On The Head Of A Pin 1/2

[paulacas]

Title: On The Head Of A Pin 1/2
Author: YanzaDracan
Giftee: sheryden
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Eliot/Nate; Team
Word Count: 6,092/11,816
Spoilers: (This is critical, as Australia is only just now watching S3.) Post San Lorenzo Job
Warnings: hurt/comfort; a major fan of Eliot-whumping.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They belong only to themselves, and the people that created them. This is a figment of my imagination and a work of fiction. I'm not making any money. Any mistakes are mine.
Summary: He told them he hurt people, but they didn't listen. Now they realize, but...

Almost four years. Nathan Ford couldn't believe five dysfunctional, maladjusted, anti-social individuals had formed a family. What started out as 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' had turned into something that defied description.
 

Parker, who didn't like to be touched or restrained in any way shape or form sat with her feet tucked under Eliot's thigh, leaning against Hardison while she read a magazine about the latest security systems.
 

Hardison hadn't stopped smiling since Parker decided she was in the mood for pretzels and they'd stolen the election in San Lorenzo.
 

Sophie was talking to her agent, skimming through a stack of potential clients. They decided after their little romp in San Lorenzo that while the sex was good, there wasn't the emotional connection they thought. Their friendship had benefitted from the occasional sex, easing the tension between them, and with the team.
 

Then there was Eliot. Eliot with whom all of them seem to take one step forward and three steps back. Not by word or deed did the retrieval specialist give away his true feelings, but every time Nate managed to get a hand hold in the chinks in Eliot's emotional armor, something happened and Eliot pulled away.
 

It reminded Nate of an old saying. The things he knew about Eliot would fit on the head of pin and there would still be room for 10,000 angels.
 

Nate making a deal with Sterling infuriated Eliot. The only reason he hadn't taken the others and run was Sophie. The grifter had convinced him to stay and protect them while they worked on a way to get Nate out of prison.
 

When Nate had seen the younger man, Eliot's temper was simmering just below a boil. He'd taken it out on the guards, and when the mastermind had said, 'Sloppy.', the ice in Eliot's glare had chilled him to the bone. It had only gotten more frigid after he told them about the Italian and Damien Moreau. Sophie had been livid, but Eliot had been so coldly angry his miniscule verbal communication became non-existent except when arguing with Nate over their jobs.
 

It became obvious to Nate that while the others helped plan jobs while he was in prison, Eliot was the one making sure the plans were executed without a hitch. He and Hardison going off to take down the militia group proved they weren't above improvising.
 

Now that Moreau was in prison and Nate didn't have the threat of prison hanging over his head, he thought he and Eliot would begin to get back on an even keel. The problem was-the hitter pulling away from not only him, but the rest of the team as well. Every day Eliot appeared at the office was a surprise to Nate.

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He'd sent Parker and Eliot out to do recon and was headed toward the coffee pot when Sophie stepped in his path.
 

"What happened?" She asked.
 

"When?" Nate had learned the hard way it didn't pay to give up too much information.
 

Dark eyes impaled him.
 

"Eliot's been aloof since we faked my death, but since we found out he worked for Moreau it's like he's no longer here."
 

"I honestly don't know." Nate reached for the pot as he thought back to their confrontation with Moreau in the hangar.
 

Eliot had sent Nate in search of a first aid kit and to call the paramedics. When he came out of the closest plane with a kit, Eliot and the Italian were having a heated discussion in a language Nate didn't understand. When they loaded her in the ambulance she'd given Eliot a brief nod.
 

"Remember our first job after Dubenich?" Nate turned to Sophie after filling his cup.
 

She looked confused, but nodded.
 

"Everyone stood around saying how they'd never hurt anyone, just stole stuff…"
 

She nodded again.
 

"Eliot told us he got paid to hurt people. He's never lied about who he is."
 

"But…" Nate held up his hand to stop her.
 

"None of us know who Eliot was…we only know him from these past three years. He knows we'll put that together with his reputation and that he worked for Moreau and draw certain conclusions." He looked away from the plasma screens to look Sophie in the eye. "What conclusions would you draw?"
 

