White Collar and its characters do not belong to me. If they did, I would be a happy girl! Please do not sue me, for the only things I have of value are my computers and my pets. You can have the computers, but the pets are off limits!

This fic is AU as I have made Neal much younger and played with the time line and the whole prison thing. It also contains spanking; if that is not your thing, I suggest you skip this one.

Neal sat on the bed waiting for June. He knew he was in trouble just by the expression on her face when she had seen him using one of his aliases to purchase a bottle of wine. At twenty, he was still too young to do so legally so usually he would rely on any one of a number of different names, only now Peter and June were onto him. He had used an alias last time and Peter had found out. He had been grounded by both the older agent and his landlady and threatened with a spanking. As a child, he had been beaten seven ways from Sunday, but he had never been spanked and if he were honest with himself, the prospect frightened him a little.

The images in his head only served to heighten his fear. Images of belt buckles and electrical cords flashed in front of his eyes. Baseball bats and broken golf clubs invaded his head. Yelling, screaming, begging for forgiveness for a transgression he wasn't even sure he committed. Anything to stop the pain.

The sight that greeted June as she walked into the bedroom stole her breath away. Neal Caffrey, elusive conman, master of many faces, sat with his knees to his chest, arms wrapped around them, shaking and crying. Her immediate impulses, the impulses of a parent, hugs, kisses, and comfort took over.

The arms around him terrified him. He jumped up and away from the constraining hold, landing on the floor in a heap of tears and panic. Backing himself into a corner away from the arms was his only option.

That is how Peter Burke found them ten minutes later. In the corner, Neal curled into June's embrace, both silently crying. The phone call he had received just minutes earlier was miles away from this. During the conversation both he and June had discussed Neal and the appropriate punishment but this was not at all what he expected to find. This scared him.

Running his fingers through the dark baby soft hair got a response. Neal turned into the touch, feeling safer than he had in a while.

"Peter?"

"I'm here. Want to tell me what happened?"

Neal glanced around as if being on the floor with June's arms wrapped around him was a shock.

"I…Why am I on the floor?"

After hearing both Neal and June's account of the evening, Peter came to one conclusion. Neal Caffrey had a flashback. Hearing of the abuse did not surprise Peter. He had seen the scars on several occasions. What did surprise him though was that Neal seemed glued to him and June.

"Am I still in trouble?"

The childlike question made Peter smile. Only Neal could be in this shape and try to con hi way out of trouble.

"Oh boy are you! Twice in a month, you've used an alias to do this. Not only are you underage, but you're on a release program with the FBI! If you get caught I may not be able to get you out of trouble!"

"So I guess that's a yes then?"

If looks could kill, Neal knew he would already be six feet under. Peter, the same Peter who had been so concerned just moments before was doing a damn fine impression of an irate father at the moment.

"Stand up! Take off the pants!"

"No, Peter, please!"

"Do you trust me, Neal?"

"Always."

"Then do what you're told."

Though June was against this so soon after the breakdown, she trusted Peter. He loved Neal like a son; he would never endanger him physically or emotionally.

Peter sat on the sofa and pulled a now boxer and T-shirt clad Neal over his knee.

After making them both comfortable Peter began to lecture as he rubbed Neal's back. As the tension and fear melted away Peter explained that since Neal had disobeyed both him and June, a bedtime spanking would be administered by the older woman in addition to the one Peter was going to deliver.

"When I spank you or when June spanks you it isn't because we want to hurt you."

"I know."

"Anything we need to be aware of before we start?"

"Belts. Belts and canes. I don't think I could take that."

"Neal the worst thing my father ever spanked me with was a paddle. Belts and canes do way too much damage. I want you to learn a lesson from this; I don't want you to be afraid of me. Or June. We care about you. If we didn't we wouldn't be here now."

With that, Peter drew the silk boxers down to Neal's ankles and raised his hand.

SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! The left cheek was hot and red already. The gasping from Neal told him all he needed to know. Moving to the right cheek Peter raised his hand again. SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! The tears were falling harder and faster now. Moving to the center of Neal's backside Peter again raised his big hand. SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! The small sob told Peter it was time to finish. After all, pain and fear were not the goals of this particular mission. Keeping his wayward consultant in line was. Lifting one knee to gain better access to the tender under curve Peter lifted his stinging hand just above Neal's left cheek again. SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! Moving to the right, Peter repeated the gesture. SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! Surveying his work Peter knew these would be the last. Placing his hand on the middle of the Neal's behind he snapped his hand back down. SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! SWAT!

The sobs broke his heart. Though Peter knew, he had not really used much force, the blows still stung. Moreover, Neal's emotions were already all over the place. This kid was special. He was intelligent, funny, and witty, and God Peter loved him like he was his own.

Slipping the boxers back in place over the deep red rump, Peter never broke contact with Neal. A kid like Neal would need so many things after a trip over the knee. After the boxers were in place, Peter slowly lifted the boy to the sofa beside him. Using a throw pillow to cushion the seat Peter wrapped his arms around Neal and pulled him close. Those bright blue eyes were still swimming with tears as Neal buried himself into Peter's side, seeking comfort not only for the spanking but also for all the years when there was none.

"Please don't send me back Peter!"

"I could never do that to you."

Ten minutes later Neal raised his head and looked at the only real father figure he had. Peter's hands on his shoulder and head didn't scare him, even after the spanking. Instead, they brought comfort. Those hands had left no bruises or welts. They had not lashed out in anger with the intention of causing pain. They had not so gently corrected and offered immense comfort before and after.

"I don't mean to cause so much trouble Peter."

Peter chuckled at that.

"I know. I think you are testing the boundaries. As a kid, you never really had those. I think there was a lot of anger but never any clear lines drawn for you. That changes now, kiddo. After what has happened lately me, June, El, even Mozzie, we are all watching. We care about you. We are not going to let you destroy the chance you've been given. If it takes one of us spanking you everyday then that's how it'll be."

"Mozzie would never spank me."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that."

"El certainly wouldn't"

"Who do you think gave me the idea?"

Neal's mouth dropped open at that. El, his savior had suggested such a horrible thing. How could she?

"She loves you, kid. I told you, whatever it takes."

Chapter two will be posted in a few days. June lays out the expectations and lays down the law much the same way Peter did.