White Collar : The Eye of Sita
Chapter Thirty
"Sara? How do you spell 'International Incident'?"
"N-E-A-L?"
"I was thinking 'C-A-F-F-R-E-Y'." Peter sighed. "I can't decide which one of them is worse, Neal or Daniel."
"Daniel." Sara said firmly. "Definitely Daniel."
"You had that answer right on the tip of your tongue."
"Don't get me wrong, Neal is certainly trouble."
"With a capital 'T'."
"But he's not dangerous." Sara pointed out. "Daniel's different. I only met him briefly, but I was far more afraid of him than Glass."
"He is certainly more prone to violence than Neal."
"More prone?" Sara repeated with a raised eyebrow. "He's got psycho killer written all over him. He choked you out. There was no reason for that, there were several options open to him that didn't involve crushing your larynx."
Peter reached up and rubbed at his still sore throat. The bruising peeked out over the top of his shirt collar. The assault from the backseat had been a skilled one. He had several theories as to what had made Daniel chose that particular method of making sure he wasn't followed.
"And yet...I feel better knowing that he's with Neal." Sara admitted.
"He'll certainly do everything in his power to protect him."
"How are we going to help them?"
"Excellent question."
Peter looked down at his phone and the small blinking red dot over the Indian Embassy. Putting the phone away he turned his attention back to Liam. Still sleeping Liam twitched in the throws of a nightmare. Sara got to her feet and walked over to his bed side and ran the back of her hand down his cheek a few times. Liam settled into a more peaceful sleep. Sara turned back to Peter.
"I know that the laws surrounding an Embassy are different than traditional US soil, but if we have proof that two American citizens are being held there don't we have every right to demand a search warrant? You can't just kidnap someone and drag them onto Embassy grounds and declare them 'out of the FBI's jurisdiction'."
"No, you can't." Peter agreed. "And if we had actual evidence that an American was being held against their will there then we could just waltz in and retrieve them. However, we don't have evidence, we have a blinking dot on a screen that says my dog ran away."
"Not something a judge is going to believe."
"No."
"We cou..."
Sara stopped as a doctor with silver hair came into the room. He went directly to Liam and a look of relief flashed over his distinctive features. It was not the usual medical detachment that Peter was used to seeing from the rest of the hospital staff. Feeling that something was wrong Peter got to his feet and joined Sara by Liam's bedside. The doctor looked up at Peter before forcing a smile.
"Who are you?" Peter demanded.
"Dr. Jennings, I'm taking over Liam's case. Has he woken at all?"
"No."
"I understand you're an FBI Agent? Can you give me any details about what happened?"
"No." Peter replied simply.
"Classified, eh?" The doctor smiled.
"Something like that."
"Okay," the man disconnected Liam's IV "I'm going to take him down to X-ray, make sure everyth..."
"You're not taking him anywhere." Peter growled.
"Peter?" Sara asked alarmed.
"Agent Burke, I need to make sure that his wrist is set right."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"I can't allow that."
"Then I can't allow you to take him." Peter said firmly.
When Jennings made a move to reach into his lab coat Peter reacted with blinding speed. Sara stepped back in alarm as Peter drew his weapon on the doctor. Aiming at the doctor's chest Peter made it clear that he was ready to take the man down. Looking more annoyed than frightened Jennings took his hand away from his coat.
"Agen..."
"Stop talking." Peter warned.
"This isn't what you think."
"Put you hands behind your head and take step back."
"Alright," Jennings sighed as he followed orders "you got me, I'm not a doctor and I'm armed, but I'm not a threat. I swear."
"I'll be the judge of that."
Keeping his aim Peter carefully came around to Jennings' side of the bed. Making no move to resist Jennings peacefully allowed Peter to reach into his lab coat and remove his weapon from its shoulder harness. Peter backed away from Jennings with his weapon and handed it over to Sara before going back to his captive. The gun was a standard government issue.
"We're on the same side, Agent."
"Then where's your badge?" Peter demanded.
"I don't carry one."
"What Agency are you with?"
"I can't answer that."
"You realized I already know about Daniel Caffrey, right?"
