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sheenianniTitle: Into the Sunset – Part I
Author’s Name:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sheenianni
Artwork:kanarek13
Fandom: White Collar
Notes: See Prologue
PART I
Fourteen months later
Having just finished reading through a report from one of her subordinates, Sara confirmed the electronic version of the document and added her signature on the paper version before placing the file on a growing pile on the right side of her desk. Glancing at the pile on the left side, she was happy to see that there were only four folders left. Unless something unexpected came up, she should be able to leave at – she glanced at the clock – wow, quarter to nine? Sara blinked. Apparently, time had gotten away from her again.
Then again, there wasn’t a reason why that should bother her, was there? It wasn’t like she had anything special to go to anyway.
Sara chased that thought away. She liked her job and she was damn good at it – there was a reason why the London office was so highly viewed by the Sterling-Bosch management. Being the youngest office head of all the Sterling-Bosch branches and a female, she had fought hard to win the respect of some people at the company. Now, after two years of acting as a VP, nobody questioned her appointment anymore. Looking those skeptics in the eye after proving them wrong was almost as satisfying as using her baton on one of her fleeing suspects.
Almost.
Glancing at the clock again, Sara made a sudden decision. She locked the remaining folders in her desk, pushed herself away from the table and went to grab her coat and handbag. She put the coat on, picked up the completed files to drop them off with a clerk and glanced over her office again before turning off the lights and locking the door.
As she was waiting for the elevator, Sara considered how her life had changed since her promotion. With some nostalgia, she thought back to the days when she was simply an insurance investigator, tracking down one valuable item after another. Nowadays, even though she took on an occasional case, most of her duties were much more desk-bound. When she was honest with herself, Sara had to admit that she missed the time spent in the field. Not that her position didn’t keep her busy. Just last week, Mr. Bosch had mentioned that she hadn’t taken a vacation since coming to London.
Stepping outside, Sara hailed a cab. The cabbie turned out to be extremely talkative, regaling her with gossip and tales about his family. Suddenly overcome by a wave of tiredness that came seemingly out of nowhere, Sara rested her head against the back of her seat. Closing her eyes, she gave the driver an occasional nod or a one-word answer. Soon enough, she knew about her driver’s niece’s engagement, his son’s college plans and his mother in law health problems. Before they reached Sara’s apartment, the monologue that started out as mildly entertaining became rather irritating, though she couldn’t quite decide why. She felt relieved when she finally saw the familiar street.
She paid for the cab and then walked up the stairs to her flat, feeling strangely disconnected. She stepped inside, took off her high heels, got changed, grabbed a sandwich and relaxed into an armchair with a glass of wine.
And then she looked around, staring at the luxurious but sterile place (not true – minimalist!), and for yet another time that month discovered that some part of her felt just as empty as her expensive and modern flat. Lately, she’d been working twelve hours a day only to come home each night to nurse a glass of wine and read a book or watch a movie. Was that really what her life had turned into?
Sara frowned. She was happy with whom she was; she didn’t want to change her career or become less driven. These current thoughts just weren’t like her.
Maybe it was time for a break.
Sara mulled the idea over in her head. She considered her position at Sterling&Bosch and came to the conclusion that they could do for a few days without her – she had trained her deputy well and trusted her to handle things in her absence. Apart from that, she didn’t have any other obligations tying her here. Supposed that she decided to take a vacation, what was she going to do with it?
First, she’d shop for new heels without being interrupted by “urgent” phone calls and then treat herself to a day in a spa. After that though, the possibilities were endless.
On one of her better vacations about eight years ago, she had gone hiking and climbing mountains in the Yellowstone National Park. On the other hand, the more recent scuba diving experience left her rather unimpressed and she was not going to go into the disaster that had been that prolonged weekend with Bryant. The vacation on Mallorca in 2008 had been great for about three days before she found herself bored out of her mind. In 2005, she had been forced to cancel her planned trip to Italy as her vacation interceded with Caffrey’s trial. Japan, Brazil and Island had been interesting, but Sara didn’t feel like repeating any of those trips. There was a whole world to see and many new things to try. It was mid-April now and it would be two weeks at the very least before she would be able to leave. With that in mind, Sara began considering the possibilities.
Then her phone rang. Wondering who it might be Sara glanced at the screen. When she read the familiar name, she paused momentarily before smiling and picking up. “Hi Neal. I didn’t expect you to call so soon again.”
“Hey Sara. I hope this isn’t a bad moment?”
“No, not at all. So, to what do I owe this particular pleasure? What’s going on with you?” For one abrupt second, Sara wondered whether something was wrong. Then she pushed that thought away.
“You mean you don’t know?”
“No, I don’t think… Wait. Are you saying that…?”
“Four years are up,” finished Neal with an audible grin.
“Neal, that’s great!” Sara laughed. “Wow. That’s – that’s really amazing. Congratulations Caffrey!”
She tried not to think of the fact that she had once had that particular date marked in her calendar. Since then however, Neal’s release had been moved up twice and she had lost track of the exact day.
“So what are you going to do now? Any plans?”
“I thought I’d do some travelling first. Then we’ll see.”
Evasion or did Neal honestly not know yet? “Well if you decide to visit the UK, you should stop by, catch up… I can show you around London.”
