A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.

nix: thanks for your review, my friend. So glad you enjoyed it!

Blood doesn't make family is not connected to this fic. They are completely separate.

Burke's POV

Annoyance filled him as he stared at the screen of his computer. This morning had started off just like any other. That was until he pulled up Neal's tracking data.

Neal spent a lot more time in Central Park than was normal. The time of night that he was in it meant no one should be in the park. His movements were erratic and made it seem like he was trying to get noticed.

That was a thought he never would have put with Neal. The man's whole life revolved around not being noticed.

So what were you after Neal? What has you so fixated on this one point?

The only other out of the normal spot he went to was a gym down the street from June's. He went early in the morning before any normal person would be awake. A quick call to them that morning told him Neal was a regular in the gym. The only thing he was that he never came to the gym alone.

Neal always went to the gym with Matthew Keller. They used boxing tape and lightweight gloves. According to the owner, they would spend at least two hours sparing.

This morning was no exception. They had a vicious spar and Neal had limped away. It was not set in just boxing but all-around fighting. The owner mentioned that Neal gave just as good as he received.

Part of Peter had to wonder if it had anything to do with the picture. It took a lot longer than he would have liked to put the clues together.

The children in the picture after some digging were the Wayne children. All of them were far younger than any time Peter had seen them. It was why it had taken so long for recognition to hit him. When it did it felt like he had run headfirst into a brick wall.

Neal was obviously in the picture as the oldest of the group. The other children were all of Wayne's misfit family. Many of them were estranged from their adoptive father. One was dead according to the database.

Then there was the final piece to the puzzle. Richard John Grayson disappeared from Gotham without a trace when he was seventeen. Neal's past couldn't be traced back before the age of 18. This might be why.

There were holes in this theory. The past as he called it was barely two pages long before Neal turned 23. Neal wasnt the kind of person who would just hide like that. There was more to his CI's past he just had to find it.

When El had seen the picture that morning she confirmed his suspicion. That it was Richard Grayson in the picture. Neal Caffery was Richard Grayson.

Peter had so many questions that he wanted to ask Neal.

Why become a thief when your adopted father was one of the richest men on the planet? Why not use his connections to get out of prison early?

From what he knew of Neal and Mozzie they never went to Gotham. If he was the missing son of Bruce Wayne that would explain why.

Peter would leave that call for when he got back to the office. He could talk with Hughes about it was well. That man seemed to know a little about everything.

Saying goodbye to El was quick and he went straight to the office. Neal had sent a message earlier that he would be walking.

When he arrived at the office Neal was just entering an elevator. When he noticed Peter there he held the elevator.

Stepping in the agent noted the hidden bruise just behind Neal's ear. The way he was holding himself spoke of pain in the left leg. His breathing was shallower than it should have been. Most likely rib pain.

Peter queried, "Neal are you okay?"

Neal gave one of his half-smiles as he replied, "I'm fine Peter. Nothing some rest won't fix."

Peter frowned. It wasn't exactly a lie but he wasn't telling Peter the full truth. Then again that was how Neal worked. Pushing Neal would get him nowhere

When they stepped out onto the White Collar floor their eyes were drawn to the balcony. Hughes stood there with the NSA agent John Casey. Besides Peter, Neal stiffened but didnt turn away from them. Instead, he followed as they were ordered to Hughes's office.

As soon as the door was closed Hughes said, "Peter the NSA has requested Neal's presence for a few days. Seeing as they have the proper paperwork we have no legal right to refuse."

There wasnt even a moderate stiffening in Neal's posture. Somehow the conman expected this. Whatever was going on it was within the plan Neal had. And Peter had no doubt that the younger had a plan.

Casey snapped, "I need you to remove his anklet."

Neal already put his leg up on the chair for Peter. Strangely he was quiet and not arguing against this. For someone that had been shot by the man, Neal was awfully calm.

Peter frowned as he used the key to unlocked the anklet. Then he rolled his ankle as he stared at Casey.

