July
Peter's phone rang, it was an American number. He answered, expecting someone in the art crimes division, "hello, Agent Burke speaking?"
"Peter, it's Diana. Is Neal with you?"
"Uh, no, I'm in Japan."
"Dammit. His tracking anklet was deactivated about sixteen hours ago. The company had some kind of outage in their notification system for the last twenty and didn't call us, we didn't know until I checked his tracking data."
Peter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Maybe this had all been too easy, too perfect.
"You tried calling him?"
"Goes straight to voicemail."
"Did you call El?"
"Not yet."
"Were you working on anything big?"
"No, I put in for vacation for this week, it's my anniversary. We were going to travel, but they have me on standby for another op."
Peter frowned, "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll call El and call you right back-"
Peter stopped, as there was a knock on the door of his temporary office. Elizabeth was standing there, in an Interpol office, in Kyoto.
"Hang on a moment."
Peter got up, and opened the door, "honey, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, well, I thought I'd surprise you."
Peter stared at her, then said, "where's Neal? He's here, isn't he?"
"Outside," said Elizabeth.
"Diana," said Peter into the phone, "he's here."
"In Japan?"
"Apparently."
"Too bad," said Elizabeth, "I guess Diana will just have to come get him. During this lovely street festival. The least I can do is hand you this ticket so Christie can come too…"
Elizabeth put a sheet of paper down on Peter's desk. It had plane and hotel reservations for two, in a honeymoon suite.
Peter sat down, and sighed heavily, "Diana…"
He explained, as Elizabeth came around the desk and leaned down, kissing him on the side of his head.
Diana was silent for a long moment, and then said quietly, "Christie has always wanted to go. I could never make the time."
"Okay. Well, I guess I'll see you in a day or so."
Peter hung up and looked at El, "did you help shut down the entire tracking company's database?"
El blinked at him, "no."
"It was all Neal?"
"No, I mean, I helped Neal, but that's not what we did. We just copied the USB key and deactivated his anklet for the flight."
Peter stared at her, "you're absolutely sure Neal didn't do that, as well?"
"I mean, it's Neal, I can't ever be completely sure of anything."
Peter got up, and strode quickly out, followed by Elizabeth. Neal was there, right outside the door, sitting on a suitcase with a huge grin. He faltered slightly when he saw Peter's face.
"Did you take down the tracking database?"
Neal blinked in surprise, "no?"
"I'm not kidding. If you did, and I make the call I'm about to make, I can't protect you."
Neal shook his head, "no, Peter. I only deactivated my anklet. The database is down?"
"It's been down for twenty hours."
Neal shook his head, "no, I had nothing to do with it. Twenty hours ago I was in the FBI building, with Jones."
"Did Mozzie?"
"I don't know why he would. I didn't even tell him we were doing this. I didn't need to do that to get here, and we both have enemies being tracked by them."
Peter looked at Elizabeth, "have you been with him the whole time since the anklet came off?"
She nodded.
"He didn't use the bathroom that whole time?"
She got a sheepish look on her face, "well, on the plane, but…um, he wasn't alone."
Neal coughed, and Peter looked at him, he shrugged, "I had trouble getting up from sitting for so long, so she gave me a hand getting there, and the flight attendants may have assumed I needed more help than that...so we, uh, took advantage…"
"You had sex in the airplane bathroom?"
Neal shrugged. Peter sighed. He looked at Elizabeth, "so he really hasn't been alone?"
She shook her head. Peter looked back at Neal, "do you have any idea who might have done it?"
Neal shook his head again. He struggled to his feet, reached out to Peter, took Peter's hand, "we copied the USB key days ago, when I was consulting for that homicide guy. He left it with the lanyard sticking out of his briefcase. I could have run. I could have done whatever I wanted. All I wanted was to surprise you, and get Diana out of working through her anniversary."
Peter bit his lip, "what homicide guy?"
"Agent Rhys."
"He left it where you could find it?"
Neal blinked, "yeah. You think he was setting me up? Covering up something else?"
"I don't know."
Peter pulled out his phone and called Diana back.
"Yeah, Peter?" She responded.
"Neal says he didn't take the database down and I believe him. He got the USB key to his anklet when he was consulting for Agent Rhys."
