Disclaimer: Not mine. Everyone you recognize belongs to someone else. I make no money off of this.

A/N: I know it's crap. Trust me. I wrote it on my lunch break because I couldn't get the idea out of my head and have no way to get someone else to write it for me.

Peter Burke walked up the stairs of June's house after lunch to collect his consultant. Loud laughter from within Neal's apartment caused him to smile slightly and quicken his pace. It had been awhile since Neal had laughed like that. He reached the landing and peered around the open door. There were four unknown men seated at the dining table with Neal Caffrey. Two of the men - one blond; one brunet - were about his own age, a younger blond was somewhere between Neal and himself in age, and the final man looked old enough to be a grandfather, or even a great-grandfather. Each member of the group held a handful of cards, and the oldest looked to be lecturing Neal and the youngest unknown man.

"And remember, you want to look happy to be there, and pleased just to have a job," the old man stated, staring around at all of his companions.

"But we could-" the brunet started.

"But then-" blond argued.

"Well, if we-"

"Not if you-"

"This is a-"

"Yes, but it's-"

"Alright," the brunet nodded agreeably, "Look pleased."

Burke could only stare back and forth between the two. The younger blond blew out an exasperated sigh. Neal and the old man grinned at each other. Everyone at the table - as if by a silent signal - laid out his cards at that point. Neal's grin grew a touch smug when his cards were shown as the winning hand.

Finally deciding to make his presence known, Burke rapped sharply on the door, waiting for Neal's admittance to enter. He wanted to respect the younger man's home and privacy, even if the door was left ajar. Neal stood to greet him, surreptitiously sliding a cardboard box under the table with his foot.

"That was fun. We should do this again some time, Kid," the brunet said easily, standing and pulling Neal into a hug. The older blond jumped up and drew Neal into a hug of his own.

"Great game. I missed it this time."

The younger blond laughed at that and patted Neal on the back. "I'll play with anyone who can trick him at cards!"

"That just means you'll lose to someone else," the brunet pointed out.

"But at least it's someone different. Besides, I like this kid."

"Yes, he is one of my better decisions," the old man announced. "I'm sorry, Son, but it's about time we left. Besides, it looks as though you need to get back to that job of yours." The man wrapped his arms around Neal, cradling the back of his neck as Neal returned the hug. "Take care of yourself, Neal." He patted Neal's cheek gently, grabbed his hat, nodded a greeting to Burke, and lead the way out of the apartment. The other three grinned at Neal and said another farewell before following.

"They sure cleared out fast."

"They do that when a Fed enters the room and they can't run a game on him."

"They're all cons?" Burke asked, a little shocked in spite of himself. Of course Caffrey would have cons for friends.

"Saul's the one who taught me."

"Saul?"

"The older man. He, Danny, and Rusty really helped me out when I was a kid. I didn't meet Linus until I was much older."

"I just let the men who robbed three Vegas casinos walk out of your apartment?"

"Allegedly," Neal correctly. "You just let four of the men who allegedly robbed three Vegas casinos walk out of my apartment." Burke shook his head and motioned for Neal to precede him out the door. It was time to get back to work.