Set Two
Notes: Here's another set... they just wouldn't leave me alone!
These were written before the winter premiere. I think you can tell where I was watching the previews, lol!
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Song:Going Down- Hair
Characters: Neal, Peter
"Peter?" Neal said walking up to his friend, who had just walked into his home to find his wife missing. "Peter, maybe you should sit down."
Peter looked around the room as though he was just now seeing all the people who were there. He then turned to face the man who had become his partner, "He took my wife."
"I know," Neal said putting his hand on Peter's shoulder. "Well get her back."
"He took my wife," Peter said a little louder.
"Elizabeth is a smart woman. She'll be-"
"He took my wife," Peter yelled throwing Neal's hand off his shoulder and shoving him into the nearest wall. "This is your fault. Keller has my wife because you can't control yourself."
"Peter, no..."
Jones carefully walked over, reaching his hand up to pull his boss off of their CI, but Neal shook his head. He knew Peter needed to be angry and if Neal was honest, he wanted to be the target of that anger. "We'll get him, Peter. I'll do whatever it takes to get her back."
"I'll do whatever it takes," Peter growled. "And when I find him, this time he's going down, for good."
Neal knew that Peter meant the words he was saying and he vowed right then to not let Peter do something that would ruin his life, even if it ruined Neal's.
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Song: Nothings Gonna Change My Clothes- They Might Be Giants
Characters: Neal, Peter, Diana
"You realize, if you wore something a little more sensible, this probably wouldn't keep happening," Peter said laughing as Neal held his now ruined tie that probably cost more than Peter's entire outfit.
Neal shook his head, "Wouldn't happen or I just wouldn't care?"
"Either way."
"I'm not wearing anything from a department store," Neal said. "I have standards."
Peter looked down at what he was wearing, "Are you saying..."
"I'm saying Elizabeth is a very patient woman. I wouldn't put up with you wearing that if wewere married," Neal said as he put the tie he pulled out of his desk drawer around his neck.
"Well then it's a good thing we aren't married, isn't it?"
Diana -who was standing behind them- couldn't help the snort of laughter, "You wouldn't know it, though."
"What?" Peter said, turning around to look at his team member.
"Please, with the way you two bicker," she said. "You're an old married couple."
"We don't bicker," Peter said to her, he then turned to Neal, "We don't bicker."
"You bicker," Neal said. "I win."
Diana smiled as she walked away, "Old married couple."
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Song: Sweetest Thing- U2
Characters: Peter, El
The card arrived the evening before his birthday. As was the case every year, there was no return address and the post mark was from some random place. This time, the post mark said Silver City, New Mexico. Peter didn't believe it, he knew there was no way Neal was in New Mexico or had been to New Mexico any time in the recent past.
He opened the envelop and smile at the card he pulled out. On the front was a picture of an old looking map.
"Is that from Neal?" Elizabeth asked as she walked up behind her husband and put her arms around his shoulders.
"It is," he said and began to read the card aloud.
"Peter,
I figure it's been a few years since you've had a really good chase, so I thought I would give you one for your birthday.
Somewhere on this card is a clue to your present. Figure out the clues, you get your present. Don't work it out, you'll have to settle for this card.
Good Luck and Happy Birthday,
Neal."
"That is so sweet," El said.
"Sweet?" Peter said turning his head to look at his wife. "He's giving me chase."
"Just like old times," El smiled giving he husband a kiss on his cheek. "You have to admit, you do miss chasing him."
Peter nodded. It was true, while he loved working with Neal and wouldn't give it up for much, Neal had been fun to chase. "You're right, just don't tell him that. I wouldn't want him to get any ideas."
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Song: Till We Reach that Day - Ragtime
Characters: Neal, Peter
"This," Peter says with a venom that practically sprays out of his mouth. "This is why I don't trust you."
"Peter, I..."
"No," Peter stops him before he is able to say anymore. "I don't want to hear any excuses or how sorry you are. This is your fault and I can't help you this time." Peter begins to walk away from Neal before turning around and walking right back up to the other man. "I knew one day we'd reach a breaking point-"
"Peter, please..."
"No, Neal. I won't help you, not this time. Your little friend is so fond of quotes, well here's one for the both of you. You made your bed, now lie in it."
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Song: Night of the Hunter- 30 Seconds to Mars
Characters: Neal, Peter
This was what he knew the best, when he felt the best; the cover of darkness, the adrenaline pumping through his veins, he was a hunter on the prowl and his game was art.
Of course, this time he had someone in his ear distracting him from the work at hand.
"Don't have too much fun," Peter said, his smile evident in his voice. "This all goes back tomorrow."
Neal shook his head. He knew the reason he was here, that he was only doing this to prove security was not up to par, but he would be lying if he did not admit that a part of him missed the game. "I'm not having fun, this is work," he whispers back. It had been many years since he and Peter had worked as agent and con, and while Neal was now employed by the FBI, it was not often that they got the chance to work side by side.
"Right," Peter says. "And I'm the queen of England."
Neal couldn't help but chuckle at the image of Peter with short, curly white hair and a crown. "Be quite," he admonished, "some of us are trying to work."
Peter hears all kinds of noises as time passes but nothing to indicate that Neal needs backup nor that he has set off any security. When ten minutes pass and he hasn't heard anything at all, he begins to worry. Just as he was about to say something, the door to the van opens and a man dressed all in black enters.
"Your majesty," Neal bows as he hands over the goods.
Peter laughs. "I was about to think you were losing your touch, with all that desk work you seem to do."
Neal gives him a sidelong glance as he sits in the seat beside his former partner. "Never."