Fic: I've Done Made the Devil a Deal chapter 7 (Rachel-centric, PG-13)
Title: I've Done Made the Devil a Deal
Chapter title: But My Dark Side's True (5x11: Shot Through the Heart)
Fandom: White Collar
Wordcount: ~1400 (this chapter)
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Rachel Turner, Neal, Peter, Hagen
Pairing(s): Rachel/Neal
Contains: Canonical character deaths
Notes: The fic will eventually have spoilers through 6x01. Even early chapter should be assumed to have spoilers for the whole of season 5. Fic title comes from "Hell on Heels" by the Pistol Annies. Chapter title comes from "Kinda Outta Luck" by Lana Del Rey. This fic is completed, but I'm going to posting chapters every few days in order to not spam my flist. (Or, well, that was the plan. The advantage to posting a completed fic is that there aren't long delays. Unless the author is a COMPLETE FLAKE.)
Summary: Rachel nearly has her hands on the score of a lifetime, if only she can keep control. But nothing's going to go quite the way she planned. (Rachel's POV of episodes 5x03-6x01)
First chapter
Previous chapter
At first, Rachel intends to keep to her lunch plans with Caffrey, but she ends up going to his place early. She can't wait any longer to ask him about his plans to find the diamond.
(There's an urge in her that demands to see him, to make sure that he's really there, to prove all over again that he hasn't been taken away from her. It's irrational, and Rachel ignores it.)
Caffrey's guilt about leaving her alone yesterday is typical of him, but even less necessary than he realizes. If he had stuck around, she wouldn't have been able to kill Hagen. His absence saved both him and Rachel.
But Caffrey's tension melts away easily. She still feels an edge to him, but without further information, she'll attribute that to residual emotion over her kidnapping. He does get worked up.
As much as Rachel came to talk about the Codex and the diamond, she doesn't mind watching Caffrey play out his little charade with Agent Burke. In fact, she rather enjoys sharing in such an innocent conspiracy. It's certainly a change.
She remembers to react with surprise when Caffrey tells her Hagen is dead. Poor Rebecca is quite shocked at the news. Rebecca would never wish anyone dead.
It's not hard to play ignorant about the circumstances of Hagen's death. How could someone like Rebecca be expected to have any information?
Something is still not right about Caffrey, but Rachel still can't quite identify what. She figures it out only when she finally starts to push him for information on the codex. As usual, he's decided that he has to protect her. Rachel wonders how many times this game will be required. Playing Rebecca does has a few downsides. She believes that all she'll have to do is threaten to pull away, and he'll cave just as he always has before, but then he surprises her with talk of leaving behind that part of his life. Rachel's incredulous laugh is not faked. People like them don't change. But Caffrey insists, insists that he could do it for her.
Rachel almost doesn't know what to say to that. She can't imagine what Rebecca would say. Of all the things she expected from Caffrey, this was never one of them.
It's ridiculous. All that she's done has been for the Mosconi's treasure, the diamond. Getting close to Caffrey was entirely for that purpose. And now her plan has worked too well.
Rachel has thought very little about what she'll do after she has the diamond. Purchase expensive real estate and never work again, yes, but what else? Neal seems to have his long term plans worked out, but they'll never happen. They can't.
She's saved from having to answer him when her phone alerts her that her apartment has been breached. One problem follows another today. Is it the FBI? Did Hagen have allies he kept even from her? Or is some completely separate enemy? Rachel has no shortage of them.
Caffrey of course doesn't understand why has has to leave so suddenly, and Rachel admits it looks strange. But any worries she had about assuaging possible suspicions disappear with what Caffrey says next.
Unlike his declaration to change his life for her, a confession of love is not unexpected. Or at least, it shouldn't be. But Rachel finds herself speechless all over again. Luckily, Rebecca doesn't know what to say either. She's glad to be able to make her escape.
The source of the perimeter breach is by all evidence a fallen menu, which hardly counts as an active threat, but that's only one problem down.
Caffrey's in love with her. Neal is in love her, and Rachel shouldn't feel anything at that but she does. She knows she's grown more attached to Neal than she should, but it never got in her way, so she allowed it. And he was so useful. He's still useful.
She could still convince him to go after the diamond. It might not be easy, but she could do it. And with that score the two of them could do anything. Together. She'd convince him to convince Rebecca to leave with him, they'd buy their castle, or villa, or whatever, and do... whatever they wanted.
But things are going to have to change. Rebecca has to become more than a cover story. Rebecca has to become her entirety, because it's Rebecca Neal loves. And she can do it. She can be Rebecca, and Neal will never have to know she was ever anyone else. A few lies to protect them both. Neal would understand, if he could know. Lies are what keep people safe.
She has to get rid of anything that isn't Rebecca. And she has to let Neal know how she feels. His confession deserves an answer. “I love you too.” She doesn't even fully understand that she means it until she says it, but it's true. She's in love with him.