The agent snapped, "Let's go, Caffery. Burke, I'll have him back to you in one piece as soon as we are done with him."

Neal gave Peter an unreadable look before he followed Casey out. Peter then turned towards Hughes.

Neal's POV

With his anklet off it was as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders. This ensured that Peter wouldn't be able to follow him. This wasn't something he wanted to invoke his handler in.

Their plan to only watch Kramer had changed early this morning. The kidnapping was professional and had the feeling of ties to the ring. It happened when the second team was on watch. Grabbed and gone before they could even react.

His search for Orion yielded little to no results either. Except for a message with a location. It was short just like all messages from the man. The feel of it wasn't right for it to be from Orion.

As soon as Matt saw it he began preparing for a rescue operation. He felt the same as Neal when it came to the message. Most likely Wilkes had captured both Orion and Kramer.

As such he used Orion's phone to message him. It was as good as a ransom message. Come or Orion would die.

Neal wouldn't allow Orion to die. He owed the man his life. Also, Chuck would never forgive him if something happened

Casey took him back to June's which was being used as a base of operations. Using Matt's apartment was out of the question as was Mozzie's safe houses. They weren't large enough nor did they have any of the necessary equipment.

When Neal walked through his apartment door he found it practically overrun. Familiar faces of Chuck's team were sitting at his table.

There was a flash of emotions in Chuck's eyes. They were ones that Neal was familiar with. Anger, confusion going through the dark eyes.

Sarah's eyes were a little better when she looked at him. Still there wasnt disbelief that should come with his second resurrection in their eyes. Somehow they already knew that Neal was alive.

In the kitchen was Matt who watched those by the balcony warily. The ones by the balcony were familiar to Neal the most. Members of the underground who owed him or Mozzie a favor.

Alex, Hayes who had been saved by Matt against the Russians, the others were fences. They came when asked because they trusted Neal to a point. It was a ragtag crew of people who came with a common goal.

Then one shifted catching Neal's attention. At first, he had overlooked the man for being a fence but getting a better look at his face he recognized him for a different reason.

Joseph Ruiz head of the Organized Crime division. It wasn't often that he was seen outside of the office. What was he doing here?

Looking at Matt the agent slowly shrugged. He wasnt sure either. Neal would find out before they went any further. He needed to know who could help here. If they couldn't help they needed to leave.

Matt shifted drawing himself to his full height. This drew the entire group's attention to him. Neal moved to stand beside him.

Matt said with a cold look towards the newest members, "Normally we wouldn't have this many people I don't know in this operation. Given who and what we are up against I can't go through normal channels. Everyone here has ties to myself or Neal here. If you have doubts about whether you can take orders from either of us leave now. This operation is too important for anyone not 100% sure. Two lives are at stake."

Several of the fences got up and gave silent nods to Neal. He figured that a good portion of fences wouldn't want anything to do with this. No one in their world wanted blood on their hands. Unsurprisingly Alex, Hayes, and Ruiz stayed.

Neal said with a look to Matt, "I need to talk to the man next to Alex for a moment before we get started."

"Go ahead."

Neal motioned for Ruiz to follow him outside onto the balcony. The air was warm and pleasant perfect for having a conversation outside.

Neal began as soon as the door was shut, "I know who you, Agent Ruiz. What are you doing here? I know that you don't like me or approve of Peter having me as his CI."

Ruiz answered with a low growl, "I was undercover with a few fences. Word has it that a big fish is in town and I was hoping to bring him down. Yet we were called here. All forgers and fences being called for an emergency meeting. What the hell is going on here Caffery?"

"An agent has been kidnapped," he answered honestly, "Kramer is his name and he was taken this morning. We can't exactly go to the FBI with this ragtag team. You don't like me but would you be willing to work me in order to save his life?"

For a moment the undercover agent was silent. He was watching Neal with an unreadable look. His dark eyes seemed to judge Neal for everything the conman was worth.