“Actually I’m staying in a hotel near the Regent’s Park right now, so... Does the offer still stand?”
A pause.
“Sara?”
“Oh.”
Neal hesitated. “Look, if it’s inconvenient–”
“No, no it just… surprised me. Umm, let me check my diary.” What was Neal doing in London? “Okay, so tomorrow is all full, but how about a dinner? 8 p.m. after I end up at work. We could go to a restaurant, grab a meal – I know this great place about ten minutes from the National Gallery. Unless you have some other plans…?”
She could hear Neal’s smile. “No, nothing in particular. Dinner sounds fun.”
“Perfect. Then it’s a date.”
“Should I bring flowers then?”
Sara laughed. “Just leave the lock picks at home and don’t rob the gallery.”
“Sara, you wound me, you really do. … So where exactly shall we meet?”
They arranged for the details.
“That’s settled then. And Neal? I have a million questions.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Neal paused. “It’s great to hear you again, Sara.”
“You too.”
Sara hung up, but she couldn’t stop the internal turmoil. What was Neal doing in London? Did this mean anything? Did she want it to mean something?
Two years ago, things between them had become complicated with Neal’s fake proposal. For a few short moments on that observatory, Sara had almost imagined that it had been real – and wondered. But she was smart enough to recognize it for another of Neal’s dream castles, beautiful and exciting but built of sand, and while Neal might have fallen for his own con, she still lived with her feet on the ground. Besides, her promotion was just too good to let it pass. ‘To a different time and different us,’ Sara had finally said – and she had known that it was the right thing to do.
Her decision had been tested shortly afterwards, when a mere half an hour before her plane had been due to leave, Sara had heard about Peter’s arrest. She had called Neal, asking if the news were true and what had really happened. Neal, though obviously shaken, had reassured her that things were being handled and told her to get on her plane. She had emailed him a week later, he had responded that they were following leads and that she needn’t worry. After five weeks of silence, Neal had called to tell her that Peter had finally been released. With that, all communication between them had ceased.
Even after Neal’s kidnapping and his return, they had only spoken a few times on the phone. Now he was here, asking to meet her.
And you know what – that was exactly what she was going to do. They would have dinner, talk and have fun. Her mind made, Sara got up from her armchair, and poured herself another glass of wine and then picked a book she had left on her nightstand, looking forward to enjoy another quiet night.
And quietly wondered what tomorrow would bring.
* * *
“This is surprisingly good.”
“I told you,” replied Sara smugly.
Swallowing another bite from his pie, Neal hummed in appreciation. Sara grinned.
Truthfully, she didn’t blame him for the slightly dubious look he had given her when they first arrived. The Silver Kelpie tavern looked shabby at best and not in a “good old cozy pub” way. It obviously needed repairs and renovations and Sara would have just passed by without a glance, had a source not once decided to meet her here about a Monet. She had only tried out their Sheppard’s pie because she had been in meetings the whole morning and hadn’t had time for lunch.
She hadn’t had any expectations about the quality of the services. However, the food had turned out to be so delicious that Sara taken to visiting the Silver Kelpie each time she was in the vicinity.
“No, you were absolutely right. Still, this isn’t exactly the place I would have imagined you in.” Neal gave her a light smile to take away the edge of his words.
“Well, they don’t do delivery, so it’s either putting up with the surroundings or a pizza night.”
“A pizza night, really? Here in London? … There has to be a less painful option.”
Sara laughed. “Well, I didn’t have your cooking genius around there, so… Anyway, enough about the food, Caffrey. What’s really going on with you?”
“Mmm, distraction with a pie followed by an interrogation. I love the way you think!” Neal’s eyes glittered with mischief. “Did you bring whips and needles?”
“No need. I still have my baton and I’m not afraid to use it.”
They stared at each other in a frosty glare before they both burst out in incontrollable laugher.
Sara wiped away a tear. “Oh Neal, I missed this.”
He reached for her hand over the table and gently squeezed it. “I missed you too.”
An unexpected shiver crept up Sara’s spine. She stilled, her smile slipping while she tried to handle the conflicting emotions that the simple gesture had brought up in her.
“Neal…” What were they doing here?
Thanks to a lifetime practice of reading people, Neal immediately sensed the change in the mood. “Yes? What is it?”
She hesitated, then smiled shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just… I’m happy to be here like this.” She raised her glass of cider. “To Neal Caffrey, a free citizen. To new beginnings.”
Neal clinked his glass with her. “To freedom.”
They took a few more bites of their food before Sara picked up their talk again. “So how long do you plan on staying in London?”
“A couple weeks, maybe three,” replied Neal with a shrug. “Then I want to go to Paris, Venice, maybe Athens… travel a bit, see the world again.”
“Sounds fun.” Sara smirked. “You sure you won’t be bored without all the agencies trying to catch you?”
Neal snorted. “No, I… actually, it’s a relief. After the last couple years… let’s just say I’ve had enough of the chase for a while.” For a moment, he looked almost grim, and Sara knew that there was a story there somewhere. Then Neal shook his head and the spark in his eyes came back. “What about you? I bet you’ve been busy. Any interesting cases that you can tell me about?”
They parted their ways an hour later after agreeing to meet for lunch the day after tomorrow.