"That I want him on my side, and that he has the capacity to be a VERY bad man."
 

"And when Parker and Hardison come to that same conclusion?" Nate prodded.
 

"He's planning a retreat. If he pulls back now he won't be blindsided when he's rejected."
 

Nate nodded his agreement.
 

"What are you going to do about it?"
 

"Me!?" Nate's eyebrows rose toward his hairline.
 

Sophie rolled her eyes.
 

"He's still pissed at me for the whole Sterling/prison thing."
 

"He's mad because you ordered him to leave you behind." Sophie corrected.
 

"They would have killed him." Nate argued as he went back to clicking through screens.
 

"You don't know that. None of us knows Eliot's limits."
 

"Then he would have killed them-FBI Agents-Interpol-for us. You said yourself. He's not that person anymore."
 

"I can imagine a lot of things, but I don't even want to think about what someone like Moreau would have done with someone of Eliot's abilities."
 

They turned when they heard the soft click of the door. All they saw was Parker, her eyes wet, and her expression murderous.
 

"Parker, what did…? Where's Eliot?" They asked together.
 

"He heard you, but said he forgot something at the store." She glared at Nate and Sophie again before heading toward the workshop. "He better still make me Spaghetti-O's." She grumbled.
 

"What are…? Sophie pulled a box of pasta out of the bag. "Oh."
 

Nate poured two fingers of Jameson's in his coffee.
 

"We're off to a rousing start."

-------------------------
 

They were surprised when Eliot returned as though nothing had happened, and while he cooked Parker told them about the redundant systems they had found in their target's building.
 

By the time they sat down to eat, Hardison had found the second security system. Not only was the building wired, but also the computer network, and if both systems weren't disarmed, notification went directly to the Head of Security and the owner.
 

"So his geeks are smarter than you?" Eliot asked as he carried his barely touched plate to the sink.
 

"What!? No! Not only No, but Hell No!" Hardison reiterated as he finished his food and went back to his workshop grumbling.
 

"What else do we know about these people?" Nate asked as he started cleaning up.
 

When Eliot moved to help, Nate waved him off.
 

"You cooked, I got this."
 

With a nod, Eliot grabbed a beer, slipped on his glasses and picked up one of Hardison's electronic pads and started sifting through information. Nate looked over at Eliot occasionally as he'd jot down notes. Then he threw the pad on the counter as he went to make a pot of coffee.
 

"Problem?" Nate asked.
 

"Not sure." Eliot pulled out his phone and started punching numbers.
 

He spoke briefly, too low and garbled to hear. Shoving the phone in his pocket, Nate thought he heard growling as Eliot stalked out.
 

Sophie threw a questioning look at Nate, who shook his head in reply.

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The first day Eliot didn't come to the office no one thought anything of it. The second day they called his phone. It went to voicemail. Alec checked the GPS, which said it was at his apartment. So they checked. Everything associated with Eliot's life in Boston and the Leverage crew was inside a safe disguised as a foot locker.
 

When Parker opened the safe there was a note along with his phone and ID's that simply said, 'Don't look.'
 

The third day Nate spent trying to convince Hardison to find Eliot.
 

Tired of the verbal browbeating, the hacker slammed the lid on his laptop. Unfolding to his full height he held his finger up to Nate, but before any words left his mouth Parker chimed in.
 

"It could get him dead."
 

"What?" The men turned to where Parker sat on the metal steps.
 

"If Hardison goes poking around it could get Eliot killed."
 

Both men deflated.
 

"Thank you, Parker." Alec picked up the computer
 

As he was going out the door Nate reached for a glass and a bottle.

-------------------------
 

The retrieval specialist was back the fifth day looking none the worse for wear. His tan was a shade darker, but he seemed his usual cranky self.
 

With Eliot back, the rest of the team's interest renewed on the mark they'd been researching only to find the man and the company gone.
 

Hardison began his indignant squawking over the man getting away with his friend's work when his computer dinged. As he read the hacker seemed confused…then happy. Four thieves waited expectantly as his fingers flew over the keys.
 

