Hi guys! I promise Neal will resurface in the next chapter. I finish the story before I begin posting; my schedule (barring death or dismemberment) is one chapter per day. This story has twelve chapters. Thanks for reading and thanks for the reviews. They bring smiles to my face, for which I am ever so grateful!
Oh, yeah, and…
I own nothing but the mistakes, for which I accept all responsibility
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Chapter Four
The meet Alex had set up between Neal, Peter and the buyer was set for 3 p.m. Peter, representing Bellington, was bringing the painting; Nick Halden was there to verify its authenticity. Peter assembled the team for the pre-meet briefing. Having Peter and Neal in such proximity to one another was uncomfortable, to say the least. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
It had been that way in the office all day. Peter was angry at Neal over the mishap during the take down of Bellington the day before, and everyone was feeling the arctic chill in the air. Neal had arrived at the office early, brought coffee to everyone, smile in place. Peter had arrived early, too, scowl on his face, looking like he hadn't slept well. He spoke to both Diana and Jones, waving away without a word the coffee Neal held out as a peace offering and stomped towards his office. The smile Neal had plastered on his face in greeting fell away quickly, but he flashed a dim replica when he caught Jones' gaze and shrugged. He dropped the coffee in the trash and returned to the stack of files on his desk. Head down, he worked quietly. Anytime Peter emerged from his office, Jones saw Neal raise his head expectantly, hopeful that Peter had softened his stance and would come talk to him. But it didn't happen. If Peter did descend the stairs, it was to confer with one of the agents or to refill his coffee. Neal tried to warm the atmosphere at every opportunity, but nothing worked. Diana and Jones felt the stress, pitying both their boss and Neal, who seemed to be withering under Peter's non-relenting rage as the day wore on. On the scale of Neal antics, the side-stepping he had engaged in to keep his friend Alex out of trouble seemed like a small thing. However for some reason it had set Peter off in a way they had not seen before. He was seething. It had been a miserable day for everyone-but especially for Neal.
In the conference room, Peter handed out the facts of the case and the timeline of the scheduled meeting. His face was tense, and after a day of having every attempt to lighten the mood squashed by cold comments or sharp looks from Peter, Neal was unusually quiet. He listened intently, eyes on the paper in front of him, as Peter briefed the team. He never even looked up. Until.
"As long as none of Caffrey's fellow criminals show up, things should go fine." The tone was cold. Neal's head shot up, looking in disbelief at Peter. He had just called him a criminal in front of Hughes and everyone else. Peter stared back at him with a smug look on his face. Neal's face flushed, and he dropped his head, eyes resting on the paper in his hand. The silence in the room was deafening.
"We roll in twenty," Peter said, feeling a degree of satisfaction as the paper in Neal's hand shook slightly. The meeting over, Neal was immediately out the door, looking like he was going to be sick. He bounded down the stairs and disappeared in the general direction of the restroom. Hughes gave Peter a questioning look and left, and the rest of the agents filed out after him. Only Diana stayed behind.
"What?" Peter's voice was sharper than he intended it to be at Diana's disapproving look.
"Look, Boss," she began, "I understand that Caffrey pissed you off yesterday, but it's not like you to be cruel. And considering you have to go undercover with the guy in" she looked at her watch "forty-five minutes, you might want to go make sure he isn't puking in the bathroom."
"Caffrey will be fine," he answered brusquely. "One thing he is good at is taking care of his own best interests." She was silent, but the look on her face reminded him of Elizabeth. After several seconds, she spun on her heels and left the office.
Jones and Diana were waiting near the door for the rest of the team when Neal returned from the restroom twenty minutes later. Peter was still in his office, waiting until the last possible moment to join them, and when they saw the Neal they exchanged surprised looks. The change in the man was phenomenal. Neal Caffrey hadn't returned from the restroom, but apparently Nick Halden had. Ready to authenticate a painting, clothes perfect and hair neat; he didn't look like someone who, as Jones knew well, had been dry heaving in the bathroom moments earlier. His stance portrayed confidence, ease and comfort. Nothing Neal had possessed all day. When Peter joined them at the door and asked if everyone was ready, Nick's smile was easy and charming, but the expression behind the eyes was empty and detached. It was as if Neal Caffrey had disappeared, and only Nick Halden was left behind. If Peter noticed, or even cared, he didn't say a word.