* * *
“… then Diana handcuffed him to the post and the whole time she kept on arguing with Mozzie about Theo’s cough medicine while the rest of us were trying to break through the door,” concluded Neal as they stopped by the shore of Themes and stared at the lights of Tower Bridge. Leaning over the railing and staring at the river, Sara didn’t even bother trying to hide her smile.
It had been over a week since Neal came to London. This time, they had been to an exhibition at the Tate Modern, followed by another dinner in a nearby restaurant. They had left just a few minutes before ten and despite it being Wednesday, neither of them felt like going home just yet. There had been a storm and the rain had just started to die down when they stepped outside, so Neal had opened his umbrella and let Sara step closer to him. Instead of hailing a cab, they took a stroll over the streets of London, joking and teasing and acting silly like a pair of teenagers. They jumped over the splashes and played hide and seek, and Sara felt a ridiculous impulse to take off her shoes and ran around barefoot.
Now, she was she leaning over the railing and staring at the river, her clothes were all wet and a bit dirty – and Sara couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so unburdened and carefree.
She looked around, noticing how the lights of the bridge reflected in the river below them, breathed the fresh air and watched the boats down in the St. Katherine’s docks.
“You know, this city really can be quite beautiful.”
Staring straight ahead, Sara’s lips formed a soft smile. “I’ve actually never been here at night before.”
“Not even once?”
“No, there just – wasn’t the right moment, I guess. It’s not like the job takes you here to play tourist.” She turned her head to look at Neal. “What about you, Caffrey? I bet you already know all the romantic places in London.”
“No, just a few of them… Though the London Eye is stunning – have you been there yet?”
Sara shook her head no.
“Then you should definitely go. Pick a day with good weather, then wait for sunset time and pay for the fast track ticket so you avoid the line. … Maybe we could go on our next date?”
“Neal, you do realize that sitting in a giant turning wheel five hundred feet above ground isn’t exactly my idea of a wonderful time…?”
“’Course I know, but this isn’t like the Empire State Building,” said Neal earnestly. “Trust me, you’d love it.”
“Alright, I’ll think about it. Either way, it will have to wait.” Sara paused. “There’s a meeting tomorrow and I always stay late Friday evenings to make sure everything’s dealt with before the weekend… My Saturday should be free, though.”
Neal smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
Sara smiled back at him. “Yeah.”
This felt weird, planning all their dates around her calendar. In New York at least, they’d had both of their schedules to consider, making the whole process more natural. Not that Sara enjoyed the FBI interfering with her love life, but at least it didn’t make her look like a workaholic. Speaking of jobs…
“So what are your plans after you finish your cruise around the world? Still thinking about staying with the FBI?”
“I’m considering my options.”
“You know you can do whatever you want now,” said Sara lightly. “Neal, you have a set of skills that a number of legitimate organizations would jump at. Corporate security, or being an art authenticator – hell, you could probably run your own business if you wanted.”
“I know. And like I said, I’m considering my options,” replied Neal in a tone that suggested that unless she pushed, he wasn’t about to elaborate.
How did their talk turn so serious in such a short time?
Sara sighed. “Just… please don’t screw it up, Caffrey.”
Neal shook his head, “I swear, Sara, I’m not about to. Not this time.”
She searched his face before giving him a slow nod.
For a while, they just stood there, watching the city together. Then Neal’s arms enveloped around her and he pulled her in a hug. Leaning back against Neal’s chest, Sara clasped his hands in one of hers and just enjoyed the moment. Feeling Neal’s breath on her skin, a shiver ran through her body as she realized that despite her jacket she was getting cold.
“You’re getting cold,” Neal echoed her thoughts, helping her snuggle closer.
“Well, it was you who suggested going sightseeing in a rain,” said Sara teasingly.
“Do you want to go back?” murmured Neal into her hair.
Tilting her head, Sara pressed a light kiss against his chin. “No, not yet. I like it here.”
Even though she didn’t see his face, she could still feel Neal’s smile.
They continued staring at the river together. However, now that Neal had mentioned it aloud, Sara felt the chill creeping up from her bare legs. The dress she wore was very stylish and elegant, but it wasn’t exactly made for a cold April night after a heavy rain.
She freed herself from Neal’s arms. “You know what, it is getting cold here. … And don’t even think about it.”
“What?”
“You were about to offer me your coat – don’t. There’s no point in both of us getting a cold.”
“Fine.” Neal lifted his hands in self-defense. “Okay, I don’t suppose you want to walk around to keep warm and so more sightseeing?”
“You guessed right. I think it’s time I got home.”
Neal smiled. “In that case, let’s go and get you a cab.”
They both stepped away from the railing. Then something passed between them and they spontaneously joined their lips in a kiss.
It was so familiar, the softness of Neal’s hair in her hand, the way he held her, forcing her to lean slightly backwards. It was funny and sweet and powerful until Sara had to end the kiss to catch her breath.
Neal stared at her with something like awe and wonder. “Wow.”
“Wow. That was… ”
For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then Sara started to laugh and Neal joined her just a second later. When they stepped apart, the spell was already broken.
“You know, I really had a great time today,” said Sara at last.
Neal gently squeezed her hand. “Let’s get you that cab.”
