Peter practically chugged his beer and ordered another. Sharing a look with Neal, he tipped the bartender well and made sure he kept it coming for both of their glasses. When his food arrived, he dug into to it. Mostly because he didn't want to drink on an empty stomach. He wasn't even really hungry, just that he knew he needed to eat so that he could drink. When he got home later, he was sure El was going to hate him. She might even make him sleep on the sofa when he told her everything.
He paused, swallowing his bite and wiping his mouth with a napkin. Looking up at Neal, he nodded his head. "I was. Hell, I wanted to wear the hat." But that was another story. One clearly Neal wasn't ready for. Things had been so good before Kramer stuck his nose in. If only there was a way to get him. He was sure that Neal would have gotten his freedom if Kramer hadn't bothered them. Then he really would have found out how Neal felt.
"You would?" Peter was sure he felt his heart skip a beat. It had to have. That was the one thing he wanted to hear. The only thing that he wanted to hear. It was as close to an admittal as he'd ever get. Maybe, just maybe, Neal did feel a way about him. “You know me, Neal. I’m not the type of man to beg. But...” He sighed. “I’m putting it all on the line here. For you.”
He reached out and grabbed his beer, taking another long swig. "I would try to get my job back. I would go back, Neal, but only if you're there with me."
There were at least two more glasses of wine ordered to go with the salmon something or another Neal had ordered and it seemed like burying themselves in food and alcohol was setting the tone for their lunch. So much unsaid and even more said that, in some ways, was kind of worse. At least the words Neal said because they were at least 30-50% lies.
Eventually, even the food and rather good wine weren't enough to keep him from reacting to the things Peter was saying. There was something about getting his job back and, moreover, getting Neal's back too? Neal wasn't sure if that was even what Peter wanted but it certainly was what he wanted. That or some other way to not have to live like this any more. Maybe he had gotten a bit used to the straight life.
"Is that even possible? I've been on the run for months now. The FBI is going to take one look at me and it'll be cuffs and congratulations to Peter Burke on his most elusive collar."
That wasn't meant to be a jab at Peter. It was the honest way Neal felt. He'd gotten himself in so deep, diamond or not, that he was convinced he was a wanted man for life. For just a minute, there was a flash of that desperation in Neal's eyes. Peter had seen it before when he'd been ready to board the plane with Kate and when it was looking like he was going to take the fall under Kramer's supervision.
Food and alcohol were a good lunchtime tone. They had done it before in the past. Though the last time they did, he didn't remember there being so much emotion and tension in the air. He sat there, digging into his food and thinking over what they were talking about. Peter was somewhat positive that the things Neal were saying were true, but he couldn't tell anymore where the truth ended and the lie began. And that hurt.
Peter shook his head. "Stop that right now, Caffrey." He glared up at Neal. "If that was part of it, then I wouldn't go back. I'm not arresting you again. I care..." He swallowed, realizing it was too late to turn back now. "I care too much to do that. We make a deal or I don't even think about going back."
He took another long sip of his beer and waved a finger at Neal. "There has to be a way. If we can only catch Kramer. Maybe I wear a wire and we get him on tape. I would just need enough to play for Hughes. He could help. He saw your success rate. I know that I could get him to believe in you." Now who was lying? Hughes believe in Neal? Peter shook his head. He had to try though. It was Neal.
“Do you remember what we talked about Neal? That long time ago when you were going to get on the plane with Kate? Why you didn’t say goodbye to me?” He smiled up at his friend. Yes, friend. “Do you remember what I said to you? You can think that you’re a con man. Maybe you are, but you’re a good man too. You make a difference. You help people, Neal.”
He sighed. “Do I have to start name dropping all the good that you’ve done for the FBI? They were going to give you a commutation hearing, Neal. That has to count for something. We can go after Kramer. We can try to get our jobs back. We can do all that, but I’m not going to bother if we’re not doing it together.”
It wasn't as though Neal actually thought that Peter was trying to use his arrest to fuel a career advance. There just seemed to be no other way things could play out, at least in the narrow field of vision Neal had pared himself down to in the last few months. At first, he'd thought about it constantly. Time and again Mozzie had to tell him it was a fantasy more ridiculous than any of their planned heists. And now, well Neal believed it.
