The Letter
Chapter 3
Warning: Suicide theme but not dark as it is only mentioned but not shown.
Peter found himself wondering for the third time that week trying to figure what to do next. Justice and the Bureau probably wouldn't care less about Neal's fate. They probably would be happier actually.
At first Peter had been shocked to find what was now known as Neal's suicide note. It didn't seem like something Neal would do. Neal was always so happy and full of those cocky smiles. Neal would have said something to Peter. They were partners. Right?
Peter didn't know how he got to his office. He half remembered eating his favorite pancakes courtesy of El. Their breakfast had been unusually silent. She gave indications of wanting to talk about the letter but she just pursed her lips and held back tears. Peter didn't know why he told her the upsetting news. Maybe it was because he felt like he had almost as many secrets as Neal used to have. He mentally scolded himself for thinking the worst. Neal is alive. He has to be. n
The weekly case proposition meeting left Peter staring out of the window and nodding. He kept kicking himself for not noticing that something was off about Neal. How had he been so stupid. Of course there were dozens of more layers to Neal.
Luckily Diana and Jones were able to run point on the meeting. They picked up on the fact that something was wrong. That's why he picked them to be his lieutenants, they noticed things that others simply didn't.
After the meeting they gave him a moment to breathe and then they came in to his office.
"Hey, boss. Is something up? I know it's a Monday morning but…" Diana trailed off and began to twirl her hair and glanced at Jones' tie.
"Boss, it just you know that we're here for you. We get that it must be tough with er, Caffery gone." Jones' expression turned anxious as he brought up the ex-consultant's name.
"Huh? Oh, uh thanks." Peter responded. His vibrating phone interrupted his fixed stare out into the bullpen. It was a text from his wife.
"Always here 4 u. U just need 2 ask."
"Hey guys?" Peter called out to Jones and Diana
"Boss?" They both responded looking hopeful.
At the look on Peter's face they shut the door behind them and got ready to be sitting in those chairs for a while.
Peter put his finger to his lips as he took about out a black a marker and a pad.
He wrote the following: Can't risk bugs in the office. Can you come over to my place tonight at eight? Need to show you something.
The duo nodded and left the office. It felt like for the first time there was someone else on his team besides himself and El.