* * *
When Sara woke up on the next Sunday, she had been slightly surprised to find Neal still asleep. In New York, he was usually the first one up. For a moment, she wondered whether he was still coping with the time difference – but with Neal Caffrey, that was an unlikely scenario. Shaking her head, she decided to take advantage of it and go over some paperwork before Neal woke up.
With one more glance at Neal, Sara hesitated. Instead of sleeping peacefully, there was some sort of tension around him, a tiredness that he probably masked while he was awake. Were there new lines in his face or was she just imagining things?
As her rational side kicked in, Sara reminded herself that she hadn’t slept in a bed with Neal for two years. Quietly sneaking from under the covers, she tiptoed to the kitchen to make coffee and toasts for breakfast – Neal would have probably made something more fancy, but Sara had never claimed to be an enthusiastic cook and it wasn’t like she had the ingredients anyway – and then she settled behind the desk in her study, sipping at her coffee and beginning to draft the proposal for Tuesday’s meeting with a potential new client.
It was quarter past nine when Neal finally entered the study, trying to button up his shirt with one hand while holding the coffee in the other. His hair looked adorably disheveled and he was still yawning, but his usual smile was once again back in place. “Hey.”
Dropping her pen, Sara turned around in her chair. “Well, look who’s finally woken up!”
“What can I say? It’s Sunday. Some of us actually like to rest during the weekend,” replied Neal cheekily.
Sara shook her head. “You mean the hardworking people who are playing tourists while visiting their friends abroad?”
“Friends as in amis-amant?” said Neal with a mischievous grin.
“Neal, if this is going to end the way I think it will, I really like my carpet, so finish that coffee first please?”
His eyes twinkling, Neal walked out of the study with his typical swagger, presumably going back to the kitchen to finish his coffee and have his toast.
Torn between irritation and amusement, Sara finally gave in to a resigned chuckle and put away her paperwork.
Was she really going to go down that road again? This thing between her and Neal had always made her life complicated. Besides, he was about to leave in a week and she had no idea when and if he’d be back.
Amis-amant, repeated Sara silently, “friends who have fun”. Only she was still in love with Neal and this thing could crash and burn at any moment.
Did it have to, though?
Pushing that thought away, she went to the kitchen to check on Neal. She was surprised to see him looking at some leaflets she had left on the counter a few days earlier.
“You thinking of taking a vacation?” he asked curiously.
“Maybe,” answered Sara vaguely. Stepping next to Neal, she picked up a few of the leaflets before putting them back with a sigh. “My boss Mr. Bosch has pointed it out to me that I haven’t had one in over two years. I’ve tried to narrow down the possibilities, but…”
“Mmmm.” Neal put his arm around her hip, stepping so close that she felt his breath in her hair. “So what are you considering?”
Sara turned to face him with a speculative look. “Well, when you grab me like this, nothing to do with vacation…”
“Oh really?” murmured Neal as he lifted her up on the kitchen counter and squeezed her breasts through her shirt. “Then what are you thinking about, Miss Ellis?”
Sara laughed. “Caffrey –”
He pressed his lips against her collarbone. “You’re so beautiful.”
Placing her legs around Neal and pulling him closer, Sara ripped open Neal’s shirt.
Neal lifted her once again to adjust their position before reaching for her shirt and pulling it over her head. They kissed, their tongues playing a teasing dance before their mouths pressed closer in passion. As she dug her nails into Neal’s shoulders, Sara shivered when Neal started stroking her back. The familiar light touch and the way he always paused above the exact spot where she was ticklish was enough to drew her mad.
Then just before she snapped, Neal suddenly lowered one of his hands, caressing Sara’s bare thigh before moving up towards her panties. She moaned and started unzipping his trousers while Neal sucked on the tender skin of her breasts and neck.
“Come to Paris with me.”
At first, Sara wasn’t sure she heard correctly. She laughed. “What do you mean?”
Neal slowed down his movements and met her eyes. “For your vacation. Come to Paris with me.”
Sara frowned. “What? Neal, that’s not–”
“I know. You didn’t plan it, it’s all sudden and we don’t know what’s going on between us – I don’t care. Just think of it, please?”
Sara shook her head. “Caffrey, I’m not going to just drop everything and to Paris go with you. It’s insane – why would you even suggest that?”
“Because I missed you? Because I want to go there with you?” Neal hesitated. “Please, Sara. You don’t have to say anything now, just… think about it?”
Still taken aback by the completely unexpected suggestion, Sara reluctantly nodded. “All right, I’ll think about it.” She paused and tried to collect herself. Then she purposefully pushed the offer to the corner of her mind.
With Neal watching her and waiting for her response, Sara pulled him closer for another hungry kiss before reaching for his pants again. “Hmmm. Now, I think we were somewhere… here…”
* * *
Nine days later, Sara was waiting in the passport check line at the Heathrow airport, talking on the phone with her deputy to go over some last minute details while giving a silent smile to Neal beside her.
In a mix of happiness, nervousness and excitement, Sara thought that this might just be the best vacation she had had in years – either that or she had lost her mind by accepting Caffrey’s offer. In a surge of dry humor, she acknowledged that the possibilities weren’t mutually exclusive.
Feeling the familiar thrill of walking a new road, Sara ended her phone call and then readied her passport for the check-up.