"He got his money and a job offer. Said thanks for the help and sent us this much," he turned the pad around, "to show his appreciation. They should all be this easy." Alec crowed as he set about dividing the fee.
 

Since Eliot's past with Moreau came to light, Nate felt the playing field between them was level so when Eliot headed down to the bar, Nate followed. At a back table he asked the question that was foremost on his mind.
 

"You have anything to do with that?"
 

"What do I know 'bout geeks 'cept they're annoyin'?" Eliot frowned into his beer.
 

"You get a phone call, leave, come back, and the problem has mysteriously disappeared…plus we get a fat payday." Nate watched Eliot carefully for a twitch, blink, any kind of tell.
 

He was surprised at Eliot's chuckle. The rugged face turned angry as he leaned toward the mastermind. Even with the table between them, Nate had to fight the instinct to backup. Eliot's lip curled in a bitter parody of a smile at the older man's flinch.
 

"Don't presume you know me because I worked for Moreau. You think anyone who would call me would be worried about some geek that got his toys swiped by the playground bully?" Eliot downed the rest of his beer and slammed the glass on the table. Nate didn't have time to read the expression that was quickly gone. "You don't know me."
 

Shocked, Nate stared as Eliot disappeared out the back.
 

"He's right you know?" Nate nearly pulled a neck muscle his head swiveled so fast at the sound of Sophie's voice.
 

"Of the lot of us, we know the least about him." She settled in Eliot's abandoned seat. "I can count on my fingers what we know…, and I don't mean what's in some file somewhere. Men like Eliot are assets. He has some very specialized skills and knowledge you don't just pick those up willy nilly." She sipped her wine thoughtfully. "One doesn't just walk away from a man like Moreau…"
 

"Enough!" Nate slapped the table. "For all that Eliot Spencer may be a straw horse, it's the horse he chose to build a life around and I don't want to see him lose it."
 

"You mean you?" Sophie gave him a coy look.
 

"Did you like the times we were split up?" Nate redirected.
 

Sophie shrugged.
 

"That's right. You left and sent us Tara. Tara who thinks she's a five person team except for Eliot. Not sure what the deal was there." Nate grumbled into his glass.
 

"Do I detect a note of jealousy?" Sophie teased, but then sobered quickly. "He's not letting any of us close. He's afraid of getting more attached, and he'll find reasons to back away.
 

"Sophie…do you think…I mean…" Nate stammered and blushed.
 

"Oh my." Brown eyes narrowed. "You didn't know-I mean not before our little romp through the sheets." Her voice was bemused.
 

"Know what?" Nate tried to bury his face in his glass.
 

"You've got your knickers in a proper twist over 'im now, don't you?"
 

A blush crept up from the collar of his shirt.
 

"Oh Nate. This could be ugly for you, especially with Eliot poised to run."
 

"How do I convince him not to?"
 

"You don't. Eliot's here because he wants to be. The second that changes he'll be gone."
 

They both went quiet thinking of the damage they'd caused and the damage that could be inflicted.
 

Eliot continued to disappear whenever they had downtime. When questioned, he shrugged and said he was paying off a couple old debts.
 

"Man, you're rich-Just throw 'em some cash." Alec suggested flippantly.
 

"They're not those kinds of debts." Eliot slammed down his cup and left the room.
 

"What!?" The hacker looked innocently at Nate and Parker.
 

Parker sat glaring while Nate followed Eliot.
 

But Eliot hadn't stopped in the bar. He found the retrieval specialist at the neighborhood dog park watching them play.
 

"They're because of us…Moreau?" Nate asked quietly.
 

When Eliot ignored him, he pressed.
 

"You didn't have to…we took care of Moreau. I know you thought you…" He stopped cold when the dark head snapped around, blue/grey eyes flashed diamond hard with fury.
 

"No, Nate. You did NOT handle Moreau until he was on the run. I did MY JOB. I protected the team. My 'debts' were part of that."
 

"Eliot…"
 

"Go back to Sophie, Nate." He turned back to watching the dogs.
 

"Sophie's not the one I want." He looked at the enforcer's hands.
 

