Thank you so much for reading this story. and so sorry it took me so long to finish it. I am about to wrap of the other story too and then after that I don't exactly have any new ideas. So if you have any ideas feel free to shoot them my way and inspire me to write it.

Chapter Nine

The next morning Peter met Neal just outside of the FBI building. Beneath the brim of Neal's classic black Fedora he sported a charming smile as he approached Peter. "Heard anything from Dianna?"

Peter gently nodded his head. "Not yet. But I'm sure she's got something, let's go up and find out."

Neal waived his hand out in front of him, motioning towards the entrance of the building. "After you."

Peter grinned and walked past Neal toward the doors.

They both remained quite as they rode the elevator up to the 21st floor. Neal thought about the chance that Dianna had actually found Levi or at least some lead as to where he might be located. He smiled to himself as he remembered the day he met Levi. Levi seemed highly determined to stay out of Neal's plans, but that plan fell through rather quickly for him.

The elevator doors opened as it came to a stop on the White Collar Floor. Peter stepped out with Neal following closely behind him. Peter began scanning the room for Dianna but there was no sign of her in the room. He walked up to Jones' desk. "Jones, have you seen Dianna?"

Jones looked up at Peter and nodded his head. "No sir. She hasn't come in yet."

"Alright, but as soon as she comes in let her know I need to see her." Peter patted Jones on the back and then turned towards his office.

Neal felt slightly disappointed that he would have to wait a little longer to know if there had been any developments in locating Levi, but waiting was something he had become rather accustomed to from working with the FBI. He smiled at Jones as he walked past him and began to follow Peter up the stairs.

Peter quickly stopped once he reached to top of the stairs and spun around to look back at Neal. "What do you think you're doing?"

Neal looked slightly stunned at the question but answered him anyhow. "I was following you to your office."

"Why?"

"Because we are trying to find Levi." Neal again sounded surprised that Peter had forgotten their agenda.

Peter shook his head. "No, Dianna is trying to find him. You have a job to do." Peter pointed to Neal's desk. "That stack of paperwork is not going to fill itself out."

Neal frowned. "Peter, you can't seriously expect me to just go back to work as usual with this search for Levi hanging over my head."

Peter arched one eyebrow and gave a slightly warning glance at Neal. "I can expect you to do whatever I tell you to do. Now get to work." He snapped his fingers and pointed towards Neal's desk again.

Neal narrowed his eyes and offered a rather annoyed scowl back at Peter. The look was enough to declare his thoughts without the use of words.

Peter jousted his finger in front of Neal's face. "Don't give me that attitude. I'll let you know as soon as I hear from Dianna, now GO!"

Neal forced an obviously fake and sarcastic smile across his face and backed down the stairs. He mumbled something under his breath as he returned to his desk.

Jones had large smile on his face and stood from his desk to face Peter. Peter was frowning and took one look at his blatant enormous smile and growled, "What's so funny?"

Jones chuckled. "It's just funny watching you two fight like brothers."

"Well at least I always win." Peter turned to enter his office.

"Yeah, when Neal lets you win." Jones replied just before Peter was fully out of ear shot.

Peter turned around to face Jones. "He does not 'Let' me win. I'm the boss so I always win."

Jones nodded his head. "Whatever you say Boss. You just keep telling yourself that if it helps."

Peter placed his hands on his hips, "Jones. How would you like to spend the day helping Neal with that paperwork?" Peter had a smile on his lips as he made the threat.

Jones laughed but held his hands up in surrender. "No, no. I'll back off. You're right, you're the boss and as the boss you always win. But….as the older brother, you tend to lose a lot more than you realize."

"As the…..? Are you saying I cave in to Neal because he's my little brother?"

Jones smiled. "It's just an observation. I just think you have a soft spot for him because of that. But that's okay, I have a soft spot for my little brother too."

