White Collar fic - Can't Be Both (Chapter 6)
Title: Can’t Be Both (Chapter 6)
Author’s Name: sheenianni
Spoilers: Season 3.10 - Countdown
Characters/Pairings: Neal Caffrey, Peter Burke, Clinton Jones, Diana Barrigan, Elizabeth Burke, Sara Ellis, Agent Kramer, June and others
Raiting: PG
Warnings/Triggers: None
Word Count: ~ 3,000 (chapter), ~31,000 (total)
Summary: In the aftermath of Elizabeth’s kidnapping, Neal has to make a life-defining choice - and then he has to face its consequences. Post 3.10 Countdown story.
This story is finished. New chapters will be posted every few days.
Prologue II Chapter 1 II Chapter 2 II Chapter 3 II Chapter 4 II Chapter 5
Again, this chapter, as well as the whole story, has been beta'ed by GrayWolf 84.
CHAPTER 6
Ten days later
When the prison guards let Caffrey enter the room, he seems surprised.
“Agent Kramer? What are you doing here, sir?”
“Am I not who you’ve expected, Caffrey?” raises his eyebrows Kramer. He enjoys the sight of Neal being off balance, which is the reason why he asked the guards to tell the man that he had an FBI agent visitor, but without any name.
“No, not really.” Neal flashes him a brilliant smile. “Good afternoon, sir. What brings you here?”
Despite his beaming face, Kramer doesn’t miss the vague bruises around Neal’s neck and wrists, nor the scratches on Neal’s arms.
“Sit down,” motions Kramer to the opposite chair.
Suddenly Caffrey’s smile falls and his face becomes even more haunted. “Is everyone all right? Peter and El - “
“Everyone outside is fine, or at least as fine as they were when you last saw them ten days ago,” says Kramer calmingly and Neal lets out a breath of relief. “I want you to take a look at something.”
With that, he handles Neal a list of paper.
“What’s this?” asks Neal warily. When Kramer doesn’t answer, he gives him another suspicious look before he starts reading.
Kramer watches the frown forming on Caffrey’s face as he reads the list. Then the convict pushes the list back across the table.
“I didn’t do this,” he says decisively. “I don’t know who or why, but it’s not my work. I’m not trying to escape.”
“I believe you.”
Neal raises his eyebrows. “You believe me?” He cautiously picks up the paper again and starts examining it with the skills of a professional forger. “Why?”
“I believe you because I’ve personally watched Reese Hughes make the first draft of this,” says Kramer, enjoying the flash of surprise on Caffey’s face before he masterfully hides it behind a blank expression.
“You mean this is real?” asks Caffrey.
“It could be,” says Kramer. “This is one of the possibilities that are currently on the table. Hughes is still making calls, but there are at least three prisons you could be transferred to where your inmates wouldn’t know of your past cooperation with the FBI.”
“Why would the Bureau care about that?”
“Because,” answers Kramer slowly, “there is a vast difference between justice and murder. No matter what you’ve done, you don’t deserve to wake up one night with a slit throat. By transferring you, we can grant you relative security.”
“I could always stay here in solitary,” points out Neal mildly.
“You could,” agrees Kramer. “However, most people think that’d be inhuman.”
He purposefully leaves out that he is one of them as well.
Neal looks at the paper once more before he lays it back on the table.
“I’m honored by the care, sir,” he says slowly. “Are all the other places just as remote as this one?”
“This or more,” says Kramer immediately.
The crease on Caffrey’s forehead deepens. “And I actually have a say in this?”
“You do,” says Kramer honestly. “If for some reason you want to stay here, tell me and the matter will be dropped. However, I highly recommend that you consider it for your own safety.”
Neal grimaces. “Nice.” He flips the paper several times before he pushes it to Kramer. “All right. What’s the other option?”
Neal’s boldness takes Kramer aback. “Tell me Mr. Caffrey, why do you think there is another option?”
Neal smiles. “You’re here,” he says plainly. “If this was just about transferring me, they would have sent Peter or Diana, or even more likely, someone would ask me the question next week during visitation time.”
Kramer doesn’t bat an eyelid at the precision of Caffrey’s deduction.
