To Sign Or Not To Sign

Summary: ASAC Reese Hughes needs to decide whether or not to sign off on Agent Burke's latest report. Set in Season Two, after 'Point Blank'.

Written for the October drabble prompt, 'unexpected.'


Staring down into the bullpen, Hughes could tell the conman knew he was being watched. Given his experience, Hughes would've been disappointed if he hadn't learned to read Caffrey's tells, even though they were extremely subtle. Hughes suspected most would be missed by all but him and Burke. That's what made Caffrey a good conman, an asset in undercover operations.

Maintaining his usual stony expression, Reese turned and went back to his desk. He picked up the pen he'd dropped on the report awaiting his signoff. Twirling it, he hit play on his computer to re-watch the video of Agent Berrigan leading Caffrey, hands cuffed behind his back, into the holding cells. There was no mention of this in Burke's report on Fowler and the Russian Museum incident, nor anything that would warrant it, or even the week's house arrest Caffrey had just returned from. He should question Burke, demand an explanation. That would be expected.

What was unexpected was that a seasoned hard ass such as himself would start to see and care about the young man hiding behind the conman facade. With a flourish, Hughes signed Burke's report, exited the video, and moved on to the next report.