"I mean, let's say, hypothetically, there was a way. At the end of all of it, I don't end up in prison? Sure, absolutely. I'll shake your hand right now and we have a deal." More wine and a big breath. "But let's say it all goes wrong. Then what do I do? There's no risk for you Peter. You don't work it out you're still already gainfully employeed. You don't work it out and me? I'm in prison because I came out of hiding."
There. The first really honest thing, no lies, nothing, he'd said. Even putting his fears on the table was hard for Neal. Running a hand through his hair, something he'd started doing after too much time around Peter, there was a shakey sigh. This conversation was eliciting too many sighs!
It was a bit of pushing his food around on his plate before he said anything more.
"Do you really think we could pull it off?"
Because maybe, just maybe he could be convinced. If anyone could, it was Peter Burke.
Neal had every right to be frightened. He was frightened. He was scared to death that this would not end well and Neal would go back to prison. It was why he had left the FBI and gone to Sara when she offered a job for him. Peter didn't want to see Neal in prison again. He really wanted to to think that he'd had an impact on Neal's life. There had to be some way to make it all right again. He smirked up at Neal, just picturing what Mozzie might say when Neal told him about all this. Oh to be a fly on that wall.
"How about this." He looked up at Neal, biting his bottom lip. "You talk to Mozzie and you don't pull this con. I know, the one you're not here to do." He held up his hand, stopping Neal from arguing. "Trust me on this, if you pull it, it won't help your case." Peter took a long sip of his beer, thinking over what he wanted to say. "You go into hiding and you stay hiding while I make some calls. You and Moz are good at that. Leave New York if you have to, but we get a few burn phones so that we can talk."
He reached up, running a hand through his hair. It helped him to think. "I'll talk to Diana and Hughes. You know, Diana told them at your hearing she thought you should go free."
"I make sure that I get everything in writing before I even hint that I know where you are. Whatever happens, you don't contact me or call me unless it's the burn phones because that's how they will find us." The one good thing about scamming the FBI was that Peter knew what they would look for. He smiled at Neal. "I think that if anyone can pull it off, we can?"
There was that moment's hesitation. Neal was listening and it wasn't just because he had to. Guarantees were made and, truth be told, he was already considering backing out of the con regardless. Peter had shown up and that didn't mean others might not too. This was now far too high profile for the city he was in. Well, it really was all along but running into Peter had gotten into his head.
Either way, con he was admitting to or not, he had equal reason to listen. There was something about the way Peter was thinking that actually sounded promising. Part of that was because Peter really was a good man. A far better man than Neal was, or so Neal felt anyways. He was what inspired Neal to try at all. So, given a taste of that Burke inspiration he'd missed, he was willing to at least talk.
"Okay. Now you're thinking in a way that sounds a lot less like a walk down the yellow brick road to prison." There was the smallest smile and nod of agreement. "We could. Look, do your thing and make your calls. If you can actually make this go away..."
That trail off was kind of like a promise. Ish. For Neal at any rate.
Mozzie was going to dump his body in the Hudson and Peter was never going to see him again.
The fact that Peter was able to get through to Neal really made him feel good. He smiled, finishing his beer and throwing some money down on the bar to cover them both. It wasn't that he thought Neal couldn't pull off the job. Far from it. He just knows that if Neal wants to come back, one more job isn't a good thing to have on his record.
And whether he believed it or not, Neal was a good man. He'd made good choices and done good things since meeting the Burke's. El had even fallen in love with him. They both thought of Neal as one of their friends and they never wanted to lose that connection. The time without him had been hard.
"You're having an influence on me, Caffrey." He winked and turned his stool to face Neal outright. "I can't make promises, but it's a start. Let's go get those burn phones and part ways before someone sees you." He smiles and reaches out, gently slapping the back of Neal's shoulder. His hand lingered a little longer than it needed to.
"Neal... Thank you for coming back. I mean it. It's... It's been tough without you."
