Chapter Text
Life seems to have been nothing but mysteries lately. First, there is my partner who was a secretive con that turned out to be two agents undercover. Then, I was Peter Burke and now I am Ryan Peter Ryder according to what I have been told and read because it turns out that I don't even remember my own name. There is the mystery of how everything connects from the Antagonist, through Caffrey, to my own mysterious past. Finally, there is my cousin, God-brother, and best friend who I am told has been right in front of me all along, only I can't see him, because he is hiding in plain sight. Despite having no memory of him in my head, Joe tells me my heart remembers so I miss the kid a great deal and am clueless as to how he is right in front of me.
*******
Right now, there is a kidnapping case that needs attention so I recommend that everyone gets back to what you were doing before the series of interruptions occurred." As agents began to scatter he turned to Agent Rice "What about this kidnapping case?" She filled him in on the case, which was the random abduction of a person in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he was needed because the kidnapper said "Have Neal Caffrey on speed dial because starting tomorrow at ten the life of our victim will depend on it."
The next morning we settled into the office to assist in solving the kidnapping case. All we knew was that someone had a grudge on the FBI and Caffrey so they had abducted a random person to use as bait. We had communication set up through ear buds so that the White Collar, Kidnapping, and Caffrey teams could keep in touch at all times. Agents Camden were set up to play Caffrey under Shield's direction, Agent Rice was in charge of getting the victim home, and White Collar was simply involved as a form of back up for Caffrey since "he" was a part of our team.
At ten o'clock sharp the call came through and a scrambled voice depicted a location for Caffrey to begin solving the puzzle. With the clock ticking the teams raced to do our jobs in the impossible schedule. Somehow, the agents playing Caffrey managed to be in six locations in record times, pass high tech facial recognition, and defuse a series of dangerous traps to complete the challenge. Inspecting a key detail in the bomb, one of the Caffreys was able to tell us who the perpetrator was. Finding addition evidence in tracing the signals and the pictures we got enough hard evidence to get a warrant and execute the arrest. With the situation cleaned up, the victim safe and the kidnapper in custody we were able to close the case quickly.
***
Elizabeth decided to throw a party to celebrate our family coming back together, the closing of the Antagonist case, and my slowly returning memories. The plan was for us to use the newly renovated building for Burke Premier Events and have a nice formal event with everyone who could make it. Our guest list turned out to consist of my office, June, Mozzie, Sara, and any family that were able to attend.
After hearing about the plans Shield cornered Elizabeth and I to request permission to set up a stage and schedule a picture to be donated to the office as well as the Caffrey reveal. Unable to turn down such a request, as we were too curious as to what he had planned, we gave him full permission and he just needed to coordinate with El for dividing up the space.
When the night of the party came, everyone showed dressed up for the evening and admiring the lovely job that Shield and the others had done. Once the guest were present Shield stood up on the stage and called everyone to attention. He was standing next to a picture he introduce as being titled "White Collar" by Anonymous. Pulling off the cover he revealed a picture of the office with everyone depicted in amusing means utilizing personal jokes that the Caffrey team had learned over the years of working with us. We were informed that the artist had signed the picture and that the Caffrey secret was depicted in the image… we just had to look in order to uncover it for ourselves. Leaving us to ponder what he meant he parted with the announcement that the Caffrey reveal would be occurring in a few hours and in the meantime those who knew what was going on were going to have a last bit of fun.
Throughout the evening most of the conversation revolved around the picture with snickers at others expenses and amused expressions cast at those who hadn't seen how they were depicted. Receiving my fair share of glances and suppressed snickers I decided I would have to take a good look at the picture later, but at the moment I was more focused on what was going on with Caffrey.
It had started as I was simply standing around talking to various people. Caffrey would show up and join in the conversation before eventually dodging off on some pretext. Then a few minutes later he would show back up having no idea what we had been discussing with him before he left. I suspected that the Camden twins were pulling our legs and having a good joke at our expense, but there was something that didn't make that seem quite right. As I was thinking about it I remembered the case and how the Caffrey team had been in six places in an impossible space of time… could there be more than two playing the role? That seemed to be impossible because how many look alike could you have? Still, something was up and my gut told me that this is what the "fun" was, as well as the prelude to the reveal.
