices would give him a reason for resurfacing in New York, and it would give him a public job in between missions that he could flex around his other work because you know about it."

Loving the idea, Peter hoped it would be possible. "It would depend on if the agencies could come to an agreement. He would be a black ops agent consulting for White Collar and not allowed to be active on American soil, but as a consultant maybe it could work…" There were several potential complications that could defeat the idea altogether, but it was something to hope for. "Bryce would also have his say in the matter too, and he has never been fond of the mortgage fraud side of our work." The thought crossed his mind that Bryce might not want to work with him in comparison to the exciting world of black ops.

"Bryce would work with you in a heartbeat," Sarah said. She had been passing by with food for her and Chuck, so she overheard their conversation. "After Chuck and I came here, I made sure to read through the case files and field reports. I have never heard of Bryce valuing anyone else as highly as he does you and Chuck."

"And that goes for me too," Jonathon said as he peaked into the food bags to see what was in them. The smell of food was making his stomach rumble.

"Do you want anything?" Elizabeth offered.

"No, I'll get my own lunch shortly, but I was trying to figure out what smelled so good," Jonathon explained.

After sharing what they had ordered, Elizabeth asked what Jonathon had meant. "I thought you were one of his closest friends too?"

"I am, but there is something different about fellow agents that a lawyer can't compete with. You are his brother's in arms, while I'm more like a half brother. We have a lot in common and an extensive history, but there is something missing that keeps us from being as close as he is to you two." He tried to explain why he didn't have the same kind of friendship as they did. "On the flip side, that bit of distance has prevented me from having to deal with some of the things you have gone through with him. For instance, I always knew who he was, and since I have been his lawyer, he gives me forewarnings on some of his missions so I can manage his private life around them."

Reassured on the friendship front, Peter still wondered if it would even matter. Looking at Sarah, he asked if she thought it would be possible. Although she didn't have a certain answer, she gave enough reason for him to hope. Understanding her point, Peter knew government work was never as simple and direct as pairing two friends to work together.

"If it helps, Chuck will advocate for him to be assigned here with you in between missions, and to be teamed up with us for missions as much as possible. That way he gets to work with his friends, and we can all keep an eye on him," Sarah added. It wasn't something she and Chuck had shared too widely, but it had been a part of their discussions while on guard duty.

"Don't forget, he does also have a company to run in DC, so there are times he has to make meetings or take trips down to the city. Since he has neglected much of that over the last several years, there is a backlog of things for him to catch up, so he will be busy for a while. Although I can run a great deal of his life, I'm not him to be able to run all of it," Jonathon added in.

Between the friends, they were working to figure out how to help Bryce and looking out for his best interests. Meanwhile, he slept on down the hall.

After finishing his food, Peter walked back with Sarah while the others talked behind them. She was rejoining Chuck, and he was going to see Bryce.

"How is he?" Peter asked.

"Slightly better, the doctor said his stats were up a little and his overall condition seems to be improving. Although she was cautious, she was beginning to think there might be the hope of him waking up." Sarah was happy to share. It was good news for all of them.

Feeling better, Peter couldn't help but stand a little straighter and more relaxed as he smiled slightly. "That's the first good news I've heard about him since we brought him back to life."

She also seemed to be a bit more relieved. "I think things are finally going to work for him when he wakes up. Although his family doesn't appear to have changed any, his friends all know the truth and will be here waiting for him."

"We will be," Peter agreed as they reached the door to Bryce's room. Greeting Chuck briefly, it wasn't long before he left the man to his meal and went in to see his friend.

"Hey Bryce, we have your name cleared on two of the cases and the team is working to clear your name of the other two. Neal Caffrey is officially closed, so there isn't an anklet or a two-mile radius waiting for you when you wake up, but hopefully, if you want it, a consulting position will be. We have talked about the possibility and the teams will present it to each of our bosses to see if it will even be an option. If you can hear me, please at least consider it." He gently ruffled Bryce's hair in the hopes that the touch would reinforce his hope to continue working with his friend.

It was a long day, but rather productive.

Jones' efforts to scour June's neighborhood paid off and he managed to find several images of the man who had provided the forged vase. Combining the images, he was able to get enough to run him through facial recognition.

Getting the results back, Jones was pleased to have discovered their culprit. "I got him, Peter," he slapped the file down on his boss's desk.

Picking it up, Peter flipped through the file. "He is a known criminal with a record as a forger. Combine that with the video of him handing the vase over and we have enough to arrest him. Do you still have your warrant for the maid going through? Maybe she can verify how many items have been switched out and explain what is going on here. That might give us more of the story while we wait for your warrant on him to go through."

"Yes, and I'm supposed to be leaving to execute the warrant in a few minutes, but I thought I would share this with you first," Jones explained.

"Have you found anything suspicious in the maid's background?" Peter wondered. How had they missed so much about her?

"No, she still has a spotless background. Either this is her first time aiding in a crime, or she has never been caught before." Jones knew Peter would be relieved to know there had been nothing to find.

Leaving to bring the maid in, it didn't take long before Jones returned with her.

Setting her up in the interrogation room, Jones started to ask her questions. "How do you know this man?" He laid the picture out in front of her.

"I have never seen him before…" He laid the pictures of her with him out on the table. Her story was blown before she could even form it. "Okay," she gave up trying to hide the truth. Hanging her head, she agreed to talk. They knew most of it anyway.

Repeating his question, Jones started again.

"He is my boyfriend. We met at a dance several months ago…" she continued to generalize their courtship. His art skills had impressed her and she wanted to help him become a real artist. In an effort to help him afford the supplies, she agreed to switch random pieces of her boss's art for his fakes. June wouldn't miss what she appeared to have, and he would be able to sell the originals for profit. Once he had enough money to support them, they were going to get married.

With a full confession, Jones slapped the cuffs on her and led her out for another teammate to transport to jail while he went to get her accomplice. Stopping by Peter's office on his way again, he shared the good news. "There is still some work to do, but that is another case closed. That only leaves the treasure case to be finished."

Smiling, Peter was proud, "Good work, Clinton."

While Jones went to make his second arrest for the day, Peter and the rest of the team continued to work on the Larkin or the treasure cases.

When the time came for them to go home for the evening, they had the worst of the case concerning June closed and were ready to make good progress on their other cases.

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