This story has (also) been bothering me and I finally wrote it down (mostly cause I found out I wasn't the only person who was curious) I don't own Leverage.

Kisses To Brighten The Day

Sophie bit her lip as they waited in the small kitchen. Monica and Parker were going to be there soon. Nate was sitting next to her on the small couch, his hand brushing against her leg sometimes. The faintest contact kept making her skin tingle and her heartbeat speed up. She nervously kept playing with her hair to try and calm herself down.

"They should be here any minute," Nate muttered.

They heard the door open.

"Be quiet," Sophie whispered in his ear. He turned to look at her, making their lips dangerously close. Instinctively he backed away. She moved closer, eyes briefly flicking up to look at him before slipping shut. Nates eyes slipped shut as he leaned in closer. A slight laugh came as a quiet hiss through her teeth - grinning. He seemed to be chasing after her lips now as she pulled back more.

Then his eyes shot open and he looked at her just to see the grin slowly fade into the same (strange) look she'd had for the past months. He didn't understand the look. She looked depressed...like someone had ordered her not to be happy anymore or else something bad would happen. It bothered him that something wasn't right, but he continually got it confused with his own bothered feelings. She rest back into her seat and looked away from his studying gaze. He reached out and tilted her face to look at him. This time he didn't wait and kissed her. His hand slipped back and pressed against her neck as he leaned into the kiss.

Sophie found herself kissing back despite her sadness. His lips were so soft and gentle against hers. She wanted to break there. To just give up and throw herself onto him. What good would it do? He pulled away slightly and then kissed her again. Her heart rate was off the charts now and she couldn't help but feel her mood change. A smile was creeping onto her face by the third kiss. His tongue teased the seam of her mouth causing her to gasp. That was apparently the desired reaction because he pulled away with an adorable (not smug, which she found odd) smirk.

She smiled at him. "Thanks. I needed that," she mouthed.

Then she saw his ears get red as well as his face. He was embarrassed. Or maybe excited. He licked his lips, eyes flicking around the room. Nope, definitely excited. She hated giving him that dumb hope. She hated giving herself that dumb hope. There was no certainty in any of it. At least on her part. Sure, when she was feeling down a few kisses from him made her feel much better but it wasn't like he could help her forever. Right?

They heard the sound of the door again and decided it was safe to go out now. Sophie rose to her feet and gestured for Nate to follow. He stood, arm brushing against hers. She smiled again, reaching down to grab her jacket off the floor, and pressing a light kiss to his cheek. He felt his skin tingle and he smiled a little. Then he took a deep breath and strapped the cold, boss composure over his happiness. Sophie, however, left the room with a wide smile on her face. It made him happy to know that she was happy (at least for now.) And that was also puzzling to him. She was happy after he kissed her and said she needed it but she still wouldn't make the move. He would've done it already but he knew something was wrong...he just didn't know what. Maybe after the con he would talk to her and see what was going on.

THE END