Day 22 of NaNoWriMo! I'm sorry for the short chapter today; I'm spending time with my family, but still wanted to get something out. Today's chapter summary: Peter trying to talk Neal out of going after Diana with an apology. Surprisingly, Diana still accepts.

Neal was on edge. This wasn't exactly an uncommon feeling for Neal, although less common after starting to work for the FBI. But, nevertheless, Neal was on edge and trying to talk himself into courage. His eyes kept darting over to Diana and away again before trying to calm himself down again in a vicious cycle. He took one last deep breath and steeled his nerve. Okay. Here goes nothing. He stood up.

Only to immediately be stopped by Peter hailing him. "Neal. Office. Now."

That was strange. As far as Neal was aware, Diana hadn't told anyone else. And, if she had, he was in serious trouble. But Neal didn't have a choice. He went up to Peter's office, as much as he didn't want to.

"Peter?" Neal asked. "What was that about?"

"What are you doing?" Peter asked, bluntly.

Neal was taken aback for a second. "What do you mean?" He sat down.

Peter gestured out towards Diana and the rest of the office at large. "What are you doing? Diana wants to stab you."

"I know. I wanted to apologize."

"What did you do?" Because that was really the important question. "I thought you two had a truce!"

Neal bit his lip. They did make a truce-although it was more accurately a ceasefire. As long as Neal didn't do anything to Diana, Diana didn't take any action in return. But...Neal had done something to Diana. "We did," Neal answered reluctantly. "And, as far as I'm concerned, I didn't do anything."

"What does she think you did then?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow at Neal.

Neal promptly looked down at the table. "Forged her name so the paperwork got through faster," he shot out. The words were almost unintelligible from the speed.

"What?!"

"I may have forged her name to get things through a little bit faster," Neal explained, slowing his speech to a reasonable pace. Peter gave an incredulous look and Neal hastened to explain further. "But it wasn't anything important, just an information request for a set of cold cases she was already working on. She just hadn't gotten around to signing the papers yet, so I rushed it for her." Neal smiled, as if that made anything better.

"Did you ask her permission?" Peter's voice was reminiscent of an exasperated kindergarten teacher explaining why eating paint was a bad idea. Neal only shook his head. "Did you think for a second that that would be a felony?"

"Technically, it would only be a misdemeanor."

"Does that make a difference for you?" Because Peter knew that was the only thing that would get through Neal's unbelievably thick (at times) skull.

"No."

"Why'd you do it?"

"I genuinely thought I'd be helping."

And Peter supposed that was a reasonable enough explanation. He sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Neal nodded. "I think I do."

Neal left the office, immediately going straight to Diana's desk. He stood silently in front of her desk. Diana shuffled around a few papers before reluctantly looking up at Neal's face.

"Neal." She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms across her chest. "Anything you want to tell me?"

"Yes." Neal swallowed. "I...I'm sorry. Honestly. I know I shouldn't have forged your name. I thought I was doing you a favor, but I should have asked for your permission or even your opinion first. I wasn't thinking and this situation is entirely my fault. I am so sorry. I'll do whatever you think I have to to make up for this."

Diana didn't think she'd ever heard Neal sound so sincere. So it was at least worth hearing him out. "Why did you do it?"

Neal took a deep breath. "I thought I would be helping. I saw you had information requests filled out, only missing a signature. In my mind, it would be helping for me to finish them for you."

Diana hated that that made sense. If she had the same sort of mind as Neal, she probably would have done the same thing. So, she kept questioning Neal. "And do you know why that's a problem for me?"

Neal looked down at the floor. "Because it means that I know how to forge your signature. And, for pretty obvious reasons, you don't want me knowing that." He tried for a charming smile at the end. It didn't quite make the mark.

Diana nodded. "And I didn't sign those yet for a reason. I was waiting until I had a little bit more connection between the cases."

"I really am sorry." Neal's voice was entirely penitent, sounding legitimately sorry about every action that had led him to that point. Or every decision in the past two weeks that had led him to that point.

"I accept your apology," Diana finally concluded with a sigh. "It better not happen again."

"It won't." Neal's voice was full of conviction. He looked up and met her eyes. Both stared for a minute, assessing each other's veracity.

"And I want you to forget how to sign my name."

Neal didn't answer immediately. Diana glared at him. "Okay," he quickly answered. "I'll do my best."

And that was enough, Diana guessed. "Good. Now." She handed him the stack of cold case files he had requested, 'on her behalf.' If he started this, he was damn well going to finish it. "I believe you have some work you took upon yourself."

Neal opened his mouth to protest. Diana, again, silenced him with a glare. Neal swallowed his protests, only answering, "Of course. I'll get right on that."

And then Neal scurried off, happy to be out from under the wrath of an irritated Diana Berrigan. Diana smiled to herself. Neal was a handful, sure. But he was a fun handful to have around.

So, I hope you enjoyed today's short chapter. If you really enjoyed it, leave a review. To those in NaNoWriMo, let's do this! We're on the home stretch! Less than a week left!