She can't remember ever being this happy. It's too strange, but she doesn't want it to stop. And that's when it all starts to go wrong.
She wants to laugh in Burke's face when he tells her Neal is under suspicion for killing Hagen. As if Neal could ever be a killer. But of course the FBI would believe that. Like all law enforcement, they're ungraceful brutes looking for an easy target. There's a lot she doesn't know about Neal Caffrey? She knows everything she needs to.
This is bad. This is too close to both of them. She won't see Neal go down for this. She'll protect him.
Unfortunately, it turns out there are indeed some things she didn't know about Neal. Such as the fact that he's an even better liar than she thought. Such as the fact that he knows who she really. Such as the fact that he's willing to sell her out.
She's furious. After everything she was going to give up for him, this is how he repays her? She should have known.
She knows where they'll go, so it's easy to lie in wait. It would be so easy to pick them all off, but that would create such a mess. FBI agents slaughtered en masse would not help her situation. But when Neal and Burke get too close to her go bag, doing something becomes necessary. That's not her only go bag, but it is her most well stocked, and most expedient one. Finding it would provide far too many clues.
She should kill Neal. That would put an end to his interference, and guarantee Agent Burke being to distracted to find anything. But her guts clench, and she realizes that Neal's betrayal has not caused her feelings to disappear. She can't hurt him. But nor can she stand by and allow this to happen, and besides, Neal should learn that actions have consequences. So she grazes him. Once the shot is fired, she has go. Hopefully it will distract him and Burke. Hopefully it will remind him what she's capable of.
Later, Rachel almost ignores Neal's message. He's proved as untrustworthy as Hagen in his own way. But he's promising her the diamond, and she can't afford to give that up. Not after all this.
She should make the exchange and get out. Instead, she lets herself weaken. Neal is offering her everything she wants, and after all they've been through together, it's possible to believe that he wants her as much she wants him.
But he doesn't. Rachel is as angry at herself for falling for Neal's trap as she is with him for setting it. Maybe that's why she doesn't kill him after all he's done to deserve it. (It's not why.)
He doesn't know what he's talking about. Rachel doesn't hate herself or her life. Neal's as great a fool about her as he is about everything else. Rachel's life was fine until he started interfering.
Being caught by the FBI isn't the end. Neal may not realize it, but she's been playing nice up til now. She'll even give him warning. The fact that he takes her call speaks volumes. He's not as immune to her as he thinks he is. She can use that. There's plenty she can use. She's not out of the game yet.
This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/419314.html. Please consider commenting there.
Chapter title: But My Dark Side's True (5x11: Shot Through the Heart)
Fandom: White Collar
Wordcount: ~1400 (this chapter)
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Rachel Turner, Neal, Peter, Hagen
Pairing(s): Rachel/Neal
Contains: Canonical character deaths
Notes: The fic will eventually have spoilers through 6x01. Even early chapter should be assumed to have spoilers for the whole of season 5. Fic title comes from "Hell on Heels" by the Pistol Annies. Chapter title comes from "Kinda Outta Luck" by Lana Del Rey. This fic is completed, but I'm going to posting chapters every few days in order to not spam my flist. (Or, well, that was the plan. The advantage to posting a completed fic is that there aren't long delays. Unless the author is a COMPLETE FLAKE.)
Summary: Rachel nearly has her hands on the score of a lifetime, if only she can keep control. But nothing's going to go quite the way she planned. (Rachel's POV of episodes 5x03-6x01)
First chapter
Previous chapter
At first, Rachel intends to keep to her lunch plans with Caffrey, but she ends up going to his place early. She can't wait any longer to ask him about his plans to find the diamond.
(There's an urge in her that demands to see him, to make sure that he's really there, to prove all over again that he hasn't been taken away from her. It's irrational, and Rachel ignores it.)
Caffrey's guilt about leaving her alone yesterday is typical of him, but even less necessary than he realizes. If he had stuck around, she wouldn't have been able to kill Hagen. His absence saved both him and Rachel.
But Caffrey's tension melts away easily. She still feels an edge to him, but without further information, she'll attribute that to residual emotion over her kidnapping. He does get worked up.
As much as Rachel came to talk about the Codex and the diamond, she doesn't mind watching Caffrey play out his little charade with Agent Burke. In fact, she rather enjoys sharing in such an innocent conspiracy. It's certainly a change.
She remembers to react with surprise when Caffrey tells her Hagen is dead. Poor Rebecca is quite shocked at the news. Rebecca would never wish anyone dead.
It's not hard to play ignorant about the circumstances of Hagen's death. How could someone like Rebecca be expected to have any information?
Something is still not right about Caffrey, but Rachel still can't quite identify what. She figures it out only when she finally starts to push him for information on the codex. As usual, he's decided that he has to protect her. Rachel wonders how many times this game will be required. Playing Rebecca does has a few downsides. She believes that all she'll have to do is threaten to pull away, and he'll cave just as he always has before, but then he surprises her with talk of leaving behind that part of his life. Rachel's incredulous laugh is not faked. People like them don't change. But Caffrey insists, insists that he could do it for her.
