Avalon

•19•

Adjusting

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There were many people scattered across the rooms on lower levels and ones above bullpen. Peter was overseeing all of it from the balcony on top and next to him stood Hughes. They shared the silence that had draped over them.

No, it wasn't like old days. Definitely this was anything but. However both shared silent agreement to keep an eye on Neal. Agent Hughes was anything but. He knew the old Neal all too well to just blindly trust the new Neal not to step over some boundary. But it also wasn't just sole distrust or suspicion.

Because only idiot could miss Neal behaving sullen. Even blind person could feel Neal's mood and general look changed and getting worse.

Of course they checked. Every nook and cranny. Never they spotted even the tiniest mention, slip or a wink from Neal's closest friend who actually did know the man all the way through. Someone who could be able to solve this mystery for them. Because they knew all too well if you pushed Neal he'd run and hide so properly you'd never see him again.

Hughes never mentioned to anyone about one more detail he gathered being an agent for years he had on Earth and following time on the new planet.

And also what rumors and stuff he regularly cashed in from other departments. Besides he all too well knew his old friends from all kinds of agencies and whatnot.

And he was indeed familiar with few more elite man to have heard of an incident years ago. He also learned that one of his old military buddies had gone slightly rogue some years after parting their ways. Somehow Hughes knew all that. Indeed he was already on top of that.

One thing that he promised to keep secret until the very last possible moment was otherwise gonna go with him to a grave had that happened before. Because a promise is a promise. Even in the world of justice and system.

Peter, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to all that. Because Peter was Peter. And he was solid and strong. He was there for Neal and his wife and dog. Well, his family.

The day of Neal being allowed out of the quarantine of sorts was sliding closer and closer each day that passed. But still the agent worried something might happen and Neal may do something stupid. Or maybe it was his mantra ever since the man joined the team.

But Peter did trust Neal enough to hope he will be okay, they've gone long way to this point and been through enough shit from all sides to believe the man can go straight way.

He just had to for both of them.

Ever since they had to move to this planet FBI and local law officers have been good and forgiving. They understood what Neal was and why their bureau kept him along. They trusted them to have him aboard. Yes, some of those who doubted Neal from FBI still tried to convince the danger he was to everyone but yet the con man was allowed to continue his way to good graces. It was one thing Peter just knew deep inside. So there he was, observing his protege and crossing fingers all goes well. Department still will want full evaluation after the Gala and there was high chance of him finally be free man and maintain his CI position. And if all fails he would even be accepted in Art Crimes division as a consultant. And if that fails El had given a hint she may hire an extra chef or assistant which Peter knew would be a lot. Because by what he knew of those laws Neal will had to work if he wanted to maintain freedom.

Otherwise he doubted law would want someone like Neal walk free and fall back to his crime life.

But there still was so much to learn about how this new world worked. And it was part of why they were just assisting and working along with locals. They knew their laws the best but also allowed them- the newcomers- to gradually integrate themselves into the new environment. And they mostly were all pure human happened to be out in the space years upon years before they got in contact with those who had researched the universe long decades before for a planet capable to take in the rest.

At least that was the official story. How long before they had done these super hush-hush missions to find a life sustainable planet Peter couldn't tell. Most of all those secret government fed operations the regular bureau people had no information about and it was indeed classified.

However a snippet here and snippet there told Peter it wasn't one day decision and there had been decades of beforehand planning and organizing things for them to be able to simply pack up whole nation and put them on a huge spaceship and transport to a different planet. So it was something he already deduced from how fast it was happening.

Though one more rumor told some parts already had been moved from planet Earth years ago just nobody told the rest of the world to avoid worldwide panic.

Which was all logical knowing how easily people panicked about such things.

Not even mentioning many secret government organizations not even FBI knew existed that worked with most strangest things.

For the moment Peter decided to concentrate on Neal and his position preservation. He wanted the younger man with him and not to let him get lost in some galactical maze of red tape, or whatever.

He aimed to help his friend get acclimated and integrated into this new system and society.

And at the time being Neal was obviously struggling to come to terms with all this new.

According to Diana he still tried to provide all necessary help to solve cases. And he behaved his best. Albeit somewhat dimmed and in ways cautiously. Which brought Peter to the next goal achievement- get Neak under his own roof and protection.

As for himself Peter mostly worried about his own integration process. Like so many more he feared how he'd get along all this different stuff that was going on and ve helpful enough to be kept even if not same position.

So much about this world was entirely different from what he knew on Earth and it was very hard to wrap his mind around it.

El seemed to find her spot easily so he didn't worry about her. She always found ways to keep herself busy and it seemed her business was pretty accessible here as well if not slightly more accepted. Event planning was something this world obviously rated high and judging by the rate of her schedule filling up people and other creatures here loved partying in style and were thirsty for something fresh or, in case of Earth people population rise among locals, something that made them feel home therefore familiar.

It was also bit overwhelming to adapt to new transportation options but Peter was relieved there were like close to half these folks still driving standard cars and not those creepy aircraft things he still couldn't find a proper title for.

Another thing that kept Peter aware of change was their dog. Those he rarely saw on streets and as far as he could tell pets were not yet fully involved in the new world. But they still existed since the need for pet sitters grew and if he had any idea about it a person could actually make living just by watching somebody's pet while they went out or to work.

So far Peter and El simply left Satch home by himself like they did before and tried to make sure he's not alone much more than before. And if there was any tell, while time was very different from home, the doggo was okay with that.

They now had a large enough apartment on slightly outer of city blocks. It was friendly building that mostly consisted of his fellows since they at first just dumped them all together in same block of new buildings possibly built in advance for them. Which in that case was nice gesture and a thoughtful one.

In Peter's case he felt content in his place and believed that with new population there will be actual need for him at the office. Even if they all didn't turn into criminals they still could do crime their way which meant his knowledge of things on Earth would be appreciated enough. And criminals tend to learn fast and so did agents. Also a good thing because he knew with so much new faces out there crime will still do its thing and he will be needed to fight it as the locals would need extra hand.

So in all it was looking positive for his family and colleagues and that was what mattered. And it something he kept thinking back every time a doubtful shadow crossed his mind.