Neal stood still that moment Peter's hand lingered. He'd missed him far more than he was willing to put into words. Closing his eyes, Neal savored the moment. Soon he'd be back in hiding. Everything was going to go back to where it was before and just like that bottle of wine he'd obsessed over, Neal would find something new to be fixated on. A dream and a wish he could return to his life before, with his only hope being trusting Peter.
Once before he'd told the older man that he was the only one he trusted, and he'd meant it. If there was anyone he was willing to hold out for, it was Peter. Puling back on his jacket and adjusting his glasses, Neal almost hated to go back to being Michael Stanton. He just wanted to be Neal Caffrey, parter and friend to Peter Burke. He missed him absolutely terribly, even if he hadn't shown it like he should of.
"I..." Neal shifted a little. "It hasn't been easy for me either."
Said softly, it was another moment of honesty too.
Peter stood up and shrugged on his jacket. He wanted to just get back to the way things used to be. Maybe they could actually do it. He hoped that he could. He didn't want Neal to go back in hiding. He wanted Neal to be there, back by his side where he belonged. They had over a 90 percent success rate. And he knew it was because of Neal. It wasn't just work that he missed about Neal too.
"It hasn't been easy for me either."
"Neal..." Before he could stop himself, he gave Neal another hug. This one, he wouldn't let Neal punk out of. His arms wrapped around Neal and he didn't want to let go. It didn't last long. The last thing he wanted to do was make Neal feel awkward. He didn't give a shit about Michael Stanton. But he had very strong feelings for Neal Caffrey.
He knew he was lingering. He knew that he needed to pull away, but he couldn't. Neal was finally here, back with him once more. He needed his fix before he lost him again.
That hug was almost more than he could bear. This time it was returned. It was for a moment but his arms wrapped around Peter in a sweet embrace. They didn't have long, even this long was putting his cover at risk. At the very least it didn't seem one sided. Peter was lingering almost as long as Neal was.
Finally there was an uncomfortable clearing of his throat and he pulled back. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Neal had to stop. He wasn't going to be able to be on the run and hide if he got too comfortable with being Neal Caffrey again. Part of being Neal Caffrey, of being himself as he wanted to be, was being by Peter's side.
Rubbing a hand along the back of his neck, Neal nodded and managed to even lead the way. There was a place with a faulty camera that he doubted had ever fixed it. It was one of his choice places in the upper east side for burn phones. Soon enough they came upon a small convenience store with dozens of signs crowding up all the windows.
"Here we are." Neal didn't want their lunch to be over, but soon enough it would be.
"Stay here." Peter went into the shop and bought two burn phones. He also made sure to buy a charger for each of them. He didn't know about the shop or the cameras. If anything, he wanted it to be him caught on the video footage, not Neal. As he walked out, he realized he didn't want their lunch to be over either. It meant that they were parting ways and he wasn't ready to do that yet.
Heading out of the store, he looked left and right before facing Neal. "Let's go somewhere that we can open these and exchange phone numbers." He hated to say it, but he was thinking like a criminal. "There are a few fleabag hotels that will work. They're not far from here." They weren't exactly in the nicest part of town.
Reaching out, he wrapped an arm around Neal's shoulders, pulling him close. He was brief, before letting go again. He didn't mind being touchy feely.
That little bit of a criminal that Peter could be was something that always amused Neal when they'd worked together. The man had spent so long fighting crime that he knew it better than almost anyone else. With Neal's input, tweaks, and practical experience, they could have made a dazzling pair in the underworld. As it was, they were a great pair when working the legitimate angle.
"Well, well, well, you started paying attention," Neal said, poking Peter in the side. He wanted to stay like this forever. Step out of being Michael Stanton and into Neal Caffrey again. "Lead the way then, criminal mastermind."
At this point, he should have already wrapped at the museum, gone to his Smithsonian funded hotel, and hooked up with Mozzie. The fact that he was late wasn't going to go over with his friend well. When Moz learned where Neal had been? They were going to have it out. For now though, he was going to soak in these last few minutes.
There was a chance he wouldn't see Peter again like this, even if he tried to stick to the plan. There were still risks.