Then Caffrey lets his smile slip and gives Kramer a serious, accessing look. “What is the other option?” he asks quietly.
If Kramer wanted to back out, now would be the perfect moment. Instead, he reaches for his case again and pulls out a file that he handles to Neal.
Kramer can tell exactly the moment when Caffrey’s expression fills with comprehension.
“This,” he says hoarsely, “this looks a lot like my old deal.”
“There are differences,” says Kramer matter of factly.
“I see,” mutters Neal as he carefully goes over the details in the document. “Ouch,” he winces as he notices some of the alternations. He continues reading before he raises his eyebrows. “A curfew at nine? Oh joy…”
Kramer is still patiently waiting until Caffrey notices the biggest bombshell.
The moment it happens the paper falls out of Neal’s hands.
“Peter…”
“They won’t let him be your supervisor anymore,” says Kramer simply.
“But why? … Of course. I screwed up on his watch.”
“That is one reason,” agrees Kramer. “Also, Hughes refuses to allow you to remain as a part of his team.”
Caffrey bites his lip. “I see.”
“You have about three more weeks to make an appeal against the parole board’s decision,” says Kramer.
“What are my chances?” asks Neal.
“High enough to try,” says Kramer honestly. “You’re lucky that our prisons are so badly overcrowded. The hopes are that by making the conditions of your release tight enough, the board will be persuaded to agree to it. But I can’t offer you any guarantees.”
“Fair enough,” says Neal and runs a hand through his hair.
“I’m returning to DC in two weeks,” says Kramer. “By then, I need to know whether you want to go through with this. If you’d like to talk to your lawyer first, I’ll understand - “
“If I accepted, that means I would have to leave New York with you,” says Neal with a hint of question.
“That’s right.”
“So, everything I’ve built here - “
“You have three options: stay in this facility, transfer to another prison or become my consultant,” says Kramer directly. He understands Caffrey’s reluctance to leave New York behind. He also knows that it won’t be easy to arrange for Neal to be allowed to move to another state. He has given the matter a lot of thoughts in the past few days.
In many ways, it would be easiest for everyone to just transfer Caffrey to some remote prison and to go on with their respective lives. But Kramer is willing to pull the strings in case Neal agrees to take him up on his offer. He wouldn’t have made it otherwise.
“This is your choice, Caffrey,” he says.
Caffrey runs his hands through his hair and rubs his chin. His face is flushed and he is itching to move or do something - what exactly, Kramer doesn’t know. He is strained and not hiding it very well - a part of Kramer wonders if he is trying to play the sympathy card with him.
“Why are you doing this, sir?” asks Neal at last.
Not a question that Kramer appreciates, but he concedes that Caffrey has the right to ask.
“I have several reasons; some of them professional, some more of a personal nature. First off, you are very good at what you do,” admits Kramer openly. “You will find that, similar to Peter, I value intelligence and competence. Your and Peter’s closure rate is unprecedented.” He lets Neal process that before he continues. “Also, you’ve proven you can take care of yourself and keep a cool head even in a bad situation.” That is something of a requirement for Kramer since his last partner got himself shot six and half years ago; not that he would tell Caffrey that. “I know you have enough knowledge in the art crimes that you could be an asset.”
“With all respect, sir,” interrupts Neal, “I’m sure that there are other people with special knowledge… probably not as good as me, but also without the whole additional sentence fiasco in their files.”
“You’re right,” says Kramer bluntly. He lets Neal stew for a few whiles before he continues. “On the other hand, at least with you, we actually know what you’re capable of. I sincerely doubt you could surprise us with something that would top stealing Nazi treasure or the Degas stunt. Am I wrong?”
“I wasn’t convicted of stealing Nazi treasure,” says Neal with a perfect smile.
Kramer is not amused.
“Right,” says Caffrey and drops the smile, “so essentially, you’re saying that I’m a first-class criminal and that I can’t screw up any worse than I already did.” He pauses. “So what is the reason that you’d want me to work with you?”
“You’re persistent,” notes Kramer. “You’re also more forward than I would have expected.”
