![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jebbypalTitle: Forging Allies (1/?)
author: jebbypal
rating: Teen - just in case future chapters get violent
summary: Peter's shot, Elizabeth is missing, and Neal is out of his depth. But he has a favor to call in. Sequel to Forging Contacts
author note: Beta by the inestimablelithiumdoll and mitchy.
Word count: 1730
Neal still has the same sick feeling in his stomach as he did when Peter got shot. Watching him fall, and being able to do nothing, sitting helpless in the ambulance and then later in the waiting room. The doctors have assured him and the rest of the agents on the team that he’ll pull through, and that Peter is resting comfortably in the ICU, but Neal knows differently.
Peter’s resting in the ICU only because he’s still unconscious. The only reason that he’d gotten distracted enough to miss the ambush he’d walked into was the phone call he’d received. Neal saw his face when he’d walked into the meeting – the meeting where Neal was facing down several gunmen who really wanted the money for their forged bonds. The look on his face – at the time, Neal didn’t understand. But he’d figured it out as he tried to keep Peter from bleeding out. ”Elle – they have Elle.”
And now Peter is in the ICU, and the rest of the FBI is busy wrapping up the bond case and filing papers to add the charge of attempted murder.
Any other day, any other person, Neal would let the FBI take care of it. But this was Elle. Beyond everything that he owes Peter, he owes Elle for treating him like a person instead of a convict, and for reminding her husband to do the same.
Any other day, any other person, Neal would try to handle this on his own. He and Moz can do a lot of things, but he’s not willing to risk Elle on their abilities in this case. They are con-men and forgers – somehow he doubts a smile or slight of hand will fix this. I could be a very good friend to have, Neal. Especially for someone like you, he’d said. It’s been almost a decade, and Neal has never been tempted to call in his favor. Even with Kate, there’d been just enough doubt to keep him from wasting what he’d considered his hole card. It wasn’t good to feel like there was someone to rely on – it made you sloppy.
But right now, with Peter out of the game, Neal wants someone to rely on. He dials the number from memory – it never seemed like the sort of thing he wanted to fall into the wrong hands. At the time, he wouldn’t have been able to tell you if he was protecting the mystery man, Carmichael, or himself.
”Hello?”
Neal lets out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Ever since Peter had said Elle was gone, he’s been worried that his call wouldn’t be answered. “Hi, I don’t know if you remember me – Neal Caffrey. I –“
“I remember, Caffrey. What do you need?”
“A friend – the wife of a friend – she’s missing. And he’s been shot. And-“ He doesn’t realize he’s babbling until Carmichael interrupts.
”I get the picture. Where are you?”
“New York City. I’m at the hospital right now, but I can have you picked up from the airport.” The line is silent for several seconds. Please God, don’t let this be the time the mystery man is actually tied up. “Please – I know it’s more than what I did for you, but, please.”
”No, it’s fine. It’s going to take me a couple of hours to get there. Is this the number you can be reached at?”
Neal jumps when he feels hands on his arm, but it’s just Moz guiding him to a chair. “Yeah, this is the number. Thanks.”
“What is it, Mikey?”
“An asset calling in a favor. I need you to do something for me – I need everything there is on a Neal Caffrey, preferably in the amount of time it takes me to find discreet passage to the Big Apple,” Michael explains. The news goes over just about as well as he’d expected.
“New York City? Michael, are you insane?” Fiona demands, as she stalks towards him. He takes refuge behind the kitchen counter, covering his cowardice by making it look like he’s going for a yogurt. “We don’t know if the orders restricting you to Miami have been rescinded or not. You could get yourself killed. You could get your mother killed.”
“I don’t plan to advertise my vacation, Fi. Plus, Carla and her people are gone.”
“Still, Fi’s right, Mikey. The burn notice is still there. It wasn’t Carla that instituted the Michael Western Wildlife Preserve – that was the government. Let me go and take care of this guy’s problem.”
“He helped me when I needed it, Sam, no questions asked and just the promise of a favor down the road. It’s been ten years without him calling to collect, so I’m willing to bet it’s big. He said his friend’s wife was missing, and the friend was in the hospital.”
“He probably cheated on her,” Fi says.
