Past Haunts: Chapter 3

Thanks so much for all of the positive feedback!:) I'm feeling very generous thanks to all of your reviews. I love how a lot of you have a blood lust for Neal's 'dad'. This chapter will reveal a bit more of Neal's past and should answer and maybe create a few questions. (evil grin) Enjoy!:)

Warnings: Oh! and don't kill me! Has Neal whumpage, and some mentions of past non con. as stated above, never anything desrciptive. Read these warnings BEFORE you read please!

Disclaimer: I don't own white collar, just this plot line and OC. *sigh*

What has Neal so nervous? Read and try not to damage your computer when you try to reach through it to throttle a certain someone. (Hopefully not me!)

FLASHBACK...

"Matthew! Get in here!" Matthew Smithson rolled his eyes at his uncle's voice coming from the living room. What could he possibly want now? Matthew nevertheless complied like he always did and walked into the living room. His nose curled up at the smell of cheap whiskey and takeout. Frank Smithson was drunk. Again.

"Come over here, boy." The young man didn't want to get any closer than the door frame and the grungy man noticed.

"I said get over here!" Matthew flinched, but slowly made his way over to his inebriated uncle. When he was next to the arm of the chair, Frank reached out his hand and stroked the boy's jaw.

"So pretty. Just like your slut mother." Matthew tried to pull back, but the hand just tightened, leaving bruises. He couldn't help the whimper that escaped.

"You live under my roof, so you'll leave when I saw you can leave. Now," He brought Matthew's face even closer. "Go get us some rent money." He shoved Matthew a little too hard, and he fell back into the wall, bumping his already tender ribs. He trudged upstairs to get changed. It was going to be another long night.

...END FLASHBACK

"Neal. Neal!" Neal flew back to the present and shot Peter a million dollar smile.

"Present!" Peter was too concerned to roll his eyes. He had never seen his friend zone out like that. Peter wanted to know what was going on in Neal's head, and the only person he felt capable for the job was his wife.

"Hey, how 'bout you come over for dinner tonight? You could bring your dad-" Neal looked ready to jump out of the chair.

"No! Uh... I mean, Dad actually has made plans for tonight, but I'd be glad to come. Unless," Neal's playful facade was back, and Peter sighed internally, "you're not cooking right?"

"No, you ungrateful jerk. El's cooking, and just for that I'll tell her not to make that fancy French desert you like so much." Neal's mouth fell open in a mocking gasp.

"You wouldn't!" Peter stood up and handed his CI a file.

"I would too. Now, do your paperwork, and I'll tell El to add extra chocolate sauce." Neal jumped up at that and with a 'Yes, Sir!' was practically skipping to his desk. Peter's strained smile dropped. His friend really was one heck of a con man.

Peter's Office Still

Neal had already left work when Peter was getting up to leave. He told Neal that he had some extra paperwork to fill out and that he wouldn't be late for dinner, but he was actually looking into something. As soon as his CI was gone, Peter pulled up the FBI database and typed in the name 'John Caffrey'. Something just didn't settle right with Peter about any of this.

He couldn't say he was surprised when nothing showed up. So who is 'John Caffrey'? Peter groaned and rubbed his hands roughly down his face as he leaned back in his chair. He couldn't do anything more tonight without causing his wife and Neal to be suspicious of his whereabouts.

"Peter, come to my office for a minute before you leave." The agent looked up to find Hughes at his door beckoning to the adjacent room. Peter's brow furrowed. What could his boss want to talk to him about when they had already cleared up the little issue Neal's stunt had caused.

His boss was seat behind his imposing desk and looked more worn out than Peter had ever seen him.

"You alright, Sir?" Hughes sighed.

"Not particularly, especially when I think about the name you just ran. Is Neal's father really in town?" Peter was a little taken aback that his boss knew what he had just been searching, but let it slide in favor of answering the older man's question and hopefully getting some of his own.

"Yes, Sir. A John Caffrey did show up yesterday and said he came here after using Missing Persons to find Neal." Hughes didn't miss his choice in articles, and just narrowed his eyes at his best agent.

"Well, now we have two Caffreys running around New York City. Keep a close eye on them. The last thing we need right now is to find out Neal got his special talents from dear ol' dad." Peter would have chuckled if his gut didn't clench at Hughes calling that man Neal's dad. Something was wrong with all of this; he just needed to figure it out, and soon.

"Now, get out of here, Burke, and don't let me see your face until Monday morning." Peter thanked his boss and quickly scooped up his jacket.

As the agent entered the elevator, he chuckled as he pictured matching expressions of disapproval on his wife's and best friend's faces for being late. When had this become his life? An FBI agent, best friends with a criminal? Most would look at this and immediately throw Neal back in prison and Peter behind a desk down in the evidence room. But Agent Burke would never regret calling Neal, his CI, his best friend, almost like a son to him. And as a 'father'/mentor, he knew he had to do everything he could to help Neal, even when he wouldn't admit he needed it.

Neal's Place

Neal had hurried home in an attempt to beat his dad there. No such luck. John Caffrey was sitting at the kitchen table when Neal came in and gave him a sickening smile.

"Hello, Neal. How was work?" Neal dropped his blues eyes to the floor and tried to skirt around the older man. Mr. Caffrey just shot out his hand and caught the younger's upper arm in a vice like grip.

"Uh, uh. Be a good boy and answer the question, and look at me when I'm talking to you." Neal raised his eyes to the man's face then quickly dropped them as he said, "Fine"

"Fine, huh? Did Peter talk to you at all?" Neal hesitated, but realized lying would get him in a worse position.

"Y-yes. But I lied to him. Everything's fine. He invited me over for dinner tonight, and I'll be late if I don't leave soon." John took his free hand and forced Neal to look him in the eyes.

"That's my boy. Now, go get ready, and remember..." He pulled the young man's face to his until Neal's nose almost met his own. He tightened his grip on Neal's face, but made sure not to make the mistake of leaving marks again like last time. "No one would believe you if you told them. You're a con man. It's what you do." He released Neal's jaw only to stroke it once before shoving him towards the door.

"Now, be a good boy, and behave yourself." Neal left his used-to-be sanctuary as fast as he could. In his haste, he flew by a concerned looking Mozzie and didn't even recognize the short bald head and thick framed glasses.

Outside

Mozzie held a hand out to stop his friend from trampling him, but only just managed to get out of the way before the younger man ran past him without a word. Mozzie only knew of one person that could make his close friend break his confident mask. He didn't know very many details, but he did know it meant nothing good if Frank Smithson was in town, and he had Neal.

Well? Sorry for another cliffie! Im just evil like that (loving smirk)