Chapter 2

Bryce took a deep breath and entered the meeting room. The anklet had come off the Friday before and he had lost the hat and left his hair messy to create a visual difference between himself and Neal.

It still didn't halt the hammering of his heart as he took his seat for this meeting of division heads.

"I'm sorry, what is he doing here?" Agent Rice asked. She received some confused looks from agents who hadn't met Neal.

Bryce was glad that they hadn't. He pulled out his badge and tossed it at her.

"Do you speak to all division heads that way, Agent Rice?" he asked.

She glared at him and his badge, trying to figure out the trick.

"Bryce Larkin took over for Reese Hughes," Bancroft explained. "Hughes recommended him and there was a memo sent out about the change."

"That's when I thought Bryce Larkin was some kind of CIA superspy, not a CI ex-conman!"

Bryce sighed. "I bring years of experience to this role, Agent Rice. And I'm obviously very good at my job, considering you didn't seem to have the slightest hint there was anything off."

Agent Rice sat down with a huff. "And how is White Collar taking the news?"

"White Collar will meet their new division head after this meeting," Bancroft said. "Now, if there are no more interruptions about Agent Larkin, I would like to start on case numbers for each division and-"

Bryce wanted to bang his head against the wall as he left the meeting. He was starting to get an idea of the bureaucracy which ran this place and the amount of time it would take out of his week.

He was determined to find a way to streamline his work. If he survived the next hour.

The elevator opened up to White Collar and Bryce stepped off. He walked through the doors and made it a few steps before Peter grinned at him.

For once, the renounced ex-conman didn't grin back.

"Neal, I don't think I've ever seen that expression on your face," Diana commented. "Everything okay?"

"I'm sure he's fine," Peter said. "How was the meeting, Boss?"

Bryce hid his flinch by giving Peter a playful punch in the chest with his files.

"Don't start. I don't know how Hughes didn't die of boredom in those meetings. Although Agent Rice kicked up a fuss."

"Rice did? Not Ruiz?"

"Most of the Organised Crime division is off sick. Apparently the flu is going through their office. Which reminds me; Jones, can you find a probie or someone to get hand sanitiser and place it on each of the desks? Whatever we can do to minimise our chances of catching what Organised Crime has, the better."

"See?" Peter said, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "You're doing fine."

It sure didn't feel like it. He had most of the eyes of the office on him and not in the fun way.

"Peter, what is going on?" Diana asked.

"Meet our new boss," Peter said with a grin. "This is Special Agent Bryce Larkin, formerly of the CIA, and now of the FBI."

"Peter, seriously?"

"Would you have introduced yourself?"

Bryce shook his head. They both knew he wouldn't do that.

Jones laughed. "That's a good joke."

Peter gave Bryce what he thought was an encouraging look but it just made Bryce want to sink into the floor. With a sigh, he pulled out his badge and passed it to Jones.

Jones passed it to Diana, who also stopped laughing.

"You're Bryce Larkin?"

Bryce nodded.

"And you took over from Hughes?"

"I think he was looking to get me out of the field," Bryce mused. "I know I can't chase after Pratt now."

"I didn't even think of that," Diana winced. "How will you survive?"

"Probably by joining Peter out in the field when no one is looking too hard. Unfortunately, they're all way too interested in our division right now."

"I can't blame them," a probie whispered a little too loudly from the other side.

"I think I found the probie who is going to move all my stuff up to my new office," Bryce said with a grin. "Thanks, Agent Dotson, for volunteering."

Agent Dotson flinched. He hadn't expected Bryce to know his name.

"Bryce," Peter sighed.

"Let me have some fun. Besides, he really needs to learn to whisper properly. You never know who might be listening." Bryce took his badge back from Diana and, instead of putting it back in his pocket, slipped it on a cord and hung it around his neck instead. "This is better."

"Less questions?" Jones wondered.

"I wish. It at least stops the big question."

"When did you go to QUANTICO?" Diana asked.

"Uh, I'm not answering that."

"Did you go to QUANTICO?" Peter asked.

"I'm able to work here, aren't I? Yes, Peter, I spent time at QUANTICO. The CIA wanted me to have the experience."

Bryce motioned to the meeting room. "Let's have a quick meeting about this in an hour or so. Gather whatever questions you can from the other agents and I'll answer whatever I can in a memo after the meeting."

Peter had known that Hughes' job wouldn't go to him. It was just a feeling since he wasn't in the FBI good books for now. Plus, he knew they liked him in his current position, getting the closure rates that he was well known for.

It had been a surprise to see the job go to Neal of all people. Even if he was a CIA agent named Bryce. Peter was proud once he got past the initial sting of betrayal.

He also didn't have much time to feel upset about it because he could how the decision was hurting his friend. Bryce had been more open than Neal; perhaps to help with the transition between the two?, and so Peter had been front row to his new boss' insecurities.

The new boss that was currently hiding in his new office.

"I'm not hiding," Bryce responded.

"You haven't come out-"

"There's a meeting soon! I'm letting people get out their confusion and complaints without worrying about me suddenly popping up behind them or something."

Peter nodded. "And what about me? My office is only a few steps away. We do still have some open cases I would like your input on."

Bryce groaned and grabbed a file and slid it across to him.

"Here's my reasoning and possible evidence for three of those cases," Bryce sighed. "I also followed the money from the Stephens case and found a few shell companies. Which was surprising but Moz has a theory that they were old mafia-era companies that were-"

Peter flipped through the files while Bryce rambled on. It was difficult to believe that Neal had been an act when Bryce acted just like how Neal would.

"At least I know now why your paperwork was always impeccable."

Bryce gasped. "You do realise that the FBI just has low standards right?" The smug smile on his face was a sign that he was joking.

"Share your secrets with the probies then."

"I have been- oh." Bryce came to a realisation. "Do you think Hughes noticed how I was subtly helping out the probies that just needed a little more experience?"

"I doubt it escaped his notice. Especially in paperwork." Peter waved the file. "When someone teaches you how to do this, you pick up little notes or markers from that person. Hughes would have noticed 'Neal's' paperwork signature on his agents' work."

Bryce's shoulders slumped. "I know what Hughes thought he saw when he decided I would be good for this job but I don't see it. I don't have a good run with big teams like this."

"You'll be fine. You survived the department head meeting and now you'll survive the team meeting."

Bryce nodded and stood up. The worry between his eyebrows smoothed out and he pulled his posture up. He looked like a boss, rather than the nervous agent from moments before. Peter knew that some agents would only see 'Bryce the Boss' from now on. Peter was one of the few who would see beneath that mask.

He felt the spark of pride. Bryce would be fine. Peter would make sure of it.