NOTE: Raise your hand if you forgot that Neal had a slice down his forearm that still hasn't had a chance to heal yet? *author sheepishly raises hand*

Other Note: Kryptos is real, the sculptor recently gave out a new hint but it still remains unsolved.

Chapter Twenty-Five

At the bathroom sink Neal was finding it difficult to clean the oil paint off his arm where he still had the line of stitches from the knife gash down his forearm. It felt wonderful to be painting again but it was an undeniable mess. The clean cut was healing well but stitches weren't due to be taken out for another weeks so he did his best to work around them. After spending a good fifteen minutes removing the paint off his skin as best he could Neal gave in leaving a good portion of it around the injury before changing into a clean shirt. Neal stepped back out into the living room where Peter was leaning against the kitchen island leafing through a small stack of pages with seemingly random letters printed across them numbered out into blocks and lines. Peter had come over for a social visit but he'd only been in Neal's apartment for about ten minutes before Frost called and asked if he could meet with them both to discuss the up coming mission. If Peter had his suspicions that Frost already knew that he and Neal were together making for an easier meet up he didn't voice it.

"What's with the nonsensical word search?" Peter asked.

"Frost gave me that. It's a copy of Kryptos."

"Kryptos?"

"Have you been to the CIA headquarters in Langely?"

"No."

"Trying to stay out of the lion's den?" Neal teased.

"I just never really had any need to visit Langely."

"Well outside the CIA Headquarters there is a large bronze statue featuring this code in four panels. It was placed there in 1990 and since then the code for the first three panels has been decoded but the last one remains one of the most famous unsolved codes in he world. Supposedly it's a riddle within a riddle that can't be solved until all four panels are decoded. Only the artist, the cryptographer and the director of the CIA knows the answer."

"And Frost wants you to decode it?" Peter asked.

"No, he actually gave it to me to give to Mozzie as a peace offering."

"That was thoughtful of him, but Mozzie has to know about the code already."

"He does, and it's been driving him crazy for more than twenty years." Neal chuckled. "But he's never seen this version, in fact there are only a handful who have since this version isn't public. The original artist made a few errors when he made the statue."

"Errors in a coded message must make it that much harder to solve."

"It does. Some were done intentionally to make the art look more balanced and some unintentional because he wasn't a cryptographer himself even though he was working with one. This copy of Kyrptos is the original draft from the actual cryptographer before it was sculpted so there are no mistakes."

"So Mozzie might have hope of actually solving it…I can't imagine him wanting that kind of notoriety though."

"He wouldn't tell anyone what the answer is if he figures it out."

"He'll just enjoying knowing something no one else does." Peter nodded.

"Exactly. He claims to have decoded the other three before anyone else he just didn't gone public, but I don't know if that's true or not."

"I wouldn't doubt it either way." Peter smiled ruefully. "How are you going to get the copy of Kryptos to Mozzie? Do you even know where he is these days?"

"I'm sure he's still in New York, but contacting him isn't easy. I'm going to have to leave this with a mutual friend and hope he gets it. I knew he was going to be angry with me, I just didn't think it was going to last this long. It's not even the FBI side of things that upset him, it's the CIA part of the deal."

"In that case extending a CIA code as an olive branch might not be the best move."

"I didn't think of that."

"Have you spoken to Mozzie at all since you moved?"

"He answered his phone once for me, he called me a 'Turnsuit' and hung up."

"Ouch. Clever, but cold." Peter said sympathetically. "It's only been six months, give him a little more time. Although even if Mozzie doesn't want the code it really was nice of Frost to try and help you patch things up with him."

"Frost really wants this team to work." Neal smiled.

"I think it's more than that." Peter admitted. "I think he wants your friendship to work."

"So you think I've been upgraded from 'asset' status?" Neal teased.

"I do."

Peter turned as there was a knock at the door.

"Speak of the devil." Neal smiled. "It's open."

"I don't see why you complain about me letting myself in here when you just leave the place unlocked anyway." Frost joked as he stepped into the apartment.

"It's a little different when I actually invite you in." Neal pointed out.

"Vampire rules, got it." Frost nodded with a bright smile.

Neal shook his head sadly and decided against pointing out that technically once you invited a vampire inside they were free to come and go as they chose. Frost had a large back pack along with a tube art carrying case that he kept with him as he walked over to look at the new signature on the painting. Making a noise of approval Frost walked back over to the pair and put the back pack and art case on the counter next to the copy of Kryptos.

"I brought toys." Frost beamed. "Although that's not really why I'm here."

"Why are you here?" Peter asked.

"Toys first, business second." Frost said as he punched a code into a small key pad that was integrated into the fabric of the back pack. "I can get you two one of these packs too if you think you'll use it, if you try to force it open, get the combo wrong or cut the fabric it destroys the contents by exploding…which it will also do if it gets shot or knocked into too hard so pluses and minus when you're wearing it."

"I think I'm good." Peter said taking a step back.

"I don't usually have anything secret enough to risk exploding to carry around." Neal added.

"I don't use it very often, but I need it today." Frost reached in the bag and pulled out a silk vest that would fit in well with the rest of Neal's wardrobe. "Okay, so this isn't bullet proof, but it is bullet resistant."

