One Year

[hurinhouse]

Title: One Year
A/N: for the White Collar 100 prompt - #108 "year"
Author: hurinhouse
Fandom: White Collar
Rating: G
Characters: Neal, Peter
Summary: Getting Out of Jail is Never Free
Disclaimer: Entirely fiction
300 words




“This wasn’t funded by ill-gotten gains?”

“No, Peter. I know you wouldn’t accept it.”

Peter drops his head, nods. When his eyes come back up they’re sincere. “Thank you.”

Neal scoffs, “I’m the last person you should be thanking.”

“Don’t do that, Neal.”

Peter’s back in street clothes after an unfortunate two days in orange, the result of being arrested on a Friday with a minimum of judges available through the weekend and Calloway in no mood to pull strings. Neal cashed in most of his legitimate savings to pay Peter’s bail. It would have been easier if he could have used normal channels.

“You’re free, that’s all that matters.”

“For now, at least.”

“We have a lot of work to do to make it permanent.”

“Yeah. “ Peter gestures to the Taurus. El waits at the wheel. “Coming?”

“Nah, I’ve... got some things to do around here.”

Peter tenses, but he accepts the brush-off gracefully, takes the passenger seat. “Okay. See you tomorrow, Neal.”

“Goodbye, Peter.”

Peter frowns at Neal’s words but El pulls into traffic, away from the ninth precinct. Away from Neal. Once they turn the corner he searches for a cab to his new digs.

Calloway had been pleased when he’d requested a new handler Saturday morning, but she didn’t gloat, just promised an immediate transfer, of her choosing of course, effective this afternoon. Organized Crime won’t be the carnival ride he’s coasted through the past three years. Peter will file a protest, citing Neal’s safety, but Neal should have cut their losses long ago. He’d been selfish, like his father. Everyone he gets close to… pain, heartache, death.

Time to cut ties. Not even Mozzie, after they prove Peter’s innocence. He’ll ride out the last year. One year. Then New York will become a memory.

Comments

[vexed_wench]

awwww tat was really touching and sad.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

thank you! :)

[elrhiarhodan]

Brilliant, but so painful.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

thanks. hopefully peter will make it better.

[embroiderama]

Oh wow, this is sad but I believe Neal would do that. I also believe Peter would try awfully hard to get him back.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

peter will always get neal back.

thanks :)

[ultracape.livejournal.com]

I always hope for a happy ending but considering we keep being told that Neal's life is a Greek tragedy, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it ended this way. Better this than dead or back in prison.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

a greek tragedy - well said!

thanks :)

[florastuart.livejournal.com]

Oh OW. But so very painfully realistic, I think - I can see Neal reaching a point where he'd decide cutting everyone out was the best option. *hugs him*

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

he probably just needs more wine. i volunteer to drink it with him.

thanks!

[msdubstep.livejournal.com]

This was very good but sad. This is something that Neal would probably do. Not the best thing, of course, but then again he's not the best at making decisions at times.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

that's never been his strong suit, has it?

thanks for reading :)

[lauracollared.livejournal.com]

Oh Neal! Stop that!
I know Peter won't let him, though. He can already tell that Neal is scheming something.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

yep, i think peter needs to punish him. let's think of the various ways...

thanks!

[daria234.livejournal.com]

THis was really well done and believable from his pov

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

thank you! i can't imagine him not feeling guilty.

[love-82.livejournal.com]

This is so sad. I can see Neal doing something like this. He would definitely be feeling guilty. I found it funny that Neal was going to try and cut Mozzie out too. I would imagine he would have even less luck doing that then he would cutting Peter out.

You know this would be an interesting storyline for the show to do. Neal voluntarily or involuntarily getting a new handler after all that has happened.

[hurinhouse.livejournal.com]

i agree! (about the show AND about moz). thanks for your feedback :)

[treonb.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love this! It's just like Neal to think he can solve everything by disappearing.

[ladygray99]

I have to believe Neal and Peter will be together again.