Neal Caffrey one shots | White Collar

Mistaken identity

{A/N} |  I have been struck with a lot of inspiration, it seems. This is a short one but there will be a part two up soon. let me know what you think. Also, feel free to leave prompts in the comments!

Neal's cover was blown because the suspect said he looked too much like this actor from a tv-show. It ended with guns being pointed at Neal's face and the FBI having to storm in.

Peter was pissed and Neal didn't have a clue.

"I swear, Peter, I've never been on tv!" Neal exclaimed as the two walked into the office. "I have no idea who this actor is."

That part was a lie. Neal knew exactly who it was the suspect had seen. He'd have to make a few calls.

*

"Did you see it?" Neal asked later that evening. He was staring out of the window as he waited for the reply.

"Yeah. It's him." Mozzie replied. "Do you want me to reach out?"

"You think it's smart?" Neal turned, eying his friend with a conflicted expression.

"He's your brother, Neal." Mozzie replied, leaving the choice to him. He knew of the history between the two brothers, he knew exactly what they'd lost.

"Show me the episode?" Neal asked instead, moving to stand so he could look at the laptop screen.

It was a musical show and Neal watched in wonder as his brother started singing.

Of course, he knew his brother could sing. There were many memories of them singing together while their other brother watched. He had never been one for the dramatic arts.

"What name does he use?" Neal asked, watching his brother dance around a stage with his scene partner.

"Cooper Anderson." Mozzie answered, taking the last sip of his glass of wine. "Here's how you can reach him. Neal, I think you should reach out, you've already lost one brother."

Neal watched as he left before he sat down in a chair. The paper with a phone number on it stared at him.

In his head, he replayed the last time he'd spoken to his brothers.

Ellen had just told him the truth about his father. His mind seemed to have shut down.

"Danny?" Cooper, the oldest brother of the Bennett triplets, asked carefully as Neal stumbled into their shared bedroom. "Are you okay?"

The youngest brother, Bryce, looked up from his textbook. "He doesn't look alright." He commented, getting up to guide Neal to his bed.

Neal shook his head but couldn't form words. The only thing going on in his mind was that he had to go. He had to get away from the lies.

He left when his brothers were still asleep.

The last time Neal saw Cooper was at Bryce's funeral. Neal had watched from a distance as he'd already been on the run by then.

Bryce Larkin had been killed in a bank robbery, the papers had said.

Neal didn't want Cooper to have to go through something like that again, so he stayed away from his older brother.

They'd all changed their last names when they left Witsec. Neal changed his because he didn't want to be associated with his father's name, nor did he want his enemies to go after his brothers.

He figured that Bryce and Cooper hadn't wanted to attract attention to their mother, who was still in Witsec.

Later he found out that Bryce had been a CIA agent, which explained the name change. He had to grieve all over again when he found out Bryce had been killed in the field.

He clutched the paper in his hand as he dialled the number.

"Hello?" the familiar voice Neal heard through the phone made him close his eyes. He never thought he'd hear it in person again.

"Hi, Coop." Neal spoke up.

A pause.

"Danny?" the surprise was evident in the voice. As was the rustling of someone moving. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me, Coop. I'm sorry for not reaching out sooner." Neal sighed.

"I thought you died!" Cooper's voice was loud over the phone. "Where were you?"

"I uh, I'm sorry Coop. I made mistakes. I couldn't come back home, I couldn't reach out to you and Bryce."

"I'm your brother, Danny. I deserve to know what made you leave like that." The silent 'don't be like Bryce' was left in the air.

Neal felt like he'd been punched in the gut. "I stayed away for your safety. I made enemies and I didn't want them going after you or Bryce."

"Well, I'm the only one left." Cooper's sharp tone cut through the phone. "Bryce's dead, you had been as good as dead as well. How do you think that makes me feel? Both my brothers dead."

"Coop-"

"No Danny, I deserve an explanation. It's been over a decade since I've last seen you. You weren't even at his funeral!"

"I was." Neal whispered. "I was at his funeral. I just couldn't be seen."

"Why not? Give me one good reason why you missed our brother's funeral, Danny!"

"Because the feds were after me!" Neal raised his voice. He felt guilty and ashamed. Tears were threatening to fall from his eyes.

"What?"

Neal rubbed his face. He hadn't meant to say that. He'd never been good at keeping things from his brothers.

"Danny, what did you do?" cooper's voice sounded concerned now instead of angry like Neal had expected.

"Neal Caffrey, look him up. It'll tell you all you need to know." Neal said, too tired to explain. "If you still want to stay in contact, call me on this number. If not, then I understand. I'm really sorry, Cooper."

He ended the call and allowed a few tears to break free before he composed himself again. He downed his glass of wine in one gulp and closed the laptop where his brother's face stared back at him.

He'd never liked fighting with his brother.