Don't Do It

Chapter 18

General POV

The next day was the day they are hated. They didn't want to go into work that day. Everyone stayed over at Neal's place the whole night. They wanted to spend as much time as possible with Neal before the inevitable would happen.

Neal threw on his suit and held his head high as he walked into the office. The Marshalls were already there. Neal saw them and his face dropped a little. He was hoping to any higher order that this wouldn't happen but there they were.

The team Neal grew to love stood around him. Hues was already gone and you could see Chief Harding standing on the catwalk. He was ordering the Marshalls around. He also did his finger point thing to Peter. Peter hesitantly left Neal's side and went up to Harding. They walked into Hues' old office.

Neal sat down at his desk and looked around. Jones and Diana went to their desks but came back with their chairs. They didn't want to leave Neal's side. They talked but Neal was too tense to joke around like he normally would.

Neal kept his eyes trained on Peter. He had to see what was happening. He still had hope. He had to watch. He had to see what was happening.

Peter came out and motioned for Neal, Diana, and Jones to follow him to the conference room. He walked in with Harding at his side. They followed after Neal as he trudged up the stairs. Peter was standing at the window with Harding to his side.

After everyone was in, Jones shut the door. Peter heard the door click shut and he turned around. He smiled at Neal and his team. "I was offered Hues' old position and I'm taking it." There was a pause in between his words. "Jones will take my position."

They congratulated each other before Peter turned to Neal. Neal felt out of place slightly. He didn't want to go to jail but he wanted everything to be the same when he came back. He knew it was impossible but it was something Neal hoped for.

"Neal. Chief Harding has a few things for you." Peter excused the other two out of the room. Harding waited till they were gone before he pulled out his folder.

"In this folder is an agreement. It will keep you out of jail. You have to promise to not do anything illegal because that will tarnish the already messed up FBI name."

Neal opened the folder. On the top says New Agent Agreement.

Neal frowned. He had no idea what that meant. Neal read farther into it and read what would be expected of him. All of it would be the same except he wouldn't be a consultant. He would be a real agent. A real agent with a real badge. Neal smiled up at Peter and Peter handed him the pen.

Neal took it from him and read through everything again. He used the pen to sign his name on the dotted line. He caped the pen and handed it back to Peter. He handed the file to Harding. Harding took it and stretched out his hand. Neal took it and shook it.

"Welcome aboard Agent Caffery." Neal grinned at that and looked over to Peter. Peter held open his arms and Neal found himself in Peter's arms. Peter hugged his once consultant.

"Put your leg up on the chair, Neal." Neal did as he was told and Peter handed him the key. Neal took it and used it to unlock his anklet. Neal handed the key and anklet to Peter. He shook hands with Harding again. Peter excused Neal from the room to talk to Harding again. Harding was the over all chief of the bureau so he gets to make changes. Peter and Harding had many things to discuss.

Neal left the room and walked down the stairs. He felt a huge wait was lifted off him. He felt lighter.

Jones and Diana were waiting at the end of the stairs. They looked like they were expecting an explanation. Neal stopped and pulled up his pant leg. They didn't see the anklet and instantly broke out in smiles. They hugged Neal. He hugged them back.

"Are you still going to work here?" Jones asked.

Before Neal could answer, Harding answered for him. "Agent Caffery will be joining your elite team, Agent Jones." Again there were more congratulations from his team mates.

"Peter, go home. I'm sending everyone home until I can fix everything. Come back Monday morning."

The friends did as he commanded. They didn't go to their individual homes. Instead, they went over to Neal's place. They walked through the door and June greeted them. She hugged Neal very tightly before she let them pass.

Neal climbed the stairs to his room. He knew Kate and Elizabeth would be up there together. He opened the door and walked in. Kate and Elizabeth told him goodbye earlier that morning and didn't expect him to be there right now.

Kate was the first one to see him and ran over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly. He hugged her back with the same amount of force. Neal was feeling extra good and confident that he pulled back just enough to catch Kate's lips. Kate froze but as soon as her brain figured out what was happening, she responded. She pressed her lips to his really hard. All the emotions that she had from long ago and that came back were now there. She poured every ounce of passion into that kiss. Neal did the same.

They pulled back and rested their foreheads together. "I love you, Kate Moreau."

"I love you too, Neal Caffery."

Peter cleared his throat. "Agent Neal Caffery to be exact."

Neal laughed at Peter. Kate pulled away and allowed Elizabeth to hug Neal. The six year old decided that he wanted a hug and got in between his mother and his uncle and hugged Neal.

Neal picked up the kid and hugged him tightly before he put him back onto the floor.

"Thank you guys. All of you. We took down the bad guys and saved some of our own," Peter said. Neal acted like he had a glass in his hand. He raised it up and said "here, here." Everyone around him copied the action.

*Finished*