None of the Leverage characters belong to me. This is my first attempt at fan fiction, I hope you will like it. I really would appreciate some views and comments. Thanks!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF KNIGHT

THE STRIP CLUB JOB

Toni considered his options. He always took an interest in what happened to his students. The ones who finished his Chef's course were all bound for success, because those who didn't have what it took fell by the wayside! His courses were not cheap; many of his students had rich, or just very dedicated, parents to help them. Sometimes he felt a little guilty that he could only offer scholarships to a very few poorer individuals, but he would never pass over any student who was really keen and had proper talent.

So when the course finished, most had someone to look out for them, to encourage them into jobs. Just occasionally there were exceptions. He wandered out of his office to inspect the kitchen, as he'd known, it was looking immaculate. His manager had overseen the clean-up and dismissed the students for a couple of hours. As he had also known, there was still one student left. Katherine Cameron.

She was seated in the corner of the rest area with her nose buried in a book.

"Miss Cameron!" He barked. She leapt to her feet.

"Yes, Chef!"

"Why are you not out getting some fresh air and chatting with your friends?"

She looked at him guiltily. "I wanted to read this book, I might not get the chance next week."

"You were swotting?"

"Well….I suppose so." She admitted. "I really want to pass."

"Miss Cameron, the likelihood of you failing at this stage is non-existent! You are the best student in the class."

"Oh!" She coloured prettily. "Thank you. That means so much to me."

"Now…..out! At least take a stroll around the park for half an hour."

She retreated throwing him an embarrassed smile.

Toni watched her go. This girl was the cause of all his latest musings. He knew she had spent virtually her last dollar on this course. She couldn't afford, quite literally, to spend her time job hunting. She was such a lost soul.

Katherine was in her mid-twenties and as pretty as a picture, even Toni could feel the attraction although he was nearly old enough to be her grandfather! When he'd interviewed her he'd been struck by her beauty, but had soon found himself puzzled by her manner. She was so….private. She seemed to avoid human contact. Oh she was there with the others, always present, joining in, smiling and laughing along, but she never ever put herself in the limelight despite her very obvious attractions. For the first few weeks she had made a point of not sitting with the guys, of not ever getting cosy the way some of the other girls did. She seemed to actively shy away if one of the men made to touch her, or sit close to her. Toni found this very hard, all his female students were his 'little girls' and he liked to give them a hug, and there was nothing in any way sexual about this activity! He was 'Dad', and he had to touch them to teach chopping, to teach them to hold a knife, and he had to do it to the boys as well as the girls.

Katherine shrank from him the first few times, and then apologised that she had done it. He was puzzled, but determined to discover her story.

It took a fair bit of wheedling, but finally she opened up a little and he learned of her past, it explained a great deal. She had been a reluctant pole dancer and stripper from the age of seventeen. He wasn't sad to hear that she hated the life and was determined to better herself and never go back. He knew that the rest of his students, and certainly their families, would recoil from her if they knew her history.

She reminded him very strongly of another lost soul from his past, rudderless and in need of a helping hand in the right direction. He did a good line in saving lost souls, and her history wasn't as bad as the last one! He could help her, so he would! Decision made, he picked up the phone.

Ten minutes later he had achieved his objective, he had secured her an interview and hopefully a job in a Micro-brewpub and restaurant in Portland. Her references from him would be excellent and he'd talked Alec Hardison into giving her a chance without looking at any other references, that way no-one ever needed to know about her past. Toni was very conscious that being very pretty, and sexy enough to distract all the male staff, would not be to her advantage, so he had pinned Hardison down very firmly. She was to be given a proper chance!

Alec Hardison had been flicking through the client list. At this time no-one was exactly beating down their door for help. There were several people and organisations that had attracted their attention and would bear some watching, but at present nothing much was happening.

This was it, simple; a team of five was now a team of three. It could and had been done; they had thwarted the release of a deadly flu virus with only the three of them. True, Eliot had got shot, but they had survived. So three was possible, it just wasn't always practical! It affected the jobs they could do and how they could do them. They had various people they could call on for help. Tara would help and they trusted her. Quinn would help, they still weren't too sure about him! Shelly would and did help, but he was….inexperienced. Hitters were a great deal easier to find than brains, with no disrespect meant to Eliot! A lot of the problem was that they didn't feel they could trust another planner, Nate had his way, and it had become their way. They wanted to run their own crew, but Leverage International hadn't yet taken off. You couldn't choose a crew, the crew chose itself, and so far, it hadn't happened!