"Get to work Jones." Peter rolled his eyes and turned back towards his office. He had no reason to believe Jones was right. He knew how to stand up and be the boss. Even outside of work having the title of the older brother gave him the instant credentials to be the boss at home and at work. He did not cave to Neal just because he was his little brother. He would prove it, eventually.

Neal spent about an hour working on the stack of papers on his desk when he heard the elevator doors open. He looked up from his desk and saw Dianna walking out of the elevator. He quickly stood to his feet and began to approach her; he would get the information before Peter. She smiled and was talking to someone else on the elevator behind her.

Neal smiled as he walked up. "Dianna, did you find out anything about Levi?"

"Picasso?" Neal heard someone from the elevator ask. He only knew one person that ever called him that. He stepped to the side of Dianna and saw Levi standing in the corner with a proud smile on his face. He was dressed in blue jeans and a black t-shirt. "Levi, you're out?" Neal extended his hand towards Levi.

Levi chuckled and roughly gripped Neal's hand then pulled him in close for a one handed hug with a firm pat on Neal's back. He stepped outside of the elevator and they stood in the White Collar Entrance. Levi took a step back and looked Neal over. Neal's black suit was neatly tailored and his sport cut vest revealed a slender athletic build hidden beneath the suit. Levi whistled, "Well look at you. You really are a pretty boy aren't you? Almost didn't recognize you without the prison orange."

Neal smiled. "Orange never was my color."

Dianna chuckled then looked at Neal. "Levi was telling me some interesting stories about you in prison."

Neal's smile faded and he looked from Dianna back to Levi. "It's not exactly my shining moment."

Dianna slapped Neal on the arm. "I don't know Picasso, sounded to me like you played some pretty sly tricks in there."

Neal gave her a sarcastic smile then looked back at Levi. "You got out or prison early?"

"Yeah. Good behavior, can you believe that." Levi laughed.

"I guess you found him?" Peter was standing behind Neal.

Dianna smiled. "Boss, this is Levi Easton."

Peter held his hand out, "Agent Peter Burke, nice to meet you."

Levi shook Peters hand then looked back at Neal. "I guess you made that unlikely friend after all."

Neal chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I did."

Peter frowned and looked at Neal. "Unlikely friend?"

"It's a long story Peter, I'll tell you about it later."

"Well Agent Burke. Glad you could help the kid out of that crap hole." Levi smiled.

Peter returned the smile then looked at Neal. "Yeah, so am I. turns out he's a pretty good kid."

"And clever. Picasso here could con just about anyone." Levi slapped Neal on the back.

Peter chuckled. "Please don't stroke his ego, that's one thing I don't need."

Levi smiled. "So what'd you look me up for anyhow Picasso?"

"I never got the chance to tell you thank you for helping me out. So…. Thank You."

"No worries kid. Glad I was able to help."

Peter held his hand out again. "I also wanted to thank you."

Levi frowned and looked down at Peter's hand. "For what?"

"For looking out for my little brother while he was in there."

Neal slightly blushed, but warmly smiled.

Levi narrowed his eyes and looked up at Peter then back at Neal. "What'd he do Picasso? Adopt ya?"

Neal laughed. "No. In a weird twist of events, it turns out Peter is my half-brother."

"Did you know when you were in prison?"

"No, we actually didn't find out until about eight months ago." Neal glanced at Peter and smiled.

"Whoa. That's some crazy twist. You should paint a picture about it or somethin'."

Neal chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I should."

Peter motioned for Levi to come with him. "Mr. Easton how about you come into my office so we can talk."

Levi nodded his head and walked past Peter and Neal into the main office. Neal followed and began to walk past his desk when he was stopped by Peter. "Not you. You get back to work."

Neal frowned. "That's not…."

Peter arched his eyebrows. "Uh…"

"You can't just….." Neal tried to continue.

Peter again stopped him. "No!"

"Just…."

"Go!"

Neal dropped his shoulders in defeat. "Fine."

"Thank you."

Levi smiled as he watched them banter back and forth.

