White collar –Prison Break Chapter 5

Peter stormed through the corridor to Neal's cell followed closely by Jones. It was late, all the prisoners had been locked in their cells and Peter should have been on his way home to spend some precious time with El and Satchmo but instead he was here to deal with Neal's latest hair-brained scheme.

"Caffrey" he called briskly stopping outside Neil's cell. Neil was lying on top of the sheets his eyes open. He rolled off the bed and stood by his bunk. The black eye was starting to fade but there were shadows under his eyes Peter noticed.

"There's some sort of family emergency, there's a call for you in Governor's office" Peter told him unlocking the door. Neal nodded and waited in the correct position while Peter unlocked the door and then calmly walked towards the Governor's office sandwiched between Peter and Jones.

The Governor was there when they arrived, looking a little confused at this invasion, but left them alone when Peter promised to update him afterwards in exchange for allowing them to debrief Neal alone now, leaving the three of them alone. Neal dropped into the chair by the Governor's desk. Jones took up position by the door, arms crossed, like a real guard Neal thought to himself smiling. Peter on the other hand paced, like he could walk out his frustration, he looked tired too, Neal thought with sympathy. Neal knew Peter often didn't sleep well when his agents were undercover. Peter felt responsible for all his agents, he actually cared. It was one of the things Neal respected about him and why he wanted to solve this case for him.

"A breakout isn't part of the plan. Our job is to put criminals into prison not let them out" Peter told Neal bluntly trying to contain himself.

"I know that Peter" Neal told him calmly.

"Why have you changed the plan?" Peter asked with forced calm.

"I haven't. We need to find hard evidence. Pietre is not stupid, he wasn't going to just make me part of his gang and show me all his books, or not anytime soon. He's obviously got them well hidden or they would have been uncovered during the cell searches you organised, we have to get him to expose himself." Neal explained.

Peter pursed his lips into the expression Neal recognised as his thinking face. Neal rubbed his eyes which were gritty.

"I don't think I'll need to actually break him out" Neal offered.

Peter laughed sardonically.

"I don't think the other guards will take that into account when they are trying to shoot you for escaping" Jones chipped in.

"If you can't get the evidence safely we should cancel the operation. Safety has to come first." Peter told Neal.

Although Neal knew Peter wasn't blaming him, the accusation that he had failed still stung.

"Peter, listen we can't afford to drop such a high profile case. Besides do you really want to just walk away and let them get away with this?" Neal asked Peter shook his head

"My plan will work." Neal assured him.

Peter and Jones exchanged glances, Jones shrugged as if to say 'it's up to you boss'.

"Let's hear the plan" Peter told Neal.

Neal let out a breath in relief that he hadn't realised he was holding.

"I don't suppose we can get some coffee?" he asked hopefully. Peter made an amused humph noise and nodded at Jones to rustle up 3 cups for them.

It took a few hours before Peter was satisfied that the plan would work. They put Neal back in his cell and Peter and Jones briefed the Governor that their investigation was proceeding and should be resolved within a week. Then they both logged out of the prison and stopped by the van which was serving as their mobile office during this operation. Diana was there but getting ready to go home herself, the other team was there to cover the recording equipment during the night and would contact them if there were any problems.

Peter took his two lead agents to one side to discuss the day's events.

"What do you think?" He asked them. Peter relied on the two of them to give him a different perspective on the situation. The final decision and responsibility was his, but he wasn't stupid or arrogant enough to think he always had the answers.

"It's risky, but if it works it gets us everything we need" Diana told him honestly. Peter nodded and looked at Jones who nodded

"I don't like the idea of organising a breakout for someone like Dubrek." Jones told the others "but the idea of letting him get away with it is even worse."

Peter and Diana nodded.

"Okay, I'll let Neal know he can go ahead tomorrow. Let's all go get some sleep, we'll be back early tomorrow and I've got a feeling we're going to need our rest." Peter told them. He opened the door to the van and climbed out to find Mozzie waiting for him. He groaned at the sight of him as Mozzie's appearance on a case was never a good sign.

"Mozzie" he acknowledged.

"We need to talk Suit. Alone" Mozzie told him glaring at Jones and Diana who were climbing out of the van after Peter. He nodded at them to go on without him. He stepped a distance away from the van with Mozzie and took out his earpiece at Mozzie's instance before the shorter man would say anymore.

"What's this about Mozzie?" Peter asked

"I'm worried about Neal" Mozzie admitted

"Why?" Peter asked, he was tired, he wanted to go home and Mozzie had a habit of testing his patience at the best of times. It if weren't for Neal, he would have arrested him years ago, but Peter knew that Neal's loyalty to Mozzie was unquestionable and that for Peter to act against him would be the end of his relationship with Neal. He also knew that the loyalty was not one way and that Mozzie also cared about Neal, just as Peter did, it was just they had very different views on what was best for him.