The flight to Paris was due to leave in ninety minutes.
* * *
PART II
Author’s Name:
sheenianniArtwork:
kanarek13Fandom: White Collar
Notes: See Prologue
___________________________________
PART I
Fourteen months later
Having just finished reading through a report from one of her subordinates, Sara confirmed the electronic version of the document and added her signature on the paper version before placing the file on a growing pile on the right side of her desk. Glancing at the pile on the left side, she was happy to see that there were only four folders left. Unless something unexpected came up, she should be able to leave at – she glanced at the clock – wow, quarter to nine? Sara blinked. Apparently, time had gotten away from her again.
Then again, there wasn’t a reason why that should bother her, was there? It wasn’t like she had anything special to go to anyway.
Sara chased that thought away. She liked her job and she was damn good at it – there was a reason why the London office was so highly viewed by the Sterling-Bosch management. Being the youngest office head of all the Sterling-Bosch branches and a female, she had fought hard to win the respect of some people at the company. Now, after two years of acting as a VP, nobody questioned her appointment anymore. Looking those skeptics in the eye after proving them wrong was almost as satisfying as using her baton on one of her fleeing suspects.
Almost.
Glancing at the clock again, Sara made a sudden decision. She locked the remaining folders in her desk, pushed herself away from the table and went to grab her coat and handbag. She put the coat on, picked up the completed files to drop them off with a clerk and glanced over her office again before turning off the lights and locking the door.
As she was waiting for the elevator, Sara considered how her life had changed since her promotion. With some nostalgia, she thought back to the days when she was simply an insurance investigator, tracking down one valuable item after another. Nowadays, even though she took on an occasional case, most of her duties were much more desk-bound. When she was honest with herself, Sara had to admit that she missed the time spent in the field. Not that her position didn’t keep her busy. Just last week, Mr. Bosch had mentioned that she hadn’t taken a vacation since coming to London.
Stepping outside, Sara hailed a cab. The cabbie turned out to be extremely talkative, regaling her with gossip and tales about his family. Suddenly overcome by a wave of tiredness that came seemingly out of nowhere, Sara rested her head against the back of her seat. Closing her eyes, she gave the driver an occasional nod or a one-word answer. Soon enough, she knew about her driver’s niece’s engagement, his son’s college plans and his mother in law health problems. Before they reached Sara’s apartment, the monologue that started out as mildly entertaining became rather irritating, though she couldn’t quite decide why. She felt relieved when she finally saw the familiar street.
She paid for the cab and then walked up the stairs to her flat, feeling strangely disconnected. She stepped inside, took off her high heels, got changed, grabbed a sandwich and relaxed into an armchair with a glass of wine.
And then she looked around, staring at the luxurious but sterile place (not true – minimalist!), and for yet another time that month discovered that some part of her felt just as empty as her expensive and modern flat. Lately, she’d been working twelve hours a day only to come home each night to nurse a glass of wine and read a book or watch a movie. Was that really what her life had turned into?
Sara frowned. She was happy with whom she was; she didn’t want to change her career or become less driven. These current thoughts just weren’t like her.
Maybe it was time for a break.
Sara mulled the idea over in her head. She considered her position at Sterling&Bosch and came to the conclusion that they could do for a few days without her – she had trained her deputy well and trusted her to handle things in her absence. Apart from that, she didn’t have any other obligations tying her here. Supposed that she decided to take a vacation, what was she going to do with it?
First, she’d shop for new heels without being interrupted by “urgent” phone calls and then treat herself to a day in a spa. After that though, the possibilities were endless.
On one of her better vacations about eight years ago, she had gone hiking and climbing mountains in the Yellowstone National Park. On the other hand, the more recent scuba diving experience left her rather unimpressed and she was not going to go into the disaster that had been that prolonged weekend with Bryant. The vacation on Mallorca in 2008 had been great for about three days before she found herself bored out of her mind. In 2005, she had been forced to cancel her planned trip to Italy as her vacation interceded with Caffrey’s trial. Japan, Brazil and Island had been interesting, but Sara didn’t feel like repeating any of those trips. There was a whole world to see and many new things to try. It was mid-April now and it would be two weeks at the very least before she would be able to leave. With that in mind, Sara began considering the possibilities.
Then her phone rang. Wondering who it might be Sara glanced at the screen. When she read the familiar name, she paused momentarily before smiling and picking up. “Hi Neal. I didn’t expect you to call so soon again.”
“Hey Sara. I hope this isn’t a bad moment?”
“No, not at all. So, to what do I owe this particular pleasure? What’s going on with you?” For one abrupt second, Sara wondered whether something was wrong. Then she pushed that thought away.
“You mean you don’t know?”
“No, I don’t think… Wait. Are you saying that…?”
“Four years are up,” finished Neal with an audible grin.
“Neal, that’s great!” Sara laughed. “Wow. That’s – that’s really amazing. Congratulations Caffrey!”
She tried not to think of the fact that she had once had that particular date marked in her calendar. Since then however, Neal’s release had been moved up twice and she had lost track of the exact day.
“So what are you going to do now? Any plans?”
“I thought I’d do some travelling first. Then we’ll see.”
Evasion or did Neal honestly not know yet? “Well if you decide to visit the UK, you should stop by, catch up… I can show you around London.”