"Agent Rhys… hold on."
There was some rustling on the other end. Diana came back on, "he's not in his office. I'm telling Hughes."
"Okay. Call me back when you know more."
"Will do."
She hung up. Peter looked at Neal, "Rhys isn't in his office. She's going to tell Hughes."
Peter looked between the two of them, thinking. Someone had set Neal up. Someone who knew him well enough to know he would take the USB key.
But he hadn't run. He was right there in front of Peter, on the other side of the world, without an anklet. Had he been impulsive, thrill seeking? Yes. But to the tune of an unscheduled vacation and joining the mile high club.
He hadn't run. And that had saved him.
Whoever had done this hadn't known that he wouldn't run. Though, Peter himself hadn't know that for sure until today.
"Peter?" Asked Neal.
Peter realized he had just been staring at the younger man as his mind churned. Peter stepped in, and hugged him.
"I'm glad you didn't run," whispered Peter.
Neal patted his back, and then held Peter at arm's length by the shoulders. He looked between Peter and Elizabeth, and said softly, "what would I run to that would be better than what I have?"
Peter kissed him, and Elizabeth put her hand on Neal's shoulder.
About half an hour later, Peter's phone rang, it was Hughes.
"Sir. I know it doesn't look great, but Neal-"
"Hold the speech, Burke. Diana explained, and we reviewed the security footage. It seems that Rhys was passing classified documents to the Irish mob. Two of their family members are missing, their anklets were cut during the outage. He disappeared. We have agents out looking for him now."
Peter sighed heavily.
"Do you need me to come back to New York?"
"No. We have agents here on it."
"Okay. What about Neal?"
"I understand that travel arrangements have been made for Agent Barrigan and her partner. She is heading to you, and I've authorized her to stay there for the week. Just keep Caffrey out of trouble until she gets there."
Peter let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. "Thank you, sir."
"Burke."
"Yes?"
"Thank you for handling this relationship like adults and taking care of the conflict of interest without a word from me. But you still have to fill out a close and continuing relationship form even if Caffrey is no longer under your direct supervision."
"Uh, yes, sir."
"Have a good week. Give my best to Elizabeth...and Caffrey, I suppose."
Peter hung up and looked at Neal and Elizabeth, both watching him expectantly. Peter explained, and Neal bounced in place like an excited kid.
"We do have to fill out some paperwork though. Diana told Hughes directly about our relationship."
Neal deflated somewhat.
"Is it a problem?" Asked Elizabeth.
"Doesn't seem like it. He thanked us for handling it maturely and said he sent his best to both of you, actually."
"Wow," said Neal.
Diana and Christie arrived the next afternoon. Peter, Elizabeth, and Neal waited for them at the airport. Neal saw them first, and waved enthusiastically. Diana stalked straight to him and grabbed the front of his suit, making him take a step back into the wall, "two things, Caffrey."
Neal glanced at Peter, who let it play out with concern on his face.
"Never do that again."
Neal nodded, holding his hands in the air, cane in the right one.
"Okay, okay, I won't."
She let go, and then smoothed the wrinkles in his jacket she had made, and patted his chest, "and thank you."
Neal slowly lowered his arms, and his guard, "you're welcome."
Christie dragged on Diana's arm, "oh come on, babe, be nice."
Diana rolled her eyes, "he's fine."
"I am," confirmed Neal, laughing.
El hugged both Christie and Diana, "so good to see you two."
Peter walked to stand beside Neal, and put his hand on Neal's shoulder. Neal looked at him, inquiringly.
"You did good."
Neal looked shocked.
Peter shook his head, "keeping you in line is Diana's headache now. I'm just glad to see you."
Neal leaned into him, put his arm around Peter's waist. Peter put his arm around Neal's shoulders, and kissed him. He said into Neal's lips, "you had sushi for lunch, didn't you?"
Neal giggled, "yes."
Peter kept kissing him anyway.
"Ahem," said Diana.
Peter let go of Neal and faced Diana, Christie, and Elizabeth, blushing furiously. Neal laughed at him and kissed his cheek, "Peter you're adorable."
They met at the entrance to the hotel later in the night, and ventured out for dinner. They found a small family establishment, around the corner from the hotel. Neal, seated between them, ordered for Elizabeth and Peter; Christie and Diana each ordered for themselves.
