In Raphael's Dragon, I pay tribute to one of the classic canon scenes of White Collar. In "Countdown" (Season 3, Episode 10), Peter suspects Neal stole the U-boat treasure. He calls on his former mentor Phillip Kramer for help, and Kramer warns him how it will hurt to arrest Neal. He says that Peter won't be slapping handcuffs on a criminal but on a friend. In Kramer's view, it's only a matter of time till Neal returns to his old ways.
Warning for minor spoilers for the Caffrey Conversation AU.
When Kramer delivers his warning to Peter in my chapter, he adds a twist. Now that Peter is related to Neal through the marriage of Peter's brother Joe to Neal's aunt Noelle, Peter's situation is even more perilous. Although Kramer doesn't go so far as to advocate Peter stop working with Neal, it's clear that's what he views would be best for his career. It's also no surprise that the Peter of our AU dismisses Kramer's reasoning. Peter's concern is about how to prove Kramer wrong, not that his former mentor could be right.
Sara has also heard warnings about Neal, but hers came from Bryan. He told her in The Dreamer that her career could be damaged if she associated with Neal. In Raphael's Dragon, Sara faces the dilemma that Peter confronted in the canon episode. She is the lead investigator on a case where Neal has been identified as a person of interest.
The canon version of Sara would have leaped at the opportunity to investigate Neal. Neal was first brought to her attention as a master art thief, one that she was determined to bring to justice. She gladly testified against Neal at his trial. Only much later did she become friends with him.
In our stories, Neal was Sara's friend long before she knew anything about his criminal past. She'd even considered a romantic relationship with him. Now she's forced to ask tough questions about Neal, and she hates the situation she finds herself in. Our Sara is much younger than her canon counterpart. She's not as sophisticated as the image she likes to project.
In our AU, Sara and Neal sometimes wind up in similar predicaments. Sara deluded herself into thinking she was in love with Bryan, and it's questionable if Bryan ever loved her. Neal fell in love with Kate but his love was not reciprocated. Neal has been suspected of crimes. Sara was also investigated for being an Ydrus mole.
Neal keeps secrets from Sara, but Sara may also have a hidden side. From canon episodes we know that Sara has an older sister who ran away from home as a teenager and that she plays the cello. In Caffrey Flashback Sara was first introduced to our AU as a member of Henry's team at Win-Win, but we still know very little about her background. What was her childhood like? Who are her parents? What did she do before Win-Win? What other secrets might she have?
Penna created a rich backstory for Kate in Caffrey Flashback. Sara's backstory has yet to be revealed.
Raphael's Dragon on Archive of Our Own
Raphael's Dragon on FanFiction
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