Past Haunts: Chapter 7

This is early in honor of my LAST DAY OF SCHOOL:):)! So yeah, here you go.

Thanks to whoever pointed out a little slip up of mine. It is supposed to be Frank Smithson. I originally had it as Bomer then decided to change it.

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*

Gonna have Peter and El refer to Neal as their son now in the omniscient narration. (just so y'all don't be like, what is she doin'?)

Bagels, Masks, and Death Threats

"Matty, go grab us some breakfast while I finish this up now. You better be ready to listen this time. Now go. I'm hungry." The young con man hurried out of the apartment as fast as he could without looking back. The traffic was at its typical sluggish pace, but what surprised him though was walking head first into Mozzie.

"Oh- So sorry, sir. I'll watch where I'm go- Mozzie?!" The bald man gave him a sad smile.

"Hey, Neal. You do realize that this is the third time you've run into me in the past two days, but the first time you've noticed?" Neal just blinked owlishly, before recognition dawned on him.

"Oh man, I'm so sorry, Moz! Really! I just haven't been in my head lately and-" Mozzie laid a calming hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's fine, Neal. But you're right. You haven't been you these last couple of days. Is everything okay?" If Mozz told Neal that he knew Frank was there, it would make him panic and get him into more trouble, but he also had to see how much of a grip Frank had on him. He might not have told Peter, but Peter didn't know about his past. Mozzie gave him an encouraging smile. Neal didn't skip a beat and brought out his favorite mask.

"Yeah, just, everything feels crazy right now, you know? Work at the Bureau has been picking up, haven't heard anything from Alex, so I don't know where she is, Sarah and I have been going through a rough patch, her being a model citizen and all." Neal even added flare with a roll of his eyes. "And... don't tell Peter, but.." He and Mozz glanced around conspiratorially, and backed into an alley nearby. Please, Neal. You can trust me. Mozz tried not to look too eager for what he thought his young friend was going to confide in him. Neal sighed and ran a hand through his unnaturally messy hair.

"I ran into an old contact, and he was pretty insistent in offering me a job." Mozz did his best not to look crestfallen.

"Well, you gonna take it? The job?" Neal gave him an incredulous look.

"What? Of course not, but you know Peter. If I even say an old friend visited me, he won't leave me alone long enough to go to the bathroom. Our trust is still a little shakey, and I... I don't want to do anything else to hinder its recovery. So, just between you and me, right? Oh, and don't take the job for yourself. This happens to be one of my least favorite old acquaintances." Neal checked his watch, and Mozzie saw a flash of something in his eyes, and the calm, cool Neal shattered again.

"Uh, wow. I've really got to go, Mozz." He hurried out of the alleyway.

"Remember what I said about not telling Peter!" And just like that Neal was gone And just like that Mozzie knew that this was going to be even harder for him to get away from than the first time.

Hughes left shortly after, thanking Elizabeth for her hospitality and giving Peter a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"I've kept looking for that kid, even after all this time. The case just seemed to stick with me. I wanted to catch the guy then, and now knowing Neal personally, I want to catch him even more. Help Neal, just don't do anything... too 'outside the box'."

Peter barely heard the front door shut, and didn't register anything but burning a hole through Frank Smithson's head, until he heard quite sobs behind him. He shook out of his reverie to find Elizabeth, sitting on the couch crying and trembling. He walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. She latched on to him like a life preserver.

"It'll be okay, El. I swear it... I'll make it okay." El's grip got even tighter almost making Peter flinch as her finger nails dug into his arms.

"Oh, Peter! My poor baby. How could... how could someone do that! My poor Neal..." Her breath hitched. Then she looked up to meet Peter's gaze with wide eyes. She had just unintentionally referred to Neal as her baby. The realization that both Burkes viewed Neal as more than a friend, but as a son made them both smile. Then a steely determination entered Peter voice.

"I promise you, Elizabeth. I will save our son, and if it leads to it..." Peter paused, but resolution took over quickly. "If it comes down to it, I will kill Frank Smithson myself."

Neal got back to the apartment with five minutes to spare, balancing some bagels and a coffee. It was for Frank. If Neal had caffeine right now, he would probably just get himself into more trouble. He gets twitchy when he has caffeine, and twitchy with Frank was one of the worst possible things to be.

Frank was in the shower when Neal stepped into his kitchen. He took the precious moments he had to set up breakfast and breath. As he set the coffee and a bagel down on the table his eyes darted over the blueprints Frank had been shoving in his face just a few hours ago. Neal's eyes widened. They were blueprints of the Bureau!

The water had shut off, and Frank Smithson had stepped out with nothing but his jeans on, a towel in his hands to dry his thinner hair some. In his shock, Neal hadn't heard the man approach and jumped at the hand that suddenly gripped his shoulder. He shuddered as he felt the man's bare, and still cut chest press against his back. The warm dampness seeped its way through Neal's shirt.

"I knew you would be interested. After all the things I read about you doing, I just knew you wouldn't be able to pass this up." He chuckled at the younger con man's blank stare. "It'll be just like old times, eh, Matty?" The man patted him on the back, more rough than necessary, and went to eat his bagel and hopefully burn his tongue on the coffee. Neal didn't move from his spot. His uncle wanted him to help him rob from the FBI. What was he going to do?

I am soo evil and not sorry!:) Luv and hugs to all. I'm sure you'll all appreciate Peter's little death threat there since I hear lots from all of you!

Well? R&R:)