Reverse WCBB - Big Brother - Elledeegee (Chapter 1)
LJ User Name - Author: Elledeegee
LJ User Name - Artist: Citrine Sunset
Title: Big Brother
Rating: PG
Current Word Count: 15556
Summary: Peter's relationship with Neal at times is like an older sibling... A big brother. He watches and attempts to keep the con out of trouble but after current events, their relationship feels off after his recent imprisonment and as his prospects change but he still insists on keeping an eye out on the con man. Takes place in early Season 5 after "Controlling Interest."
Mozzie would say that the idea of Big Brother was a bad thing. He had grown up investing in fantasies of a sort, filling the gap of not having a family, beyond the man who’d raised him at the orphanage, with crazy theories and a collection of annoying quotes. Mr. Jeffries had possibly encouraged a young Mozzie to keep his mind open to possibilities not realizing that caused the paranoia growing in an already anxious mind to be afraid of the government (the man), his own shadow at times and anything from UFOs to Hitler clones hidden away in U-boats. The con man was basically his own person by age 12, foiling a high level mobster on a scale that was impressive even by criminal means. Mozzie was a character to say the least and his past colorful and strange as himself.
Neal had also grown up feeling left out and alone. He’d had a few friends but none that stuck around like Mozzie did. He always felt like the lost waif looking in through the window at the warm fire beyond. Maybe Peter’s analogy of him being Pan wasn’t too far off. In the novel, Pan had come home to find the windows shut and his family with a new child, the reason for his return and eventual reign in Neverland. In his case, he had found out that his supposedly dead hero father was alive and a murderer, his path to a better life now closed to him should he pursue a life of law enforcement. The lie had made him run away from what had already been a less than ideal life in witsec. Everything he knew had been false and after all this time his life continued to be just a fantasy he created from nothing only to return to nothing. The only constants in his life at the moment were ironically the agent who had captured him, Mozzie and his landlady June. Everything else had died or left him, an anklet keeping him bound like some mystical bottle that captured a rogue genie. Peter was his keeper, watching him 24/7 and using his criminal wit to capture other bad guys. Mozzie called it as he saw it, Neal being held under the man’s thumb but he saw it as the only time his life had any real meaning or control. Maybe it wasn’t his control but it was a semblance of a life.
Peter saw everything. Maybe he wasn’t omnipotent but he had enough control to help guide a lost soul when he saw one. Something about Neal Caffrey had fascinated him from the first day he started the case. There had been a call left on a bank answering machine, something most criminals would never think to do. The message had been a normal run of the mill request but in the voice was something else. There was a sense the person was looking for more than what they had asked for. Call it a gut feeling but Peter had played the message over and over, hearing more and more in the simple words than just the message itself. Over time he finally had a picture of the young man he was chasing, a green lollipop a gift for his trouble. Apparently his quarry was just as fascinated with him. In time they played the game of cat and mouse until that fateful day he captured one of the trickiest criminals of his career. It had been worth the time and effort but the chase was over and Neal Caffrey was now behind bars. He could go back to a normal schedule, spend time with his wife and yet… like clockwork, every year on his birthday came a card.
Happy Birthday to the best Federal Agent in New York City.
I wish you nothing but the best.
NC
It started simply, every message different yet like the words from the bank answering machine, there was something else there. Something he couldn’t ignore, despite his new caseloads pushing Neal Caffrey into the background, his attention would return once more as another birthday passed and a new card arrived then or even on his anniversary. How did this criminal know so much about him? Why did he care?
