Short chapter, but that is just the way things turned out. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate you all.

Chapter Five

Once introductions were complete, Nathan Clay, Agent Singleton, Agent Elliot and Agent Burke joined the representative from the Attorney General's office to work out the agreement between all the parties concerned. The agreement was presented in the form of a written contract outlining the terms of Nathan Clay's service.

With what he was prepared to offer, Peter knew that he could write his own ticket. He could ask for the moon and would have a good shot at getting it. But he didn't ask for the moon; his requests were few. This was to be a simple tag and trace; he would provide the location of the initial shipment and the means in which to track it. The information gathered could be used document the key distributors of the Cordero organization in three states: a primary step in bringing it down. In addition to immunity for himself, he wanted assurances that there would be no attempt to find his transportation team. They were not, he told the men, drug traffickers; they simply owed him a favor and he had called it in.

He also wanted to be allowed to keep the compensation Cordero provided; this brought a flurry of questioning glances among the men, but Neal didn't volunteer the amount, or the kind, of compensation he was expecting. The third term was that his name is kept out of all paperwork and a guarantee that when the operation was over, he was free to walk away with no strings attached. He would not, he informed them, be available for any kind of testimony. He had a life to return to in Paris.

The terms were simple and unsurprising; Until the final one. His final term was that Peter Burke remains in a support only role-as he had already been designated-throughout this operation and any that resulted from it. He could assist in coordinating field operations, but he was not, under any circumstances, to directly participate in any of them. In no way, shape or form was he to be in any potential line of fire.

"What the hell?" Peter burst out, his expression one of disbelief. "You know this is a case I'm working."

"In a support role," Neal said innocently, "You told me the FBI had limited your role in the investigation because of your personal involvement; This is just to ensure that you don't use me to wiggle your way back into a more active role."

"Are you kidding me?" Peter stared at Neal, ignoring the glances passing between the other occupants of the room. "You think you can put me on desk duty?" He snorted at the gleam of amusement in Neal's eyes. After all the times he had been relegated to desk duty, he was obviously enjoying the reversal. He swallowed the next words before they could exit his mouth; He had almost said, "Who do you think you are?"

Peter looked at his counterpart at Organized Crime. "Don, you asked me in on this case before Mr-" he paused at the name "Clay ever showed up with this offer. I appreciate what he's willing to do" he met Neal's eyes defiantly "But he cannot dictate the way the Bureau," he looked at Elliot, "or the DEA, handles this or future operations." His angry stare fell back on Neal. "He can't tell us who can or can't participate in field operations."

"It's called Terms of Service for a reason," Neal returned, undaunted by Peter's anger. "And without this term there will be no service." Neal reiterated, shrugging nonchalantly. "Your choice."

"Look, Agent Burke," Singleton intervened, trying to diffuse the obvious tension in the room. "You were a victim of a crime perpetrated by these people; an agent with personal involvement is not allowed to be involved in the investigation. A supporting role is more than most agents could expect. This," he motioned to the paper before them, "is just saying what the Bureau has already said."

Neal looked like it didn't matter either way, but Peter knew that in spite of what he was saying, he couldn't back out at this point. He already had the shipment on the way. If he didn't follow through, Cordero's people would kill him, and if he did, without immunity, he could be arrested for drug trafficking. Angry at being blindsided, Peter's first instinct was to call his bluff and make threats. That was the way he had always handled a defiant Neal Caffrey.

But as Peter's eyes drilled into Neal's blue ones, readying for his tirade, he didn't see defiance. Neal met Peter's anger with a coolness that told him that nothing he could say, or threaten, was going to change the terms. There was a confidence in his face that even Peter's displeasure hadn't shaken. He glanced at the other occupants of the room. He already knew how this was going to play out. Neal could name his terms, and he had done so. Peter swallowed his tirade, let out the breath he had been holding, and sat back in his chair. Singleton sent an apologetic glance at Peter, and then he and Elliot agreed to all of Neal's terms.

No one asked his reasons for any of his terms; no one asked what Cordero had promised to pay him. No one asked what his people could owe him worth smuggling sixteen and a half million dollars of drugs into a New York harbor. No one even asked how they could accomplish such a feat. No one asked anything. Those trifling details didn't matter.

The Cordero Organization was a key supplier to New York, Pennsylvania as well as several New England states. It was estimated to have generated over 500 million dollars in illegal revenue over the past four years. If the plan worked, the DEA could gather enough information to take down the Cordero organization and dismantle drug trafficking rings from Philadelphia to Boston. Nathan Clay was going to hand them the means to do just that and were willing to give him what he wanted in return.

Peter had sat silently as the deal was signed and sealed by the Attorney General's Office. When Neal's eyes met his over the table, Peter hoped to see some regret or an apologetic expression but there was none. Surprisingly there wasn't even a victorious glint in the blue eyes. Peter found himself looking at his friend as if he were a stranger. He had spent years learning how to handle Neal Caffrey, but dealing with Nathan Clay was something else.

Neal was out of the room the minute the deal was inked, with a promise to be in contact with Elliot later in the day and only a passing glance in Peter's direction. No wonder he hadn't wanted a ride to the meeting; he knew they would not be leaving it on good terms. Peter followed him out and caught him before the elevator he had buzzed had made it to the floor.

"One of your Terms of Service? Already written out?" When Neal didn't respond, Peter continued. "From the minute you showed up at my door you planned to cut me out of this."

"You are here, Peter, you are not cut out." Neal didn't turn to face Peter but kept his eyes on the unopened elevator door. "You're role hasn't changed from what you said it was before; a support role."

"Yeah, but my role is up to the Bureau, and me, to determine," Peter could hear anger creeping into his voice, "not you in some contract." The doors opened, and Neal stepped inside. When he turned, he met Peter's displeasure with the same detached coolness as before. Peter slapped his hand over the doors preventing them from closing. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Neal didn't flinch under his gaze but met his eyes steadily. "I was thinking about Elizabeth," he replied, "and your son and what losing you would do to them. I can do this," He paused and shook his head slightly. Finally, there was emotion in Neal's eyes; a plea for understanding. "But I won't do it if it puts you in danger."

Peter felt his anger drain away. He released his grip on the elevator door and stepped in beside Neal. His friend had risked his life only months before to bring him back to his family, and he wasn't going to be the one to put him in harm's way now. Peter didn't like the interference, but he did understand it.

Peter chanced a look sideways at Neal. "You could have given me a heads up instead of trotting it out in that meeting."

"Well Peter," his smile was slight. "There was no use upsetting you before I had to."