Hey all! So this is my first White Collar fanfic, actually it's like my first fanfic in a while. In this story the timeline probably doesn't match up with the actual one, but I'm trying to keep it as accurate as I can. I always welcome constructive criticism, but no flames please, and compliments are always ok! enjoy!

(N) means a new section thing, fyi

Disclaimer: I don't own White Collar or any characters in it. But I do own my characters!

Monday morning. The day of the week everyone hates. The day that says "Hey the weekend's over! Get back to work!"

As the morning light shone through a small window of an abandoned warehouse, a slender hand rubbed its owner's sleepy eyes. The figure stretched, straining to rid all the kinks in its back. Finally, it arose to be seen in the dim light.

A young girl, around the age of 15, shook her long blond hair out of her eyes. With a sigh, she slowly made her way to her small 'bathroom'. After cleaning herself up, she chose her outfit for the day; a pair of old jeans ripped in one knee, a t-shirt, and an oversized sweatshirt. Checking her watch, which read 5:30 AM, she decided she had no time for breakfeast. After all, she had a 4 mile walk ahead of her. Grabbing her backpack with multiple holes patched with duct tape, she started her journey to school.

(N)

"How many times do I have to tell people?" an angry voice ranted. Neal Caffery smiled as Peter Burke vented.

"What's our hero mad about now?" Neal whispered to his neighbor, Diana.

"Another worried parent complaining about a missing child," she explained.

"He left me a file. A file. Do the local police do anything anymore?" Peter slapped the folder onto a desk, allowing it to fall open. Letting out a final, indignant huff, he returned to his office. Neal got up to follow, glancing at the folder.

He stopped dead, eyes flashing. Peter felt his hesitation, and turned to look at him.

"What?" he asked. Neal didn't answer. "Neal? Do you know her?" Neal slowly picked up the file. Peter walked back towards him. "Neal." he repeated. Neal's eyes made their way to his, glazed and unfocused. "Do. You. Know. Her." peter asked slowly.

"Kylie," Neal said, almost in disbelief. "Kylie Sanders." Peter nodded, looking thoughtful.

"How do you know her?" he asked. But even FBI Agent Peter Burke couldn't be prepared for this one.

"I raised her."

(N)

Neal and Peter were sitting in Peter's office, Kylie Sander's folder open in between them.

"Explain to me, please, why you raised a 15 year old girl," Peter said, looking at Neal with a very 'Peter Burke' look.

"16," Neal answered, "In 3 weeks at least." Peter just blinked. So Neal began his story.

"Well, it all started a long time ago. I was living in a rundown apartment by myself. I had two neighbors; the Downys and the Sanders.

"One day I read in the newspaper that Mrs. Anne Sanders had been in a car accident, leaving her husband, Paul, and her daughter Kylie alone. I knew the story was about my neighbor, so I went over to express my condolences.

"When I got there, I heard a man yelling and a young girl crying. Then I heard someone get hit. Then it sounded like there was a struggle-"

"A struggle? You're telling me-" Peter interrupted. The look on Neil's face told him he didn't want to explain more. "Sorry, continue."

"Well, the door swung open, and little Kylie sprinted out and nearly ran me over. I'd say she was around 8 or 9 years old. She had a red mark on her face, and her wrists were already showing signs of bruising," Neal stopped, lost in the horror of a beaten child.

"Neal?" Peter asked. Neal shook his head as if to dear away the memory, and regained his composure.

"I asked her what her name was, she told me. Then she asked me if she could go back to my apartment with me. She knew me anyways, you know, neighbors have to know each other," Neal smiled. "Anyway, I took her back, cleaned her up, and she told me what happened.

"Apparently, her father beat her and her mother daily. She told me her mom used to try and protect her from beatings. She told me-" he paused, closing his eyes, "she told me he was always careful to hit her where no one could see it."

Peter's eyebrows rose, Neal looked angry, very angry. He really cared about this Kylie.

"So I hid her. I hid her from her dad when he came looking, from the police when they asked questions. Eventually, we were able to move. She could finally start a new life.

"We moved to New York, and I took care of her. Then I met Kate, and, well, you know." Neal concluded. Peter stood quietly. Finally, he began asking questions.

"Did Kate know about her?"

"Yes."

"What did Kylie do while you were out…'conning people'?"

"She stayed at home. I taught her some basic stuff, you know, pick pocketing, some forgery tips-"

"You made her a mini-con?" Peter asked in disbelief.

"Relax Peter, not until she was at least 11," Neil smiled.

"What happened after, you know," Peter asked.

"You caught me?" Neal finished.

"I just wanted to hear you say it," Peter smirked. Holding back a witty comment, Neal answered.

"I don't know. She knew Kate and I were out 'conning people'," Neal used Peter's term with air quotes, "but I obviously never saw her after that," Neal answered, looking directly at Peter. "I've been trying to find her ever since."

"Wow, finding a teenage girl. Just another thing to add to Neil Caffery's to-do list," Peter shook his head. Neal smiled.

"What can I say? I'm a good multi-tasker," his smile faded a little. "Peter?"

"Yeah?" he answered, eyes reading Kylie's file.

"Who brought that in?" as Neal asked this, Peter's eyes widened. "Was he tall, large, buzz cut, and had a scar-"

"On his right hand," Peter finished. "He's trying to find her."

"Peter, we have to find her before he does," Neal said, standing in urgency. "Do you know what he'll do to her if he finds her?"

"I can only imagine, and it's something I don't want to see." Peter concurred. He headed for the door, ready to assemble the team.

"Peter," Neal said, "I couldn't-haven't found her. She's more elusive than me." he explained. Peter noted the hint of pride in his voice.

"Well if you haven't found her, then her dad certainly won't," he stated. "Besides, you have the advantage of specially trained FBI agents."

Neal smiled.

There's the first chapter! I've been writing this story down for like ever and finally decided to type it. Please review!

- pugluv24