A/N: This bonus chapter begins about halfway through Caffrey Disclosure, and it includes "missing scenes" through the rest of the story. The focus is on how Diana met the White Collar team and was recruited to join them.

Washington D.C. July 12, 2004. Monday morning.

Fortunately Diana was an expert at traveling light, and within twenty minutes of getting home she'd packed her bag. Now she was standing in her apartment's parking lot, waiting for the car service the FBI had arranged to take her to the airport.

Her cell phone rang, and she grabbed for it, in case it was the driver needing directions to her building. But the caller ID told her it was someone else. "Dad! I'm glad you called. I need to reschedule our dinner plans." She saw the town car enter the parking lot and waved at the driver. "I'm literally on my way to the airport, and I'll probably be in New York for a few days."

Her father chuckled. "Now I don't feel guilty for calling to cancel our plans. The State Department went on high alert, and I'll probably be in the office all evening."

"Eastern Europe?" Diana asked as the car parked in front of her. She slid into the backseat while the driver stowed her bag in the trunk.

"I can't tell you more than what you've already heard on the news. What's taking you to New York?"

"An assignment," Diana said. "Our team needs someone to coordinate on a missing persons case, and I volunteered."

"They must have an amazing level of trust in you," her father said. "Isn't this only your second week on the team?"

Diana hadn't yet told him how much she disliked working in the FBI's Office of Public Affairs. They'd selected her directly from her training at Quantico, assuming that a lifetime as a diplomat's daughter had rubbed off on her. They hadn't bothered with an interview. Now they regretted their rash decision.

Her father wasn't a fan of her decision to join the FBI, and she didn't want to give him an opportunity to say I told you so. Maybe when she got back home and they rescheduled dinner, she'd have something positive to say about her job. For now she went with, "They were happy to give me the opportunity." See? She could be tactful. That had sounded much better than: they were happy to get rid of me for a few days, and the feeling was mutual.

Washington D.C. July 16, 2004. Friday afternoon.

The call from Agent Tricia Wiese was a welcome surprise. Diana had enjoyed working with the White Collar team in Manhattan, and wished she could have spent more time with them.

"I read your report," Tricia said. "Thanks for taking the lead on that."

Diana had accompanied kidnapping victim Angela Caffrey back to D.C. Tuesday afternoon, taking her statement on the flight. "Glad I could help." She'd aced the class on case reports at Quantico, but she assumed Tricia was calling for more information.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I got the impression things are rather slow for you at the Office of Public Affairs."

Diana glanced around to confirm the rest of the team was still away on various errands that they hadn't invited her to join. "I'm bored out of my mind. If you have something I can help with, lay it on me."

"As a matter of fact, Neal already introduced you to another White Collar case when you were acting as his bodyguard. I'd like to get you officially involved."

A smile widened on Diana's face as Tricia explained about the FBI's suspicions regarding Masterson Music, and how Neal, Henry, and Angela were undercover as rock group Urban Legend to get the evidence needed to make an arrest. "We're looking for volunteers to post about Urban Legend on various music sites, trying to get Masterson Music's attention. If you have time, we'd welcome your help."

"Say no more," Diana said. "Do you remember the Spice Girls?"

"Yes," Tricia said.

"My father was posted in England when I was a teenager, and I attended the same school as Mel B. — Scary Spice. She was my first crush. Believe me, I've spent a lot of time on sites devoted to pop and rock music, following her career. I know exactly what to do."

Tricia chuckled. "We're in good hands. Wonderful. I'll let your boss know that we're pulling you into a case we'd already involved you with while you were here. If he hassles you about it, let me know."

"He'll be thrilled," Diana predicted. "The team here doesn't know what to do with me."

Federal Building, Manhattan. July 27, 2004. Tuesday afternoon.

"I'll reach out to Diana Berrigan," Tricia volunteered. "With Masterson Music spanning multiple cities and being so well known, the Office of Public Affairs should publish an official statement regarding the raids and arrests."

"Good idea," Peter said. He brought the morning briefing to an end, and the team members filed out of the room.

Tricia lingered. "What became of the probie we were promised? We could really use an extra set of hands."

Peter grimaced. "My first choice took an offer from another team, and my second choice... He'll be a fine agent, but he seems like someone who would be happier with a desk job. I need people who want to be in the field."

"It's too bad we can't trade him for Diana," Tricia said. "Everyone would be happier."

"She's not fitting in with Public Affairs?" Peter asked.

