Dribs and Drabs of One Shots

Neal Caffrey - Birthday Surprises

Imagine having a bad day at work and Neal surprises you with a birthday treat. 

(gif not mine!)

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'That sly bastard!' The words rang throughout the entrance hall of the courts mixing with the sound of heels on marble. 'Did you see the way he conned the entire jury? It's like he had them under some sort of spell!'

I was thankful for the cold, New York air, as we reached the stone steps leading to the streets. The sound of screeching tires and beeping horns seemed to release the tension in my shoulders that had built up over the previous few hours.

I hadn't slept well at all the night before and the stress of the days case just added to the knots in my shoulders and back. To make matters worse, the press suddenly appeared, shouting and shoving to get to us.

Turning my head to the side, I saw Lucy's jaw clench at the sight. I had almost forgotten about the after verdict interviews. Normally, the verdict of the case would have been a few days, if not a week later but, because of the client we were up against, everything seemed to have been sped up.

To make matters worse, Johnny Feather: infamous art thief and recent kidnapper, appeared at the entrance of the courts with a smug smile on his face. Luckily, the press seemed more interested with the recently freed man, meaning that we were free of the spotlight.

'I swear, if he comes over here, I'm going to claw his eyes out,' hissed Lucy.

'Not if I get to him first,' I breathed as we both stared at the man who was staring right back. He even had the audacity to wink in our direction making my stomach turn. 

'I can't believe it was a unanimous vote,' Lucy sighed as we walked down the steps of the court house; the rain just starting to fall.

'Knowing Feather, he probably threatened them all if they didn't declare him not guilty.'

Lucy gave a bark of humourless laughter. She reached into her purse and pulled out her umbrella, giving me a sympathetic smile as she held it above her. 'Sometimes things just don't work the way we want them to.'

'But this is the legal system. It shouldn't be like that.' Lucy could see the desperation in my eyes as I spoke; the rain beginning to fall harder. Though she offered me a space under the umbrella, I didn't take it. The rain somehow made me feel better.

'I think you know better than anyone that life isn't the way you want it to be.' She was right, of course. I had had my fair share of bad experiences. Some would even say they were worse than normal. But that's what you get for being in love with Neal Caffrey.

As though on cue, my phone vibrated from my coat pocket. Pulling it out, not caring about the rain drops on the screen, I smiled. Lucy rolled her eyes as I answered the call. 'Hey,' I sighed, as though all the weight on my shoulders had fallen with just that single word.

'Rough day?' He could always tell my mood from just one word. I didn't know if that was a Neal skill or a con man skill.

'You could say,' I replied, risking a look at where Feather was, still surrounded by the press; like ants circling grain of sugar.

'How about we eat in tonight?'

'But-'

'I know, we're supposed to go out with Peter and El but that could make you feel worse.'

I laughed quietly, watching Lucy roll her eyes again with more emphasis than was needed. I could practically feel her eyes rolling. She didn't need to make it more obvious than it already was.