White Collar - "Guilt Trip"

[tj_teejay]

Title: Guilt Trip
Author: TeeJay
whitecollar100  Prompt: #42 Innocent
Genre: Gen
Characters/Pairings: Peter, Neal
Word Count: 300
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A month after Kate's death, Peter wonders why Neal hasn't taken him up on his offer yet.
Author's Note: So I've been rewatching 'Out of the Box' and 'Withdrawal' this weekend. And I just can't help but wonder...
Disclaimer: White Collar, its characters and its settings belong to Jeff Eastin and USA Network. And, guys? Your characters are not only welcome, they're wonderful. I'm just borrowing, I promise.

 

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The door clanked shut with a metallic sound behind Neal.

It struck Peter once again how much the orange jumpsuit and blue slip-ons made Neal look so unlike the person he was.

Neal sat down opposite Peter at the worn-out table. His tone was characteristically playful, sarcastic. "Feels almost like my weekly conjugal visit. Peter, I didn't know you were that fond of me."

Peter studied the smug expression that the real Neal Caffrey hid behind. A stranger wouldn't have noticed, but Peter could see that behind the blue eyes, there was a world of pain and disappointment.

He didn't feel like playing the game today, so he cut right to the chase. "Why are you still here? Neal, it's been a month. What is taking you so long?"

Neal laughed a short laugh that could well have been a snort. "The anklet? Really? Another three years on a 2-mile leash? Forgive me, Peter, but it's not as rewarding as you make it sound."

"It's better than this!"

Neal lowered his head. "I was free. Free to live the life I could choose. And then it all went to hell."

Peter suddenly realized something. "You're blaming me for this. If I hadn't shown up, stopped you from getting on the plane—"

"I'd be dead," Neal interrupted, his voice sharp.

"Is this what it is? Your guilt trip, your way of punishing yourself for not being on that plane when it exploded?"

For a split second, there was raw grief in Neal's eyes, which Peter chose to ignore. "I still mean what I said. You have a shot at a life where you can make a difference. It'll be there if you want it. Think about it, okay? Can yo do that?"

Neal nodded quietly. "Yeah, I can do that."

Comments

[amy1705fl.livejournal.com]

I like this TJ.

[tj-teejay.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :o)

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Awwwww! Nice moment between the two of them. Good "missing scene" considering the emotional shift between the jail scene in Withdrawl and the "theft scene."

[tj-teejay.livejournal.com]

Thanks. And I agree. Even though I understand why they skipped those two months, I still would have liked to see more of that time.

[ladygray99]

This is a great take on that time. Neal's guilt and Peter's concern feels very right.

[tj-teejay.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :o)

[meridian_rose]

Very nice piece.

[tj-teejay.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :o)