Summary: Hola folks. Just want to say that I'm super excited about posting my first Leverage fic ever! Seriously, how was this show on for years and I never knew about it. I was only watching the show for about two months before the cancellation came and in that time I've seen every episode at least three times and have 60+ episodes downloaded on my computer which I watch frequently. Not new to fanfiction, been writing it for years but every now and then I get hooked on a new show and the need to write a fic overwhelms me until I do it. Hopefully you guys enjoy it because there is more to come from me. Oh, almost forget to mention this is also my first OT3, if that's not your thing please don't read it. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Oh yeah, I totally own Eliot and Alec. In fact after I post this I have to go let them out to you know, stretch their legs.

Author's Note: Not beta'd so any mistakes found are mine and let me just say that grammar is so not my best friend. More like a frienimy and that's overstating it so if you do find a mistake, pretending it doesn't exist. It's not going to be changed, that much I know for sure.

Part One

He stared out the window at the cars passing by on the street before letting out a sigh. He knew he was wasting time, standing there when he should have been leaving, but he had to get at least one last look. One last memory to commit to his mind before he left for good. Well, hopefully not for good but he knew it would be a while before he returned to the loft he had grown to love.

Smiling, he closed the curtain and gave the place one final look. Gone were all his things, opting to leave nothing behind. He knew his team, especially Parker and Eliot would hate him for what he was about to do but he hoped that someday they would understand his reasons behind it. No one should have to watch a loved one become ill and dependent. Besides, he knew deep down that if they knew the truth they would feel obligated to help and he didn't want that. He didn't want to be seen as weak or fragile which is what he would become after the multiple treatments he would have to endure.

"I'm sorry to inform you Mr. Hardison but you have stage two lymphoma."

The memory replayed constantly in his mind, the moment his life changed forever. After weeks of suffering from what he thought was a disastrous cold that kept his throat swollen and sore, he finally mustered up the courage to go to the hospital. He thought that everything was fine until the doctor felt his throat and suggested he get some additional test done. Having no choice but to agree he did and when the test came back he was immediately referred to an oncologist. After more tests and a biopsy, the doctor came back with news that he had a cancerous mass.

"The good news is we caught it before it had a chance to spread."

He didn't think it was good news but the oncologist assured him that it was. He was only in stage two, which was a better position than stage four and with the proper treatment he could be cancer free in six. But it didn't matter to him. All he knew was that he had cancer and there was a chance that it could kill him. The situation alone appeared ironic to him. After years of chasing down dad guys and bringing down powerful men it was going to be cancer that got him in the end.

"There are several different treatment options we could try in order to eliminate the cancer. However, surgery is inevitable."

Yes, he would have to have surgery and then be treated with either radiation or chemotherapy. Not to mention the drugs he would have to take to counter the treatments and all the side affects that came with them. He knew there would be no way for him to do his job correctly if he spent most of his days weak from exhaustion and medication. That's when he realized he wouldn't be able to keep the team safe if he was sick. He had to leave.

"We'll try everything we can to save you but there are risks involved."

Yes the doctor informed him that cancer could spread, he could reject the treatments, or they wouldn't be enough to eliminate the cancer. If that became the case then he would be in need of a bone marrow transplant because without it he would die. Even while his doctor was saying this there was a reassuring smile on his face.

"Do you have any questions for me?"

He had wanted to say yeah but nothing came to mind. Everything he wanted to ask suddenly made no sense and there were some things he couldn't say without being seen as crazy. Now after a few days, he couldn't help wonder if this was his punishment for all the wrongs he had done over the years and then quickly decided that it wasn't. Bad things just happened just because and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Walking to the bedroom, he sat down on the bed and grabbed the bunny next to him. Parker's bunny, given to him while he was sick as a way to make him feel better. On the nightstand a bowl that housed Eliot's famous chicken noodle soup. Next to the bowl a picture of the three of them smiling while having drinks at McRory's. A gift from Eliot, the picture was two years old but now seemed as though a lifetime had passed between then and now. Sometimes it amazed him how he grew to love the two people in a way he never dreamed was possible. The thought of living without either of them hurt like a knife though the heart but he had to do what was best for everyone. Still, the picture itself was special and couldn't be left behind. Grabbing it, he tucked it underneath his arms and headed out the room.

Finally it was time to leave. Eliot and Parker were at the store buying groceries and while a shopping trip with Eliot could last for hours he knew that he had to leave soon. The more time he wasted, the less likely he was going to leave. 'It's for the best,' the mantra he kept playing over and over in his head as he slipped the frame into one of his bags and carried them over to the door. His taxi would be there shortly to take him to the airport where he had a flight that left in the next hour. He was going somewhere safe, to a place where no one knew him and the team wouldn't be able to track him. By the time the team realized he was missing he would be long gone and untraceable. Slipping a hand into his pocket, he pulled out the disk he made and placed it on the kitchen counter to be found in his absence. With one final look, he grabbed his bags and walked out of the door.

Short I know but this has been broken down into three parts so more is to come. My medical knowledge is very small so what you read about the cancer was what I found from Google and a few episode from Brothers and Sisters about Kitty and her cancer. Hope this didn't make you too sad because I promise you it ends on a happy note. Scout's honor. Until next time,

Let sleeping dragons sleep,

Ladycizzle