Hands that could kill, cripple, or heal-hands that were covered by the ever present fingerless gloves. He wondered when the last time was Eliot had touched or been touched without pain and blood involved. He reached out to offer comfort, only to have Eliot move away.
 

Nate's chest tightened as he watched Eliot toss his hair back with head high and spine straight, he walked away.

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Parker watch enthralled at the scene playing in front of her. It was poetry in motion and light like she had never seen. The only thing missing was sound. There should be sound like in the movies. Then everything stopped. She must have made a disappointed sound because the dark head came around and colorless eyes pinpointed her location.
 

Parker froze. A heartbeat and the usual disgruntled expression appeared.
 

"Parker! Get the hell out of the vent." Eliot growled.
 

Looking sheepish at being caught, she slid out of the grate and landed lightly in front of Eliot.
 

"Can you teach me that?" She tried to look innocent and excited at the same time.
 

Eliot tried to tone down the growl he could feel in his chest. "If I'm doin' my job you don't need to learn that." He walked over and punched a button on a control panel.
 

The randomly flashing laser lights shutdown. Parker looked bewildered.
 

Not wanting to explain to the winsome thief that the lasers represented bullets and not motion sensors. He rummaged through his mind for a plausible explanation.
 

"I hear they're tryin' to come up with a randomizer so people like you can't set up practice grids." Eliot looked to see if he had Parker's attention.
 

"They don't have all that worked out, but I've been workin' on some stuff startin' easy then maybe work up to harder stuff like museums."
 

"They're saying random, but they're still having to use a set number of patterns because truly random couldn't be handled by a security system unless it's a Sterenko." Parker hypothesized.
 

"Yeah." Eliot agreed.
 

She gave Eliot a sly look. "Hardison know what a geek you are?"
 

"No, and he ain't gonna either." He glared at the grinning thief.
 

Her eyes widened. "We have a secret." Parker bounced on her toes.
 

Eliot rolled his eyes. "Somethin's wrong with you."
 

Parker continued to bounce. She pulled Eliot to the panel and pointed. "Teach me."
 

Knowing he wouldn't talk her out of it-they started.
 

Both were winded by the time they finished without Parker taking a hit. Even knowing it was practice, Eliot's heart stuttered when the red light found its target.
 

"That was fun." Parker's grin carried a touch of her insanity as she mopped the sweat from her face.
 

"Come on. You can shower while I cook supper." Eliot tried to sound begrudging, but Parker skipped through the door while he shut down the room.
 

Nate watched and occasionally applied gentle pressure…just enough to let Eliot know he hadn't given up. Hardison and Parker's relationship moved at a turtle's pace, with Parker using Eliot as a buffer.
 

He'd woken one night and headed downstairs for a drink. His nightmares these days revolved around Eliot and guns. Not knowing what had happened in the warehouse drove his imagination a bit crazy, but Eliot would in all likelihood disappear if anyone found out so he couldn't…
 

He stopped on the bottom step when he saw Eliot standing by the window. His bare feet were silent as he padded across the hardwood floor. When he got within arm's reach, Eliot spoke.
 

"I served under Atherton. Might say he helped make me the man I am today…a man who could work for Moreau and still sleep at night."
 

It didn't surprise Nate that Eliot knew he was there. He didn't move for fear the enigmatic man would stop talking.
 

"I'm something of an overachiever so I was always first for specialized training." He paused again. It was as though the words were being extracted one at a time. Nate figured Eliot as the Black Ops type. "You and Sophie aren't the only people I trusted that fucked over their own team." Eliot looked at something in his hand before shoving it in his pocket.
 

"I couldn't see any other way." Nate spoke softly, but his tone begged for understanding. "They would have killed you, taken everyone else to jail." He choked at the thought of Eliot lying on the ship's deck, blue/grey eyes open, unseeing at the sky.
 

"You don't know that. You didn't trust me when I said I could take 'em."
 

"I trusted you to take care of the lives most important to me. You…you're that important to me." Nate insisted.
 

The ambient light showed Eliot's head shaking negatively.
 

