Disclaimer: I don't own White Collar, just imagining their adventures to stay sane during the looooong hiatus. Thanks to those who created it and bring it life.

Neal Caffrey picked at the undefinable glob of meat on his plate and glanced around the cafeteria. He could scarcely believe he was back in prison, much less like this. He was in a more secure area of the super max, reserved for informants, child molesters and people in danger from the general population . He'd already spent a week in the 'Hole' also known as isolation, when Captain Daskin caught him flirting with a guard. He hadn't even picked her pocket. And he'd thought prison was bad enough before. He tried not to hear the low whispers of the nearby pair of men who were known rapists. A gush of relief swept him when finally abandoned the cafeteria and a guard told him that he had a visitor. The familiar face and suit may well have been the most comforting thing he'd seen in a long time.

"Peter, tell me you found something."

"Working on it. Got a lead, but it's not enough to get you out. Not yet."

Neal covered his fear with indignation. "It's insulting. Do they really think I'd be stupid enough to steal that painting when my tracker could prove I was in the museum? Do you?"

"They think it's so stupid they think you'd think we'd believe you were innocent." Peter snorted, shaking his head.

Neal felt some faint relief at that. In spite of the cons he'd pulled, Peter believed him. That wasn't something he'd taken for granted.

"Of course, it's a wonder to me that all the art museums don't have your picture circulated as person non grata. And the Matisse...I remember when we found Fowler's bug. You were talking to El and she had an event at the Met. You got all dreamy about that very Matisse, hanging by the fire exit. "

"You really need to work on your motivational speeches, Peter. And there is nothing wrong with dreaming."

"Dreaming? Sometimes I wonder whether you know the difference. You see, you want and the next thing you know...you're in trouble again. Anyway, we're trying to get camera footage. If we can even prove you were somewhere else between the time it was last seen and when it was taken it will help."

Neal sighed. "Red tape?"

"Some people are asking why we're acting like your private legal force."

"You won't give up?"

"No." Peter studied him, and Neal knew the fear wasn't hidden from Peter. His friend opened his mouth, closed it, pursed his lips. Finally he said, "June said to tell you your room isn't going anywhere."

Neal smiled faintly, "tell her I said thanks."

"Mozzie been to see you?"

"Of course, he's my lawyer."

"Well, you can let him know we're looking." Peter looked uncomfortable. He got up to leave and Neal looked at him. He squeezed his shoulder on the way out, leaving Neal to deal with the fear and boredom.

Peter parted from Neal with no small amount of grief. He wanted to run back in and haul him out with him. He shook his head, resting it against the steering wheel of his car for an instant before starting the engine. He'd spent years trying to put Neal Caffrey in prison. He had no doubt that he'd done enough, from a purely legal standpoint, to nickel and dime himself into the place for many more years. He wasn't sure when he'd gone from wanting to punish him to wanting to save him. Prison, he was sure, would not reform Neal. Push him too hard and eventually he'd just find a way to run. He wouldn't feel he had anything left to lose. But now, now he did. He had Peter, Elizabeth, June, Mozzie, and all the people he could help. Neal wasn't the villain in the black hat some of his colleagues wanted to see him as. He wasn't really even a shade of gray. No, he was just a darker shade of the rainbow.

He forced himself to concentrate on the road. He was distracted by the memory of the tension in Neal's shoulder when he squeezed it in parting. The shadowed fear and weariness in his eyes lifting briefly with relieved joy when he met him in the private room. He had to get him out. Because if he didn't something would happen. Neal wouldn't just wait for someone else to deal with this, he'd take matters into his own hands. If only Peter could convince him that sometimes doing things the hard, legal way was worth the time and effort, he might feel he was getting reformed. And justice didn't involve watching Neal Caffrey go down for a crime he didn't commit. Even if he'd committed plenty and gotten away with them.