"What did you get me?" Asked Peter.
Neal just grinned at him, "do I know you?"
"Yes."
"Then trust me."
Peter settled himself awkwardly, kneeling on a cushion on a raised seating area. His legs were just a little too long to sit comfortably fully on the cushion. He looked at Neal-it would be a long walk home for him after kneeling for an hour or more. Neal was sitting with both legs to one side, with less pressure on his knees and thighs.
Neal noticed Peter checking, and elbowed him gently, "I'm fine. Just enjoy dinner."
"Okay," agreed Peter.
A sizzling plate of grilled meat and vegetables showed up for Peter, with a sweet, salty, garlicky sauce. Peter took a bite, and kissed Neal's cheek, "love you."
Neal laughed and kissed his cheek back, "you're an easy person to please."
The next evening they went down to the front of the hotel to walk through the street festival. The night was warm, even Neal traded his suit for a short sleeved button down and linen slacks. Peter just wore a T-shirt and long shorts. Elizabeth had disappeared with Christie while Diana napped in the hotel room.
Diana came down, dressed relatively similarly to Peter, "Christie and Elizabeth back yet?"
"Not yet," said Peter.
"Wait, maybe…" said Neal, looking down the street. Two women were getting out of a cab.
"Oh," said Diana softly.
It was Elizabeth, and Christie, in beautiful kimono. Christie's was orange with cream flowers. Elizabeth's was dark blue with lavender and grey waves.
"Wow," said Peter.
Neal looked between the two agents, and giggled at their lack of eloquence presented with dressed up significant others.
Elizabeth came up to Peter and Neal, gripped one each of their hands, "hey guys."
"Hey," said Peter, still sounding impressed.
"Hello," said Neal, grinning and admiring the garments up close.
Diana looked down at her practically clad self and back at Christie, "well I underdressed."
El smiled at Neal, as his initial look of attraction transitioned into fascination with the kimono. He looked up at her, and at Christie, then back at Elizabeth, and over at Peter. Peter raised his eyebrows as Elizabeth held back a giggle.
"Peter, this kimono probably took over a year to make."
Elizabeth grinned at him, "I thought you'd appreciate it. Christie collects them at US estate sales. We went to one before Neal and I left New York and we found these. She figured out what artist made them, and we went by just to see the shop and how they were made."
Neal was absolutely enthralled by the garments, "you'll have to show me the shop tomorrow."
They headed down the street together, the three women ahead, Neal and Peter behind, as the sidewalks were quite narrow. Soon there were crowds enough they just went in line. They reached a corner, and the street itself was open for people to walk in, so they were able to regroup. It was hot, humid, people were pressed close around. Diana, Neal and Peter were taller than the majority of the crowd so at least Neal could catch some cooler air above the people.
They stopped for hot sweet rice balls on sticks with a sticky sauce. They got grilled oysters handed to them on even larger shells. They got cold, salty cucumbers. They passed a tall spired structure absolutely draped in tapestries. Some of them were centuries old, Neal itched to get a closer look at the work.
They passed another structure, this one shaped like a boat. Another, this one had a moon at the top of its spire. Neal went to the stall, and bought all of them fabric and bamboo fans with moons and kanji on them, though there were people passing out plastic and paper fans with advertising on them on nearly every corner.
From each float they passed, a combination of drums, bells, and flutes sounded, a different tune from each float. From every building speaker down the streets a constant, quiet rhythmic chiming followed them, fading and rising as they passed the speakers.
Elizabeth broke away from Christie and Diana to fall back with Peter and Neal. She wrapped her arms around Neal's waist, and kissed him, "I'm so glad we pulled this off. This is amazing."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked around at the scene. However, Neal could have sworn part of it was the same look he or Mozzie got after a con well played. Elizabeth had been enthusiastically on board with copying his anklet's USB key on her work computer during his lunch break, using a fake passport to get him on a flight to Japan, having enticingly elicit if cramped sex in an airplane bathroom, all in supposed service of just getting Diana out of working her anniversary. Neal's affection for her swelled. So did his amusement at Peter: the supposedly grounded, down to earth, law abiding, basic baseball and beer loving FBI agent who picked two people who were anything but.
