Neal arrived at the event sharply at ten AM. He was uncharacteristically dressed in a blue long sleeve shirt, light sweater and dockers and sneakers, to give himself more mobility. He helped Elizabeth set up tables. "I take it the bear is the mascot?"

"Yes."

Real stuffed teddy bears were at each table. There was a large pile of identical ones at the round center table, sitting in a row of enormous plastic bags.

"Let me guess. For the kids?"

"And any guest that buys one bear, has a second bear go out for donation, along with a basket of food, clothes, or school supplies. Some have gift cards. And there's more. They also have stuff back behind that stage to auction off for the charity."

She smiled as she opened the bag. "Now here is the challenge. The bears are going to be stacked into a pyramid.

Neal's eyes widened. "As in, one bear at the bottom gets pulled out, they all fall down?"

"Yes. Except, they have to be secure so that doesn't actually happen." She pulled out a table to sit on the table. "And one bear of each kind goes up here, so from a difference people can see the different options they can choose."

"I get it." He looked around. Her other help, which was one of her main assistance and two other hires were busy setting up tables and buffet tables. "How many were you supposed to have helping?"

She smiled wryly. "Eight."

"Your almost half a crew short."

"We'll manage."

"Well, I'll do need to run and check on your cakes eventually."

"I'll have my fingers crossed. I know it was asking a lot at the last minute."

"I know they'll come up with something."

Neal placed the last of the individual bear baskets on the top table, then turned and started lining them in a circle on the lower one. He glanced at his watch. He'd need to head out soon. His phone buzzed and he paused, one hand on a stuffed toy. He glanced at the ID. "Hey Moz."

"Where are you? I've found this new conspiracy DVD...don't tell me the Suit conscripted your Saturday again."

"No. Actually I'm with Elizabeth, helping set up for an event. She's shorthanded."

"Oh. So you'll be awhile."

"Actually, you could do me a favor."

"What?" Mozzie was instantly suspicious.

"Stop by the Greatest Cake and pick up the event cakes. Apparently the first batch burned down in a bakery fire. So she asked us to do it at the last minute."

"Cakes? Plural?"

"Four. And boxes of cookies."

"Oh. I'll need a car."

"Take a cab. I'll pay for it when you get here and help haul them in."

"What do I get payed?"

Neal rolled his eyes. "Samples of the goodies and the warm of feeling of knowing you helped a children's fund raiser. And I won't mention you owe Elizabeth."

"You just did. Children's benefit? Well. Okay." Mozzie disconnected.

Neal continued setting up teddy bears. Elizabeth came back just as he finished up and stood back to admire his handiwork. A towering pyramid of bears rose up before him. He walked around it.

"Wonderful." Elizabeth enthused. "Not a bear out of place."

Neal grinned at her. "That was fun. As long as they don't..." A loud 'thump' came the other side of the table. A table nearby had collapsed. The bear pyramid wobbled. "Uh oh."

Teddy bears skidded down, toppling to the floor, still clutching signs reading 'food', 'clothes', and 'school supplies'. Neal put his hands on his hips and scowled.

Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth to hide her smile. He was posing just like Peter and she was sure he didn't realize it.

"Okay, let's try that again." He glared at the offending table. "Perhaps we could move that one somewhere further away."

Elizabeth laughed at his expression. "Yes. I've been meaning to get rid of the one with the bad leg, but it was put back into the others and I couldn't tell it apart. But what about the cakes?"

"Um." He gave her an uncertain, sidelong glance. Had he done the right thing, involving Mozzie? How would she feel about it. Oh well. Too late now. "Mozzie called and I kind of conscripted him."

"Oh."

"I said I'd pay for the cab and help carry them in." Neal leaned over and picked up a brown smiling bear, planting it back on the table. "I hope you don't mind."

"I'm in no position to turn away free help. Or is their a fee?" She gave him a speculative look.

"I kind of promised him free samples."

"Well, that's the least we can do. For both of you. You provide the cake, you sure deserve some of it."

Neal blushed. He had refused to charge her for the cake and he had offered a large bonus to his employees at the bakery for pulling it off.

She helped him replant several bears before being diverted by the snack food trays being set out. Neal glanced at the clock. Two PM. Not much time to restore the tower of bears. But fortunately they hadn't all collapsed. He was standing on the ladder and reaching to place another bear when his phone rang again. He grabbed it without checking the ID. "Moz, Did you get them?"

"What are you expecting Mozzie to get? What are you up too?"

"Peter!" Neal wobbled, caught himself before he fell on the bear pile. "I thought you were on a stake out."

"I am. I need you to come in."

"I'm busy working right now. Can't it wait?"

"Working?" Peter's voice was suspicious.

Neal decided to hit him with it. It should be interesting. "You really should take more time to talk to Elizabeth, Peter. I'm working for her today."

"What?" Peter exclaimed. Worry and confusion were clear in his voice.

"She had a catering crisis and was short handed."

"What are you doing? What crisis?" Now he sounded guilty. He'd gotten caught up at work and not noticed she had a problem.

"Why don't you ask her? As for me, I'm piling up teddy bears. Literally. It's a children's fund raiser you know. This is my second pile, the first collapsed..."

"Oh for...I'll call El. You've got me curious. I'll send you a snapshot of what I wanted you to look at. Maybe if you have a minute from your 'new' job you can give me a few ideas to hold me until your done."

"That, I can do. You know, you should try coming and helping yourself. It's much more fun than the stuffy van, although it's not the same kind of challenge as chasing criminals. And the food is much better than your deviled ham."

"As much as I want out of the stuffy van, I do have work to do." Peter sighed. "Call me later."

"Gotcha."

Neal placed the bear, climbed down and looked for Elizabeth. His phone rang yet again and he sighed, this time checking the ID. He jumped when he saw it was a text from Mozzie. He'd arrived. Jogging out the door, he grabbed on of the hired help. Neal found Moz trying to balance the two smaller cakes and eyeing the bigger boxes.

Neal paid the driver, then grabbed one and the assistant grabbed another. Carefully, they headed in. Neal could barely see around the enormous box. Elizabeth was on the phone and her eyes widened. She put whoever it was on hold (Peter, Neal suspected). She led them to a long rectangle table and very carefully, they removed the first enormous cake. A chocolate bear smiled at the world. Everyone gasped. Each cake was treated with equal care. They lined them up, white frosted bear on one end, chocolate on the other and the two small bears in the midde.

"Neal these are wonderful!" Elizabeth gasped.

"I knew they could do it!" His eyes were shining. The bakery employees had really earned their bonuses. The fine details were on the eyes and paws. "The only problem is, they are almost too awesome to eat."

Mozzie stared in amazement. "I definitely want samples. And the cookies are still hot. The smell drove me nuts all the way over here." He looked around.

The room was filling up with patrons. They had a wide variety, from suits to jeans and t-shirts, of every race you'd find in this city. Kids came too, all of them looking with awe and shining eyes at the teddy bear tower and the cakes.

"My friend..." Mozzie said looking at the hungry faces, "I think their gonna think your a hero for this." He looked at Neal. Neal just looked back, a slow grin tugging at his lips.

To be concluded...