"You wouldn't say that if you knew..."
 

"I know you. I know everything I need to know. I know what a good, honorable man you are."
 

"Nate…"
 

"Before you reject what I'm saying, just give us-give me a chance. You don't have to be alone." Nate watched carefully. Eliot didn't give away much. He was too controlled. Nate gave him a nudge. "We…I…don't care who you were before. We were all someone else before…this…us. I only care about now."
 

Time seemed to stop. Nate fought the urge to shift from foot to foot, remaining still. Finally Eliot turned his face still in the shadow.
 

"I'll think on it." He started to move past Nathan to the door.
 

Afraid to let him go, Nate took a breath, and took a chance.
 

"Stay?"
 

Pale eyes widened then narrowed.
 

"Not for that?" Nate added quickly. "Yet." He grinned as Eliot relaxed slightly.

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Slowly. Nate sometimes grew frustrated at the pace Eliot set. Sex wasn't the problem. The retrieval specialist had used sex as a tool enough that sex without emotional connection wasn't a problem. Nate wanted that emotional connection so he'd told Eliot he wasn't ready for sex.
 

Eliot thought his hesitancy came from him never having had sex with a man. In a voice that was part rumbling growl and part purr, he assured Nate he'd make it VERY memorable.
 

The mastermind had had to step away from the lethal combination of Eliot's voice and body to gain a modicum of control.
 

"That's not it." Nate assured him then sighed as Eliot's confusion.
 

"I don't want us to simply have sex." He turned back to finish drying dishes. He'd been at Eliot's enough to know where things were kept. "I want to make love. I had enough sex I don't remember." Nate sighed.
 

When Nate looked at Eliot his heart fluttered like a trapped bird. The smile that was part mischievous little boy and 'lock up your sons and daughters' bad boy had him wanting to agree to anything.
 

"Let me show you what else I learned in Japan." Eliot whispered as he pulled Nate in for a kiss that started the meltdown of his brain.

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Nate looked at the information on the screens smugly satisfied with what they'd accomplished, but the next one was going to be a little messier.
 

They were going to need Eliot or Hardison to go in as an escort…probably Eliot…there was no way they could do without Alec on computers, plus the boy still did the oversell, and he still got embarrassed and tongue tied when strange women hit on him. Eliot, it was then. He was running the plan with Sophie when the door banged open with Hardison's usual litany coming through ahead of him and Eliot.
 

Eliot's expression was indulgent as the hacker continued on about whatever they'd done after Eliot dragged the younger man from behind his computer. Parker appeared shortly after, and everyone settled in to hear what Nate had in mind for their newest mark.
 

Their client was a maven of the New York City elite that traced many of their family trees to the founding fathers. Several of her friends had been conned out of sizeable amounts of money, but were too embarrassed to go authorities.
 

"I didn't think we helped rich people." Parker stated from her spot between Hardison and Eliot.
 

"Not all of them are rich. Several have pensions from the family trust while their children use most of the money."
 

"Yeah and those dudes been doing the most damage to them. New York's just the latest. They hit Miami, Nashville, and Louisville. One of 'em got busted in Nashville, but kept his mouth shut about the others." Alec added.
 

Watching the pictures on the screen, no one noticed the smug grin turning up the corners of Eliot's mouth. He'd been responsible for the crew leaving Tennessee after a call from an old friend had him making an appearance. When he left, he gave her Nate's number in case the men showed again. Eugenia had called to warn him her friend, Portia Williams would be contacting Nate, and that she'd told her New York City friend all about Eliot. Glad no one was around to see his blush Eliot mentioned he knew the client from a friend of a friend. Feeling that was as much as they needed to know so when they went to Portia's he wouldn't be accused of keeping secrets from the team.
 

With Eliot leaving for New York in a few days, Nate began feeling insecure. He'd been running between snarky and clingy as he wondered how closely he'd been able to bind the hitter to him…to the team. There had been no discussion or promises. The closer it came to time for Eliot to leave the more antsy Nate became.
 

Eliot cooked for them the evening before he was to leave. They ironed out a few wrinkles, and solidified the rest of the plan.
 

