Author's Note:

The only show I love as much as Glee is White Collar. And my number one man before I met Darren Criss was Matt Bomer. I always said that they should play brothers. So you can only imagine (or witness, if you know me) my complete and utter hysterical happiness when the casting announcement was made. And yet I promised myself I wouldn't write a crossover fic, no matter how tempted I was. That was until the episode before the season finale, and Sara asked Neal if his real name was Neal Caffrey. He responded it was a long story. And then I died. And this fic was born.

For those of you who don't know White Collar: Neal Caffrey, a con man, forger and thief, is captured after a three-year game of cat and mouse with the FBI. With only months left while serving a four year prison sentence, he escapes from a maximum security federal prison to find his ex-girlfriend, Kate. Peter Burke, the FBI agent who initially captured Neal, finds him and returns him to prison, but Neal has a better idea: He will help Peter solve white collar crimes. Peter agrees and Neal is fitted with a tracking anklet that keeps him within a two mile radius, under Peter's close supervision. This begins an unconventional but successful partnership.

For those of you who do know White Collar: The season 3 finale does not exist in this world. This takes place after "Stealing Home."

I do not own White Collar or Glee. Happy Birthday Jeff Eastin, who does own White Collar. This fic's for you! The first scene is straight from the show, but it's the only one.

NEW YORK, February 21, 2012

Neal stood in his loft, confronted once again by his ex, Sara. Could he ever really make her a part of his life here? With Kate, everything had been easy. She was the love of his life, sweethearts since they were 18 years old. She had known everything about him. He had trusted her, but Kate was gone. He trusted no one anymore, not fully. Well, there was one person. But he was safely tucked away where he couldn't be hurt like Kate.

"Don't do it again," Sara reproached.

Neal looked at her curiously. "What?"

"Neal," she said stepping toward him. "What are we doing right now?"

"Talking?" he said slowly tilting his head. He wondered what she was getting at.

"Yes, we're talking, we're being open with each other," she answered, and Neal smirked at her. "That is what we need to do. I don't need you to protect me by hiding things from me, alright?" Neal lowered his eyes. "Because that's where we got tripped up last time."

Last time. They had nearly been engaged, not too long ago. He had messed it up, of course. He had thought it worth it at the time. Now he didn't know. The last two years of his life had been the best. He had built a life for himself, with Peter and Elizabeth. He had a chance with Sara if she let him. He could have it all. Or he could go with his partner-in-crime, Mozzie; hone his craft, prove himself the best in the business, live life on the run. He had been on the run from the people he loved since he was 18. He had he lied so long, was as honest life even possible?

Neal looked back at her. "That and a multi-billion dollar u-boat treasure," he added sarcastically. Mozzie had stolen the treasure, then gotten Neal involved. It had nearly destroyed his relationship with Peter and sent him back to prison. But that was all resolved now.

Sara laughed and went over to the table to grab the wine and the glasses. "Alright, tonight, you and I are gonna talk. Not about your hearing, but you and I are gonna talk."

His hearing. He'd served 2 years of his 4 year extended sentence as a consultant to the FBI; extended because he'd escaped from the prison in which he had already spent nearly four years. Now he was being given the chance at commutation. He had helped Peter and the FBI accomplish a 94% conviction rate with his expertise in art and forgery, not to mention his charming smile. Commutation would mean freedom; no more anklet, no more monitoring, no more radius. Freedom meant finally seeing him after so long.

"What are we gonna talk about?" Neal asked with concern.

"Everything," she answered, as she sauntered over to the couch in the corner. Neal's eyes shifted. He didn't do that, not with anyone. No one knew everything, not Peter, not Elizabeth, not even Mozzie. No one since Kate, and she was gone. There was only one person alive who knew everything, and he was 600 miles away.

"Quid Pro Quo," he covered, feigning amusement, attempting deflection, as he went to the hutch for his own wine goblet and followed her to the couch.

"I," she said confidently, "am an open book."

"Really?" he said looking down at her. Her look said she told him the truth. "I don't know where to start," he said honestly as he sat down.

