((Here is the sequel to Lights, Camera, Con and Companions, Disclaimer I do not own white collar, and I make no money from this.))

Chapter 1: Circle of Fear

Neal walked up to the office building, and with a quick glance he sighed as he walked inside and made his way to the fourth floor where he pulled the door open and he instantly regretted opening it. The waiting room was filled with a terrible faux oak paneling and prints of famous paintings. Neal swallowed his pride as an art lover and crossed the threshold of the office waiting room and walked over to the receptionist. "I'm here for my ten o'clock appointment" he said with a weak smile.

The young woman smiled and looked up the appointment "Of course, Mr. Caffrey, Dr. Parker will be out in a few minutes," she said with another toothy smile as overly niceness made Neal feel like cringing. Neal pasted a fake smile on his face and took a seat in an empty chair, his eyes roved around the room looking at everything around him.

After a couple minutes Neal began to fidget in the seat, but just as his foot began to tap on the floor the office door opened. "Ah Mr. Caffrey I was hoping you would show up today especially after you canceled so many times before" the doctor said as he held an open arm out ushering Neal into his office. Rising to his feet Neal walked into the office and let his face cringe once again at the cheap artwork.

Right away he fixed his mask of a perfect smile as he took a seat on the forest green leather couch that made him sink when he sat down.

"Now, Neal I think we should talk about why you canceled so many appointments before finally coming in today," Dr. Parker said as he took his seat across from the couch his notepad resting on his leg. Looking at the note pad for a moment Neal gave a small sigh and looked out the window showing he wasn't sure what to say.

The doctor gave a small nod as he scribbled something down "How about I talk first to get the ball rolling? Your partner Peter contacted me because he's worried about you, he told me that he's witnessed you not acting like yourself; I believe his exact words were you were acting very un-Neal," he said hoping to get a reaction out of Neal. Neal looked away from the window for a moment before looking back out at the brick building across the street.

With a sigh the doctor scribbled a few more observational notes on his patient as the time ticked by slowly Neal counted the seconds till he would be released when there was ten minutes let the doctor cleared his throat "Neal, why don't we call it a day, I'll see you again the same time next week I hope." He said as he watched Neal take off before he could even get out of the chair. With a sigh he grabbed his phone and dialed the number on the business card he had been given.

"Yes, Agent Burke it's Doctor Parker… he showed up finally, but he's still not ready to talk yet. From the notes you gave me from the FBI's evaluation he's more shut off in the last three weeks then when he was evaluated the first time just after coming back from Rome. I want to continue seeing Neal but I was wondering if it was possible to try something a little different before our next appointment; I would like to observe him when he's with you in a more relaxed setting that makes him happy," Parker said as he looked over his notes.

Peter sighed into his phone "I'm taking him to a museum this weekend, normally when he's faced with art he opens right up from whatever problem he has to explain the art to me I hope that will be the case this time around," Peter said as he picked up the small pamphlet to the gallery show. "I'll have to e-mail you the information later; I need to get back to work, yes… I'll keep trying thanks again for seeing him after all the cancelations. I'll see you soon bye," Peter said before hanging the phone up just as Neal walked into the room.

"How was your first appointment with the doc?" Peter asked knowing the answer already though he kept a true poker face on to see how Neal would answer. "Oh it was good we talked about quite a bit, I should get back to my desk and get to work on those notes on the latest case," Neal lied as he faked a smile before he left the office and returned to his desk at the end of the bullpen.

The FBI agent gave a defeated sigh "Why can't you let us help you Neal," he whispered softly as Diana walked into his office. "Hey boss, is there something wrong?" she asked as she watched Peter shake himself out of his thoughts. "Hmm… oh not really, I was just thinking about something is all," he said looking at his agent. "Can I help you with something?" he asked

Diana nodded as she handed a manila folder over "You asked me to keep look into the phone records for the case; well we finally got them in and I thought you would want to take a look at them" she said handing the folder over. Peter opened the folder and glanced at the records inside before putting the folder on his desk. "Thanks I'll take care of that in a little bit, but first I need to get a few things done," he lied as he waited for her to leave.