"She didn't explicitly say that she hates it, but the message came through loud and clear the last time we spoke. She doesn't like the work, and it sounds like her boss doesn't know what to make of her. I worry she'll quit out of frustration."

"Talk to Hughes," Peter suggested. "If anyone could pull it off, it's him."

"Really?" Tricia was delighted.

"Why not?"

"I want to be her mentor," Tricia said. "It would fit in with my leadership goals."

"You'd be an excellent mentor." Peter looked at his watch. "I need to get back to the Masterson case." He rushed down to the bullpen, and Tricia looked speculatively in the direction of Hughes' office.

Tomorrow, she decided. She wanted a little time to build her argument for a probie swap, and today Hughes would be distracted by everything going on at Masterson Music.

Washington D.C. July 30, 2004. Friday morning.

When Diana's boss called her into his office the minute she arrived at work, she wondered if she was in trouble. She hadn't done anything — she hadn't been given anything to do that she could mess up — but he always radiated a sense of disapproval around her.

What a relief to hear that the Manhattan White Collar team wanted to recruit her away.

"Call them at 9:30 to work out the details," Agent DeLay said.

Diana retrieved her laptop and found an empty conference room for privacy. When she opened her email, she saw a message from Tricia Wiese, providing the number to call. It also listed who would be on the call from Manhattan. In addition to Tricia, there would be Peter Burke, Clinton Jones, Travis Miller, and Reese Hughes. Hughes was Peter's boss, and had spent decades working for the FBI, winning many awards and accolades. Would someone so old-school really want her on his team?

"Obviously we were impressed by you and your work," Peter said once everyone was on the call. "We approached your manager about a swap, suggesting we bring you up here and fill your role there with another new Quantico grad. DeLay was amenable to it, and we want to make sure you are, too."

Diana was tempted to shout yes, but she didn't interrupt.

"We want you to have a chance to get to know us," Peter continued. Then he described his management style, and handed things off to Tricia, Jones, and Travis. They talked about recent cases and the type of work they did. And they touched on what it was like to be a woman, Black, and gay in the Bureau.

"None of us can speak to what your experience will be, in the intersection of those identities," Travis concluded. "All we can do is promise to be allies."

Diana, who considered herself a hard-edged, shoot-from-the-hip kind of person, found herself unexpectedly moved. "Thanks," she said after clearing her throat.

"Of course we did more than simply read your resume," Hughes said. "We are the FBI after all. Is there any context you'd like to provide about yourself and your experiences?"

Again, this went beyond anything the Office of Public Affairs had bothered to do. Even on her first day on the team, they hadn't asked anything about her. They'd assumed they knew everything important. When they'd realized they were wrong, they'd written her off instead of learning how much she had to offer.

Now she thought about what was on her resume and in her Bureau file, and what was in her heart. Because in the end, she wanted to put her whole heart into her work.

"In my early teens, I wanted to be an actress," Diana said. "I was good at it, good enough to enroll in a school that focused on the performing arts. We lived in London at the time, and I learned a wide variety of British accents. In the end I decided I wasn't destined for the stage, but I'm still good at stepping into different roles. I'll be brilliant at undercover work."

"You can be my mentor," Travis said. "Undercover work still terrifies me."

"Anything else?" Hughes prompted.

"When I started college, I thought I wanted to study history and then go to law school. But I struggled. I nearly dropped out after my sophomore year. Everything was so cerebral, so... theoretical. I missed being hands-on, the way I'd been as a wannabe actress. Over that summer, I enrolled in a mixed martial arts class, and that helped a lot. I continued those classes, and I realized I'm happiest when I'm engaged both mentally and physically."

"You didn't get a law degree," Hughes said.

"No. I went to work for a non-profit after I finished my undergrad work. You've got the organization's official name on my resume. Those of us who worked there called it the queer corps. We advocated for LGBTQIA+ people around the world. I took night classes and got certified as a paralegal. After that I didn't see the point of getting a law degree." She paused. "The FBI should be the perfect mix for me. Not studying the law and precedents in an office somewhere like a lawyer would, but actually enforcing the law. It involves brains and action."

"I'm convinced," Hughes said. "You sound like an excellent fit for our team. Will you join us?"

"You don't have to ask me twice," Diana said. "When do I start?"

A/N: This bonus chapter is inspired by my recent job search. Have I found the perfect job? Only time will tell.

The next stories in this series are by Silbrith, picking up the story in August, 2004 with The Golden Hen. In a few weeks I'll post Caffrey Aloha, a shorter story set in December 2004.