"Resistant?" Neal questioned as he took the surprisingly heavy tailored vest.

"I had a water resistant watch once," Peter said unimpressed "it died the first time I took a shower with it."

"This hopefully better than your watch. If someone fires at you with a hollow point, which is mostly likely what anyone running security for the Ivory List crowd would have it helps flatten out the bullet before it enters the body as well as significantly slows it down. So you're still going to end up shot, but the bullet won't go as deep or strike bone with as much force, gives you about a 30 percent better chance at survival."

"Better than nothing I guess."

"It has the added benefit of dissipating electricity fairly well so being tazed isn't as bad if they hit the vest directly, that wasn't a planed feature it was just a happy bonus." Frost explained before pulling out a small black box that he opened revealing a tiny ear transmitter that looked familiar.

"No way. Neal is not wearing that thing." Peter protested. "One of those almost got me killed. Remember the Fisher case?"

"Peter that was like six months ago," Frost chuckled "technology has come a looooong way since then. In fact this is also a listening devices so you don't have to wear a separate piece of equipment like one of those clunky watches for that. We've also worked out the interference issue, and the speaker on this isn't capable of making a noise loud enough to be painful."

"They should have thought of that sooner." Peter said sourly.

"Hey, this tiny technology isn't easy stuff to work out. To make this thing powerful enough to transmit as well as receive we had to invent a thorium battery."

"Thorium, that's radioactive isn't it?" Neal asked warily. "This thing isn't going to give me cancer is it?"

"Cancer, no, but if it starts to get warm you might want to get it out before it goes all Chernobyl."

"Please tell me your kidding."

"Sure. Moving right along." Frost pulled out a small device that looked vaguely like a steampunk type gun. "Okay, so here's the part I'm thinking you're not going to like."

"Worse that having a small nuclear reactor in my ear?" Neal asked doubtfully.

"I really was kidding about that, for the most part." Frost assured. "No, you're not going to like this for a different reason. This is a tracking device, and I know you hate being tracked but its an important fail safe in this case."

"The gun is making me think it goes under the skin."

"It does."

"Beyond not liking being tracked I really don't like the idea of that. Can't you just put in my shoe or something?"

"If the worst happens and you're discovered and they don't just kill you anyone who knows anything about kidnapping a Federal Agent is going to strip them down. This is why I came by early so that the injection site will have a few days to heal so it's not immediate obvious. It only works well in areas that have cell phone towers or within half a mile of a special receiver and the batter only lasts about seven days and we're going to use four of them healing the wound. So it's not perfected, but it's better than nothing."

"I don't know."

"You don't have to do this, Neal." Frost assured. "I put one in Bryant this morning so he's got one, but as hard as he'll work to ensure you aren't separated I can't guarantee that won't happen."

"Peter, what do you think?"

"You know my answer, Neal."

"You've been nervous about my whereabouts ever since I got the anklet off?" Neal chuckled.

"Exactly. But if you don't want to do this I understand."

"It's only for your safety, Neal." Frost said. "If I wanted to track you against your will, trust me I have a dozen different ways at my disposal to accomplish that."

"That doesn't really make me feel better, but fine, let's do it."

"Thank you for trusting me." Frost said seriously. "Turn around and pull up your shirt, it goes into muscle just below the shoulder blade so that it causes the least amount of irritation."

"Yeah, I heard these things itch." Neal said nervously as he turned around.

"Only the larger ones designed to last for a few months have that issue. We'll have this removed when all is said and done, but you shouldn't even notice it once it's in place."

Still nervous Neal reached over his shoulders to pull up the back of his shirt to expose his back. Neal could hear Frost's breath hiss across his teeth as he saw the exit wound scar that marred Neal's right shoulder for the first time. Not really wanting to talk about it Neal was grateful when Frost simply pressed the muzzle of the tracking gun under his left shoulder blade.

"Alright, deep breath." Frost instructed.

"Does this hurt?"

"Yup."

Before Neal could protest Frost pulled the trigger. The gun itself didn't make a noise but Neal cried out in shock as he jerked away from Frost as a lancing pain radiated up his back. As soon as the device was in place the pain subsided to a dull ache but the flash of pain had instantly caused his hand to spasm curling his wrist and digging his fingers into his palm. Neal tried to cover up the reaction but Frost and Peter had picked up on it as soon as it happened.

"I'm so sorry, Neal," Frost apologized quickly "I didn't even think about this triggering your other issue, I was under the impression that it had resolved."

"It's fine, it will pass quickly." Neal said as he forced his hand open. "It doesn't really bother me any more, I just wasn't expecting the pain."

"Neal…" Peter started.

"I'm fine." Neal assured quickly.

"Peter was about to have a point, Neal." Frost said solemnly. "If your hand is going to pull this trick in the middle of a fight…"

"It's not a trick and I'm not there to fight, I'm there to con my way into the Ivory List. I've never gone into any undercover mission armed and I've always made it out alive. If things really go that wrong that's what Bryant is for. Right?"

"He makes a good point." Frost looked to Peter.