That tiny little bit of criminal in Peter had emerged a few times on cases. He didn't do it often, but he did do it. And he'd learned it all from Neal. Sometimes when you need to solve a case, you do what you need to do. He had learned a lot from Neal. Once, he did think about them as a crime team. In the end, though, he couldn't do it. He was too honest. Working the solving crimes angle just felt more real to him. Still, it didn't mean he didn't like it when they did play criminals.
"I learned a thing or two. I had a very good teacher." He winked at Neal and led him down the street and around a corner. After a few minutes of walking, they ended up at a motel nobody would ever look for them at. He rented a room for one night under a false name and paid in cash. Heading up to the room, he opened the door and went inside. "Lock it," he said sternly. There were risks. And he was trying to help negate some of them.
The room was small and not decorated very nicely. It put the flea in fleabag. Shrugging off his jacket, he pulled a chair and sat down at the small table inside. Pulling a knife out of his pocket, he began to open the burn phone package and set it up. "We'll program the numbers into our phones but no names. Okay?" He looked up at Neal, a dark look in his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, he cared a lot more for Neal than he was saying. Maybe he was taking this more seriously than even Neal was giving him credit for.
"I promise you, Neal. If this doesn't work, I... I'll see you again. I have to." He swallowed and went back to working on the phone.
Neal hadn't even gone in. No sense in being seen together and recognized later. Once Peter had come back out and around the side, the two of them went back indoors. Up two flights of stairs, with bare bulbs blinking all the while, it wasn't an impressive room by any means once they were locked in. Neal was already flipping the metal bracket and hooking the chain as Peter made his suggestion.
"Come on now. It's me." There was a grin. He knew what he was doing. Taking a seat at the edge of the bed, he was already going at his own phone with a pocket tool. Okay so maybe he wasn't totally on the up and up but really, it was smart to carry tools of the trade! "I won't be calling anyone else so I don't think names are needed."
Names, pictures, anything that constituted normal interaction couldn't happen. One whiff of Neal Caffrey before Peter said it was safe and they were going to to never meet again without bulletproof glass between them and a prison phone to talk on. Glancing at Peter, when he thought the older man wasn't looking, Neal felt his heart break just a little.
This wasn't how this weekend was supposed to go! And now, all he could think about wasn't the Hope Diamond. It was Peter Burke.
As Moz would accuse him of later, it was always Peter Burke these days.
"You can't." That was firm and just as stern as Peter's words before. Neal just couldn't stand the thought of his friend in trouble. As he said the next words, it took careful control to mask the pain and guilt in his voice. Peter might even have caught the waver in Neal's tone as he would say 'felon' aloud. "They catch you and you won't even have Sterling and Bosch. You'll have a charge of aiding and abetting a felon."
Peter smiled over at Neal on the bed. "So I'll be the only contact in your phone. I feel special, Neal. Thanks." And yes, he did notice Neal was on the bed, but he kept those thoughts to himself. No, there couldn't be any interaction. No texting. No pictures. This couldn't be a regular thing. Hopefully, he would be able to convince Hughes and this was all moot.
He sighed as he plugged in the charger and set up the phone. He knew the stakes. He knew how important this was and what risks were involved. That didn't stop him. If anything, it only made him want to work harder. It wasn't just his life that was on the line. It was Neal now. Neal was the target he needed to protect.
"You're not a felon, Neal. You ran, but you haven't stolen the diamond yet." Pocketing the phone, Peter stood up and moved over to sit beside Neal on the bed. "They won't catch us because we can do this, Neal. We have the edge on most criminals." He sighed and wrapped an arm around Neal's shoulders. "You're not a felon. Not to me."
"Isn't running enough?" They put his face on the news, isn't that the treatment felons got? "Yeah, well you're the only one."
Neal slumped a bit against Peter's shoulder. For someone so young, Neal Caffrey felt like he had weight on his shoulders that men twice his age had never experienced. Everyone saw him as a con man. Even now, despite the plans they were making, Peter did too. He mentioned the diamond again and Neal didn't bother to argue. Not that he was agreeing he was there to steal it, though he was, but because he knew he'd earned this.
