conning | I've been here, I've been there // Honey, I been somehow everywhere

Neal isn't really sure what's going to happen when the Admiral sends them home. To his home. Where by now, somewhere in the world, Kate is alive and healthy. It's strange to think of her somewhere unknown and not feel the immediate need to go find her. To save, protect, avenge her. It's also strange that even knowing she's out there, even seeing proof, Neal can't shake the guilt of killing her, either. It feels like things should have shifted, that some monumental internal change should have taken place. He still feels the things he always had, but with new knowledge counter it.

It's all swirling in his brain when Norton meets him in his cabin. Still roiling there when Neal squeezes his hand and tells thin air that they're ready.

It snaps to background when, on his next blink, Neal and Norton find themselves in the conference room of the FBI's New York City White Collar division, and Neal is still holding Norton's hand. The door from the office floor swings open and admits a small flood of people in the forms of Peter, Diana, Jones, and... Mozzie?

All four of them stop dead, seeing Neal and a stranger at the far end of the room, plus whatever Norton chose to bring. Neal stares at all of them, bemused.

"I knew it! I told you." Mozzie says, pointing at Neal. He glares at Peter and company in triumph.

Peter's jaw works for a moment before he takes a deep breath, clearly trying to focus on being relieved instead of furious. "Neal. Who's your friend?"

Threaded | Flat

Norton packed a small leather suit-case for the trip, which he holds in the hand that isn't holding Neal's hand. A few spare outfits and a gun hidden in a holster under his suit jacket is all he brought with him. Everything else, he expected to obtain in New York. But when, between one blink and the next, they're suddenly in a bright, airy room full of glass, Norton glances around curiously, taking in the room and the small crowd of people piling in.

"Going out on a limb, but I don't think this is your flat," Norton whispers to Neal before he steps forward with his hand delicately outstretched.

"How do you do, I'm Norton Folgate. You must be Agent Burke. I've heard ever so much about you."

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