A/N: This is based on the part in the episode Free Fall when Peter is about to leave Neal in jail, thinking he was the one who stole the diamond, and Neal says, "I didn't let you down."

I just think there was more to that than meets the eye. Like there was something from his past that made him not want Peter to think he let him down. I'm not really sure what it is, but here it is. So please read and review!

If you haven't seen the episode you may not get it, but to fill you in, earlier in the episode Peter tells Neal that he let him down, and later Neal randomly says, "I didn't let you down." And has this sad distant look on his face.

I tend to write more in the NCIS universe, so forgive me if any information here is incorrect.

Peter stood from the bench, allowing Mozzi to take his place across from Neal. He was about to leave when he heard Neal call, "I didn't let you down."

He stopped and looked back at Neal, who was now looking down at the table with those puppy-dog eyes that always won people over. But there seemed to be something hidden deep behind that look. Some deeper meaning to those words.

But he left it alone and turned back towards the door, reminding himself that Neal was a criminal. I criminal who was claiming he was framed, but Peter knew it wasn't true. Or did he?

Neal heard Peter go. He started discussing the updates in the situation, but his mind was somewhere else. He didn't even hear the words that came out of his mouth. All he could hear was Peter's voice, playing on an endless loop in his mind.

You let me down, Neal. He had said.

He had heard that too many times before. Too many damn times. Mainly from his father. He could still remember the last time he heard it.

________

"Neal, what the hell are you doing?" his father asked, after yanking him out of the business dinner. He was dressed in his finest suit, had his hair combed back out of his face, but he had made a fool out of his father.

"I was just asking to be excused." Neal said quietly, keeping his expressive green eyes staring at a spot on the floor.

"You don't ask things like that during one of my business dinners, Neal! You know better! I've told you many times Neal, you sit down and suck it up. It may be boring to you, but I don't give a damn. You will go back in there and sit up straight, and stay like that for the rest of the night .You hear me?"

"But--"

Neal's father slapped him across the face. Tears threatened to leak out, but Neal held them back. He had received blows worse than that.

He nodded and walked back into the dining room, taking his seat at the table between two of his father's business associates.

For the rest of the evening Neal received constant glares from his father. He grew more and more anxious, fidgeting in his seat. When the dinner finally came to an end, and the last glass of champagne was drunken, Neal edged out of his seat and tried to slip upstairs unseen. But it was too late. He could hear his father running after him up the stairs in their large mansion. Neal reached the top first and ran to his bedroom, trying desperately to get in and lock the door before his father caught up.

Too late again.

His father ran to the door and shoved it open, knocking Neal onto his back, face-up on the bed.

"This should be fun." Neal's father said as his father unbuckled his belt and ordered him to turn onto his back.

Neal shuddered and held back more tears as he did as he was told.

After about a half hour of… unpleasant activities… he felt his father pull off out of him and zipper his pants. However, instead of replacing his belt back into the loops, he used it to whip Neal on the back several times. Neal clenched his teeth to keep from crying out in pain. Just as his father was about to leave the room, he turned back and said, "You've let me down, Neal."

Neal slid under his covers and pressed his face into his pillow, finally releasing all his tears. He sobbed for hours before falling asleep.

The next morning, his father wasn't there. He waited for days, but his father never came back.

That was the last time he saw him. And the sad thing is, he was glad.

_________

Neal looked up as Mozzi left the room, completely unaware of what they had just discussed. The only thing he could think of was Peter saying, "Neal, you let me down."

Would this be like the time with his father? Would Peter leave him here in prison and never come back? Neal sighed and pressed his face into his hands, trying to push all the bad memories away. Peter would realize he didn't do this. He just knew he would.

A/N: There you have it. I'm not sure why but I like writing stories about my favorite guy crime show characters being abused. Like Tony NCIS abuse is on of my favorites. Please leave reviews! This is only my second White Collar fic so don't be cruel! And show I do a follow-up where Peter find s out?

Thanks!

-AgentDiNozzo13