“I can do forward,” says Caffrey. “I just generally choose not to.”
They stare at each other, hard.
Kramer can tell right now that if they go through with this, their relationship will be vastly different from Neal and Peter’s. He sees that Caffrey doesn’t trust him much and the feeling goes both ways. That’s fine with him - in case the arrangement fails, he doesn’t want another CI he would consider a brother.
Still, thinking of George brings him to what made him consider his offer in the first place.
“You confessed to your part in the crime,” he says. “You didn’t run, you tried to fix it and stayed here to face the consequences. Maybe Peter was right. Maybe, you actually might have the potential to reform.”
Neal raises his eyebrows. “And you want to study me. … Fine. Go ahead.”
Kramer clenches his teeth. “I won’t put up with an attitude from you, Caffrey.”
“What?” asks Caffrey flippantly. “Will you throw me back if I talk back to you?”
“You aren’t even out yet,” points out Kramer. “And I can always find a creative way to deal with impertinence.”
“Meaning?”
“For starters, paperwork,” says Kramer. “Hours and hours of paperwork.”
“That’s not very creative, nor will it make me very useful for your department,” says Caffrey.
“No, but it will make my life easier. It also might make you listen to me next time.”
“Fair enough, sir,” says Neal and politely nods his head.
For some reason, Kramer feels like he has just been tested. He doesn’t like the feeling at all.
Still, he recognizes that unlike Caffrey and Burke, they don’t know each other well and need to set the boundaries - because if Neal agrees, neither of them will be in a good position to back out.
Neal picks up the draft of his new deal and starts flipping through it again. He shakes his head. “This leaves me next to no free space.”
“That was the point.”
“The radius - “
“ - is more than what you have in prison,” says Kramer firmly.
Neal puts his face in his palms. “I know.” He snorts. “Peter’d tell me to cowboy up. If he was speaking to me, that is.”
“You can’t do this for Peter, Caffrey,” says Kramer sharply.
Neal lays his hands on the table and looks at him. “What do you mean?”
Kramer doesn’t pretend to understand even a tenth of what goes through Caffrey’s head. But he thinks he can understand this.
“If you become my CI, you’re making a huge commitment for the next five years,” says Kramer. “That is not a decision you should make based on your friend’s feelings. You can already tell it will be hard. If you screw up, you go right back; if you run, you’re back for a very long time.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?” asks Kramer. “Let’s be honest. You take this offer, you’re putting yourself under a very close 24/7 watch. Unless you’re absolutely sure that you want to go straight, it’s probably in your best interest to transfer to another prison and serve your time, because we might catch you after that, but I will stop you if you try anything under my supervision. Do you understand?”
“You’re telling me that if I make the deal with the devil, I’ll actually get five years of hell,” says Neal with a sarcastic smile. “All right; apart from wearing ties and drinkable coffee, are there any upsides to this arrangement? You do have drinkable coffee in the DC, right?” he asks curiously.
“You won’t be doing so many undercover assignments,” says Kramer flatly, ignoring the weird coffee comment. “That means you won’t get shot at nearly so much.”
“That’s hardly an upside,” grimaces Neal. “I actually liked working undercover.”
“Well, that’s too bad, because you definitely won’t be doing any in the next six months,” says Kramer directly.
“Perfect,” grits Neal and takes a few deep breaths to calm himself.
Despite Caffrey’s somewhat annoying resistance, Kramer isn’t completely without compassion for the conman.
He knows that in a way, they are asking for a lot. Unlike the first deal, what he is offering Neal is very far from freedom.
“If you do this, you must do it for yourself,” says Kramer almost gently.
Neal interlaces his fingers and sighs. “Will I be able to stay in contact with my friends here?” he asks quietly.
“I have nothing against that,” says Kramer. “But Caffrey - Neal.” He waits until he has Neal’s complete attention. “This is your call. Whatever you chose, be sure that’s what you want, because you will have to live with the consequences for the next five years.”
Neal lets out a deep sigh. “All right.”
Kramer starts getting up from his chair. “I’ll be there back in two weeks to hear your answer - “
“Tomorrow,” interrupts Neal. “Sir, can you come tomorrow? I’ll have the answer by then.”