"Of course you do," she giggled, and Neal couldn't help but think how adorable she was as she curled up on the couch in her dress and high heels. They stared into each other's eyes.

"How many other former fiancés do you have?" he teased. She tossed her head as she laughed. "And, do they all practice Tai Chi?"

"Stop it, it was just the one," she retorted holding her finger up. "Just the one."

"Really? Are you sure?" he continued to tease.

"Is your real name Neal?" Sara asked, continuing the banter.

He didn't even hesitate. "That is a very long story," Neal started, brushing her off.

"It sounds like a really good story," she pushed.

"I prefer, frankly, if you started with something a little less personal," he quipped.

She continued talking and he maintained the banter, but now his mind was elsewhere. It was a long story, and one that started years ago, during his childhood. He had been 10 years old, and it was shortly after his family moved from St. Louis, Missouri to Westerville, Ohio when the most precious creature was placed into his arms the day his baby brother was born.

LIMA, OHIO, February 21, 2012

They raced to the hospital when they heard of Quinn's accident, Blaine and Kurt still in their tuxedos from the wedding. Lima was a small town. The officers in the emergency room knew Mr. Hummel and his son Kurt. And they knew of Kurt's boyfriend, Blaine. As soon as they arrived, they took Burt aside.

"I need to see her," Puck was yelling to anyone who would listen. "Where is she, I need to see Quinn!"

A nurse came over and tried to calm him. Finn quickly texted Carole, and she came out from the patient area as soon as she could, racing over before anyone else. She took Puck lovingly into her arms and let him cry himself out on her shoulder, but Blaine could not help but notice that she kept glancing over to him.

Burt finished talking with the officers and walked over to his wife. "The accident was really bad," she told them. "For both Quinn and the other driver and passenger." She glanced again at Blaine. Why did she keep doing that, he wondered. "But Quinn's alive. She's had some significant trauma to her neck and spine, so that will continue to have to be monitored, but she is going to make it."

"You mean she might not be able to walk?" Finn asked desperately.

"They don't know yet Finn," she said, putting a comforting hand to his cheek and then to Puck's. Rachel pushed her way in and wrapped her arms around Finn, starting to cry. Puck wandered aimlessly in search of someone and ended up in Santana's arms, while Brittany rubbed Santana's back. Kurt's hand was still clasped in Blaine's, but panic was flowing through Blaine's veins. Something was very wrong. Carole, Burt, even the cops kept looking at him. He was suddenly finding it very difficult to breath.

Carole and Burt walked hand in hand over to Blaine and Kurt and Burt put an arm around his son's boyfriend. "Let's go for a walk, Blaine," he asked.

"No," Blaine stood firm, gripping Kurt's hand even tighter. "I'm not going anywhere, just tell me what's going on."

"The driver and the passenger of the other car weren't wearing their seatbelts. They were thrown from the vehicle Blaine." Blaine's mind raced. Was it Nick? Jeff? Trent? Sebastian? His vision was blurring. Burt squeezed his shoulder. "Your father was driving the other car, Blaine. Your mom was with him. They are in very critical condition. Blaine, they're probably not going to make it."

Blaine didn't feel his knees give out or Kurt try to hold him up. He only felt the cold of the linoleum as he pressed his cheek to the floor to keep from throwing up. As salty wetness pooled beneath him, he realized he must have been crying. In the far distance he heard people yelling, and it sounded like Kurt but it couldn't be because Kurt's warm hands were on him, his own tears mixing with Blaine's. It had never been easy with them, but he didn't wish this. He didn't want this. He prayed that if they lived he would do everything he could to get them back together as a family. He would forgive his father, he would help his mother, he would do anything. Family. In his fog, he remembered someone was missing.

He slowly sat up, his eyes rimmed red and swollen, his eyelashes dripping with wetness. He wiped his nose on his sleeve, not even caring. "I…need…" He tried to breath, he tried to think, but he couldn't remember the name or the number and he pressed his fingers to his eyes, just trying to focus.

"What do you need, Blaine, anything," Burt entreated.

