5C: Reactions

He'd worked at the FBI for years. Every day was the same as a security guard. No one was stupid enough to mess with a building full of armed agents. That's why one day stood out to him.

It started normal, simply watching the feed and lines as the agents and office staff started filtering in for the day. A lot of people in suits and office attire gets boring quickly so he kept himself focused by reading their faces. Who were they, were they the same people he saw daily? Nothing flagged until he saw Neal Caffrey, a local consulting informant, enter wearing a big blue wig.

Doing a general glance, nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. Watching, Caffrey slid his ID and the system showed him. Then he went through to the elevator lines. Shaking his head, he let it pass, Caffrey was agent Burke's problem. If he was pranking someone or up to something silly, Burke would deal with it.

Settling back in, he resumed his general observations.

Maybe fifteen minutes had passed before another blue wig could be seen entering the premises. Watching, he was surprised to see Caffrey's face again. He hadn't left, had he?

Rewinding, the system didn't show a blue wig leaving, just a repeat of two Caffreys entering. The system didn't alert an issue, but this one's ID came through as Colonel James Carson of the NSA. Was there a surprise test or drill of some kind?

Running Carson's ID through his checks, it came back a legitimate ID. Caffrey wouldn't have the access to hack something like that so it must be legit. Maybe they just looked a lot alike and were doing something together? It wasn't April Fool's Day.

Puzzling and researching, he almost missed the third blue wig to enter about fifteen minutes later again. Repeating his process, he still hadn't seen Caffrey leave while the system registered this one as an agent Bryce Larking of the CIA.

A fellow guard approached from the back, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Three Neal Caffreys in blue wigs entering under three different names at fifteen-minute intervals, but not leaving in between? Is that what you're seeing?" He asked to confirm.

"That's exactly what I'm seeing. I've checked, and Neal is in the White Collar office, the elevator, and the back hallways. Do you think this is a test? The other guard added his research.

"Not that I know of," he commented while dialing up the bosses. If something was truly wrong, he wasn't risking his job. Relieved after the follow-up came back, he was able to confirm identical triplets, three agents were in the building, so there was no security threat and as a side note, he and his fellow guard were commended for their observation skills.

Rubbing his hands in a washing fashion towards his friend with a laugh, he eased their concerns as well. "Identical triplets, they're agents so not our problems. Burke can deal with whatever reason they've dressed alike and are wearing wigs."

Laughing, the other guard agreed before returning to his station in the back.

She worked as the team secretary for the White Collar office.

Each morning, she usually arrived with the agents and settled in at her desk. It was her job to answer the phone if no one was available, she helped with the paperwork, and was generally an office-only part of the team. Based on this, she knew everyone but wasn't always updated on case activities.

Her team were great people. They did their jobs and interacted well. Most of them weren't above doing an extra gesture if she needed something from them. That Caffrey though, he was such a friendly flirt that she had no problem interacting with him. If she didn't keep it in mind, she could easily forget his criminal status!

Going about her duties, she was pouring a cup of coffee in the break area when Caffrey joined her. He didn't act like anything was different as he made polite conversation, but she couldn't help noticing his wig. It was bright blue! Beaming a smile, he winked at her and held his finger to his lips.

Unable to help it, she smiled and shook her head as she went to her desk to begin working. Neal remained in the break area so he was obviously not trying to draw attention to whatever he was up to too soon.

A little while later, she noticed that she was running low on staples so she headed for the supply closet.

On her way, she found Neal leaning on the wall looking at his phone. He seemed to be playing a game based on the music it was playing. She was curious and asked what he was playing.

"Pac-Man, it's an old favorite." Again, he smiled and winked at her.

Beginning to feel a little concerned, she decided to let agent Burke know when he came in. In the meanwhile, she had her staples to retrieve. When she passed by again, Neal was gone.

Returning to her desk, she saw Neal walking into the records area. He was still wearing his full suit and wig, but his behavior continued to puzzle her.

Agent Burke hadn't come in by lunch and she noticed that others were also grumbling. What was Neal up to?

When she returned from her lunch, she noticed that agent Burke was sitting in his office, but he was on the phone. Talking to him would have to wait. Besides, the entire office was casting glances sideways at Neal.

It didn't take much longer before Diana sent Price to talk to Neal about a case. Meanwhile, she then sent Jones out into the hall while she checked around the office. A few minutes later, Diana hauled a Neal with coffee over and sat him next to Neal. Then Jones brought the third Neal into the office. With all three of them lined up, everyone realized that they were being pranked!

"Alright, which one of you is Neal?" Diana growled, she wasn't surprised, just not pleased.

Three smiles met her which just frustrated her more.

Preparing to tell them off, she stopped when she heard agent Burke coming downstairs, "Peter?!"

Looking up, agent Burke looked at them. "Ever since we learned that we're brothers, they've been trying to throw me," he easily explained. "Come on you three, this is the FBI, not a circus. Neal, we've got a case." He passed the folder to the one furthest from him directly.

Getting up, Neal took off his wig and moved to go out into the field.

