FRAMING NEAL

By Peppe1951

Summary: A new case for Peter's team only this one has an old friend of Peter's in town trying to blame it all on Neal. Warning: The story contains the non-consensual spanking of an adult. If this isn't your type of story please do not read; I am tired of reading your insensitive remarks about corporal punishment. Disclaimer: White Collar belong to USA Network I only write about it.

AN: This story is the third story in the Father/Son series. In this universe corporal punishment is a recognized form of discipline. You can read how Neal became a member of the Burke family is the story "Disrespect."

I would like to thank Miss MaryAnn for collaborating and betaeing this story.

Chapter 1

As soon as Peter and Neal arrived at 29 Federal Plaza and entered the double doors leading to the White Collar Division office, Peter was called up to Hughes' office leaving Neal to worry that it was something to do with him and his recent trip to Barberry, NY. Fearfully, he watched Peter as he hurried to his superior's office.

Neal was semi engrossed in a cold case when his dad left Hughes' office and didn't see the agent's facial expression when he entered his own office so he was a bit apprehensive when he was called up to Peter's office.

"Close the door and have a seat, son; I have some good news to give you," Peter said with a smile.

"I'm not in trouble?" Neal interrupted just before Peter pulled up a small key to dangle in front of Neal's face.

"Nope, on the contrary, you are doing excellently and have so impressed Reece that he has decided that the Marshall's are no longer in charge of your tracking anklet or the radius you are allowed. He has given that honor to me so before you do anything questionable do not fear that they will come and drag you away in cuffs. But, be very aware son, you will answer to me. Is that clear young man?"

Neal was speechless and could only smile in response to the good news. And gulp at his father's barely veiled threat. When he was able to speak again he asked, "How did that happen?"

"You made a good impression on Judge Marshall and he called and talked to Hughes and the higher ups in the FBI. They decided that since you were only a kid when you were sentenced to the Supermax prison and served nearly four years before escaping that you should be given a break. So the original four years that you had been sentenced to serving as my CI will be cut to two, and I will be entirely in charge of your tracking anklet," Peter added with a smile before handing him a file.

"This is our new case…a Monet loving thief. It seems that Monet paintings are all he takes. He has already hit Washington, Chicago and now he has his sights on NYC museums and their collections of Monet paintings. Our job is to stop this from happening and to recover what he has already stolen. Do you think you are up to the task?"

Neal gave his father his award winning smile and said, "Let's see him try to get past the team of Burke and Son…and Jones and Diana as well," as he hastily added the two junior agents.

"Go and wait for me in the conference room while I call the rest of the team…I need to brief them on the case and their assignments," ordered Peter. He watched as his son moved next door, smiling at the spring in his son's step, before calling his team up to the conference room.

Neal was ecstatic…his dad allowed him to tour the MET and assess the security system to prevent the Monet bandit from breaking in. He was so intent on what he was doing that he didn't realize that he was being watched or about to be grabbed until it happened.

"I've got you now, boy. You got away from me when you were younger but not this time," the man who held him said, as he turned Neal around to see him face to face. It was the man who terrified him in his nightmare…a man who he barely managed to escape from when he tried to steal a painting when he was fourteen.

"Let me go," Neal shouted, as he struggled to get away. "I work for the FBI." He tried to sound dignified but his fear made him sound like a teenager caught doing something wrong.

"I see that your lies haven't improved any," Kramer smirked as he slapped Neal hard enough to snap his head back.

"I'm going to beat the truth out of you," he added as he pulled the still struggling Neal out the door of the museum, around the corner of the building, and pushed him behind the nearest large trash receptacle, grabbing a stick from the ground to use on the struggling younger man. He managed to strike Neal once with it before the sudden appearance of a maintenance man made him pause and lose his hold on Neal.

Neal kicked out, catching Kramer in the stomach, and took off running. When he was sure that he wasn't being followed he stopped and called his dad, "Dad I checked in at the MET and their security looks fine to me but when I was checking the grounds I was attacked….can I go home, please," he asked in a shaky voice.

"Neal, are you okay. He didn't hurt you, did he?" Peter could hear Neal trying hard to control his emotions.

"I just want to go home," cried an unnerved Neal.

"Sure son, go ahead. Do you have money for a cab?"

