Past Haunts: Chapter 15

Soooo... I'm back! Yipee for you! ;) I promise, to those who were worried, I will never abandone a story that is not finished, unless something severely drastic happens. And if I do have to drop a story, I will try to thoroughly explain myself beforehand. :) Please enjoy. Chaps might be a little short cause I haven't written much in advance.

Ok, so what I said in the last chaps A/N still and always stands. Not ok for anyone to go through anything like this...

Enjoy:)

Warnings: -_- really guys? you should know the warnings by now...

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

Section header says it all. There may be some trigger stuff in here, so tread carefully. This would be a reason for the T rating. Nothing graphic, but disturbing.

Neal's Actual Past-

Part 1

The names I gave Mozzie are real, which I'm sure you know, from background checks and such.

(Peter couldn't help but hang his head a little at that)

It's okay. I fully expected that. I would have been surprised if you didn't run 'John Caffrey' through as soon as you heard his name. So, Frank Smithson is my uncle. I know I told Mozzie that I never met him until after my parents...

(Neal paused to calm himself. El squeezed his hand and gave him an encouraging smile)

...

But that wasn't true. I had met him a couple times before. The first time was when I was five. My dad had invited him over for a weekend; I guess to try and mend whatever little family separation thing they had going on. Anyways, I got to meet Uncle Frank.

(Neither of the listeners missed the bitterness and spite in those last two words) I thought he was really cool at first. He was nice, and... I liked him.

(Neal's eyes had glazed over at this point, and the Burkes simply let him escape into his head while he recounted his tale. They weren't prepared for what they heard next) It wasn't until my parents went out for a special night together and left me alone with him that I met the real Frank. He sat next to me on the couch like he always did and put his hand on my head, again like he usually did. But... he started playing with my hair and then kissed the top of my head.

He said, "You don't now how pretty you are, Matty. Just like your mother." He stopped playing with my hair, and then asked me if I wanted to play a game. He said it was the 'Quiet Game' and no matter what, I had to stay quiet. (Neal's fists were clenching against his thighs, and his voice shook a bit as he continued)

Frank started out as just tickling me like he did when we were with my parents. But then he... touched me and...

Well (His voice broke a little, along with the Burkes' hearts) that's when it started. I didn't know what happened, only that I didn't like it, and I didn't like Uncle Frank anymore. My parents noticed that I got quieter after that and never thought it had anything to do with Frank. (Neal gave another bitter laugh) They even asked him what he thought it could be! He suggested I was being bullied at school or something, and they believed him. (*Sigh*)

After that, I just felt like I could never say anything. So, I didn't, even when my parents invited Frank to spend time over a few more times. Each time he visited, he got me alone in the house with him, and he was getting progressively more violent and possessive.

Then... I was turning eight. (Neal gave a sad laugh and shook his head, knocking a few hanging tears loose) I was so happy my parents were getting me out of that house, and my parents were just happy that I seemed to be acting like myself again. We went out to eat and as we were headed back home- (Neal couldn't stop the emotion from closing his throat. Peter and El enveloped him in a hug and didn't release him until he made to continue.)

The light ahead turned red and my dad made to hit the breaks, but they wouldn't work. A pick up went through the intersection and collided with the front of our car. Killed them instantly. I later found out Frank had cut the brakes, and seeing as the cops saw it as just another accident, they really didn't look too hard at it. They just... filled out the paperwork and handed me over to the social worker. (Neal's voice fades out, as does his eyes, as they travel back in time)

End Neal's Actual Past Part 1

TBC!

Tiny, I know! Don't kill me!

As always...review!

And you guys already know 'bout my offer to do prompts. :)