Everyone else would be in the city a few days after Eliot with Sophie coming in as Katherine Beaumont of the Louisville Beaumonts, an old friend of Portia's, and a tragically rich widow. Nate, Parker and Hardison would be collecting evidence on their conmen. Eliot warned everyone the men were serious about protecting their con, and he couldn't be in two places at once if they got caught.
 

"We'll wait 'til you're done gigoloing to break in." Parker smirked.
 

"Not a gigolo, Parker," Eliot growled.
 

"We get it, E. No rough stuff without you." Alec snickered, which earned him a glare.
 

"I guess we're done then." Nate snapped the plasmas off.
 

Everyone started gathering dishes and heading toward the small kitchen. Nate shooed Eliot away admonishing the younger man to relax with a wink.
 

Suddenly impatient to have the others gone, Eliot went to the bathroom to get a grip on his emotions. He heard their voices, but when he opened the door their words turned his blood to ice.
 

"Did Eliot like your honey pot? Is he going to stay?" Parker asked.
 

"Not so loud, girl. You know Eliot hears everything." Hardison hissed.
 

"Oh. Is it a secret? I thought he already had one in the kitchen."
 

"Not honey pot, Parker…honey trap." Sophie corrected indulgently.
 

"That doesn't sound like something Eliot would like." Parker pouted.
 

"Don't be silly."Sophie assured. "He'll like it well enough."
 

"Can I ask him?"
 

"No!" The three chorused quietly.
 

"But…" Parker stopped when she saw Eliot coming from the direction of the bathroom. Grabbing his jacket from the back of the couch, he headed for the door.
 

Confused, Nate stepped in the enforcer's path.
 

"Thought you were staying awhile?"
 

"Got some things to wrap up before I leave."
 

"But…" Nate stopped when Eliot lifted his head and he saw defiance in the retrieval specialist's expression. He also saw pain reflected in the winter color of Eliot's eyes and knew he had heard their conversation. "Eliot." He stepped toward the long haired man his hand out pleading. "It's not how it sounds."
 

A low growl had him stepping back.
 

The next morning a bleary eyed Nate looked over the loft railing and saw three sets of expectant eyes looking back. With just enough of a nod to answer their questions, but not enough to start the kettle drums in his head, he turned away.
 

A shower, a cup of coffee, with a splash of the hair of the Irish dog, and he felt almost coherent enough to deal with Parker.
 

"Was the sex so bad that Eliot left?" She folded her arms in an unconscious imitation of the Eliot, and under any other circumstances it would have been cute.
 

"We didn't get that far. He heard us."
 

Sophie paled, and Hardison's skin took on an ashy cast.
 

"He thinks Parker's the only one not in on it." Sophie gasped.
 

"I keep tellin' you guys you cannot talk about E when he's even in the building let alone the office."
 

Hardison nagged as his fingers few over the keys.
 

"Dammit!"
 

"What?" Nate's head came up so fast he heard the bones pop.
 

"He's found or shut off everything I can use to track him." The hacker complained.
 

"Before you get in a dither," Sophie paused until they all looked at her, "Eliot would never leave a job in the middle and he certainly wouldn't leave an elderly damsel in distress. He'll show up exactly where he's supposed to be."

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Bensen Dupre opened the door to the upper Eastside home of his employer, Portia Williams. He eyed the man standing quietly with a jaundiced eye. The clothes, vehicle and luggage were right, but there was something wild and dangerous about the ruggedly handsome man who waited patiently.
 

"May I help you, sir?" Bensen wasn't British, but he sounded as snotty as any English butler ever could.
 

"Colton Markham to see Miz Portia."
 

The voice was rough as gator hide and had a drawl like wild Texas honey.
 

"She's expectin' me." Pale eyes twinkled with amusement that said he knew what Bensen was thinking.
 

"Come in, Mr. Markham, Miss Portia told me to expect you."
 

"Just Colt, Mr. Markham was my daddy."
 

