Neal and Sara were back at June's, and Neal was back to pacing the floor, although he did take a moment to brush his hand along hers every other trip or so past where she was sitting at the table. He was unbelievably grateful for what she'd done back there—for what she was doing now, supporting his play, even if it was just for Peter and Elizabeth's sake. The con wondered if she would ever understand the entirety of what she was doing for his sanity by just being here.
"So Keller needs a treasure in less than an hour, and if we detain him in any way, he's going to have his guys shoot Elizabeth," Sara summed up.
"He'll probably have them shoot her anyways—Keller never was a fan of loose ends…" Neal muttered reluctantly. "So he'll have the treasure, his guys go to prison for the kidnapping and murder, Elizabeth is dead, and Peter's and my life are ruined. It's a full run on the house."
"We need Peter," Sara opined, not for the first time. This had been her consistent piece of advice since she'd involved herself in Neal's plan. And every time Neal had to sadly remind her that he was the last person in the world (besides maybe Keller) Peter wanted to work with. "Neal, we can't make this work without him."
"Well, Peter wants nothing to do with me, so we're going to have to," Neal told her, starting his pacing again. He paused as he heard a knock at the door, looking up to see June let herself in.
"Sara, it's wonderful to see you again," she said pleasantly. "We've missed you around here."
"It's good to see you too, June," Sara replied.
June crossed the floor to where Neal stood. "Oh Neal," she soothed, touching his arm. "Do you remember what I told you the last time you threatened to wear out my floors with your pacing?"
Neal's head tilted as he gave the woman a curious half-smile. "You said everything would work out."
June's eyes danced in the mischievous way they did when she knew something. "And I believe that." She walked out the door, pausing to glance meaningfully from someone in the hallway to where Neal stood before she left.
Peter crossed the street to June's home, ignoring the feds sipping their coffee and looking bored in their car. He rolled his eyes, completely unsurprised that Caffrey had managed to sneak around them, and knocked on the door.
June opened the door. "Peter," she said happily. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I need to speak to Neal," Peter told her urgently.
"Of course," she replied, gesturing up the stairs. "He'll be glad you do."
As Peter made his way up the stairs and down the hall, he slowed as he heard voices.
"Where is it?"
"Let's just say that Alex has agreed to safeguard my retirement for a hefty portion of what was going to be your take."
"I can't tell you how much this means to me."
"If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking him if there's anything you can do. Think of something appropriate and do it. Edgar Watson Howe."
Peter smirked and pushed open the door. He looked to see Neal, Mozzie, and Sara standing around the table, the latter watching as the former two reconciled. His con's eyes lit up at the sight of him at the door, and Peter felt his chest tighten at the show of yearning in his partner. Of course, not knowing Peter had heard the end of the conversation, Neal's eyes shifted in the next second, looking to Mozzie standing next to him, and he looked like a child caught picking up a cigarette off the ground.
"Peter, I swear, this isn't what it looks like," he quickly explained, approaching the agent with his hands raised. "Mozzie really did leave—"
"I know, Neal," Peter told him, placing a hand on the con man's shoulder. He looked up at Mozzie, "And I appreciate him coming back."
"I would sooner become another mindless drone in the cogs of the system than let something happen to Mrs. Suit," Mozzie told him. "Taking Keller down in the process just makes the work that much more satisfying."
Peter let his gaze shift to the insurance investigator. "Sara," he greeted, nodding in acknowledgement. "Thanks for coming."
Sara crossed the room to stand by Neal, placing her hand on Peter's arm. "Anytime Peter," she replied with a smile and a significant glance to the younger man.
Peter walked over to the easel, looking over the various sketches and scribbles on the sheet that he guessed were the outline of a dock and a plan.
"Peter," Neal began. "About the meeting—"
"It wasn't at the docks," Peter supplied. "You slipped the agents outside and jammed the GPS signal on your tracker, I'm guessing with Sara's help." He glanced at Sara's only slightly guilty expression, then gestured to the canvas. "And now you're still strategizing, so I take it you have another meet?"
Neal nodded, apparently not surprised that the lawman had figured out everything. "Keller wants the treasure at the docks on North Fifth Street in Brooklyn. He says if I'm not alone, or if he's detained in any way, his men have orders to shoot Elizabeth."
"I know," Peter replied. He elaborated upon Neal's expression, "El managed to steal a phone. We've traced it to a subway terminal in the Financial District. I've got Rice sending a team down there now."
"So if I can stall Keller, we can take him down and get El back," Neal put together excitedly.
Peter nodded, watching Neal's expression lighten slightly. He'd been taking this almost as hard as the agent was, and Peter, remembering Kramer's words about Neal wanting to be here, realized how alone Neal must have been feeling through all of this. He couldn't help but feel guilty as he took Neal's arm, bringing him back toward him.
"Neal...I can't back you up on this," he said to the other apologetically. "If El's at the terminal—"
"Find her," the blue eyes locking on his were understanding, which actually made Peter feel worse. "Make sure she gets out okay. I'll stall Keller as long as I can."
The two men nodded in agreement, and Peter glanced at the other two in the room pretending not to watch the interaction as they faced the notes on the canvas. He cleared his throat awkwardly, grasping his partner on the shoulder.
"I'll get Rice to call off the agents out front and deactivate your tracker," he told him, which was met with a chuckle by his con. "Neal," he said more seriously, meeting those blue eyes again, "Be careful."
A/N: Yea for the return of Mozzie and Neal/Sara and Neal/Peter! I know I reconciled everyone conspicuously fast, though it's not all completely rainbows and puppies, but I feel like once Peter felt like things were going to be okay, he'd take a step back and maybe forgive Neal a little. But that's just me (hence being my fanfic).
A/A/N: Okay, I know the last time June told Neal "everything would work out", Kate blew up in a plane, but I was actually trying to draw a parallel between her saying it when Alex brought the box back and her saying it when Mozzie came back. So, yeah, let's ignore the "plane blowing up" connection, shall we?