One afternoon while the team is in the middle of getting information for a job Hardison's phone rings and he leaves the room to answer it.
-Hello. Hardison answers his phone.
-Is this Alec Hardison? The voice asked.
-Yes this is, can i ask who this is? Hardison replied.
-This is Nicole Jackson children services we have your niece, Lily here. Nicole said.
This sent Hardison in a panic.
-Is she ok? What happened. Hardison asked.
-There was an accident. She was with her foster parents and a drunk driver t boned their car the foster parents were pronounced DOA she survived she has some cuts and bruise but other than that she is physically fine. We are calling to see if you will come get her and take care of her if you say no she will stay in the system all you have to do is come sign the paperwork and retrieve her. Nicole said.
-What hospital are you at? Hardison asked.
-Children's hospital in Boston. Nicole said.
-I can be there in 30 minutes. Hardison replied.
-Thank you sir i will see you when you get here. Nicole said.
Hardison then hangs up the phone and goes back to the team.
"Nate i have an errand to run i'll be back in like an half an hour or so". Hardison told Nate.
Nate then responded while everyone else looked confused.
"Alright call us when you're on the way back". Nate said.
Hardison then grabbed his car keys off the table and grabbed his jacket running out the front door down the stairs.
"That looked very strange didn't it, i mean he gets a call says he's running an errand and practically runs out of here. What do you think it is". Sophie asked.
"I don't know and none of us can really see who called his phone last so we just have to wait till he gets back". Eliot said.
Children's hospital
Hardison runs to the desk to get information on his niece Lily. Lily is 7 years old and she is really smart for her age but she can still get in and cause trouble, her mother was Hardison's sister who died in childbirth, her father is not in the picture, he knows about her because she lived with him at their Nana's house until she died then Hardison and Lily got split up but never lost contact. He then sighed because now that he is with a team and they do dangerous jobs they have to be very careful especially of the enemies they made along the way. He then makes it to the floor his niece is on and sees her social worker.
"Hi i'm Alec Hardison, i'm Lily's uncle". Hardison said.
"Nicole Jackson. Now all you have to do is sign these few forms and she is all yours but i should tell you she is in shock and she will need a lot of help which i hope you can provide her". Nicole said.
"I will do everything in my power to help her". Hardison said.
She then gave him all the paperwork to sign and once he was finished on the last form he asked her social worker a question.
"Can i see her?" Hardison asked.
"Sure just go right in". Nicole said.
"Thank you". Hardison said.
Nicole then nodded her head then left the hospital, Hardison then knocked on the door and peaked his head around the corner to see his niece sitting cross legged on the hospital bed crying and shaking.
"Lily?" Hardison said gently.
Lily looked up to see her uncle and was relieved to see him.
"Uncle Alec!" Lily cried.
Hardison then moved to his niece's hospital bed and gathered her small fragile body in his arms and held her as she cried. Once her crying as stopped she was curious on where she was going to go now since her foster parents died.
"Uncle Alec, where am i gonna go now?" Lily asked.
"You're gonna come live with me sweetie i promise to always protect you no matter what". Hardison said.
"Where do you live?" Lily asked.
"I actually have a few room mates i live with their my team and we work together helping people". Hardison said.
"Almost like the police?" Lily asked.
"Something like that but different i'll introduce you to everybody once we get back". Hardison said.
"Are they nice?" Lily asked.
"They are nice people and i'm sure they will love you". Hardison said.
Hardison then gathered Lily and her things together once her stuff was together and he signed the papers to release her from the hospital he put her stuff in the back of the car while she got buckled in the front.
"Are you hungry sweetie?" Hardison asked starting the car.
"A little". Lily answered.
"How about Mcdonalds for lunch". Hardison suggested.
"Sure". Lily asked.
Lily then plugged her IPod in the speaker and began playing her music while Hardison was driving, he then turned it down a little so he can order their lunch in the drive through. He got his niece a double cheese burger, a medium french fry, and a medium milkshake while he got himself a big mac with a medium french fry and a orange soda. They decided to wait to eat back at the apartment so they don't get the car messy, after a few more minutes of driving they finally made it back to the loft but when Lily saw the front it was a bar. Hardison then saw the confused look on his niece's face and chuckled.
"The loft is upstairs sweetheart but don't worry i'm the landlord what i say goes". Hardison said.
Lily then jumped out with her lunch and drink in her hand and walked behind her uncle in the front and when he walked in the team looked at him and he moved over to them with Lily in tow.
"There you are where were you and who's she". Parker said.
"Why don't we go upstairs so i can explain". Hardison said.
Lily then grabbed for her uncle's hand and he took it knowing that Lily is a very shy child and she doesn't like being the center of attention for too long. Once everyone was in Nate's apartment Hardison took Lily's lunch and sat it at the table in the kitchen area of the loft then guided her to in front of the team and they all had a confused look on their face.
"Ok Hardison who is she?" Eliot asked.
"This is Lily. Lily Hardison my niece". Hardison said.
Everyone looked in utter complete shock.
"Y-you have a niece?" Sophie asked.
"Yup". Hardison answered.
"How come you never told us about her?" Parker asked.
"With our line of work we do i didn't wanna bring her in it". Hardison answered not wanting to go into detail.
"How old is she?" Eliot asked.
"7. Her birthday is May 29, 2001". Hardison answered.
Lily just hid behind her uncle peeking around looking at the group of people in front of her.
"It's alright Lily they're not gonna hurt you". Hardison told his niece.
Lily then came from around her uncle's leg and Sophie approached her first.
"Hi there sweetheart i'm Sophie". Sophie told the young girl.
"Hi i'm Lily". Lily said to Sophie.
"Hi i'm Eliot". Eliot said.
"I'm Parker". Parker said.
"I'm Nate". Nate said.
"So what do you guys do for work Uncle Alec said you do almost like what police do". Lily said.
"It's almost like that but we pick up where the law has left off and we all have a part to play. I'm the grifter, Eliot is the hitter, your uncle is the hacker, Parker is the thief, and Nate is the brains". Sophie explained.
"Lily your lunch is on the table why don't you go eat sweetheart". Hardison suggested.
"Ok". Lily said.
Lily then went to the table to eat her lunch once she was out of earshot he sighed.
"She's adorable Hardison". Sophie said.
"She's my life, my world and i can't lose her i can't". Hardison said.
"And you won't have you forgotten i protect everyone and that includes Lily". Eliot said.
"Thanks Eliot it means a lot". Hardison said gratefully.
"We're a family Hardison we look out for each other and protect each other we will treat Lily as our own". Sophie said.
"Sophie's right plus she'll be like the little sister i never had, maybe i can teach her how to pick locks". Parker said.
"Oh no. Nobody is teaching her anything except Eliot". Hardison said.
"Why only Eliot?" Parker asked a bit jealous.
"He's gonna teach her how to defend herself, i don't want none of what we do to touch her we already have to deal with a lot i don't wanna drag her in this". Hardison said.
They are all now looking at Lily who had a normal life and now she might not have that again.