Eliot looked up at the large muscular man with skin the color of night and eyes the color of gold. He knew Bensen Dupre from Hardison's research and Eugenia, but he was a stranger coming into the Majordomo's territory-wouldn't do to piss off someone he needed as an ally.
 

Eliot ducked his head and bared a bit of throat to show he wasn't a threat.
 

"Miz Eugenia sends her regards." He grinned.
 

"You the one sent them carpet baggers packin'." Dupre asked, letting his Georgia origins peek through. Eliot nodded. "You doin' the same here?"Eliot nodded. "Best get on in here then. Ya can quit all that meek and submissive crap. I know an alpha wolf when I see one. Don't matter how ya dress 'im up." He grinned back at the shorter man.
 

Portia Williams like her friend, Eugenia Rogers, was opinionated and outspoken. Eliot fell under her spell when they shook hands and she bluntly stated, "Euly was right when she said you were a fine specimen of manhood."
 

"Uh…Thank ya, ma'am." He blushed and stuttered.
 

"For appearances we're going to put you in the rooms next to mine. I'll be the envy of all those 'ol biddies." Her laugh was wicked and fun.
 

Eliot had actually relaxed into Colton Markum, was sizing up the men they were after and had begun to formulate a plan when Sophie appeared.
 

Portia and Bensen were confused by the change in 'Colt' when 'Katherine' came into the living room. Gone was the quiet, intelligent, relaxed young man with a wicked sense of humor, and the protective streak as big as his heart. In his place was a terse guarded lone wolf that snapped and snarled as though cornered.
 

Eliot excused himself to start preparations for a small dinner Portia was giving in honor of her 'old' friend, 'Katherine'. When the door to the kitchen shut, Sophie looked up from her tea cup to find a set of blue and gold eyes demanding to know what she'd done to upset 'Colt'.
 

Taken aback, Sophie took a moment before answering the unspoken question.
 

"There was a small misunderstanding between 'Colton' and myself before he came to New York."
 

"Doesn't seem small to me." Portia pointed out the obvious.
 

"Yes, well if I could get him to stand still long enough to listen…" Sophie raised her voice a bit, testing Hardison's theory about Eliot's hearing.
 

"Seems like he's in one spot now." Dupre grinned when the rattle of pans came from the kitchen.
 

"I would say he thinks it's up to you to go to him." Portia prodded.
 

"Yes…well…" Sophie hesitated not wanting to give up the high ground, but Eliot would chew off an arm before asking anything of anyone.
 

The two people on the other side of the room were clearly standing with 'Colton'.
 

Smoothing her designer dress and patting her hair, Sophie went to beard the lion in his lair. Stopping just inside the door, Sophie took a minute to watch Eliot. The man was a picture of grace and economy of motion.
 

"Busy here, Miz Katherine, was there something you needed?"
 

The impatience in the rough baritone was real so Sophie gathered her considerable courage and spoke.
 

"You didn't hear what you thought you did." Came out in a rush.
 

Eliot looked up from his cutting board and arched an eyebrow at the grifter.
 

"Nate wasn't using a honey trap on you. He and I were talking and I mentioned that all his dithering about and poor timing could make it appear to be one. Parker overheard part of the conversation, but not the part where Nate said he hoped you never thought he was manipulating you because you'd disappear."
 

Nothing gave Eliot's thoughts away. Not a twitch, blink or flicker of an eyelash. She remembered how he'd played the doctor at the museum the night they all tried to steal the dagger. The only time she had out conned Eliot was over the two Davids, and that was only because he trusted her.
 

She'd pulled her thoughts back to her next round of arguments when Eliot surprised her.
 

"You aren't afraid of me?"He stated flatly.
 

"What!" Brown eyes snapped to blue/grey. "Why in the world would you think that?" Her tone was genuinely confused.
 

His gaze shifted to his hands.
 

"Because of Moreau." He paused again.
 

She studied him for a minute or two before answering. "You said something once…You said you only used violence as an appropriate response. Is that true?" Eliot nodded never looking away. Sophie paused.
 