"He's not himself." Mozzie told him.

"I'll need more than that." Peter told him

"This case, it's getting to him" Mozzie explained. "I saw him today, he was black and blue, but that's not what worries me, he was on edge and he looks exhausted, he admitted he isn't sleeping."

Peter sighed "This is a tough case." He admitted "and we're all tired" he told Mozzie, rubbing his face and trying not to sound defensive. "We have a game plan now, we should be out of here in a few days, he just has to see it through."

"So you're going to let him go ahead with the prison break?" Mozzie asked

"You know about that already" Peter asked surprised, though he didn't know why he was surprised.

"It's risky suit. I know. I know. Neal likes risky, but he doesn't normally rush things. I just want to make sure Neal isn't doing this because he wants to get out so bad." Mozzie told him.

Peter was surprised at the idea.

"I don't think so. He could have been out of there today if he had let me cancel the operation". Peter argued but Mozzie shook his head

"and let you down? No way, that's no Neal, but doing something reckless…" Mozzie trailed off

"That's totally Neal" Peter agreed.

Neal stared at himself in the mirror as he shaved, he was looking a little worn, though the orange outfit didn't help. He missed his suits. His bunkmate gave a loud snore. Neal also missed his apartment. He had finally managed to get to sleep last night around 3am after Peter had finished running through Neal's plan, but woke up again at 6am in a panic, though he didn't remember what he was so scared of and then he couldn't get back to sleep thanks to the symphony of his bunk mates snores above his head. He sighed as he wiped his face dry, he was a restless sleeper at the best of times, being locked up here was not helping. At least if things went to plan he would soon be out of here, maybe as soon as tomorrow night. He smiled at his reflection. Time to put on his game face for the day.

Neal took a sip of the prison coffee, it was revolting but he was glad of something warm to drink and the caffeine. The mood was subdued by normal standards thanks to the lockdown, so everyone noticed as soon as the new prisoners were brought in. Neal looked them over, there were five of them. The first three were clearly familiar with the place, while the fourth was clearly a newbie from his terrified expression. However it was the fifth man who caught Neal's attention, he recognised him, his name was Grant, he was a kidnapper and thug who helped Keller kidnap Elizabeth. Fortunately he didn't think Grant knew him, as Neal had only seen him in person from through the one way glass but Jones had been the one to arrest him with Diana and they had carried out the interrogation.

The good thing was that since Peter was deemed too close to be there since it was his wife he had kidnapped so Grant shouldn't recognise him. Neal waited until he spotted Peter and made eye contact with him to indicate Grant. Peter looked at him, it took a few seconds for him to place Grant but Neal saw his eyes widen in recognition and an uncharacteristic look of hatred appeared on Peter's face. The bad news was he very probably heard Neal's name from Keller and since he was here under his own name, he would have to be very, very, careful.

Peter had been observing Neal quietly in the canteen before Neal tipped him off about Grant. He looked a little tired but otherwise Peter couldn't see any signs that he was struggling, but then Neal was an expert in putting on a front. Then he had been distracted by Grant's arrival and what it would mean to their plan. He had alerted Diana to stop Jones arriving for the evening shift until they decided how to handle thing. Neal and Peter managed a very quick conversation from Neal's cell while his bunkmate had a visitor. Peter tapped the bars

"So, this bringing back fond memories?" Peter asked trying to get a feel for how Neal was

"At least I had my own cell in Sing Sing" Neal replied

"not getting on?" Peter asked

"He's okay, apart from the snoring" Neal told Peter.

"Stopping you sleeping?" Peter asked relieved that it was something so simple.

"Let's just say I'll be glad to get back to June's" Neal confirmed. "I'll give Pietre the bank account details today" so you can start the trace on the money. Mozzie's working on the signal interrupter, I think he'll have it tomorrow we can make our move tomorrow night."

"What about Grant?" Peter asked

"He shouldn't recognise either of us and even if he hears my name, it's a big prison." Neal said confidently.

"I'll speak to the Governor and try and get him transferred to another wing" Peter told Neal. "Jones won't be here to back us up so I don't want you speaking to Pietre when I'm not on shift." Peter told him. Neal nodded his agreement easily. A little too easily for Peter's liking.

"I mean it Neal" Pietre is a psychopath, if something sets him off, like I don't know, Grant mentioning how you help out the FBI he might just kill you." Peter told Neal sternly.

Neal gave him the patented Caffrey grin and said the three words which too often preceded trouble:

"Peter trust me"