Holding On

AN: This includes NCIS spoilers. I, however, am not confining myself to any timeline with this series, even though the events mentioned are recent .

I love writing about these two. So this time, Tony is in New York just to 'hang out' with Neal. Tony will meet El. And Neal and Tony will have a little 'jam' session. Since both actors have good voices, I can see their characters playing guitars and singing 'Eagles' songs. (If you can't see them doing an 'Eagles' medley, insert your choice for band and/or singer here.)

Also, FYI, in this series I am letting Tony be a lot younger. In reality that is a 9-year difference in their ages. Matt (Neal) was born in 1977, and Michael (Tony) was born in 1968. In my story there is only about 2 year's difference, and I am going with Matt's current age. So Neal is 34 and Tony is 36. I also mention the Burkes here. And, again, going with the actor's ages Tiffani (Elizabeth) was born in 1974 and Tim (Peter) was born in 1963. So, there is an 11 year age difference there.

Unless the actor is, obviously, playing someone older or younger, I like to go with the actor's actual age to gauge the age of the character. I know most of you, out there, really don't give a rip one way or another. You just like reading the stories. But for those of you who pay attention to those things, that's my reasoning.

I am using the picture of Tony in the newspaper article in the S9 episode 'Rekindled' here. I loved the story and I love anytime NCIS writers show another dimension to Tony's character. For those of you who have not seen the episode or do not remember the picture, Tony is wearing his Ohio State hooded sweatshirt. He has the hood up and his carrying a little boy on his back. You can't see Tony's face. And, in the article and caption, he is not identified by name. I make a reference to the episode 'Baltimore' too. Enjoy! Jackie

Peter liked the picture. He had had it up on his wall for years. It served as a reminder of what the work, law enforcement, was all about. Doing something heroic and not expecting the spotlight for it. Just doing what you know has to be done when it's needed. Peter had read the whole article; he knew that a young girl had not survived the fire. He knew what the rescuer in the picture had had to make a heart-wrenching choice. But to Peter that was the essence of his job, sacrificing something and then making sure the sacrifice meant something in the end.

Neal stepped into Peter's office. He was Peter admiring the picture, as he had many, many times before. He wondered if he should tell Peter who it was he was really looking at. Or was the mystery of not knowing part of why Peter liked the picture so much?

Neal cleared his throat, getting Peter's attention. "You have GOT to tell me what is so fascinating about that picture."

Peter smiled. "It just reminds me why I do what I do. The sacrifices that we make are all worth it in the end."

"But a little girl dies." Neal replied.

Peter just looked at Neal. Peter had not put the article up, just the picture. He wondered how Neal got his information. But he dismissed it quickly, thinking Neal had just read the article, for himself, at some point and time.

"I hear the little boy who was rescued now works as a fire chief in Baltimore. That probably wouldn't have happened if it had not been for that fire. And the fact a complete stranger ran in and saved him. He made the sacrifice worth it. They both did."

"Have you ever even wondered who it was?" Neal asked.

"Yeah, sure." Peter replied. "I wonder a lot. I wonder what he's doing now, that type thing. But the mystery makes it interesting too."

Neal nodded and smiled. He could understand the appeal of mystery. He also loved it when he knew things Peter didn't. It happened so rarely.

They then got down to discussing their next case. In a couple of days it would be Saturday. It was the first Saturday they had not been scheduled to work in about a month, and Neal was looking forward to having a whole weekend to himself.

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Tony's plane landed in New York at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon. By the time he got through security and hailed a cab it was closer to 3 p.m., near the end of the work day. And since it was Friday, near the end of the work week, Tony had timed his arrival perfectly. He had wanted to let Peter know he would be in town for the weekend. And he wanted to say hello to Diana and Jones.

Tony took the elevator to the correct floor. He stepped off. He looked into the office and what he saw made him smile. Neal had to be bored stiff. He was making doing his Origami again. This time it was an elephant.