“Actually I’m staying in a hotel near the Regent’s Park right now, so... Does the offer still stand?”
A pause.
“Sara?”
“Oh.”
Neal hesitated. “Look, if it’s inconvenient–”
“No, no it just… surprised me. Umm, let me check my diary.” What was Neal doing in London? “Okay, so tomorrow is all full, but how about a dinner? 8 p.m. after I end up at work. We could go to a restaurant, grab a meal – I know this great place about ten minutes from the National Gallery. Unless you have some other plans…?”
She could hear Neal’s smile. “No, nothing in particular. Dinner sounds fun.”
“Perfect. Then it’s a date.”
“Should I bring flowers then?”
Sara laughed. “Just leave the lock picks at home and don’t rob the gallery.”
“Sara, you wound me, you really do. … So where exactly shall we meet?”
They arranged for the details.
“That’s settled then. And Neal? I have a million questions.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Neal paused. “It’s great to hear you again, Sara.”
“You too.”
Sara hung up, but she couldn’t stop the internal turmoil. What was Neal doing in London? Did this mean anything? Did she want it to mean something?
Two years ago, things between them had become complicated with Neal’s fake proposal. For a few short moments on that observatory, Sara had almost imagined that it had been real – and wondered. But she was smart enough to recognize it for another of Neal’s dream castles, beautiful and exciting but built of sand, and while Neal might have fallen for his own con, she still lived with her feet on the ground. Besides, her promotion was just too good to let it pass. ‘To a different time and different us,’ Sara had finally said – and she had known that it was the right thing to do.
Her decision had been tested shortly afterwards, when a mere half an hour before her plane had been due to leave, Sara had heard about Peter’s arrest. She had called Neal, asking if the news were true and what had really happened. Neal, though obviously shaken, had reassured her that things were being handled and told her to get on her plane. She had emailed him a week later, he had responded that they were following leads and that she needn’t worry. After five weeks of silence, Neal had called to tell her that Peter had finally been released. With that, all communication between them had ceased.
Even after Neal’s kidnapping and his return, they had only spoken a few times on the phone. Now he was here, asking to meet her.
And you know what – that was exactly what she was going to do. They would have dinner, talk and have fun. Her mind made, Sara got up from her armchair, and poured herself another glass of wine and then picked a book she had left on her nightstand, looking forward to enjoy another quiet night.
And quietly wondered what tomorrow would bring.
“This is surprisingly good.”
“I told you,” replied Sara smugly.
Swallowing another bite from his pie, Neal hummed in appreciation. Sara grinned.
Truthfully, she didn’t blame him for the slightly dubious look he had given her when they first arrived. The Silver Kelpie tavern looked shabby at best and not in a “good old cozy pub” way. It obviously needed repairs and renovations and Sara would have just passed by without a glance, had a source not once decided to meet her here about a Monet. She had only tried out their Sheppard’s pie because she had been in meetings the whole morning and hadn’t had time for lunch.
She hadn’t had any expectations about the quality of the services. However, the food had turned out to be so delicious that Sara taken to visiting the Silver Kelpie each time she was in the vicinity.
“No, you were absolutely right. Still, this isn’t exactly the place I would have imagined you in.” Neal gave her a light smile to take away the edge of his words.
“Well, they don’t do delivery, so it’s either putting up with the surroundings or a pizza night.”
“A pizza night, really? Here in London? … There has to be a less painful option.”
Sara laughed. “Well, I didn’t have your cooking genius around there, so… Anyway, enough about the food, Caffrey. What’s really going on with you?”
“Mmm, distraction with a pie followed by an interrogation. I love the way you think!” Neal’s eyes glittered with mischief. “Did you bring whips and needles?”
“No need. I still have my baton and I’m not afraid to use it.”
They stared at each other in a frosty glare before they both burst out in incontrollable laugher.
Sara wiped away a tear. “Oh Neal, I missed this.”
He reached for her hand over the table and gently squeezed it. “I missed you too.”
An unexpected shiver crept up Sara’s spine. She stilled, her smile slipping while she tried to handle the conflicting emotions that the simple gesture had brought up in her.
“Neal…” What were they doing here?
Thanks to a lifetime practice of reading people, Neal immediately sensed the change in the mood. “Yes? What is it?”
She hesitated, then smiled shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just… I’m happy to be here like this.” She raised her glass of cider. “To Neal Caffrey, a free citizen. To new beginnings.”
Neal clinked his glass with her. “To freedom.”
They took a few more bites of their food before Sara picked up their talk again. “So how long do you plan on staying in London?”
“A couple weeks, maybe three,” replied Neal with a shrug. “Then I want to go to Paris, Venice, maybe Athens… travel a bit, see the world again.”
“Sounds fun.” Sara smirked. “You sure you won’t be bored without all the agencies trying to catch you?”
Neal snorted. “No, I… actually, it’s a relief. After the last couple years… let’s just say I’ve had enough of the chase for a while.” For a moment, he looked almost grim, and Sara knew that there was a story there somewhere. Then Neal shook his head and the spark in his eyes came back. “What about you? I bet you’ve been busy. Any interesting cases that you can tell me about?”
They parted their ways an hour later after agreeing to meet for lunch the day after tomorrow.