As the evening was getting ready to draw to a close Nate took the stage and informed us that it was time for the Caffrey team to introduce themselves and reveal the secret that had made the role possible. "First, I am going to introduce myself. My name is Nathan Camden and I work for the DEA. The role of Neal started after an hours old Neal Bennett died of unknown cause. His doctor feared that he would be blamed and face a malpractice lawsuit so he switched him with me and I was raised as Neal Bennett, became Danny Brooks, and learned the truth when I was eighteen. A difference is that I went to law school, I have a background in Art History, and am only a hobbyist when it comes to art. Finishing school I worked for a year and prepared to go to the academy when I turned eighteen, but when the time came Ellen revealed the truth and directed me down a different path. I became a 'no-named' agent and was put into the task of looking into old cohorts of my so called father's." Stepping aside he left the podium open for the next speaker.
Accepting the space, Neal started into his speech. "My name as most of you now know is Neal Camden. I work for the FBI in the Fraud division and am the child artist you have heard of as 'Neal.' My role in Caffrey started when I was investigating those same cohorts of James Bennett's and I met my brother. He was undercover, mistaken for me, nearly killed, and while he was in the hospital an investigation connected the dots and reunited us after over eighteen years apart. We played the dual role with him taking lead opposite of his lovely wife Kate while I tended the artistry side of the tasks." Moving to stand next to his brother Neal also stepped aside.
Stepping up from the floor Shield took the next part of the reveal. "Now here is where things are really going to get interesting. (He removed his method for hiding his identity). My name is Nicholas Neal Ryder but you have lately gotten to know me as Shield the Director of Operation Caffrey. I started working as the child prodigy 'Nicholas' and moved to working in the medical field. When Nate was hurt and in the hospital I was his physician and the one who connected who he really was. After he was released I continued to consult for the operation and eventually moved to consult for several others including you Peter (said with a smile in my direction). When I turned eighteen I joined the Air Force and worked my way up to Captain and eventually joined the NSA where I am the Director of Operations Dominoes, Caffrey, and Checkmate working under the code name of Shield." Here, he went silent turned to pull a box out of behind a temporary set of curtains and set it up on the podium. As we watched he opened up the box and began pulling things out and transforming his appearance. After a few minutes, he mystified us all as he revealed that he was another Caffrey. "When Caffrey was brought in to work with the FBI it was my idea as a means of keeping Peter, Elizabeth, and anyone else who might be targeted by the Antagonist safe. Being trained in a variety of skills it was my job to tend injuries, defuse traps, and divert problems before they could occur. Often when you thought I was off planning heist or sitting at home painting, I was actually arranging various task involved with protection. All in all, I am Caffrey number three." Putting his box back to the side he moved to join the first two Caffreys.
Having no idea what to expect we were still surprised as a fourth Caffrey stepped out of behind the curtains grinning. "Beyond being Caffrey number four I am Alexander Ryder or Bryce to separate me from Uncle Casey. I am a computer engineer, Army Ranger, and have the code name of Phantom as a Lead Agent in Charge with the CIA. After Nick started working in Operation Caffrey it didn't take long for me to tag along and help out." He too stepped over to join the growing line of Caffreys which left the space in front of the podium empty again.
Somewhat expecting it (but still surprised) we watched as a fifth Caffrey stepped out of behind the curtains. "The last of the Caffrey Five, I am the fifth and final Caffrey. My name is Zachary Levi Ryder or Zach as I tend to go by. I am a Navy Seal and code named Shadow with the NSA. Being more laid back that my over-achieving brothers (especially Nick) I don't have as long of a list of titles but I tend to play the backup roles filling in whenever another person is needed."