"Hey, Kid." Tony said, walking up to Neal's desk. "Could I have a special order, maybe a unicorn, or a jackalope?"

Neal looked up, in surprise, at the voice. He then got up from his desk and gave his friend a huge hug.

Neal then looked at Tony. "Did you call me and I missed it?"

Tony shook his head. "Complete surprise, I thought that since this was a long weekend…. You are off Monday, right?"

Neal nodded. "Peter and El usually invite me over for their Labor Day cookout."

"Sounds like fun." Tony replied.

"Really?" Neal asked. "So, this is not case-related at all?"

"No, Gibbs is back in D.C., probably nursing his bourbon and working on his boat." Tony replied. "And anyway, I've got to meet this woman. El sounds like quite a character." Tony replied.

"She is." Neal said. "She'll like you."

"Why do you say that?"

"You and Peter have a lot in common." Neal replied. "Plus, I think June will be glad to see you too."

Tony just stared at him.

"She's asked me about that 'nice Italian boy' several times." Neal stated.

"She does know I'm a fed, right?' Tony asked. "I didn't think that she was too fond of law enforcement, in general."

"I think she'll make an exception for you."

"Ah, the 'DiNozzo charm.'"

Neal shook his head. "Get over yourself." He said, grinning.

"Where is everybody?" Tony asked, not seeing Diana, Jones or Peter.

"Diana is down in the file archives. Jones is in the van, helping another team, and Peter is at one of his monthly mandatory department head meetings."

"And you're left here all by your lonesome." Tony feigned sympathy. "Don't they give you 'convict busy work' to do?" He said grinning, his green eyes shining.

"There is no such thing as 'convict busy work.'" Neal said, feigning insult. "I had a stack of case files to go over. I'm finished."

"No more crime in the White Collar division!" Tony said, still grinning. "Well, aren't you just a cape and a pair of tighty-whities away from superherodom?"

Neal couldn't help but laugh. "Smart-ass."

Tony was having too much fun with this. He knew Neal didn't mind his teasing, so he asked. "What would your superpowers be?" Tony paused, thinking. "Oh, I know you could throw your ball and chain at people and trip them up. Or…or you could…."

Neal looked at his friend. He grinned. He as so glad Tony was back in town. He didn't realize how much he had really missed Tony until Tony showed up.

Tony stopped, mid-rant, and looked at Neal. "What?"

"I'm just glad you're here."

"You wanna hug it out?" Tony asked, grinning his arms spread wide.

Neal burst out laughing and backed away. "Get away from me!" Neal paused. "Come on." He started up the stairs to the upper level.

Tony didn't know what Neal was up to, but he followed anyway.

Neal was not sure Tony had seen his picture the last time he was in Peter's office. Neal wanted to know for sure. He led Tony into the office.

"Don't think Burke's gonna like you in here." Tony said, looking around and wondering why Neal had brought him in here.

Neal pointed to the picture on the wall. "I finally know why he has it on his wall." Neal paused. "Did you notice it the last time you were here?"

Tony shook his head wondering how he had missed it if it was hanging where it is now. "I'm not sure how I missed it."

Neal nodded, knowing that he meant how it was prominently displayed.

"What did you mean…you finally know why he has it up there?" Tony asked, looking at Neal.

"He looks on you, on that picture, as inspiration. It epitomizes what he does for a living." Neal explained.

Tony smiled, even though the memory of the choice he had made was still painful. "That incident changed my life, too."

Neal nodded. He knew the whole story of how that night Tony had decided to be a cop.

"I have really been wanting to tell him who it is in that picture." Neal confessed, seeking Tony's permission, in a way.

Tony nodded.

"But now…since you're here. I didn't know if you wanted…." Neal didn't finish with 'relive that.' But Tony knew what he meant.

Neal and Tony had made it back down stairs by the time Diana came back into the office. Her hands loaded with files.

