Chapter 16

Peter didn't have to wonder exactly when he had decided that Neal would do the drop. The moment he had told his partner of the plan, he knew that Neal would be the one ordering the drink and leaving the painting. The role seemed to fit Neal more than him.

He was sitting at a table nearby and sipped at a tea while he watched over the drop. Neal was sitting at the bar with the tube at his feet, sipping at some kind of lightly tinted drink that Peter didn't know the name of. He thought of the painting that was sitting in the tube and smiled. It was a sight to behold and Neal had even told him where the clues were for finding his little hoard. The piece did have a young feel to it which was lacking in Neal's later works, many which Peter had seen drying in his apartment over the years but, as Neal himself put it, 'it was from another name and another life'.

Peter wondered if Neal realised how those words sounded.

"...you see more of Bryce..."

A blond woman walked into the bar, attracting the attention of everyone around her. She ignored them all and walked straight up to the bar, displaying her wedding ring as she stretched, placed her hands on the bar and ordered.

Just like the rest of them, Neal's gaze followed her until she stretched and drew attention to her ring. Peter wondered what Neal was thinking about. Sarah had said that they were over and had been ever since she met Chuck but, Neal didn't mention any romantic past with her.

Peter was jolted out of his thoughts by Neal standing up and leaving. He watched the man leave and silently cursed that he was stuck here until Sarah left.

Neal walked around the airport, watching the crowds and scanning their faces. He didn't know what specifically he was looking for, just that he was. It was just second nature.

He didn't want to think that maybe he was looking for some kind of sign.

Neal Caffrey's life was starting to get comfortable again. He was working cases with Peter as well as missions, something he didn't even imagine was possible. He had talked with El and was even talking with Diana and Jones like friends again.

But, he needed to remember that he wasn't Neal Caffrey. Not really. He needed to remember that his name was really Bryce Larkin and that, when this was all over, he had to go back to the CIA for missions and orders.

Neal Caffrey would vanish.

El's kidnapping had reminded him of how Neal Caffrey's life was one filled with suspicion, where everyone could turn on him in an instant and he wouldn't have much chance to defend himself. But, as time passed, he seemed to be getting comfortable again.

Leaving Neal's life would be even more difficult now than it had been before. He knew he would be leaving Mozzie and June but now Jones and Diana were back on the list and he might not see El again either, even though she knew who he really was.

And the FBI. He hadn't expected the work to be as interesting as it had been and it had been nice chasing regular criminals and working with people smart enough to keep up.

"Bryce!" he heard Peter call. He turned around and spotted the other man quickly walking over. "Ah, finally!" he commented as he stopped in before him, out of breath.

Neal made a questioning noise.

"I called your name a few times," Peter chuckled, "you seemed to be lost in thought."

"Yeah," he agreed. While he had been lost in thought, he realised with growing horror that he hadn't responded because he hadn't registered 'Bryce' as being him. It made sense for Peter to call him that as he wasn't wearing the anklet.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"Without a hitch," Peter responded, pressing his hand between Neal's shoulder blades and pushing him into a walk. "Sarah has the painting and their flight just left."

Neal nodded to show that he was listening. He missed Chuck already. Chuck was the only person so far that he could even mention his problems to. He didn't think Mozzie would appreciate learning that, not only was he a fed, he was a fed with identity issues. And Peter had the best of both worlds, being in the CIA and the FBI. He didn't have to choose.

There was one person he could think of, who was not Chuck, but they didn't know he was CIA.

"I see. This talk isn't just about travelling the world when you have your freedom, is it?" June commented calmly, her face level as she spoke.

Neal looked away, a guilty move but he wanted her to know that he felt bad about this. June had taken in what she thought was an ex-con but turned out to be more. Even though he was technically conning her into thinking he was someone he was not.

"When the anklet comes off and the FBI lets you go, then you have somewhere else to be," she summarised, "perhaps even someone else to be. And you're afraid it means leaving the life you have here behind."

"I have to leave this life behind." And, because she had already guessed at most of it, he clarified, "I have to leave Neal Caffrey's life behind."

June shook her head and the quick flash of disappointment on her face felt like a nail driving through his heart.

"Neal, darling, if you're about to say 'for our own good and safety', I will not be impressed," her voice rang with years of experience.

"That's part of it," he said, feeling like a schoolboy doing the wrong thing, "but-" What could he say? He had orders? Like that had ever stopped him before. He wasn't as bad as some people, Chuck and Sarah coming to mind, but he wasn't a complete yes-man. "I don't know when I'll be able to return to New York. And, even if I do, I won't be Neal Caffrey, I won't be able to see you without risking everything."

"I know you're better than this," June said quietly. The words were said with certainty and without venom. This wasn't a scolding, it was advice. "You're an intelligent and clever man, a great conman, so surely you can figure out some way to visit that wouldn't risk anything. And, even if you're in danger and need a place to lay low, you will always be welcome here."

Realisation shot through Neal, casting surprise over his features. He could use her home as a safe house whenever he was in New York since June had offered her home.

There was just one problem.

"I'm not a conman, not really," he explained as he was really a spy.

"Neal," June smiled a knowing smile, "what's a sting?"

"A Government sanctioned con," he responded automatically, adding in his head that it made government agents conmen; the good ones at least.

The realisation brought another; did June know that he was a government agent? She certainly spoke like she did but, he knew that the rules of a con were to act like you held all the cards and knew all the secrets.

He opened his mouth to ask when she stood up.

"I think we'll have dinner on the balcony," she commented, "since it's such a lovely evening." She left to inform the staff of the change, leaving Neal to his thoughts.