Note: Sorry about the wait! I had a lot of fun in Quebec City...I have now tried about twenty different dishes prepared with maple syrup! I loved it all.

Once again this chapter did not go where I thought it would, Neal seems to be dragging his feet about getting to this heist! I hope you guys don't mind the somewhat slower nature of this plot, it just seems to want to write itself like this. I'm not sure how 'necessary' this chapter is...I promise to actually get to the heist and all the trouble that entails next. ;)

Chapter Seven

"Good night, Neal. Don't do anything…unsanctioned."

"I won't, I promise."

Neal smiled reassuringly at Peter as he continued to hesitate to leave. Eventually sighing quietly in defeat Peter nodded slightly as he accepted the fact that he had to let Neal go. Neal sat at his desk staring at the empty door frame for a moment, giving Peter time to leave the building so that they wouldn't end up on the elevator together and just invite either an awkward silence between them or another pointless discussion about Frost and his intentions. Reaching out across his desk Neal turned the small brass placard that sat on the edge around so that he could read it. At the moment the block lettering read 'Agent Neal Caffrey' in another two years he'd be promoted from probationary Agent to Special Agent.

"Assuming I make it that long."

Neal was still getting used to seeing the title 'Agent' in front of his name. In a lot of way it still just felt like another alias, particularly since he was preparing to take the title off for the evening. Neal was determined to live up to the new responsibility as best he could, but he knew he'd never be able to wear the persona in the same way that Peter did. It wasn't just a job for him, it was a lifestyle, being an Agent wasn't something that Peter could turn on and off since it was his identity. Having never really felt like he'd ever known who he was Neal had always envied Peter's strong sense of self.

Neal had had too many identities, both in name and in spirit, to ever relate to any one of them strongly enough to consider them to be who he was. Even now as much as he wanted to be 'Agent Caffrey' Neal couldn't help but feel excited about tonight's activities. He couldn't deny that he was already experiencing the start of the adrenaline high that came along with a well executed heist that couldn't be matched by anything he'd ever done with the FBI. Catching criminals was gratifying, but there was still an allure to being one that deep down Neal couldn't seem to resist.

"And Frost knows it…"

Shaking off the dark thought that Frost was just using him as a thief for hire Neal focused on the fact that his job tonight was not to steal from the Bashiri family, but to protect them. Thinking of his job with Frost as being part of his new law-man identity rather than a regression into his old criminal behavior helped Neal reconcile the fact that he really wasn't as against this assignment as he wanted to be. As much as he had been working lately to put his past behind him Neal still found that when he was honest with himself he still missed certain aspects of it.

Deciding that he had waited long enough for Peter to have made it out of the building Neal got to his feet and slipped on his jacket to leave. He made it to the door of his office before he realized that he had left his shoulder harness and weapon in his desk drawer. Although he had no intention of bringing it with him tonight Neal still needed to get into the habit of taking it home and keeping it in the safe in his apartment.

Putting on the heavy harness still felt unnatural, and he knew that going for the weapon wasn't going to be his first instinct when situations turned dangerous. Part of his Academy training had involved stressing the importance of not just carrying the gun but also being willing to use it while at the same time knowing when not to. The split second reaction time needed to make the right call was not something that could just be taught, it was mostly won through experience. A majority of his classmates had been cops or military and already had experience with being armed. Neal was a highly skilled marksman from his early years of trying to emulate his cop father, but once he had learned that his father wasn't the hero he'd thought he was Neal had gained an aversions to guns and he'd stopped carrying one long ago. Non-violence had eventually even become a hallmark of his criminal career that he was proud of. Peter used to be the one who had all the responsibility of keeping them safe when the need for force arose, but now Neal had to share that responsibility equally and be ready to kill if need be or else he was going to put them both at risk.

Thinking about how he needed to become more used to the idea of being armed Neal wondered if he should bring the weapon with him tonight. Frost might even be expecting him to do so. Along the short walk to his apartment Neal decided that he needed to consider himself off duty from the Bureau when he was Frost and therefore it didn't make sense to carry his FBI issue. He didn't want Frost thinking that he was willing or expecting to kill anyone during these assignments even if it was in self defense. There wasn't any need for violence during a well planed theft, and with civilians in the mix adding weapons just begged for mistakes to be made that couldn't be undone.

Arriving at his apartment Neal found a medium sized black cardboard box waiting for him just inside the door. Although understanding why he'd done it Neal rolled his eyes at the fact that Frost had obviously broken into his home despite their earlier discussion about privacy. The hotel wasn't open yet, but there were construction workers around so leaving the box outside his door wouldn't have really been smart. Neal picked the box up and brought it over to the island kitchen counter top to open it. Inside was a hand written note.

