crack_van | That Burns a Building Down by Embroiderama (Explicit)

Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Neal Caffrey/Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke
Length: 31k
Author on LJ:

embroiderama
Author Website: On LJ
Why this must be read:

I am a great lover of that subgenre of fanfic known as hurt/comfort. I mean, you might even call it an unhealthy obsession (I also mod the fandom’s hurt/comfort community:

whitecollarhc). And this story is epic hurt/comfort at its very finest.

It supposes what might happen to Neal had he decided not to run at the end of “Judgment Day” and to go along with Agent Kramer. For this version of Neal, running would have cost him more than he was willing to part with – but staying almost kills his spirit.

So many things about this story resonate: Neal’s loneliness is like a living thing, though that indomitable spirit of his does shine through at first, despite a Kramer who can’t see how truly misguided and dangerous his treatment of Neal is; Peter and El’s dogged determination and caring in the face of some pretty stringent rules (not to mention their relationship with Neal is a secret); and a very compassionate original character who helps Neal when he’s least looking for it.

In the midst of it all, the characterizations are spot-on and well-drawn, not a surprise from this, one of my favorite writers in the fandom. Read it - you won't regret it.

That Burns a Building Down Master Post