Author's Note: I don't own White Collar. You need to read The True Story and Therapy to know what is going on in this fic. Thank you for reading!

Alex thought of all the different ways she could contact Mozzie. She thought about the idea of carrier pigeon, but wondered if he would get any sort of reference out of that. She didn't want to spook Neal in any way, mostly as when she appeared to Neal, his FBI handler wasn't far behind. She did not need that happening again anytime soon. She waited across the street from where Mozzie and Neal were staying, drumming her fingers on her arm. Her light bulb moment came when she saw the paper was delivered but nobody came out to get it. She wrote a quick note in a code that Neal and Mozzie taught her before slipping it into the folds where the comics were. She grinned as she moved across the street, flipping her phone open and pressing a speed dial number. "Note's in," was all she said before closing the phone and walking towards Central Park.

Neal walked up to the rooftop with the paper, glad that only Mozzie was there. He had only gotten two hours of sleep that night, which was all Peter's fault. iAt least the case is done/i, he thought as he sat down opposite of Mozzie. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sipped at it before clutching to it like a lifeline.

"You alright?" Mozzie asked as he took the paper off of the table and took out the sections that he wanted. No one could tell that he had been shot, save for the sling. It turned out that the bullet did go through but instead of going into his heart, took a right turn and went out near his shoulder. He didn't care, mostly for the round the clock care that he was getting at the hands of June and Neal.

"Case is done," Neal said. "Around 3 in the morning. I got home around 4 and went straight to bed. Forgetting to turn off the alarm clock, of course."

"This is exactly why you shouldn't have gotten so involved with the Suits. You're losing your beauty sleep," Moz said.

"According to some people, I don't need beauty sleep," Neal countered with a grin. "Are you reading the comics first again?"

"Yes," was all that Moz replied as he opened the comics and found the slip of paper inside. He scanned it before handing it to Neal. "Alex wants to meet me. Go as my stand in?"

"Moz – she wants to meet with you," Neal pointed out.

"Yeah, but you two have mended fences," Moz replied. "Plus, June and I have a bit of plans for a relaxing day."

Neal smiled at that as he read the note again. "Fine. I'll go in your stead. After I have a few more cups of coffee."

"No time for a nap – she wants to meet at ten," Moz replied. "And it's eight now."

"Right," Neal said as he downed his cup of coffee in front of him. "Later Moz," he said as he left the rooftop and went to go get cleaned up to meet Alex.

Neal sighed as he entered Central Park and his cell phone rang. It was the cell phone that Peter given him, if only for the reason to get in touch with Neal a bit easier. "Hello," he said.

"Where are you?" Peter asked as he looked up at El. He shrugged an apology, considering the cell phone ring woke the both of them up.

"Going into Central Park. It's a favor for Mozzie with him not wanting to be mobile right now," Neal explained. "I left a message for Jones in saying that you'd signed off by it and all."

"Well, Jones didn't get it and they called me," Peter said. "You woke El up."

"Sorry," Neal said. "I'm going straight home after this."

"I've heard that before," Peter countered.

"I might show up for breakfast then," Neal replied. "Do you want me to bring anything?"

"No," Peter replied. "I'll see you later at the office."

"You're off for a few days, remember?" Neal asked. "You sure you don't want me to come by?"

"I'm sure," Peter said with a sigh. "Just be careful."

"Always," Neal said as he clicked off the phone. He went to the spot of benches that Mozzie used to meet different people. He saw the newspaper open to the International section and grinned to himself as he walked over and sat down.

"Are you going to start with the entire mocking bird shit again?" Alex asked as she turned and just stared at Neal Caffrey. She would have sworn under her breath but he was giving her that grin with his eyes that he nearly always had. It made her want to kiss him, but she decided against it. She wanted to, but she knew to restrain herself.

"Considering I'm not Mozzie, no," Neal said with a grin. "I do want to know why you wanted to meet with him though."

"I'm not about to tell you," Alex said as she folded up the paper. "Where is he?"

"He got shot, remember?" Neal asked. "I know you do - you sent him lilacs without a card."

"That's how he would know it was me without having to tip off the Suits that were basically hovering around him," Alex said with a snort.

"Well, that was the work of Peter, who was worried about him," Neal pointed out. "As were the rest of us. Plus, there was the worry of whoever did it to come back and try to make sure his aim was better. Or that the bullet actually went where he wanted it to go."

"Right," Alex said quietly with a sigh. "I don't want to do this."

"Do what?" Neal asked.

"Go the rounds with you on what I want or don't want," Alex replied. "I wanted to ask Mozzie some things about you. I heard through the grapevine that you were forced into therapy."

"More like guided into it," Neal countered as he rested his head on his hand to look up at her. "What happened with us, Alex?"

"I think it was the FBI who decided to take over your life. Or the fact that you've never gotten over Kate. Or probably never will," Alex said quietly as she touched Neal's cheek.

Neal didn't move as he let Alex do what she wanted. "Alex...I am over her," he whispered.

"Liar," Alex whispered.

"No, I am," Neal replied quietly. "I want to find out who killed her and make them suffer for making me have to choose that it was over. I want to crush them for taking away the fact that I was going to go clean. That I was going to leave it all behind me and start a new life with her. That we were going to try and just be a nice little family."

"It wouldn't have worked," Alex whispered. "We can't help who we are, Neal. You are no different."

"I would have tried to be different. For her. Now I'm doing it because - well, it feels right to be on Peter's side," Neal said quietly. "When I'm done, I'll probably ask if I can just join the FBI at the level I'm at or something. I don't know. Maybe college. But I want to be normal, Alex. I'm done being the criminal."

Alex looked at him and knew that it was the truth. She sighed softly. "I need your help," she said quietly.

"Do you mean my help alone or do you want Peter's help as well?" Neal asked quietly.

"I would like you to keep this from your handler if you can," Alex replied to Neal's question. "And the reason why I wanted to talk to Mozzie is so he could just tell you that you're in danger."

Neal raised an eyebrow to that. "From what?"

"Emmanuel Gray," Alex replied quietly.

"Alex - why are you getting involved with him?" Neal asked, a pit starting to grow in his stomach.

"I'm not," Alex replied. "A friend of a friend is and I overheard something. So I decided to come to you. If I'm found with having a connection to you - well, it won't be pleasant. So could you please keep this to yourself?"

"Sure," Neal asked.

"Thanks," Alex said as she handed him a piece of paper. "My address - I'm back in New York for a while. Do not tell Peter that."

"Sure," Neal said quietly as he took the piece of paper. "Alex - " he said as he took her hand. "Why are you warning me?"

"I think that's glaring obvious, Neal," Alex whispered as she kissed Neal's hand before getting up and walking away. She bit her bottom lip as she willed herself to not look back.