Rachel almost doesn't know what to say to that. She can't imagine what Rebecca would say. Of all the things she expected from Caffrey, this was never one of them.
It's ridiculous. All that she's done has been for the Mosconi's treasure, the diamond. Getting close to Caffrey was entirely for that purpose. And now her plan has worked too well.
Rachel has thought very little about what she'll do after she has the diamond. Purchase expensive real estate and never work again, yes, but what else? Neal seems to have his long term plans worked out, but they'll never happen. They can't.
She's saved from having to answer him when her phone alerts her that her apartment has been breached. One problem follows another today. Is it the FBI? Did Hagen have allies he kept even from her? Or is some completely separate enemy? Rachel has no shortage of them.
Caffrey of course doesn't understand why has has to leave so suddenly, and Rachel admits it looks strange. But any worries she had about assuaging possible suspicions disappear with what Caffrey says next.
Unlike his declaration to change his life for her, a confession of love is not unexpected. Or at least, it shouldn't be. But Rachel finds herself speechless all over again. Luckily, Rebecca doesn't know what to say either. She's glad to be able to make her escape.
The source of the perimeter breach is by all evidence a fallen menu, which hardly counts as an active threat, but that's only one problem down.
Caffrey's in love with her. Neal is in love her, and Rachel shouldn't feel anything at that but she does. She knows she's grown more attached to Neal than she should, but it never got in her way, so she allowed it. And he was so useful. He's still useful.
She could still convince him to go after the diamond. It might not be easy, but she could do it. And with that score the two of them could do anything. Together. She'd convince him to convince Rebecca to leave with him, they'd buy their castle, or villa, or whatever, and do... whatever they wanted.
But things are going to have to change. Rebecca has to become more than a cover story. Rebecca has to become her entirety, because it's Rebecca Neal loves. And she can do it. She can be Rebecca, and Neal will never have to know she was ever anyone else. A few lies to protect them both. Neal would understand, if he could know. Lies are what keep people safe.
She has to get rid of anything that isn't Rebecca. And she has to let Neal know how she feels. His confession deserves an answer. “I love you too.” She doesn't even fully understand that she means it until she says it, but it's true. She's in love with him.
She can't remember ever being this happy. It's too strange, but she doesn't want it to stop. And that's when it all starts to go wrong.
She wants to laugh in Burke's face when he tells her Neal is under suspicion for killing Hagen. As if Neal could ever be a killer. But of course the FBI would believe that. Like all law enforcement, they're ungraceful brutes looking for an easy target. There's a lot she doesn't know about Neal Caffrey? She knows everything she needs to.
This is bad. This is too close to both of them. She won't see Neal go down for this. She'll protect him.
Unfortunately, it turns out there are indeed some things she didn't know about Neal. Such as the fact that he's an even better liar than she thought. Such as the fact that he knows who she really. Such as the fact that he's willing to sell her out.
She's furious. After everything she was going to give up for him, this is how he repays her? She should have known.
She knows where they'll go, so it's easy to lie in wait. It would be so easy to pick them all off, but that would create such a mess. FBI agents slaughtered en masse would not help her situation. But when Neal and Burke get too close to her go bag, doing something becomes necessary. That's not her only go bag, but it is her most well stocked, and most expedient one. Finding it would provide far too many clues.
She should kill Neal. That would put an end to his interference, and guarantee Agent Burke being to distracted to find anything. But her guts clench, and she realizes that Neal's betrayal has not caused her feelings to disappear. She can't hurt him. But nor can she stand by and allow this to happen, and besides, Neal should learn that actions have consequences. So she grazes him. Once the shot is fired, she has go. Hopefully it will distract him and Burke. Hopefully it will remind him what she's capable of.
Later, Rachel almost ignores Neal's message. He's proved as untrustworthy as Hagen in his own way. But he's promising her the diamond, and she can't afford to give that up. Not after all this.
She should make the exchange and get out. Instead, she lets herself weaken. Neal is offering her everything she wants, and after all they've been through together, it's possible to believe that he wants her as much she wants him.
But he doesn't. Rachel is as angry at herself for falling for Neal's trap as she is with him for setting it. Maybe that's why she doesn't kill him after all he's done to deserve it. (It's not why.)
He doesn't know what he's talking about. Rachel doesn't hate herself or her life. Neal's as great a fool about her as he is about everything else. Rachel's life was fine until he started interfering.
Being caught by the FBI isn't the end. Neal may not realize it, but she's been playing nice up til now. She'll even give him warning. The fact that he takes her call speaks volumes. He's not as immune to her as he thinks he is. She can use that. There's plenty she can use. She's not out of the game yet.
This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/419314.html. Please consider commenting there.