Neal had earned losing everything that mattered to him. He never should have kept that treasure. The moment he found the room, he should have called Peter. Everything would have stayed the same. Now even the man he trusted, the only person Neal even missed any more, well. He might have said Neal wasn't a felon but he still thought he was willing to be a thief.
And the worst part was, Neal was willing to be just that. That lack of credit was as much as he deserved.
He paused, swallowing his bite and wiping his mouth with a napkin. Looking up at Neal, he nodded his head. "I was. Hell, I wanted to wear the hat." But that was another story. One clearly Neal wasn't ready for. Things had been so good before Kramer stuck his nose in. If only there was a way to get him. He was sure that Neal would have gotten his freedom if Kramer hadn't bothered them. Then he really would have found out how Neal felt.
"You would?" Peter was sure he felt his heart skip a beat. It had to have. That was the one thing he wanted to hear. The only thing that he wanted to hear. It was as close to an admittal as he'd ever get. Maybe, just maybe, Neal did feel a way about him. “You know me, Neal. I’m not the type of man to beg. But...” He sighed. “I’m putting it all on the line here. For you.”
He reached out and grabbed his beer, taking another long swig. "I would try to get my job back. I would go back, Neal, but only if you're there with me."
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Eventually, even the food and rather good wine weren't enough to keep him from reacting to the things Peter was saying. There was something about getting his job back and, moreover, getting Neal's back too? Neal wasn't sure if that was even what Peter wanted but it certainly was what he wanted. That or some other way to not have to live like this any more. Maybe he had gotten a bit used to the straight life.
"Is that even possible? I've been on the run for months now. The FBI is going to take one look at me and it'll be cuffs and congratulations to Peter Burke on his most elusive collar."
That wasn't meant to be a jab at Peter. It was the honest way Neal felt. He'd gotten himself in so deep, diamond or not, that he was convinced he was a wanted man for life. For just a minute, there was a flash of that desperation in Neal's eyes. Peter had seen it before when he'd been ready to board the plane with Kate and when it was looking like he was going to take the fall under Kramer's supervision.
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Peter shook his head. "Stop that right now, Caffrey." He glared up at Neal. "If that was part of it, then I wouldn't go back. I'm not arresting you again. I care..." He swallowed, realizing it was too late to turn back now. "I care too much to do that. We make a deal or I don't even think about going back."
He took another long sip of his beer and waved a finger at Neal. "There has to be a way. If we can only catch Kramer. Maybe I wear a wire and we get him on tape. I would just need enough to play for Hughes. He could help. He saw your success rate. I know that I could get him to believe in you." Now who was lying? Hughes believe in Neal? Peter shook his head. He had to try though. It was Neal.
“Do you remember what we talked about Neal? That long time ago when you were going to get on the plane with Kate? Why you didn’t say goodbye to me?” He smiled up at his friend. Yes, friend. “Do you remember what I said to you? You can think that you’re a con man. Maybe you are, but you’re a good man too. You make a difference. You help people, Neal.”
He sighed. “Do I have to start name dropping all the good that you’ve done for the FBI? They were going to give you a commutation hearing, Neal. That has to count for something. We can go after Kramer. We can try to get our jobs back. We can do all that, but I’m not going to bother if we’re not doing it together.”
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"I mean, let's say, hypothetically, there was a way. At the end of all of it, I don't end up in prison? Sure, absolutely. I'll shake your hand right now and we have a deal." More wine and a big breath. "But let's say it all goes wrong. Then what do I do? There's no risk for you Peter. You don't work it out you're still already gainfully employeed. You don't work it out and me? I'm in prison because I came out of hiding."
There. The first really honest thing, no lies, nothing, he'd said. Even putting his fears on the table was hard for Neal. Running a hand through his hair, something he'd started doing after too much time around Peter, there was a shakey sigh. This conversation was eliciting too many sighs!
It was a bit of pushing his food around on his plate before he said anything more.
"Do you really think we could pull it off?"
Because maybe, just maybe he could be convinced. If anyone could, it was Peter Burke.