"My office is this way Mr. Easton." Peter directed him up the stairs.

Neal sat down at his desk and glared at Peter as they walked into Peter's office.

Jones appeared at Neal's desk. "Looks like you lost that one."

Neal rolled his eyes. "Don't you have some work to do?"

"Not anymore. You're doing it." Peter dropped his eyes to Neal's stack of paper on his desk that to Neal's surprise seemed to have doubled in height.

Neal looked at the stack. "Did you put your paperwork on my desk?" Neal sounded agitated.

Jones smiled. "No, Peter did. Looks like he can win as the big brother afterall."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Jones chuckled. "Nothing. But I wouldn't give your brother attitude again, he really doesn't like it."

Peter sat down at his desk and motioned to one of the chairs across from him. "Please have a seat Mr. Easton."

Levi smiled and eased down into one of the chairs across from Peter. "Please call me Levi."

Peter nodded his head. "Okay Levi, I wanted to talk to you about Neal."

"What about Neal?"

"He never talks about his time in prison and that worries me."

"Yeah, well most people try to forget that place once they leave."

"Just tell me if anything happened to him in there that I should be worried about affecting him now?"

Levi sighed then leaned back in his chair. "I think Neal handled himself pretty well. He always managed to slick his way out of hair situations. I think it could have been a lot worse if he had been anyone else."

Peter smiled. "Neal's good at. But, what about this Henderson Guard? Neal told me he was the one that roughed him up in solitary, but that's all he said really."

Levi nodded his head. "Yeah, Henderson is one twisted man. He hated Neal. Had it out for him from the day he arrived. But Neal handled it pretty well all in all. Henderson was a crooked officer."

"I met him the day I came to see Neal. I didn't care much for him from the start. I'm furious to know he got away with beating up my kid brother for no good reason." Peter tapped an FBI pen against the edge of his desk.

Levi crossed his arms over his chest. "What if he didn't get away with it?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if we could prove he was crooked and guilty of prisoner abuse?"

Peter leaned forward in his chair and rested his forearms on his desk. "I like where this is going. How could we prove that?"

"The night Henderson took Neal into solitary there was another guard there that questioned Henderson. He was young and new, but he seemed like the type of guy who always played by the rules, you know? I bet it wouldn't take much to get him to talk."

"What was his name?"

"I'm trying to remember. Seems like it was Chris, or Kyle maybe."

"Carl. His name was Carl." Neal was standing in the door way.

Peter looked at him. "Carl. Okay, then let's find Carl."

"I'll check the prison." Neal turned to leave but was stopped by Peter.

"No! You'll stay here and finish that paperwork."

"Peter, I want to a part of this." Neal defended.

"I get that. And you will be. But you're not going to that prison, I don't want you anywhere near Henderson. Got it?"

Neal rolled his eyes.

"Neal?" Peter pressed for a reply.

"Yeah, okay, I got it."

"Good. I will go to the prison to find Carl. Just stay here and stay out of trouble until I call you."

Levi smiled as Peter walked past Neal headed for the elevator. "Looks like he's a bit protective of ya Picasso."

Neal smiled and sarcastically replied. "A bit?"

Peter arrived at the Prison and the first person to great him was Henderson. "Agent Burke. What brings you to my prison?"

Peter detested this man. "The last I checked the prison belonged to the state of New York, not you."

"Well I run it."

"The Warden runs it, you're simply employed here."

Henderson crossed his arms over his chest. "What do you need?"

"I am looking for a guard that works here by the name of Carl."

"What do you want with Carl?"

"I don't really see how that is any of your business."

"Well, then I'm afraid I can't help you."

"Agent Burke, what brings you down?" A voice announced from behind Henderson.

Peter smiled as he looked to the corner of the office where a short heavy set man stood with a bald head and a gray beard. "Warden Treske, it's nice to see you again." Peter extended his hand as he approached. "I was just telling Henderson that I was looking for a guard that used to work here by the name of Carl."

