Okay... can I just say... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! When I started this story, I'd just been writing it for fun, and I didn't expect any views because a). It was my very first time and b). White Collar's been over for a while... but this outcome has been AMAZING! Seriously, over a THOUSAND FREAKING VIEWS!? You guys are awesome :) Special Thanks to my 7 reviewers, my 14 followers, and my 3? favorites (I'm too lazy to go and check to see how many). It makes me so happy to see people from all over the world reading this. Much much much love for you all:) :) :)
Okay. There was my little paragraph of excited-ness. Seriously though. You're awesome.
Well, I'm sorry for the wait (School SUCKS), but here's the next chapter!
P.S. When I started this, I literally just had the first part of Kathy being shot planned out, so I honestly had no idea where this was going, which was another reason why this is so late... I'm not one of those authors who plans 6 books ahead. I'm kinda just going by my feelings, so... If you guys have any suggestions of what direction you want this story to go in, feel free to let me know because I could really use the ideas. Thanks! Hope you like it :)
P.P.S. I really suck at writing from Peter's point of view so I made it really short lol
(Peter POV)
One hour earlier
"All right people! Spread out across the area, and keep all eyes open for signs of either John Loze, Wilkes, or Neal. Remember, NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE is allowed to approach Neal, or anyone else, without radioing me first. Now let's move!"
The small team of FBI agents all jogged out to find their positions, and left Peter standing with just Jones in a closed off room in the airport. Jones let out a small sigh and clapped Peter once on the shoulder.
"We're gonna get him back, Peter." Jones spoke softly, in a reassuring tone.
Peter nodded stiffly. Jones stared at him for a moment, and then sighed and walked out of the room. Peter was unsure of what to do. He'd been so focused on everyone else being fully prepared and ready, that he had no idea what he himself was going to do. What would Neal say to him? What would he say to Neal? What if Neal wasn't even there? So many options were completely possible, and yet Peter had a feeling that Neal would be the one to show. Wilkes was too prideful to do his own work; proud that he could get the famous Neal Caffrey to do it for him. Yes, Neal would be the one to show.
Luckily for himself, Peter thought, Neal would have a plan. He always did.
And Peter would be there to help him execute it.
Neal POV
Neal stepped into the airport, casually checking his cuffs and straightening his tie. Looking around, he could already see 3 agents who were not doing a very good job of blending in. Neal wanted to test his limits with the tie clip camera before he got started, so he slowly reached up to the side to scratch at his ear.
"Caffrey, I can see you're moving your arm up. You can do that again if you want... just know that I'll be generous, and have my boys make Peter's death quick. No pain, you know? Maybe we'll even chip in to give him a nice funeral."
Neal's jaw clenched and un-clenched while Wilkes spoke. Normally he was the picture of cool in situations like this. No one could make the famous Neal Caffrey tick. At least, not until this moment- and Kate, of course.
"Ok, Caffrey. Loze's information says that he'll be coming out of the exit on the west side of the building, so start walking." Neal's feet unconsciously started moving, his eyes darting back and forth from the FBI agents, his head not moving at all. "His plane is landing right now; he'll be out in about twenty minutes. Be there when he exits."
Neal's response was immediate. "And what about the Feds all around me? How do I avoid them if they come up to me? You know they will," he added ruefully.
"You'll figure something out. You always do," Wilkes stated. Neal could almost hear his smirk as he spoke. Picturing it just made him scowl. He glanced around and saw the agents talking not-so-inconspicuously into their watches and glancing his way. Neal was going to have to have a talk with Peter about subtlety. This was really embarrassing for the agency.
And speaking of Peter...
Neal walked into the next room and there he was. Standing on the opposite side next to the door. Neal could tell that he was anxious by the way he kept swaying back and forth on the balls of his feet, and his hands kept flicking to and from his gun and his hips. Without thinking, Neal immediately started towards Peter as he quickened his pace.
And just as quickly stopped. The two thugs who had accompanied Neal in the van were standing off to one side, casually chatting to each other as they stood by the wall. They were doing a much better job of blending in than Peter's men were, since neither Peter nor any of the other agents seemed to notice them.
Neal didn't realize how long he'd been motionless until Wilkes voice sounded again. "Come on, Caffrey! We haven't got all day, so move." Neal hesitantly took a step forward, and then shook his head and started again. He'd figure out a way to get past Peter... probably. He had the whole walk across the room to figure out what to do.
And then suddenly, he didn't.
Peter looked straight at him, and broke into a grin of relief.
Neal only wished he could return it.
As Peter made his way towards him, Neal felt his stomach clench up as the two men also casually followed him over, never looking straight at Peter. Neal forced himself to continue walking, and to not look Peter in the eye. This was going to be tough.
It was too soon in Neal's eyes when Peter was suddenly right there. Neal had been looking downwards and glanced up suddenly when Peter grabbed his arm and said excitedly, "Neal?"
He was frozen. Honestly, he felt like a deer in headlights in this position. If he said anything, Peter could be shot. If he moved wrong, Peter could be shot. And if he didn't do anything, didn't move, he was sure Wilkes would be mad for him not getting to Loze, or being too obviously uncomfortable, and... Peter could be shot. His other options included just ignoring Peter and continuing forwards, which would let Peter know something was obviously wrong, but Wilkes was very unpredictable... And could have Peter shot.