After they'd left the office, Diana turned to the other two. "Peter figured you out, didn't he?" She smirked at their frustrated frowns.

"From the first evening, it didn't even take him a day after officially meeting us!" One seemed puzzled.

"He refuses to tell us anything of how either. No one has figured us out before!" The second one whined.

Amused, Diana was pacified a little. If Burke could tell them apart and annoy them, then it wasn't quite so bad. "Good. I'd rather he told us some of how before you can hide better."

Then the team started to introduce themselves. To keep their secret, the triplets stood and moved about so that they could introduce themselves too but without revealing for sure which was which.

Sighing, she was intrigued to realize there were three handsome men like Caffrey, but she didn't envy anyone trying to tell them apart.

Invited over for dinner and a visit, Mrs. Burke was nervous.

Their adopted son, Peter, had reached out and contacted his biological family so they were to meet his brothers. One was a criminal consultant and they didn't know much about the others. Only that they were identical triplets, their names, and their work. Bryce, the accountant from Washington seemed to talk numbers with Peter, the army one they called Junior loved sports, while Neal had their work as a bonding point. Peter seemed to love them, but how would the triplets respond to them? How would they respond to her?

When Peter opened the door, he was grinning in amusement. "Mom, dad," he greeted them enthusiastically with hugs. Then he stepped back as he helped them with their jackets ad luggage. "I must warn you though; the triplets are dressed exactly alike, down to their tracking anklets. They've been messing with people all day and are frustrated that I can tell them apart, but I won't explain how to them."

Exchanging glances, neither Burke was certain how to handle this.

"They promised that it's only through dinner, and then they'll take the silly wigs off. Then their hair is distinctive and it's easy to tell them apart." Peter encouraged them before walking them into the family room.

Greeting Elizabeth and Satchmo, she welcomed the familiar comforts before facing the three young men lined up for their perusal.

Taking them in, the three young men were well dressed in suits, they stood seriously to attention like they were all in the military, but their bright blue wigs added an almost comical touch. They were generally good-looking, rather handsome, and appeared to take care of themselves. However, that was about all they picked up on initially looking them over.

"We have no idea which is which," they finally had to admit.

Stepping forward, the triplet on one end began the introductions. His name was James Carson, but he went by Junior. "I'm named for our father. However, so that you understand the basics of why we won't be talking about our parents, our father was arrested when we were three and our mother sank into severe depression as a result. Even raised by our mother, we don't know much to say anything."

No wonder they seemed almost nervous, the triplets didn't have much connection to their parents. They were probably also wondering how they'd be received. Taking each other's hands, the Burkes wondered if getting to know these boys would be like unofficially adopting three more sons? They hoped so, they'd always wanted kids but couldn't have any and had only managed to afford to adopt one.

Mimicking the military approach of his brother, the middle one stepped forward. He introduced himself as Neal and talked a little about his work with Peter. Then, he added a surprise, "I'm not supposed to say this, but I have more in common with Peter professionally than my current assignment would otherwise indicate. Because of what happened when we were eighteen, my information is still secretive. Peter knows some, but so he can be more open with you."

Looking at Peter, his sad expression confirmed his knowledge of whatever horrors had transpired. He also seemed relieved, so they were unanimously relieved to have the truth in open and honest communication amongst them.

Feeling sorry for this young man, Mrs. Burke moved forward and engulfed him in a hug. At first, Neal seemed surprised, but then he returned the hug. Beginning to feel a connection, she could understand why her boy loved this young man so much. He was a sweetheart despite everything he'd been through. When she stepped back, Neal's eyes were a little shiny while all of his brothers looked pleased with her reaction.

Moving to hug the first boy, Junior, she felt they all needed some motherly attention.

Finally, she hugged the last one before stepping back to see his expression. Like his brothers, there was some wonder mixed with hope. "Now, you must be, Bryce?" She knew, but she wanted to hear what he'd say.

Nodding, Bryce took a moment before he could speak. "Yeah, I'm Bryce Larkin. Like my brothers, I'm an accountant in DC on the surface, but there is more beneath. We can't tell you much, but we want you to know why we might be evasive sometimes. Peter and Elizabeth, they get to know about things related to our parents, although they can't share, but nothing else. It's too dangerous to get too close too."

Reaching up to touch the side of his face, she could see the depth and maturity in his eyes. This was a hardened agent, a man who had endured hardships since he was young.

Looking up and down the row, she saw that look reflected in all of their eyes. This was a soldier; these were agents, men who fought through the worst so that the rest of them could be protected. She didn't know these boys, but she knew them. They were her boy's brothers, her boys, her young men to protect and comfort. "Would you mind calling me mom?"

With that little question, the air broke, they were able to relax and suddenly it felt like they were all old friends. It didn't matter that the boys still wore wigs or that they moved about, she still knew which one was which.

Going into the dining room to eat, she enjoyed the family conversation, watching her husband begin his own bond, watching Peter and Elizabeth deepen theirs, and most importantly she heard herself referred to as mom by all of her children. Finally, she had the large family she had always wanted!

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