Day Three – Conclusion

Their lunch had refreshed them so they were able to finish their research by the end of the day.

Based on their intel, they were correct in believing that Keller and Hagan were their most likely suspects. Keller had escaped from prison in the past, and he had a tendency to attack them. Just because the Russians had taken custody of him didn't mean that he couldn't find a way to cause issues. Then Hagan was on a work release which increased his accessibility for passing information to contacts if not handling an arrangement himself. However, regardless of which one was behind the efforts to manipulate Neal, they still didn't know what the end goal was.

Calling it an evening, Neal decided that they'd mull on the situation overnight and see if they could come up with a plan the next day.

Getting a ride from Neal, as had become the routine, Peter was watching the city go by as his mind wandered. He'd originally intended to pick up the game of twenty questions, but he was too distracted to figure out where to pick it back up. This made for a quiet drive for the first part of the trip.

It wasn't until about halfway that Peter realized that Neal had something on his mind. His friend looked something between annoyed and amused.

"Something is on your mind, what is it?" Peter decided to initiate a conversation.

Glancing at him, Neal shook his head with a smile. "I randomly got a song stuck in my head. Well, not the whole song, just part of it."

"And what would that be?" Peter smiled in return glad to see a lighter and more relaxed expression on his friend than he'd seen in a while. Besides, he was curious.

"I fought the law…" Neal tried to keep a straight face, but his expression was too light to hide his amusement as he left an opening.

Grinning at Neal, Peter couldn't help but fill in, "…and the law won."

Enjoying the humorous moment, they continued to sing the lines a few times.

Thinking as they sang, Peter was glad that he no longer saw his friend as a criminal with potential. This wasn't a song with a lesson not to break the law, but a fun song to enjoy as friends with their roles or covers.

Transitioning, they started changing up the game to Neal making up verses about his alleged crimes before his arrest.

Although they were just a part of his role, the action again reminded Peter of something that might have happened even if he didn't know it was all just a cover. Again, he appreciated that he could laugh without feeling the need to lecture.

Since the singing had been full of camaraderie and fun, despite all that had been happening, Peter wanted to prolong the time spent together. He decided to invite Neal in when they arrived at his place.

Neal's expression fell as he probably remembered Elizabeth's reaction to him on his last visit.

She'd landed into him and all but accused him of causing Peter's incarceration and the risk to his career.

They were back to him feeling unwelcome, and Peter wanted to repair the damage. He knew that Elizabeth regretted her outburst and she wasn't actually mad at Neal. She'd just vented her frustrations out on the handiest person that she could remotely blame all the while knowing she was wrong to do so. Her actions couldn't be undone, but she wanted to apologize, she only needed a chance to do so.

Insisting, Peter wasn't willing to take any excuses and he felt rewarded when he finally saw that Neal was giving in.

It was uncharacteristic how nervous Neal was as they approached the house. He'd been there many times, and he'd never been afraid to show up uninvited or even let himself in to intrude on their breakfast.

When they got inside, Elizabeth heard the extra noise characteristic of Neal visiting, Peter trying to hang up his jacket, and Satchmo getting underfoot in his eagerness for pets. She met them at the entryway within a few minutes after their arrival.

"Hey, Neal," Elizabeth greeted the man with a hug and an attempt to sound normal like she had so many times in recent years when he'd visited.

"Hi, Elizabeth," Neal greeted as he reciprocated the hug, but there was a subtle stiffness of formality. He didn't call her El, the smile he plastered on didn't reach his eyes, and he wasn't relaxed by the homey atmosphere like he normally was.

Giving him an extra pat and squeeze on his arm as she stepped back, Elizabeth looked saddened by his reception. "I'm sorry, Neal. It was wrong of me to lambast you for things beyond your control. The situation isn't your fault, not at all, but I took everything out on you. Please know that I'm grateful for what you've done and what you're doing to help Peter. You're always welcome in our home." She then leaned up to kiss his cheek before wiping her lipstick off. Her tears had filled her eyes and were starting to overflow, but she didn't initially react to them.