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"How about this." He looked up at Neal, biting his bottom lip. "You talk to Mozzie and you don't pull this con. I know, the one you're not here to do." He held up his hand, stopping Neal from arguing. "Trust me on this, if you pull it, it won't help your case." Peter took a long sip of his beer, thinking over what he wanted to say. "You go into hiding and you stay hiding while I make some calls. You and Moz are good at that. Leave New York if you have to, but we get a few burn phones so that we can talk."
He reached up, running a hand through his hair. It helped him to think. "I'll talk to Diana and Hughes. You know, Diana told them at your hearing she thought you should go free."
"I make sure that I get everything in writing before I even hint that I know where you are. Whatever happens, you don't contact me or call me unless it's the burn phones because that's how they will find us." The one good thing about scamming the FBI was that Peter knew what they would look for. He smiled at Neal. "I think that if anyone can pull it off, we can?"
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Either way, con he was admitting to or not, he had equal reason to listen. There was something about the way Peter was thinking that actually sounded promising. Part of that was because Peter really was a good man. A far better man than Neal was, or so Neal felt anyways. He was what inspired Neal to try at all. So, given a taste of that Burke inspiration he'd missed, he was willing to at least talk.
"Okay. Now you're thinking in a way that sounds a lot less like a walk down the yellow brick road to prison." There was the smallest smile and nod of agreement. "We could. Look, do your thing and make your calls. If you can actually make this go away..."
That trail off was kind of like a promise. Ish. For Neal at any rate.
Mozzie was going to dump his body in the Hudson and Peter was never going to see him again.
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And whether he believed it or not, Neal was a good man. He'd made good choices and done good things since meeting the Burke's. El had even fallen in love with him. They both thought of Neal as one of their friends and they never wanted to lose that connection. The time without him had been hard.
"You're having an influence on me, Caffrey." He winked and turned his stool to face Neal outright. "I can't make promises, but it's a start. Let's go get those burn phones and part ways before someone sees you." He smiles and reaches out, gently slapping the back of Neal's shoulder. His hand lingered a little longer than it needed to.
"Neal... Thank you for coming back. I mean it. It's... It's been tough without you."
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Once before he'd told the older man that he was the only one he trusted, and he'd meant it. If there was anyone he was willing to hold out for, it was Peter. Puling back on his jacket and adjusting his glasses, Neal almost hated to go back to being Michael Stanton. He just wanted to be Neal Caffrey, parter and friend to Peter Burke. He missed him absolutely terribly, even if he hadn't shown it like he should of.
"I..." Neal shifted a little. "It hasn't been easy for me either."
Said softly, it was another moment of honesty too.
"Right. Let's get those phones."
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"It hasn't been easy for me either."
"Neal..." Before he could stop himself, he gave Neal another hug. This one, he wouldn't let Neal punk out of. His arms wrapped around Neal and he didn't want to let go. It didn't last long. The last thing he wanted to do was make Neal feel awkward. He didn't give a shit about Michael Stanton. But he had very strong feelings for Neal Caffrey.
He knew he was lingering. He knew that he needed to pull away, but he couldn't. Neal was finally here, back with him once more. He needed his fix before he lost him again.
"Phones. Right." He sighed. "Let's go."
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Finally there was an uncomfortable clearing of his throat and he pulled back. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Neal had to stop. He wasn't going to be able to be on the run and hide if he got too comfortable with being Neal Caffrey again. Part of being Neal Caffrey, of being himself as he wanted to be, was being by Peter's side.
Rubbing a hand along the back of his neck, Neal nodded and managed to even lead the way. There was a place with a faulty camera that he doubted had ever fixed it. It was one of his choice places in the upper east side for burn phones. Soon enough they came upon a small convenience store with dozens of signs crowding up all the windows.
"Here we are." Neal didn't want their lunch to be over, but soon enough it would be.
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Heading out of the store, he looked left and right before facing Neal. "Let's go somewhere that we can open these and exchange phone numbers." He hated to say it, but he was thinking like a criminal. "There are a few fleabag hotels that will work. They're not far from here." They weren't exactly in the nicest part of town.
