Hola peoples! This is my first White Collar fanfic, and my first story in general for several years. Life happens. But now I'm back, at least for now (I can never tell when life will start up again). Unfortunately, in the two years since I last wrote fanfiction, I've barely written at all. So this chapter is probably kinda bad, but I think and hope that as I get more comfortable with writing again the chapters will get longer and, well, better.

Last but not least, this story is not completely planned out yet, so if you have ideas or something you want to see/read, let me know and I'll try and work it in.

And now, story time!

Neal Caffrey walked into the FBI building for the first time in a little over a week. Peter had had some kind of conference nonsense, which meant no cases and no ex-cons. Not that Neal would admit it to anybody, especially Peter, but he'd been a little bored towards the end. But only a little.

Either way, he was happy to be called back to the office. Though he knew Mozzie would kill him if he found out, Neal couldn't help feeling excited for a new case. Playing a con was a rush, and Neal had discovered he enjoyed conning the FBI no more than he enjoyed conning with them.

Getting off the elevator, Neal took a deep breathe of recycled air before walking into the office.

And then he stopped cold.

It couldn't be. Could it?

He hadn't seen her since he was almost eighteen, meaning… yeah, ten years.

But the striking red hair, the ocean blue eyes, the tiny scar through her eyebrow from falling off a tire swing.

Yes. It was definitely his little sister.

"Neal!"

Forcing himself to concentrate on something else, Neal dragged his eyes away and found himself staring into Diana's.

"Uh… yes?"

Oh my god. Did he just say 'uh'? Neal Caffrey is never at a loss for words.

"The boss wants you," Diana said. "He's been trying to get your attention since you walked in."

Sure enough, Peter was standing at the railing glaring holes into Neal's head. After thanking Diana as smoothly as he could manage, Neal hurried up to Peter, knowing he was about to get a lecture.

Peter didn't disappoint.

"What's the matter with you Caffrey? I've been calling your name and pointing at you for two minutes but you were one step away from comatose! I swear, if you're planning another heist after all I went through to get you released-"

"Peter, who's that girl?"

Neal knew Peter hated being interrupted, but he absolutely had to know. Like, right now.

After glaring half-heartedly (of course Neal wanted to know about the beauty in the next room), Peter took Neil's arm and walked him into his office.

"That 'girl' is our next case. She claims that when she moved into her apartment her landlady told her one of the doors was a fake, just there to make it seem like the apartment had an extra room."

"That's weird."

"Yeah, our girl here thought the same thing. Especially when she turned the knob and heard a lock click into place. After a few months, she decided the pick the lock and find out what was behind the door."

Neal laughed. "I would've picked that lock the minute I realized it was there."

Peter tried not to smile but failed. "Not everyone's as devious as you, Neal. She picked the lock, and found over 30 paintings. Some are clearly forgeries, but many we believe to be originals. I want you to look at them, see if you can tell us anything."

"Sure thing, I just need to talk to her first."

"Her?" Peter questioned.

Smiling, Neal responded, "You haven't told me 'our girl's' name yet."

Shaking his head, Peter replied, "Rachel McCaskey. And you don't need to talk to her."

However, he wasn't able to finish his sentence before Neal was out the door walking quickly to the interrogation room.

Neal was barely aware that his legs were moving, only knowing that he had to get to her. He felt as though his life would end if he didn't.

But as soon as he entered interrogation, he stopped, frozen in place by the sight of her again. He didn't know what to do from here. Did she want to see him? Would she throw him out? Would she even recognize him?

Peter burst into the room before any of those questions could be answered. "Neal! What's gotten into you today?"

Unfortunately for Peter, Neal wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to him.

It really was her, and she was looking straight at him. And she wasn't confused. She recognized him. She didn't look happy to see him, but she didn't look upset or angry either. She really should be angry.

Neal felt a huge grin take over his face, and then he was hugging her and never planning on ever letting go again.

Until, that is, he realized she wasn't hugging him back.

He pulled back and felt the smile slide from his face. Rachel's face was blank. She was looking over his shoulder, avoiding his eyes, with absolutely no expression on his face.

Okay, so, maybe she was angry…

"Neal, care to explain what's going on?" Peter asked in that silky voice of his, indicating if Neal didn't have an out-of-this-word amazing answer, he would be getting the lecture of a lifetime.

But, really, Neal still didn't care about Peter at that point. Just Rachel. He had never found apologies that difficult, but he was having trouble with this one. Probably because he really knew he'd messed up her life. It was always easier to apologize when he didn't feel guilty. But he'd felt guilty for abandoning her his entire life.

He didn't feel it was 100% his fault, but in a way that made his apology harder. She deserved an apology, not excuses, but all he wanted to give is excuses, putting the blame on other people. Namely, those other people would be Peter and Kate.

So that's the first chapter! Reviews are always greatly appreciated, positive or negative.

I'm sad to say I'm not a fast updater, but I'll try to get the next chapter up within a week, maybe two. Sorry for my slowness, but I feel better for me to take my time than publish something awful.