Box of Problems: Replay

Instead of going after the Raphael at the end of Season 3 (White Collar), Agent Kramer goes after something else. A safety deposit box at a bank. A place where Neal hid something he never wanted to see again. Takes place after the final season of Chuck.

Notes: This is me tackling a previous story again. I had some different ideas recently of another direction I could have taken my old story 'Box of Problems' in. So, here it is, the same idea, different execution. You don't have to read Box of Problems and as this is an entirely different story just using the same old summary.

Chapter 1

Neal watched as Peter walked into the building to talk with the people of the board who were going to decide Neal's fate; freedom or more time on the anklet with the FBI. There was a light feeling to Neal's body and chest.

As he said to Peter, 'it doesn't matter...with or without my anklet, come Monday morning, I'm gonna step off that elevator on the 21st floor and go to work.'

Kramer walked into the building with a couple of agents behind him. The agents stood guard at the entrance, a move which immediately made Neal tense.

"Kramer," Neal greeted. "Can I help you?"

"We'll see," Kramer responded. He lifted up the box he was carrying. A simple safety deposit box. "I managed to get the bank to give this up. It's interesting how much pull one FBI agent can get. But you'd know all about that, don't you, Bryce?"

The name made Neal's blood run cold. How had Kramer found out? Neal had been careful to keep his lives separate. There should be no connection between Neal Caffrey and Bryce Larkin.

"I see you're confused. How about we go back to your apartment and talk about this?"

The last thing Neal wanted was to get in a car with Kramer. However, he didn't have a choice. Kramer knew about Bryce and now Neal had to figure out how much the agent knew.

Kramer held the box close. It was the result of months of searching and numerous favours. He had finally managed to track Neal's last movements before he was arrested. One of those movements was to place a box at Manhattan Mutual Bank for safekeeping. Kramer could easily believe the contents of the box and the story they told.

He wanted Bryce Larkin; more commonly known as Neal Caffrey, far away from Peter and El. The ex-con and spy led Kramer up to his apartment and motioned for Kramer to sit at the table. He refused, setting the box on the table but not taking his hands off it.

"So, what's in there?" Neal asked in an oblivious way.

"I think you already know," Kramer responded. He hated playing games. He was no good at it as he came across too strong. He also preferred to get right to the point. However, he would play if Neal wanted to play. He could corner the rat if he had to.

Opening the box, Kramer pulled out the contents, placing each item in front of Neal.

First came an ID labelled 'Danny Brooks'. It sported Neal's face and looked normal, even if the photo featured a bright and happy high school kid.

The next item was silver, round and locked. It looked like a miniature space saucer.

"What's that?" Neal asked.

"I think you know," Kramer said with a raised eyebrow. Neal was good at this. He didn't even flinch upon seeing his spy will. Perhaps because he knew Kramer couldn't get it open. "It's connected to this." Kramer pulled out the second ID from the box. The one which read 'Bryce Larkin'. The one which had been issued by the CIA for one of their agents. "Bryce Larkin, CIA agent. Don't bother with lies about how he's not you, the resemblance isn't the only connection I've found."

Neal remained silent. There were many situations he could talk himself out of but he needed more information. Instead, he looked over the remains of his previous lives.

"Silence won't help. Especially since I want to discuss what happens next."

"Oh?" Neal questioned. "What happens next?"

"I don't want the CIA anywhere near Peter. He's a good person. Has too much heart, too much faith in you."

Neal's own heart stopped when he heard Kramer's words. They were familiar. He had said the same thing, begged the same thing, back in college. For Chuck.

"You and I both know that the CIA doesn't just let agents go. Which means you're here for a reason." Kramer leaned forward. "I want you to abandon that and come to DC with me. In exchange, you will have the freedom to go on approved CIA missions. It's a good deal."

"You're telling me to abandon a CIA mission," Neal mused. "The CIA wouldn't send me on other missions after that, no matter how much freedom you give me."

"I've heard the rumours, Bryce Larkin. The CIA would be glad to have an agent as good at you off his leash."

"You're risking your career on this," Neal pointed out. "There's no way the FBI will approve this."

"You're right. I'll have to fudge some numbers but I'm sure we'll figure something out. If it comes to it, I'm willing to take the fall to keep you from hurting Peter."

Neal couldn't think of any counter. He couldn't say that he wouldn't hurt Peter as he already had in the past. He received a chance at commutation because El was kidnapped and they managed to arrest the person responsible.

"I'll talk to my superior about your offer," he said instead. "And I'll call you with her response."

"You have until this afternoon," Kramer informed him. "I'll be giving evidence which will get you to come with me to DC, without you having to agree. Take the deal, Bryce. It's the only way this'll work with you coming out on top."

Neal held back a growl as Kramer left. He took a couple of moments to calm down and put back on the cool face of Bryce Larkin, spy. Then he called Beckman.

"Take the deal," Beckman said.

"Really? We don't even know Kramer's true motives," Neal stalled.

"You can figure that out when you're in DC. Having another set of hands to send out is something we could use right now. We need Bryce Larkin back and Kramer is giving us the chance to get you back without having to burn Neal Caffrey."

It would feel like betraying Peter. Neal thought it but he didn't say it. What should it matter to him? It wasn't like he had hesitated to betray people before when it was in their best interest. What was one more name to that growing list?

"Agent Larkin," Beckman said. Neal raised his gaze from the ground and gave her his full attention. "This means more missions. I think some active service will do you good."

"Of course," he responded. Beckman wasn't the type to add comments to soften the blow of tough choices so there wasn't any other response he could give. The moment the screen went dark, Neal let loose with a heavy sigh.

Beckman was right. Kramer was right. Just because he didn't want to do it, didn't make it a horrible idea.

Neal reached for the phone and called Mozzie, letting him know that they needed to talk.

Mozzie sat silently across from the Neal. Neal didn't know what to say so the air was heavy with his silence. All he knew was that he couldn't leave without letting Mozzie know.

"Kramer's won," he announced. "I'm going to DC."

"What?" Mozzie gasped. He was horrified. "We managed to keep the Raphael painting out of his hands and sure, it's going to be returned to it's rightful owners but sometimes you have to let the loot go. What else could Kramer pin on you?" A thought occurred to him while he was speaking. "And how do you know? The Suit just finished giving his speech to the board. Kramer goes on in half an hour, after the panel breaks for lunch."

"Kramer told me. What he has Moz, it's something I can't fight against." He could see the confusion on his old friend's face. But there wasn't much he could do beyond attempting to explain as best he could. "I'm going to DC to work with Kramer. It's already decided. I decided. I'm sorry."

Mozzie frowned at him angrily as he processed it. His face was like a storm cloud and Neal forced himself to commit it to memory. It was always easier to cut himself off from people once he reminded himself that they hated him.

Finally, Mozzie spoke. "I see." Then he left.

Neal breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had let Mozzie know before leaving. Mozzie would hopefully pass a message along to Peter and the rest of team, even if it was just through his lunches with Elizabeth Burke. Neal didn't intend to share his leaving with anyone else.