Disclaimer: Apparently it is customary to put one of these at the beginning of each fanfic. I don't own any part or person of Leverage. I'm just borrowing the characters for entertainment purposes.
Also, as this is my first fanfic in many, many years…. I must beg you not to flay me too badly. I realize that I'm not the greatest writer in the world. As this is not too terribly serious, I feel that I can put the grammar Nazi on vacation during this time. My goal is to entertain, not win a Pulitzer.
The young woman wiped away a tear as she took another sip from the coffee cup. She was uncomfortable under their scrutinizing eyes. As she relayed her brother's pitiful story a short while earlier, she realized how hopeless it sounded. Eva was still a little surprised the man and woman in front of her had not told her to begin with that is was a pointless rescue. Yet she had to try. "Listen, Señor Ford," she squared her shoulders and looked up into his fatherly eyes, "I know what my brother did was wrong. I wasn't too happy myself when I found out he was working for La Serpiente Cartel. But we were desperate. Our father had just died. Our mother hasn't been able to walk since the accident. We have five other brothers and sisters to feed. We needed money fast and it was the only option available. Pablo doesn't deserve to be sitting in an INS detention facility awaiting deportation. He was born in El Paso, as was our father! The fact that this Javier Espinosa has assumed my brother's identity and let him take the fall is inexcusable.
"I just want my brother back- safe and sound. I know it's a long shot, but I just had to try talking to you. I heard you were the only one who could possibly help."
Throughout her sad tale, Nathan Ford sat attentive, yet non-committal. It was touching. He felt for her and her family, especially the younger children. Yet how in the world could he and his crew pull off a con of this magnitude? Yeah, sure, he had gone up against the Italian mafia a couple of years ago. Not to mention they tricked the Russians into a diamond vault and made the Chinese Triad look like complete buffoons, but this was the Mexican Cartel. These guys made the other groups look like college seniors snapping freshman with towels, saying "GOTCHA!"
Nate stole a glance over to Sophie who was sitting next to him. Her deep brown eyes were filled with tears threatening to spill. Crap. They were going to have to accept Miss Lopez's case. He took a longer sip of his coffee, wishing he had some Irish whiskey to put in it. Actually, screw the coffee. Just give him the whiskey.
Sophie cleared her throat to bring him out of his reverie. Eva's eyes were searching his, pleading with him in a non-verbal way, waiting for him to answer. Sophie, also, had her full attention on him. He took another long dreg of his coffee, set the cup down and cleared his throat.
"Miss Lopez, I'm not going to lie or beat around the bush- this will certainly not be an easy case. It will also pose a huge risk for everyone involved, including you and your family. If we do manage to rescue your brother, La Serpiente is going to want answers."
Eva's face lit up as she realized what Nate was telling her. "Gracias, Señor Ford!" she quietly exclaimed, "Gracias."
He held up a hand to stop her praise. "I will accept your case, but I am putting the stipulation out that if, at any time, it becomes too dangerous, I will pull my crew out and we will be unable to rescue your brother. We won't get another shot." Eva smiled, nodded emphatically, and wiped away the now joyous tears that had started to roll.
"Just the simple fact that you will try to get him is enough for me. I cannot thank you enough." She clasped his held up hand in both of hers and hugged it to her cheek. Sophie smiled, pleased that they were going to try to help this poor family who had not been able to catch a break recently.
"Will you be staying in Boston tonight?" Sophie asked the woman gently, her English accent elongating the "o's".
"No. I must be getting back home. My sister, Alicia, is handling everything right now, but I don't want to be away for long. It's a lot for me to handle at 20, let along a sixteen-year-old. My bus leaves in about an hour." She gave a soft smile. She looked tired and sad, the stress of all that happed to her this past year suddenly taking its toll.
"Allow me to drive you to the station, then," Sophie offered. She leaned over and squeezed Nate's arm in appreciation for taking the case.
"Thank you, Señorita Devereux. I'd really appreciate that." Eva slid out of the booth and reached back in to get her battered rucksack. She smiled back at Nate and shook his hand. "Thank you again, Señor Ford." He just nodded and went back to his coffee, again wishing for that whiskey.
Sophie picked up her purse and started to escort Eva to the front door of McRory's Pub. Nate smiled to himself and called out to her as the two women reached the entrance:
"By the way, Sophie, when you get back, you get to tell Eliot."
Obviously this will be continued soon... That is if there's enough people who want to know what happens in Juarez... Or more importantly how Eliot reacts...