“… then Diana handcuffed him to the post and the whole time she kept on arguing with Mozzie about Theo’s cough medicine while the rest of us were trying to break through the door,” concluded Neal as they stopped by the shore of Themes and stared at the lights of Tower Bridge. Leaning over the railing and staring at the river, Sara didn’t even bother trying to hide her smile.
It had been over a week since Neal came to London. This time, they had been to an exhibition at the Tate Modern, followed by another dinner in a nearby restaurant. They had left just a few minutes before ten and despite it being Wednesday, neither of them felt like going home just yet. There had been a storm and the rain had just started to die down when they stepped outside, so Neal had opened his umbrella and let Sara step closer to him. Instead of hailing a cab, they took a stroll over the streets of London, joking and teasing and acting silly like a pair of teenagers. They jumped over the splashes and played hide and seek, and Sara felt a ridiculous impulse to take off her shoes and ran around barefoot.
Now, she was she leaning over the railing and staring at the river, her clothes were all wet and a bit dirty – and Sara couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so unburdened and carefree.
She looked around, noticing how the lights of the bridge reflected in the river below them, breathed the fresh air and watched the boats down in the St. Katherine’s docks.
“You know, this city really can be quite beautiful.”
Staring straight ahead, Sara’s lips formed a soft smile. “I’ve actually never been here at night before.”
“Not even once?”
“No, there just – wasn’t the right moment, I guess. It’s not like the job takes you here to play tourist.” She turned her head to look at Neal. “What about you, Caffrey? I bet you already know all the romantic places in London.”
“No, just a few of them… Though the London Eye is stunning – have you been there yet?”
Sara shook her head no.
“Then you should definitely go. Pick a day with good weather, then wait for sunset time and pay for the fast track ticket so you avoid the line. … Maybe we could go on our next date?”
“Neal, you do realize that sitting in a giant turning wheel five hundred feet above ground isn’t exactly my idea of a wonderful time…?”
“’Course I know, but this isn’t like the Empire State Building,” said Neal earnestly. “Trust me, you’d love it.”
“Alright, I’ll think about it. Either way, it will have to wait.” Sara paused. “There’s a meeting tomorrow and I always stay late Friday evenings to make sure everything’s dealt with before the weekend… My Saturday should be free, though.”
Neal smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
Sara smiled back at him. “Yeah.”
This felt weird, planning all their dates around her calendar. In New York at least, they’d had both of their schedules to consider, making the whole process more natural. Not that Sara enjoyed the FBI interfering with her love life, but at least it didn’t make her look like a workaholic. Speaking of jobs…
“So what are your plans after you finish your cruise around the world? Still thinking about staying with the FBI?”
“I’m considering my options.”
“You know you can do whatever you want now,” said Sara lightly. “Neal, you have a set of skills that a number of legitimate organizations would jump at. Corporate security, or being an art authenticator – hell, you could probably run your own business if you wanted.”
“I know. And like I said, I’m considering my options,” replied Neal in a tone that suggested that unless she pushed, he wasn’t about to elaborate.
How did their talk turn so serious in such a short time?
Sara sighed. “Just… please don’t screw it up, Caffrey.”
Neal shook his head, “I swear, Sara, I’m not about to. Not this time.”
She searched his face before giving him a slow nod.
For a while, they just stood there, watching the city together. Then Neal’s arms enveloped around her and he pulled her in a hug. Leaning back against Neal’s chest, Sara clasped his hands in one of hers and just enjoyed the moment. Feeling Neal’s breath on her skin, a shiver ran through her body as she realized that despite her jacket she was getting cold.
“You’re getting cold,” Neal echoed her thoughts, helping her snuggle closer.
“Well, it was you who suggested going sightseeing in a rain,” said Sara teasingly.
“Do you want to go back?” murmured Neal into her hair.
Tilting her head, Sara pressed a light kiss against his chin. “No, not yet. I like it here.”
Even though she didn’t see his face, she could still feel Neal’s smile.
They continued staring at the river together. However, now that Neal had mentioned it aloud, Sara felt the chill creeping up from her bare legs. The dress she wore was very stylish and elegant, but it wasn’t exactly made for a cold April night after a heavy rain.
She freed herself from Neal’s arms. “You know what, it is getting cold here. … And don’t even think about it.”
“What?”
“You were about to offer me your coat – don’t. There’s no point in both of us getting a cold.”
“Fine.” Neal lifted his hands in self-defense. “Okay, I don’t suppose you want to walk around to keep warm and so more sightseeing?”
“You guessed right. I think it’s time I got home.”
Neal smiled. “In that case, let’s go and get you a cab.”
They both stepped away from the railing. Then something passed between them and they spontaneously joined their lips in a kiss.
It was so familiar, the softness of Neal’s hair in her hand, the way he held her, forcing her to lean slightly backwards. It was funny and sweet and powerful until Sara had to end the kiss to catch her breath.
Neal stared at her with something like awe and wonder. “Wow.”
“Wow. That was… ”
For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then Sara started to laugh and Neal joined her just a second later. When they stepped apart, the spell was already broken.
“You know, I really had a great time today,” said Sara at last.
Neal gently squeezed her hand. “Let’s get you that cab.”
