Disclaimer: White Collar doesn't belong to me, if it did there would be way more Neal/Peter bromance and hurt/comfort to satisfy my sadistic side. And Sara and Neal would still be together.

This story is un-betaed. All mistakes are mine. Please feel free to point them out.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR 4x11.

"Goodbye Neal, until we meet again"

Ellen's words from the video kept going around in circles inside his head. The finality of them haunted him as he paced the length of his living room in agitation. The events of the past few hours had him on edge, to say the least. The FBI sting had just been on the verge of disaster; Flynn's capture had brought him a temporary feeling of satisfaction. For a few blissful moments, he had felt contented. Ellen's murder would finally be avenged. And then Peter had come and told him about Flynn's brutal death and they were back to square one.

Worse still was when Peter had told him that James- his father had to go back into hiding. He knew that the agent was right, of course. But after thirty years of wanting to have his dad around him, he finally had his wish. And he had to give that up again. It was frustrating. It was infuriating... It hurt.

He had admitted to James that he wanted him to be a part of his life. It was a difficult thing to say, a difficult thing to come to terms with. He was furious and hurt that he had been conned by his own father, understandably so he believed. But Mozzie was right; he had a chance to get to know his dad. And only a fool wouldn't take up that opportunity.

Moz was also right on another account- it was something that Neal would have done. Hadn't the few hours he had spent with James proved that they were, in fact, very similar? And Neal was fiercely loyal towards those he loved. Moreover, he wouldn't hesitate in lying to them a thousand times over if it meant they wouldn't get hurt. And that is exactly what James had done, so try as he might he couldn't hate him. He was angry, yes. But the need to be with him surpassed that.

And now, he was scared. The people behind it all had forced James and his family into Witsec thirty years ago. When Ellen had emerged, albeit if only for a few months and under the strictest guard, she had been killed. And now they knew James was alive, they had tried getting rid of him too. But Neal had intervened and saved him. But that didn't mean that there wouldn't be a second try. Neal didn't think he could survive losing another person.

And so he paced, hoping and praying that this wasn't the last time he saw his father.

He had refused to say goodbye to him, too smothered by his emotions as he watched James being driven away by Peter to some place he hoped he would be safe.

He was just going to call Peter to check up on them when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket.

It was a text from an unknown number but it brought a tired smile to his face.

'Until we meet again.'

A/N: Thank you for reading. Any feedback is appreciated. Btw, did anyone else notice that Matt Bomer looked rather too thin? He almost looked gaunt at the beginning of the episode. Or maybe that was just me.