Standing as a collective group the Caffrey Five stood together and bowed to the stunned audience. " If you wouldn't mind we would like to have Peter, Will, and Ben join us on stage so that we can have our two honorary Caffreys who played the role in one-time events and our little Caffrey point five just because he would make the Caffrey Collection complete." Being pushed up to the stage I joined the others as a group of stools were brought out and we were requested to sit in a line with Nate holding little Ben for a question and answer session.
With the reveal complete and mysteries cleared the crowd began to disperse as people felt it was time to call it an evening and go home. Eventually the Caffreys had cleared the stage out of the room and the work was done except the last little bit of the lock down.
***
After the party I was waiting for Elizabeth to finish a few tasks in the back, so I stood studying the picture that was being donated to the office. Looking at the content I was reminded of what I had read or been told about the Caffrey Five. Standing there staring, my mind began to wander back into the past. Slowly at first, I was remembering some of my earliest memories. Then, like a burst of color exploding a crossed a screen the memories began to flow faster with fewer gaps. Memories of time spent with my parents, when the quads were born and I held Nick for the first time as I was told he was my God-brother, the many times I feared that "this was going to be the time" that the kid would die, family events, when I was taken, and what had transpired since. I stood transfixed as my mind finally caught up… I was remembering everything! When my life finished its run through I remained frozen in place with tears overflowing, a smile too wide for my face, and an exhausted energy that I couldn't explain as I reveled in knowing who I was after so long with darkness or a fractured image for memories of my past.
Soon enough I had to share what had happened, so I went looking for Elizabeth. She was closing down the building and had only the main room and the front exit left. Turning to me, she was surprised when I walked up to her, picked her up and spun her around a time or two. Putting her down I simply hugged her as I whispered "I remember…I remember everything." With her own tears running down her face she pulled back and looked at me with an expression that went beyond words yet conveyed everything she couldn't say. There was too much emotion so we simply stood there staring at each other.
Eventually, she kissed me and told me we had better finish getting the place locked up then she informed me that I would take her home before going to see Nick. Surprised, I stared at her for a moment trying to figure out where that had come from. She smiled and answered my expression telling me that she knew how much I had been missing Nick and that he had been waiting for me to remember him. Now I did remember, so it was time to at least let him know and give him a hug in person. Realizing that she was right, I informed her that I was lucky to be married to her and no matter how many times I told her that, it would never be enough to encompass just how lucky I was. Smiling, she kissed me again before instructing me on how to help with lock up.
***
Arriving at Nick's, a camera, light, and a two way speaker system were the only means of security and knowing who was at the door (that I could see). Stepping forward I pushed the button and waited for an answer hoping that I wasn't waking him up. After a moment I could hear a dog bark as a voice answered "Hello, Peter?" Responding, I confirmed that it was me and asked him if I could come in as we needed to talk. "I'll be down in a moment to let you in and bring you up." Shifting in place I waited for him. My stomach seemed to have butterflies but whether it was out of anticipation, nerves, or both was beyond me.
When he opened the door he was wearing basic sweats and an artsy t-shirt with his hair ruffled like he had been playing with Amity. Grinning at how much he looked like the kid I remembered him as I simply said "It has been a long time Primo-Irmán" and gave him a hug. After a startled inhilation of air, he hugged me back "That it has, Deus Irmán."
*******
Cuddling with Elizabeth on the couch she is sleeping against my shoulder. We talked late into the night about everything and anything as we are now getting to know each other all over again. Remembering my past there are some things that I am a different man than the one she married, just like she is a different woman with her real history in tact again. Smiling softly I remember that we had met as teenagers and while I had known that she had had a crush on a Ryan, I now know that I was that Ryan as well as remembering that I had had a crush on her too. There were so many things that I wanted to think about, questions I wanted answered, but the excitement was wearing off and I was tired. Settling back into my couch I could finally relax as the mysteries that had haunted me of late were cleared up, the new mysteries would be answered over time with the help of my family, and we have our whole lives ahead of us. We don't have a guarantee of how long we have, but we have now and the outlook of tommorrow to look forward to.
The End... for the main story...