Author's Notes: First published white collar story! Just going to warn you, I have a lot on my plate right now, so updates may be slow. Or they might not be. Depends on what I have to do for school. Please Review!

Lie to me, and tell me everything's okay.

Lie to me when I need it most, so that I'll survive what's coming next.

Even though I know that everything is not okay right now, if you tell me differently I'll believe you.

Because I want, no need, something stable in my life and you're the only one that can provide that for me.

I know we haven't had each other's backs recently, (Most of which has been my fault.) but just know that you're the only one that truly knows me, hell, you know me enough to know things about me that I wasn't even aware of.

I guess it can only be expected if you get partnered with the only man who has singlehandedly chased you around the world for 3 years. You've made these past couple of months tolerable for me, and I can't be any more thankful for it, but I want you to know that you're the only reason why I stay.

I know that this is a lot to take in, especially now, of all times, but I need you to know the truth, so you won't get caught up in all of the wrong things. You know pretty much everything about me, except for the things that I have purposely hidden from you, in a desperate attempt to save you from finding out. From finding out the cold dark truth. A truth that even Mozzie doesn't know about.

So when I lie to you, know that I mean no harm. I know that you'd do the same if you were in the same situation. I only mean to protect you from knowing something about myself that no one else should know about. It's one of the reasons why I have decided to do this. If it wasn't for me, none of us would be in this situation in the first place.

I'm not going to allow you to do this to yourself, to our partnership. I'm not going to let you get fired, just because of something that I did.

It's not worth it, you're not worth it. You deserve this job; you deserve everything except what's coming to you. And as your partner, it's my responsibility to protect you; even if that means that I have to leave.

I know you're going to be disappointed in me for doing this, but it's better for us this way. You get to keep your job and well… I'll figure something out.

Peter, I know you'll be tempted to look for me, but please, this is the only way it will work out. I've thought about every possible answer and this is the only one that doesn't include you getting fired or me going back to jail.

Thank you for everything; really, I appreciate everything you did for me but I just can't stand idle when there's something I can do to fix this.

Yours Truly,

N.C

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It had been over two weeks since Peter had found Neal's letter, hidden in a stack of crossword puzzles on his front porch. He had to read it over at least twice before fully comprehending what it meant. Neal was going to run! He cursed to himself softly, and ventured back inside to grab his phone, not caring that it was about 5:30 in the morning on a Sunday. His first call was, of course, to the Marshalls.

The only news that he was able to retrieve from the sleep-deprived Marshalls was that Tracking Anklet 9305 Alpha had mysteriously been switched off by an unknown hacker. Apparently the hacking had happened late last night and they were still trying to solve the mystery.

Peter had hung up first, frustration evident; at first he was puzzled about Neal's sudden disappearance and the letter but then it dawned on him. In Caffrey's letter he had said, "I only mean to protect you from knowing something about myself that no one else should know about." And, "I'm not going to allow you to do this to yourself, to our partnership. I'm not going to let you get fired, just because of something that I did." Neal wasn't running to get away; he was running to protect Peter from something… something dangerous.

Peter nearly dropped his cell phone in shock. He knew exactly what Neal was talking about. It all happened about 3 weeks ago, when they were investigating a simple embezzlement scam that managed to turn into something much more dark and nasty.

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(3 weeks ago)

"I told you... I'm fine," he said in an annoyed tone. It wasn't like Neal to get annoyed at something as trivial as this. But here he was…annoyed for unknown reasons.

"What's got you so peeved today Neal? It's not like you to snap like that in front of a witness." Peter said curiously. It wasn't often the conman showed his true colors and once he did, it was hard for Peter to not treat him like an unyielding suspect. Peter was concerned, that's all. When Neal was not acting like Neal, something was up. And Peter wanted to know what so that if Neal acted rashly, he could think of some way to help him get past it.

"It's nothing I can't handle Peter. Just get back to watching the road..." Neal said as he turned to face the window. Peter bit back a sigh and began to watch the road. They were working on a relatively easy case but when they had approached a witness and began to talk with him, Neal had snapped and said something to him. Something that made the guy squirm and Neal making a witness scared was something that did not happen. Should not happen. Peter had given Caffrey a worried look but he had already walked away, hands in his pocket. He told the witness to expect a call back from the bureau and hurried after his consultant. Neal had been quiet all the way to the car and when Peter had tried to get him to open up about it, Neal had told him that he was fine and that today was just not his day. Peter had a hard time believing him but before he tried to ask again, Neal had deflected. Before Peter could even pull the car in park, Neal jumped out of the car and headed inside the apartment.

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Neal didn't outright lie to Peter when he told him it was something he could handle. Neal was sure he could handle what was coming but... he'd rather not be around Peter if it caused him to feel this way. His little outburst was a tell tale sign to Peter that something was up and he didn't want Peter to get involved in his problems, no matter how dangerous they were. Whenever that man was around Neal felt on edge to say the least. He was reminded of things that he would rather not revisit. So here Neal was, pacing the floor of his apartment, waiting for inevitable. Neal heard a soft knock on his door and he walked briskly towards it. Half hoping it was just June coming to give him grief about wearing a hole through her floors. But no, it was someone who he had hoped he would never see again in his life.

He still had that charming smile on his face, a smile that Neal knew to be faker than the cheap amateurs that Peter was trying to catch for forgery. His gray eyes danced, as if he were truly glad to see him.

He stuck out his hand and said, "Nice to see you son. After all those years."

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(Present)

Neal felt the cool autumn breeze whip against his face, and he turned his head against it. He had been keeping out of sight from everyone he knew, for fear of getting caught once again. Neal was really only running because he knew that if he stayed in contact with the Bureau, Peter would most likely get fired or killed.

Either way, Neal knew that he had to get away. Even if that meant ruining his relationship with the people he came to care for. He knew he could rely on them if he really needed it, but he also knew that they would turn him in instantly if he made contact with them.

He hadn't even made any contact with Mozzie yet, because he knew that was where Peter was going to check first. Sure, he had told him that he had to disappear for a while, but that was it. He didn't mention anything that would be incriminating.

He stood idly by the abandoned alley, waiting. Neal couldn't believe that he was doing business with the one man that got him into this mess. He sighed and a frown appeared on his face. 'But you have to do what you have to do.'

He felt a vibration coming from his inside jacket pocket and he instantly went for it. It was a text from a blocked number. It said, "Greenacre Park, 217 East 51st Street, 4:10. RC"

Neal bit his lip, contemplating whether or not to show. Another text came soon afterwards. It read, "Don't be late; else I'll have to do something you might regret."

Neal looked down at the text with disgust, and he hoped that their business would be over quick. Neal knew that he would never be able to rejoin with Peter's side of the law, now that he cut his anklet and ran. He knew that if he got caught again, there would be no more special treatment from the Bureau. No more deals, no more undercover operations, no more Thursday dinners with Peter and Elizabeth.

But it was a necessary sacrifice if he wanted to keep Peter out of the line of fire. Neal knew that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, and if that meant that he had to go through very dedicated F.B.I. Agents, he would do it.

Neal began his walk towards the park, unaware of the impending doom that would follow.

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