Disclaimer: I do not own White Collar or the characters (sadly), they belong to Jeff Eastin.

Chapter 1

All is Well

"You didn't have to drive me all the way home, Peter. I don't mind walking."

"What? You don't like my company?" Peter glanced to his partner on his right, a slight smirk emerging on his face because Neal was usually the one making sarcastic comments during car rides.

Neal exhaled, shaking his head with a small smile. "I think I'm rubbing off on you." Peter chuckled at that and replied, "I'm hoping only the good qualities."

"All my qualities are good qualities!" Neal stated, eyeing Peter with his blue eyes, the city lights reflecting in them like water.

At that comment, Peter just looked at him and raised his eyebrows. He didn't need to say anything. The unspoken communication between the two was like they could read each other's minds.

They were silent for a few minutes. Normally Neal would feel uncomfortable with such silence and feel the need to break it with some witty comment, but with Peter, he didn't need to talk. He was comfortable with Peter, and simply enjoyed his company. He felt his gaze shift toward Peter. He admired his profile for a few moments, but was interrupted when Peter said, "What are you looking at, Neal?"

Neal was lost in thought for a moment, but quickly and sarcastically replied, "I think you have two new wrinkles."

Peter scoffed, "Yeah, they are all thanks to you. I have to constantly worry about you because there will come a day when your curiosity gets you in trouble. Watching your back gets tiring after a while." What he said was partly true.

There was a brief silence. Then Peter added, "But that's what I'm here for, Neal."

Neal looked at him and smiled. Genuinely smiled. Not his beaming, overkill smile he used to con people, but a genuine smile that had real emotion behind it. This was odd for Neal. Peter was the only one who ever got to see Neal under his con-mask, and only on rare occasions.

Neal used to be the felon he was stuck watching, but Neal's charm and wit and impeccable instincts made Peter regard him as much more than that. He was not only a friend, he was his partner. Neither of them ever admitted it, but there was a father/son-like bond between them, and both felt comfort over that fact.

They arrived at Neal's apartment around 9:00pm. Peter already knew El would be pissed at him for missing dinner again, but he didn't want to make Neal walk home in the cool November night which was approaching freezing. Neal hopped out of the car and said, "Go get home to El, tell her I said sorry for holding you up." It was like he knew what Peter was thinking. He flashed Peter a smile (more con-like this time, but still charming as hell), and gave him a two finger wave, flipping his hat on and strolling toward the front steps.

Reluctantly, Peter drove away without watching Neal go inside. He's a grown man, I don't need to babysit him. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. Maybe it was the ominous breeze blowing through the city. Maybe it was the sliver of moon giving off little light over the streets. Maybe it was the connection he and Neal experienced in the car. But something in his gut just told him something was amiss. However, his desire to see El after the long day overpowered his worry. He did drive Neal home after all, and he is safe at June's place, like always.

He arrived at his house, immediately apologizing to Elizabeth the second he stepped in the door.

"I'm just happy to see you, hon." She said sweetly and kissed him. "I'm heating you up a plate, just take a seat and relax."

Peter smiled at his wife. She was so understanding and so forgiving.

"Neal and I were going over some cold cases, I guess we lost track of time." He said to El. Which was true. He told El that he thought Neal's eyes would be able to see something he may have missed, and he'd been right. Neal was able to connect a suspect to an insurance fraud case in less than an hour, but then got overwhelmed as he found this suspect had multiple aliases, with crimes woven throughout the country over the past decade. Before they knew it, it was past 8 and they had to get going. Neal was slightly bitter that he couldn't keep working, but felt bad to keep Peter out too late, so he accepted the ride that Peter offered and said he would take a crack at the case first thing in the morning. Peter laughed. Neal looked at him suspiciously, with his head tilted to one side. Peter said, "No agent of mine has been able to come up with anything in a year, and you just uncovered everything, we just need to piece it together. You've got serious potential."

El chuckled, "And how did he respond to THAT?"

"Oh you know Neal, just took it in stride and said something sarcastic." Peter sighed.

El hugged Peter from behind, "I'm sure he appreciates it hon."

With that, Peter ate the dinner El had prepared him, pat Satchmo on the head, and went up to shower. He still had a nagging feeling that something was wrong, but he brushed it off as an effect of the long day. He thought about calling Neal after he got out of the shower. It was past 10, however, and he didn't want to wake him for no reason. He plugged his phone in and put it on the nightstand next to his bed. He flipped the light off and snuggled in next to his wife. He didn't realize how tired he was until he closed his eyes. Sleep pulled him into the abyss of darkness.

He awoke to his phone buzzing in the early morning. It was June calling. What could she possibly want? He answered it quietly, avoiding waking El up.

"Hello?" Peter said.

"Peter! It's June! Did Neal stay with you last night?" June said with a hint of worry in her tone.

"Uh, no. No he didn't. June, why do you ask?"

Peter heard June take a long breath, then say, "He didn't come home last night, Peter."

Peter felt his heart jump and adrenaline start to flow through his body. "You're sure? When did you go to bed last night?"

June replied, "I was home all day. I was hoping to see Neal when he got home but after a while I figured it was a late day. I went up to bed around 8:30. I was awake until 11 though, I couldn't sleep, and I never heard him come in."

Peter tried to keep his voice calm. Neal could be fine, after all. "I dropped him off at 9:00pm last night. Last I saw he was walking toward the porch. Could you go out and see if you see anything June? He could have left a note maybe?" Peter thought that was a long shot. Neal would have gone in to tell June where he was going. But Peter felt it was worth a try.

"Yes! Of course, give me a moment." Peter could hear her shuffling down the stairs. He looked at the clock, it read 5:45am. He wondered if Neal went to stay with Mozzie. But that made no sense. He wouldn't accept a ride then walk all the way to Mozzie's place, and not to mention it's impossible to know exactly where Mozzie is. And Neal was walking toward the porch. Why didn't I just watch him go in? Peter's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a sharp gasp on the other end.

"June! June! What's wrong?" Peter said, a hint of panic in his voice.

"Peter…oh my God. Peter, there's…there's blood on the porch!" June's voice was shaking. "His phone is here. Neal's phone is on the ground. Oh my God what happened to him?" June was panicking. Peter knew he had to calm her.

"June, it's okay, just go back inside, I'm coming." He hung up. This is not okay. He looked over at El, still sleeping. He whispered to her, "Honey, I need to go. Something very urgent has come up. Please don't worry, it might be nothing." He knew that was a lie, but he didn't want to worry her. Her blue eyes sleepily blinked up at him and she nodded her head and said softly, "Be safe." He kissed her forehead before quickly changing and practically running out to his car. He ran down his porch but stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw on the hood of his car.

Neal's hat—the hat he was wearing last night.

This is my first fan fic ever, so please review! I appreciate criticism if it is constructive. I will try to update as much as I can, I am not going to leave you hanging forever I promise. Not sure how long this will be but I promise there will be plenty of whumps and twists and all that fun stuff. Thanks for reading!