When Neal arrived at his desk he sat down and looked around as everyone were working like bees moving around or filling out reports. Neal reached into his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write down his notes for the case. After two minutes of writing he put the paper aside and picked up a small colorful sheet of origami paper and began to fiddle around with it until he had a paper flower resting in his hand. Neal glanced at the papers scattered around his desk and ignored them once again.

I just don't have the motivation to do paperwork anymore; I mean what's the point… Neal thought as he put the flower down on his desk before picking up another slip of paper and folding it into another flower.

Peter watched his partner goof around with his paper flowers again. Ever since he got the news that Colin was found not guilty he's become a shell of himself. I offered that he to move back in with us but every time I do he changes the subject, and when I pull his tracking data from his off hours he's rarely at June's he wanders all around his range for hours and then he goes back to June's just long enough to get three hours of sleep before I pick him up for work. Peter thought as he got up from chair and walked out to Neal's desk was.

"I was about to get some good coffee from that place down the street do you want to join me?"Peter asked hoping that spending some time with his friend would get him back to normal. Neal finished folding his origami flower before looking up "Sure, having some good coffee sounds nice;" Neal said as he grabbed his hat and coat.

Neal scampered after Peter as he walked to the elevator. "So you must be excited about the show we're going to this weekend, I believe you told me that you haven't been there since I arrested you." Peter remarked as he got into the elevator with Neal. The elevator beeped as they passed each floor.

When they reached the lobby Peter led Neal to a small café that they both enjoyed. Neal walked up to the counter and ordered two Italian roast coffees, afterwards both men made their way to a empty table by the large window. Both men felt shy around each other as if on an awkward date and every time Peter tried to make eye contact Neal would look away unwilling to talk for fear of what the other would ask; so they drank their coffee in silence, and when the paper cups were empty they left the café and made their way back to the office.

Peter left Neal at his desk in the bullpen before heading back to his own office and as soon as he shut the wooden door Peter took a seat at his desk and looked out the window. He's terrified of Colin and Dante and he's worried they will come for him Peter though before he spun around and got right back to work.

Colin sat by the window of his hotel suite; he looked up from the folder in his hand when the door opened. "You're late…and you also said that you would have made your move by now," he added in an annoyed tone. Dante sighed as he removed the camera from around his neck. "It's not easy to follow someone around without looking suspicious," Dante replied as he pulled the SD card from the camera and jammed it into the portable card reader connected to the laptop on the table.

After a few seconds later dozens of pictures of Neal began to upload onto the computer, the pictures ranged from different distances. Some pictures were taken with a wide angle lenses while others were tight close-up shots of Neal alone on the streets by June's in the early morning hours. Few photos contained anyone else except for Neal and few pictures that had other people showed Neal's co workers, friends and land lady. A few dozen of the candid shots showed Peter and Neal at the café that very morning.

"Oh how cute, Burke's taking his pet out for coffee," Dante said printing out the picture and handing it to Colin. With a wide smile Colin looked at the picture of his former pet. "He looks so lost without me, maybe it's time we start the mind games he's been waiting long enough while I was going through those horrid court proceedings. I wrote the first letter all you have to do is drop it in his land lady's mail box while you're following him around," Colin said as he handed a sealed envelope to Dante. "Just getting a letter from me should be enough to frighten him," Colin added as he looked at the picture in his hand once more.

Dante pulled the SD card out of the reader and put it back into his camera; before grabbing letter from Colin and showed it into his messenger bag. "I'm starting to think you get off on ordering me around some times," Dante said smirking as he left the hotel room to play messenger boy.

After flagging a cab Dante watched as the city flew by the windows. When he arrived at June's he watched for moment to make sure that no one was around to see him as he dropped the letter in the mailbox before taking off for some alone time. After leaving the house Dante walked down the street to find a place to relax before going back to being Colin's errand boy.