As he'd mulled over this enduring problem the phone at his elbow bleeped. Hardison picked it up expecting a potential client; the voice on the other end surprised him.

"Toni?"

"Hi, yes it is me. I have a favour to ask."

"No more bad guys?" Hardison joked. "We messed up the kitchen last time."

"No, but when I meet some I will know who I'm gonna call." Toni replied. Hardison couldn't help the grin that split his face as 'Ghostbusters!' flitted across his brain. "No bad guys. But I still need some help from you good guys."

"You want to speak to Eliot?"

"No. You! I have a girl who needs a job. Nice girl, real hard worker and very talented. She will do well if someone gives her a chance. I don't want Eliot to interview her. He will be….biased against her."

"Reeeally?" Hardison drew the word out thoughtfully. He could sort of understand that, when Eliot had, as part of a con, interviewed prospective cartoon artists he had sent almost all away in tears, and that had included the men. Eliot was very hard to please!

"Yes! Will you give her a trial? I want you to interview her and give her a post. I don't want her to think I got her the job."

"I see." Hardison didn't exactly see.

"She has her pride. She wants to be wanted for her true value and nothing else. She's not asking for hand outs and help."

"So why are you helping her?"

"Because….she needs the help. She has no-one, absolutely no-one, and I happen to know she is broke. I like the girl, she's a lovely little lady and she deserves a chance. If you give her a trial you won't be disappointed, you will want to keep her."

"Ok, no worries. I'll give her a chance."

They arranged an interview in two days' time and Toni rang off, well satisfied.

Hardison reflected that, despite not really needing another employee in the restaurant and microbrewery they ran, any student of Toni's would be good. Toni had been adamant that the girl would work and her looks should not put anyone off. Poor girl obviously didn't have a lot going for her, probably why Toni insisted he conducted the interview rather that Eliot. Eliot was a whole lot too keen on the girls and far too easily distracted, he thought with an inward laugh. Not that Eliot would have persecuted this poor girl, but, depending on his mood, he might not have been as objective as Toni obviously wanted them to be. No matter, if this girl was that butt ugly she could always stay in the kitchen!

He returned to his reflection of the state of affairs outside the restaurant. He and Eliot were falling out far too often recently. So they argued, they always argued. Previously they could argue black was white and continue to work in harmony, but then Nate had always been there to pull them back to some sort of order. The harmony between the team had been lost, no longer were they a tight knit social group. Now he and Parker relaxed together and Eliot, well….who knew? He just seemed to fade into obscurity and leave them alone. He didn't think he and Parker drove him away by being too…lovey, but maybe that really was the problem. Three was a crowd!

Eliot was withdrawing, and it worried him. Recently they could never agree on jobs. The ones he wanted to do were the ones Eliot considered 'too much' which was damned silly. They were perfectly capable, especially with a bit of added Tara or Quinn. So many times recently it had fallen to Parker to pour oil on troubled waters. His girl was turning into a pretty good diplomat, luckily!

Two days later Katherine Cameron arrived for her interview. Hardison was gobsmacked! Now he knew why Toni had thrown her at him and not at Eliot! Damn it all, he had promised Toni he would take her on, and the whole restaurant staff would believe he had done it because he couldn't take his eyes off her. She was positively one of the most attractive, sexy girls he had ever seen, and that included Parker. Long mid-coffee brown hair, green almond eyes, a beautiful bone structure and flawless skin. She wasn't tall, only around five feet four, and she had a figure that made a man's mouth water. She was one sexy little package and Hardison found himself praying that this was not going to cause trouble!

Too late, he'd agreed. Eliot's reaction could only be guessed at! So he interviewed her, trying his very hardest not to stare and to treat her properly. Then he gave her the job and arranged that she could start as soon as she had finished her course. He was touched at how grateful she was to be offered the post, and he wondered then how much her looks had made her a target for both the men and the women, for exactly opposite reasons! He now understood Toni's concerns. He'd seen enough persecution to recognise a fellow sufferer. Hopefully she would fulfil Toni's faith in her and become a useful staff member in the restaurant.