Author's Note: This is set sometime during the first half of the second season, but in the summer. I guess you could say it's slightly AU, since I'll be twisting the timeline and some details to suit the story. First chapter's always the hardest to write, so thank you for reading and please let me know what you think.
In the middle of July, Nate came to the team with a multi-week job in Saratoga Springs. A shady new operator had taken over a spa attached to one of the mineral springs and had been promising remarkable cures and health benefits. Eliot had balked at first, saying that it sounded like a simple advertising problem. But then Nate had explained how the operator was preying on parents whose kids were dying of cancer, bilking them for tens of thousands of dollars.
Eliot had backed off and even Parker had stopped fidgeting and agreed to stick with the job the duration. The guy was into gambling and Nate thought that between the racetrack and back-room poker games, they could drive the guy out of business within weeks.
So they'd gone to Saratoga Springs, and set up shop in a nondescript office building near their hotel. Nate thought that it would take a week or so of tailing the guy to figure out his patterns and find a way to hook him, then they'd get to the real work. The racing season had started just days earlier.
"So, you guys, my sister's working at the track and she invited me to visit her tomorrow, if any of y'all are interested," said Hardison as they were leaving their make-shift office for the night.
"Your sister?" asked Eliot skeptically.
"Yeah, she said we could stop by in the late morning, get a tour of the place, and then stay for the races."
"And it just occurred to you now to mention that you have a sister who works at the race track. You didn't think maybe that information could've helped with planning this job?" asked Nate, annoyed.
"Calm down," replied Hardison, holding up a hand. "I didn't know until today. I swear."
Parker shook her head. "No way, I don't like horses. You know I don't like horses."
"See, now you say that, and what I hear is 'I don't want to meet your sister,'" replied Hardison, giving her the hurt puppy dog eyes.
"Well we'd love to meet your sister, wouldn't we, Nate," said Sophie with a smile.
"I suppose we could wait one more day before starting the job in earnest," said Nate as he reluctantly nodded his agreement. "And if the mark is there, we might even be able to get in an afternoon of work."
The next morning, the security guard at the track waved them in after Hardison handed him a special pass. They walked along the empty paths over toward the carousel, which was the appointed meeting place.
The minutes ticked by as Parker tried to give excuses for why she had to leave that minute, before a murderous horse went on a rampage.
"Your sister usually late?" asked Eliot.
"Well, give her a chance. She's working, you know," replied Hardison. He pulled out his cell phone. "Give me a minute. I'll see if I can get ahold of her."
He frowned at his phone, then started to wander around, looking for better reception as he muttered under his breath. He was about thirty feet away when a small woman jumped up on his back with enough force to double him over.
"Alley Cat!" she yelled. She was wearing riding boots, tan riding pants, an orange t-shirt, a riding helmet, and what looked like a bullet-proof vest.
"Mighty Mouse," shouted Hardison with a grin. She laughed and dug her heels into his sides, causing him to shriek with the most un-manly sounding laughter.
"I think I like this girl," said Eliot.
"Why is she wearing a bullet-proof vest?" asked Parker, her eyes wide with fear.
"It's not. It's just foam padding, in case she falls off. That's all," said Eliot. "I'm going to tell you one more time: horses aren't murderous."
Hardison managed to swing the girl around and then ease her to the ground. It was laughable how much taller he was than her. She took her helmet off, slightly-damp, curly red hair falling to her shoulders.
Hardison was far enough away that they couldn't overhear his conversation. But his wide grin was nearly blinding and it was clear that the two shared a close bond.
"Um, how is she possibly his sister? She's white. Like white-white. Like burn from candlelight white," said Parker as she openly stared from Alec to the girl.
"I imagine she's actually a foster sister or something," said Nate, leaning in to discretely deliver this information.
"I don't believe it. That's Kayleigh Connor," said Eliot after he got a good look at the girl.
"Oh god, Eliot, you haven't dated Hardison's sister, have you?" asked Sophie.
"What? No. She's a jockey, kind of famous, if you follow horseracing at all."
"Which I don't because-" began Parker.
"Parker, don't even say it," said Eliot, cutting her off.
"Hey, guys, I want you to meet my sister, Kay," said Hardison as he walked over with his arm around her shoulders.
Sophie was the first to step forward and shake her hand graciously, murmuring all of the right social niceties, with Nate right behind her. Parker hung back and copped out with a wave, not trusting anyone who trusted horses.
It took Eliot a minute to find his voice. "Kayleigh Connor. This is really an honor. I'm a huge fan."
Kayleigh looked up at Hardison, then back at Eliot with disbelief. "Did he put you up to this?"
"No, ma'am. I saw you get #55 a few years back, at Keeneland. Admiral Daydreamer. To come from six lengths back to win by two - that was quite a ride. Great way to end your apprenticeship," said Eliot, subtly showing off his knowledge of horse racing in general and her career in particular.
She smiled, surprised. "You must've won a bundle off it."
He shook his head. "Nah, it wasn't anything like that. It really was quite a race. The textbook example of how to ride a closer."
"What's wrong with Eliot? Is he sick?" asked Parker as Sophie tried to shush her.
"Yeah, what is wrong with Eliot?" asked Hardison, suspiciously.
"Nothing. I just appreciate talent and your sister has it in spades."
"That's kind of you to say. Would you guys like a tour, or what?" asked Kayleigh. "I've got about an hour before I have to start getting ready for this afternoon's races."
"I don't," said Parker quickly. "I think I'll take a nap, out in the van. If that's okay with everyone? Okay, good."
She didn't even wait for a response, she just left.
"Don't mind her. She's afraid of horses," explained Hardison. "Also, she's Parker. She's just weird."
"Great. Well, then let's go. Oh, wait. Sophie, right? Do you have any other shoes? If we're going to go on the back stretch, you definitely don't want to be wearing open-toed high-heels."
Sophie looked disoriented for a moment before graciously recovering. "Oh, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a raincheck then."
"You know what, you guys go ahead. Sophie and I have some planning to do anyway," said Nate, waving them on their way.
"So, that leaves you two. Still want a tour?" asked Kayleigh.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," said Eliot with a warm flirty smile that caused Hardison to give him a kick once Kayleigh's back was turned.
"You are not flirting with my sister," hissed Hardison, walking slowly to put some space between them and Kay.
"Relax. I'm just being friendly."
"Uh-huh. I've seen your idea of friendly before. I don't like it," said Hardison, working hard to be a threateningly protective older brother. Eliot rolled his eyes and brushed it off. Really, he was just being friendly.
After taking them around the backstretch and through a few of the barns, Kayleigh brought them back to the grandstand. She let them know the horses she'd be riding during the day and then waved good-bye, promising to catch up with them after the last race.
"For real?" asked Hardison when she was out of earshot.
"What?"
"My sister?"
"She's like your sister. She's not actually your sister, is she?"
"Look, I was 12, she was 6 when Nana took her in. Like my sister. Is my sister. Same thing, according to Nana."
Eliot knew better than to give Hardison grief over Nana. He shrugged. "She's a cute girl and she's great at her job. I can respect that. I know how hard this sport is."
"Okay, that's fine. We're cool then. I guess," said Hardison grudgingly.
"Good, so you don't mind if I ask her out?"
Hardison rolled his eyes, and enunciated each word clearly. "I. Did. Not. Say. That."
"Good. Glad you don't mind," said Eliot, slapping Hardison on the back before walking away, leaving him to mutter to himself about why there always had to be a difference between what he said and what Eliot heard.