“It didn’t sound like that. Plus -”
“He’s not asking for himself,” Sam finishes. Michael just nods, and then watches as Sam goes to gather the official scoop on the state of Neal Caffrey’s life.
“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Fi repeats with a dangerous look.
“But it’s New York City – better shopping than Miami, am I right?” Her expression doesn’t change much. “Fi, he didn’t call even when he was going to prison.”
“Fine. But you’d better take me somewhere nice for dinner while we’re there.”
Now to just get to NYC in less than twelve hours without setting off any of the watch lists. Piece of cake.
It takes some doing, but eventually one of Fi’s contacts agrees to let the three of them accompany some of his merchandise on a private plane to New York. It’s the cargo hold, and they have to wear delivery uniforms, but it’s faster than driving and involves zero TSA screenings.
Next time though, Sam thinks he’ll go ahead and fly commercial while Fi and Mike take the cargo hold. He’s too tall, and too old, to do the gymnastics required to ride comfortably. Especially when the pilot flies like it’s his first solo since flight school.
Once the plane is in the air, and they’ve managed to find stable places to sit close together, Sam briefs them on what he dug up. “Neal Caffrey, former art student, forger, counterfeiter, con-man, who attracted the attention of the FBI eight years ago. Spent three years leading them on a merry chase before being captured by Special Agent Peter Burke of the White Collar crime division. After that, he almost completed a four-year stint in a minimum security facility before escaping. A matter of hours later, he was recaptured, but instead of going back to prison for a very long time, he became a consultant with the FBI, complete with a tracking anklet.” He’s a little out of breath by the time he’s finished. It’s been a long time since he’s had to yell that much.
“Seriously? The FBI has to have felons help them hunt down the bad guys? Sam, you should be ashamed,” Fi teases.
Sam shrugs. In the intellignence community it was no big thing to utilize a low-life asset to bring down an even lower form of life. What’s shocking is that the suits at the FBI loosened policy enough to agree to the deal. A con-man of Caffrey’s stature would actually go a long way to helping most of the stick-in-the-mud agents think outside the box. “I’m just surprised that it was Peter Burke who orchestrated the deal. He’s the one that caught Caffrey both times. Talented fellow, for a career FBI agent. When I started out in the bureau, I worked several cases with him. Definitely smarter you’re your normal bureau suit.” Sam looks directly at Mikey when he delivers that bit of news. They may not have many direct dealings with Burke while looking for his wife, but it’s important to not underestimate the friends of someone with his reputation. He’s more surprised that someone with Burke’s record would feel that they needed the help. “The interesting thing is that Peter Burke was shot earlier this morning in a bust that went bad. He’s currently in the ICU in critical condition.”
Michael’s face shows that he’s already put it together. “And his wife?”
“He is married, but there’s no missing person report on her yet. I didn’t have time to look for more than that. But we have bigger fish to fry here if we’re going to help this guy.” Like how to keep an ex-IRA and known gun smuggler from being picked up as a person of interest by the FBI that will definitely be swarming around Caffrey. Assuming no one has decided to lock Caffrey up since his handler in out of commission for the time being.
“Fi, you’re going to have to go shopping sooner than later. As soon as we need you, I’ll give you a call.”
“I’m not the only one here that has to worry about being recognized, Michael.”
“White Collar crime wouldn’t exactly be on the look out for me. And I won’t be going in as Michael Westen. Neal said his ride would have a kit for me to use. Glasses, a mustache, and I’ll be the non-threatening Carmichael.”
That makes Sam laugh a little bit. It’ll be a good indication of how far the new generation of FBI has sunk if they take any legend of Mikey’s to be non-threatening. “And have you decided how to explain your relationship with Caffrey without attracting too much attention?”
“You said my cover was good.”
“Mikey, your cover is good. The kid did good work on your credentials, you’ve beefed up the legend a bit in intervening years in case you’ve needed it, but we are talking a lot of face time with federal agents. Any admitted prior association with the kid is going to make them going poking. It only takes one of them to have a real axe to grind with Caffrey or his friends to make them think that pinning something on you will pin something on them.”
Michael leans back in a more comfortable position. “Until we know what we’re up against, Sam, it’s a risk we have to take.”
Sam exchanges a glance with Fi. At least they can both agree whenever Mike gets reckless.
