Neal Caffrey Burke
By Peppe1951
Summary:Neal experiences life as the adopted son of Peter and Elizabeth Burke and finds it harder than he thought.
Warning: Disciplining of an adult. Don't like? Don't read! Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA; I only write about it.
This is the Second in the Family Series. This series takes place in an Alternate Universe where corporal punishment is a means for correcting adults as well as children.
Chapter 1
The explanation on Neal true age didn't occur as soon as El had wished mainly because the party went on until early the next morning and by the time it ended everyone was too tired to do much more than fall into bed and sleep. She did get a promised from her new son that they would discuss it as soon as possible which for her meant the next day and for Neal as long as he could put it off.
El got her way when she cornered Neal the next day at lunch, "Why did you lie about your age?"
"At the time it was the only way Mozzie could think of fooling the authorities that I was older than I actual was," explained Neal before remarking,
"The chicken salad sandwich is as good as always, Mom," as he attempted to change the subject.
"Oh, no son that explanation isn't enough…now why did you change the birth certificate?"
Neal looked at El realizing that he will have to come clean or he wouldn't get any peace. "When I was fourteen I was living with Mozzie because my Mom was dead and my Dad didn't want the responsibility in taking care of me, but Mozzie who was a friend of my Mom's said he would do it because of mom but the authorities didn't see it that way and said I had to live in an orphanage or a foster home. We changed the birth certificate to show that I was eighteen and an adult in their eyes. They left us alone and I continued to live with Mozzie until I was old enough to be on my own," Neal explain ed further.
"Why did you tell the truth to the judge?"
"I just felt that you and Peter should know the truth…since you care enough to adopt me I should care enough to tell you the truth," Neal said simply and before El could ask another question Peter arrived.
"Did you leave anything for me?" Peter asked before he leaned down and kissed El.
"Your sandwiches are in the refrigerator; and don't worry we haven't touched them," replied Neal as he jumped up to retrieved them.
"He seemed too happy to get me my sandwiches…what did I miss?" asked Peter.
"He as just explaining to me about his age difference…and I'll explain it to you later. I think he was happy to get your lunch to keep me from asking further about it," El said with a grin.
Neal returned then with a plate with two devil's ham sandwiches on it along with a few handfuls of chips which he sat in front of Peter.
"So what case are you boys working on," El asked as she watched her two men eat.
"It's another mortgage case…boring," replied Neal just before he took another bite.
"Neal…they can't all be ones dealing with art," admonished Peter. "I'm sure that Mrs. Inez Johnson had wished that the false appraiser of her property had been correct instead now she is out her life's savings in trying to keep it."
"Oh, I know Peter, but there is just something so exciting about running down an art theft. Don't worry I won't rest until I find out her cheated Mrs. Johnson and get her money back," Neal said as he took his last bite.
"Neal, be a dear and take Satch out for a walk," asked El. She wanted to talk to her husband privately.
"Sure, Mom," he said with a smile as he put the leash on the dog and went out the door.
El waited a few minutes before she said, "something is troubling him…what's wrong Peter?"
"He can't shake the feeling that Gerber is somehow going to escape and come and punish him. I've told him over and over that it is not going to happen but…"
"Why would he feel that way?"
"Gerber wrote him a letter and told him in explicit terms exactly what he was going to do once he got his hands on him again," Peter said angrily.
"He some how had the letter smuggled out and sent to the White Collar Unit here in NYC and it was delivered to Neal. He reads it all of the time.
I told him to destroy the letter but he won't…maybe I need to exert my fatherly powers and make him. I just know he would be better off if he didn't refer to that letter so often."
"I guess we need to give him some more time to decide for himself…this parenting is difficult enough when your child is young but when your child is grown we are going to have to play it by ear," El said just as Neal reentered with Satch.
"Thanks dear," El said as she kissed him on the cheek, "you had hurry up, Peter is getting ready to return and you know they can't solve the case without you."
Neal gave her one of his patented smiles but El could tell that he had something else on his mind and supposed that he had been thinking about Gerber.
For the next two days Neal was off his mark about everything dealing with the case. Everybody could see that his heart just wasn't in it; he was making rookie mistakes, being late to work, not completing tasks given to him. Peter was about to call him up for another chat when his phone rang; it was about thirty minutes later that he appeared at Neal's desk and said, "Come with me; we need to talk, but not here," an led the way out of the building with Neal trying to catch up.
Soon Peter had lead Neal to one of his favorite parks and to a more secure location before he turned and extended his hand.
"Neal let me have the letter," holing his hand out for it.
"What letter?" Neal asked playing dumb.
"NEAL!"
Neal looked at Peter for a minute before he reached into his pocket and bringing on an envelope which he handed to Peter; who opened it and read it before turning to Neal.
"The sooner you destroy this the better you will be son; he's never going to get you or do any of these things to you."
"How can you be so sure; he could escape," began Neal when El interrupted.
"No he won't…that's what the call was about. Neal, Gerber won't ever hurt you again," replied Peter quietly.
"But if he ever escapes he's coming back for me," cried Neal fearfully, "and he's going to…"
"No, he won't. Neal, all of the threats he listed in that letter were performed on him today…he didn't survive the encounter. The doctor also was attacked only the authorities got to him in time…he will survive but from what I understand, he won't ever be the same. You have nothing to fear from them again."
As Neal took in all that was said his features went from fear to shock and then he ran behind a bush and got violently sick and burst into tears. Peter went in to him and held him as he sobbed his fear out on his father's shoulder.
"Come on, son; it's going to be okay now….your monster is dead and you can destroy the letter once and for all," comforted Peter as he and Neal walked back to the office only to be side-tracked as Peter suggested they go home for a early lunch.
As soon as they walked in El knew something significantly had just happened and she would be informed in time. "We thought we could come home for an early lunch," Peter told his wife as she took in Neal's swollen eyes and suggested,
"Why don't you clean up before lunch Neal," to give him time to wash his face and as soon as he had left El turned to Peter and asked,
"Is he going to all right, Honey?"
"Oh, yes…he's going to be just fine," Peter said as he leaned down to kiss his wife.