New White Collar Fic: A Woman of Heart and Lenience (PG, Gen).

[vain_glorious]

Elizabeth Burke didn’t want to see Neal Caffrey. Initially, right after they rescued her from Keller, Peter said she wasn’t up for visitors. She spent a day and a half in the hospital. Longer than typical for the broken arm and bruises she’d gotten trying to fight off Keller. It was probably mostly so the FBI could clean up her ransacked home and

Comments

[micheleeeex]

I love this!

[vain_glorious]

Thanks! :)

[damietta]

I loved that Reese, Diana et al called Elizabeth. They, too, wanted things to go "back to normal". You did a great job of showing Neal's dispair (I really liked that he was looking at his contract) and his complete surprise when El showed up.

[vain_glorious]

Thanks for the feedback. :)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I nearly didn't read your story because I was afraid it would be a woobie Neal story where poor Neal is oppressed for things beyond his control by mean people like Peter. I'm glad I gave it a try: I can't believe that Peter would shun Neal like a schoolkid, but I can easily believe that he would pull back from him because El was upset, and that he'd spend a lot more time with her. Of course he'd then fail to notice when she didn't want him spending all that time with her any more. Peter is very dependable but not awfully subtle! It's right that he makes El his top priority, but he doesn't entirely understand.

I can also believe that Neal wouldn't know how to handle such a change in their relationship, because Neal has some surprising gaps in his self-knowledge and even his knowledge of other people. Winding up Diana is not wise!

Most of all, I can believe that Elizabeth would be hurt and afraid and wouldn't want to be around anyone for a while, but she would make the first move

[vain_glorious]

Yeah...I'm not a fan of Woobies. I tried very, very hard to avoid anything like that and I hope it worked. I'm so glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the comment! :)

[daria234]

Love this

El was great, Peter was believable, Neal's angst was great, Alex rocked, and the tantrum was my favorite

[vain_glorious]

Thanks for the comment! :)

[sholio]

Okay, that was adorable (in a slightly heartbreaking way). I can see the fallout after Countdown happening just like this -- everyone ending up entrenched in their little corners, each unhappy in their own way, everyone a little messed up and everyone assuming they know what's going on with the others, but no one actually talking about it. Actually, I think this might be my favorite post-Countdown story of the ones that I've read. It was excellent. :) (Also, yay for Alex putting in an appearance!)

[vain_glorious]

Thanks for the comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed. :)