Reaching out, he wrapped an arm around Neal's shoulders, pulling him close. He was brief, before letting go again. He didn't mind being touchy feely.
"Come on. We have work to do."
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"Well, well, well, you started paying attention," Neal said, poking Peter in the side. He wanted to stay like this forever. Step out of being Michael Stanton and into Neal Caffrey again. "Lead the way then, criminal mastermind."
At this point, he should have already wrapped at the museum, gone to his Smithsonian funded hotel, and hooked up with Mozzie. The fact that he was late wasn't going to go over with his friend well. When Moz learned where Neal had been? They were going to have it out. For now though, he was going to soak in these last few minutes.
There was a chance he wouldn't see Peter again like this, even if he tried to stick to the plan. There were still risks.
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"I learned a thing or two. I had a very good teacher." He winked at Neal and led him down the street and around a corner. After a few minutes of walking, they ended up at a motel nobody would ever look for them at. He rented a room for one night under a false name and paid in cash. Heading up to the room, he opened the door and went inside. "Lock it," he said sternly. There were risks. And he was trying to help negate some of them.
The room was small and not decorated very nicely. It put the flea in fleabag. Shrugging off his jacket, he pulled a chair and sat down at the small table inside. Pulling a knife out of his pocket, he began to open the burn phone package and set it up. "We'll program the numbers into our phones but no names. Okay?" He looked up at Neal, a dark look in his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, he cared a lot more for Neal than he was saying. Maybe he was taking this more seriously than even Neal was giving him credit for.
"I promise you, Neal. If this doesn't work, I... I'll see you again. I have to." He swallowed and went back to working on the phone.
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"Come on now. It's me." There was a grin. He knew what he was doing. Taking a seat at the edge of the bed, he was already going at his own phone with a pocket tool. Okay so maybe he wasn't totally on the up and up but really, it was smart to carry tools of the trade! "I won't be calling anyone else so I don't think names are needed."
Names, pictures, anything that constituted normal interaction couldn't happen. One whiff of Neal Caffrey before Peter said it was safe and they were going to to never meet again without bulletproof glass between them and a prison phone to talk on. Glancing at Peter, when he thought the older man wasn't looking, Neal felt his heart break just a little.
This wasn't how this weekend was supposed to go! And now, all he could think about wasn't the Hope Diamond. It was Peter Burke.
As Moz would accuse him of later, it was always Peter Burke these days.
"You can't." That was firm and just as stern as Peter's words before. Neal just couldn't stand the thought of his friend in trouble. As he said the next words, it took careful control to mask the pain and guilt in his voice. Peter might even have caught the waver in Neal's tone as he would say 'felon' aloud. "They catch you and you won't even have Sterling and Bosch. You'll have a charge of aiding and abetting a felon."
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He sighed as he plugged in the charger and set up the phone. He knew the stakes. He knew how important this was and what risks were involved. That didn't stop him. If anything, it only made him want to work harder. It wasn't just his life that was on the line. It was Neal now. Neal was the target he needed to protect.
"You're not a felon, Neal. You ran, but you haven't stolen the diamond yet." Pocketing the phone, Peter stood up and moved over to sit beside Neal on the bed. "They won't catch us because we can do this, Neal. We have the edge on most criminals." He sighed and wrapped an arm around Neal's shoulders. "You're not a felon. Not to me."
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Neal slumped a bit against Peter's shoulder. For someone so young, Neal Caffrey felt like he had weight on his shoulders that men twice his age had never experienced. Everyone saw him as a con man. Even now, despite the plans they were making, Peter did too. He mentioned the diamond again and Neal didn't bother to argue. Not that he was agreeing he was there to steal it, though he was, but because he knew he'd earned this.
Neal had earned losing everything that mattered to him. He never should have kept that treasure. The moment he found the room, he should have called Peter. Everything would have stayed the same. Now even the man he trusted, the only person Neal even missed any more, well. He might have said Neal wasn't a felon but he still thought he was willing to be a thief.
And the worst part was, Neal was willing to be just that. That lack of credit was as much as he deserved.
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