Extended Family

AN: Hey guys. I thought about this idea and then just fell in love with it. I can so see the scene written below play out. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

"You didn't say there were kids." Neal replied, seeing the two terrified children on the floor in front of them.

Tony holstered his weapon. He knelt down to the kid's level. At first the kids, a boy and a girl, who Tony guessed to be around the ages of 5 and 6, scooted away from him and Neal. Tony's gun had scared them.

"Hey." Tony said his voice low and even.

The kids didn't answer. They just huddled closer together.

"It's okay." Tony said. "My name is Tony. This is my friend, Neal."

Neal nodded and smiled.

A few seconds later Tony and Neal were each carrying a child in their arms.

The parents of the children, both Marines, were involved in an art switch which went bad. The art they had had not been real, as they had been told. And they had paid for their mistake with their lives. Now their children: 5 year-old Megan Lori Humphreys and 6-year-old Michael Scott Humphreys were wards of the state of New York.

D.C. NCIS had been called in because the dead couple, Craig and Joyce Humphreys, was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.

Now NCIS and White Collar had two orphans on their hands and both agencies were very hesitant to call Social Services.

"Where are they?" Peter asked, looking around the White Collar offices for the children.

"…conference room." Gibbs stated, grinning. Jones and Diana were grinning also.

"What?" Peter asked, looking thoroughly confused.

"You'll see." Gibbs nodded, knowingly.

And Peter did see. Tony and Neal were both sitting on the floor in the conference room. They each had taken off their Devore and Armani coats and ties, respectively, and were sitting cross-legged on the floor. Their coats and ties hung over the backs of the conference room chairs.

Megan looked up at Tony. "Boys are so loud." She then looked at her big brother.

Tony nodded and grinned. "I'll tell you what. Why don't we move over there in the corner?" Tony said, whispering like it was a big secret he didn't want Michael and Neal to hear. "That way we can read where it's quiet."

Tony and Megan moved, and Megan looked up at Tony again from her place on his lap. "Why are boys so loud?"

Tony shook his head. "I don't know, but they don't get any better when they get older."

"You're got to let me rebuild it before you knock it down again." Neal replied as he rushed to rebuild the Lego tower Michael was so eager to knock over with his monster truck.

"It's more fun this way." Michael replied, positioning his truck to knock the tower over again.

"Let me rebuild it this time…okay." Neal said as he started to pile the Legos…again…on top of one another.

Michael waited until Neal was about halfway through before he knocked the pile over again.

Neal reached over and mussed Michael's hair. "Hey!"

Michael just smoothed his hair back down and laughed. "See, it's more fun that way."

Megan, meanwhile, had gotten really quiet. She was no longer following along with her finger as Tony read to her. He looked down and smiled at his tiny charge, fast asleep in his arms. Tony managed to get up off the floor without waking Megan. He moved to one of the office chairs surrounding the conference table and sat down. He began to rock gently in the chair. He then began to sing, very softly, to Megan.

Neal noticed Michael had started to rub his eyes. Neal held out his arms. "Come here, Kid."

Michael put left the truck he was playing with on the floor and planted himself in Neal's lap. "When are Mom and Dad coming? Where are they?"

Neal looked into the little 6-year-olds face and wondered how he would explain death.

"Michael…Mom and Dad are going to be gone for a long awhile. They may not be able to come back." Neal explained. He knew he was lying. But the truth was just…too much.

"Why can't they come back? Where did they go?" Michael asked his face full of concern.

"I…where they went, they just can't come back." Neal paused, his heart breaking. "But they love you." He said hugging Michael tightly. "They love you and Megan…very much." He looked Michael in the eyes. "They are so, so very proud of you and your little sister."

Neal realized Michael had started to cry. He hugged the boy as tight to his chest as he could. Neal then began to rock back on forth on the floor. Neal tried to soothe Michael, rubbing his back and singing softly to him. Neal stopped when he heard Michael's breathing even out and his sobbing stop. Neal then slowly and carefully got up off the floor. He took one of the chairs at the conference table and sit down. He sat and rocked Michael, joining Tony in the song he was singing to Megan.

WC WC WC WC WC

By this time most of the White Collar agents were standing at the glass, looking into the conference room, like they were looking into a fish bowl. They had joined Peter and Gibbs and were equally amazed at the sight before them. They had all heard the conversation the men had had with the children. They had heard Neal's explanation to Michael.

They were amazed by the men's aptitude with children. They were amazed at the way Neal answered Michael's questions. Not one of them could have thought of a better explanation. And lastly, they were just amazed at how well both Neal and Tony could sing.

WC WC WC WC WC

"Will you come see me, Uncle Tony?" Megan asked as the lady for Social Services loaded Megan and her brother into the waiting car.

"I would like that, Megan." Tony said, kneeling down in front of the little girl. "But it won't be too soon. I want you to get settled in with your new family first, okay." He gave her a huge hug.

"I don't want a new family, Uncle Neal." Michael said, hearing what Tony was telling Megan.

Neal nodded. "I know. But you are going to like your family. You will have a big brother. And they have a dog…" Neal said, playing things up. "…a golden retriever." Neal paused. "They are the best dogs…ever."

"You'll come see me?" Michael asked, feeling a little better about his new home.

Neal nodded, kneeling down and holding his arms out to the little boy. "I'll come see you as soon as I can." He promised giving Michael a huge hug.

Both Tony and Neal stood up after saying their goodbyes. They watched until the car was out of sight.

THE END