"Kramer isn't well-liked here in New York," said the agent, "I have heard that he made some powerful enemies. One in you particularly. Yet you are willing to risk your life for him. For an agent that could have you arrested. Even I could put a stop to this and have you arrested. I'll help."

"Even if you tried to stop us you wouldn't be able to," snapped a voice from behind them, "Larkin get back inside. We don't have much time and everyone needs to be on board with the plan."

Taking a deep breath he turned away from the agent. If there was one thing that could be counted on with the FBI it was that they were family. It didnt matter what division you belonged to the moment you joined you were family.

That was what kept Ruiz from turning him in. Not that he could get in trouble for this. Beckman sanctioned them though she didnt have a full roster of who was playing.

This agent had an honorable heart and he would do whatever it took to bring Kramer back. That was what family did after all.

Neal went back to Matt's side and found Mozzie in the background. He had left the corner that the fences claimed.

Alex was watching him and Matt curiously. She had heard about the third person of their group but never met him.

Matt inquired too softly for anyone else to hear, "Is he trustworthy?"

Imperceptibly Neal nodded. Ruiz was as trustworthy as anyone else in the room.

Taking a deep breath Matt began as he passed around two photos, "Two men have been taken by a high-end criminal known as Ryan Wilkes. Last year he kidnapped a child and Neal here to use against the FBI. At the time Neal was able to outwit him and put him in jail with his FBI handler. However, now he is out again this time taking Agent Kramer and Orion as hostages."

Neal caught a flinch from Chuck. This had to be hard on his ex-best friend. Orion was his father who left him and his sister behind in order to protect them.

Matt continued drawing attention back to him, "Normally this would be something the FBI would handle themselves. The world as a whole knows myself and Neal as conmen and thieves. But as Casey and the Carmichael team already know there is more to use. I am Agent Matthew Keller CIA agent and handler to Neal. Neal was known as Agent Bryce Larking CIA agent before he was forced to retire due to injuries received in the line of duty. If you look up Bryce Larkin you will find he died a number of years ago. Officially Bryce is Neal Caffery and will be for as long as he wishes. Usually, I'm just here to keep him from getting himself killed. However with Orion being kidnapped as well as Kramer this becomes a CIA and NSA issue."

Alex interrupted her eyes cold as she realized the implications, "If this is a CIA issue why bring in forgers? We don't have the security clearance for this. Nor do we fight using guns. So why us?"

Neal answered instead, "Because fences know the best hiding spots in the city. Thanks to Casey I am off my anklet. This will prevent the FBI from tracking me and finding hideouts. Anything said or done will be pardoned. We cant do this alone. Kramer once back at the FBI can take care of himself. It's Orion who needs extra protection."

Chuck stood as be said, "We will of course help, Bryce."

Neal raised his chin in acknowledgment. There were still issue they would need to work out. For now, that could wait though. Until lives were no longer at stake.

Alex and Mozzie exchanged looks before Mozzie said, "As will we. You have a lot to answer for Neal but now isn't the time."

A map was then laid out onto the table. The warehouse was marked as were the escape routes they would use. With Mozzie and Alex's help, they were able to put three safe houses on the map to hole the agents up in.

Neal fitted both of them with his jackets lined with kevlar. He had to protect his friends as much as he could.

When he went to prepare himself for the fight ahead Matt pulled him to the side. There was a look of resolve in his eyes. Neal had the feeling that whatever he was about to say that he wouldn't like it.

Matt ordered, "You are staying here."

"What?! Matthew you cant!" Neal snapped back anger coursing through him.

Matt folded his arms across his chest as he growled in return, "I can and I will. Bryce, you can't fight well enough to go on this mission. What if you flash? You flash and you will be nothing more than a liability. You're staying here. Direct us based on the maps but do not follow us into the field. I'm sorry Bryce but with that computer in your head and the nerve damage I can't risk it."