Kramer raises his eyebrows. “You don’t seem to need much time to decide, Caffrey.”
The conman gives him a small smile. “That’s because my decision has already been made. I only need to realize what it is.”
* * *
Maybe two or three hours past midnight, Neal is staring at the wall of his cell and thinking about the four options he has.
He could stay in this prison. It would mean weekly visits from his friends and constantly watching his back while making some not-so-nice bargains with the other prisoners. His charm will help him some; despite what Kramer’s said, he knows he will survive staying here. The question is how undamaged and sane.
Then there is the possibility of another facility. That means far fewer visits and next to no danger of being beaten, raped or killed. It is the very safe possibility and Neal doesn’t like it in the slightest.
Supposedly, he could take Kramer up on his offer. That means to willingly put himself into a cage tighter than any prison. Again, he would leave his friends behind, except for maybe a rare call or email. It would also burn ninety percent of the bridges he has still left with the criminal world and there are some people - not friends, but good contacts and associates - that Neal doesn’t want to let go of.
No more big cons. Very few little ones. No more shiny things and easy life of luxury. Very little thrill, very little fun. That option paints a bleak picture that Neal absolutely hates.
Or he could run.
He could completely forget the last two years, break from the prison and just. Run.
All the things he wanted to do, the possibilities he hasn’t tried yet, places he hasn’t seen, pieces that he always wanted to grab and claim…
He could get back with Mozzie. It would take a lot of groveling and maybe a broken jaw, but he’s sure Moz would take him back. He is the kind of friend to forgive the unforgivable.
Together, they could conquer the world. They could go to Louvre and replace all the Da Vinci pieces. Neal could finally steal that beautiful Matisse that he admired from the time he first saw it as a seven-years-old kid. He could return for the diamonds he wanted to appropriate in Burma, or for some of the pieces he admired in Italy. Then there are those things he liked in London - that piece he intended to acquire in Prague - or Tokyo, Neal has always wanted to visit Tokyo -
He could claim his old stashes, add to them and they would buy the tropical island - even without the Nazi loot.
With enough money, he could buy his way to freedom. Give him one year, two tops, and he wouldn’t even have to run anymore. He would be able to settle.
The truth is that Neal Caffrey has always been great at running. He could easily create seven escape plans in his sleep - and two or three of them might actually work. Right now, it would take Neal forty minutes to prepare one of his escape plans that has ten percent possibility of him getting shot and thirty five percent of getting caught again - not the odds he would prefer, but he has worked with less before.
Neal now knows all about the FBI procedures; the other agencies can’t be that much different. He can run and finally have it all -
‘There is nothing sadder than a con man conning himself.’
And right then, Neal knows that Adler was right.
He knows that out of the four options, there are two at the opposite ends and two in the middle ground - and he tried to work in the middle ground for the last few months, and it ended with a disaster. Neal knows he won’t - can’t - choose the middle ground again. After Mozzie’s ultimatum, Keller and Elizabeth, after the pipes and his confession and his hearing - he can do better. He deserves better.
No more drowning in the ocean between two worlds.
‘A man or a conman. You can’t be both.’
That leaves him with running or accepting the cage. To become the best white-collar criminal of this century, or to struggle with the new life Peter has introduced him to.
Running is very, very tempting.
‘You’re fooling yourself if you think this is who you really are.’
Maybe he is.
Yet Neal knows that when Kramer comes today (because it already is today, and there is maybe an hour remaining till the sunrise), he won’t find an empty cell and a prison at uproar.
Because Neal already made his choice when he decided to confess.
The choice is still scarier than hell.
A/N:
So, what do you think of this turn of events?
I’m considering writing a sequel to this story. Right now, I don’t yet have a clear storyline in mind, but... I think I could make it work, and I’ve sort of grown fond of this ‘verse. I also have some vague ideas for one or two short snippets to accompany this that might fill a few gaps - those definitely wouldn’t be from Neal’s POV.
I know there are still two more parts remaining, so maybe it’s too soon to ask, but would anyone be interested in reading either of these if I went through with it?