Peter sighed… his mind on bigger issues now as he glanced across from his new office as ASAC at the bullpen below. Jones was busy working on his caseload, a phone receiver attached to his ear. He looked deep in conversation about whatever case he was working on while other agents were bustling around. The only person that wasn’t moving in a rush at the moment seemed busy with something else, hunched over their desk concentrating on something that looked more like origami than paperwork. Peter frowned, seeing the “unhappy father” look on his face Neal teased him about so many times reflected in the glass of his office. Sometimes he felt like a father although El and he had never discussed children. It just wasn’t an option now. They were far too busy with their jobs not to mention his hours. Jones had once said he didn’t want to saddle anyone with a child while he worked such long hours as an agent. Peter felt the same way but now he was helping to rehabilitate a young man who had come from a less than happy environment. The cat and mouse were friends, his faith in the ex-con possibly more than was deserved at times but not necessarily unwarranted. He rose from his seat, moving over to the door and stepping out to the stairs. Several agents including Jones looked up at him curiously as he passed but he ignored them for a moment, his eyes on the man he had arrested twice and taken under his wing as a consultant.
“Neal…”
He kept his voice level, watching the CI building what appeared to be a boat of some kind. Neal didn’t look up, completely rapt up in his task. Once the object was done, a little gondola from the looks of it, Peter spoke again.
“Neal…”
Two glitteringly blue eyes stared up at him, blinking in surprise followed by a slight flush of the cheeks indicated he had not been ignored but unnoticed.
“Peter… I have my report done.”
That voice was bright despite a hint of subterfuge as they handed him a folder. Neal was always hiding something but Peter could only hope it wasn’t anything that could get him in trouble or at the very least put his friend in jail. He nodded, smiling. Kramer’s words continued to haunt him but he refused to give up. Even Siegel had given up on his own CI, a man who had merely forged lottery tickets. Neal had done far worse than that, many of his cons helping with Federal cases while a few others on the side he could only guess at. Plausible deniability. It was all he could stand behind when it came to Neal Caffrey and for what it was worth, a part of him refused to give up on such a remarkably smart person with so much more than crimes to commit.
“Put it on my desk. Actually… I was headed for some coffee down the street. Walk with me.”
It wasn’t a request but Neal never said no to coffee outside of the office. Even after having fixed the coffee machine and figuring out how to make it himself, Peter had to say it was better just getting it from the deli down the street. The con stood, clearing the debris of small items folded and otherwise into a drawer, pulled on his jacket and they were off. Jones gave them a brief nod as they stood waiting for the elevator, Peter putting the agent in charge without a word spoken. The doors opened and both men stepped inside, Neal immediately pushing the button for the lobby.
“So, you wanted to talk. Let’s talk.”
Neal had gotten to the point, not something he normally initiated on his own but he read Peter almost as well as the agent could him. They were funny that way.
“Just wondering how things were. Elizabeth says hi.”
He wasn’t sure how to breach the topic but he had to keep abreast of his friend or at least try to. Neal wasn’t as secretive as he used to be but it had taken some teeth pulling to find out about Rebecca. He saw the immediate change in Neal, that charming facade taking over even when it was just a mere question of “how’s the weather?” The con never just told it as it was.
“Things are good but you know that. I’m sure you check my anklet every night.”
Neal chuckled slightly after that comment but it was without humor and only a hint of teasing. Peter smirked back.
“Possibly…”
He didn’t get to say anything more, the elevator stopping at the lobby. They walked out, exiting the building as they headed for the coffee shop / deli. They chit chatted along the way but there was that hidden tension of cat and mouse still evident. Neal seemed unlike his usual self lately, something about his visit with Dr. Summers having changed his friend. They still hadn’t discussed every detail, but that night when Peter had tried asking a very drugged up Neal about Siegel he saw that his friend actually knew nothing. Mozzie had interrupted any chance of asking the con more, the case with Summers taking precedence. Neal had told him lots of things that evening but they were beyond the statute of limitations and mostly silly stuff like stealing from someone’s purse in 7th grade. It wasn’t exactly what he expected to hear but Neal had revealed his tendency for small time larceny bringing up the case of Scott Rivers. The CI had identified with Rivers on several levels. It had brought a new light on why his friend was the way he was or at most another insight into his psyche. Peter was always wanting to dig and find more out about people and Neal was someone who had layers just waiting to be opened up. The more he learned the more he wanted to know. The agent liked to know why and the con was the perfect subject.