"That's okay, I'll walk," replied Neal, before hanging up. He really didn't want to admit anything more to his father and started the long trek home.

Neal hadn't gone far when a familiar Ford Taurus pulled up next to him and stopped. When the window rolled down Peter said, "Come on and I'll take you home," in a no-nonsense voice.

Neal nodded and slid into the front seat, hiding his face from his father, but Peter wasn't moving until he got a good look at him. "Neal, look at me son," he ordered and reluctantly Neal obeyed.

Peter was relieved to see that Neal wasn't badly hurt. All he could see was a bruise forming on his cheek. "Is that the only place you are hurt?" he asked as he looked Neal up and down.

"No…he also hit me with a stick, catching me on my shoulder…it's kind of sore."

"I'll check that out once we get home…just close your eyes and try and get your emotions under control," advised Peter as he started the car.

They had only gone a few miles down the road when Neal suddenly spoke "Dad, he's the same man that scared me when I was younger…h-he's the man from my n-nightmares," as he fought to keep his tears at bay.

"Once we get home and I see to your injuries we will discuss it further but I promise you that I won't stop until I find the person responsible for attacking you today or causing your nightmares," promised Peter as he laid his hand on his son's knee and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Thanks Dad." Neal felt the fear ease away at his father's touch.

Peter didn't quiz Neal further on the trip home, allowing him to rest. As soon as he pulled up he noticed that his wife had arrived and they had company because an unfamiliar car was parked in front. "Come on son, it seems that your mother has company; I'll help you to your room and you won't have to deal with whomever it is," sympathized Peter as he turned to help Neal from the car. It was then that his cellphone rang and after a quick conversation he turned to Neal and said regretfully, "I have to get back to work, son. It seems that the head of Washington's Art Crimes is expected soon and I must be there to welcome him. Just go to your room until your mother's company leaves."

Neal nodded and watched as his father drove off before heading for home and his bed. He eased the door open, trying to avoid interrupting his mother or her company. El turned at the opening of the door and smiled at her son as he motioned that he was heading up. He saw that the company was male and concluded that he must be a client but froze when the man turned and they got a good look at each other. Kramer was quicker than Neal as he sprang up, grabbed the kid and shook him viciously. "I've got you now and you won't be getting away from me this time," before slapping the cuffs on Neal's wrists.

"Mom! Help!"

"Phillip! Take those things off my son's wrists!"

"Your son? This little hooligan is your son? What has Petey done this time?"

"Neal made mistakes in his youth but he is paying for them now and yes he is

our son and it wasn't just Peter's decision. Both of us wanted Neal to be our son. I demand that you take those cuffs off!

"Sorry Elizabeth, but I caught him casing the MET earlier in the day and he managed to get away, striking a federal agent in the process. If he was innocent why did he strike me and run away?"

El noticed the bruise on her son's face and asked, "Neal where did you get that bruise?"

"He slapped me. Mom, I wasn't doing anything wrong. Dad sent me to check the MET's security and while I was checking the cameras he came up behind me and grabbed me. He didn't identify himself as a federal agent. When I struggled he slapped me, and I reacted by kicking out and freeing myself. The reason I ran was because I recognized him…he's the man from my nightmare…the one who threatened to take me away and beat me."

Elizabeth turned her loving gaze from her son and it hardened into a hostile glare at the man who had been her husband's mentor and friend. "You will take those cuffs from my son's wrists NOW!"

"No, he's coming with me," and with that he pulled Neal towards the door. He didn't expect Elizabeth's reaction, as she started to hit him on the back in an attempt to delay him while Neal picked the lock and freed himself.

"Run…go to your father, he'll protect you," screamed El as she continued to strike out however she could to stop Agent Kramer from taking her son and in all of the confusion Neal was able to get away.

Kramer furiously turned to Elizabeth and hissed, "I could bring you up on charges for interfering with an officer of the law in the apprehending a suspect."

"You never identified yourself as a federal agent and you terrorized my son. I'm just a mother who was protecting her son from someone who was trying to hurt him."

Kramer smiled and said coldly, "your ploy won't work; your son is on foot and by the time he gets to the federal building I will be waiting to take him into custody and place his sorry butt into lockup," and with that Kramer left the Burke home.