"Carl. Yeah, Carl is still here. Henderson go get Carl and tell him someone is here to see him. I do hope he's not in some kind of trouble, he's one of my best officers."

"No, he's not in trouble; I just have a few questions for him that's all."

Henderson grumbled under his breath as he left the main office in search of Carl.

Peter and the Warden engaged in small talk until Carl appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Treske, Henderson said there was someone to see me?"

"Carl, come on in son. This is Agent….."

Carl smiled and extended his hand. "Agent Peter Burke. It's nice to see you again."

Peter felt stunned that Carl seemed to remember him yet he had no recollection of him at all. Peter shook his hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't know we had met."

"You are the one that took Caffrey on as an informant. Got him out of here."

"Yes that's right. Is there someplace we could talk in private?"

Warden Treske smiled. "Why don't you use my office?"

"Thank you Mr. Treske." Peter tipped his head in appreaciation at the offer.

Carl and Peter walked into the private office and each sat in the chairs across from the desk.

"Carl, I am here about some questionable treatment of the Prisoners that I have been informed of."

Carl leaned back and frowned. "You're talking about Caffrey?"

Peter tilted his head in confusion. "What do you know about what happened to Neal Caffrey?"

Carl licked his lips and looked down at his hands that began to fidget in his lap. "Nothing." He suddenly declared.

Peter felt he was nervous about something. "Carl, I am aware that there has been some Prison mistreatment by Henderson. Two of the prisoners have come forward, but we need more concrete witnesses than that of two ex-cons. If you know anything, please tell me."

Carl stood to his feet. "I'm sorry I can't help you. I don't know anything."

"You're lying. I don't know who you are trying to protect but if it's Henderson, then you're protecting the wrong person. He would toss you under the buss in a second."

"Don't you think I know that. That's why I can't say anything. He will drag me down with him."

"No he won't. Neal will make a statement that you tried to help him, and Levi Easton will do the same."

"If they won't believe two ex-cons about Henderson, what makes you think they will believe them about me?"

"Because I will also make a statement that you cooperated with the FBI during the investigation, and that Henderson was belligerent and uncooperative. That will go a long way for you."

Carl shook his head as he looked down at the floor. "You have no idea what Henderson is capable of. You don't want to cross him."

"You have no idea what I am capable of." Peter gently rested his hand on Carl's shoulder.

Carl took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll tell you what I know."

Peter returned to the FBI office and was greeted by Neal and Levi. "Did you find Carl?" Neal asked.

"Yes, he still works there."

"Did he make a statement?"

"He did. And I'm so sorry for all that you had to go through Neal." Peter squeezed Neal's shoulder.

"I don't need your pity." Neal sounded callused.

"It's not pity Neal. It's concern for my little brother." Peter sounded sincere.

"I know. I'm sorry, I just don't like people feeling sorry for me."

Peter smiled. "I know, trust me I know."

"Okay so now what happens?" Neal asked.

"I submitted a complaint to the Warden and to the DOJ. They will begin an investigation and proceed from there. In the meantime Henderson has been placed on indefinite suspension pending the investigation. You should have seen his face when I told him to pack his stuff."

Neal smiled. "I wish I could have been there."

"You don't think he'll get his job back do you?"

"No. He will never work in the prison system again, not even a rent a cop will hire him after this goes on his record. His career is over."

Neal smiled. "Good. I'm glad to hear that."

Levi smiled. "Well Picasso. Now that that's over. You got any new tricks up your sleeve?"

Neal smiled. "Well actually…."

Peter gripped Neal by the arm and pulled him closer. "No. He's retired!" Peter loudly announced.

Levi chuckled. "Relax big bro. No need to get your knickers in a knot. The kids gone straight, I get that."

Neal laughed. "Peter, you can let go now."

Peter looked down at the death grip he had on Neal's arm. The suddenly released his grip and pressed his lips together, then looked at Neal. "Get back to work."

"Yes sir, big bro." Neal smiled.