"'I wasn't sure you'd have anything to wear, hope it fits.'." Neal read. "'PS- sorry about the break in, it won't happen again.'."

Neal highly doubted that Frost meant the last statement but he did appreciate the acknowledgment that he was going to be irritated by the break in even if he didn't accept the apology. Opening the layer of white tissue paper that hid the contents of the box Neal pulled out a long sleeved black turtle neck shirt made of a stretchy material that had a slightly gritty feel to it. There was also a pair of black cargo pants that also had the same rough texture on the outside. The outfit was completed by a pair of thin black gloves with the same qualities as the shirt and a pair of lightweight black all terrain boots.

Neal suspected that the material was specifically designed to remain black when looked at through near infra red camera or night vision binocular equipment. Normal black dye clothing actually showed up as a bright white when viewed with near infra red and made anyone wearing it stick out like a sore thumb even if they were perfectly hidden in the dark from the naked eye. Neal realized that the material might even be designed to help protect the wearer from any Image Intensification technology as well seeing as Frost would have access to cutting edge technology.

Getting ready for a long night Neal took a quick shower before putting on the high tech outfit that Frost had provided him with. The shirt was an easy fit being stretchy, but considering the fact that the pants fit just as well as anything he'd had hand tailored and the gloves fit like he'd simply dipped his hands in a liquid rather than pulled on fabric Neal had to assume that at some point Frost had stolen his measurements from somewhere. Trying not to think about it too much Neal pulled off the gloves having just wanted to try them for size and placed them in one of the cargo pockets only to discover a small case was already in the pocket. Pulling out the gritty cloth case Neal unrolled it to discover a full set of flat black lock picking tools along with a black bladed folding tactical knife. Neal had never really thought about the fact that his shiny silver colored picks easily glinted in low light, but seeing the dull set he realized what a good idea it was to cut down on the visibility.

After putting the picks back in his pocket and pulling his hands through his damp hair to slick it back Neal glanced up at himself in the mirror. He felt he looked more equipt to be breaking into a high security military facility than a private home, but there really was no such things as being over prepared for an illegal activity. Heading back into the living room and putting on the shoes that Frost had provided Neal wasn't surprised to find that they not only fit perfectly but also were amazingly comfortable.

Picking his cell phone up off the counter Neal glanced at the time, it was a few minutes before seven which was when Frost was going to pick him up. Slipping the phone into one of his multiple pockets Neal looked around to make sure that he was ready. He spotted his shoulder harness hanging over the back of one of the high chairs that was in front of the island counter. He had draped it there along with his jacket when he'd headed off for a quick shower. He chastised himself for not putting it away first thing and reminded himself to do better next time.

Taking the gun out of the holster Neal stepped up to a gold framed replica of Gismonda by Alphonse Mucha. Swinging the frame towards himself on a hidden hinge revealed the wall safe that was tucked behind it. Tapping in a combination and placing his palm against the reader opened the safe. There was a steel case with foam lining inside the safe that he placed the gun in after double checking to make sure the safety was on. Neal closed the safe door and had just put the painting back when his phone vibrated to alert him to an incoming text. Pulling the phone out Neal found that it was exactly seven.

'Good to go?'

Reading Frost's text Neal was about to reply that he was when he decided that he needed to do one last thing first. Going back to the counter Neal fished his badge out of his jacket and brought it over to the Gismonda painting. Unlocking the safe again Neal flipped open the thin badge and stared at the brass FBI shield inside. Neal became lost in a memory from about a year after he'd started working with Peter when he'd been idly playing with an empty FBI coffee mug and noticed the three words on a banner on the FBI seal.

'Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.' Neal read.

'It's the FBI's motto.' Peter explained.

'Very clever, a little cutesy, but clever.' Neal teased. 'Did you guys choose the motto based solely on the way they fit in with the FBI abbreviation?'

'Actually, yes. The motto was coined three years after the Bureau named itself.' Peter confirmed. 'However, they are still the best three words to live by, Neal, and you're *so* close.'

'What?'

'Deny it all you want, but I know you're loyal, and you're certainly no coward…all you have to do is work on your honesty and you can finally drop the con and be a man. Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity, it's a combination anyone can be proud of.'

"Sorry, Peter." Back in the present Neal apologized to his absent partner. "Integrity will have to wait another night."

Closing the leather wallet Neal placed his badge in the safe and shut the door to seal it inside.