No worries - more is written, and the bunny is still growing. This was all I could get postable from the beta of the first part this morning.
author: jebbypal
rating: Teen - just in case future chapters get violent
summary: Peter's shot, Elizabeth is missing, and Neal is out of his depth. But he has a favor to call in. Sequel to Forging Contacts
author note: Beta by the inestimable
lithiumdoll and mitchy. Word count: 1730
Neal still has the same sick feeling in his stomach as he did when Peter got shot. Watching him fall, and being able to do nothing, sitting helpless in the ambulance and then later in the waiting room. The doctors have assured him and the rest of the agents on the team that he’ll pull through, and that Peter is resting comfortably in the ICU, but Neal knows differently.
Peter’s resting in the ICU only because he’s still unconscious. The only reason that he’d gotten distracted enough to miss the ambush he’d walked into was the phone call he’d received. Neal saw his face when he’d walked into the meeting – the meeting where Neal was facing down several gunmen who really wanted the money for their forged bonds. The look on his face – at the time, Neal didn’t understand. But he’d figured it out as he tried to keep Peter from bleeding out. ”Elle – they have Elle.”
And now Peter is in the ICU, and the rest of the FBI is busy wrapping up the bond case and filing papers to add the charge of attempted murder.
Any other day, any other person, Neal would let the FBI take care of it. But this was Elle. Beyond everything that he owes Peter, he owes Elle for treating him like a person instead of a convict, and for reminding her husband to do the same.
Any other day, any other person, Neal would try to handle this on his own. He and Moz can do a lot of things, but he’s not willing to risk Elle on their abilities in this case. They are con-men and forgers – somehow he doubts a smile or slight of hand will fix this. I could be a very good friend to have, Neal. Especially for someone like you, he’d said. It’s been almost a decade, and Neal has never been tempted to call in his favor. Even with Kate, there’d been just enough doubt to keep him from wasting what he’d considered his hole card. It wasn’t good to feel like there was someone to rely on – it made you sloppy.
But right now, with Peter out of the game, Neal wants someone to rely on. He dials the number from memory – it never seemed like the sort of thing he wanted to fall into the wrong hands. At the time, he wouldn’t have been able to tell you if he was protecting the mystery man, Carmichael, or himself.
”Hello?”
Neal lets out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Ever since Peter had said Elle was gone, he’s been worried that his call wouldn’t be answered. “Hi, I don’t know if you remember me – Neal Caffrey. I –“
“I remember, Caffrey. What do you need?”
“A friend – the wife of a friend – she’s missing. And he’s been shot. And-“ He doesn’t realize he’s babbling until Carmichael interrupts.
”I get the picture. Where are you?”
“New York City. I’m at the hospital right now, but I can have you picked up from the airport.” The line is silent for several seconds. Please God, don’t let this be the time the mystery man is actually tied up. “Please – I know it’s more than what I did for you, but, please.”
”No, it’s fine. It’s going to take me a couple of hours to get there. Is this the number you can be reached at?”
Neal jumps when he feels hands on his arm, but it’s just Moz guiding him to a chair. “Yeah, this is the number. Thanks.”
“What is it, Mikey?”
“An asset calling in a favor. I need you to do something for me – I need everything there is on a Neal Caffrey, preferably in the amount of time it takes me to find discreet passage to the Big Apple,” Michael explains. The news goes over just about as well as he’d expected.
“New York City? Michael, are you insane?” Fiona demands, as she stalks towards him. He takes refuge behind the kitchen counter, covering his cowardice by making it look like he’s going for a yogurt. “We don’t know if the orders restricting you to Miami have been rescinded or not. You could get yourself killed. You could get your mother killed.”
“I don’t plan to advertise my vacation, Fi. Plus, Carla and her people are gone.”
“Still, Fi’s right, Mikey. The burn notice is still there. It wasn’t Carla that instituted the Michael Western Wildlife Preserve – that was the government. Let me go and take care of this guy’s problem.”
“He helped me when I needed it, Sam, no questions asked and just the promise of a favor down the road. It’s been ten years without him calling to collect, so I’m willing to bet it’s big. He said his friend’s wife was missing, and the friend was in the hospital.”
“He probably cheated on her,” Fi says.
“It didn’t sound like that. Plus -”
“He’s not asking for himself,” Sam finishes. Michael just nods, and then watches as Sam goes to gather the official scoop on the state of Neal Caffrey’s life.