All of these thoughts went through Neal's mind in a few seconds as he stared into Peter's concerned gaze. And then Wilkes interrupted.
"Tell him hi. Go ahead, I promise they won't shoot."
Neal tensed, but compliantly said, "Hi Peter." His stance was stiff, his voice clipped and short. His hope was that Peter would realize something was off and stand down, but Peter seemed too overjoyed to be seeing Neal again that he sighed in relief, didn't notice anything, and gave Neal a bone-crushing hug. Neal was stunned. He awkwardly returned it and stepped back, but not before Wilkes' voice sounded once again.
"Neal..." It said warningly. For a moment Neal panicked, thinking that the tie camera had been damaged in the hug, but then the voice continued on. "I need you to get rid of him. Without giving anything away. You seem to be good at lying, so I'd suggest you do some more right now."
Peter was in the meantime looking up and down at Neal, looking concerned. "Neal, are you all right? You look fine, but has Wilkes done anything? Have you seen Lindsay? Neal?"
Neal inwardly calmed himself. In order to save Peter's life, he needed to be completely relaxed in order to pull off this performance. That's all it was. Acting. Improv.
Neal inhaled.
Exhaled.
And started talking.
"Sorry, Peter," he said easily. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. You managed to get the flight itinerary too?"
Peter visibly relaxed. "Yeah, it wasn't that hard. What's up with this Lose guy anyway? Do you know why Wilkes wants him?"
"His name is Loze, and no, I'm just supposed to pick up a package once he's off the plane. But Peter, Wilkes does have Lindsay, and I don't want anything to happen to her. I know for a fact that I'll be able to pull this off, but I need to be separate from the Feds."
Come on Peter. Figure out that something's wrong.
Peter just nodded in understanding. "Are you sure? Do they have eyes on us now?"
Neal could've internally face palmed. It was so ridiculous how his and Peter's relationship worked. Whenever Neal didn't want Peter to figure out something, Peter could immediately tell that he was lying. And then the one moment Neal wanted Peter to be suspicious, he was clueless.
Well, fine then.
At least Peter would be safe.
All of this went on inside of Neal, but the only factor that could be seen on the outside was a slight twitch of his jaw. He replied, "Yes, and if I'm seen with you for too long it could be disastrous for Lindsay."
And you.
Neal shook his head a tiny bit to clear his thoughts and continued. "I need to go soon. I can do this, Peter. I know I can, but I can't have the FBI watching my back every second of the way or Lindsay will die."
Peter just stared at Neal for a second. He then scratched the back of his head and slowly nodded. "Ok, Neal.
"I trust you."
The knife that had been slowly digging into Neal's side now plunged in completely. Peter trusted him, and Neal had been lying the whole time.
No, he couldn't think like that. He was protecting Peter.
Peter clapped Neal on the arm, gave Neal a smile-which he returned like a true actor- and walked over to the other side of the room to speak with his agents.
It was over.
Neal started towards the exit once more, and Wilkes chose then to start talking again.
"I'm impressed, Caffrey. I was a little wary at first, 'cause you were a little too close to the truth, but you pulled it off well. I guess all lies have some truth in them, huh? Peter couldn't even tell."
"I guess there's no need to have your guys follow him around anymore," Neal stated straight-faced, while navigating his way through the crowd. He weaved in and out through people coming out of the nearest exit where a plane had just landed, and kept getting blocked from passing. Wilkes just chuckled and fell quiet. It was a little unnerving.
Neal was left alone in his thoughts for a few minutes. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, since his mind had an entire battle going on inside of it. One side was based in the belief that he was saving Peter and Lindsay's life by lying, and the other was opposed, saying that Peter would never trust him again. They already had trust issues, and this was sure to ruin what little they had already. But... Peter would understand in a situation like this, wouldn't he? What Neal was doing wasn't even that bad! Yet... He could only hope that Wilkes wouldn't keep forcing more and more stunts like this. Eventually it would all end, and things would go back to normal.
At least, that's what he told himself.
"Hey Neal, It looks like we might have a little... change in plans," the voice in his ear said suddenly. "As it turns out, Loze is coming out a little earlier than expected. I'm guessing that you have about... two minutes to reach that exit, or else we shoot Peter. So... Go!"
Before Neal comprehended what had been said, he was running.
The exit was all the way on the opposite side of the airport, and he was supposed to have a full ten more minutes to get there. Neal was almost positive that Wilkes was doing this just to see him struggle, but he couldn't take that chance of missing Loze and Peter dying. People were knocked aside and scrambled to get out of the way as Neal full-out sprinted through the crowd. He looked down at his watch. He had just over a minute and a half to-
WHAM
Neal ran full speed into a small man with a hat on over a blond... toupee?
"Neal?!" Mozzie said.
Neal's eyes widened a fraction. In normal circumstances, this would've been a perfect opportunity to pass on a message.
But these weren't normal circumstances, and Neal only had roughly one minute and twenty seconds to get to where he needed to be.
So Neal merely stumbled back with wide eyes, shook his head at Mozzie, and continued running.
"NEAL!"