"Agent Burke, please be careful using that name. Can you put the weapon down? I think we both know you're not going to shoot me."
Peter thought about the request for a moment before putting his gun back in its holster. He held his hand out to Sara and she gave him the weapon he'd taken off of Jennings. Peter removed the clip and the bullet from the chamber before offering it back.
"Thank you, Agent."
"What happens now?" Peter asked. "I get the feeling that arresting you isn't going to work."
"No it won't." Jennnings agreeded. "What happens now is I'm taking the boy."
"No you're not."
"I really appreciate you getting Liam back safely, but your involvement ends here."
"You can understand how I can't allow you to just take him." Peter said. "My gut tells that we're on the same side, but I have no proof."
"You'll have it in a few minutes."
"How?"
Before Jennings could answer Liam began to stir. Liam caught sight of Peter first and visibly cowered as tears slipped down his cheeks. Trembling with fright he weld his eyes shut. Jennings went to step closer, but Peter wasn't ready to trust him yet and put himself between them. Jennings put his hands up peaceful and took a step back again.
"It's okay, Liam." Jennings said gently. "You're safe."
"Uncle Jack?" Liam asked nervously as he looked around.
"I'm here, Sport." Jack stepped into view and smiled. "Your Momma's on her way. Just be brave for me, okay?"
Liam bit down on his lower lip and nodded. Giving in Peter stepped out of the way and allowed Jack to walk up to the bedside. Liam scrambled up so that he could throw his arms around Jack's neck. The cast around his wrist made it difficult for him to hold on. Jack rubbed between Liam's shoulders as Liam buried his face against his chest. Peter relaxed a bit seeing that Liam truly trusted him.
It was only a few minutes before a woman with long fire red hair came bursting into the room. Her strikingly blue eyes were rimmed with red from stress and tears. When Jack turned to face her with Liam in his arms Peter was afraid that she might actually pass out from the sudden relief that washed over her.
"Liam!" She cried.
"Mommy!"
Liam wriggled out of Jack's arm and into the waiting embrace of his mother. Michelle held him tight and kissed the top of his head repeatedly. She had tears streaming down her cheeks, but she looked happier than anyone Peter had ever seen. Sara looked over at Peter with a smile with her own eyes brightened with tears from the emotional reunion. Michelle quickly composed herself and looked Jack over.
"Oh for God's sake, Jack, why are you dressed up like that?" Michelle demanded.
"I was just trying to save you some red tape."
"You're such an ass, Jack." Michelle rolled her eyes before turning to Peter. "I'm so sorry about him, Agent Burke. I can not thank you enough for bringing my son home."
"My pleasure." Peter said sincerely.
"Come on," Jack said as he put his hand on Michelle's lower back "we have to go."
"What about Neal and Daniel?"
Michelle paled visibly at hearing her husband's name. She looked to Jack and shook her head slightly. He hesitated before he nodded. Peter's stomach began to knot up when he realized that they were still going to try and deny everything.
"Don't do this." Peter said. "He's your husband, he and Neal risked everything to get Liam back and now they need our help."
"He knew the risks, I'm sure your partner did as well."
"I know where they ar..."
"No." Michelle interrupted quickly "You can't tell me where he is."
"They need our help, I'm sure your department has more foreign ties than mine. They are trapped in an..."
"We can't help you, Agent." Jack said firmly.
"I wouldn't even if I could." Michelle added defiantly.
"Why not?"
"I would rather never know what happened to Daniel than be the one to escort him back to Texas."
Before Peter could argue further Michelle turned and left. Jack stayed behind for a second as if he wanted to say something more, but he just muttered something about being sure that Daniel could take care of himself. Peter didn't bother chasing after the secretive Agents. Sara stepped closer and put her hand on Peter's shoulder.
"What was that all about?" Sara asked.
"Neal didn't give me the particulars, but he told me that he and Daniel were living similar lives and everything about those two screams 'Agent' of some description. I'm fairly certain that Daniel and those two work for the CIA or something worse."
"Worse?"
"Daniel's the type that Black Ops would literally kill for."
"What do you suppose is back in Texas?"
"A state sanctioned execution."