“I just wanted to be sure everything was good with you. I know I’ve been busy with meetings so we haven’t had a chance to talk. I’m always available for you, Neal. Remember that.”
Peter had tried pulling away from the con man now that he was ASAC but being in the field was still very much a part of him. It was why he liked being an agent. Meetings and schmoozing VIPs wasn’t something he enjoyed but he had let his wife help when spouses were allowed to after hour get togethers. He couldn’t change who he was any more than Neal. That was beginning to dawn on him and the idea he missed working with the con man. It wasn’t the excitement but the fact they both liked the thrill of the chase and solving puzzles. In that respect they were very much alike.
“Nothing exciting on my end, Peter. Just light reading and some painting when I have time. Tell Elizabeth hi back.”
()()()
That was Tuesday, now it was Thursday and Peter had been busy with all manner of meetings with VIPS, OPR, other department heads and an assortment of cases. Their department was like a well oiled machine, Jones taking up the slack where needed and Peter keeping his best attention on Neal when he wasn’t busy with other stuff. The end of the week was coming all too fast, the ASAC coming to his office just to grab a few files when he noticed the empty desk. His attention wasn’t on why it was empty as he rushed by, practically running up the stairs to get what was needed. He didn’t want to be late but that empty desk nagged at him, Jones just walking back in when he reentered the bullpen and was heading out. There was a look on the agent’s face something he recognized immediately as he paused long enough to say hi.
“Jones… how are things?”
He kept it simple, the agent giving him a worried look only he could see.
“Curious. Caffrey went on a coffee run about 30 minutes ago. He’s not back yet.”
The agent was being coy but obviously concerned about Neal’s whereabouts. They were all busy on various files, getting a catch up on some old cold cases. Neal was supposed to be working on a pile that was still sitting on the con’s desk and seemingly untouched. Peter nodded, unable to put a hold on his meeting as he gave the agent permission to go look for their missing colleague.
“Keep it quiet. Let me know what you find.”
()()()
Thankfully Peter wasn’t in charge of this meeting. It was Ruiz from Organized Crime, the agent talking about things that should be relevant had he not been preoccupied watching for signs of Caffrey’s anklet online with his phone. He wasn’t being obvious about it, answering questions when fielded with them but at some point he noted that Neal hadn’t moved from a spot for a few minutes, wondering if Jones had found the con yet.
“Agent Burke… I do hope I’m not boring you with my presentation.”
He glanced up to see Ruiz looking at him as were a couple of other SACs. He pushed his phone into his pocket, feeling embarrassed among other things. It was well known they were workplace rivals. Ruiz didn’t like him mostly because of Neal but they’d been at odds a long time before the con had come to work with him and although he didn’t envy the agent being head of Organized Crimes he definitely understood a bit more of his troubles being in that same boat now at White Collar.
“My apologies.”
He was trying to be polite but Ruiz was the kind of person who didn’t let things go. He could already see the gleam in the SAC’s eye getting ready to run him through and embarrass him yet again.
“Don’t tell me your pet con is up to something again, Burke.”
He smirked, a couple of the other senior agents present chuckling quietly. As much as his department was admired for their closure rate, there was a running joke about his consultant being nothing more than a conniving con using Burke as his own personal chump. He’d heard the rumors and ignored them knowing they didn’t understand what was going on. He was about to remark when he saw he had a text. It was from Jones.
Caffrey’s jumped ship.
Peter blinked, reading the text again and frowning as he stood up and forgot about Ruiz’s remark.
“I’m sorry gentlemen but I have something to take care of.”
He didn’t stop to wait for any comments or answer any questions as he hurried off. Peter’s cheeks felt flush as he realized maybe Ruiz was right for once. Neal was up to something and if he hadn’t been watching… Now he pulled up the data on his phone again and saw the ping had gone offline, replaying it up until Jones had called to see that it had disappeared near the Brooklyn Bridge. Neal… what are you up to? He was embarrassed but mostly he was pissed.
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