"Sorry, Neal, it took me longer than…" Diana then realized that they had company. "Well hello, Agent DiNozzo."

"Hello, Agent Barrigan. Good to see you again."

Diana smiled broadly. "NCIS have a case for us?" She genuinely liked Tony. There was just something about him that made him seem like an old friend, although she had met him only a short time before.

Tony shook his head. "Just here for the extended weekend."

"Well, if you need someone to take you around the city…." Diana offered.

"What am I?" Neal asked, somewhat insulted.

"A guy with a 2-mile leash." Diana retorted.

"Which you love to remind me about." Neal replied.

"Hey, if the FBI Tracking Anklet fits." Diana replied, smiling at Tony.

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Jones returned just moments before quitting time. He gave Tony a hearty handshake. He also liked Tony. He saw a lot of the same qualities in Tony that he saw in Peter. He guessed that that was why he liked Tony so well.

Peter arrived back White Collar just in time to check in with Diana and Neal, and grab his jacket before heading home.

"Agent DiNozzo…" Peter said warily, his hopes of a free weekend quickly vanishing. "…to what do we owe this pleasure?"

Tony smiled and shook his head. "There's no case. I just wanted you to know I would be in town over the weekend. I'll try to keep Neal out of trouble, no guarantees."

Peter smiled. He was very relieved he would actually be off. "You're here the entire weekend."

Tony nodded. "I go back Monday evening."

Peter nodded. "Good, you can come along with Neal to our annual cookout. It's just a few people from work and some friends. Tomorrow night at 7 p.m."

"Sounds good." Tony replied, agreeing to come.

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Tony and Neal were at the Burke's door about 45 minutes before the cookout began. Peter and El were in the kitchen getting the burgers ready for the grill when Satch started barking.

"Our first guests have arrived." El said as she quickly washed her hands. She pushed Satch out of the way to open the front door.

El stepped aside. "Come in, Neal. And you must be Agent DiNozzo." El looked at the tall, handsome man in front of him. Peter's description had not done him justice.

"It's Tony." Tony said, flashing his million-dollar smile. "And it is really nice to meet you." Neal had said she was pretty. But color of her eyes and the tone of her skin, combined, almost gave her an ethereal quality. He could not help but stare, even for a moment.

"You can call me, Elizabeth, El for short."

Tony smiled again. He presented her a foil-covered plate. "I hope you don't mind, Elizabeth. I've always been taught you never show up empty-handed." He raised the foil and showed her a platter of homemade cannoli.

"Homemade cannoli?" El asked, smiling.

Tony nodded.

El took the platter and lead the way to the kitchen. Tony and Neal followed. "Peter's out on the deck. He's getting the grill ready."

Neal nodded and he and Tony went outside.

Peter looked up at his guests and smiled. "Glad you came, Tony. Neal."

Both men nodded. "What can we do?" Neal asked.

Tony ended up in the kitchen with El. Neal was outside with Peter.

"I think Neal orchestrated this little 'set-up.'" Tony said as he helped El slice tomatoes for the burgers.

El smiled. "That he did." She agreed.

"You know, you don't have to help, if you don't want to." El offered. She didn't feel right about putting her guests to work.

"I don't mind." Tony replied. "Neal said he told Peter that we were a lot alike. He said you and I would get along well for that reason." Tony paused. "I want to thank you both, for everything. Neal is…he's a good person. He's got a good heart. He's…."

El stopped working and looked at him. She nodded. "He just a little impetuous and he doesn't always think things through."

Tony laughed and he and El continued to prepare the food.

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Peter and Neal stood outside looking in the window watching Tony and El talking and laughing.

"What do you think those two are talking about?" Peter asked.

"Well, Tony is telling Elizabeth that I orchestrated those two being in the kitchen together, which I did. El's telling Tony he doesn't have to help if he doesn't want to. Tony told her he was glad to help, and then they started talking about me." Neal replied.

Peter looked at Neal, surprised.

