Chapter 8

AN: I really liked Reese. And I wanted Peter to have this conversation with somebody he can trust. And I think that he really, really trusted Reese. Enjoy!

Agent Peter Burke was not in the best position these days. He was close to losing all that he had worked for, everything that he had gained during the course of his career. And he didn't seem to care. That's what the other agents couldn't get over. Burke didn't even seem to care.

Peter invited Reese over for diner one evening after work. He and his former boss needed to talk. The senior agent needed to get the advice of someone he trusted. And he knew that Hughes would be brutally honest with him.

"What's it going to prove, Peter? What is you losing your job going to prove?" Reese asked the agent, sitting in front of him. Burke had so much potential. He hated to see Peter throw all that away.

"That I'm a man of my word. That I'm worthy of trust." Peter replied. Reese understood Peter's reasoning, in a way. Neal was still a criminal and always would be in his eyes. But, Peter had developed a friendship with the young conman. Though it had been ill-advised, Peter had done it anyway.

"So…okay…you gain Caffrey's trust, but can't you see what it is you're losing, what you've lost?" Hughes asked.

Peter shook his head. "I have to show him that he means…."

"Peter, how is losing your job going to show Neal anything? How is it going to help?" Hughes said, reminding him of all he had, all he had to loose.

"I'm okay with not retiring from the bureau. I'm okay with that." Peter replied.

Reese shook his head, sadly. "You used to not be."

"This is not all that I am, Reese. I'm more than an FBI agent. I can do more than that."

Reese looked at his senior agent. He wanted to say he believed that. But, he was not even sure Peter believed it.

"Look, Peter, and I'm saying this as a friend, not your boss. You are ruining your career with this. You've already burned some bridges with some people. But if you stop this now…."

"Look Reese, I know. And I appreciate …."

Reese pushed forward. He was not sure if Peter really understood or not. "If you back this up now, some of that may…and I mean may be repairable. But, if you continue, I'm afraid…." Reese shook his head and left the sentence hanging.

Peter nodded. "I know, I know, and I'm okay with that. I've accepted it. I...I've done things, Reese, that…that I'm not proud of, accepted things that I shouldn't have accepted. I just…somewhere along the line I replaced the legal definition of justice and truth with the Burke version. But the Burke version is tainted and dirty, Reese."

Peter's words scared Reese. He had no idea what the agent was speaking of, and he was pretty sure he did not want to know the details.

"Peter, you've got to think of Elizabeth. She's….: Reese started, taking the only other route he could appeal to him on his wife's behalf.

Peter nodded. He knew what Hughes was going to say. "We've discussed it." Peter chuckled. "She's more concerned about how I will handle not being an agent."

"You're very lucky to have such an understanding wife, Peter." Hughes stated.

Peter nodded. "She…I've put her through a lot. And we've been through a lot as a couple. We'll be okay, Reese. We'll be fine. I can always find work. I have already started looking, discreetly, of course. But, I…I just I need to do this, Reese. And not just to prove something to Neal. I need to prove to myself that I uphold those high ideals." Peter said. "I…when I first started at Quantico, I…I had an idea of the type of agent I wanted to be. I had ideals of the job and of justice. And, for the most part, I've been able to uphold those ideals."

Reese started to speak.

Peter shook his head again. "I know what you're thinking. But it didn't all start with Neal. He didn't cause this. This is me, Reese. It's me. I asked Neal to do things…I chose to believe things that I knew could not, possibly, be true. But, I believed them because they were of benefit to me." He paused again. "You don't understand this. I know you don't understand this. And, I don't expect you to. It's just…." He let out a long sigh.

Reese looked at his friend. The man he had held in such high regard. And to be honest, Reese felt a little let down. He felt a little disillusioned, by what he had just learned.

WC WC WC WC WC

"It's true, Neal. I spoke with Elizabeth at a fundraiser last evening. I…She was surprised to see me, and I don't think that she anticipated me being there. She seemed like she just needed to talk to somebody and she ended up telling me everything."

"So, Peter Burke is no longer an agent." Neal could not deny how shocked and surprised he was. He did not know the details. But, he was sure, somehow, some way it would all come around to him. He would be blamed for whatever happened.

June was not sure how to take her young tenant. She didn't know if he was happy about the news, sad about it, or if he just didn't give a damn.

"Neal, aren't you even…?" June started.

Neal didn't let her finish her question. He already knew what she wanted to know. But he didn't know how to feel about it. He shook his head. "I don't know, June. The day…the very day, I'm released by the hospital and set to go off to prison I get the news, and from the U.S. Marshals no less. I'm told that my sentence has been commuted, and I am free to go home. I'm free to go anywhere I want to go." He stood up and started to pace. "I don't know what to think. I don't know what happened." He paused. "And I don't know what Burke did to make it happen." The young conman knew that June was not telling him all that El had told her. And, in a way, he was very grateful for that. It was all a little too overwhelming, at this point.

June sighed. "Maybe that is for the best, Darling. Maybe that is for the best."

TBC? Do you guys want an Epilogue, or should I leave it as is? Tell me what you think. I hope you enjoyed. JL