Part 2

Kieran let out a frustrated growl and tried once again to get up. Peter was silently impressed that Neal could hold someone of his bulk down.

Neal shot Peter a confident, but face, smile. "I could use a set of handcuffs."

"Honestly," Mozzie huffed before Peter could speak. "Have I taught you nothing? How easy are handcuffs to get out of?"

"Very easy?" Peter suggested. He had seen Neal slip out of them time after time. He didn't doubt that Kieran would be able to do the same. "Perhaps some rope?"

"I'll go ask June," Mozzie said.

Neal pressed his knee into Kieran's back and rested his weight on it, keeping the rogue agent pinned.

"I suppose you have questions," he said.

Peter was surprised to realise that he really didn't. In fact, this seemed to answer more questions than it created. It explained Neal's skewed sense of right and wrong and how he often jumped to the more illegal option of solving a problem but also aimed to not let anyone get hurt. It explained the range of Neal's skills and how he was able to adapt to the FBI with a smooth transition.

"You were assigned to watch me?" he finally asked.

Neal nodded.

"Why?"

"To kill you I guess," Kieran interrupted to answer.

Peter frowned at his brother. He wasn't angry, just slightly annoyed. "I asked Neal."

"His name is Bryce Larkin. He's a traitor and a thief-"

"Thief, yes. But I can't believe he's a traitor," Peter said. "Neal values his friends above himself."

Neal blinked rapidly, trying not to show how touched he was. No one had believed him like that since his recruitment into the CIA. But Peter had said it so easily.

"I was assigned to watch you on the off chance your brother contacted you," Neal answered. "Although, I guess it wasn't an off chance." Neal's next words were aimed at Kieran. "The higher ups will be happy that you're back."

"Gonna put me in a small cell, Larkin?" Kieran commented. "Like a white Intersect room?"

"Smaller," Neal quipped back. Mozzie returned with the rope and helped him tie Kieran up.

Kieran Ryker had gone silent, staring at them as they did their work. His gun was passed to Peter, who handled it using the gloves Mozzie had passed him.

"I'm not even surprised that you carry sanitary gloves."

"They have more uses than hiding fingerprints," Neal pointed out.

"I know that," Peter responded. "But let's talk about you."

"Not in front of your brother," Neal insisted.

Strange men in suits arrived and took Kieran away. Peter was sad to watch his brother be dragged out while he fought to escape but he had thought the man dead for years. It was the ache of a wound already scarred over and healed.

Neal put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry about this Peter."

"Which part? The part where you're a spy and didn't tell me or the part where I just helped you arrest my brother? I know the CIA doesn't have legal holding facilities."

"They have a couple," Neal said. "But your brother is too dangerous to be left in one of those. He did try to kill Chuck, Sarah and Sarah's little sister." Peter gave him a confused look. Somehow he knew that Sarah wasn't referring to Sara Ellis. Neal grinned back. "My ex-best friend and my ex-girlfriend who is now his wife."

Peter sighed, although he was smiling. "I expect nothing less with you. Your relationships with people are always a mess."

Neal was slightly taken aback. "Really Peter? That's a little under the belt."

"Do I need to list them?"

"Please don't." Neal already had an idea of what would be listed.

"I will at least ask if you're going to let Chuck know. If you were friends and Kieran tired to kill him, I'm sure he'd like to know that he's been locked away."

Neal frowned. He didn't know how to respond to that. If he was Chuck, he would never have wanted to hear from him again. "Peter, I did some terrible things to Chuck. I don't think he wants to hear from me again."

"What did you do?"

"How high is your clearance?"

It turned out, Peter's clearance was really high. It was the result of over 10 years work in the FBI, having handled a number of highly classified cases and Hughes' influence. Peter was the guy people went to when they wanted a crime solved but also for the details to be kept within a small circle. White Collar crime was the best way to catch the slippery ones.

Peter's clearance was actually high enough for Neal to talk about Bryce Larkin, being CIA and the Intersect as long as he didn't mention who created it and where it had been hosted.

Peter listened as he worked his way through a six pack of beer, Neal actually joining him for once. When talking about Bryce Larkin, Neal preferred something without much taste that just went right through him. It reminded him of his life as Bryce Larkin. Except for the times hanging out with Chuck, it was a rather tasteless life and could almost be described as a phase. Bryce Larkin was about as real as Steve Tabernacle.

The sun peeked over the balcony and Neal finally ended his story with his second death in the Intersect 2.0 room.

"And then what? When did you next see Chuck?"

"I haven't. I learnt about Kieran's attempt on Chuck's life through General Beckman."

Peter frowned and placed the bottle on the table. "You're calling him."

"Did you hear anything I said?"

"Yes. You let your friend-"

"We weren't friends at the time."

"Your friend, because what else do you call someone who came to your rescue when you didn't want them to?"

"A very good coworker."

"Neal." Peter gave him the 'you're being painful on purpose' eye look which he also gave Neal whenever he spoke about stealing something which was displayed in front of them. Neal grinned obliviously back. Sometimes, if he ignored the look it would go away and Peter would drop the issue.

This was not one of those times. Peter insisted that he contact Chuck. So, Neal sent Chuck's security company an email. In Klingon. He had to translate it for Peter but it basically let Chuck know he was alive.

"It sounds like a letter of challenge," Peter said.

"It's Klingon, Peter," Neal said. The language was created for a race who valued combat and honour.

"You keep saying that like I'm supposed to know what it means," Peter said.

Neal dropped his head to the desk. Where to even begin? He would have to start from the ground up. First step, watch all episodes of Star Trek with Peter.

"I never thought you'd be a trekkie, Neal," Diana said.

"Diana, please explain to Peter what Klingon is," Neal said, deflecting the conversation away from him.

Chuck not only managed to read the email but he traced it, despite of all the protections Neal employed, and turned up at the White Collar office days after it was sent. Neal stared at his brown haired friend as Chuck walked through the door, face lighting up at the agents going about their business.

Chuck grinned as he spotted him and Neal quickly tried to recall if he had signed the email with his name or Bryce's.

"Neal Caffrey!" Chuck announced happily with his arms wide.

"I'm not going to hug you," Neal announced from where he was comfortably seated. Peter had noticed the newcomer and had come down, greeting Chuck happily and introducing himself.

Neal decided to start looking into the paperwork he would have to fill out so he could contact Kieran Ryker. He was going to let Peter's twin know exactly what kind of trouble he brought to Neal's retirement.