NO JOKING MATTER
AN: This episode of White Collar always bothered me. I am not sure the name or the season. But, it's the one where Agent Lauren Cruz tells the bad guy to go ahead and shoot Neal. It was played off as a joke, and I am sure that was the intention. But, just for my own sanity, I need to explore what would have happened if the incident had been resolved. SIDE NOTE: I am not sure how soon after this Cruz left. But, maybe that was the official/unofficial reason for her departure. Disciplinary action that got her dismissed from White Collar, in particular, or from the FBI as a whole. JL
"I didn't find it funny, Agent Cruz." Peter started. He didn't even give the agent a chance to sit down. "Do you consider it a joke to put a consultant's life in danger, Agent Cruz?" He paused, but not long enough for her to answer. "Would you have done that to a fellow agent.
Peter did pause long enough for her to speak on that one.
Cruz didn't' know what to say. She could feel the anger radiating off Agent Burke, and it scared her. It had only been a joke.
"What if Neal had been shot?" Peter asked forcefully. "Why would you EVER tell a criminal, with a gun in his hand, to shoot someone?!" He shook his head, pausing to control his breathing and his anger. "I thought I heard you chuckle there as you said it. Tell me…you didn't do that. Tell me you did not chuckle when you spoke those words!"
Cruz was, again, speechless. She knew she could not say what she wanted to. It truly was a joke. The room was so tense. Things were…. She shook her head.
"Do I need to play the audio for you?" Peter asked.
Cruz shook her head, again.
"I think that your time at White Collar is over." Peter stated. "I can't have agents do what you did, under pressure." He paused. "When…."
"I didn't…." Cruz said, shaking her head. "I can improve…. I can…."
Peter sighed. "I hope that you can, Agent Cruz. But, it won't be at the expense of one or our agents or our C.I.s." He stood, causing her to do the same.
"You should start cleaning out your desk while I go speak to Agent Hughes." Peter went to the door and opened it, allowing her to return to her desk as he headed to Hughes' office.
END NOTE: Just a bit of fluff. But, it does make me wonder if that was a convenient way to write her character off the show. But, her disappearing like that, with no mention of the act, no repercussions is very much unsatisfying. Hope you enjoyed. JL