“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Fi repeats with a dangerous look.
“But it’s New York City – better shopping than Miami, am I right?” Her expression doesn’t change much. “Fi, he didn’t call even when he was going to prison.”
“Fine. But you’d better take me somewhere nice for dinner while we’re there.”
Now to just get to NYC in less than twelve hours without setting off any of the watch lists. Piece of cake.
It takes some doing, but eventually one of Fi’s contacts agrees to let the three of them accompany some of his merchandise on a private plane to New York. It’s the cargo hold, and they have to wear delivery uniforms, but it’s faster than driving and involves zero TSA screenings.
Next time though, Sam thinks he’ll go ahead and fly commercial while Fi and Mike take the cargo hold. He’s too tall, and too old, to do the gymnastics required to ride comfortably. Especially when the pilot flies like it’s his first solo since flight school.
Once the plane is in the air, and they’ve managed to find stable places to sit close together, Sam briefs them on what he dug up. “Neal Caffrey, former art student, forger, counterfeiter, con-man, who attracted the attention of the FBI eight years ago. Spent three years leading them on a merry chase before being captured by Special Agent Peter Burke of the White Collar crime division. After that, he almost completed a four-year stint in a minimum security facility before escaping. A matter of hours later, he was recaptured, but instead of going back to prison for a very long time, he became a consultant with the FBI, complete with a tracking anklet.” He’s a little out of breath by the time he’s finished. It’s been a long time since he’s had to yell that much.
“Seriously? The FBI has to have felons help them hunt down the bad guys? Sam, you should be ashamed,” Fi teases.
Sam shrugs. In the intellignence community it was no big thing to utilize a low-life asset to bring down an even lower form of life. What’s shocking is that the suits at the FBI loosened policy enough to agree to the deal. A con-man of Caffrey’s stature would actually go a long way to helping most of the stick-in-the-mud agents think outside the box. “I’m just surprised that it was Peter Burke who orchestrated the deal. He’s the one that caught Caffrey both times. Talented fellow, for a career FBI agent. When I started out in the bureau, I worked several cases with him. Definitely smarter you’re your normal bureau suit.” Sam looks directly at Mikey when he delivers that bit of news. They may not have many direct dealings with Burke while looking for his wife, but it’s important to not underestimate the friends of someone with his reputation. He’s more surprised that someone with Burke’s record would feel that they needed the help. “The interesting thing is that Peter Burke was shot earlier this morning in a bust that went bad. He’s currently in the ICU in critical condition.”
Michael’s face shows that he’s already put it together. “And his wife?”
“He is married, but there’s no missing person report on her yet. I didn’t have time to look for more than that. But we have bigger fish to fry here if we’re going to help this guy.” Like how to keep an ex-IRA and known gun smuggler from being picked up as a person of interest by the FBI that will definitely be swarming around Caffrey. Assuming no one has decided to lock Caffrey up since his handler in out of commission for the time being.
“Fi, you’re going to have to go shopping sooner than later. As soon as we need you, I’ll give you a call.”
“I’m not the only one here that has to worry about being recognized, Michael.”
“White Collar crime wouldn’t exactly be on the look out for me. And I won’t be going in as Michael Westen. Neal said his ride would have a kit for me to use. Glasses, a mustache, and I’ll be the non-threatening Carmichael.”
That makes Sam laugh a little bit. It’ll be a good indication of how far the new generation of FBI has sunk if they take any legend of Mikey’s to be non-threatening. “And have you decided how to explain your relationship with Caffrey without attracting too much attention?”
“You said my cover was good.”
“Mikey, your cover is good. The kid did good work on your credentials, you’ve beefed up the legend a bit in intervening years in case you’ve needed it, but we are talking a lot of face time with federal agents. Any admitted prior association with the kid is going to make them going poking. It only takes one of them to have a real axe to grind with Caffrey or his friends to make them think that pinning something on you will pin something on them.”
Michael leans back in a more comfortable position. “Until we know what we’re up against, Sam, it’s a risk we have to take.”
Sam exchanges a glance with Fi. At least they can both agree whenever Mike gets reckless.
No worries - more is written, and the bunny is still growing. This was all I could get postable from the beta of the first part this morning.