Okay, I'm invoking my right of creative license. I've done some research, and no, Russia has not executed someone since 1996, but they technically haven't eliminated the ability to, under certain circumstances. The one in this story is the certain circumstance. It may not be in real life, I'm not really sure, but just roll with it, okay? Also, Russian prisons aren't exactly like the one portrayed in this story. TV shows break rules and bend truths all the time, so why can't we?

Warning: Violence, language, a generous helping of angst and Neal whump, depression, mentions of suicide, mentions of sexual assault though there isn't any, eventual torture scenes in later chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own White Collar. If I did, Neal probably wouldn't like me very much. Also, I only chose Russia because of their prison tattoos. I'm in no way trying to bash the country.

I'd like to give a huge thanks to 'kanarek13' for the beautiful artwork! For a better look at it, go to http:SLASHSLASHkanarek13DOTlivejournalDOTcomSLASH146655DOThtml#t2669791 and just replace the dots with periods and the slashes with slashes. Be sure to check out their other work as well!

After two long months of searching for his escaped convict, a man that had disappeared so unexpectedly one night without even a hint of a farewell, Peter finally found Neal. He really didn't expect to find him already in prison and on another continent, though. What the hell was Neal doing in Russia?

After Peter found out what Neal had been arrested for, he was furious. He didn't even believe it at first, but Neal had actually been arrested at the scene, caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Why would Neal break into some Russian science facility, then not even steal anything? It didn't make any sense. When was he going to stop with the boneheaded stunts? If it all had something to do with another artifact that held the location of some long-lost treasure or some woman that wasn't even worth it, then Peter just might have to strangle the kid just to put them both out of their misery.

Taking a few days of off work, Peter flew to Russia to speak to Neal face-to-face. He didn't want to say what he had to say to Neal over the phone.

Peter wasn't sure what he expected when he saw Neal after all this time, but he didn't really think he'd find Neal looking anything less than his usual perfect self. He definitely wasn't looking anywhere close to Dino or another one of the Rat Pack. If the situation was different, then Neal probably would have been complaining about the dirty grey jumpsuit and the stubble that was quickly turning into a beard that he had. But the situation was very different.

"Of all of the places I imagined I'd find you, I really didn't think I'd find you here," Peter said as he sat down across Neal. The younger man was looking at Peter like he was some sort of savior, like he was here to get him out of this place, ignoring the crimes that put him in here in the first place.

Now that he was closer, Peter could see a dark purple bruise under Neal's left eye as well as a cut on his lower lip. There also were bruises on his pale arms, predominantly on his wrists, most likely from being in handcuffs. Peter stopped himself from feeling concerned about what might have happened to Neal - it was his fault that he was in here and Peter had no sympathy for him.

"Well, I didn't exactly plan this," Neal replied sheepishly, but that joyous smile was still on his face.

That oh-so innocent smile that Peter had fallen for far too many times made him snap. "I bet you didn't," Peter said angrily, making Neal's smile falter a bit. "What possessed you to break into a Russian science facility, Neal? How stupid are you?"

Neal looked a little taken aback by the agent's sudden attitude change. "Peter, it wasn't like that," he insisted as he leaned forward a little, his voice almost conspiratorial. He furtively glanced back at the guard that stood at the door of the room they were in, but the large Russian didn't seem at all interested in what they were saying.

"I didn't come here to hear your lies and excuses. You've done some boneheaded things in your time, Neal, but this one tops them all," Peter said, letting all of his disappoint in Neal seep into his voice.

"Will you just let me explain?" Neal asked, looking close to heartbroken, but Peter didn't let that stop him. Neal was a conman, one of the best, and he knew how to manipulate people and their emotions. He had been doing that to Peter since the beginning, when Peter had thought that they were partners, friends even.

"Three people died, Neal," Peter deadpanned, not giving Neal a chance to weasel his way out of what he did. Peter took a bitter kind of satisfaction in seeing the way that Neal paled at his words.

"You can't honestly believe that I did that, do you?" Neal asked, incredulous, but also looking unsure of what Peter's answer would be.

Peter leaned back, disappointment written all over his face. "No, I don't think you killed them, but your actions assisted in their deaths." Neal hadn't broken into that facility alone, but he had been the only one there when the police showed up.

"I didn't know anyone would die. I would have done something to help, but they were dead before they hit the ground," Neal said hauntingly. He was right - they were all shot, point-blank, in the head. But that wasn't reason enough for Neal to simply be let go. Not even close.

"I've let some things slip, but I'm not helping you out of this one," Peter said, more furious and disappointed in Neal than he ever had been. "I don't know if I even could if I wanted to."

Neal flinched a little at Peter's harsh tone, but the irate agent ignored it. "Peter, you don't understand," Neal tried to say, but Peter stopped him again.

"Oh, I understand perfectly. Once a conman, always a conman. I don't know why I had thought you could ever change," Peter said, his voice and stare cold as ice.

Neal looked like he had been just stabbed in the back. The look of shock and betrayal on his face was more satisfying than Peter expected, or probably should have been, but it was exactly how Peter felt.

And that's how Peter left him, sitting there on that cold metal bench, stunned into silence by Peter's harsh words.

I know this was short, but think of it as a prologue. I have 13,000 words written and the next few chapters should be up pretty fast, though I'm still working out the details. There are quite a few questions that haven't been answered in this, but do not worry, they will be answered in due time!

If anyone is wondering, yes I'm still working on 'Where There A Will', I'm just trying to work out how things will go down.

So, what do you think? I'd love to hear how you feel about this!