Hey, so this is the first time I've written a story for ffn I wrote several fanfiction stories for Psychfic. I couldn't find a site for White Collar Fanfiction alone, so I decided to try this website out. I hope you like my story, comments help fuel my motivation to continue. I'll admit that my grammar is not the best. If you see a mistake it is mine and mine alone. My apologies.

It was quiet in the little apartment, a bit to quiet. Neal and Kate were laying on the bed, a light sheet covering them as they slept peacefully. The air conditioning system was turned off for the night and every window was cracked open slightly, letting the cool breeze of night lower the temperature of the room. No care in the world they faced each other, hands intertwined in front of them. They had fallen asleep after talking all night. Talking about the future. Neal had learned of a very expensive piece of art that was being transported soon. Together they had devised the perfect plan to snatch that one and replace it with a forgery.

Kate had fallen asleep first. Neal was by no means offended. They often spent the nights planning something or other. If it wasn't their next heist it was where they wanted to live next when they had a bit more money.

He loved to watch her sleep. The way her dark lashes created crescent moons on her pale cheeks. How innocent she looked. So beautiful. Every night he would fall asleep smiling, content just to be by her side. There was no denying how lucky he was to have found her, and he never wanted to let Kate go.

It was quiet in the apartment, and that's why Neal knew something was wrong with the silence was broken. It was a small cutting noise, the sound of a blade slicing through mesh wire. The windows had screens on them. Immediately his hands tensed.

Kate's eyes opened, they were wide and alarmed but accustomed to danger she remained thankfully silent. Eyes searching Neal's for answers or instructions.

Neal mouthed the words "break in" and "closet" and nodded in that direction. Silently she moved, only looking back over her shoulder to see if he was coming. Neal shook his head silently, no he wouldn't be joining her. One of them had to confront the intruder. Immediately Kate protest, not wanting to hide in a closet when her boyfriend faced the bad guys alone.

Silently, but sternly Neal narrowed his eyes and shook his head sharply, leaving her no room to argue. With a visible, but inaudible huff Kate disappeared in to the closet. Offering a 'be careful' look before shutting the door. In return Neal gave her a reassuring grin.

After all, a con man was always in control…that is, except when he wasn't. This was his home after all, this place was supposed to be safe. Apparently tonight that was not the case. Tonight he had to protect Kate in any way possible.

Tense, Neal listened as he heard foot fall in the kitchen. Whoever had been cutting the mesh had finally gotten inside. There wouldn't be a whole lot he could do if the man…or woman was armed. If there was one thing Neal hated most in the world, it was guns so of course he didn't have one in his apartment. Sure, he and Kate didn't have much money, but Neal did his best to buy a place in a supposedly 'safe' neighborhood. There should have been no need for a gun or security system.

Neal hated to be wrong. Gripping the sheet his mind raced for a plan. It was a bit surprising when no brilliant idea came to him. He always had a plan and a back up plan to every plan. There was always a way to work a situation. Nothing was hopeless but some things took a bit more time.

This was currently taking to much time. Thinking of a plan was getting him nowhere. When the footsteps came to a halt next to his side of the bed he knew there was only one thing he could do. Talk.

When the hand grabbed his shoulder Neal pretended to startle awake. Turning with the help of the hand his blue eyes found a gun pointed at his head. The man it belonged to was unmasked and his dark eyes were staring coldly down at him. Dark lips parted to a white smile, a small glimmer caught of the man's front tooth which had been tipped in gold.

"Neal Caffrey," he spoke calmly and quietly.

Taking in a quick breath Neal eyed the man and what was in his hand nervously, he hated guns. "Seems you have me at a disadvantage…your name is?"

"None of you're concern. I'm here to collect you." The man said, as if it were so easy. Maybe for him it was, "I was told you had a girlfriend, where is she?"

Immediately Neal answered, not pausing to give any indication that he was lying, "Gone, we had a fight and she left." His voice was breathy, as it would be if he were woken by surprise to find a gun in his face. It wasn't hard to fake the fear, since he was feeling fear. Fear that he might do something wrong and put Kate in danger.

"Lovers quarrel?" the man asked, motioning with the gun for Neal to stand, "my boss has a job for you."

Neal shook his head, "my parents told me never to take jobs from strangers with guns." He said with a sarcastic bite to his tone.

"Who said you had a choice?" The man with a gold tipped tooth asked as he raised his other hand up from the darkness, revealing a needle. If there was one thing Neal hated more than guns…it was needles with unknown substances.

In a defensive reaction Neal stepped back, but not fast enough. With lightning fast reflects the man with the gold tip tooth lashed out with the handle of his gun, knocking it across Neal's forehead with a sickening crack. As Neal fell he maneuvered him back onto the bed, jabbing the needle into the younger mans arm. "Sweet dreams Caffrey, the boss will see you soon." The man was saying.

Neal fought control of his senses. Between the head wound and the pulling effect of the drug the young man had no chance. Darkness claimed him and the one thing he could be grateful for was that the man who had him didn't have the one thing he could never live without. Kate.

From the closet Kate heard everything. She wanted nothing more than to help Neal, to save him from this man who had invaded their home. There was nothing she could do, if she showed herself Kate knew she would likely get a bullet before she could do anything helpful.

Tears of frustration and worry filled her eyes when she heard the crack of a something solid against flesh. Neal cried out and she felt a part of her heart break. Covering her mouth as she let out a sob she listened as Neal was picked up and carried from the room and out of the apartment.

Shaky knees finally gave up and she collapsed to the ground in the closet. Crying openly Kate's mind raced. What could she do? There was little she could do by herself. Gathering herself off the floor and taking a hold of her emotions, Kate opened the door and saw the proof that Neal was gone.

Her eyes looked around for clues, anything that might lead her to Neal's capture, but she was no detective. She was barely an art thief. Than a thought came to her like a light bulb turning on, she wasn't a detective, but she knew someone who was.

Careful not to disturb the crime scene she found Neal's phone and scrolled down the contact list. A small smile played on her face, Neal liked to know everything about his enemies, Agent Burke's number was listed.

As she pressed the send button the smile left her face. It rang, once, twice, "Burke," a rough, tired voice barked into the receiver.

Taking a breath Kate did the scariest thing in her life, trusting the FBI. "Agent Burke? I'd like to give you information on a future art theft."