"Mozzie taught me how to read lips."

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Tony looked at Neal and smiled. He then turned so Neal couldn't read his lips. "El, Neal's reading my lips. I'm gonna have a little fun with him." Tony paused. He turned back, and started speaking random words. "Cow. Duck. Horse. Chicken. Goat."

Neal stared at Tony, completely confused.

El ducked her head so Neal would not see her laughing.

Tony then signed to Neal. "Stop lip-reading." He then turned to El and explained. "The forensic scientist I work with, her parents are both deaf. She taught me sign language. I taught it to Neal."

Neal signed back. "You're just a regular comedian."

Tony smiled.

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The rest of the guests soon arrived. Tony was a big hit. Hughes spent a fair amount of time talking to him. Hughes had also been a cop in Baltimore at one time. And he still missed some of the guys he had worked with. Tony had, as it happened, worked with some of the same guys.

Neal was in the middle of a story about Tony when Tony came and sat down. "…and he's running after this guy screaming. 'I was a college athlete, and I'm wearing tube socks. You won't get away.'"

Both Diana and Jones looked at Tony laughing. Peter and El were grinning also wondering what being a college athlete and wearing tube socks had to do with catching a suspect.

Neal looked at Tony. He had a huge smile on his face.

"Did you think he would literally 'fall down' laughing?" Neal asked.

"Hey, whatever works." Tony replied. "And I would have got him too, if that car hadn't hit me."

Neal just stared at Tony. He didn't know about that part.

"I ran out into the street." Tony explained. "The bumper struck me in the lower leg. I had a bruise there the next day. It knocked me down. I got right back up and took off running."

"You got hit by a car?" Neal said, still not believing his ears.

"The bumper 'tapped' me. It was fine, Neal. It didn't hurt me." Tony explained.

Neal shook his head. Anytime somebody says they got hit by a car, you imagine the worse. The fact Tony walked away amazed him.

"It did kind of mess up 'the leg' a little though." Tony admitted, referring to the leg he broke in a football game in college at Ohio State. "I had a little problem with my knee after that."

"You're that DiNozzo?" Jones asked. He remembered the game well.

Tony nodded.

"Wow. That was an incredible game." Peter added. He had seen the game also. He had, also, not made the connection.

"So, I guess that ended your career, huh?" Jones asked. He was sad for Tony, Jones had recognized how good a player he was.

Tony told a few stories from his college days. He then asked Peter a question. "I noticed you have a guitar." Tony said, referring to the instrument sitting in the corner of his living room. "Would you mind?"

Peter shook his head. Peter got up and got the guitar. He handed it to Tony. "You play?"

Tony took the guitar. "I learned to play as a kid, guitar and piano. I minored in music in college."

Tony began to strum the guitar. Then he started to sing. It was a familiar Eagles song. Everyone was pleasantly surprised that Tony had a good voice. They were doubly surprised when Neal joined in on the chorus. They were surprised by the strong, rich voice. And the harmony sounded incredible.

The night lasted a lot longer than expected, Tony and Neal providing the night's entertainment. It was midnight before anybody knew it. The party ended shortly thereafter.

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Tony and Neal managed to wrangle another invite for Sunday night diner at the Burke's. They gladly accepted. Tony told the story of the picture that Peter had had for all those years in his office. It was nice for Tony to be able to tell the story. Tony never mentioned the picture. He never made the connection for Peter. Tony told his story in detail. But he didn't include his most recent encounter with the victim. Tony could tell by the look on Peter's face he had not make the connection to Tony and the picture. And that was okay. Tony had just wanted to tell the story. He hadn't wanted a lot of questions. Neal had not even asked him many questions over the years. Neal knew the event weighted on Tony's mind.

"So," Neal asked Peter as they sit in his office the next morning. "…now that you know who's in the picture. Does it make a difference?"

Peter stared at Neal for just a second, surprised. He made the connection.

The End