Sighing as he probably felt more guilty than relieved, Neal focused on alleviating her pain. "Don't worry about it, it's a messed up situation and we're all just trying to handle it as best we can."

Since Neal didn't say anything else, Elizabeth greeted Peter with a kiss before moving back to the kitchen to finish putting dinner together.

As she walked away, Peter could see her wiping her eyes fighting the tears.

Torn, Peter wanted to comfort both his wife and his friend, but he couldn't do much for either one. He decided to aim in the middling though.

Inviting Neal to help him set the table, they handled part of the dinner preparations while providing something of a typical night for Neal.

Continuing with the charade, they tried to have a normal night of talking about work, art, and the topics that usually filled their visits. However, there was too much of an undercurrent for it to be successful.

Peter was wearing the anklet while Neal wasn't, they weren't working their usual White Collar cases with the team, there was the unmentioned uncertainty of Peter's future, and so on with all of the emotions that correlated to each issue.

Despite it all though, Peter remembered parts of their normal interactions that were still present. An important one was how Neal looked as he watched Peter interact with his wife and dog.

Suddenly it dawned on Peter that Neal really did want something of what they had. In the past, he would have said that Neal could have it too if only he'd stay out of trouble and give the right girl the chance to settle down with him.

Sara had potentially been that girl, but she'd broken up with Neal around the time of the treasure. Oh! "Sara!"

Neal was startled by the sudden change in topic, but there was a hint of concern in his expression. "Sara? What about her?" The way he protectively said her name meant that he still had feelings for her.

Explaining what was forming in his mind, Peter said, "She broke up with you when the treasure was an issue, but you and Mozzie are agents so whatever she thought was about your cover, not you. Your relationship is another sacrifice that you've made, isn't it?" Peter was saddened to know it wasn't a question, but a statement.

Laughing without humor, Neal shrugged, "What was I supposed to do? I can't reveal the truth without risking endangering everyone and she decided that a con wasn't worth the risk."

Elizabeth moved first to hug Neal and kiss his cheek. She was crying again as she wiped her lipstick off. "I'm so sorry, Neal."

Catching his friend himself, Peter squeezed Neal's shoulder before pulling him into a hug. He hated how much Neal had chosen or been forced to sacrifice, and he hated how much he'd hurt his friend by pointing out a painful one.

Making his escape when he was released, Neal bid them goodnight and hastily retreated out the door.

Hugging his wife next as she cried into his shoulder, Peter couldn't prevent his own tears from pooling.

Neal had always been different. His intelligence and caring heart stood out even during their chase. Then he'd always been a good friend since they'd started working together.

Things had been different when Neal's woes were brought on by himself as repercussions of his crimes. Now though, they were the result of choices made, the repercussions of putting others before himself no matter what sacrifices it cost him to make.

The difference in circumstances made Neal's plight seem like it ought to be noble, charitable, honorable, something to be respected, but it made his losses, his misery, all the more acutely felt. He didn't deserve to lose what may have been the love of his life, his family, his friendships, his reputation, and even parts of himself. But, Neal had made those sacrifices. He'd chosen to become an agent, he'd chosen to protect those he loved even though it meant losing them, he'd chosen to play the role of someone he wasn't to bait out the guilty, and he'd chosen to become the man he needed to be to accomplish it all.

"I never imagined he was hiding a fraction of this behind that confident con man façade." He'd always been blinded by the con man, the shiny mask of smiles that hid the man his friend really was.

"He's a master con for a reason, he can even con anyone into believing he really is a con man… which he is, but not in the sense that he pretends to be." Elizabeth agreed with him as she tried to conquer her tears.

Ducking his face into her hair, Peter let her know what he'd told Neal. "I'm still trying to make him promise on those postcards. Trying to make him promise me that he'd send postcards if he ever has to leave us, even if he could only sign them as being from Casper the Friendly Ghost. I don't want to lose him, and I want him to remember that someone out there cares about him."

"Good, he needs to know that he matters." She continued to hug him tightly as her crying calmed.

Agreeing to do what they could for their friend, they took care of Satchmo, locked up, and settled in for the night.

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