The Better Life: The Further Adventures of Neal Burke and Tony Gibbs

By Peppe1951

Summary: The adventures of Neal C. Burke and Tony D. Gibbs. The characters from White Collar and NCIS will appear in the story. Warning: Disciplining of a minor. Don't like? Don't read! Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA and NCIS belongs to CBS and Paramount; I only write about it.

Chapter 1

Walking into homeroom Monday morning Neal didn't feel any different than he did Thursday but he was different; he was now Neal Burke the son of Peter and Elizabeth Burke just as much a son as if he had been born to Elizabeth instead of being adopted. In Peter and El's eyes it hadn't made a difference that he was theirs only by adoption and that love made Neal feel different.

"Class…quiet down," instructed their home room teacher Miss Connors, the Geography teacher before she started to call the roll. Neal didn't pay much attention to the names until she came to "Neal Burke" and Neal felt a bit self-conscious as he answered, "present," Miss Connors paused afterwards to announce, "it seems that on Friday Neal Caffrey was adopted by the Burkes and has taken the name of Burke as his own. Congratulations Neal, I know you will be happy with the Burkes," she said sincerely before he continued to call the roll.

Neal looked around the room taking in the surprised expressions of his classmates and not surprising the hostile look that Michael was giving him. Kate smiled at him before whispering, "I'm so happy for you," but inside was annoyed that he hadn't told her earlier about the adoption.

"Tony was adopted by the Gibbs at the same time my adoption was being finalized," Neal added as Miss Connors frowned at him and he became quiet. "I'll tell you more later," he mouthed at her as he got ready for his first class….geography.

The rest of the morning went well until it came time for recess when Michael and his buddies struck…their target was Neal and his being newly adopted was their ammunition.

"I can't believe that the Burkes would want a criminal for a son," Michael teased as soon as Neal was close enough to hear.

"You mean former criminal; I've reformed," countered Neal as he tried to defuse the situation before it could get started. "Any how this way they got a chance to know me for awhile before they decided; your parents didn't have that option…they are stuck with a bully for life."

Michael was about to reply when he saw Mr. Stevens walking by and decided it wasn't worth it…he would have to wait until after school to get Neal back for his comment.

As soon as Neal and Tony arrived at their Latin class Mr. Stevens cleared his voice and asked that the class come to order; he had something important to tell them.

"I've decided to have a competition between the Latin classes, or more specifically between the grades. I hope I can generate an interest in the course if a prize is given. In this case a momentary prize of $5.00 will be given to the winner in each grade. The competition will consist of everyone doing a biography of themselves to be written in Latin and later will be translated in front of an audience of your peers and family," began Mr. Stevens.

He had the class attention now and so Stevens continued to explain. "I want a biography of no less then four paragraphs of four sentences and I want the biography to be about something in your life whether it is set up as a traditional biography listing birthdates and birthparents or something about your life that you are especially proud of…but it must be at least four paragraphs and no cheating. I mean that everybody writes about themselves if you coerce some one to write your biography then you will fail and I will give you a thrashing; if you pay someone to write your biography I will thrash both or you after you both earn the failing mark. I want this to be original. It will have a decorative cover, a title page, the biography and the end cover. When you had your project in I will have it stapled together. It will be due two weeks from today and translated in front of your family in the auditorium two days later on Friday. Michael since your mother teaches I have arranged for her to have a substitute so she can attend," and then turning back to the class Mr. Stevens added, "I want your parents to see just how well you are doing in this class. I want this to be fun so the only way a student can fail is if he or she cheats. Does anyone have any questions?"

Neal raised his hand and was recognize, "Yes Mr. Burke, what is your question?"

"Mr. Stevens I've been helping Tony with his Latin and I was wondering if I could help him on this project…I don't mean do it for him but only correct any grammatical errors he may have or maybe make suggestions to improve it…will that be allowed or do you consider it to be cheating?"

"An excellent question…and yes you continue to help your friend; in fact if any student has any problems with his assignment and wants their work checked for error please come to me," replied Mr. Stevens, and if there are no further questions turn to page 45 in your text book and we will study adverbs and verbs," Mr. Stevens said as he began his class.

It was during the walk from Tony's that Michael waylaid him; he was of course with his two buddies, Bruce and Wayne and before he knew what had happened Neal found himself being held securely as Michael walked near.

"Pull him away from the path, I have something to discuss with him and I want some privacy," ordered Michael and struggle as he could Neal couldn't break away and felt himself pulled aside.

"This is for that comment you made earlier," Michael hissed as he punched Neal in the stomach. "Now that I have your attention…you are going to write my biography for me in Latin class or I will beat you to a pulp."

"If you beat me to a pulp who will write your biography?" asked Neal, "you don't think these things out very good do you?"

Michael answered with another blow; this one catching Neal in the face.

"You heard what Mr. Stevens said about cheating; if he catches you he will fail you and then you will be thrashed in front of the whole room….do you really want to chance that?" asked Neal.

"If I get caught and thrashed because of you then I will give you the beating of your life…so you have better hope that he never finds out," threatened Michael.

"I don't understand why you don't do it yourself; you have been improving in class and there is no way to fail unless you cheat…so why cheat?" asked Neal curiously.

"Because I can….so you will write my biography…or more precisely I'll write it and you will translate it into Latin and give it back so I can copy it in my handwriting to hand in…understand or your little girlfriend, Kate will suffer," threatened Michael.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her," shouted Neal as he struggled to get away.

"I see I have something to bargain for…now either you do as I say or the next time you see her she maybe rough up a bit…maybe she can have a matching black eye like yours," he threatened.

It was then that Neal had his idea for getting Michael back and Michael would then tell the world and his parents what a bully he truly was. "Okay…I'll do it," he said grudgingly, "only don't hurt her."

"I agree …I'll write out what I want you to say; you translate ii in Latin and then give it back to me so I can recopy it and turn it in…bye hero," he said as he gave Neal a parting smack and walked away.

Neal wiped the tears away and picked up his books and headed back home. He tried to sneak in past his mom but she looked up and cried, "Neal! What happened? Are you okay?" as she took in his torn and dirty shirt but it was when he looked up and she saw his eye that she really hurried over.

"What happened? Neal who did this and don't you dare lie to me," she demanded as she pulled him into the kitchen and made an ice pack which she held to his eye. "This should help with the swelling…now what happened?"

"Mom, it won't do any good to tell you; it will only be my word against his," Neal tried to explain.

"El…what's going on?" Peter had walked in on their little argument and now was surveying Neal's eye with concern. "What happened?"

"He won't say who did it," replied Elizabeth but I suspect that it was that bully, Michael.

Peter looked Neal in the eye and asked quietly but firmly," Was it Michael who gave you that shiner?"

"Yes, sir; but as I was telling Mom it won't do any good. He won't admit to it and then it will only be my word against his. I have an idea on how to get him back for good."

"Is this idea of yours legal? No lies or anything that can be construed as illegal?" asked Peter.

"It will be legal and it will be Michael doing the telling…to everyone in the auditorium…he will be admitting that he is a bully," Neal said as he proceeded to tell his parent of the event happening at school and what it would mean. "Will you and Mom come?"

"We will be honored to hear not only our son sprout Latin but to hear our nephew Tony and your friends…just let me know the date so I can be sure to be available."

"Thanks Dad…Mom."

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