"I need you to call someone for me. In New York. His name is Coop…" he trailed off. That wasn't right. Not anymore. "His name is Neal." He couldn't remember the last name. Not in his current state of mind. But he had the phone number memorized like it was his own birthday and he quickly rattled it off to Burt. "Tell him that Mom and Dad are hurt. And in the hospital. Tell him…" It was impossible. It was the request of a little boy that didn't understand anything about the world. But he didn't care, not now. "Tell him I need him."

"Blaine," Kurt said gently, lifting Blaine's chin to meet his eyes, worry plastered all over his angelic face. Angels. Blaine laughed a little, then thought himself delirious. What his family needed now more than anything was an angel. "Blaine, who is he?"

Blaine laughed again. His emotions had gotten the better of him, but in the heat of the trauma it all just seemed so funny. Here was his boyfriend, Kurt. Kurt that knew everything about him; every freckle, every scar, every hope and dream and secret, except one. Except this one. He looked Kurt in the eye, and shook his head, shrugging with the absurdity of it all. "He's my brother, Kurt. He's my big brother."

NEW YORK

Neal raced to Peter and Elizabeth's house as soon as he hung up the phone. Before he'd been hopeful. Now he was desperate. His commutation was no longer just something that he wanted, now it was a necessity. He needed the ankle monitor off, he needed his freedom. He needed to get to Ohio.

He didn't tell them everything. But as he sat on the couch next to Elizabeth, his hand in hers, he stared up at Peter pacing back and forth in front of him. Peter's arms were crossed, his forehead furrowed, his lips pursed deep in thought. Peter feared what all this meant.

"So you would go to Ohio," he asked, though it was a statement, not a question.

"Yes," Neal answered, his heart pounding in his ears. He would leave as soon as his anklet was cut.

"And you would stay there?" Peter asked, unable to hide his disappointment.

"Only for a short time, Peter. It's almost March, he has school, I'm not going to take him out this late in the year. And it will take a while to settle the estate anyway, sell the house. We'll come back here in the summer. He'll live with me. His boyfriend is starting college in New York anyway in the fall, so it will be good for them to be together."

"And June is ok with all this? Having your little brother move in with you at her house?" Elizabeth asked softly.

"She loves me like a son. She'll love Blaine too." Neal returned his attention to Peter. "I'm sorry I kept this hidden from you, but I did it to protect him. Please, Peter," he begged. "I have to do this. I don't know what will happen to him if I stay trapped here. Before it was fine, nothing really would change. But now. This changes everything Peter."

Neal watched him. He could see the wheels turning. He knew Peter well enough by now to nearly read his thoughts. He understood that Peter feared Neal would never come back, that he'd use the opportunity to run.

"You'll come back?" Peter asked firmly. He wanted Neal to be free. Well, more free than he was now. But he still couldn't fully trust him. The con ran through his veins like the oxygen in his blood. It's what kept him alive. But maybe now that would be different.

"I have a good job here, a wonderful home, a partner and best friend, a family," Neal tried to reassure him. "But Blaine is every bit a part of my family as you and Elizabeth are."

"Moreso," Peter corrected.

Neal bowed his head and wiped his misting eyes. "Moreso," he nodded. It had been years since he'd seen him. Blaine had been a little boy then. The voice had since matured on the phone, but he'd never dared to give Blaine an address, an email, or any other traceable way to contact him. When he thought about him, he still pictured the 8 year old little boy he left behind so long ago. Keeping Blaine safe had been one of his top priorities. "I promise I will bring him back here. It's what Blaine will want anyway. And I'll enroll him in school and I will start work again. I'll only be away three months, Peter, and then I will be underfoot and in your grasp again."

Elizabeth looked up at her husband, her heart breaking for Neal. Neal hadn't talked about his parents at all that evening, other than to say that they were in an accident and weren't going to make it. He never mentioned if their death would be painful for him, but she felt his hand tremble beneath hers. She realized that she was the only one he would ever share that with, and that it was a gift that he did. Neal was an expert at hiding his feelings. At hiding everything. They had never even known that Neal had any siblings, though Peter had always suspected there was someone out there that he was protecting.