Neal drifted between doing work and finding folding paper flowers which he discovered to be more interesting, he felt someone's eyes on him and looking up from his most recent origami flower Neal found Peter watching him like a hawk before turning back to his work. Neal rose from his chair and walked up the short flight of stairs to Peter's office. When he arrived at the office door he knocked on the open door.

Peter looked up and waved Neal in "Yes, can I help you?" Peter asked as he saw Neal take a seat across from him. "I was wondering if I could call it an early day, we haven't had a good case in a while so you really don't need me right now," Neal said with a smile as he began to play with the things on Peter's desk.

"Just go, I'll tell Hughes that you weren't feeling well. I'll be by in the morning to pick you up," Peter said as he reached for his keys "Actually I'll drop you off at June's on my way home," he added as he pulled his coat off the back of his chair.

When they got to Peter's car they climbed in and drove off, Neal fiddled with the radio dials and put his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. "Don't get too comfortable, we're almost to June's," Peter said as he glanced over and saw that Neal had dozed off. With a sigh Peter pulled up in front of June's house. "Neal wake up, we're here," Peter said reaching over and shaking Neal awake.

Groaning lightly Neal opened his eyes and looked around before switching the radio off. "Thanks for the ride Peter I'll get enough rest for tomorrow," Neal said as he got out of the car and ascended the stairs to the front door. Being the gentleman he was he grabbed the mail out of the mail box and brought it inside. Right away Neal noticed his name scrawled on one heavy cotton envelope.

I wonder who would send me something Neal thought as he dropped the rest of the mail on the front table before heading upstairs. Once inside his apartment Neal removed his hat and put it on the coat rack. Walking across his apartment to the small kitchen area Neal grabbed a small bag of Swedish style ginger snaps that he had become addicted to while at the Burke's.

Neal parked himself on his small love-seat and opened the bag of cookies and stuffed one into his mouth before he unsealed the letter, the first thing that caught his eye was the dog eared photo. Neal yanked the photo of the envelope and saw it was a picture of the Burke's house, turning it around he saw Peter and Elizabeth's work schedule written on the back, before he could stop himself Neal grabbed the letter and opened it up and read it aloud.

"Have you missed me Baby, by now you know out that I know where you live and where your partner lives, I suggest you not say anything about this letter unless you want someone bad to happen," Neal read as he grabbed the envelope and saw there was no stamp or postmark.

I never should have let my guard down, Colin has found me and he could be watching me right now. Neal thought as he went out onto the terrace and looked around at the buildings for any sign of someone watching him. Once he had looked at every window Neal walked back inside and closed the door behind him, and moved away from the windows. After scanning the room looking for a place to hide he decided to sit on his bed.

June had heard Neal come home early, busing herself in the kitchen she made two cups of coffee and brought them up to the terraces and knocked on the door "Neal, would you like to come out and have some coffee with me?" June as she looked in the window.

Neal moved from his bed and faked a smiled as he walked out to the terrace."Coffee sounds nice June, I'll be right out," Neal said unlocking the door and walking out to the table and grabbed one of the coffee cups and started to sip the coffee as he took his seat.

Even if I'm being watched right now it doesn't matter as long as I stay near Peter then Colin wouldn't dare come after me, Neal thought as he glanced off into the distance. "I know when you have something on your mind Neal, now you don't have to say anything but you should know that I'm here to talk if you need it," June said softly as she sat across from Neal.

It took all of three silent minutes before Neal opened his mouth "I finally went to that doctor Peter wanted me to see, but I didn't say anything and when Peter asked me I lied to him and when I lied to him, it made me feel terrible" Neal lied again as he thought of the letter in his room.

"That only means you're learning how to be a better person, it seems Peter is rubbing off on you a bit," June said with a smile she knew Neal had more to say but she was a patient woman she could wait for him to be ready to speak. "Just remember no matter how bad something seems we're all here for you and we'll do anything to help you," she added sipping her coffee as a few birds flew by the stone wall. Neal smiled a bit "Yeah I guess he is," he agreed finishing off his cup of coffee.