Eliot's survival depended on his ability to assess people and situations instantly. He saw everything and forgot nothing. While they had been watching the dance between him and Nate-Eliot had been watching them all. Hardison had seemed the most affected by Eliot's revelation. Knowing Eliot wouldn't retaliate, Hardison took his pound of flesh from the retrieval specialist in cutting comments. On the trip to San Lorenzo, Hardison had Eliot seated away alone.
 

"None of us are afraid of you, 'Colton'. Hardison's coming around."
 

The cynical look he threw her spoke volumes.
 

"You'd better start getting ready. Guests'll be arrivin' soon. His tone was flat, his expression bland.
 

Sophie wanted to stomp her foot in frustration with the taciturn man. She opened her mouth to say something else until she looked into his eyes. He'd been pushed all he was going to allow.
 

Their second job together he'd bluntly told them he hurt people. For three years he'd hurt people to keep them safe. They had watched time and again as Eliot rose up bloody and battered because it was 'his' job, never once giving any thought to what he did before Dubenich. They only thought in terms of after Leverage & Associates.
 

"You're right." She thought about trying one more time until she heard a soft sigh when she turned toward the door. "See you at dinner."
 

"Certainly, Miz Katherine." Eliot drawled then chuckled at her haughty 'hmph' as she sailed out the door.
 

They fell into their roles easily after that-Eliot's eyes narrowing when Portia's friend, Lauren Howell arrive with two young men in tow, 'didn't want there to be an odd number for dinner' her excuse.
 

Eliot recognized one from Nashville and the way Joel Burns eyes widened he recognized Eliot as well. Everything remained civilized until after dinner. Wanting to move things along, Eliot selected one of the Cuban cigars out of the humidor Bensen passed around then stepped out onto the rooftop patio.
 

Keen ears picked up the rushed footsteps of Burns and his partner.
 

"Little out of your jurisdiction, aren't you, Cowboy?" Burns' tone was snide.
 

Taking his time to turn around showed Eliot's contempt for the men.
 

"Nope. Miz Eugenia sent me to keep her good friend company through the season." Eliot drawled as he savored the taste of the hand rolled cigar. "Fresh blood?" Pale eyes flickered over the pretty young blond at Burns' elbow.
 

"Working his way through college."
 

Eliot gave a snort of disbelief. "That one works for a year or two." He held out his hand. "Colt Markum."
 

Green eyes flicked to Burns. At his nod he grasped the enforcer's hand.
 

"Byron Shaw." He smiled at Eliot's quirked eyebrow. "My mother taught English Lit."
 

"I would have never guessed." Eliot commented dryly. "We'll have to get together and exchange notes." He told the young man as he finally released his hand. "I really need to get back to my hostess." He drawled.
 

"I'll walk back in with you. Maybe you could introduce me to Mrs. Beaumont." Byron practically gushed.
 

Damn, the kid made him feel old.
 

"Where ya from, kid?" Eliot asked cutting into Hardison's snickering.
 

"Guy's using his real name, telling the truth about his mother…Is pretty much on the up and up."
 

"How'd he fall in with Burns?" Sophie asked.
 

"Burns ran an ad on Craigslist. Kid is clueless." The hacker added.
 

Alec and Byron finished their recitations at the same time as they came to a stop in front of Portia and Sophie. Eliot raised Portia's hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles, causing a blush to rise in her cheeks. He turned back to Byron.
 

"Mrs. Katherine Beaumont may I present Byron Shaw. He seems to think your beauty rivals the stars and the moon…begged me for an introduction." Both parties blushed deeply at Eliot's extravagant introduction. "Byron Shaw…Miz Katherine." He turned his attention to Portia. "Would you care for a turn around the room, Miz Portia?"
 

"Colt Markum, you are such a scalawag." She grinned then wrapped her hand around Eliot bicep as they walked away.
 

"Damn." Hardison snickered. "Eliot just used up a whole year's worth of words."
 

A brief growl was heard through the ear buds, but Nate scowled at the hacker. Eliot said so much that no one heard. That day in the park when he'd talked about Moreau's men, he'd laid himself as open as Nate had ever seen, but apparently he and Parker were the only ones that noticed.

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Part Two