Peter turned from Neal and rubbed his face with his hands. He was proud of the man before him. Wanting to go home, wanting to help his brother. What more could he ask? Neal had spent his entire adult life keeping Blaine safe from the dangers Neal put himself in daily. With Blaine here, it would be one more thing keeping Neal straight. This was a good thing.

Hands on his hips, he turned to Neal, whose eyes never left him. "I will do everything I can Neal."

Neal breathed out a sigh of relief as he let go of Elizabeth and dropped his head into his hands. The hearing was tomorrow. Hopefully by nightfall, he would be on a flight to Ohio.

LIMA, OHIO

Getting Blaine to leave the hospital the night before had been nearly impossible. He was up at the crack of dawn to go back today. It wasn't long before they were told that there was no hope. Kurt looked up to his father, remembering being here is a similar position only a year ago and his own tears fell with the pain that overflowed from Blaine's heart into his own. Kurt stood by Blaine's side as his boyfriend said goodbye to his parents and the life support was pulled. He knew the troubles Blaine had with them, but suddenly it didn't matter anymore. Time was up for apologies and forgiveness. In fact, for Blaine, it felt that time had stopped.

They went back home, to the Hudson-Hummel household. Blaine went straight to Kurt's room and curled up on the bed with a pillow. The tears never stopped. His heart never ceased aching. Kurt curled up with him and rubbed his back. He brought Blaine food and water, but the boy refused it all. Kurt understood. He had been there himself, less than ten years ago. He knew the pain of losing a parent. He had no idea what it must be like to lose both at the same time.

Eventually Blaine's sobbing stopped and he fell into a deep sleep. Kurt took the opportunity to shower and change into pajamas. He got a warm washcloth to wipe Blaine's face, red and swollen with hours of tears, and dabbed on moisturizer. Blaine was so exhausted it didn't even wake him. Kurt went out to the living room to talk with his father for a while. The home seemed oddly full of people: His parents, Finn, Puck, Sam, Rachel. Santana and Brittany had wanted to come, but Kurt told them to go home. There was nothing they could do for Blaine right now. The house was full but the tones were hushed, no one truly knowing what to say. Eventually, they all went to bed. Kurt curled up with Blaine, kissing him on the head, and turned out the light. It took a long time for Kurt to stop listening to the sound of Blaine breathing and to fall asleep.

They woke to the doorbell chiming and Kurt glanced to the clock. 11am. He hadn't realized they'd slept so late. Blaine sat up and looked around, confused. Then he remembered and curled his knees in.

"My parents are dead," he whispered to Kurt.

"I know, Baby," Kurt breathed, wrapping Blaine in his arms. Blaine's hair was a mess of curls, the t-shirt and jeans he had slept in were wrinkled and worn. His eyes were better this morning, the washcloth and moisturizer had helped, but there was still every sign of the despair in Blaine's face. "Are you hungry?" Kurt asked.

Blaine shook his head, pulling his knees in tighter, and leaned his head against the wall with his eyes closed.

There was a knock on the door. After a moment, it opened slowly.

Burt stood there with a man that Kurt had never met before and had only learned about two days before, but whom he recognized instantaneously.

Neal stepped inside hesitantly, and took in his surroundings. He stared at the curly haired boy on the bed and anguish filled his face. "Blaine," he called softly.

Blaine heard the voice as though it was a distant dream, then realization hit. He slowly opened his eyes to see the man across the room. He had aged nearly ten years since seeing him last, but it felt just like yesterday as the man was only a boy returning for the summer from Dalton. Blaine unwrapped his legs, and his face broke out in a smile as the tears once again started rolling down his cheeks. He jumped off the bed and ran into the man's arms, which felt so strong and sure and right around his waist. "Cooper," he sighed. "I didn't think you would come."

Author's Note:

I would so love to hear your thoughts! Any questions, please feel free to PM me or ask in your review and I will PM you back with explanations. And for those of you who don't want White Collar or Glee, GO WATCH IT!