White Collar Question - Regarding the Mid-Season Finale

[elrhiarhodan]

I'm working on a story (yes, a long one) that is set throughout the course of Season Three, and I've rewatched most of the episodes, even the ones I've sort of hated (Taking Account and Scott Free, I'm looking at YOU).  I've just sat through the third rewatch of Countdown in as many days (which breaks my heart as much as I love it), and something occured to me when I got to almost the very end.

Keller tells Peter he wants to make a deal, he wants the treasure and Neal has it. 

The expression on Peter's face when he first hears that Neal has the treasure, the slow release of his breath, like Keller has just confirmed everything he has hoped for (and I am deliberately using the word "hope" here).

So my question is this, do you think that Peter would have considered working with Keller to "catch" Neal if Keller hadn't kidnapped Elizabeth?  Sadly, it seems that way to me.

Do you concur or disagree, and why?


And a gratuitous bit of beefcake...

Comments

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

That's a disturbing thought... stop putting disturbing thoughts in my head!

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

I disagree.

Peter's conversation with Elizabeth reveals Peter's thinking about the treasure. He's been avoiding the more official channels because he still wants to protect Neal. If Peter really had it in for Neal, would he have been so secretive about it? No.

He releases that breath of air because it confirms to Peter that he isn't just being paranoid, and that the anger he's been carrying all season is somewhat justified. He's been vindicated.

Before Keller told Peter that he'd taken Elizabeth, I think Peter was wondering how he could pin the stolen treasure on Keller and still keep Neal out of prison.

The one thing I try to remind people of is that Peter's anger is truly justified, as are his suspicions of Neal. If Neal hadn't used Peter in the past so often, or conned him, or gone behind his back, Peter would never have been so angry and certain that Neal had stolen that treasure.

As it stands, Peter has put his career and heart on the line a ton of times, and each time he does so, Neal manages to stomp on it, and trample on it to boot.

A reasonable person, after the first couple of times, would have said "Screw it, and screw him", but Peter has done everything in his power to try to keep Neal out of trouble.

That said, I believe that Peter would put Neal back in prison if it came down to that. It's who Peter is, and I love him for it, even if it's painful to think about.

But to answer the rest of your question: No, I don't think Peter would ever work with Keller. Ever. Keller had him kidnapped and was going to have him killed. Neal has hurt Peter a lot, and often, but Peter likes him. He has nothing but contempt for Keller.

[teaotter.livejournal.com]

No, because he doesn't trust Keller and inch. But he might be willing to try to *use* Keller.

[flynn-boyant.livejournal.com]

I can't see Peter EVER willing working with a known killer just to finally get proof that Neal took part in an art heist. That suggests that he's willing to cut deals for a truly violent offender to implicate one who has never kidnapped, killed or maimed people in order to pull off a job. That's just not how Peter operates in my own opinion.

I also feel that Peter already has all the tools needed to "catch" Neal, it's his own reluctance to go after Neal that's stalling the case.

Now maybe I can see him bluffing Kellar in order to trap him if he thought Neal was going to be targeted by the man. Kellar's vicious and he may have been willing to play along with him in order to get the treasure into FBI custody and keep Neal from being killed over it.

*shrugs* Just my two cents .

[photoash.livejournal.com]

I think Peter wants to catch Neal doing something wrong -because it'd be working on catching Neal again and he really liked that the first time. I think Peter wouldn't be above using Keller as a tool to help catch Neal but working with him I'm not sure -- perhaps manipulating him or at least hearing him out on his info?

The interesting thing to me is what will he do with Neal once he's caught him doing something like this?? I mean to me, Peter likes the chase but he doesn't want to give Neal up so will he exact some type of agreement/promises/whatever as the price of Neal's continued short leash?

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

There are some really good responses on your actual question and I don't need to reply, but my two cents on the on-screen moment: Peter WANTS Neal to be innocent. I think while it's easy for Peter the FBI agent to see Neal the criminal as being guilty, there's the part where he and Neal are friends, and Peter doesn't want to suspect him. I think there are times where Peter tries to convince himself that Neal doesn't have the treasure, even when his gut is telling him the complete opposite. And we know how Peter trusts his gut.

So I feel like that moment is getting confirmation, but it's not the confirmation he hoped for. It's just the one he knew was right. But I think because he wanted Neal to be innocent, it would take him a second to hear that the answer he wants isn't the one he's getting. That's how I read that response from Peter.

[leviathan0999.livejournal.com]

I think, quite the contrary. I think Peter would want to find a way to separate Neal from the treasure without busting him for it.

I think Peter's motivated to find a way to save Neal from his "mistake," and his reaction to Keller's statement is both confirmation of his suspicions and the nomination of a potential target: If he can work it so that Keller steals the treasure from Neal, he can go after Keller!

[ultracape.livejournal.com]

Peter hoped that he had found evidence that the treasure did exist. He hoped that he could either confirm or dispel his own suspicions concerning Neal and the Nazi loot. He didn't want to believe Neal had it though he did believe it and that has been killing him. So I don't think Peter "hoped" for anything in this. Keller "confirmed," what Peter had suspected all along. Which ironically happens to be false at the moment and which had been founded on misleading information to begin with.

I think the release of breath was a release of tension, "I was right!"

But Peter does not need Keller to catch Neal and I don't think he'd ever consider it. Dealing with Keller is like dealing with the devil, all promises and no substance and Peter has already been on the receiving end of that because if Peter had not escaped, Keller would have killed him despite having the ring.

Also, Peter believed Kramer when he said that Neal wants to be there. I think that's been Peter's motivation. If Neal wants to be there, if he wants to stay then he wants to build a life, not live "the life." It's half the battle won, to keep Neal out of prison.

[damietta.livejournal.com]

I really can't add much to the already wonderful responses (I totally agree with Surreal44), but I also would point out that Neal has been in a bad spot all year (choose a side? Seriously? When he loves all the people on those sides?) It is Mozzie that should be in the hot seat. That said Peter has had to choose sides as well (and I suppose Mozzie, too). I can't wait to read your story!