Chapter 7

From the previous chapter:

"I have no interest in being anybody's 65 year-old C.I., Peter." Neal replied.

"They can't keep you in the program indefinitely, Neal."

"Uh, huh." Neal said, betraying his skepticism and disbelief.

"I'll make sure that doesn't happen." Peter replied.

Neal looked at him. "You'll make…? Why do I not find that reassuring?"

"We can't go on like this, Neal." Peter replied.

"No, we can't." Neal agreed. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Me?" Peter asked, surely this was not all his doing.

"You are the only one who has a choice here. You send me back to prison. You wouldn't have to deal with me at all. You set me up with another handler. You wouldn't have to deal with me as much. Or you could be my handler again." Neal paused. "Like I said, what are you going to do?"

"I'll be your handler, so…."

"What happened to the promotion?" Neal asked.

"They filled the position. I was leaving." Peter replied. He paused and sighed. "We have a very…unique relationship, Neal. I did like you when I first met you. And I still do. It just…it scares me the things that you are willing to do for me. El was wrong to ask you to do what she did. But she was desperate. I'm not saying that it was a good reason. But that was her reason."

"She said that the only reason I did it was to stay out of prison." Neal stated. "You both did. If you believe that…if you really believe that…." He shook his head.

"She doesn't…we don't, Neal, but we have to consider…."

"Of course, I think about it, Peter. I mean you've been there, and you didn't want to stay." Neal interrupted. "But if you really believe that is my sole motivation for doing everything that I do…. You didn't take all the information you found out about me while you were chasing me and put it to good use." Neal looked around the room. "Where is El?" He had expected to see her.

"She's in D.C."

Neal just looked at Peter for a moment. "What?"

"El accepted a position at a gallery when she thought we were going to move, a major job at a major gallery. She…."

"…just you and Satch then?" Neal asked.

Peter took a seat and they sat in silence for a few moments.

"Whatever caused you to lose your faith in me, you need to get it back. This was not meant to be a 'rehab the convict' program, Peter. You didn't ask me to stop being a criminal. You asked me to show you what I would do, hoping you could catch other criminals doing the same thing." Neal paused. "I commit FBI-sanctioned crime, Peter, like it or not, that is what it is. That is what it boils down to. But I am also an artist, a painter, a sculptor. I own a business. I donate my time with June's charity functions, when I can. I try and keep Mozzie out of trouble…that is a full-time gig." Neal cast a skeptical glance at Peter. "And you say all I am is a criminal?"

Peter knew about the bakery. But he didn't know that Mozzie kept him busy, well, he kinda did. But he had no clue Neal was so involved with June's charity functions.

"No, I'm saying you keep preforming criminal acts and I keep having to cover for you." Peter explained.

"How many times have you parked illegally this week?" Neal knew Peter used his badge to 'take care' of things like that.

Peter looked at him knowing he knew the answer.

Neal nodded. "You're a criminal. You broke the law."

"You're comparing stealing a Monet to a parking violation?" Peter asked, unbelieving.

"I'm speaking to human nature. People get away with something once, they will do it again. And they will continue to do it until they get caught. And that will deter them, for a little while, but if the opportunity presents itself again…."

"You're saying that it's in your nature to steal." Peter stated.

"I'm saying that even you, Agent Burke, are prone to breaking the law. So get down off your high horse, and get your head out of the clouds." Neal replied.

"I'm not acting like…."

"You didn't mention that recording until you were already out of prison. I had come to see you only days before and told you I had no idea where James was." Neal replied. "If I had been close, don't you think I would have told you? Then you say all I will ever be is a criminal…while sitting in your nice, new office…after you got your nice, new promotion."

"Neal…!" Peter was getting angry and he could not help himself.

"I was a huge part our success rate. But I never got to revel in it. You always said it was your high success rate." Neal said.

"I worked hard for that promotion, that new office. I deserved it." Peter said, feeling the need to justify himself.

"Then why aren't you in D.C. chained to a desk right now? Why aren't you with El?" Neal asked.

"I owe you an apology."

"Okay, but that's no reason to stay in New York." Neal replied.

"I can't do this over the phone or in an email." Peter said. "And like I said, I'm not a desk jockey."

"You can say anything, Peter. But if your actions don't match your words…." Neal started.

"I'm not just saying this, Neal. I just…I need to start somewhere." Peter paused. "Will you give me a chance?"

"Do you really, truly believe the only reason I did what I did was to keep myself out of jail? Tell me the truth."

Peter shook his head. "No, I don't. I know you were thinking of me and El. And really do appreciate that. I don't think I told you that."

"We can work on it." Neal said.

THE END