When Sara woke up on the next Sunday, she had been slightly surprised to find Neal still asleep. In New York, he was usually the first one up. For a moment, she wondered whether he was still coping with the time difference – but with Neal Caffrey, that was an unlikely scenario. Shaking her head, she decided to take advantage of it and go over some paperwork before Neal woke up.
With one more glance at Neal, Sara hesitated. Instead of sleeping peacefully, there was some sort of tension around him, a tiredness that he probably masked while he was awake. Were there new lines in his face or was she just imagining things?
As her rational side kicked in, Sara reminded herself that she hadn’t slept in a bed with Neal for two years. Quietly sneaking from under the covers, she tiptoed to the kitchen to make coffee and toasts for breakfast – Neal would have probably made something more fancy, but Sara had never claimed to be an enthusiastic cook and it wasn’t like she had the ingredients anyway – and then she settled behind the desk in her study, sipping at her coffee and beginning to draft the proposal for Tuesday’s meeting with a potential new client.
It was quarter past nine when Neal finally entered the study, trying to button up his shirt with one hand while holding the coffee in the other. His hair looked adorably disheveled and he was still yawning, but his usual smile was once again back in place. “Hey.”
Dropping her pen, Sara turned around in her chair. “Well, look who’s finally woken up!”
“What can I say? It’s Sunday. Some of us actually like to rest during the weekend,” replied Neal cheekily.
Sara shook her head. “You mean the hardworking people who are playing tourists while visiting their friends abroad?”
“Friends as in amis-amant?” said Neal with a mischievous grin.
“Neal, if this is going to end the way I think it will, I really like my carpet, so finish that coffee first please?”
His eyes twinkling, Neal walked out of the study with his typical swagger, presumably going back to the kitchen to finish his coffee and have his toast.
Torn between irritation and amusement, Sara finally gave in to a resigned chuckle and put away her paperwork.
Was she really going to go down that road again? This thing between her and Neal had always made her life complicated. Besides, he was about to leave in a week and she had no idea when and if he’d be back.
Amis-amant, repeated Sara silently, “friends who have fun”. Only she was still in love with Neal and this thing could crash and burn at any moment.
Did it have to, though?
Pushing that thought away, she went to the kitchen to check on Neal. She was surprised to see him looking at some leaflets she had left on the counter a few days earlier.
“You thinking of taking a vacation?” he asked curiously.
“Maybe,” answered Sara vaguely. Stepping next to Neal, she picked up a few of the leaflets before putting them back with a sigh. “My boss Mr. Bosch has pointed it out to me that I haven’t had one in over two years. I’ve tried to narrow down the possibilities, but…”
“Mmmm.” Neal put his arm around her hip, stepping so close that she felt his breath in her hair. “So what are you considering?”
Sara turned to face him with a speculative look. “Well, when you grab me like this, nothing to do with vacation…”
“Oh really?” murmured Neal as he lifted her up on the kitchen counter and squeezed her breasts through her shirt. “Then what are you thinking about, Miss Ellis?”
Sara laughed. “Caffrey –”
He pressed his lips against her collarbone. “You’re so beautiful.”
Placing her legs around Neal and pulling him closer, Sara ripped open Neal’s shirt.
Neal lifted her once again to adjust their position before reaching for her shirt and pulling it over her head. They kissed, their tongues playing a teasing dance before their mouths pressed closer in passion. As she dug her nails into Neal’s shoulders, Sara shivered when Neal started stroking her back. The familiar light touch and the way he always paused above the exact spot where she was ticklish was enough to drew her mad.
Then just before she snapped, Neal suddenly lowered one of his hands, caressing Sara’s bare thigh before moving up towards her panties. She moaned and started unzipping his trousers while Neal sucked on the tender skin of her breasts and neck.
“Come to Paris with me.”
At first, Sara wasn’t sure she heard correctly. She laughed. “What do you mean?”
Neal slowed down his movements and met her eyes. “For your vacation. Come to Paris with me.”
Sara frowned. “What? Neal, that’s not–”
“I know. You didn’t plan it, it’s all sudden and we don’t know what’s going on between us – I don’t care. Just think of it, please?”
Sara shook her head. “Caffrey, I’m not going to just drop everything and to Paris go with you. It’s insane – why would you even suggest that?”
“Because I missed you? Because I want to go there with you?” Neal hesitated. “Please, Sara. You don’t have to say anything now, just… think about it?”
Still taken aback by the completely unexpected suggestion, Sara reluctantly nodded. “All right, I’ll think about it.” She paused and tried to collect herself. Then she purposefully pushed the offer to the corner of her mind.
With Neal watching her and waiting for her response, Sara pulled him closer for another hungry kiss before reaching for his pants again. “Hmmm. Now, I think we were somewhere… here…”
Nine days later, Sara was waiting in the passport check line at the Heathrow airport, talking on the phone with her deputy to go over some last minute details while giving a silent smile to Neal beside her.
In a mix of happiness, nervousness and excitement, Sara thought that this might just be the best vacation she had had in years – either that or she had lost her mind by accepting Caffrey’s offer. In a surge of dry humor, she acknowledged that the possibilities weren’t mutually exclusive.
Feeling the familiar thrill of walking a new road, Sara ended her phone call and then readied her passport for the check-up.
The flight to Paris was due to leave in ninety minutes.
PART II