"He usually does."

"Then we will speak no more of it." Frost smiled brightly. "Okay, now for the other reason I'm here and why I brought the exploding back pack."

"Speaking of which, can you not bring high explosives into my apartment any more?" Neal complained.

"No promises." Frost chuckled as he pulled a manila folder out of the pack. "Now then, I can *not* stress how insanely classified this is. I'm not even kind of kidding. Tell anyone about this and I'm going to have to kill them, you, and then I'm going to have to beg my boss for my own life…and he won't be in a forgiving mood."

"Maybe you just shouldn't show us." Peter suggested.

"No. This is important. You need to see it."

Frost opened the folder and pulled out a series of four black and white photographs that had been printed on a dull matte finish paper. Neal was immediately aware of what he was looking at but the way Peter tensed up told him it was something big. Not handing the photos over Frost flipped through them slowly so that Peter and Neal could see them. The photos were all of a poorly lit basement cluttered with old wooden crates, several of which were open and revealed that they contained brick shaped objects wrapped in faded paper, the last photo showed a work bench covered in wires and electronics.

"Are those explosives?" Neal asked.

"Yes. Lots of them." Frost confirmed. "It's C-3, the predecessor of C-4. This stuff is left over from World War II but it still has plenty of kick left in it."

"That amount of C-3 would level half a city block." Peter said solemnly.

"And that was exactly what they were planing to do with it. However, thanks to the threads we followed after blackmailing the Ivory list buyer of the Pirhashemi painting we were able to uncover this before they were able to launch a serious attack."

"Where was this?" Neal asked.

"I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that there is a major American Heartland city that is unknowingly eternally grateful that you broke into the home of Mr. Bashiri and stole that painting. Even the CIA was impressed that this particular gamble paid off so well, I'm hoping we would have stopped them another way since the men involved were already under some heavy FBI and NSA scrutiny, but we might not have been in time, this allowed us to stop this threat quickly and quietly."

"Quietly." Peter repeated. "I take it this isn't making the news."

"No, no, nooooo." Frost said as he pulled out a lighter. "No, this is the kind of thing that would cause a major panic. There are wins against terrorists that are good for American morale and then there are wins that would just make things worse if they became public knowledge. A flock is easiest to protect when it feels safe and secure, when it is united and trusts its guardians."

"Are you calling people sheep?" Neal asked.

"I am, but I love my sheep and I will do anything to keep them safe from the wolves even if that means sometimes pretending the pack isn't nipping at our heels."

"You've put some thought into this metaphor."

"I have." Frost admitted as he set the edge of the photos on fire which instead of burning normally went up in a brilliant ball of light that was gone just as quickly as it started.

"Whoa!" Neal and Peter both exclaimed as they jumped back.

"It's okay, I printed it on flash paper." Frost explained. "Smokes less and burns quicker than normal paper, not to mention looks cooler when you do light it up."

"That was pretty cool." Neal agreed.

"I really shouldn't have told you about any of that let alone shown you, my boss still isn't 100% about either of you. FBI vs CIA and all." Frost rolled his good eyes in frustration. "However, you deserved to know."

"Thank you." Neal said.

Peter just nodded, giving Neal the impression that he wasn't completely convinced that what Frost was telling them wasn't just a dog and pony show. Neal wanted to believe Frost but had to admit that it would be an easy con to run if he was looking to boost confidence in their less than legal methods of getting results. Frost could see that there was still some skepticism in the room but he didn't work to explain himself further. If they successfully managed to infiltrate the Ivory List together it would be proof enough that they were an effective inter agency team with benefits to both sides.

"Sadly there is never any time to sit around and pat ourselves on the back on to the next mission," Frost smiled "we will all meet up the day before to head up to New York and go over any last minute plans. If you need anything in the next few days you have my number. Oh, and I almost forgot…" Frost picked up the art case. "Neal, this is for you."

"This isn't going to be big enough for the Rembrandt." Neal noted as he turned it over in his hands.

"What? No, it's the Pirhashemi painting from the heist. We're done with it at the CIA."

"What do you want me to do with it?"

"Give it back of course."

"Give it back?" Neal repeated.

"You're an Art Crimes Agent, right? This is what you do for living…return stolen art, close cases. Is any of this sounding familiar?"

"I just meant that's easier said than done, besides it's not actually my case. Its Agent Aubrey's."

"So give it to him." Frost shrugged.

"And tell him what?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure you'll think of something."

"Can I just tell him the truth?"

"That you stole it?" Frost asked confused. "No, I…uh, I wouldn't advise that. Peter? What do you think?"

"I think Neal was referring more to the idea of telling Aubrey that a CIA friend stumbled across it during a classified mission and handed it over as a favor."

"Exactly." Neal smiled. "I knew I rubbed off on you at least a little with that 'creative truth' type thinking."

"I'm not proud of it, but 'yes'." Peter admitted.

"Oh, right, that makes a lot more sense. Yeah, sure, if you think that will make him happy."

"Happy might not be the right word," Neal said with a small wince "but it will get the job done."

"Well you know what they say..." Frost snickered.

"'Close enough for government work.'?"

"Exactly."